0415bspwest

baystateparent baystate FREE

APRIL 2015

Massachusetts’ Premier Magazine For Families Since 1996 Massachusetts

WESTERN MA

HOW TO FIND FREE PARENTING HELP IN YOUR TOWN

Slam Dunk Disney: Top Tips From Parents & Pros SIMPLE DIY TEACHER GIFTS THEY’LL LOVE

adventure

AWAITS THE SECRET SAVINGS INSIDE YOUR MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP OVER 130 FUN FAMILY EVENTS INSIDE

Fast, Slow, Young, Old...We want to take you on our

Wild Goose Chase & Kids’ Carnival 5K & Family Fun Runs

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Register at WholeChildren.org

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FREE ENTRY TO LOOK PARK FOR THE FIRST 100 FAMILIES TO REGISTER Bonuses for registered runners: Chair massages, Bueno Y Sano gift certificates, wagon rides, post-race refreshments, water stations, music and live performances, food and drink, face painting and games coupons, Shriner’s clowns. Kids who register also receive FREE T-shirts, finishers’ medals and golden eggs.

A special thank you to our Sponsors

All proceeds benefit:

Easthampton Savings Bank, Fitness Together, Common Media, CommunicateHealth, Greenfield Savings Bank, Judd Wire

2 APRIL2015 3

Whole Children is a program of The Association For Community Living

are you ready for summer? summer fun The Arbors Camp offers children ages 5–12 a diverse camp experience including the opportunity to try new activities, be creative, learn skills and have fun. Staffed by the area’s best camp counselors dedicated to creating a great camp experience for each camper. We also offer a Counselor In Training program for teens ages13–15.

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The Arbors Camp at East Longmeadow 126 Industrial Drive East Longmeadow, MA 01028 (413) 224-1770

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table of contents APRIL 2015

VOLUME 2

1.

2.

3.

3

NUMBER 2

things we learned

while making the april issue

The entire Walt Disney World resort is 40 square miles, or the size of San Francisco. Want to make the most of your time and money? Turn to page 22 to get best tips and tricks from pros and parents.

6 6 7 8 8 30 36 39

North Conway, N.H., celebrates its 250th birthday this year and is the bold-faced name among the 27 towns and villages that make up Mount Washington Valley.

Head to page 26 to find out how North Conway is celebrating and the national honor it recently won.

WELCOME: A Letter from Our Editor MEET OUR SPECIAL GUEST: Cover Model Keegan MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS FINALLY FOREVER: Inside the Largest Adoptive Family Gathering in Massachusetts APRIL’S CHILD: Meet Faith OUT & ABOUT: April Calendar of Family Events OUR APRIL FAVORITES: Facts, Finds and Freebies TAKE 8: Old Sturbridge Village Historical Interpreter Derek Heidemann

adventure awaits You can garden without tilling the soil.

In fact, fans of no-till gardening say this approach means less work, less money and better results. Learn the ins and outs of no-till gardening on page 11.

features

11 13

in every issue

RIPE: No-Till Gardening: Less Time + Less Money = Better Results DISHIN’ WITH THE DIETITIAN: Going Green: It’s All About the Label

14

How to Find Playgroups, Free Parenting Support in Your Town

16

Springfield Focuses On Middle Schools For Increased High School Success

18

DIY Fast, Fun & Functional Teacher Gifts

19

Shake Off Winter Blues With A Mix Of Fashion And Family Fun

22

Slam-Dunk Disney: How To Make the Most of the Magic…

And Your Money

26

North Conway Named a Top U.S. Destination for 2015

28

Secret Savings: How to Get the Most Out of Your Museum Membership

advertising directories

38 38

ADVERTISER’S DIRECTORY PRESCHOOL & CHILD CARE

BAYSTATEPARENTWEST 4 5

meet team

welcome to

baystateparent

baystateparent

publisher KIRK DAVIS

creative

This month’s issue was so much fun to plan and produce because, let’s face it, travel is a family adventure that makes more memories per dollar, per minute, than any other activity. Think back to your own childhood: No doubt you’ve got a favorite trip or memory.

And while we warmly remember the trips of our youth, as a parent creating such memories for our children is even more exciting. We enjoy the experience (at least most of the time) and then get a secondary thrill watching our kids make their own memories. Surely you remember the first time you walked down Main Street in Disney World, Cinderella’s Castle beckoning in the distance, right there. But how much more memorable and emotional was it watching your child take that same walk years later?

