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SUPPORT
HILLTOWN FAMILIES
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COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
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"Hilltown Families helps me find activities all over Western MA. Although we live in Holyoke, we have family in Berkshire County and having the resources to find things to do means we spend more time with cousins than we might otherwise." - Myanna Carbin-O'Brien (Holyoke, MA)
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If you have any additional events, camps or classes to suggest, please feel encouraged to share on these free bulletin boards, or find out more about our enhanced publicity options.
Wellness Bulletin Board
(coming soon!)
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HILLTOWN FAMILIES
eNEWSLETTER
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 | | Beautiful (and mighty fragrant) flowers will awaken your senses at the flower shows this weekend! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield) |
This is the last weekend of winter before Spring arrives on Tuesday! If beautiful smells do it for you, take your family to the Smith College's spring bulb show in Northampton and/or the Mount Holyoke College Botanic Garden's Annual Spring Flower Show in South Hadley as this weekend is their finale too! Details on both shows can be found in our list of Weekly Suggested Events.
This weekend is also St. Patrick's Day weekend, and there are many opportunities to celebrate all things Irish. On Saturday, families can celebrate the traditional Celtic way at Old Sturbridge Village, take in a St. Patrick's Day themed storytime in Great Barrington, or enjoy a traditional Irish dinner of corned beef and cabbage in Middlefield.
On Sunday, the Holyoke St. Patrick's Day Parade marches through the streets, Celtic Heels Dance Company presents a St. Patrick's Day performance in Northampton and a concert of traditional Irish music takes place in Lenox. All of these Irish festivities, and many more, can be found on our list of Weekly Suggested Event.
If theater is what you're looking for, there are several live family theater performances this week too, including, Winnie the Pooh: The Musical in Turners Falls, Nicholas Nickleby in Hadley, and Syrup in Shelburne Falls this weekend. And later in the week, Legally Blonde: The Musical at Holyoke High School, and Guys and Dolls: The Musical at Hampshire Regional High School in Westhampton.
There's just so much good stuff happening in Western MA!
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BULLETIN BOARD
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  LOCAL FOOD: Crimson & Clover Farm is happy to announce that 2012 CSA Shares are now available! Located at the Northampton Community Farm, right near downtown Florence, Crimson & Clover Farm raises a wide variety of delicious, beautiful, and sustainably grown fruits and vegetables for our 20 week CSA program. As a community based farm we offer a welcoming environment where our members and their families can come and enjoy this amazing community resource as well as receive nutritious locally grown food. In addition to vegetables we also offer a variety of locally produced products for sale through our farm store. For more information about the CSA and how to become a member of the farm please visit our website: crimsonandcloverfarm.com.  CELTIC DANCE: The Celtic Heels Irish Dance Company will put on an exciting toe tapping, hand clapping St. Patrick's Day celebration on Sunday, March 18 at 2pm at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton. With over 70 exquisite dancers joined by National Scottish Fiddle Champion, Emerald Rae and All Ireland Accordion Champion, Damien Connolly this is sure to be an event enjoyed by all ages! Tickets are $10/adults $8/seniors $8/children and are available at the Academy Box Office 413-584-9032 x105 (box office fees will apply). For additional information about this production or dance classes for children and adults please visit www.CelticHeelsDance.com.
 ERIC CARLE CELEBRATION: Are you hungry for something to do this Sunday? Head to The Eric Carle Museum to celebrate The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day on March 18th from 12noon-5pm. Make your own caterpillars in the studio. Join special story times. Meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar in costume and get a caterpillar tattoo. There will be caterpillar cookies, giveaways & a sale in The Carle Bookshop. Translated in over 50 languages, and celebrated a world over, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is universally known as one of the greatest childhood classics of all time. Bring a picnic lunch & spend the day! Sponsored by MEFA's U.PLAN Prepaid Tuition Program. For more info visit www.carlemuseum.org or call 413-658-1100. 125 West Bay Road. Amherst, MA (FREE with Museum Admission)
 ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS: RH Conwell Community School of Worthingon, MA is accepting applications for the 2012-13 school year with openings in all classes from Pre-K through 6th grade. Located in the heart of the Hilltowns of Western MA, Conwell is an affordable private school with a supportive environment, offering a rigorous, encouraging, and developmentally appropriate program to all students. Children are taught to think creatively, read critically, and reason logically. Conwell has a high level of parent and community involvement in both classroom and after school activities where students are valued as individuals and tailor learning plans to their needs and learning styles. For more information visit online at www.conwellcec.org or call 413-238-5856.
