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

First Prize Winner of the Northampton Chalk Art Festival last Friday. (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.

BEST BETS

Saturday, September 18th from 10am – FAMILY FILM: International Family Film series at Images Cinema (50 Spring St.) begins with an Aardman Animations Retrospective, featuring the new Wallace & Gromit episode: A Matter of Loaf and Death. Following the screening, special Guest Tom Gasek will field questions. Tom Gasek was an animator and director for Aardman for two years. His credits include The Wrong Trousers, Chicken Run, as well as Gumby, The California Raisins and many others. Recommended for ages 6yo & older. www.imagescinema.org Williamstown, MA (>$)

Sunday, September 19th from 12Noon-8pm – HARVEST FESTIVAL: Enjoy the family fun at the 5th Annual North Amherst Harvest Festival hosted by North Amherst Community Farm and Simple Gifts Farm. This fall celebration includes a kid’s stage featuring Yuri the Prince of Color, Happy Dan the Music Man, Henry the Juggler and more! Family field games & races, face painting, hayrides, Cow Plop Bingo and more! Yummy locally grown food, a pig roast, and a great lineup of live music including Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry. with music, food and kid activities at NACF/Simple Gifts Farm (1089 N. Pleasant Street). http://www.nacfonline.org Amherst, MA

Kids participating in the Northampton Chalk Art Festival last Friday in Pulaski Park. (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Saturday, September 25th at 7pm – FILM FEST: Ashfield Film Festival Gala Preview at the Ashfield Town Hall.   Whether you’re a budding filmmaker or just your every day ‘ol movie lover, the Ashfield FilmFest is for you!  It’s a night of film, friends and fun. www.ashfieldfilmfest.org Ashfield, MA

Sunday, September 26th from 1-6:30pm – FAMILY CONCERT: On stage at the Pine Theater at Look Park, a CD release concert for the star-studded family music CD, Many Hands, will take place. Scheduled performers include: Dan Zanes, Elizabeth Mitchell & Family, Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, Tony Vacca, Grenadilla and The Deedle Deedle Dees. Florence, MA ($)

BULLETIN BOARD

SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. Let us help get the word out about your event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business or announcement. Email hilltownfamilies@gmail.com for more information. — Help us help you!

HERB CLASS FOR KIDS: Hilltown Families sponsor, Blazing Star Herbal School, and local herbalists present Dandelion Wishes: Herbal Magic for Kids (7-13yo) on Sunday, September 19th, from 10am-3pm in Ashfield, MA. Through craft and working with different flowers and plants, kids can have fun exploring the magic of dreaming, connect with the green world, share stories and make potions for their heart’s desire. Participants will make herbal dream pillows, an herbal bath blend, a magic potion, and weave a Weeping Willow wreath. Teachers include Tony(a) Lemos, Brittany Wood Nickerson, Venus Zephyr, Angie Gregory, and Dori Midnight. Class fee is $40. To register, call Blazing Star Herbal School 625-2030 or email blazingstarclinic@gmail.com.

Deadline to enter to win: September 22nd.

Swansea Benham Bleicher, Director of the Northampton Parents Center writes: The Northampton Parents Center is open again for the 2010-2011 season… Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30-11:30 am. All children birth through kindergarten age and their caregivers are welcome. Donations are greatly appreciated, but not required. Music classes on Thursday mornings. Come and join us for our 25th year! For more information visit www.northamptonparentscenter.org.

PRESCHOOL DISCUSSION: Have you checked out our Preschool Discussion Thread lately over on the Hilltown Families Facebook page? Erin O’Donnell is looking for help to start a new preschool in the Hilltowns, and Nancy Cavillones is looking for a daycare/preschool in the Valley. “Like” us and add your 2-cents! – Have a topic you wish to discuss? Start a new thread on a new topic.

Deadline to enter to win: September 27th.

