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SUPPORT
HILLTOWN FAMILIES
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COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
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"Hilltown Families helps us to cast a wider net when we are looking for activities during school vacation or on the weekends. Often we find sweet little buried gems that would otherwise have escaped our notice... Thanks for being here." - Sarah Rankin (Greenfield, 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.
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ENTER TO WIN
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SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS IN WESTERN MA
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HILLTOWN FAMILIES SPONSORS
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HILLTOWN FAMILIES
eNEWSLETTER
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April is a time for spring holidays, spring break, and spring flowers! Take your family on a nature scavenger hunt this month before the black flies emerge. Make a list and go searching for the white bloom of Bloodroot or the yellow bloom of Coltsfoot. Click on the image to get some ideas on how to put together a nature scavenger hunt! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
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This week we've been super busy on Hilltown Families bringing you all the great events, camps and classes happening throughout Western MA. We've updated our Easter Events page, now highlighting over 30 opportunities to hunt for eggs and visit with the Easter bunny (outside of the mall!). We also have a list of Passover Events that Hilltown Families Contributing Writer Amy Meltzer has complied in her column, "Not Your Grandparents' Shtetl: Exploring Jewish Culture in Western MA."
In addition to spring holidays, April is a time for spring break when many kids get a week off from school, and parents have started looking for activities for their children to enjoy during the break. There are many opportunities to be found in the region with many boutique options to choose from, including nature, art, sports, ballet, history, gymnastics, stewardship, outdoor adventures, among others. Check out our post, 15 Camps for Spring Vacation Week in Western MA for some highlights of events and week long camp opportunities happening during Spring Vacation Week (April 16th-20th) right here in Western MA. Some options are for the entire week, while others allow you to choose your days and have full day or half-day options. Then be sure to check back next week for our comprehensive list of Weekly Suggested Events for more events and opportunities during Spring Break!
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BULLETIN BOARD
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 CIRCUS ARTS CLASSES: A new session of week day kid's circus classes will begin on April 9 at SHOW Circus Studio in Easthampton. Participants will work on trapeze, fabric, juggling, tumbling, human pyramids, tight wire, rolla bolla, globe and more. Circus is a great way to increase self esteem, have fun, get in shape, improve focus and learn new skills. Classes are available for new and continuing students during after school hours. Students may come 1-3 times per week with a final show for parents and friends. Visit www.showcircusstudio.com/Classes.html for info and to register: Not sure if circus is right for your child? Try free circus classes on April 7 and find out! Class is free but registration is required. More info at www.showcircusstudio.com/Trial.html
 SUMMER CAMP: Are you looking for a great summer experience for your kids? Check out our post Summer Camps and Programs in Western MA which highlights opportunities happening throughout the region. With a great variety of themes, there are many summer camp/programs your family can choose, including: farm & gardening, music, art, technology, nature, personal development, science, theater, sports, ballet, preK, college... as well as a good old fashion summer camp! Discover what's being offered near you, and find out how you can add a camp to this growing list too!
 SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. See your event, camp, workshop, business featured here in the bulletin board section of our list of Weekly Suggested Events and eNewsletter! Find out more about our Enhanced Publicity options and how we can help with your marketing.
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.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Individuals of all genders, sexual orientations, races, religions, abilities, ages, and income levels are encouraged to apply for volunteer positions at Everywoman Center. Educator Advocates work to prevent sexual violence and relationship violence on campus and in the community by facilitating workshops, discussions, and events on sexual assault, consent, and bystander intervention. Counselor Advocates support and advocate for people who have experienced sexual, physical and emotional abuse or violence. Academic credit available to volunteers (optional). Apply Online: www.umass.edu/ewc/work. For more info: visit www.umass.edu/ewc, or email ewcmail@admin.umass.edu.