This issue was such a blast because we got to write about some of the most popular travel hot

spots for Massachusetts families (not to mention our own faves).

An incredible amount of planning, anticipation and money goes into a Disney trip, so why not consult the experts — parents who love Disney — for their very best tips on how to make the most of your time (and your money)? Head to page 22 to get advice from the best there is — parents and pros.

On page 28 we look at the magic of reciprocal benefits found in many museum memberships.

It’s a great setup and savings for families: Become a member at one museum and gain free entry to dozens of others, across the state or across the country. Head online to baystateparent.com (keyword: reciprocal) and find a full list of museums, zoos and attractions throughout the state that offer reciprocal benefits.

North Conway is another major destination for area families. In fact, the three times my family has headed to North Conway, we’ve run into friends from home at Storyland and Santa’s Village each time, and many others have reported the same phenomenon!

This is a big year for North Conway, which was named one of the Top 15 places to visit in the U.S. in 2015 by Lonely Planet. The town is also celebrating its 250th birthday. As always, there’s a lot going on in Mount Washington Valley, and we’ve got the details for you on page 26 There’s a lot of travel news and know-how in this month’s issue, as well as features, such as how Springfield is trying to curb the dropout rate in its high schools, to three fast, fun and easy DIY teachers gifts you can make with your child.

As you’re reading this, I hope the snow is nearly — if not completely — melted, and your family can being planning more day trips and vacations because…adventure awaits!

M e li ss a

Melissa Shaw, editor

editor in chief MELISSA SHAW 508-865-7070 ext. 201 editor@baystateparent.com creative director PAULA MONETTE ETHIER 508-865-7070 ext. 221 pethier@holdenlandmark.com senior graphic designer STEPHANIE MALLARD design@baystateparent.com 508-865-7070 multi-media editor HEATHER KEMPSKIE heather@baystateparent.com graphic designer KIM MILLER

advertising director of sales REGINA STILLINGS 508-865-7070 ext. 210 regina@baystateparent.com western mass sales manager JESSICA O’MALLEY 413-437-4673 jessica@baystateparent.com multi-media account executive DONNA TYBURSKI 413-530-7187 donna@baystateparent.com

In Association With

Keegan

advertising director BETH BAKER 413-283-8393 ext. 245 bbaker@turley.com

MEET OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Two-year-old Keegan of Bondsville is this month’s cover model. Mom Stephanie shared fun facts with us!

What is his least favorite thing to do? Keegan’s least favorite thing is stopping, no red lights for this guy!

What does Keegan enjoy?

Keegan loves to play with any type of vehicle and he loves to dance as well as be outside. Sounds of vehicles stop him in his tracks so he can listen; then he follows with, “What is it? It’s a motorcycle!” He usually answers himself before we do, which is funny. He has a similar reaction with dancing, if a song comes on he likes you can expect he will be showing off his moves no matter where it is!

Has he always been so relaxed in front of the camera? He is such a happy-go-lucky guy the camera never bothered him. Of course us snapping pictures of him quite often helps, too! We sent his picture in to [baystateparent’s West edition cover model contest] for fun and he just had a blast with the photographer and staff. When we asked him if he wanted to go get his picture taken again he was literally jumping because he was so excited!

What is his favorite toy? You guessed it, he loves anything that moves! He loves his monster trucks, dump trucks and excavators.

What is your family’s favorite travel destination? We love to camp! Our friends and family we camp with are a huge part of our

6 APRIL2015 7

presidents KIRK and LAURIE DAVIS

photographers STEVEN KING SHAWNA SHENETTE

copy editor BRYAN ETHIER

• Over 50,000 readers • 25,000 copies distributed monthly • Find us in ALL Big Y stores PLUS 400 other locations cover photo

BY

Shawna Shenette

photography

• distribution manager TOM SIGNA 508-865-7070 ext. 112 tsigna@holdenlandmark.com

baystateparent life. Keegan’s earned the title social director; he’s always saying hi to everyone and making them smile.

is published monthly with a main office at 22 West Street, Millbury, MA 01527

www.baystateparent.com

April Contributors Writer Christina Cooper lives with her husband and 7-year-old twins in East Longmeadow. This month she looks at the variety of free playgroups and parent education programs available to families throughout Western Massachusetts on page 14.