MUSIC THERAPY: On Friday, September 17th, the Northampton Community Music Center (139 South St.) will host an Open House for its Music Therapy Program for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Parents of children ages 3-21 who might benefit from the program are invited to attend. Program director Michael Williams-Russell will speak about the program’s beneficial effects on past participants, and answer questions about how music can make a difference in the lives of those affected by autism. The event will be held in NCMC’s Recital Hall, and will begin at 4:00pm. 585-0001 www.ncmc.net

LIBRARY AND PARENT CENTER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Littleville Elementary School is looking for help staffing their school library. Volunteers are needed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the school day (hours vary). Click here for a sign-up form to return to the school office, and additional information on volunteering at the library. The Littleville Parent Center is also looking for volunteers who can donate time to help teachers. Click here for more information and a sign-up sheet to return to the school office. [FILL]

PARENTING CLASS: The Family Resource Center in North Adams presents, How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk, a free 6 week parenting series for parents. Learn simple effective communication techniques that really work – Cope with your child’s negative feelings. Express your anger without being hurtful. Gain your child’s cooperation. Set limits and maintain goodwill. Use alternatives to punishment. Resolve family conflicts peacefully. – This 6-week class is for families with a child age 8 or under starting Monday, September 27th for six Monday nights from 5:30 to 7:00pm at the Haskins Community Center. Includes free class, light snack, transportation (if needed) and child care. Call 413-664-4821 to register. Space is limited.

Deadline to enter to win: September 29th.

RECYCLE HAZARDOUS HOUSEHOLD WASTE: Saturday September 25th, 9 – 11:30 AM, Great Barrington Recycling Center, drop off your waste oil paint and used motor oil. For residents of Alford, Becket, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham and West Stockbridge. To register or for information about what can be brought to this drop off, visit www.cetonline.org or email amandad@cetonline.org. Or call CET at 888-577-8448 ext. 10 or 30. Residents from communities that are not participating should call their City or Town Hall for information about hazardous household product collections.

COMMUNITY EXHIBIT: Call to participate in a community exhibit about Walking at The Art Garden in Shelburne Falls. The Exhibit Hundreds of Ways will include creative work that reflects on the theme of walking (poetry, prose, drawing, painting, photography, mixed-media, etc.) Participation is free and open to all ages! Deadline for submissions: September 21st. Opening reception and full moon walk: September 23rd. For details see www.theartgarden.wordpress.com. The Art Garden is a Community Supported Art-making place located in the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum building.

HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW

Tune in every Saturday from 9-10am. Encore episodes are aired every Sunday from 7-8am.

This week on the HFVS, Hilltown Families contributing writer, Amber Bobnar of Boston Children’s Music, put together our playlist of school songs she and her son listen to as they get ready for school.  She’s featuring music by Bill Harley, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Family, Ben Rudnick & Friends, Recess Monkey, Renee & Jeremy, Justin Roberts, and several others.

Families have several ways to tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show:

Streaming Audio: Surf on over to ValleyFreeRadio.org on Saturday & Sunday mornings and listen to us live via streaming audio.

On Your FM Dial: Tune in to WXOJ 103.3FM if you live near Northampton, MA.

PODCAST: Listen to the most recent episodes of the Hilltown Family Variety Show anytime you wish! Click here to see our current select of episodes, and be sure to subscribe to our podcast too!

WEEKLY LIST OF SUGGESTED EVENTS

Saturday • Sunday • Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday • Thursday • Friday

Suggest an Event | Local Forecast | Free Museum Passes | Playgroups & Family Centers | Movies in the Valley | Movies in the Berkshires | Farmers’ Markets | Listen Here

Events Happening in the Hilltowns

♦ On-going Events

Saturday – 9/18

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.

