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Discover fun and educational events happening this weekend in Western Mass, along with announcements, upcoming events, links, resources and the HFVS podcast.
SUGGEST AN EVENT
Kids get inspired by the spring thaw and a few stalks of sidewalk chalk. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
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, place, age appropriateness and costs before attending
FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE HILLTOWNS
Friday, March 26th at 7:30pm – THEATER: The Hampshire Regional High School musical theater invites the public to its performance of The Wizard of Oz at Hampshire Regional H.S. 527-7680 x4529 Westhampton, MA ($) More info here.
DINNER IN THE HILLTOWNS
Friday, March 26th at Elmer’s Store in Ashfield: Bouillabaise (Mediterranean Fish Stew) Haddock, Shrimp, Scallops, Clams, Mussels served in a Tomato, Fennel & Saffron infused fish broth with baby potatoes – Or – Roasted vegetables over polenta parmesan cakes with sauce chimichurri.BYOB 628-4003
Saturday, March 27th at the Remington Lodge in Cummington: Maple Madness – house pickle, fresh bread with homemade butter, mesclun salad with maple-balsamic vinaigrette, maple-cider glazed ham, cheddar scalloped potatoes, lightly steamed fresh spring spinach and maple-nut cake with cinnamon streusel. BYOB RSVP 634-5493
FEATURED EVENTS
MUSIC MELTDOWN: Saturday from 10am-4pm – Family Music Meltdown & Book Bash: The River presents the second annual Family Music Meltdown and Book Bash! The event is at JFK Middle School on Bridge Road in Florence, and it’s FREE. There will be three performance areas and fun for all! To see the line up of great musicians, read HF Contributing Writer, Bill Child’s column HERE.
Following the Meltdown, drop the kids off with a sitter and head over to Artspark from 7-11pm on Saturday for an evening of music, food and a great auction at the Garden House at Look Park, also in Florence, MA.
ARTSPARK: Jennifer Gottlieb of Florence, MA writes: Join us for Artspark, a fun party and silent auction, with great music and food and hundreds of one-of-a-kind items to bid on! Artspark will feature the Valley’s popular band Unit 7 (“Speakeasy Music for the 21st Century”), and food from the Blue Heron, as well as a cash bar. Proceeds benefit the Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School. Click HERE for more information.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
THE NIELDS: Saturday, April 3rd at 10:30am – FAMILY CONCERT: The Nields at the First Churches of Northampton (129 Main Street) in The Sanctuary. The harmonious sisters sing new renditions of old folk songs as the finale of Nonotuck Community School’s Winter/Spring Family Concert Series. http://www.nonotuck.org 586-5996 Northampton, MA (FUNDRAISER)
BULLETIN BOARD
Warm welcome to our newest sponsor, Bread Euphoria of Haydenville, MA!
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 List of Weekly Suggested Events. – SPONSORSHIP: Interested in supporting the work of Hilltown Families? Find out how to be a sponsor! Serious inquiries can email us at hilltownfamilies@gmail.com for details.
CHEMISTRY TUTOR SOUGHT: Gateway parent seeks college student, alumni, or teaching professional to tutor high school student in chemistry. Any qualified individual interested in paid tutoring position can contact Andrea at (413) 862-0226.
MUMPS ALERT: Remember mumps? It’s back and active. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued an advisory this month to schools and colleges in the Northeast concerning a growing outbreak of mumps. Since January 29, a total of 1,521 cases have been reported in the tradition-observant Jewish community in New York and New Jersey. While most cases to date have occurred within that population, mumps can spread rapidly in settings such as schools and colleges. See the advisory for details on immunization recommendations, or check with your health care provider. According to the report, mumps is infectious for two days before through five days after the onset of swelling.
TICKET GIVEAWAY: Hilltown Families and Nonotuck Community School have partnered up to offer TWO lucky family a chance to win a family 4-pack of free tickets to see a family concert with The Nields, the final concert spotlighted in the school’s Winter Family Concert Series. This family concert will be in Northampton on Saturday, April 3rd at 10:30am at The First Churches of Northampton (129 Main Street) in The Sanctuary. The proceeds from the performance go to benefit this local non-profit preschool! Deadline to enter to win is 03/31/10. Find out how to enter HERE.
