Hilltown Families Weekly eNewsletter
Weekly Suggested Events
for the week of
Aug 24th-31st, 2012
Friday, Aug 24th
Saturday, Aug 25th
Sunday, Aug 26th
Monday, Aug 27th
Tuesday, Aug 28st
Wednesday, Aug 29th
Thursday, Aug 30th
Friday, Aug 31st


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THIS WEEKS' HIGHLIGHTS
Recent Posts
Bulletin Board
Insect Adventures
Local History
Skillshare, Architecture & Local Food
HFVS: Back to School Episode

COMMUNITY FEEDBACK 

"I can't believe I didn't know about Hilltown Families before. I thought it was just for families who lived in the Hilltowns, not for Valley families like us in Hatfield. After looking through the site (which is also great looking), I see that there are tons of events that my family would like to know about and attend, from Northampton, to Amherst to Pittsfield. Thanks!" - Kathie Gow (Hatfield, MA)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7127/7115931811_e1b60d6914_m.jpg  

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List of Weekly Suggested Events
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Enhanced Publicity
Giveaways
Hilltown Family Variety Show
Listserv 

 

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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Ongoing Columns
HILLTOWN FAMILIES SPONSORS

 

Bement School 

Ashfield Community Preschool 

Chandler's Restaurant (South Deerfield, MA) 

 

Earthwork Programs 

Hilltown Tree and Garden in Haydenville, MA 

Sponsor: Kathy Puckett, SLP 

Katywill Farm Community 

Lui Collins' Upside Up Music 

Sponsor: Montessori School of Northampton 

RH Conwell School 

S.H.I.N.E. 

SHOW Circus Studio 

Yes Computers in Northampton, MA 

Academy at Charlemont 

Daniel Lieberman Digital Consulting

Bread Euphoria Cafe & Bakery in Haydenville, MA 

Cup & Top in Florence, MA 

Blazing Star Herbal School in Ashfield, MA 


 

 

Best Bets for this Weekend

Thursday-Sunday, August 23rd-26th in the Heart of Western MA - AGRICULTURAL FAIR: The annual and beloved Cummington Fair takes place all weekend!

Saturday, August 25th in the Hampden County - BACK TO SCHOOL CELEBRATION: School is starting soon! Celebrate the return of school bus rides, fun learning, and bag lunches at Springfield Public Schools' back to school celebration. 

Saturday, August 25th in the Hampshire County - LOCAL FOOD: How many different types of (delicious) tomatoes are there? And how many are being grown locally? Visit Red Fire Farm's annual tomato festival to find out.  

 

Find out more at www.HilltownFamilies.org.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
Aug. 31st-Sept 3rd, 2012

Friday, Aug. 31st - Monday, Sept. 3rd: 145th annual Blandford Fair

Friday, Aug. 31st - Monday, Sept. 3rd: 195th edition of the Three County Fair in Northampton. 

Saturday, Sept. 1st: Holyoke Community Block Party.

 

Find out more at www.HilltownFamilies.org.
Enhanced Publicity
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 [email protected] for more information, or click here.

HILLTOWN FAMILIES

eNEWSLETTER 

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12 Community Highlights: Honey Bees to Katydids. Shady Porches to Tomatoes.
Like us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterVisit our blog Find us on PinterestView our photos on flickr
Pollinators to Nocturnal Insects.  Historic Homes to Historical Societies. Tomatoes to Honey. Get out into your community and learn while you play! These are just a few of the learning highlights we're featuring this week in Western MA!

Scroll down to see our highlights, select a day of the week to your left, and plan on getting out into your community and learn while you play!

Best Bet: The 144th annual Cummington Fair, a four-day agricultural celebration right in the heart of Western MA, begins this evening and runs through the weekend!

RECENT POSTS

Field Trip OAR 

BULLETIN BOARD

SCHOOL OPENINGS: The Montessori School of Northampton currently has openings for fall 2012 in their Little Children's House classroom. Meeting three mornings per week, this class is an introduction to Montessori for children age 2 years to 3 years 6 months by September 1. For more information, visit their website at www.northamptonmontessori.org or contact Laura, their Director of Admissions, at 413-586-4538 x103.

BENEFIT CONCERT: The Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) proudly presents "Goodnight Irene"; a benefit concert for the annual Source to Sea Cleanup. This powerful event, with singers from throughout the watershed, will bring communities together to celebrate resilience in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene. Join CRWC on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 at Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, MA, 7:00pm Tickets $10, on sale at CRWC Greenfield office. For other ticket sales locations, about the music and singers, and other details go to www.ctriver.org.

 

Call for Youth PhotographersCALL FOR YOUTH PHOTOGRAPHERS: Western MA youth photographers ages 8-18 are invited to participate in an upcoming exhibit titled, "Places We Live, Play & Learn: Narratives of Life by Western Massachusetts Youth Photographers." Hosted by Hilltown Families with the support of the Cummington Cultural Council, the exhibit will be on display at the Cummington Community House Gallery in the rear of the Cummington Community House during the month of September 2012. Exhibit gives youth an opportunity to explore their towns and document their findings both in images and a written narrative. Great summer learning opportunity! Participation is free and open to all youth living in Western MA. Deadline for entry: Aug 27, 2012. More info and entry forms here: Call for Youth Photographers.