Michele Bennett Decoteau is a Massachusetts writer, editor, beekeeper, outdoorswoman, and mother of two. She has lived all over the state including the banks of the Connecticut River, Linde Brook, and Slaughterhouse Pond. This month she looks at the easiest way to start that garden you’ve always wanted. Read her story on no-till gardening on page 11. On page 28, Michele shares how a membership to one Massachusetts museum or attraction could open up a whole slate of adventures and savings here and nationwide for your family. baystateparent Creative Director Paula Monette Ethier has been with us since Day 1 and is responsible for our awardwinning design and gorgeous covers. On page 18, Paula shares three quick, easy, and inexpensive gifts you and your child can make for next month’s Teacher Appreciation Week.

It’s billed as the Happiest Place on Earth and it’s certainly one of the major travel destinations for most families. On page 22, travel experts and moms tell Amherst-based writer Sara Pokorny how families can make the most of the Disney magic — and their money. On page 26, Sara looks at another popular travel hotspot much closer to home, North Conway, and the major recognition it received this year.

Kate Roy is a public relations professional and freelance writer who grew up in Western Massachusetts. A mother of two, she enjoys reading, gardening, and DIY projects. This month, on page 16 she takes a look at the Springfield GradNation Summit, and what it will mean for struggling Springfield schools.

Stay on top of what's happening with Massachusetts families via our online community!

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/baystateparentwestmagazine Follow us on Twitter @bspwestmagazine Subscribe to our e-newsletter baystateparent.com/newsletter/

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Pho FINALLY FOREVER

Inside the Largest Adoptive Family Gathering in Massachusetts Families Flock to Jordan’s Furniture Walk/Run For Adoption to celebrate

BY MELISSA SHAW For one day, in one place, they are in the majority.

“They” are adopted children and the place is next month’s Jordan’s Furniture Walk/Run for Adoption, which organizers say is the largest annual gathering of adoptive families in Massachusetts.

The event originally began decades ago as a “Wednesday’s Child” walk, spearheaded by longtime WBZTV news anchor and adoption

a formal partnership between the furniture company, MARE and DCF in which each pledges time, energy and resources toward spreading awareness of fostering and adoption.

MARE officials wanted a walk location that was immune to bad weather, which led Eliot Tatelman, Jordan’s president and CEO, to offer up his company’s East Taunton warehouse.

“That warehouse is so huge you can do the entire event inside the warehouse if necessary,” notes

advocate Jack Williams. Eventually discontinued, the walk was revived in 2010 by the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), the 57-year-old private nonprofit that serves as the central link between families interested in adoption, the state Department of Children and Families, and its contracted adoption agencies.

The possibility of reviving the walk was broached during a meeting of the Jordan’s Initiative,

Janice Halpern, MARE Director of Development. “The warehouse is the size of 15 regulation football fields! It’s a mile around the building. Three laps — ta da — we’ve got a 5K.” “It’s the largest gathering in Massachusetts, that we know of, of adoptive families and adoptees,” she continues. “You see hundreds of kids of all ages, and they’re in the majority.

The majority of the kids at the walk have one thing in common and that is they are all adopted. That doesn’t happen in school. It’s such a rare treat. You see the kids walking and talking; you see adoptive families, walking, talking, sharing their stories, it’s impressive.”

Over the past six years, the event has grown steadily. “The first year we were hoping to have 200 participants and we had nearly 400. Now we’re around 600,” Halpern notes. After the Walk/Run, the gathering turns into a party, with entertainment, food, and much more.

“It’s not just a walk, but a Jordan’s experience,” Halpern says.

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While the day hosts many families who have adopted through foster care, all adoptive families are welcome, regardless of how they built their family — domestic, international, or private adoption, Halpern says.

“Some families have said it’s such a gift for their kids to look out on this crowd of people in matching T-shirts and know that they all have this thing in common, that they’re all part of a family built through adoption,” she says.

Anna Edwards of Winchester says the Walk/Run is an annual event her family will not miss. She and husband

Eric adopted son Michael, 10, four years ago.

“It’s something we look forward to every year,” she says. “I really want Michael to know how committed we are to him and to how he came to our family and, of course, to raise awareness for adoption. It does make him incredibly proud; he can’t wait for that walk every year.

He loves it. It’s a great event, just seeing the diversity and all kinds of different families. It’s a celebration of what America looks like, love, and positivity.”

