Category: Health

We follow local stories of well-being in the Hill Country Observer, from physical and mental health to systems of healthcare and insurance and the challenges of medicine today.

  • Issue:

    To age in place, it takes a village

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    Volunteer networks planned in Berkshire, Columbia counties Shirley and Howard Shapiro are working to establish a volunteer network in central Berkshire County, affiliated with the national Village to Village nonprofit group, to help seniors live independently. John Townes photo   By JOHN TOWNESContributing writer LENOX, Mass. Two separate efforts are under way in Berkshire and read more

    To age in place, it takes a village
  • Issue:

    State line sets sharp contrasts in PFOA water crisis

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    Border makes for sharp contrasts in handling of tainted-water crisis By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y.   Downtown Hoosick Falls is seen from across the Hoosic River. The groundwater that supplies the village water system remains heavily contaminated, and a local manufacturing plant near the water supply was designated as a federal Superfund site read more

    State line sets sharp contrasts in PFOA water crisis
  • Issue:

    Immersion in healing — For cancer survivors, a retreat just for healing

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    After cancer, owner shares riverside retreat with patients, survivors By STACEY MORRISContributing writer GREENWICH, N.Y.   Roger and Letitia Wyatt run the Barn at Basset House on Hudson, a riverside retreat in Greenwich, N.Y. Next month, they’ll host a daylong retreat for area cancer patients and survivors.  Joan K. Lentini photo When Letitia Wyatt opened read more

    Immersion in healing — For cancer survivors, a retreat just for healing
  • Issue:

    Climate-saving efforts go local

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    States, cities and activists push to meet goals of Paris agreement By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer   With President Trump’s announcement June 1 that he would pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord, area states, cities and citizen groups are redoubling their efforts to curb carbon dioxide emissions and shift to renewable energy read more

    Climate-saving efforts go local
  • Issue:

    Pedal power for the masses

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    Bike-sharing program to start in July in Saratoga, Troy By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.   The bicycle lane along Excelsior Avenue in Saratoga Springs might soon have more traffic as the Capital District Transportation Authority sets up a series of area bike-sharing stations. Joan K. Lentini photo Anyone who needs a bike to read more

    Pedal power for the masses
  • Issue:

    Phasing out the plastic shopping bag?

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    Pittsfield pursues ban, following lead of five Berkshires towns By JOHN TOWNESContributing writer PITTSFIELD, Mass.   Anna Masiero, left, and Micayla Levesque bag groceries at Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, whose Pittsfield store has already stopped offering single-use plastic shopping bags to customers.  Susan Sabino photo The days of supermarkets packing groceries into single-use plastic shopping bags read more

    Phasing out the plastic shopping bag?
  • Issue:

    Free clinics try to fill region’s gaps in medical care

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    Free clinics try to fill the gaps in region’s medical system By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer   Dr. Richard Dundas, right, started the Bennington Free Clinic eight years ago after retiring from a 40-year medical career. Sue Andrews became the clinic’s executive director. The clinic is one of several in the region at which doctors volunteer read more

    Free clinics try to fill region’s gaps in medical care
  • Issue:

    Rediscovering an ancient elixir

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    Couple’s health scare gives rise to kombucha-brewing business By STACEY MORRISContributing writer HUDSON FALLS, N.Y.   Ryan and Jennifer Bremser hold bottles of Simply Kombucha, the beverage they now produce commercially in Hudson Falls. The Bremsers started making the slightly fermented tea for themselves two years ago as Jennifer underwent cancer treatment, and the project read more

    Rediscovering an ancient elixir
  • Issue:

    Meditation for the masses

    Yoga center’s program offers ‘mindfulness’ as a tool for social change By TRACY FRISCHContributing writer BENNINGTON, Vt.   Children in the early education program at Sunrise Family Resource Center in Bennington try “breathing like lions” as part of their daily mindfulness exercises. Nicole Bushika photo At the Sunrise Family Resource Center in Bennington, toddlers in read more

    Meditation for the masses
  • Issue:

    Tests find lead in schools’ water

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    New state law sends N.Y. districts scrambling to halt exposure to toxin By EVAN LAWRENCEContributing writer SALEM, N.Y.   Five fountains at Salem Central School were removed from service this fall after water tests revealed lead in unsafe concentrations. George Bouret photo The scene at Salem Central School has become a common one this fall read more

    Tests find lead in schools’ water