Hilltown Families 
Suggested Events for November 3rd – 9th, 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.
After-School Classes & Enrichment Programs
Reach thousands of families in the region with our 2018-2019 directory! Reserve your space.
Our community is rich in learning opportunities to supplement the interests of children, teens, and life-long learners. We have put together a directory of after-school & weekend classes and enrichment programs happening across Western Massachusetts throughout the school year. Many of these programs aren’t just for kids, so to all the adults out there – feel encouraged to pursue your interests and honor your callings through these enrichment classes, too!
If you have a class or program you would like to have included in our directory, contact us at sales@hilltownfamilies.org to learn about our advertising options and sponsorship packages.
Bulletin Board
Nov. 18
Interested in starting a Girls on the Run program at your school? Girls on the Run is now accepting applications for new sites for our spring season. Come check out what Girls on the Run is all about at our Fall 5k, taking place at Smith College on November 18th at 10:30am! Our 5k is unlike anything else. Upon arrival, you will be swept away by the excitement in the air. Colored hair spray, facepaint, joy and positivity can be seen and felt before the celebratory run even begins. This fall we will be hosting over 500 girls, their running buddies, families and many community members. Come and run, feel inspired and take home a smile you will wear from ear to ear the rest of the day! Register and learn more about the 5k at: www.girlsontherunwesternma.org.
Nov. 3
Awaken your child’s capacities! Without rush and deeply rooted, Hartsbrook provides an inspired, authentic curriculum within a nurturing community. Teachers support students on their unique journey towards balance, confidence, self-determination, and making a difference in the world. Come experience the school for yourself at The Hartsbrook School’s Fall Open House, 10 am to noon on Saturday, November 3rd. PreK through high school. Student work will be on display and teachers will be available for your questions. All ages welcome. 193 Bay Road, Hadley. 413-586-1908. www.hartsbrook.org
Nov. 3
WGBY Kids Fan Day at the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. puts popular educational TV programming front-and-center with a full day of activities. With over a dozen education-focused community organizations — not to mention live PBS KIDS characters Daniel Tiger, Curious George, and The Cat in the Hat — public television station WGBY is hosting a PBS KIDS fan fair that showcases award winning educational content and provides a family-friendly day of creativity and fun. You’ll enjoy live kids’ music, animals, delectable treats courtesy of local partners, sessions with children’s authors, and creativity stations. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit wgby.org/fanday.
Accepting applications for fall 2019. The Bement School founded in 1925 and located in Deerfield is a co-educational junior boarding and day school serving 225 students in kindergarten through grade 9. At Bement, the innovative educational approach and rigorous curriculum prepare students well for competitive secondary schools and to tackle the challenges of life. Students work hard, learn to overcome obstacles, persevere with joy and optimism, develop a strong sense of self, and find ways to help others. Children and adults at Bement work together to create a community where all members cultivate mutual respect and understanding within the school and the world. For info on how to arrange a campus visit, call 413-774-4209 or visit www.bement.org.
Nov – May
Toddler Story Time at The Common School: Looking for a cozy morning activity for your toddler? Look no further! The Common School will be holding a free Toddler Story Time filled with books, songs, finger plays and a simple snack for children ages 14 months to 3 years. This event will take place once a month with their librarian, JennyKate Marble. This series begins November 8 and continues through May on the first Thursday of every month (note it is the second Thursday in November and January due to school closings). Meet at The Common School library, 521 South Pleasant Street, Amherst, from 9:30-10:30 AM. Please contact Dana Kadish, Director of Admissions, at outreach@commonschool.org with any questions.
Add your class
Reach thousands of families in the region with our 2018-2019 directory! Reserve your space. Our community is rich in after-school learning opportunities to supplement the interests of our children, teens, and life-long learners. We are putting together a directory of after-school & weekend classes and enrichment programs happening across Western Massachusetts to be published on our web site later this month and featured throughout the school year. If you have a class or program you would like to have included in our directory, contact us at sales@hilltownfamilies.org to learn about our advertising options and sponsorship packages.