GEOLOGY STUDIES: The CT Valley Mineral Club welcomes new members, open to all families and students interested in geology. Through organized field trips, club members visit local elementary schools with a visual presentation about the local minerals and mineral history of the Pioneer Valley. Monthly club meetings and presentations are at the Springfield Science Museum from 7-9pm. Come learn more about the CVMC at their Western Mass Mineral, Jewelry & Fossil Show the weekend of March 27th-28th at the Holiday Inn at Ingleside in Holyoke, MA. The show will feature minerals, gemstones, fossils, mineral art, and live demos. It’s a great show for the whole family, from beginner to experienced collectors. www.cvmineralclub.org (413) 320-9741.
HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW
This week’s episode is Chantey & Mambo, with a few sea chanteys (Dan Zanes, Country Joe McDonald, and Astrograss) and mambo tunes (Beny More and Ricardo Lemvo).. Tune in to 103.3FM WXOJ this Saturday from 9-10am, or listen to our podcasts HERE. Families have several ways to tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show:
HFVS Podcast: Listen to our most recent episodes anytime you wish! Click here to see our current select of episodes, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast too!
Streaming Audio: Surf on over to ValleyFreeRadio.org on Saturday mornings and listen to us live via streaming audio from 9-10am.
On Your FM Dial: Tune in to WXOJ 103.3FM if you live near Northampton, MA from 9-10am.
WEEKLY LIST OF SUGGESTED EVENTS
Suggest an Event | Local Forecast | School Closings and Delays | Free Museum Passes | Family Centers (Ages 0-4)
Movies in the Valley | Movies in the Berkshires
Events Happening in the Hilltowns
Saturday – 03/27/10
6-10am – FAMILY RADIO: Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP 103.3FM Northampton, MA) offers 4-hours of commercial-free family programing every Saturday, including the Hilltown Family Variety Show and Spare the Rock. Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org.
All Weekend – GEOLOGY STUDIES: Western Mass Mineral Jewelry Fossil Show this weekend at the Holiday Inn at Ingleside. www.cvmineralclub.org (413) 320-9741. Holyoke, MA ($)
9:30 – 11:30am – FAMILY FARM DAY: Join Red Gate Farm to learn about maple sugaring. Learn to identify a Sugar Maple in winter, how to tap trees, and how the thin sap is made into thick, sweet syrup. Prepare yourself for a sweet treat! Ages 2 – 8, with accompanying adult. Backpack babies and older children welcome. Space is limited, Please call the Farm Office to register. 625-9503 www.redgatefarm.org Buckland, MA (>$)
10am-12Noon – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: At the Wistariahurst Museum, kids can use their creativity to turn castaways into fun and functional stuff. Hands on. RSVP 322-5660 www.wistariahurst.org Holyoke, MA ($)
10am-4pm – MUSIC & BOOKS: Family Music Meltdown and Book Bash at JFK Middle School. www.rivermeltdown.com Florence, MA (FREE)
12:30pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Chow Time in the aquarium at 12:30pm, and the Battle-Ready! Discovery Program at 1pm. At the Berkshire Museum. 443-7171 www.berkshiremuseum.org Pittsfield, MA (FREE w/museum admission)
1pm – THEATER: PaintBox Theatre Presents Mother Goose in the auditorium at the Eric Carle Museum. 658-1100 www.carlemuseum.org Amherst, MA ($)
1pm & 4:30pm – THEATER: Pioneer Valley Ballet presents Aladdin and his Magic Lamp at the Academy of Music. 527.6363 www.pioneervalleyballet.org Northampton, MA ($$)
1-3:30pm – SCIENCE ADVENTURES: Family Science Adventures at the Springfield Museums. Investigate our solar system, examine animal characteristics and discover other engaging activities designed for families to explore together. 800.625.7738 www.springfieldmuseums.org Springfield, MA (FREE w/Museum Admission)
1-4pm – CLOTHING SWAP: Kids clothes newborn-6x and maternity clothes in the Children’s Department at the Forbes Library, to benefit the Forbes Library. 341-3764 Northampton, MA (FUNDRAISER)
3-4:30pm – TRADITIONAL MUSIC: American Fiddler Tunes with John Specker at the Dynamite space in Thornes Market. 802-875-2321 Northampton, MA
5:30-9pm – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: It’s the Big Night again at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, an enchanted family evening with guided tours to meet costumed characters from vernal pools. 584-3009 Easthampton, MA ($)
6-8pm – MUSIC: Bread Euphoria will be holding a Bread & Acoustic Jam with local musicians. Come jam, or just come and listen. www.breadeuphoria.org Haydenville, MA (FREE)
