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COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
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I love Hilltown Families; and in particular "Saturdays' Best" through Facebook. Hilltown Families helps me remain more connected to Western Massachusetts community happenings; and increases our awareness of local happenings involving sustainable agriculture, outside activities/nature, area businesses and artists... I can more effectively support the local economy and feed my family better because of Hilltown Families." - Megan O'Brien (Leeds, MA)
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SUPPORT
HILLTOWN FAMILIES
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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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SUMMER CAMPS & PROGRAMS IN WESTERN MA
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HILLTOWN FAMILIES SPONSORS
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HILLTOWN FAMILIES
eNEWSLETTER
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Join Us at the 6th Annual Hilltown Spring Festival!
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The Hilltown CDC's 6th Annual Hilltown Spring Festival happens this Saturday, May 12 from 10am-7pm at the Cummington Fairgrounds! Entertainment will include live music, workshops, artists & artisans, local food, family contra-dance, kids-made craft bazaar, Maypole, Morris Dancers, and much more!
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This Saturday is the Hilltown CDC's 6th Annual Hilltown Spring Festival, and the beautiful weather we ordered is on it's way!
LIVE MUSIC: There's a fabulous lineup of local and regional musical favorites to perform again this year, including a family concert with Mister G at 11:15am and Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem at 2pm. Also on the stage will be The Primate Fiasco, Misty Blues, The Boxcar Lilies, AstroBeast, Who'da Funkit, Lui Collins and Tony Vacca!
MUSIC WORKSHOPS: In addition to a great line up of live music on two stages, the Hilltown Spring Festival will feature four interactive music workshops for all ages. At 1pm, Aimee Gelinas of Gaia Roots will lead an intergenerational, interactive Afro-Caribbean song and drum workshop featuring music from Cuba, Haiti and Puerto Rico. At 2pm, percussionist Tony Vacca will lead a hands-on session. Learn to play a "World Music" percussion composition by listening and playing back what you hear. At 3pm, singer and teacher Lui Collins will lead a Family Music Jam! And at 4pm, in a hands-on workshop, families can make a wooden "harmonica" and a wacky, found-object drum set with percussionist Scott Kessel from the band Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem.
Around the noon hour there will be a community Maypole dance, Morris Dancers and Pachamama Puppets on the lawn. There will also be a kids-made craft bazaar, great food from local food vendors, artisans, local sustainability vendors and non-profits.
FAMILY CONTRA-DANCE: New this year from 5-7pm at the Hilltown Spring Festival is a family contra-dance featuring The Gaslight Tinkers, a new group that includes Peter Siegel and Zoe Darrow. They describe their music as "Afrobeat, Caribbean, breakbeat, funk, and Latin grooves meet traditional Northern Fiddle. It's the future of the music of the past; it's a live remix; it'll move your feet and intrigue your mind." Steve Howland will be the caller.
Gates will open at 10am; the music begins at 11am. Admission is $8; children 12 and under are free. Free parking is available on the Cummington Fairgrounds (97 Fairgrounds Rd.) just off of Route 9 in Cummington, MA. Proceeds benefit the social service and elder support programs of Hilltown CDC.
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BULLETIN BOARD
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  SUMMER CAMP: Journey Camp returns to Cummington for Hilltown families this summer. The unique camp offers a supportive atmosphere where it's easy to make friends as campers explore nature, dramatics, games, music. Inclusiveness and peace building are hallmarks of Journey Camp. Director Sarah Pirtle, founder of Journey Camp, has won numerous awards for her books & music for children. SESSION ONE, boys & girls ages 7-13, July 2-6, 8:45-4, Woolman Hill, Deerfield. HILLTOWN JOURNEY CAMP, boys & girls ages 7-13, July 16-20, 8:45-4, Taproot Common Farm, Cummington. MOONSEED TEEN LEADERSHIP FOR GIRLS, ages 12-18, July 30-Aug. 2, two overnights & campfires, Woolman Hill. GIRLS WEEKS, ages 7-13, Aug. 6-10 & Aug. 13-17, 8:45-4, Woolman Hill. www.sarahpirtle.com.
  HOST FAMILIES: Joe Bock writes, "Share your summer with a young person from Spain! Homestaysusa offers Spanish children the opportunity to experience American culture by living with a host family for the month of July. We match ages, genders & interests to those of the host family. Students come to the area with a supervisor who is nearby & in contact the entire time. Host families receive $600 stipend, the student pays for extra activities, including camps & excursions. Hosting teens are invited to an exciting 2-day New York trip with the group. More info & testimonials at homestaysusa.org. Personal references available upon request. Become a host family & represent the Hilltown community to students from abroad. A summer you will always remember. joe@homestaysusa.org."
