Hilltown Families 
Suggested Events for February 17th – 23rd, 2018
To find out about more event, be sure to visit our Suggest an Event Bulletin Board to see what our readers have recently shared! Have an event to share? Feel encouraged to self-post community events here at any time!
If you have a community event, educational program, or service-learning opportunity happening in Western Massachusetts that you’d like to let us know about, self-post your event at any time on our Suggest An Event bulletin board. 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.
Serving Western Massachusetts since 2005, Hilltown Families supports development and enhancement of our local economy and community. Local businesses, individuals, schools, and non-profits are encouraged to partner with Hilltown Families through sponsorship and advertising. Let us help get the word out about your after school/homeschool class, event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business/school, service, open house, volunteer opportunity or general announcement. Deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! Click HERE to find out more.
Summer Camp
MARKET YOUR SUMMER CAMP: In an effort to connect families with summer camps & programs in the region, Hilltown Families is offering camps and programs a chance to partner with us in their online marketing with a special enhanced publicity offer. On Wednesday, March 7th, 2018, Hilltown Families will be featuring summer camps and programs in the region on Hilltown Families with a special post titled: 2018 Summer Camps and Programs in Western MA. Find out more about this targeted marketing opportunity HERE.
Bulletin Board
Feb. 21
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live – 65 Milltion Years in the Making! Two Shows February Vacation Week! February 21, 2PM & 7PM at CityStage, Springfield. Observe, and interact with an eye-popping collection of amazingly life-like dinosaurs and other creatures presented in a theatrical performance that will thrill and entertain kids while stimulating their imaginations in ways that will forever connect them to their world. Brought to life by a team of skilled performers and puppeteers, and designed with the help of professional paleontologists, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live’s puppets are so extraordinarily realistic you may feel the urge to run and hide – but don’t miss a minute of it. Click here for more info. Buy tickets HERE.
Feb 19-23
Let your imagination soar at the New England Air Museum during February School Vacation Week! Explore 3 giant exhibit hangars filled w/over 60 historic aircraft & experience the wonders of flight through daily hands-on activities including Build & Fly Challenges, interactive Flight Science Demos, computerized Flight Simulators, and Open Cockpit Experiences in historic aircraft. Visitors can also take to the skies at the museum’s Virtual Flight Center using advanced, 3 screen yoke & pedal flight simulators (ages 10+). Additional learning opportunities include a Balsa Wood Airplane Workshop (Feb 19), LEGO Flying Machine Contest (Feb 20), Parachute Drop (Feb 21), Frisbee Fun (Feb 22) and Straw Rocket Launch (Feb 23). More info at www.neam.org.
Jun 18 – Jul 27
Connect with nature through the life of a working farm: The Hartsbrook School’s Farm Camp in Hadley, MA lets children slow down and savor the summer! Campers spend time tending the animals, doing agriculturally-based crafts and enjoying carefree days with other “young farmers.” Experienced, thoughtful counselors allow campers to enjoy the freedom and wonder of summer. The practical skills learned on the farm help children to be more confident and grounded in their everyday lives. Dates: Jun 18-Jul 27; Age Range of Campers: 4-12yo For more info: 413-586-1908 x116; farmcamp@hartsbrook.org; www.hartsbrook.org.
Jul 8 – Aug 4
Maximize your creativity and character! The Experimentory at Deerfield Academy is a program for 6th and 7th graders interested in academic adventure. With classes such as Sustainability, Ethics, Urban Planning, and French Culture & Film, the Experimentory is interdisciplinary, project-based, and fun. All classes are taught by Deerfield Academy teachers on the DA campus: It’s a great way to sample the “Deerfield Experience.” Students make close friends from across the country and around the world. Choose between 2 or 4-week sessions. Attend as a boarder or a day student. Rolling admissions until May 1; apply for need-based financial aid by March 15. Dates: 4 Week Session starts: 7/8/18; 2 Week Sessions begin: 7/8/18 and 7/23/18. For more info: 413-774-1436; experimentory@deerfield.edu; deerfield.edu/experimentory.
