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

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO OR KIDS ART WORK

Do you have a great photo of life or landscape in Western Mass, our a fabulous work of art your kids have created, that you’d like to submit to Hilltown Families?  Send your jpg or link to hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.

FRIDAY NIGHT

• BREAD AND PUPPET THEATER:  Friday, Sept 18th in Amherst, MA. Check out the world renowned Bread and Puppet Theater performing at Amherst High School’s Auditorium on Friday, Sept. 18, at 7pm. This is a benefit performance for the South Amherst Conservation Association.  Bread and Puppet Theater accomplish  creative political theater the entire family will enjoy.  More info HERE.

BULLETIN BOARD

• VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Volunteers are needed for a Bread and Puppet event this Sunday, September 20th (admission is free). Bread and Puppet will be performing The Dirt Cheap Money Circus at 1 p.m. at the Red Barn Lawn at 893 West Street in Amherst, MA. Volunteers are needed to perform with the B&P puppeteers, and the rehearsal schedule is Saturday, 12-5 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-12 p.m. If interested in volunteering, please contact ptinto@hampshire.edu.

• CLASSES FOR KIDS: Don’t forget to check out our Suggest an Afterschool or Homeschool Class bulletin board.  Lots of great classes have been shared so far.  Share with us a class you’d like to suggest to local families too!

• PARENT DISCUSSION SERIES: In Amherst there will be a free weekly roundtable discussion series for campus and Amherst Family Center families with young children called Dinner on Us, Monday evenings during the academic year in the Student Union Building. As far as I know it’s open to all, but if they run into over enrollment, I’m sure that they will prioritize UMASS students, staff, and alums, as well as AFC families.  Sessions are free and include: dinner, supervised children’s activities and parking. Family Dinner: 5:15-5:45pm, Supervised Children’s Activities: 5:45-7:30pm, Roundtable Discussion: 6:00-7:30pm. Space is limited. To pre-register call: 413-545-4466 OR email cshrc@stuaf.umass.edu.
  

  Massachusetts Harvest for Student Week: September 21st-25th, 2009 Join in as schools and colleges across the state purchase, serve, and engage students in hands-on activities to celebrate the bounty of Massachusetts agriculture! The goal for Massachusetts Harvest for Students Week is to spur new buying relationships between schools and farms, as well as increase existing purchasing in schools around the state. Schools are also encouraged to focus on the benefits of locally grown foods through educational activities, such as creating school gardens, taking trips to farms, and integrating agricultural themes into the classroom.

• LOCAL FOOD: This fall as the local harvest peaks and thoughts shift toward winter eating, NOFA/Mass presents their first annual statewide Fall Food Preservation Day. On September 19, there will be food preservation workshops spread throughout the state, including in Cummington and Northampton, MA. Preserving food that we grow or purchase locally at the height of its freshness and flavor can save money, lessen our dependence on the global corporate food chain, and provide wonderful flavor and real food all year round. Isn’t now a good time to learn skills to do this? More info HERE.

• MUSEUM ADVENTURES: The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Festival of Trees this year from Nov. 14 to Jan. 3. As many know, the Festival of Trees is a Berkshire County tradition where local businesses, schools and community groups decorate trees to display in the Museum galleries. To accompany these trees, they’re looking for local artists to create unique artwork to be on view through the exhibit. For more information contact Maria Mingalone, mmingalone@berkshiremuseum.org.

• ENERGY SAVINGS: This fall, CET is offering free home energy savings workshops in towns throughout western Massachusetts (Gill, Amherst & Ashfield). Attendees will learn a wide array of energy saving solutions, including low-cost and no-cost measures, to common energy concerns. More info HERE.

• SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP: Hilltown CDC announces a new workshop for small businesses on “How to Get the Media to Tell Your Business Story.” This three-hour evening workshop, on October 14 from 6 to 9 PM, will take place at Gateway Regional High School, 12 Littleville Road, Huntington, MA. More info HERE.

• STORYTIME FOR PRESCHOOLERS: Every Wednesday at 10:30 am is Preschool Storytime at the Meekins Library in Williamsburg with Children’s Librarian Rochelle Wildfong.

