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COMMUNITY FEEDBACK
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"I love Hilltown Families, because here I hear about many events that I wouldn't know about otherwise. I've also used the search function and parent recommendations to find resources, like a pediatric dentist and an organic pick-your-own strawberry farm. Thank you!" - Lise McGuinness (Florence, 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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Ongoing Columns
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| HILLTOWN FAMILIES SPONSORS | |
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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
eNEWSLETTER
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14 Community Highlights: Corn Mazes to County Fairs. 19th Century Games to Gallery Tours.
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 Corn Mazes to County Fairs. Beavers to Estuaries. 19th Century Games to Gallery Tours. These are just a few of the learning highlights we're featuring this week!
Scroll down to see our highlights, or select a day of the week to your left, and plan on getting out into your community and learn while you play!
For many families, Labor Day Weekend marks the end of summer... How will your family enjoy this end of the summer holiday weekend in Western MA? ... BBQ? Swimming? Bonfire? 3 County Fair? Click here to share your plans and inspire us all! |
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BULLETIN BOARD
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SELLERS WANTED FOR KIDS CONSIGNMENT SALE: The Sharing Tree Children's Consignment Sale is now registering sellers and volunteers for their fall/ winter sale coming September 29 - 30 in Westfield, MA. Save money by selling and buying high quality, gently used children's items at their weekend-long sale. Sellers earn a percentage on the items they sell and shop early - before the sale opens to the public. Volunteers shop first - even before sellers! Thousands of items expected, including baby and kids' clothes, shoes, toys, books, nursery and children's furniture, baby equipment and maternity wear. To find out more and to register, visit www.sharingtreekids.com. For questions, email Karen at info@sharingtreekids.com or call 413-324-8733.
 THEATER IMPROV FOR CHILDREN/TEENS: Sign up for Theater Improvisation with Heidi Haas! Improv increases spontaneity, creativity and self-confidence. Classes focus on tuning into one's scene partners, creating bold characters and developing skits with each other. Classes are offered for 6th-8th graders on Wednesdays from 3:00-5:00 and for 1st-5th graders on Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 in Florence. The first 10 week session begins in Sept. Heidi has been teaching theater to children since 1996 and is also a clinical social worker with a specialty in child/family concerns. Check out her website at www.heidihaasimprov.com. To register call: Heidi Haas 584-5562 or email Heidi_Haas@comcast.net.
 ADVERTISE YOUR FALL CLASS: Reach thousands of families in Western MA while supporting the community development work of Hilltown Families! See your afterschool class, homeschool program, community event, workshop, school, or business featured here in the bulletin board section of our list of Weekly Suggested Events and eNewsletter, reaching thousands of families living throughout the four counties of Western MA! Find out more about our enhanced publicity packages and options and how we can help with your online marketing by emailing us at hilltownfamilies@gmail.com.
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 hilltownfamilies@gmail.com
Shelly Bat Lenn writes, "The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens will be opening for our fall 2012-2013 year in October. If you, or someone you know needs our service please call Shelly at 413-584-7086 x124. Also, if you or someone you know is interested in learning about being a volunteer facilitator please share this number. Thank you!"
Wear Orange! - September is National Hunger Awareness month, and supporters (adults & kids) of the mission to end hunger are encouraged to wear orange on Thursday, September 6th to show your support - the symbolic color of hunger! See someone wearing orange on this day? Go up to them and ask them if they are supporters too. Meet your neighbors, classmates, the person behind you in the checkout line... and organize ways you can help to end hunger together in your community!
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| LOCAL AGRICULTURE | |
For Labor Day weekend families can get a strong dose or two of local agriculture. The 145th annual Blandford Fair takes place Friday-Monday, Aug 31-Sept 3, as does the 195th edition of the Three County Fair in Northampton. Visit to learn about animals, local agriculture, local history, and local culture - and see magic shows, live music, and more! And all weekend long families can get lost in a corn maze at Warner Farm in Sunderland. Mike's Corn Maze offers a fun and challenging outdoor adventure (of the best kind!) for families of all ages.
Supplemental Reading:
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| LOCAL HISTORY | |
Saturday, Sept 1st through Monday, Sept 3rd, families can visit Old Sturbridge Village for Family Fun Days! This special long weekend program offers families a chance to play numerous games - as they were played in the 19th century! Families can try a game of French and English, play baseball, watch a fire balloon fight, and do 1800's crafts. There will also be chances to see craftsmen at work on various projects, tour the village, and learn about 19th century life .
On Friday evening, Sept 7th, older students interested in local history can participate in a program at the Great Falls Discovery Center to learn about the settling of Turners Falls, the development of industry, and cultural changes within the community. This talk will focus on the immigration of a specific group, and the changes that occurred during the time when that group came to the area. It's a free talk and best for teens and older.
SUPPLEMENTAL READING:
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| ASTRONOMY | |
Arunah Hill Days take place this weekend in Cummington, bringing with them a host of astronomy activities and outdoor adventures for families! On Saturday afternoon, Sept 1st, families can visit the nature center for a GPS treasure hunt, nature walks of the grounds, and rocket building and launching! Evening will bring telescopes, and stargazing! Master gazers will help families with telescope use and will teach visitors to find and identify stars, constellations, and more. Activities take place throughout the day.
Then Friday evening, Sept 7th, the Springfield Museums host Stars Over Springfield. Visit the museum to take a peek at the stars through a rooftop telescope! In case of clouds or rain, a planetarium show will be presented instead.
Supplemental Reading:
The Everything Kids' Astronomy Book: Blast into outer space with steller facts, integalatic trivia, and out-of-this-world puzzles (Everything Kids Series) [Ages 9+]
Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations [Ages 6+]
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| NATURE & ANIMAL ADVENTURES | |
Great Falls Discovery Center in Turners Falls will be exploring habitats of the Connecticut River watershed using their investigation stations over the next few weeks, starting with estuaries on Sunday afternoon, Sept 2nd. Park interpreters will be on hand to help families with children of all ages understand exhibits and will focus shared information on a particular habitat found in the watershed. Then on Tuesdays mornings the center hosts an environment-themed program for kids ages 3-6yo called Kidleidescope, and interactive learning opportunity with crafts. All programs are free.
On Wednesday morning, Sept 5th, families with preK kids can take a hike at Mt. Greylock in Lanesborough! Their "Nice and Easy" family-friendly hike is about two hours long and will cover 1-2 miles of trail. Then in the evening in Lenox, families with slightly older kids can visit Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary's beaver ponds to learn about beaver habits and local habitats. The program will also teach visitors information on animals that are attracted to beaver-created ponds, and the changes that beavers have caused to landscapes since their reintroduction to the area over 80 years ago.
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| ART ADVENTURES | |
On Wednesday morning, Sept 5th, the Norman Rockwell Museum hosts, "Creating Together: A Parent-Child Experience," an art workshop featuring a gallery tour and hands-on art making in Stockbridge, and in the afternoon, the Art Garden in Shelburne Falls hosts open studio hours where families can visit to experiment with art materials and try out new forms of expression - or just to work on perfecting skills.
On Friday evening, Sept 7th, Pittsfield host First Friday art walk, which means families will have a chance to explore galleries, shops, and restaurants, all featuring beautiful artwork by a variety of artists, mediums and styles.
Supplemental Reading:
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HILLTOWN FAMILY VARIETY SHOW:
Back to School Episode
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 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! |
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 | 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.
Warm regards, |
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[Ages 8+]
[Ages 8+]
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[Ages 6
[Ages 6+]