The Smith College Center for Early Childhood Education at Fort Hill offers high quality full- and part-time early education and care in Northampton for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Three-, four-, and five-day schedules are available in all age groups. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach, the program emphasizes a strong sense of community, learning through in-depth projects, and the arts. The school includes large classrooms filled with natural light, extensive playgrounds, and dedicated studios for music and visual arts. Exceptional teacher-child ratios allow for individual attention and creative curriculum. For more information, please email CECE@smith.edu or visit the school website.
FMC Ice Sports offers a fun and unique learning environment for all ages. Participants in their Step 1 Learn to Skate programs are taught the basics of ice skating. Students graduate to their Step 2 and Step 3 programs that focus on the more sport specific skills required in hockey and figure skating. FMC Ice Sports programs can be found at the Smead Arena in Springfield and the Collins Moylan Arena in Greenfield. Class information and registration are available online at www.fmcicesports.com or by calling 1-888-74-SKATE. Use promo code HTF201617 and receive $10 OFF your entire purchase of any instructional program!
Add your class
Hilltown Families has put together an After-School Classes & Enrichment Programs Directory of classes and programs happening across Western Massachusetts throughout the school year. Our community is rich in learning opportunities to supplement the interests of children, teens, and life-long learners and our directory makes it easier to find these gems while connecting families with resources that support their interests and education. — Have a class or program you’d like to include in our directory? Click here to find out how to have it added. New and updated opportunities are added throughout the year.
Add your school
Hilltown Families Preschool Directory: Are you looking for a preschool that fits your child’s personality and reflects your family’s values? Check out our growing Preschool Directory, covering all four counties in Western Massachusetts, and find the perfect place for your young one! — Have a school you’d like to include in this list? Click here to find out how to have it added.
ADVERTISE HERE: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! See your summer camp, class, community event, school, open house, audition, homeschool program, workshop, volunteer opportunity, wellness program, local business, after-school class, or non-profit featured here in the Bulletin Board section of our list of Weekly Suggested Events and in our weekly eNewsletter, reaching thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! Find out more about our advertising options and how you can partner with Hilltown Families in your online marketing by emailing us at at sales@hilltownfamilies.org.
JOIN OUR TEAM OF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Interested in becoming a Contributing or Guest Writer for Hilltown Families? We welcome writings that reflect the community-building and educational efforts parents, teens, teachers, artists, activists and community leaders work towards and accomplish, and how that affects, supports and empowers our families. All writing styles welcomed, including local reviews, DIY posts, seasonal cooking/local food, and community-based educational & community service learning opportunities/resources. Send your query to info@hilltownfamilies.org.
LIST OF WEEKLY SUGGESTED EVENTS
February 17th – 23rd, 2018
Saturday • Sunday
Monday • Tuesday • Wednesday • Thursday • Friday
Suggest an Event | Cultural Itineraries | Forecast | Museum Passes | Weekly eNewsletter | Farmers’ Markets | Storyhour & Playgroups| Berkshire Family Fun | Advertise/Sponsorship | en Español
Events Happening in the Hilltowns
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
9-10am – HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: Tune in on your FM dial, or listen live via streaming audio at www.valleyfreeradio.org. Guest DJ Debbie Lan, from the award-winning band Grenadilla, (pronounced “gren-a-dill-a”, the South African name for passion fruit) is our host, sharing some of her favorite songs from South Africa, as well as songs from Grenadilla’s CD, Can’t Wait, winner of a Parents Choice Gold Award. Encore of Saturday’s broadcast airs Sunday morning from 7-8am and podcast is posted here on Hilltown Families immediately following Sunday’s broadcast. Listen to the Hilltown Family Variety Show podcasts anytime. Click here select from over 10 years of archived shows!