Kris Lyons Contois of Seekonk adopted her three daughters, 10, 12

and 23, through MARE. “It’s an agency near and dear to our heart,” she says, noting they haven’t missed a walk since it began.

“We’re grateful for the children we’ve adopted and we know there are many more kids out there that need to be adopted. Anything we can do to help with that is good.”

In addition to being a day of fun, family and activity, the event is also a fundraiser for MARE, a nonprofit. Participants fundraise and all proceeds go to MARE’s general fund, which are used to match foster children with waiting families.

From 2010 to 2013, the event was

held as a walk only, but participant demand got organizers to add a timed run option last year, which Halpern says opens the day up to new people and possibilities. “[Runners] may not be thinking about expanding their families right now, but as they get into family building mode we hope they’ll remember the kids they met and realize that this may be a way for them to build their families, too.”

This year’s Jordan’s Furniture Walk/Run for Adoption will be held on Sunday, May 17. Visit jordanswalkforadoption.org.

April’s Child: Faith Eleven-year-old Faith would love to work with animals one day as well as try horseback riding. Faith is a friendly, talkative, Caucasian child who would like to find a forever family. She enjoys being around others and engaging in activities, whether it is a board game, arts and crafts, or playing with her American Girl doll.

But Faith likes being active, too, and enjoys swimming.

In school, Faith is a strong student with the potential to go on to college one day. She has some really positive peer relationships, but at times struggles with conflict. Faith likes to be helpful and loves one-on-one attention.

Legally free for adoption, Faith would do well in a

he It’s aps

home with a mother and a father, two moms or a single mom. There should not be any other children in the home close in age to her. Faith also needs a family that will help maintain her connection with her younger biological brother and sister. There is an annual visit with her birth mother and grandmother.

For more information about Faith, please contact Department of Children and Families Adoption Supervisor Karen Greaney at (508) 929-1000. To learn more about the adoption process in general, please contact The Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at (617) 54-ADOPT.

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No-Till Gardening: Less Time + Less Money = Better Results

BY MICHELE BENNETT DECOTEAU

Spring is in the air and many of us are starting to think about planting a garden. We have big plans and picture beautiful rows of lush plants and bright flowers. But in a few months, usually we are looking at a gorgeous crop of weeds! The weeding, tilling, hauling, digging and work are a challenge to juggle with soccer, dance, school, and the

other demands on our time.

But can we have those lovely gardens without the weeding?

Absolutely! No-till gardening is all about creating good soil through layers and layers of material and then leaving it alone.

“Using a no-till gardening system is hard for most people,” says Liz Joseph, Garden & Education

Coordinator at Heifer International, based in Rutland. “The first step is a mental shift. You have to let go of the image of all that freshly tilled soil in the spring. Using notill gardening takes less time and less money. I can’t believe how much better the gardens are now at Heifer International. There are fewer pests and less weed pressure,

and the vegetables taste better and each plant has much better yields.

We can actually have fewer plants because each one is producing so much more.”

“You can have an instant garden in about two hours,” says Rick Baruc, from Seeds of Solidarity Farm in Orange. “This is really the fastest method going.”

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Want to start a no-till garden?

Here’s how: “Take a look at your yard and figure out where the sun is coming in,” Joseph says. “You can start with part of your lawn or use some established garden space.”

“Start with a 15 x 15 foot section of yard,” Baruc adds. “Then gather cardboard to cover it. Every 2 or 3 feet, cut a 1-foot-square hole.

Remove the sod and soil. Replace them with compost and then transplant a tomato or squash plant from your local farmer’s market.”

“The cardboard is going to kill the sod and weeds. It will also be your walking space,” Joseph says.

“Make sure the cardboard doesn’t have wax on it; try to get out the staples and remove tape if there is any. Then get the cardboard wet to begin the composting. This will also attract worms.”

Look for corrugated cardboard at local stores and businesses. Many will be happy to pass it on and the pieces are usually fairly large.

Worms are a key component of a no-till garden. They not only aerate the soil by leaving small holes for air circulation but they also eat all sorts of organic material, and their waste, or castings, provide nutrients to the soil.

“The next step after the cardboard is to make sure you control the weeds. Mulch with whatever you have like mulching hay, grass clippings, or straw. And you have to reapply this often over the season.

The mulch will break down and that can happen fast,” Joseph says.

