“Wow! I am so excited to have discovered this beautiful website.
What a great resource for our community. Thank you so much.”
– Katryna Nields

No matter how you celebrate the arrival of spring, you’ll find many ways to celebrate this weekend for we are rich in Spring, Passover and Easter events! Also, take a look under “The Outside World” (left-hand column) for fun & educational seasonal links. Share your web gem by posting in our “comment” box at the end of this week’s Suggested Events.

If you have a family friendly event or educational program you’d like to let us know about, or would like to submit your event to the Hilltown Families calendar of Suggested Events, email Sienna at swildfield@juno.com.

Comments are warmly welcomed!

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Friday – 04/06

NATIONAL TARTAN DAY

5pm – COMMUNITY DINNER – Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA, invites community members to come together to share dinner and conversation every Friday evening. Menu TBA. 413.628.4003 [Families] ($)

7:30pm – STARS OVER SPRINGFIELD – A stargazing program sponsored by the Springfield STARS Club at the Springfield Science Museum. An astronomical evening of fun and education. The featured speaker for the evening will be Stars Club member Paul Cardone, who will present “What Does it Mean to be Plutoed?”. Cardone will compare Pluto to the major planets in order to understand why it was recently demoted to its current status as a “dwarf planet.” Following the talk, participants will view Saturn and its rings through the telescope. The program will be held rain or shine. If it is overcast, a planetarium show will be presented in the museum’s Seymour Planetarium. 1.800.625.7738 [Ages 5 & up] ($).

Saturday – 04/07/07

World Health Day

8am – MUSIC – While traveling around town, tune-in to WXOJ 103.3 FM in Northampton, MA, from 8-10am to hear fabulous family friendly music on Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child, with a live performance by The Nields. [All ages] (Free)

8am – BABY ANIMALS – Gather up the family for a bright and early Shaker Farm Party at the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield, MA. Join the staff in their Round Stone Barn to see baby lambs, piglets, goats and calves. Learn about Shaker heritage breeds and lend a hand with farm chores. 413.443.0188 [Families] ($)

9am – KID’S WORKSHOP – Make a Roller Coaster Car, a free workshop from 9-noon for kids at the Home Depot in Pittsfield, MA. Designed to teach do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while instilling a sense of accomplishment. 413.625.6826. [Ages 5-12] (Free)

9am – EASTER BUNNY AT LOOK PARK – Breakfast with Easter Bunny at Look Park in Florence, MA. Seatings at 9am, 10:15am or 11:30am. Train rides and egg hunt follow breakfast. 413.584.5457 [Families] ($)

9:30am – EASTER EGG HUNT – In East Hampton, MA, an Easter Egg Hunt will take place on the Easthampton High School grounds with over 14,000 eggs. [Ages 9 & under] (Free)

9:30am – EASTER EGG HUNT – At the Community House in Cummington, MA, the CFC is hosting an Easter egg hunt and a bagel potluck until 11:30am. Call to register. 413.628.0040 [Families] (Free)

10am – EASTER CRAFTS – Join The Children’s Art Museum in Shelburne Falls, MA, from 10am-noon to design Easter eggs and make Easter decorations. 413.625.6826 [Families] ($)

11am – TOT SHABBAT – At Congregational B’nai Israel in Northampton, MA, there will be dancing, singing, and stories. 413.584.3593 [PreK] (Free)

12:30PM – EASTER EGG HUNT – Easter Egg hunt at Look Park in Florence, MA. Hunts for different age groups. 413.584.5457 [Ages 10 & under] (Free/$)

Sunday – 04/08/07

EASTER

10am – MATZA BREI BREAKFAST – At the Jewish Community of Amherst will be Passover treats, activities, stories, art projects and more. 413.256.0160. [Families] ($)

2pm – PASSOVER STORIES – At the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA, storyteller Mark Binder tells Passover tales from Chelm & beyond. [Families] ($)

Monday – 04/09/07

3:30pm – SPORTS EVENT – Girls high school softball at Gateway HS in Huntington, MA. [Families] (Free)

Tuesday – 04/10/07

6:30pm – PARENT WORKSHOP – Keeping Kids Safe: What Parents Need to Know, a workshop for parents on typical sexual development and actions to take to prevent the sexual abuse of children. Held at the Jackson Street School in Northampton. Child Care available by reservation only. 413.587.1471. [Parents] (Free)

7pm – Hilltown Family Variety Show – Tune-in between bath and bed time to the Hilltown Families very own radio show on WXOJ 103.3LP-FM, Valley Free Radio, out of Northampton, MA. www.valleyfreeradio.org [Families] (Free)

Wednesday – 04/11/07

9am-ish – HILLTOWN PARENTS SOCIAL – Breakfast at Elmer’s! After dropping your children off at school, Hilltown Families invites you to head on over to Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA, for coffee, tea and crumpets. Bring your lap tops and get some work done too. 413.628.4003 [Parents] (Free/$)

Thursday – 04/12/07

NATIONAL LICORICE DAY

6pm – GIRLS ROCK CLIMBING – From 6-9pm at Westfield State College in Westfield, MA, there will be indoor rock climbing for girls. Learn safety, knots, belay techniques, while exploring rock climbing. Call for more information. 413.667.2299 [Girls 7 & up] ($$)

Friday – 04/13/07

5pm – COMMUNITY DINNER – Elmer’s in Ashfield, MA, invites community members to come together to share dinner and conversation every Friday evening. Menu TBA. 413.628.4003 [Families] ($)

6:30pm – VERNAL POOLS – At Arcadia Mass Audubon in Easthampton, MA. Vernal pools are unique and critical habitats that are breeding grounds for many state listed species. April is the best, and often the only, time to see animals such as spotted salamanders and wood frogs. When the wood frogs hatch, it is possible to see them from the Arcadia boardwalk. Play games indoors to learn about vernal pools and what “the big night” really is. Learn why it is so crucial to protect these small bodies of water, and what you can do to help ensure their protection. Bring a flashlight and wear good walking shoes. Registration required: 413.584.3009 [Families] ($)

5pm – ARTS NIGHT OUT – In Northampton, MA, A festive cultural excursion around Northampton’s visual arts community, with artist showings and light refreshments at selected galleries from 5-8pm. Galleries include A.P.E., Artisan, William Baczek Fine Art, Don Muller, Old Courthouse, R. Michelson, Oxbow, The Naked Art and Alfredo’s. Other venues are Claytopia, Guild Art Supply, Northampton Pottery, Pinch, Smith College Museum of Art, Silverscape Designs, Northampton Center for the ARts and Scandihoovians. 413.584.1900. [Families] (Free)

Anyday – Anytime

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