Saturday, February 17, 9am-1pm
ORNITHOLOGY/RAPTORS
The word ‘raptor’ comes from the latin ‘rapere’ meaning “to seize or take by force.” It is an informal name given to several types of birds of prey, from eagles to falcons. These birds use speed and strength to bring down much larger prey. In fact, the peregrine falcon can fly at speeds up to 200 mph, making it the fastest living thing on earth! Come out to the meadows in Northampton for a chance to observe some raptors in the wild. For more information and to register, please visit Winter Raptors. Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 127 Combs Road, Easthampton, MA ($)Saturday, February 17, 9am-12pm
NATURE STUDIES/SNOWSHOEING
The Quabbin reservoir microregion is home to a wide range of animal and bird life, including moose and bald eagles! Winter brings a special kind of beauty to our forests and hills so come get to know the Quabbin in a new way. Join naturalist John Green for an invigorating snowshoe nature walk, focusing on looking for tracks and traces of the wildlife in the area that continues to be active even in the depths of winter. Don’t forget to bring your own snowshoes! Quabbin Visitor Center. 485 Ware Road, Belchertown, MA ($)Saturday, February 17, 10am-4pm
PLACEMAKING/WINTER FESTIVAL
This Saturday and Sunday, North Adams becomes transformed into a magical winter wonderland with events and activities for the whole family, celebrating community and winter fun! There will be ice sculptures all over town, a free movie screening, horse drawn wagon rides, and you won’t want to miss the chowder cookoff! The day ends with free ice skating at the Memorial Ice Skating Rink. For more details and a full list of events, please visit North Adams Winterfest. North Adams, MA (FREE)Saturday, February 17, 10am-1pm
SUSTAINABILITY/SEED LIBRARY
As agriculture becomes increasingly homogenized and technological, many local heritage and heirloom species are at a high risk of going extinct. Seed saving has been a vital part of local farming communities since time immemorial. Preserving seeds of local breeds and species maintains biodiversity, builds resilience, and gives farmers access to seeds that are best suited to the unique bioregions they live in. Come join the Berkshire Athenaeum and other local groups to celebrate the grand opening of the Berkshire Seed Library. Learn about how to start your own garden and take home some great local seeds! Berkshire Athenaeum. 1 Wendell Ave, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)Saturday, February 17, 10:30am-1:30pm
WINTER HIKE/LOCAL HISTORY
The keystone arch railroad bridges of Hampden county are one of the regions most amazing and beloved sites. When they were constructed in 1840, these bridges were part of the longest and highest railroad on earth! Initially surveyed by George Washington Whistler, father of James McNeil Whistler, this railway was designed to increase rail traffic to Boston from the west. The end product was a winding, serpentine railroad including 27 bridges. The most famous of these are the ten keystone arch bridges that were entirely dry laid, which is to say constructed without the use of mortar! Come experience the beauty of these enormous constructions, some up to 70 feet high, with an invigorating winter hike along the rail trail. Keystone Arch Bridges Trail. Chester Middle School. 325 Middlefield Road, Chester, MA (FREE)Saturday, February 17, 11am-12:30pm
SKILLSHARE/HERBAL MEDICINE
The documented history of using vinegar based herbal tinctures as medicine goes back to the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. Although, of course, such folk remedies were very likely used long before. The remedy now known as ‘fire cider’ may have originated as a medieval cure for the plague, called ‘four thieves vinegar.’ We still have recipes for this medicine, which is a combination of herbs and vinegar. Nowadays many people are familiar with fire cider as a remedy for cold, flu, and a variety of other ailments. If you are interested in learning how to make your own fire cider, come check out the free fire cider workshop! Northampton Winter Farmers Market. Northampton Council on Aging. 67 Conz Street, Northampton, MA (FREE)Saturday, February 17, 1-4pm
HISTORY/DINOSAURS