PERFORMING ARTS FESTIVAL: Piti Theatre presents the 3rd Annual SYRUP: One Sweet Performing Arts Festival on Saturday, March 17th at Memorial Hall in Shelburne Falls, MA. Family show at 2pm with Piti Theatre, juggling, internationally renowned dance-mime artist Karen Montanaro, Ballet Renversé, art activities, and syrup tasting. Evening show at 7pm with Karen Montanaro's Tanzspiel (German for "dance-play"), clowning from Strong Coffee Stage, juggler Thom Wall, and cellist Wayne Smith. On Sunday, March 18th at Shelburne Falls Yoga there will be a Dance-Mime workshop with Karen for kids 7-12yo from 11am-12:30pm and Physical Storytelling for teens/adults from 1:30-3pm. Family show $5, Evening $12/$8 youth under 16. Schedule & tickets: www.ptco.org/shows/syrup
 | | Partner with Hilltown Families in the marketing of your local event, class, camp, workshop, open house or service. Click on the banner to find out how to be featured here. |
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 DIY posts, seasonal cooking, and community-based educational opportunities. Send your query to hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.
Teresa O'Brient writes, "On Wednesday, March 21, 2012, from 1- 3 pm at the Berkshire Athenaeum, the Berkshire Country Home School Community and the 4H Earth Stars Club are hosting Geography Games and more. Along with geography-related board games and trivia games, there will be an interactive "talking" globe. There will also be country boards on display from previous Geography Fairs held by homeschoolers, so anyone interested in participating or attending this year's Geo Fair (coming up on Thursday, April 5th), can get some ideas for the fair. This event is free and open to all. For information email berksierra@aol.com or call 413-298-0099." |
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WEEKEND BEST BETS: March 17th & 18th
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On Saturday, March 17th - MAPLEFEST: The annual Chester Maplefest begins with a pancake breakfast, followed by hayrides to High Meadow Farm's Sugarhouse, animal exhibits and entertainment. More info at HilltownFamilies.org.
In the morning on Sunday, March 18th - ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Western MA's most Irish city, Holyoke, MA! More info at HilltownFamilies.org.
Find out more about this weekend's Best Bets and our full list of events at www.HilltownFamilies.org.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS: March 25th & 26th
| In the morning on Saturday, March 24th - CREATIVE FREE PLAY: Think outside the box! What can you make with a cardboard box, tape, markers, and glue? Kids and parents are invited to exercise their creativity and practice their architectural skills this morning at Hatfield Elementary School! More info at HilltownFamilies.org.
All day on Sunday, March 25th - GEOLOGY: Learn all about different types of minerals, jewels, rocks, and fossils this weekend at the Western Mass Mineral, Jewelry, and Fossil Show in Holyoke. More info at HilltownFamilies.org.
To find out more about these upcoming events and other activities happening in Western MA for families, visit www.HilltownFamilies.org. |
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HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: Guest DJ, Uncle Rock
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Next week Tamsen, Jill and Steve from Orange Sherbet guest DJ next weekend, featuring songs that celebrate seasonal foodss.
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HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: Long time radio friend, Morgan Taylor of Gustafer Yellowgold, is our guest DJ this weekend, putting a slight St. Patty's Day spin on his show.
Families have several ways to tune in to the Hilltown Family Variety Show:
Streaming Audio: Surf on over to ValleyFreeRadio.org on Saturday (9-10am) & Sunday (7-8am) 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!
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Market Your Summer Camp with Hilltown Families
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"Last year a participant from the Boston area found out about my camp through your website and spent a week out here with her daughter just for my camp!" - Beth Fairservis, Puppets in the Woods Summer Arts Camp
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SUMMER CAMPS MARKETING SPECIAL:
In an effort to connect families with summer camps & programs in the region, we're offering camps a chance to partner with Hilltown Families in their online marketing with a special enhanced publicity offer.
This spring we will be featuring camps in the region on Hilltown Families with a special post titled: Summer Camps and Programs in the Western MA Region. Find out more about how your camp can partner with Hilltown Families..
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SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING
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 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 invited to Sponsor and Advertise with Hilltown Families. Let us help get the word out about your class, event, camp, workshop, fundraiser, business or announcement. Deliver your message to thousands of families living throughout Western Massachusetts while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. Email hilltownfamilies@gmail.com for more information, or click here. |
HILLTOWN FAMILIES: A TRAVELING PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT
| | "Hilltown Families: A Traveling Photography Exhibit of Life and Landscape in Western MA" goes up for a short stay at the Cummington Community House from March 27th-April 1st, then will return in July along with friends... stay tune for details! - In June Treehouse in Pittsfield hosts the show, and then to the Westhampton Library in August, and River Valley Market Co-op in Northampton in November.
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Hilltown Families' Blog was voted as Best Local Blog in the Valley Advocate Best of the Valley Readers' Poll for 2011!
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Hilltown Families is an online grassroots communication network serving thousands of families living in the four counties of Western MA. Through a dynamic web site, social networking, listserv, radio show/podcast, online bulletin boards, and collaborations with civic and nonprofit groups, Hilltown Families connects people and organizations in the widespread communities of the Highlands region. With your support, we help area residents to share ideas, organize activities, support their children's education and increase participation in community life. We welcome your participation and feedback at anytime.
Warm regards, |
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