Hilltown Families 
Suggested Events 05/09/09-05/15/09
Fishing derbies are happening this time of year. On Saturday (May 9th, 2009) from 9-11:30am, children ages 14 and under are invited to Chesterfield's Annual Fishing Derby at the Bisbee Pond, sponsored by the Chesterfield 4 Seasons Club. Bring your fising poles and bait. Food and prizes will be offered. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
SUGGEST AN EVENT
If you have a family-friendly event or educational program happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, post your event on our “Suggest An Event” page. The events below are “suggested.” Please take the time to confirm that these events are happening, along with time, location, age appropriateness and costs before attending.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
There are several Mother’s Day activities happening in the area (listed below). Here are a few links for Mother’s Day:
CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK (May 9th-17th)
In celebration of Book Week and School Library Media Month, Education World presents dozens of book-themed activities, lessons, and projects, from our archive! Included: How to write better book reports, stage a “Literature Day,” compose Harry Potter haiku, plus additional classroom activities for teaching about fairy tales, folk tales, biographies, and more! Click HERE to discover more.
HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW
Tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show on Saturdays from 9-10am on Valley Free Radio (VFR), 103.3FM (Northampton, MA), or listen via streaming audio at www.ValleyFreeRadio.org for our Mother’s Day Episode of HFVS.
Every Saturday VFR offers four hours of commercial-free, quality family program from 6-10am, including Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child from 7am-9am. It’s better than Saturday morning cartoons!
New music we’re listening to:
- Spiral Up Kids by Spiral Up Kids
- Here I Am! by Caspar Babypants.
Music from both CD’s is featured this week on HFVS.
Suggest an Event | Local Forecast | Get Directions | Free Museum Passes | Farmer’s Market | Family Centers (Ages 0-4) | Facebook
Events Happening in the Hilltowns
Saturday – 05/09
- 7am-9am – Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child on 103.3FM WXOJ, Northampton, MA or starting at 8am on The River
9am-10am – Hilltown Family Variety Show on 103.3FM WXOJ, Northampton, MA – Mother’s Day Episode.
- 8am-10pm – ANIMALS: Arabian Horse show at the Big E in West Springfield, MA.
- Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA is offering free admission throughout the month of May. (Free)
- 9am-1pm – VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Workday at the Little Tom Reservation in Holyoke,MA. (Free)
- 9:30am-12Noon – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Spring Wildflower hike at Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Hampden, MA.
- 9am-5pm – NATURE DISCOVERIES: Visit the Barrett Fishway in Holyoke, MA to view their fish lift which carries migrating fish up and over the Holyoke dam. (Free)
- 10am-2pm – VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Workday at Glendale Falls in Middlefield, MA. (Free)
- 10:30am-1pm – MOTHER’S DAY: Mother’s Day rally, music, farmer’s market, games, and more on the Amherst Town Common in Amherst, MA. (Free)
- Noon-4pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: At the Historic Deerfield Museum in Deerfield, MA discover cloth quilts from history and make a mini-quilt to take home.
- 4-6pm – SPORTS: There will be a public ice skate at the Mullins Center Ice Rink at UMass in Amherst. Skate rentals available. 413.545.3990
- 5-8pm – COMMUNITY EVENT: Art Walk in Easthampton, MA. (Free)
8-9pm – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Nocturnal pond adventures at Red Gate Farm in Buckland, MA.
Sunday – 05/10
- 8am-3pm – ANIMALS: Arabian Horse show at the Big E in West Springfield, MA.
- 9am-5pm – NATURE DISCOVERIES: Visit the Barrett Fishway in Holyoke, MA to view their fish lift which carries migrating fish up and over the Holyoke dam. (Free)
- 10am-12Noon – MOTHER’S DAY: Springtime hike at Peaked Mountain in Monson, MA. (Donation)
- 10am-1pm – MOTHER’S DAY/OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Mother’s Day Canoe Trip at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, MA.
- 11am – MOTHER’S DAY: Peaceable Planet Mother’s Day Puppet Parade in Northampton, MA. (Free)
- Noon-4pm – At the Historic Deerfield Museum in Deerfield, MA discover cloth quilts from history and make a mini-quilt to take home.