The Connecticut River Valley has an important place in the history of paleontology. When Pliny Moody, a farm boy, first discovered a large quantity of fossilized tracks in 1802, they were assumed to have been made by birds. Amherst College professor and president Edward Hitchcock concurred with this assessment. It wasn’t until 1861 that the tracks were identified as dinosaur footprints. Hitchcock, a “cleric-geologist,” sought to reconcile religion and science through geology. His wife, Orra White Hitchcock, became an incredibly popular and influential botanist, artist, and naturalist. This special exhibit, focusing on the geological history of the region, kicks off with an afternoon of botanical sketching, living history, and fossil presentations. And visitors may even get a chance to “meet” Orra Hitchcock herself! Great Falls Discovery Center. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA (FREE)Saturday, February 17, 6-8pm
NATURE STUDIES/MUSTELIDS
Animals in the family Mustelidae include fishers, stoats, weasels, otters, and many others! These beautiful and fascinating creatures have enchanted human beings around the world for thousands of years. It is thought that the word “stoat” derives from the Dutch word meaning “naughty” due to their reputation for thievery and because their saliva allegedly contained poison (it does not). In northern Europe it is said to be bad luck to encounter a stoat at the beginning of a journey, though this effect can be mitigated by courteously greeting the stoat as a neighbor. Another folk tradition holds that ermines are so fastidious that if they are being hunted they would rather turn and present themselves to the hunters to avoiding spoiling their beautiful white coats with blood. Come learn all about these charming animals, many of whom scamper and scurry right in our own backyard, at this talk by famed naturalist Sue Morse. Monument Mountain High School. 600 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA (FREE)Saturday, February 17, 7-9pm
SOCIAL JUSTICE/FOLK MUSIC
Legendary American historian Studs Terkel once described Rise Up Singing as “the best, most exhilarating and glorious history of the United States: a singing history. It is more than a lovely songbook—it is a play-work-fight-freedom hymnal.” Ever since its publication in 1988, this songbook has inspired countless singers and songwriters with its unique collection of folk songs and whimsical illustrations. For many, it is the absolute bible of American singalong music. Now audiences will have the opportunity to join a singalong led by Rise Up Singing co-author Annie Patterson! The benefits from this fundraiser will go to the Resistance Center for Peace and Justice. Northampton Friends Meeting. 43 Center Street, Northampton, MA ($)
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Sunday, February 18, 12pm-2pm
SNOWSHOE HIKE/NATURE STUDIES
Sunday, February 18, 8-10pm
ASTRONOMY/MILKY WAY
It is unclear who first described our galaxy as the “milky way.” Staring up at the sky, it’s easy to see why ancient people associated the white, cloudy band with milk. We know that the ancient Romans and Greeks used the term ‘via lactea’ meaning ‘milky path’ and ‘galaxias kyklos’ or ‘milky circle.’ Other ancient people have a variety of names for our galaxy. Among the ancient Finns, it was called ‘linnunrata’ or ‘the path of birds.’ This comes from the creation myth of the Finns, which held that the world was formed from the bursting of a water bird’s egg. Beyond the earth was the realm of the birds and the linnunrata was the path the celestial birds followed on their migrations. Whatever we call it, observing the milky way in a winter night’s sky is one of life’s most special treasures. At this event, participants will be able to observe the milky way through a telescope and discuss what they see with local astronomer James Lowenthal. For more information visit Walking the Winter Milky Way. Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 127 Combs Road, Easthampton, MA ($)
Monday, February 19, 2018
Monday, February 19, 10am-5pm
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/AVIATION
Come enjoy a weeks worth of exciting aviation themed activities for adults and children during February break! In addition to the museum’s permanent exhibits and regular events and activities, the museum is offering free workshops on balsa wood model aircraft building, LEGO airplane contests, frisbee demonstrations, and rocket building. For a full list of exciting February vacation activities at the museum, please visit New England Air Museum. New England Air Museum. 36 Perimeter Road, Windsor Locks, CT (FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION)Monday, February 19, 12:30-3pm
STEM/US HISTORY