♦ 8:30am-12:30pm – FARMERS’ MARKET: On the town green. Ashfield, MA (MARKET)

All Day – BIG E: New England’s Premier Exposition. www.TheBigE.com West Springfield, MA ($)

9am-3pm – RESKILLING: Food Preservation Workshop presented by NOFA/Mass. Northampton, MA ($$)

9am-1pm – BOOK SALE: Chesterfield Public Library book sale on the library lawn (Route 143). Chesterfield, MA (SALE)

9:30am-5pm – AGRICULTURE FAIR: Old Sturbridge Village celebrates the coming of fall with an old-fashioned Agricultural Exhibition celebrating heirloom vegetables, locally grown food and historical farming techniques. Stagecoach and riverboat rides are free throughout the weekend, and visitors can help plow behind the Village oxen, and learn to winnow and thresh grain, and shell corn the old-fashioned way all weekend long. 800-733-1830 www.osv.org Sturbridge, MA ($)

10am – PUPPET SHOW: Tanglewood Marionettes perform The Dragon King at the Shea Theater (71 Avenue A). 863-2281 www.theshea.org Turners Falls, MA (>$)

10am-2pm – FARMERS’ MARKET: Holyoke Harvest Farmers’ Market at Open Square Way. Local farmers, food, entertainment, coffee and more. Holyoke, MA (MARKET)

10am – FAMILY FILM: International Family Film series at Images Cinema (50 Spring St.) begins with an Aardman Animations Retrospective, featuring the new Wallace & Gromit episode: A Matter of Loaf and Death. Following the screening, special Guest Tom Gasek will field questions. Tom Gasek was an animator and director for Aardman for two years. His credits include The Wrong Trousers, Chicken Run, as well as Gumby, The California Raisins and many others. Recommended for ages 6yo & older. www.imagescinema.org Williamstown, MA (>$)

10am-12Noon – BREASTFEEDING WORKSHOP: Breastfeeding Workshop offered by Melanie Seserman at the CHP Family Services Building (441 Stockbridge Rd.). Learn the basics of breastfeeding with a certified lactation consultant. 644-0104 www.communityhealthprograms.org Great Barrington, MA (FREE)

10am-4pm – CRAFT FAIR: Old Deerfield Craft Fair, outdoors in the village of Old Deerfield. Includes craft demos. www.deerfield-craft.org Old Deerfield, MA (>$)

♦ 10am-5pm – CORN MAZE: Mike’s Maze at Warner Farm (25 South Main St.). 665-8331 www.mikesmaze.com Sunderland, MA ($)

10:30am-12Noon – CULTURAL CELEBRATION: José Gonzalez and Banda Criolla present Caribbean Fiesta for Kids. Fun music and songs for the entire family – part of the Jones Library Hispanic Heritage Month series of events. 259-3223 www.joneslibrary.org Amherst, MA (FREE)

♦ 12Noon-3pm – COMMUNITY MEAL: Montague Farm Zen House presents the weekly Montague Farm Cafe -a free, weekly family oriented meal and gathering, with healthy food, art activities, live music, and games. 367-5275 Montague, MA (FREE)

12Noon-4:30pm – FOOD HISTORY: Honey Harvest at Historic Deerfield. Honey was an important ingredient used to sweeten foods and beverages in colonial America, and to brew a traditional drink called mead. Join museum educators in this fun family program to learn about bees and honey. Taste different kinds of honey, and make a beeswax candle to take home. 775-7214 www.historic-deerfied.org Deerfield, MA (FREE w/admission)

♦ 12:30pm – MUSEUM ADVENTURES: Chow Time in the aquarium at the Berkshire Museum. 443-7171 www.berkshiremuseum.org Pittsfield, MA (FREE w/museum admission)

♦ 1pm – ASTRONOMY : Amherst Solar will be set up with their telescopes on the Amherst Town Common all summer. Stop by with the kids and see Sunspots, Prominences, Limb Darkening and more. 256-6234 amastro.org Amherst, MA (FREE)

1pm & 3pm – RESKILLING: “To Bee or Not to Bee” – An Introduction to Backyard Beekeeping at the Hancock Shaker Village. Learn how to set up an apiary and learn all about bees. Hands-on honey extraction and other bee activities. 443-0188 www.hancockshakervillage.org Pittsfield, MA (FREE w/Admission)

♦ 1-5pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Tour the William Cullen Bryant Homestead. Explore the ancestral home of the great 19th-century poet, newspaperman, and essayist, and wander the grounds above the Westfield River. Try the “I Spy” family activity using a hands-on spy pack to discover the Homestead’s secrets. 634-2244 Cummington, MA (>$)