“Put the mulch right on top of the cardboard,” Baruc adds. “The sod won’t be getting any light and that will kill it the first year. There is no need to remove it, since as it breaks down it will provide the soil nutrients and will attract worms.”

One commonly used mulch, easily available to most of us, is newspaper. If you use newspaper, only use the white parts, or newsprint, not the glossy ad inserts or fliers. Glossy ads can have

additives that you may not want in your soil, especially if you are growing vegetables for your family.

As you mulch between rows, no matter what you use, make sure that the mulch layer is at least 2 inches thick. Sunlight can travel down through most mulch, and weeds will germinate if the mulch is too thin.

It is difficult to err on the too-thick side.

“If you aren’t going to use the garden for a bit, plant cover crops.

These act like green mulch. Oats and field peas are excellent choices,” Joseph says. “The final step comes back to the worms. You need to keep the soil aerated. Worms do a great job but you have to add humus, or compost, too. Just add that layer over the mulch.”

Many people also add layers of manure. Gardeners have strong opinions about what sort of manure is best: cow, horse, pig, chicken,

Many herbs will grow nicely over more than one year, and garlic grows best if planted in the fall for harvest the following summer.

“Before we started using no-till gardening at Heifer International, we had three rows of tomato plants that were about 2 feet apart; it was about 140 feet. The yields were OK. Now we only plant about 90 feet of tomatoes and the plants are 3 feet apart. The yields are way better with fewer plants. The plants are so much stronger because they aren’t getting attacked by as many pests and diseases. The best part, aside from less work,” says Joseph happily, “ is the tomatoes taste better.”

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or bat. For this type of garden, any will help to enrich the soil. Finding a local source is an excellent option for many gardeners who are interested in supporting the local economy.

You can start a no-till garden in the spring, summer, or fall. Once the garden layers are set up, make sure they are wet enough for the composting process to begin. The warmer it is, the faster the process will happen, but at the beginning these layers can stack up to be 2 feet tall. The garden area will compost down to only about 6 or 7 inches high.

Crops that grow over-winter or grow over many years succeed well in this type of garden. For example, asparagus, herbs, and garlic all grow magnificently in a no-till garden.

Asparagus grows over many years, and once established will produce edible spears for years to come.

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Dishin’ with the Dietitian

Celebrating Earth Day on April 22 and wondering what those labels mean on your foods? Check out the guide below.

Natural: Probably the hardest label to explain (and understand!), the definition of “natural” depends on the type of food you are consuming.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees labeling for meat, poultry and egg production, and defines natural as minimally processed without containing artificial ingredients.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees labeling for all other foods but has yet to define the term “natural.” That said, the FDA does not object to the use of a natural label “if the food does not contain added color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances.”

Note: Although packaging and labels for meat, poultry and egg products require a review by the USDA before use, this is not true for products overseen by the FDA. USDA Organic (usda.gov): Used on farmed crops, livestock and wild crops, the USDA Organic label assures that products were farmed with an emphasis on renewable resources and conservation of soil and water without most conventional pesticides, fertilizers with synthetic ingredients, bioengineering or cold pasteurization. The Organic label means 95% or more of the food and its ingredients are organic.1 Note: Labels like “all natural” may be listed on a product without it meeting USDA Organic standards.

Therefore, not all “natural” products are organic, but all organic products are considered natural.

1 United States Department of Agriculture.

National Organic Program. http://www.ams. usda.gov/AMSv1.0/NOPOrganicLabeling.

Accessed Jan. 28, 2015.

2 Certified Naturally Grown. Frequently Asked Questions.

Going Green: It’s All About the Label

BY CARRIE TAYLOR, RDN, LDN

100% Organic: Unlike the USDA Organic label, which allows for 5% of the product to be non-organic, 100% Organic products have to show an ingredient label in which every component of the product has been certified as organic. The agency providing certification must be listed as well.

Made with Organic: These products must be made from at least 70% certified organic ingredients.

The remaining ingredients (up to 30%) must be produced following the same methods required by certified organic ingredients and/ or present on the USDA’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (a.k.a. the National List).

For example, genetically engineered ingredients would not be allowed.

The agency providing certification must also be listed.

Grass-Fed, Free-Range and CageFree (usda.gov): Labels like these refer to how an animal was fed or housed. These labels may accompany the USDA Organic label on a product. However, not all grassfed, free-range or cage-free animal products are considered organic.

