Baby, it’s cold (and snowy) outside

O.K. Enough already! When there is too much snow to even snowshoe in the Berkshires, I’d say we’ve had enough. But as I sit here writing this column, taking periodic glances at The Weather Channel app on my iPhone, it is clear that Mother Nature doesn’t agree with me. It seems she’ll be dumping enough snow on us this week to last through to the month of June. Let’s just hope the following family-friendly events in the area are still a go and if they are, let’s hope people can unbury themselves from the storm to attend.

EVERYTHING’S BETTER WITH CHOCOLATE

O.K. mom’s (sorry to discriminate here), but do I have an event that has your name written all over it — the Chocolate Berkshires Kickoff Party. Yes, I said chocolate and party in the same sentence, and you can bet there will be plenty of both at Chocolate Springs in Lenox on Tuesday, Feb. 8, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The event kicks off the February monthlong chocolate festival in the Berkshires. Yes, I said that, too. Let me repeat it: THE BERKSHIRES IS HAVING A MONTHLONG CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL. Chocolate Berkshires is organized by “Berkshires own Willy Wonka” Joshua Needleman of Chocolate Springs and the Berkshire Visitors Bureau and, according to its website, the monthlong event’s goal is to bring “friends, neighbors, local businesses, winter visitors and likely some chocolate-loving skiers” together as they dip the Berkshire Hills into a fragrant concoction of CHOCOLATE. The kickoff party will include complimentary hot chocolate and other treats while visitors mingle with other chocolate lovers and local businesses. For more information about upcoming chocolate events visit chocolateberkshires.com.

EVEN MORE CHOCOLATE

Shirley Edgerton and members of Youth Alive are shown here at the January 2009 Inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. Youth Alive has kicked off a chocolate fundraiser in conjunction with Berkshire County’s monthlong chocolate festival to benefit the organizations Rites of Passage Empowerment Program for Girls. (Courtesy Youth Alive)

If you live in or near the Berkshires chances are you have heard of Shirley Edgerton. If you haven’t, then listen up. Shirley is the executive director of Youth Alive, a community-based performance arts program with a mission to engage participants in performance arts and educational activities, to promote positive development, to provide an opportunity to experience success and develop leadership skills, and to learn teamwork. Last spring Shirley began offering another program through Youth Alive, Inc. — Rites of Passage and Empowerment Program for Girls, an initiative designed to celebrate and honor the entry of adolescent girls into womanhood and provide them with skills and knowledge that they need to be successful, independent and responsible young women. In conjunction with the month long chocolate festival in the area, Youth Alive has kicked off a chocolate fundraiser where people can indulge in some of “the best chocolate fudge ever,” while supporting this program. All you have to do is order your fudge from the Mill Fudge Factory and 20% of the money from the orders will benefit and support Youth Alive. Order by midnight Feb. 9 and receive your order by Valentine’s Day. And if you have never seen the Youth Alive step, dance and drumline troupe, then make sure to bookmark their website so you can stay up-to-date on their upcoming performances.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE BERKSHIRES

‘Escape from Slavery: Underground Railroad,’ by Jerry Pinkney is on view at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge as party of the museum’s “Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney” exhibit. Pinkney’s art celebrates and brings to life the contributions of important African-American freedom fighters. The museum will be offering a “Witnessing History” performance series in conjunction with the exhibit in celebration of Black History Month. (Pinkney: Courtesy Norman Rockwell Museum)

February is Black History month and there is plenty to do in the area to commemorate the monthlong celebration and the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge is leading the way with their “Witnessing History” performance series. The series, presented in conjunction with the museum’s current exhibition “Witness: The Art of Jerry Pinkney,” celebrates and brings to life the contributions of important African-American freedom fighters. The series began Jan. 29 with “I Can’t Die But Once: The Story of Harriet Tubman” and will continue at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, with “Ain’t I A Woman: The Story of Sojourner Truth” and “On God’s Green Earth a Free Woman: The Story of Elizabeth Freeman” on March 26. If children are too young to sit through one of these performances, take a trip and wander through the art of Jerry Pinkney, a master of the American picture book whose powerful, heart-warming stories reflect personal and cultural themes, and explore the African-American experience in words and pictures. ($$$)

HEADING NORTH

There are myriad playgroups and story times throughout Berkshire County, but no one does it quite the way the Family Resource Center of Northern Berkshire in North Adams does. From toddler and preschool story hours to parent discussion groups to Science Saturdays the center has a little something for every member of the family. Upcoming events include: Toddler Time story hour at the North Adams Public Library every Tuesday at 10 a.m. for children ages 1 to 3; preschool story time each Wednesday at 10 a.m. for children ages 3 to 6; Make and Take Valentine Workshop, Saturday, Feb. 5, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for children ages 5 and up at the North Adams Public Library; Parent Discussion Group, a group for parents that focuses on self-awareness, self-care and support, Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Haskins Center located at 210 State St. in North Adams (free child care, transportation and refreshments included); and from 10:30 to 11:20 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, the Science Fun for Families, a hands-on science workshop where children and their parents will explore the properties of common, everyday substances found in the kitchen! Families will have a chance to enter and win a free science book featuring science experiments they can do at home. Space is limited so call 413-662-4821 to register.

WINTER IN THE GARDEN

Who says you can’t play in the garden with nearly 5-feet of snow on the ground? Not the folks at the Berkshire Botanical Garden in Stockbridge. The Youth Education Office at the Garden is presenting a series of Saturday family-friendly workshops throughout the winter for parents and their children. Next up: “Make Your Own Paper,” on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 1 to 3 p.m., where participants age 5 and up will learn the craft of paper-making from beginning to end and take home their own homemade paper designs. The Berkshire Botanical Garden is located at Routes 102 and 183 in Stockbridge. To register for the workshop or to learn more about upcoming programs call 413-298-3926 or go online to www.berkshirebotanical.org.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST

The Family Beat will celebrate its Feb. 10 launch with a party that same day from 3 to 5 p.m. at Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield with a variety of free activities and treats for the whole family. (Courtesy Photo: Family Beat)

For the last few months at my “day job” with The Advocate (www.advocateweekly.com) my editor and I have been working furiously to get ready for the launch of our new Family Beat magazine on newsstands Thursday, Feb. 10. That day, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Bousquet Ski Area in Pittsfield we will celebrate the launch with a free family-friendly celebration with free food, free raffles, free door-prizes, free crafts and more. Also while families are there they can hit the slopes for or try the tubing hill ($$). What could be a better way to spend an afternoon? To learn more about The Family Beat visit the magazine’s Facebook page or log onto our website at www.thefamilybeat.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kelly Bevan McIlquham ♦ Berkshire Family Fun

Kelly Bevan McIlquham writes our bi-monthly column, Berkshire Family Fun, sharing update, events and activities for families in the Berkshires.  Kelly is a psychotherapist-turned-writer who resides in Hinsdale, MA with her husband, three children, a chocolate lab, a very fat cat, a turtle, and a few goldfish. She is the Features Editor for The Advocate and the Editor of The Family Beat in the Berkshires. Kelly also dabbles in writing for children and has had her non-fiction published by Wee Ones online family magazine. When not writing or editing, her favorite pastime is cheering on her children at various football, soccer, basketball and baseball games. kwm229@msn.com — Check out Berkshire Family Fun the first and third Thursday of each month.