 

SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the work of Hilltown Families. See your class, 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 local reviews, DIY posts, seasonal cooking, and community-based educational opportunities. Send your query to [email protected] 

 

YOUTH VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Westfield on Weekends is seeking volunteers ages 12 years old and older to help with the 8th annual Westfield Colonial Harvest Day, which will be taking place on Saturday, Sept 29 from 10am- 6:30pm on the grounds of the Westfield Athenaeum and on Court St. There will be a general meeting in the Whitney Study at the Westfield Athenaeum on Tuesday, Aug 28 at 6pm for all those who are interested in finding out more about Colonial Harvest Day and the many volunteer opportunities for this annual community event. For more info, call Colonial Harvest Day Co-Chair Chris Lindquist at 413-568-0638, or email at [email protected].

INSECT ADVENTURES

Pollinators play an important role in our ecosystem! This Saturday, Aug. 25th, families can learn about pollinators in the Berkshires.  In the morning families can learn about bees, hornets, and wasps at Field Farm with the Trustees of Reservations in Williamstown - scary though their sting may be, the science behind pollinating creatures is fascinating! Then in the afternoon at the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield there will be a special program on honey bees! The event is part of the village's Return and Learn series, and will teach visitors about the role these pollinators play in the ecosystem, and all about beekeeping (and its history at the village). Great information for older students to pair with studies of local agriculture and entomology!  

 

On Tuesday, August 28th, Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton hosts an evening of nocturnal summer bugs! There will be an informational slideshow about katydids and grasshoppers, then a trip outside to listen to (and perhaps find!) some of the noisy summer critters. Designed for adults, the program is best for older students interested in wildlife biology and entomology

 

Supplemental Reading & CDS:
LOCAL HISTORY
Many artisanal skills, now rare, were once necessary for survival.  On Saturday, Aug. 25th, the Ashley House in Stockbridge will host a day where families can learn about the many different skills necessary for running a household. Visitors can try spinning wool, caring for animals, cooking, and more! There will also be demonstrations of all sorts for families to view. Shady Porches happens in Stockbridge on Saturday too.  Tour the town and learn about the Stockbridge's history from residents, past and present, found on porches of historic homes. The tour, hosted by the Stockbridge Library, features actors playing Stockbridge residents - doctors, lawyers, bakers, etc., - and offers a fun and exciting take on local history.

On Sunday, Aug. 26th, several historical societies will offer free afternoon learning events. Learn about local history and Native Americans by visiting the Agawam Historical Association's Firehouse Museum where there will be displays, artifacts, and more from which visitors can learn about the first residents of what is now Agawam.  The Plainfield Historical Society will be offering a guided hike to explore former mill sites along the Mill River! The event begins with a talk on the many former mills and their sites, and is followed by a trek through the woods. Families can learn about the industries that helped to bring people to the area and build community, and learn about how the area has changed! The Buckland Historical Society is open in the afternoon! Families can visit to learn about local history from the many different artifacts, pieces of memorabilia that the museum is home to. Kids can learn about how their community has evolved and learn about how significant national and international events and changes have affected where they live. 

On Tuesday evening, Aug. 28th, the Emily Williston Memorial Library in Easthampton will host "Civil War Field Artillery: The Guns, The Equipment, and the Men" with award-winning historian, Civil War expert, Norbert Rieke. Mr. Rieke will review the different types of field artillery often displayed at our National Parks, giving older students insight into the history of the Civil War through these historic artifacts for their visits to these national treasuries.

SUPPLEMENTAL READING:
SKILLSHARE, ARCHITECTURE & LOCAL FOOD

SKILLSHARE: 

Katywil Farm Community in Colrain is hosting a day long block party on Saturday, Aug. 25th, filled with community skillshares and other fun activities! Families can learn weaving and dying, go on a medicinal herb walk, learn to extract honey and make pickles, and more! Visitors are also welcome to share their own skills.

ARCHITECTURE

Tour The Folly, a post-modernist home on the grounds of Field Farm in Williamstown, also on Saturday, Aug. 25th. The Trustees of Reservations will be offering midday tours of the home, and visitors can learn about its unique architectural style and compare it with the farm's guest house, designed in the American modern style. Great for older kids interested in architecture, design, and engineering.

LOCAL FOOD

How many different types of tomatoes are there? And how many are being grown locally? Visit Red Fire Farm's annual tomato festival in Granby on Saturday, Aug. 25th to find out! The event includes an all-afternoon tomato tasting, as well as many other fun activities, performances, etc. centered around local food and a locally-based lifestyle. There will be live music from local artists, goods on sale from local artists and artisans, presentations from notable chefs, workshops on utilizing local foods and resources.

 

HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW:  

Back to School Episode

 

Rebroadcast of our Back to School Episode with music by Imagination Movers, Milkshake, DAddy A Go-Go, Tom Paxton, Barenaked Ladies, The Terrible Twos, and storytime with Bill Harley.  

 

Check out our archives to listen anytime, or tune in this weekend to hear our Summer Essential 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!   
  • 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!
    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. 

    Warm regards,

    Sienna Wildfield
    Founder/Director, Hilltown Families
    [email protected]