• AUDTIONS FOR KIDS: The Piti Theatre Company seeks performers (actors & dancers) ages 5 & up as well as adults for their interactive, outdoor theatrical event “Salmon Falls” which tells the story of the Deerfield River through movement, song and storytelling. The audition will be from 12:30 –3:00 pm behind the Arms Library in Shelburne Falls on Sunday, Sept. 27th. The performance will take place on three Saturdays afternoons, Oct. 3– 17th behind the Arms Library at 1:30. For details go to www.ptco.org/next. To register, email jonathan@ptco.org or call (413) 625. 6569.

• COMMUNITY PROJECT: As part of the local 350 Neighbors project, the Old Creamery in Cummington, MA will be collecting 8 ½” x 11″ photos or drawings of the bountiful diversity of life here in the hilltowns to be shared in a display at the Old Creamery through October. More info HERE. Check out the gallery of digital images already submitted HERE.

• SPONSORSHIP, ADVERTISING & ANNOUNCEMENTS: Deliver your message to a large local family based audience while supporting the work of Hilltown Families.  Advertise your event, camp, workshop, fundraiser,  business or announcement on our Weekly List of Suggested Events.  Serious inquiries can email us at hilltownfamilies@gmail.com for details.

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WEEKLY LIST OF SUGGESTED EVENTS

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Events Happening in the Hilltowns

SATURDAY – 09/19/09

Rosh Hashanah

• 6-10am – FAMILY RADIO:  Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP 103.3FM Northampton, MA) offers 4-hours of commercial-free family programing every Saturday, including Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child from 7-9am, and the Hilltown Family Variety Show from 9-10am.  Listen via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org.  SRSC can also be heard on The River from 8-10am.
• 8:30am-12:30pm – FARMERS’ MARKET: Ashfield Farmers’ Market.
• LOCAL FOOD (FOOD PRESERVATION): First Annual NOFA/Mass Food Preservation Workshop Day. Eleven workshops in Eleven towns, including Cummington & Northampton. Led by presenters with their own unique passion for food preservation.
• 9am-12Noon – VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Notchview Trail Work Day at Notchview Reservation. Volunteers will help clear debris from last winter’s storm clean-up and make trail improvements. Working now means better skiing later. Call the Trustees of Reservations at 413-532-1631 x13 to pre-register or for more information. Windsor, MA (FREE)
• 9:30am-4:30pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES:  The kids can learn about colonial cooking of apples, pumpkin & corn at the Historic Deerfield Museum’s Open Hearth Cooking Classes in Deerfield, MA. 413-775-7214
• 10am – ART FOR KIDS: All children are invited to join Jon Muth in the creating of their own Haiku art at the West Springfield Public Library. 736-4561 West Springfield, MA. (FREE)
• 10am – FAMILY MUSIC: Ratboy, Jr. will be performing at Wormtown Festival at Camp KeeWanee. Greenfield, MA.
• 10am-5pm – CORN MAZE:  MikesMaze at Warner Farm celebrates Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday with a maze that features this famed naturalist.  Click here to see maze and get directions.  Open all weekend! Sunderland, MA.
• 12Noon-1pm & 1-3pm – ICE SKATING: Parent & Tot ice skating, followed by a public skate at Amelia Park. Westfield, MA. ($)
• 12Noon-4pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Historic Deerfield Museum features The Seed of Seeds: The Story of Corn and its Many Uses. Often called the “seed of seeds,” corn (or maize as it is properly named), is an ancient crop that was a staple of life in the Americas, both as a food source and as a fiber useful for many purposes. Learn about the history of corn in Native America, and how European colonists incorporated corn into their lives. Find out what makes popcorn pop and try your hand at grinding corn and make your own corn husk figure to take home. Included with general admission. Deerfield, MA.
• 1pm – SPORTS: Volleyball at Smith College. Northampton, MA
• 2-5pm – EDUCATIONAL HIKES: The Williamstown Rural Lands Foundation is having their 2nd Annual Amble and Scramble at Sheep HIll. There are several different hikes to choose from, lead by different teachers, avid hikers and naturalists. Families can learn about local biology, geology, local history, climate, and more are during a hike. 458-2494 Williamstown, MA ($)
• 4-5:50pm – ICE SKATING: Open ice skating at the Mullins Center at UMass. Amherst, MA. ($)
• 4:30-5:30pm – YO-YO SCHOOL: Yo-yos are taken very seriously at A2Z. Their teachers are very friendly and will be happy to teach you tricks every Saturday. 586-1611 Northampton, MA (FREE)
• 7-8pm – ASTRONOMY: Join area astronomy clubs at Mount Holyoke Summit House in Skinner State Park and view the night sky through many telescopes. Ask questions and share in the excitement of exploring the heavens with other families. 586-0350 Hadley, MA. (FREE)