Come attend this special screening of the 2016 film Hidden Figures, followed by a presentation by Dr. Whitney Battle-Baptiste, professor of anthropology at Umass, focusing on the ways that race, class, and gender intersect throughout American history. Hidden Figures tells the inspiring story of the three black women whose invaluable work in science and mathematics contributed to the successful launching of the rocket that put John Glenn on the moon. For more information and to order tickets, please visit Science on Screen. Amherst Cinema. 28 Amity Street, Amherst, MA ($)Monday, February 19, 7-9pm
FILM STUDIES/WORLD WAR I
Come attend this free screening of the 2004 film A Very Long Engagement by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the visionary filmmaker behind the beloved Amelie. This touching and bizarrely beautiful film tells the story of a woman searching for her fiancee who mysteriously disappeared on the frontlines of World War I. Beyond all hope, she seeks her love among the ruins. The film dramatically showcases the absurdity of war and the strangeness of a world turned upside down in its wake, told with Jeunet’s unique aesthetic sensibility that will be immediately recognizable to his fans. Part of Williams College French Film Festival, focusing on stories about the experience of World War I. Hopkins Hall. 880 Main Street, Williamstown, MA (FREE)
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Tuesday, February 20
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/AVIATION
Tuesday, February 20, 10am-5pm
CERAMICS/EXHIBIT
Did you know that the word “ceramic” is just the ancient Greek word for pottery? Ceramics are some of the oldest human artifacts in the world. This exhibit, however, will focus on modern and contemporary ceramics. While ceramics have traditionally been considered craft or folk art, this exhibit features pieces that represent works of fine art done in ceramic. D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. 21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA ($$)Tuesday, February 20, 11-11:45am
YOGA/MUSEUM ADVENTURES
Yoga is a wonderful way to recharge your batteries, build flexibility and strength, and decrease stress. This free yoga class at the Clark Art Institute is designed for adults and children ages 3 and above. Bring your yoga mat and refocus during this February vacation week. Clark Art Institute. 225 South Street, Williamstown, MA (FREE)Tuesday, February 20, 12-1pm
ART STUDIES/HOME
What makes a home? Is it simply the physical structure? How do the aesthetic and architectural qualities of a structure inform the feeling of being at home? Join Mead Art Museum Director David Little for a special gallery talk, focusing on the new exhibit “House.” The exhibit, featuring 58 works in mixed media, interrogates the concept of house and home. Mead Art Museum. 41 Quadrangle Drive, Amherst, MA (FREE)Tuesday, February 20, 1:30pm
ORNITHOLOGY/DOCUMENTARY
Come enjoy free films for kids all week at the historic Academy of Music in Northampton! On Tuesday, they will be screening the beloved 2005 documentary March of the Penguins. This powerful film tells the story of the unbelievable challenges that emperor penguins in the South Pole experience during their mating and childrearing season in the most inhospitable place on earth. For more information and to see a complete list of the films being screened all week, visit Kids Best Fest 2018. The Academy of Music. 274 Main Street, Northampton, MA (FREE)Tuesday, February 20, 4:30-5:30pm
LITERARY STUDIES/CHINA
For ancient Chinese Buddhists and Daoists, the solitary life of the hermit was a common path to enlightenment and harmony with the cosmos. Chinese poetry and philosophy is filled with examples of scholars, kings, and sages who abandoned the worldly life and retreated to the mountains and the forests to pursue wisdom, peace, and immortality. In this talk on “The Search for Solitude,” scholar Bill Porter will be examining this tradition with a discussion of ancient poetical and religious texts as well as a slideshow. Amherst College. Amherst, MA (FREE)Tuesday, February 20, 6-7pm
LIFESTYLE/LECTURE
Japanese lifestyle guru Marie Kondo’s KonMari method is taking the world of home organizing by storm! Her book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has sold millions of copies and she has even gained a cult-like following of “Konverts.” The KonMari method starts by inviting you to visualize a clutter-free space and sitting with the feelings that vision produces within you. From there, it is a matter of making space for the things that matter by letting go of things that don’t. Kondo urges people to leave only the things in their home that “spark joy.” Come learn all about this exciting and dynamic approach to organizing at this presentation of the KonMari method. Monson Free Library. 2 High Street, Monson, MA (FREE)Tuesday, February 20, 6:30-8pm