7:30pm – THEATER: The Hampshire Regional High School musical theater invites the public to its performance of The Wizard of Oz at Hampshire Regional H.S. 527-7680 x4529 Westhampton, MA ($)
7-10pm – FUNDRAISER: The PTO of the Leeds Elementary School will have a silent and live auction at Union Station. 584-6646 Northampton, MA (FUNDRAISER)
7-11pm – ADULT EVENT: Artspark, a fun party and silent auction for adults at the Garden House at Look Park. Food from the Blue Heron. Music by Unit 7. Great items up for auction. Benefit for the Hilltown Cooperative Charter Public School. 268-3421 www.hilltowncharter.org Florence, MA (FUNDRAISER)
7:30pm – EARTH HOUR: Sarah Stockwell-Arthen and Friends: Sustainability Concert for Earth Hour at the Cummington Community House. www.sarahstockwell.com Cummington, MA (>$)
8pm – THEATER: St. Joseph Central High School students will showcase the Broadway Musical THE Wiz which retells the The Wizard of Oz in the context of African American culture. at Barrington Stage Co. 236-8888 Pittsfield, MA ($)
Sunday – 03/28/10
All Weekend – GEOLOGY STUDIES: Western Mass Mineral Jewelry Fossil Show this weekend at the Holiday Inn at Ingleside. www.cvmineralclub.org (413) 320-9741. Holyoke, MA ($)
10am-1pm – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Find Moose Tracks with Earthworks Programs as part of their Animal Tracking and Wildlife Wanderings program. Introduction to the art and science of tracking; learn how to read tracks and signs to tell the stories of the landscape. This activity involves easy to moderate hiking. 522-0338 www.earthworkprograms.com Williamsburg Pelham, MA ($)
12Noon – 4:30pm – MUSUEM ADVENTURES: Draw On! Day at The Carle Celebration in the art studio at the Eric Carle Museum. (413) 658-1100 www.carlemuseum.org Amherst, MA (FREE w/ Museum Admission)
12Noon – SPRING EVENT: Spring Egg Hunt at the Shutesbury Town Hall. Bring a basket. Fundraiser for the Friends of the Spear Library. Bring a basket. www.mnspear.org Shutesbury, MA (>$)
1pm – FAMILY CONCERT: Featured artist Lewis Franco from Putumayo Kids’ recently released Jazz Playground CD will share his love of jazz with all-ages audiences at the Eric Carle Museum on a special concert tour. 658-1100 www.carlemuseum.org Amherst, MA (FREE w/ Museum Admission)
1pm – THEATER: Pioneer Valley Ballet presents Aladdin and his Magic Lamp at the Academy of Music. 527.6363 www.pioneervalleyballet.org Northampton, MA ($$)
2pm – THEATER: The Hampshire Regional High School musical theater invites the public to its performance of The Wizard of Oz at Hampshire Regional H.S. 527-7680 x4529 Westhampton, MA ($)
2pm – CONCERT: The Florence Community Band presents Swing into Spring, a concert that will feature music from the 1930’s & 40’s at the Northampton High School. 586-0888 Northampton, MA (FREE)
3pm – MUSIC: The Valley Light Opera and the First Congregational Church Choir have teamed up to have a “Messiah Sing.” Under the direction of William Venman, Handel’s soaring piece will be accompanied by full orchestra and feature prominent soloists. Come with your own scores and be their chorus. Free will offering to benefit the Amherst Survival Center and Not Bread Alone. 256-8425 Amherst, MA (FREE)
3:30pm – FAMILY DANCE: Family-style contra dance for all ages at the Montague Grange. www.montagueMA.net Montague, MA ($)
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Hilltown Families 
LAST MINUTE EVENT:
Special Saturday Morning Series Presents:
JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD
Saturday, March 27, 2010
10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Student Union, Cape Cod Lounge
UMass Amherst Campus
Handicap access available
FREE Admission
Contact for more information: (413) 545-2129
10:00 The theme for Art Cycles Craft Program with artist Janet Winston,
is ALL THE FISHES IN THE SEA . Children will be using a variety
of mediums to create colorful fishes, sea animals, and plants.
11:00 Your special creation can be part of the interactive puppet
performance immediately following with JONATHAN KEEZING and his
CARAVAN PUPPETS. You will be taken on a magical trip around the world
with an international cast of puppets and puppetry styles with music,
stories, and lots of audience participation.
Randa Nachbar, coordinator
Amherst Family Center
121 North Pleasant St
(enter in the rear)
413-256-1145
Friday, April 2nd in Springfield, MA
See a Wicked Cool Yo-Yo Show at the Springfield Museums
Rediscover the fun of yo-yos at the “Wicked Cool” family program featuring the Yo-Yo People at the Springfield Museums on Friday, April 2. Activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are free with museum admission unless noted.