SUNDAY – 09/20/09

• 9:00am-5:00pm – LOCAL FOOD (MAPLE SYRUP): Open House at North Hadley Sugar Shack at Boisvert Farm. Hadley, MA.
• 9:30am-4:30pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES:  The kids can learn about colonial cooking of apples, pumpkin & corn at the Historic Deerfield Museum’s Open Hearth Cooking Classes in Deerfield, MA. 413-775-7214
• 10am-5pm – CORN MAZE:  MikesMaze at Warner Farm celebrates Charles Darwin’s 200th birthday with a maze that features this famed naturalist.  Click here to see maze and get directions.  Open all weekend! Sunderland, MA.
• 11am (preview), 2pm – FUNDRAISER: Ashfield Community Hall (the old Grange) at 521 Main St. is holding an auction to raise funds for the restoration of this historic structure. Future plans for the building are to create a culture and community center. The auction will feature goods and services, antiques and collectibles. 834-2465 Ashfield, MA.
• 11am-4pm – LOCAL FOOD (DAIRY): 100 year Celebration at Cook Farm/Flayvors of Cook Farm. Open house, talks and demos. Fourth and fifth generation work the farm and the ice cream shop. The farm raises its own dairy herd, sells dairy products including ice cream and raw milk. 129 South Maple St. Hadley, MA.
• 12Noon-4pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Historic Deerfield Museum features The Seed of Seeds: The Story of Corn and its Many Uses. Often called the “seed of seeds,” corn (or maize as it is properly named), is an ancient crop that was a staple of life in the Americas, both as a food source and as a fiber useful for many purposes. Learn about the history of corn in Native America, and how European colonists incorporated corn into their lives. Find out what makes popcorn pop and try your hand at grinding corn and make your own corn husk figure to take home. Included with general admission. Deerfield, MA.
• 12Noon-6pm – LOCAL FOOD (HARVEST FESTIVAL): The 4th Annual North Amherst Harvest Festival will be held at the North Amherst Community Farm. North Amherst, MA (FREE)
• 12Noon-1pm & 1-3pm – ICE SKATING: Parent & Tot ice skating, followed by a public skate at Amelia Park. Westfield, MA. ($)
• 1-3pm – VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: The Highlands’ Least Wanted Field Days. Learn how to properly identify and remove The Bad B’s: Barberry, Buckthorn, and Bittersweet, at this hands-on field course taught by professional land managers. Please pre-register for directions. Contact the Highland Communities Initiative at 413-268-8219. Goshen, MA (FREE)
• 1-4pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: In the Art Studio at the Eric Carle Museum. Amherst, MA (FREE w/admission)
• 2pm – KIDS CONCERT: The Deedle Deedle Dees will be at the Iron Horse. Northampton, MA ($)
• 2:40-4:40pm – ICE SKATING: Open ice skate at Smead Arena. Springfield, MA. ($)
• 2:30-4:30pm – ICE SKATING: Open ice skating at Cyr Arena. Springfield, MA. ($)
• 3-4:50pm – ICE SKATING: Open ice skating at the Mullins Center at UMass. Amherst, MA. ($)
• 3-5pm – MUSIC:  Smith College Performing Arts presents The Nearness of You:  The Songs of Hoagy Carmichael.  Northampton. (FREE)
• 5pm – DANCE THEATER:  Inés Arrubla presents LORCA: Bajo la Luna Gitana, Flamenco, at the Northampton Center for the Arts. Northampton, MA (FREE for kids under 10)
• 7-8pm – ASTRONOMY: Join area astronomy clubs at Mount Holyoke Summit House in Skinner State Park and view the night sky through many telescopes. Ask questions and share in the excitement of exploring the heavens with other families. 586-0350 Hadley, MA. (FREE)