WORKSHOP/COOKING CLASS
One of the best ways to instill a lifelong love of healthy food in children is for them to learn to cook themselves! Cooking is a great way to build self confidence, develop curiosity and creativity, and work with others. This cooking class will teach children ages 7-13 to work together to complete a recipe. Everyone is welcome, from the pickiest to most adventurous eaters! River Valley Co-op. 330 North King Street, Northampton, MA (FREE)Tuesday, February 20, 7-10pm
LITERARY STUDIES/SOUTHERN LITERATURE
From William Faulkner to Flannery O’Connor and Richard Wright, Southern literature has always been a major voice in American literature. Come celebrate some of the brightest new voices in contemporary Southern literature at this special reading! These authors are telling new, fresh stories about the American South that both respond to previous traditions and point to new directions. Arthur Flowers, for instance, retells Brer Rabbit stories to adapt them to changing times. And Shane Hinton’s work gathers stories from new Floridian writers, who come together to present a complex vision of life in “the Sinking Peninsula.” Amherst Books. 8 Main Street, Amherst, MA (FREE)
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
PUPPETRY/PALEONTOLOGY
Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live – 65 Milltion Years in the Making! Two Shows February Vacation Week! February 21, 2PM & 7PM at CityStage, Springfield. Observe, and interact with an eye-popping collection of amazingly life-like dinosaurs and other creatures presented in a theatrical performance that will thrill and entertain kids while stimulating their imaginations in ways that will forever connect them to their world. Brought to life by a team of skilled performers and puppeteers, and designed with the help of professional paleontologists, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live’s puppets are so extraordinarily realistic you may feel the urge to run and hide – but don’t miss a minute of it. Click here for more info. Buy tickets HERE. 150 Bridge Street, Springfield, MA ($$)Wednesday, February 21, 10am-4pm
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Come celebrate black history month at Wisteriahurst! The museum will be opening up the historic Carriage House to children and their families for a variety of black history month themed arts, crafts, and games. Wisteriahurst, once the home of local silk magnate William Skinner, was built in 1874 and features spectacular period architecture and scenic gardens. Wisteriahurst Museum. 238 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA (FREE)Wednesday, February 21, 6pm
FIBER ARTS/HISTORY
What began as an early American method to preserve old scraps of fabric, due to the high cost of textiles, has evolved into one of our most beloved folk art traditions. One of the most positive elements of quilting is that it has such an inherent emphasis on community and social relationships. Families and neighbors have always come together to knit and quilt together. More and more groups are popping up these days to bring back this important part of our shared community heritage. Come check out the Mohawk Trail Quilt Guild, meeting every third Wednesday of the month at the Historical Society of Greenfield. All levels of experience are welcome! Historical Society of Greenfield. 43 Church Street, Greenfield, MA ($)Wednesday, February 21
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/AVIATION
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Thursday, February 22, 1:30pm
FANTASY/PUPPETRY
As part of Kids Best Fest 2018, the Academy of Music will be showing free films for children and adults all week long! On Thursday, come see Jim Henson’s classic 1982 fantasy film The Dark Crystal. Featuring some of legendary puppeteer Jim Henson’s most intricate and impressive puppets, The Dark Crystal tells the magical story of the quest of an elf-like creature to restore balance to the world after the menacing and mysterious Skeksis’ lust for power damages the crystal that maintains that balance. For more information on the films that will be screened this week please visit Kids Best Fest 2018. Academy of Music. 274 Main Street, Northampton, MA (FREE)Thursday, February 22, 2-4:30pm