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
November 3rd – 9th, 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, November 3rd, 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. Being Bilingual Rocks! is what musician-educator Hamlet Meneses (a.k.a. Mi Amigo Hamlet) is all about. In this episode, he shares a great variety of bilingual songs from his bilingual friends, as well as other artists who have influenced and inspired some of his songwriting. And through the music he takes you in a journey of learning about numbers, days of the week, family, things being connected, being happy, coming together and dance, about love, and he closes beautifully with a statement of empowerment, “Sí Se Puede / Yes We Can” a song by his friend and Western MA musician, Mister G. 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, November 3, 8am-5pm
AGRICULTURE/CIDER
The customs and holidays of traditional communities around the world were designed to strengthen the connection between humanity and the natural world. For example, wassailing refers to the ancient tradition of visiting apple orchards in the West Country of England, to bless and honor the apple trees. The word “wassail” itself is derived from the ancient Anglo-Saxon greeting “wæs þu hæl” or “be in good health.” People would greet the trees, give them offerings of bread and cider, and sing songs to them. A famous example of a wassailing song is as follows: “Here’s to thee, old apple tree, / Whence thou mayst bud / And whence thou mayst blow! / And whence thou mayst bear apples enow! / Hats full! Caps full! / Bushel—bushel—sacks full, / And my pockets full too! Huzza!” It is important to recognize in this custom that traditional communities felt that they had an obligation to give something back to the natural world, that its gifts were not merely resources that we are entitled to exploit or exhaust as we choose. Come give thanks and celebrate the coming of cider season with Cider Days, a weekend long festival of cider with delicious food, cider demonstrations, and tastings. North Hadley Sugar Shack. 181 River Drive, Hadley, MA ($)Saturday, November 3, 9am-5pm
TEXTILE ARTS/ARTS AND CRAFTS
New England was the center of the American textile industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. We can still see the impact of this industry on the land, in the stone walls in the middle of the forests that were once cleared for merino sheep to graze, in the old mill buildings that can be found in every town in the area. What could be a better place to celebrate wool and fiber arts? The Fiber Festival of New England is coming to town, with a weekend full of workshops, demonstrations, and some of the best fiber art vendors from throughout New England. For a full list of events, please visit The Fiber Festival of New England. Eastern States Exposition. West Springfield, MA ($)Saturday, November 3, 9:30am-4pm
CULINARY ANTHROPOLOGY/HISTORY
Humans have been eating pies for thousands of years. The cultivation of grains began during the neolithic period, around ten thousand years ago, was especially important for the growth of cities and trade because they were portable, nutritious, and non perishable. Baking made grains even more portable. Loaves of bread could be carried much easier than pounds of wheat and barley. In this context, pies are about as old as human civilization. Pie recipes have been recovered from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Some of these early pies were simply designed as a portable container for meat or dairy but many were surprisingly similar to the pies we would recognize. The word “pie” itself dates back to 12th century England, though its original meaning is more difficult to trace. One of the more likely theories is that the word is derived from the magpie, a bird known for collecting an assortment of objects within its nest, perhaps resembling a pie. There doesn’t seem to be any evidence that magpies were actually ever baked in pies, although medieval Europeans did occasionally have pies with live birds inside. Come learn all about the importance of pies for the early colonial settlers at this Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration! Historic Deerfield. 80 Old Main Street, Deerfield, MA (FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION)Saturday, November 3, 10am-5pm
DIWALI/MUSEUM ADVENTURES
Diwali is a festival of lights, celebrated among Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists all around the world. Representing the victory of good over evil and wisdom over ignorance, houses, temples, and business are customarily decorated with lights. Other festivities include dancing and feasting. This Saturday the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art will be offering a full day of activities celebrating Diwali, including storytelling, dancing, art making, and music! Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA (FREE W/MUSEUM ADMISSION)Saturday, November 3, 10:15am-12:15pm