♦ 2-4pm – CHESS: At the Forbes Library. Casual meets every Saturday the library is open. All competition levels are welcome. Drop in for part or all of the session. Bring your own set if you have one or use one of the library’s. 587-1011 www.forbeslibrary.org Northampton, MA (FREE)

♦ 3pm – ASTRONOMY: Observe the sun with Northampton Solar at A2Z Science and Learning Center. See Sunspots, Prominences, Limb Darkening and more. Northampton, MA (FREE)

♦ 9pm – ASTRONOMY: View the Moon, Planets, Satellites, Multiple Stars, Star Clusters, Galaxies, Nebulas and more through the 6 ton, 25 foot long, 18 inch F/17, World Class Clark Refractor at the Wilder Observatory at the Amherst College. Set up a telescope on the lawn, view through public use telescopes. www.amherstastronomy.org Amherst, MA (FREE)

Sunday – 9/19

7-8am – FAMILY RADIO: Valley Free Radio (WXOJ-LP 103.3FM Northampton, MA) airs encores the Hilltown Family Variety Show every Sunday morning. Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org.

♦ 8am – WOMEN’S TRAIL RUN: Women of all levels are welcomed to a casual weekly trail run at the Chesterfield Gorge. All distances/All levels welcome. Organized by Leslie Charles and Tanya Rapinchuk. There is a late-risers run/walk at 9am too. West Chesterfield, MA

9am-7:30pm – BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: The Old Creamery turns 10! Come celebrate with food, music, storytelling, and much more! Cummington, MA (FREE)

All Day – BIG E: New England’s Premier Exposition. www.TheBigE.com West Springfield, MA ($)

9:30am-5pm – AGRICULTURE FAIR: Old Sturbridge Village celebrates the coming of fall with an old-fashioned Agricultural Exhibition celebrating heirloom vegetables, locally grown food and historical farming techniques. Stagecoach and riverboat rides are free throughout the weekend, and visitors can watch a plowing competition, and learn to winnow and thresh grain, and shell corn the old-fashioned way all weekend long. 800-733-1830 www.osv.org Sturbridge, MA ($)

10am-1pm – BOOK READING: Celebrate National Talk Like a Pirate Day at Elmer’s Store (Main St.) with local illustrator Greg Ruth. Greg will be reading from his new book, A Pirate’s Guide to First Grade. Pirate goodies for the wee ones. Ashfield, MA (FREE)

10am-3pm – KIDS HERB CLASS: Dandelion Wishes: Herbal Magic for Kids (7-13yo) at Blazing Star Herbal School. 625-2030 Ashfield, MA ($$)

10am-4pm – CRAFT FAIR: Old Deerfield Craft Fair, outdoors in the village of Old Deerfield. Includes craft demos. www.deerfield-craft.org Old Deerfield, MA (>$)

♦ 10am-5pm – CORN MAZE: Mike’s Maze at Warner Farm (25 South Main St.). 665-8331 www.mikesmaze.com Sunderland, MA ($)

11am-4pm – FOOD FESTIVAL: Hungry Ghost Bread will host The Wonder Not! Bread Festival. Food, farmers, music and a puppet parade at noon. 582-9009 www.hungryghostbread.com Northamtpon, MA (FREE)

12Noon-7pm – COMMUNITY CELEBRATION: Hilltown Hoot, a “fun”raiser for Central Berkshire Schools, will have live music, crafters, food and family fun on the Washington Town Park (Rt. 8). www.hilltownhoot.com Washington, MA (FUNDRAISER)

12Noon-4:30pm – FOOD HISTORY: Honey Harvest at Historic Deerfield. Honey was an important ingredient used to sweeten foods and beverages in colonial America, and to brew a traditional drink called mead. Join museum educators in this fun family program to learn about bees and honey. Taste different kinds of honey, and make a beeswax candle to take home. 775-7214 www.historic-deerfied.org Deerfield, MA (FREE w/admission)