 CELEBRATING MOTHER'S: Arts Night Out: A Mother's Day Celebration! Music, art & poetry about motherhood at Northampton Arts Night Out in Thornes Marketplace (2nd Level) on Friday, May 11th from 5-8pm. Come join The Nields as they perform songs from their new CD, The Full Catastrophe. Event to include a curated show of local artists (Donna Estabrooks, Robin Freedenfeld, Katy Schneider and others), poets (Amy Dryansky, Liz Friedman and others) and writers (Avi Nathman, Karen Bayne and others) honoring mothers and their contribution to the arts. Food by Paul & Elizabeth's. Sponsored by Impish and MotherWoman.
MUSIC/CRAFTS: Join us on Saturday, May 12th at 10am. This month's Saturday Morning Music Party at Flywheel Arts Collective isn't only about music this time - but it does have bears (And pancakes. So many pancakes.)! The bears are for Easthampton's Bear Fest, a celebration of local art. There will be many bear-themed kids' activities and crafts, and an episode of Pancake Mountain will be shown, followed by a dance party featuring DJ Beartronix. Fun, furry, bear-y fun for the whole family. (Plus sticky pancake fingers. What more does a Saturday need!) 413-527-9800. 43 Main Street. Easthampton, MA. (FREE)
 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!
COMMUNITY SERVICE: Mayor Alex B. Morse is seeking organizations/groups/individuals to participate in the City Wide Clean Up scheduled for Saturday, May 19th from 10 - 1 pm. RSVP your organization's participation so that we may coordinate our efforts and provide participants with the necessary equipment needed. Pizza at Heritage State Park to follow!! RSVP to Nilka Ortiz in the Mayor's Office at 413-322-5510 or by e-mail at ortizn@ci.holyoke.ma.us.)
 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.
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BEST BETS FOR MOTHER'S DAY
| If you're looking for ideas for getting out on Mother's Day, we have a few suggestions...
If you're not up for making breakfast in bed, then take her out for breakfast or brunch. We asked our readers for family friendly restaurant recommendations and they had several to offer. Check out Mother's Day Brunch to see their suggestions... and add one of your own.
After breakfast/brunch, celebrate Mother's Day by taking her to one of the many gorgeous gardens dotted throughout Western Massachusetts including the Bridge of Flower in Shelburne Falls, one of the Commonwealth's most unusual and enchanting "gardens" is found in Franklin County. Read our post The Art of Great Gardens in Western MA for a list of recommended public gardens in the region.
If you're looking for something a little more organized, Old Sturbridge Village is offering free admission for moms today. Families can learn about 19th century life, including special programs focusing on the role of mothers (including a dinner preparation demonstration and a talk on 19th century motherhood).
And if Mother's Day is more about making the littlest ones happy, moms ride for free on the trains at both Look Park in Florence and Forest Park Zoo in Longmeadow.
Find out all the details at www.HilltownFamilies.org.
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| MARK YOUR CALENDARS |
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Hilltown Families presents Safe and Healthy Food Choices: Educating and Empowering Families in an Era of High-Tech Food Production on Tuesday, May 29th from 7-9pm in the Hawks~Hayden Community Room at the Meekins Library, 2 Williams Street in Williamsburg, MA (FREE).
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Saturday, May 19th it's Turtle Day at Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary! Kids will get to meet a live turtle, learn about local turtle species, and take a walk along the brook highlighting the area's natural history in Hampden, MA.
Also on Saturday, May 19th, families can discover the old growth trees at the Bryant Homestead in Cummington, MA. Then on Sunday, May 20th, families can learn how a Victorian lady dressed with performance artist Kandie Carle, followed by a Victorian tea in Granville, MA. Find out more at www.HilltownFamilies.org. |
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HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: Weather Episode with Guest DJ, Alison Faith Levy
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Next week Debbie Lan from the group Grenadilla guest DJs the Hilltown Family Variety Show!
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HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW: Alison Faith Levy, formerly "Sippy Alison" from beloved kindie pioneers The Sippy Cups, will be our guest DJ spinning her favorite tunes about WEATHER, joined by her producer Allen Clapp and featuring extreme weather facts presented by her ten-year old son (and weather authority) Henry.
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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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' Blog was voted as Best Local Blog in the Valley Advocate Best of the Valley Readers' Poll for the past two years in a row! Thank you for your support!
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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 an award winning 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.
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ENTER TO WIN
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 Next week we will be giving away a pair of tickets for a parents' night out to see Eilen Jewell in concert at the Shea Theatre in Turners Falls on Saturday, June 2nd at 8pm. Guitar instrumental kings, Los Strait Jackets, co-bill the concert. -- Check back next week to find out how you can enter to win!
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