SOCIAL ISSUES/INDIGENOUS STUDIES
For more than four hundred years, the indigenous people of North America have been struggling to retain their land and culture in the face of settler colonial practices, which continue to this day. As the 2016 Standing Rock protests, and many other ongoing indigenous struggles, demonstrate, the United States government continues to violate the treaties it signed with indigenous communities, guaranteeing sovereignty over their remaining land. In many cases, including the Standing Rock protests, the struggles for indigenous rights and the struggles for climate justice are linked. As we face unprecedented ecological challenges and crises, indigenous voices can provide a framework and cultural context for understanding ecological consciousness. The traditions of indigenous communities, which have persisted through hundreds of years of attempted erasure, offer profound and nuanced responses to many of the social and ecological challenges we all face together. This Saturday, don’t miss this amazing opportunity to hear from Lessert Moore (Oglala Lakota Sioux) and Grandmother Nancy Ardry (Algonquin), two elders who have been working for indigenous rights for decades. Hosted by Racial Justice Rising. First Congregational Church of Greenfield. 43 Silver Street, Greenfield, MA (FREE)Saturday, November 3, 12:30pm
SHAKESPEARE/FILM SCREENING
George Bernard Shaw once wrote: “No man will ever write a better tragedy than Lear.” While “King Lear” is considered one of the best tragedies Shakespeare wrote, its heartrending finale was considered so bleak and depressing by audiences in the late 17th and 18th centuries, that a revised ending was often performed, which cheerily resolved the story. Scholars have been particularly intrigued by the character of Edmund, the primary antagonist. Renowned Shakespearean scholar Harold Bloom observed that while all of Shakespeare’s other villains have passions and desires, no matter how misguided, “Edmund has no passions whatsoever; he has never loved anyone, and he never will. In that respect, he is Shakespeare’s most original character.” Additionally, Edmund is compelling because he embodies the modern ethos of rationality, albeit carried to a grotesque extreme. The ultra-Machiavellian rationality of Edmund presages the coming a new age: the age of the individual. Writing during the so-called age of Enlightenment, following closely on the heels of the Renaissance, Shakespeare’s world was seeing the decay of the old medieval social institutions, personified in the archaic figure of Lear. While Edmund embodies the potentially liberatory aspects of the new world, namely the rejection of the rigid law of primogeniture, Shakespeare clearly identifies that the compulsion to achieve greatness through competition and ruthlessness produces monsters. Amherst Cinema will be screening the National Theatre’s production of King Lear, starring Ian McKellen. Amherst Cinema. 28 Amity Street, Amherst, MA ($)Saturday, November 3, 6-7pm
STORYTELLING
The story creates the world. Storytelling is one of the oldest human activities. Given that many oral storytelling traditions rely heavily on gestures and cave paintings, it is possible that storytelling even predates language itself. For the indigenous Australians, storytelling is actually understood as a devotional ritual and a way of engaging with the landscape. As British author Bruce Chatwin wrote in his 1987 book Songlines, “the labyrinth of invisible pathways which meander all over Australia […] are known to Europeans as ‘Dreaming-tracks’ or ‘Songlines’; to the Aboriginals as the ‘Footprints of the Ancestors’ or the ‘Way of the Lore’. Aboriginal Creation myths tell of the legendary totemic being who wandered over the continent in the Dreamtime, singing out the name of everything that crossed their path – birds, animals, plants, rocks, waterholes – and so singing the world into existence.” Thus the telling of the songs and stories, which identify and affirm the land and the spirits, is literally meant to keep the world held together. In the present, we may ask ourselves what kind of world our stories create. Enjoy an evening of storytelling, as it’s meant to be enjoyed, by a warm fire under the night sky! Hot cider and popcorn provided. Hitchcock Center for the Environment. 845 West Street, Amherst, MA (FREE)
Sunday, November 4th, 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, November 4, 8am-5pm
AGRICULTURE/CIDER