- 1-4pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, MA host a special Sunday in the Art Studio. (Free w/Admission. Check out a museum pass from your local library)
- 3-5pm – SPORTS: There will be a public ice skate at the Mullins Center Ice Rink at UMass in Amherst. Skate rentals available. 413.545.3990
Weekdays 05/11/09-05/15/09
For more events happening this week visit our “Suggest An Event” page. There are also fun suggestions on our THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO SEE page. If you know of an upcoming event that you would like to share with other families, please feel encourage to do so by posting it HERE.
Broad Brook Coalition
Birds Welcome Spring Lisa Rock, Hampshire Bird Club Charlie Quinlin,
Hoffman Bird Club Saturday, May 9, 7:00 AM Fitzgerald Lake Conservation
Area –Moose Lodge entrance ( top of Cooke Ave, off Hatfield St.),
Northampton This will be an early wake-up call for folks who are not
used to birding at this hour. It is a pleasant awakening though, to
discover the intensity and beauty of bird sounds and sightings in the
earlier part of the morning. Charlie and Lisa will offer their
combined 40-plus years of experience, and also take a look at some
of the habitats and plants at FLCA. They hope to make it out to the
blind that overlooks the marsh, and possibly the dam as well. Bring
binoculars. Beginners and children are welcome.
Further information: Bruce Hart 584 4176
Saturday, May 9
Goat Raising Workshop
Little Brook Farm in Sunderland will be holding a hands-on goat workshop from 9am to 2pm. Topics will include bringing home your first goats, selection, handling, nutrition and management. Bring a bag lunch and your own questions and join us at the farm! CISA Community members $40, non-members $50. Register by calling Kristen at 413-665-3802 or by email: Kristen@LittleBrookFarm.com.
Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10
Mothers’ Day Weekend Spring Dig Sale Buy hardy, field grown perennials directly from the grower, directly from the field, at Wilder Hill Gardens (351 South Shirkshire Rd, Conway). Rain or shine from 9am-5pm. Phone: 413-625-9446 http://www.wilderhillgardens.com.
Monday, May 11
Winter Fare 2010 Meeting
Open meeting for anyone interested in getting involved in the third annual Greenfield market or in winter farmers’ markets elsewhere in the Pioneer Valley. We’re seeking input and opinions. We hope some folks will volunteer to help organize winter farmers’ markets, but coming to this meeting does not imply commitment to future involvement. The meeting will be held at 6pm on May 11th at the CISA office (1 Sugarloaf Street, South Deerfield). Help support year-round sales of local food! Visit the Winter Fare website at http://www.winterfare.org to learn more about what happened in 2008 and 2009. For more information, email claire@buylocalfood.org.
Tuesday, May 12
Food Doesn’t Grow in Aisle 1:
Bridging the Gap Between You and Your Local Farmers
A multimedia photo and audio exhibit featuring the lives and voices of local farmers in western Massachusetts. The exhibit is open for one night only. 7pm to 9pm at the A.P.E. Gallery in Northampton (126 Main Street). This student-directed project is working to put the farmers in the minds of policymakers and voters and to raise general awareness about food policy.
Thursday, May 14
CISA’s Women in Agriculture meeting
CISA’s Women in Ag Network is sponsoring a discussion on “Making the Internet Work for Your Farm.” Sarah Swartz of Swartz Family Farm and Barbara Parry of Foxfire Fiber and Design at Springdelle Farm will talk about their excellent use of the Internet to promote their farm businesses and communicate with customers. Barbara’s blog, Sheep Gal, has been an effective, fun tool for sharing the story of her farm and helping people feel connected to it. Sarah’s online store has helped the Swartzes reach new customers and market their produce year-round. Come hear them talk about how they incorporate Internet marketing into their busy farm lives and unexpected ways that their websites have helped their businesses. Some CISA-developed resources on a variety of online tools will also be available. Open to women who farm or are interested in agriculture, and others who support them. Held at CISA’s office at 1 Sugarloaf Street, South Deerfield. Begins at 6pm. Cost of $8 for dinner. Please RSVP by Monday, May 11, to Claire at 665-7100 or claire@buylocalfood.org.
Friday, May 15
The Making of Mead
Garth Shaneyfelt of Green River Ambrosia (a Local Hero specialty products business) is talking about mead – a fermented “honey wine” that has been around for centuries at 6 pm at the Wistariahurst Museum in Holyoke (238 Cabot Street). 6 pm. $5 with sampling of local edibles included.