Performance: “The Yo-Yo Show” – Rebecca and John Higby, aka the Yo-Yo People, perform some old favorites such as Walk the Dog and Rock the Baby, then do amazing tricks with yo-yos attached to bouncing balls, yo-yos with 10-foot-long strings, and maneuvering multiple yo-yos while hula-hooping and unicycling. The duo has appeared on David Letterman, holds a Guinness World Record, and has performed in 18 countries; 1 p.m.
Art Activities – Color your own rubber ducky (11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.) and design a wicked cool aquatic scene (noon-3:45 p.m.); G.W.V. Smith Art Museum.
Scavenger Hunts – Discover items invented and made in Springfield as you tour the galleries of the new Museum of Springfield History. Then go on an I Spy scavenger hunt in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts; 11 a.m.-3:45 p.m.
Special Exhibition: Black Holes: Space Warps and Time Twists – Embark on an excursion to the edge of a black hole. Record your discoveries on an Explorer’s ID card and create your own personalized space explorer’s website to share with family and friends at home. ($3 special exhibit fee for all visitors ages 3 and up); 10 a.m-5 p.m.
Family Science Adventures – Investigate the solar system, examine animal characteristics, and more; 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Planetarium Shows – Explore the cosmos in the world’s oldest operating American-built planetarium; 11:15 a.m., noon, 1 & 2 p.m. (additional fee)
The Springfield Museums are located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards Street in downtown Springfield. Free parking is available in the Edwards Street parking lots. Admission is $12.50 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6.50 for children 3-17, and free for children under three and museum members. Springfield residents are free with proof of address. The fee provides admission to all four Springfield Museums and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden.
For information, call 413-263-6800 or visit http://www.springfieldmuseums.org.
Check out times and locations of Family Center Playgroups in Western Mass HERE.
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Mondays from 12noon-1:30pm in Northampton, MA (FREE)
Free Mother-Mother Breastfeeding group hosted by a certified lactation consultant every Monday from noon-1:30 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
Baby weight check
Information discussed includes but not limited to: latching, pumping basics, introducing bottles, introducing family foods, allergies, weaning.
Medela Symphony pumps available to rent by the day or month.
Full line of Medela pumps and products are available, including camisoles and bras. Fittings by appointment.
582-2096
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Lessons from the History of Chinese Agriculture
Monday, March 29th at 7 p.m.
Forbes Library Community Room
Free and open to the public.
Sigrid Schmalzer (History department, UMass-Amherst)
Chinese agriculture has presented dramatically different faces to Western observers: the wisdom of “farmers of forty centuries”; the backwardness of impoverished peasants; the promise of science for the people, not chemical corporations; the tragedy of contaminated animal feeds and poisoned milk supplies. How have our own assumptions and desires shaped the way we see Chinese agriculture? What do we – and what should we – actually learn from recent Chinese agricultural history? The talk will focus on the case of insect pest control but will also touch on composting, biogas, integrated farming, and other subjects.
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Mondays in Conway, MA
9:15-10:15am
Morning Yoga with Toddlers at the Town Hall
with Lisa Schmitt
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Mondays in Northampton, MA (FREE)
The Forbes Library hosts a Manga/Anime Club from 4:30-5:30pm. Drop-ins welcomed. In the children’s department. http://www.forbeslibrary.org/
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Mondays in Northampton, MA ($)
Momma and Baby Yoga (Start after 7 weeks postpartum)
10:15 – 11:30am in Northampton at Cooley Dickinson Hospital
Get back in shape through healthy movement that stretch and tone the new mother’s body gently. Connect with other mothers. Relieve aches and pains due to nursing and poor posture. Reduce stress through breathing and awareness. Recondition your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Whether baby is feeding in your arms or lying on you or next to you, your baby is included in the fun.
Momma and Baby Yoga classes are offered weekly as long as there are enough families pre-registered to attend
Cost: $44 for 4 classes; or $13 per single class. Pre-registration is required: 582-2736, press “3” for Yoga
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Tuesdays at 10:30am in Amherst, MA
Sing with Your Baby a fun musical program with Happy Dan the Music Man through May 4th
in the Large Meeting Room at the Jones Library.
http://www.joneslibrary.org/juv/programs.html
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Wednesday, March 31st, Pittsfield, MA
Wednesday: Magic Show Benefits Conte Playground
Conte Community School would like to raise funds to repair their playground into make it fun and safe environment for students and other children in the Westside Community. Come out and support the school’s efforts as magician Ed Popielarczy mesmerizes the audience!