The customs and holidays of traditional communities around the world were designed to strengthen the connection between humanity and the natural world. For example, wassailing refers to the ancient tradition of visiting apple orchards in the West Country of England, to bless and honor the apple trees. The word “wassail” itself is derived from the ancient Anglo-Saxon greeting “wæs þu hæl” or “be in good health.” People would greet the trees, give them offerings of bread and cider, and sing songs to them. A famous example of a wassailing song is as follows: “Here’s to thee, old apple tree, / Whence thou mayst bud / And whence thou mayst blow! / And whence thou mayst bear apples enow! / Hats full! Caps full! / Bushel—bushel—sacks full, / And my pockets full too! Huzza!” It is important to recognize in this custom that traditional communities felt that they had an obligation to give something back to the natural world, that its gifts were not merely resources that we are entitled to exploit or exhaust as we choose. Come give thanks and celebrate the coming of cider season with Cider Days, a weekend long festival of cider with delicious food, cider demonstrations, and tastings. North Hadley Sugar Shack. 181 River Drive, Hadley, MA ($)Sunday, November 4, 1-3:30pm
HISTORY/BUTTON APPRAISAL
Did you know that the word “Tyrosemiophile” refers to someone who collects cheese labels? And “Sucrologists” collect sugar packets from restaurants, believe it or not. Shockingly, there doesn’t seem to be a term for someone who collects buttons. Nevertheless, many of us may have a collection of buttons sitting around someone where in a glass jar gathering dust. Ever wonder about the history of some of those buttons? Apparently, some may even be worth some money! Learn all about buttons at this Button Appraisal, with button specialists George and Gretchen Gauthier. Keep Homestead Museum. 35 Ely Road, Monson, MA (FREE)Sunday, November 4, 2-10pm
DANCE STUDIES/FUNDRAISER
Greenfield’s Guiding Star Grange is home to one of the most vibrant contra dancing communities in the entire nation! This Sunday come celebrate the incredible work they do keeping contra dancing traditions alive in New England at the Friends of Greenfield Dance 23rd Annual Fall Frolic fundraiser. Contra dancing is one of the oldest New England traditions and if you’ve never tried it before, it is a raucous good time. Come enjoy 8 hours of some of the best contra dancing you’ll find anywhere in the country. Guiding Star Grange #1. 401 Chapman Street, Greenfield, MA ($)
Monday, November 5th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Storyhour & Playgroups: East Longmeadow, Pelham & Whately
Monday, November 5, 10-11am
STORYTIME/FREE PLAY
Listening to stories is a great way for children to build language acquisition and literacy. On the most basic level, children learn language by hearing language. Seeing the relationship between words and pictures, and how books work, is a key part of literacy. This special storytime, featuring crafts and free play, is designed for children ages 3 to 5. Clarksburg Town Library. 711 West Cross Road, North Adams, MA (FREE)
Tuesday, November 6th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Tuesday, November 6, 10:10am-4pm
PLAYGROUP/EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
Tuesday, November 6, 1:30-3pm
ARTS AND CRAFTS/FESTIVAL OF TREES
Berkshire Museum’s Festival of Trees is an annual event that creates a fabulous indoor forest in the museum with handmade decorations that transform holiday trees into objects of whimsical imagination! This Tuesday, come craft ornaments for the Children’s Tree, to be featured in this year’s festival. This event is appropriate for children ages 7 and above. Mason Library Children’s Room. 231 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA (FREE)Tuesday, November 6, 7-8:30pm
SOCIAL ISSUES/ECONOMICS
Given the election of far-right Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro this past week, the rise of fascism and its link with populism continues to become more and more relevant. Amherst College professor and NEPR host Ilan Stavans will be speaking with Nobel prize winning economist Amartya Sen, this Tuesday as part of the conversation series “Globalism and its Discontents.” This series of discussion explores the current worldwide reaction against globalism, with the election of far-right nationalist governments around the world and the subsequent popular movements against immigration, gender, racial diversity, and free speech. The principles of democracy itself, in other words, are being threatened. Amartya Sen was awarded the Nobel prize for Economic Sciences in 1998 for his analysis of welfare economics and identifying how economic policies contribute to food shortages. This event is a great opportunity to learn about the political challenges facing the world and listen to one of the greatest economic thinkers of today. Stirn Auditorium. Amherst, MA (FREE)
Wednesday, November 7th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Wednesday, November 7, 6-7:30pm
SOCIAL ISSUES/ANTIRACISM