Certified Naturally Grown (naturallygrown.org): Not a USDAmonitored label, this indicates that a farm follows the same organic standards as a USDA certified organic farm. Verification for the program comes from inspection by other farmers in the community. 2 Certified Naturally Grown is often used by small farms, so you may see the logo on local produce, honey or animal products.

Non-GMO Project Verified (nongmoproject.org): Rather than verifying a product is free of GMOs

http://www.naturallygrown.org/about-cng/ frequently-asked-questions. Accessed Jan. 28, 2015.

3 The Non-GMO Project. The Non-GMO Project Verified Seal: Helping You Make Informed Shopping Decisions. http://www.nongmoproject.

(genetically modified organisms or genetically engineered ingredients), this label is used by manufacturers to tell shoppers they have taken the steps to avoid the presence of genetically engineered ingredients in their product. To receive the seal, each product is verified to have followed steps to avoid genetically engineered ingredients by the nonprofit, third-party organization NonGMO Project. 3 Note: Currently, the only crops allowed to undergo genetic engineering in the United States are alfalfa, rapeseed (utilized for canola oil), corn, cotton, papaya, soy, sugar beets, zucchini and yellow summer squash.

Fair Trade Certified (fairtradeusa. org): This label is commonly seen on coffee, chocolate, fruits and vegetables in the United States, but may be found on imported products from apparel to beauty and personal products. It indicates that products come from a developing country where producers are compensated at a fair price and products are grown and harvested under humane standards. 4 rBGH/rBST Free (cancer.org): Often seen on milk products as “From cows not treated with rBGH/ rBST” or “From cows not treated with artificial growth hormones.”

Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), also known as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), is a synthetic hormone given to cows to increase milk production.

Although there is controversy surrounding its use and effect on humans, whether milk from cows given rBGH or rBST affects humans any differently than that of milk from cows not treated with the hormone

org/learn-more/understanding-our-seal.

Accessed Jan. 28, 2015.

4 Fair Trade USA. Frequently Asked Questions. http://fairtradeusa.org/what-is-fair-trade/faq.

Accessed Jan. 28, 2015.

remains to be seen. 5 Local: There is no regulated definition for the label “local.”

Rather, its meaning depends on a company’s understanding of the term and its use. For example, one supermarket may highlight a product as “local” if the company is regionally-based, such as SoCo Creamery in Great Barrington.

Another retailer may define “local” as products grown regionally, such as butternut squash from Plainville Farm in Hadley.

As you can see, there is a lot of information to be found on the packaging of natural and organic products. To learn more about organic foods, be sure to check out the USDA’s handout on “Labeling Organic Products” found at ams. usda.gov. And, of course, if you ever have a question about a label you see while shopping, contact our dietitian team at livingwell@bigy. com. Now, you’re in the know. Get set, ready, go green!

Carrie Taylor is the lead registered dietitian nutritionist for the Living Well Eating Smart program at Big Y Foods. Have a nutrition question?

E-mail livingwell@bigy.com or write Living Well at 2145 Roosevelt Ave., P.O. Box 7840, Springfield 01102.

Would you like to be featured in a future issue of baystateparent?

Send your question to editor@baystateparent.com and you might soon be Dishin’ with the Dietitian!

5 American Cancer Society. Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone. http://www.cancer.org/ cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/ recombinant-bovine-growth-hormone. Accessed Jan. 28, 2015.

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PLAY & LEARN

How to Find Playgroups, Free Parenting Support in Your Town

BY CHRISTINA COOPER

You are your child’s first teacher.

That’s what Cindy Milner wants all parents to know.

That’s also what the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care wants all parents to know.

Its Coordinated Family and Community Engagement grants fund programs to foster parent education, family engagement, and early literacy all over the state.

Milner calls her programs “Pathways for Parents,” which is less of a mouthfull than saying she is the Coordinated Family and Community Engagement (CFCE) Grant Manager and Program Coordinator. Parents may not know the acronym, but they get it when she tells them she offers free playgroups with music and movement, library programs for babies, outdoor literacy walks, family discussions over a buffet dinner, and more. She’s the fun lady who always knows how to engage

kids and parents at the same time.