Wednesday, March 31 | 6pm | Conte Community School | 200 West Union St | 448-9660 ext. 25 | $5/$4 children
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Wednesdays in Northampton, MA (FREE)
Jewish Family Jam from 10:30-11:15 a.m.
Jewish Jam is for infants, toddlers and their caregivers. Appropriate for ages 0-3. Together we will sing, drum and dance our way through the Jewish cycles and explore musical play and rituals that your family can enjoy together.
No class on March 31st or May 19th.
Leader: Felicia Sloin
Cost: Free
Location: Lander Grinspoon Academy, 257 Prospect Street, Northampton, MA
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Wednesdays in Hadley, MA
Support Group for Kinship Caregivers
Are you a grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or sibling who is raising your relative’s children? If so, you are a Kinship Care provider! A free ten-session educational and support group for Kinship Caregivers who are parenting at least one child age six or under, will begin January 27th from 5:00 pm until 7:30 pm at Berkshire Children and Families 220 Russell St. Suite 200, Hadley, MA. A meal and child care will be provided. For more information call Katarina Noyes at 413-584-5690 ext.140.
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Wednesdays in Amherst, MA ($)
Momma and Baby Yoga (Start after 7 weeks postpartum)
Wednesdays from 10:30 – 11:45am in Amherst: CDH outpatient offices at 170 University Drive.
Get back in shape through healthy movement that stretch and tone the new mother’s body gently. Connect with other mothers. Relieve aches and pains due to nursing and poor posture. Reduce stress through breathing and awareness. Recondition your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Whether baby is feeding in your arms or lying on you or next to you, your baby is included in the fun.
Momma and Baby Yoga classes are offered weekly as long as there are enough families pre-registered to attend
Cost: $44 for 4 classes; or $13 per single class. Pre-registration is required: 582-2736, press “3” for Yoga
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Wednesday, March 31st at the Forbes Library in Northampton, MA
Forbes Library is delighted to present a free concert by Peter Biedermann on Wednesday, March 31 at 7 PM. This is Peter’s second appearance at the library. His concert here in 2009 was received with exceptional enthusiasm so we have invited him back to share his music again with the Northampton community.
Peter Biedermann is a guitarist who has been composing and performing for over 35 years. While his music covers a number of genres in the electronic and acoustic fields, the music you will hear on the evening of Wednesday, March 31st will be original acoustic instrumental music performed on 6 & 12 string guitars in unique tunings. While acoustic guitar pioneers such as Michael Hedges, Bert Jansch, Leo Kottke and Ralph Towner are considered to be major influences on his music, many other lesser known originators of finger style acoustic guitar are acknowledged and referenced at his live performances. For more info, go to http://www.peterbiedermann.com
FREE, all ages at Forbes Library at the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library & Museum (2nd floor) 587-1013
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Thursdays in Amherst, MA (FREE)
Preschool story time at the Jones Library in the kids’ room.
http://www.joneslibrary.org/juv/programs.html
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Fridays in Hardwick, MA (FREE)
Eagle Hill School in Hardwick, MA is offering a FREE 5-week Infant Massage class for parents and caretakers and their babies, ages birth- 1 year. The classes will take place at the school (242 Old Petersham Rd. Hardwick) on Friday mornings from 9-10 March 19th, 26th, April 2nd, 9th, and 16th. To register, please contact Jessica Geary at 413-477-6000 ext. 1390. Also, check out the website at http://www.centerateaglehill.org to view more information about the class and other classes offered (under ABOUT/WORKSHOPS).
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Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, MA
http://www.berkshiremuseum.org
Fridays at 10 & 11 a.m.
Aquarium Adventures
Each week children can get up close and personal with different animals from our aquarium and watch them eat. Story time is included; recommended for ages 2 – 4. Free with Museum admission.
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Fridays in Holyoke, MA
Think and Play Friday at the Childrens Museum
http://www.childrensmuseumholyoke.org
The program begins every Friday at 9:30 am and runs for approximately 45 minutes to an hour. This program is designed principally for our curious museum visitors who are preschool age and offers valuable guided learning experiences that will introduce our young guests to our exhibits as well as talented members of our museum staff. Be looking forward to music and movement, fun with food, art projects, and more with Ashley!
Arrive for the program promptly because it’s only $6.00 per family (this includes admission to the museum) and is free for members. Anyone arriving after 10:00 am will have to pay regular museum admission prices.