12Noon-8pm – HARVEST FESTIVAL: Enjoy the family fun at the 5th Annual North Amherst Harvest Festival hosted by North Amherst Community Farm and Simple Gifts Farm. This fall celebration includes a kid’s stage featuring Yuri the Prince of Color, Happy Dan the Music Man, Henry the Juggler and more! Family field games & races, face painting, hayrides, Cow Plop Bingo and more! Yummy locally grown food, a pig roast, and a great lineup of live music including Tracy Grammer and Jim Henry. with music, food and kid activities at NACF/Simple Gifts Farm (1089 N. Pleasant Street). http://www.nacfonline.org Amherst, MA

12:30-3:30pm – COMMUNITY PICNIC: Families at the Solar Circle affordable condominium community in Haydenville are hosting a “Vote NO on 2” potluck picnic to showcase their affordable housing community in order to highlight the importance of voting no on Question #2 on the ballot in November. The event is open to the public. Solar Circle is a housing development for first time home buyers built using the affordable housing law, otherwise known as Chapter 40B. This November, Massachusetts voters will weigh in on Question 2, which asks voters to repeal Chapter 40B, a law that has created 80% of the affordable housing built in Massachusetts, outside of the major cities, over the last decade. More info on this topic HERE. Haydenville, MA (FREE)

1-2pm – NATURE STUDIES: Monarch Butterfly Tagging at Mount Pollux. Catch and tag the butterflies as part of ongoing research across North America coordinated by Monarch Watch. The program will start with a short introduction, followed by in-the-field tagging. All ages are welcome. Pre-registration is required 256-6006 www.hitchcockcenter.org (FREE)

1pm-4pm – ART ADVENTURES: Storytime in the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (125 West Bay Rd.) reading library at 2pm with David Hyde Costello, author of I Can Help; Special Sunday activity in the Art Studio (1 pm – 4pm) creating thank you cards for the workers cleaning up the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.   658-1100 http://www.carlemuseum.org Amherst, MA (MUSEUM ADMISSION)

1-4pm – NATURE STUDIES: Fungus Among Us at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Artist/naturalist Marty Klein, a wild mushroom enthusiast, shares his 25 plus years’ experience collecting, studying, and consuming mushrooms native to the Northeast in this program. Preregistration required. 584-3009 Easthampton, MA ($)

♦ 1-4pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Hadley Farm Museum (Route 9) is open. Take the kids for a historic exploration of farming through equipment and tool displays. 533-2412 Hadley, MA (>$)

♦ 1-5pm – HISTORIC ADVENTURES: Tour the William Cullen Bryant Homestead. Explore the ancestral home of the great 19th-century poet, newspaperman, and essayist, and wander the grounds above the Westfield River. Try the “I Spy” family activity using a hands-on spy pack to discover the Homestead’s secrets. 634-2244 Cummington, MA (>$)

1pm & 3pm – RESKILLING: “To Bee or Not to Bee” – An Introduction to Backyard Beekeeping at the Hancock Shaker Village. Learn how to set up an apiary and learn all about bees. Hands-on honey extraction and other bee activities. 443-0188 http://www.hancockshakervillage.org Pittsfield, MA (FREE w/Admission)

1:30-4:30pm – OUTDOOR ADVENTURES: Lostproofing and the Art of Shelter with Earthwork Programs for families. 522-0338 Conway, MA ($$)

2-4pm – ICE CREAM SOCIAL:  Herrell’s Ice Cream turned 30 years old, and Steve is inviting everyone in for a free medium cone or dish, any flavor. Northampton, MA (FREE)

2:30-6pm – COMMUNITY BBQ: Florence Civic and Business Association Chicken BBQ happens at the Florence Civic Center. Community Band plays at 2:30. Florence, MA ($)

♦ 4-6pm – OUTDOOR GAME: Pick-up Ultimate Frisbee at the Ashfield Ballfield. Ages 10 & older. More info call William at 628-3336. Ashfield, MA

5-8pm – FUNDRAISER: Fundraiser for Double Edge Theater at the home of Peter and Diane Jones. Food, drink, live music and entertainment. Must RSVP: 628-0277 Ashfield, MA (ADULT FUNDRAISER)