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WEEKEND BEST BETS: Saturday, April 7th
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Have you heard of Yarn Bombing, a recently growing craze, where knitters create flat knit pieces and use them to cover things like lamp posts, fences, bike racks (pictured here) railings, etc? Yarn bomb the Storrs Library on Saturday in Longmeadow! (Photo credit: Sienna Wildfield)
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In Hampshire County, The Flywheel Arts Collective, an Easthampton-based, volunteer-run music and arts venue, along with the Hilltown Families and No-Nap Happy Hour, invites families with kids of all ages to a free pancake breakfast followed a family dance party by local kids performers R.O.C.K. (Royal Order of Chords and Keys)!
In Berkshire County, Saturday is the first day of Hancock Shaker Village's annual Baby Animals on the Shaker Farm event in Pittsfield! Visitors to the village can meet tons of different baby animals, such as calves, chicks, piglets, lambs, and ducklings. There will also be activities for kids that involve both art and learning about history, such as weaving on a loom and basket making!
In Franklin County, families can participate in community service together by giving the Greenfield Energy Park a good spring cleaning. There will be lots to do, including cleaning up debris left by winter storms and gardening in the park's beds. BYO garden tools and gloves. Families can work together to help prepare the park! Find out more about this weekend's Best Bets and our full list of events at www.HilltownFamilies.org. |
CALL FOR KID CRAFTERS FOR THE HILLTOWN SPRING FESTIVAL
KIDS-MADE CRAFT BAZAAR
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The Hilltown CDC's 6th Annual Hilltown Spring Festival will be on Saturday, May 12 at the Cummington Fairgrounds! 2,000 people are expected at the Hilltown Spring Festival this year and entertainment will include musical performances and workshops, exhibits by artists and craftspeople, displays by local businesses, food from local vendors, a family contra-dance, kids-made craft bazaar, children's activities and much more.
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The Hilltown CDC's 6th Annual Hilltown Spring Festival is on Saturday, May 12th
at the Cummington Fairgrounds. This will be the 3rd year the Kids-Made Craft Bazaar happens at the festival, spearheaded by Hilltown Families founder, Sienna Wildfield in 2010.
Children up to the age of 12 are invited to sell and bartered their hand-made crafts and arts... and each year it's a huge success! The Kids-Made Craft Bazaar allows children to participate directly in the Festival, rewards them for their creativity, and gives them some real-world experience showing and selling their work.
Kids ages 12 and younger are invited to participate! The Kids-Made Crafts Bazaar will be located in a central covered area on the fairground, and all crafts and art must be hand-made predominantly by children. Children will participate directly in the Festival as vendors, allowing for hands-on experience in showing and selling their crafts. Participants must be pre-registered and be able to bring their own tables (card table size) and chairs. The fee for child artists and crafters is $5. Registration forms must be filled out and returned with registration fee to the Hilltown CDC:
Only a certain number of children can be accommodated, so register early. One adult free pass will be provided for each exhibitor. If there are questions, call Seth Isman at 413-296-4536 x12 or email sethi@hilltowncdc.org.
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HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: Passover Episode with Guest DJ, Doni Zasloff Thomas.
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Next week will be a rebroadcast of our Spring Equinox Episode form last year with guest DJ, Charity Kahn.
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HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: Doni Zasloff Thomas (a.k.a. Mama Doni) host our Passover Episode.
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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HILLTOWN FAMILIES: A TRAVELING PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT
| | "Hilltown Families: A Traveling Photography Exhibit of Life and Landscape in Western MA" will In at Treehouse in Pittsfield in June, the Cummington Community House in July, Westhampton Library in August, and River Valley Market Co-op in Northampton in November.
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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. |
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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 Western MA. 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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PARENTS' NIGHT OUT TICKET GIVEAWAY
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 Hilltown Families is giving away a pair of tickets to Signature Sounds Recordings 7th Annual Benefit concert for The Academy at Charlemont to see the Sweetback Sisters perform on Friday, April 13th, at 7pm at Shelburne Falls Memorial Hall Association in Shelburne Falls Massachusetts! To enter to win, hit "reply" to this email with "Sweetback Sisters" in the subject line and your name/town in the email. From everyone who enters to win we will randomly draw one lucky entry to receive a pair of tickets! |
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