Given the current political and racial climate, many feel that it is insufficient to merely “not be racist,” but rather that it is important to articulate and act from an explicitly anti-racist position. One key difference between these two positions is that the latter acknowledges that racism is not simply the wrong actions or thoughts of individuals or individual groups but rather that racist structures are built into the very foundations of our society. Thus, fighting against racism is proactive rather than only reactive. New York Times Best-Selling author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi is widely regarded as a leading scholar of racism and discriminatory policy in America. He is a Professor of History and International Relations and the Founding Director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. If you would like to learn more about how to work towards the creation of an anti-racist society, you won’t want to miss Dr. Kendi’s talk, this Wednesday, entitled “How to be an Antiracist.” UMass Fine Arts Center. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst, MA (FREE)Wednesday, November 7, 7pm
HEALTH AND WELLNESS/MEDITATION
As the brilliant poet Gary Snyder once wrote: “Meditation is not just a rest or retreat from the turmoil of the stream or the impurity of the world. It is a way of being the stream, so that one can be at home in both the white water and the eddies. Meditation may take one out of the world, but it also puts one totally into it.” If you’ve ever wanted to begin a meditation practice but found yourself facing unexpected challenges, this is no coincidence. One of the most powerful aspects of meditation is that it forces us to confront the fact that our minds are in a constant state of chatter. What we may be tempted to think of as blissful tranquility might be more accurately understood as recognizing how noisy our minds truly are. Ironically, this recognition may break the power this noise has over us and thus, we arrive at the peace we seek. There are countless to approach a meditation practice and even someone who has meditated their entire life will still find unexpected things coming up in their practice. This workshop on learning to meditate will provide support for both beginners and veterans. Pioneer Valley Shambhala Center. 191 Main Street, Northampton, MA (FREE)
Thursday, November 8th, 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, November 8, 8-9pm
LITERARY STUDIES/POETRY READING
“In the republic of poetry, poets rent a helicopter to bombard the national palace with poems on bookmarks, and everyone in the courtyard rushes to grab a poem fluttering from the sky, blinded by weeping.” For decades, local poet Martin Espada has been one of the most celebrated voices in Latino literature. Having published nearly twenty books, Espada recently became the first Latino poet to win the prestigious Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, a lifetime achievement award given by the Poetry Foundation to a living U.S. poet. His 2006 collection The Republic of Poetry was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Come listen to Espada read, this Thursday at UMass. If you have heard Espada read before, you know what to expect and if you haven’t, you are in for a real treat! UMass Memorial Hall. Amherst, MA (FREE)Thursday, November 8, 9:30-10:15am
FREE PLAY/EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Toddlers are naturally inquisitive and exposing them to music, stories, and games can go a long way in helping them develop lifelong skills. Come on down to Toddler Story Time at the Common School for a morning of fun activities for toddlers! The Common School. 521 South Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA (FREE)
Friday, November 9th, 2018
Click HERE to discover classes. Click HERE to find out about other community events. Click HERE to leave a comment about upcoming events.
Friday, November 9, 9:30-10:30am
STEM/MUSEUM ADVENTURES
Calling all scientists ages 2 to 8! Berkshire Museum is taking its science and culture program on the road to the South County. The November program, held in Lenox, will be focusing on fun, icky, messy, gooey experiments. Lenox Community Center. 65 Walker Street, Lenox, MA (FREE)Friday, November 9, 5:30-7:30pm
STORYTELLING/MUSEUM ADVENTURES
Nothing is more snuggly and cozy than a pajama party! Every fall, authors, artists, and educators, and community members come together to encourage literary and family story time. Listen to stories, go on a story walk, and even take home a free book. This event is a real community favorite! For more information, please visit Free Community Pajama Night. Berkshire Museum. 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA (FREE)
Hilltown Families’ list of Suggested Events is supported in part by grants from the Belchertown, Buckland, Chicopee, Hadley, Plainfield, Shelburne, Westhampton, and Worthington Cultural Councils, local agencies which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