WORKSHOP/SEWING
Learning how to sew can be an empowering and useful skill! Mend old clothes instead of tossing them in the garbage. Create something new and beautiful. Express yourself in a time honored folk art tradition. Come on down to the Amherst Survival Center with any sewing projects you are working on and use their machines or consult with their sewing experts. Amherst Survival Center. 138 Sunderland Road, Amherst, MA (FREE)Thursday, February 22, 3:30pm
PERFORMANCE ART/FAIRY TALES IN TRANSLATION
One of the Brothers Grimm’s most well-known stories, “The Frog Prince,” in fact drew its inspiration from the ancient Roman satirist Petronius, whose novel The Satyricon mocks the notoriously decadent emperor Nero by comparing him to a frog. It is also important to note that while most contemporary iterations of this classic tale end by the princess kissing the frog to turn him back into a man, in the Grimms’ original she actually is so disgusted by him that she throws him against a wall, which apparently does the trick. Come see this immortal story come to life with the world-class puppeteering of Carl Sprague. Shows on Thursday the 22nd and Friday the 23rd, at 3:30. Ventfort Hall. 104 Walker Street, Lenox, MA ($)Thursday, February 22
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/AVIATION
Friday, February 23, 2018
Friday, February 23, 9am-4pm
OWLS/NATURE STUDIES
There are few sounds more haunting in the woods at night than the tell-tale cry of an owl: “who cooks for you?” These mysterious creatures have inspired and fascinated human beings for thousands of years. This Owl Appreciation Day is a day long celebration of owls! Come learn about how owls can rotate their heads, how their ears work, and lots more. Participants will also be able to make their own owl hand puppet. This event is suitable for children of all ages. Mount Greylock Visitor Center. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough, MA (FREE)Friday, February 23, 6-8pm
ART STUDIES/GALLERY SHOW
It’s a sight we’ve seen so many times we take it for granted, an old abandoned rambling New England house. Painted green or covered by green siding. Windows boarded up. Partially obscured by trees, bushes, and vines. Photographer Peter Monroe invites us to look more closely at the aesthetic and architectural qualities of these structures that are so common in our region. What do they evoke within us? What is their significance, artistically or historically? Monroe’s startling photographs demand that we pay closer attention to their subjects. For more information on this exhibit and opening reception, visit Green Houses in the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts. Greenfield Gallery. 231 Main Street, Greenfield, MA (FREE)Friday, February 23, 6-9pm
HERPETOLOGY/CITIZEN SCIENCE
Did you know all toads are actually frogs? This citizen science event, organized by FrogWatch USA will teach you all about these amphibians, their calls and habitat. This is also a great opportunity to learn how you can learn about science while actually contributing to the field of research! For over ten years FrogWatch has been collecting and analyzing data on frogs so that they can determine how to best work to conserve them. Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. 127 Combs Road, Easthampton, MA ($)Friday, February 23, 7:30pm
THEATER/SOCCER
Sarah DeLappe’s 2016 play The Wolves is an absolute sensation in the world of contemporary theater, garnering the author a nomination for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. DeLappe, who grew up loving old war movies, adapted a gritty tale of discipline and battle to the cutthroat world of high school girls soccer. Set entirely in an indoor soccer facility, the story revolves around the members of an elite girls soccer team, who are each named for their player number, training before a game. This powerful play tells a story of dark secrets, betrayals, and an unquenchable thirst for glory shared by a group of fiercely committed warriors. This is a theater event not to be missed! For more information and to order tickets, visit The Wolves. Smith College Department of Theatre. 122 Green Street, Northampton, MA ($)Friday, February 23
MUSEUM ADVENTURES/AVIATION
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by a grant from the Belchertown, Buckland, Chicopee, Plainfield, Shelburne, Westhampton, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