You may not realize it, but somewhere in your community, a CFCE program is in place. For all the diversity of our state, every city, every town, every neighborhood has this in common: parents seeking support. Moms, dads, grandparents and caregivers everywhere want to enrich their kids’ learning, need to locate quality child care, hope to understand milestones, and desperately want to get out of the house to participate in familyfriendly programs. The CFCE grant programs reach hundreds of families each day in the Pioneer Valley alone.

Early Literacy When 4-year-old Miles Miller’s family moved from Springfield to Connecticut, he told his mom and dad he would miss the StoryWalks

posted by Milner on a local rail trail (where pages of a book are posted along a walking route and families are encouraged to read while they stroll…or run.) Miles explains: “I like to read the stories and walk together, it was fun.”

“I think Miles was 2 when we started going on them all,” says his mother, Kelly Fuller. “The StoryWalks were always fun because he could run from page to page hunting for the next one. It made the book more exciting because it was presented in a unique way that was interactive instead of just checking it out of the library. He has always loved to read, so this was a special way to enjoy a book and get him outside walking with us.”

While libraries often have children’s programs, CFCE grants help expand local literacy outreach with more free, special events like this.

As a nanny and a mother, Tason-

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dra Jardine of Chicopee has attended CFCE-funded Books & Babies programs at the East Longmeadow library with children under her care for three years. This program offers stories, songs, poems, and play geared towards the youngest library patrons, birth to 2 years of age.

“Going to Books & Babies was a great experience. It is geared toward small children and timed so they don’t get bored,” she says. “It uses music, movement and books to create a unique learning experience every time. They have a maximum amount of activity packed into each class followed by free play to encourage interaction with other children.”

Rowan, now 3, started attending when he was just an infant, and always had a smile on his face while listening to the books and dancing to the songs.

“The program does a great job of

Before

After

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supporting parents and caregivers while engaging the children,” Jardine points out. “As a mother and a nanny, I give it two thumbs up.”

Parents Supporting Parents

Some families attend certain programs over and over, like the Parent Cafés held in Wilbraham. Families sit down to a free buffet-style dinner. Next, while the kids head off to play with childcare specialists, parents get a chance to discuss topics of common interest together. Over the past year, the group has talked about family sleep habits, loving discipline, childhood friendships, and facing holiday toy insanity. Alison and Brett Castellano of Hampden have been coming to Parent Café every month for about a year, beginning when their son Philip was 4 and daughter Charlotte was 2. Now baby brother Samuel comes along, too.

While many family programs will have one stay-at-home parent attend, Parent Cafés are held in the evening and make it possible for the whole family to enjoy the experience.

Brett Castellano enjoys attending the Cafés because “it gives me the opportunity to bounce ideas off of other parents.”

“I keep them as a standing appointment in my calendar every month,” his wife Alison says. “I feel it provides a comforting environment where I realize that I'm not alone within some of the parenting struggles that Brett and I face.

There have been several occasions when other parents have told me that they've felt the same way or were dealing with similar situations with their kids, and I find that type of support to be comforting.”

Supporting Massachusetts Families Milner has been managing her grant since 1998 for the towns of Ludlow, Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, Hampden, and recently Southwick, Granville, and Tolland. She is always brimming with parent support ideas and loves connecting with new people.

“Mostly what I love is meeting families; each family walks a different path and has different needs,” she says. “Knowing the local resources and having partners that we can link a family to is important.

Being a child's first teacher really begins with learning about the parenting role. It may be a new parent

Spring Programs

™

™

April School Vacation Week Programs April 18-26, 2015 Visit Historic Deerfield during school vacation week this April! Start the week off by participating in the Patriot’s Day Revolutionary Muster and Parade. Come learn about colonial chocolate and clocks. Tour our museum houses and stop by the History Workshop and dress up in colonial costumes.

Girl Scout Badge Days Historic Deerfield can help your scouts complete their badge requirements! Contact us to register for one of the scheduled programs listed here, or to inquire about scheduling a custom designed program on an alternative date. Contact Faith Deering, Museum Educator at (413) 775-7116 or fdeering@historic-deerfield.org.

80 Old Main Street • Deerfield, MA 01342 413.775.7214 • www.historic-deerfield.org

Find the CFCE program and coordinator that serves your town Through direct services and/ or referrals, local CFCE programs provide famlies access to: • Child development information.

• Transition information and supports.

• Assistance with meeting basic needs.

• Timely support in periods of family crisis.

• High quality, specific and up-todate information and referrals.

• Family literacy and school readiness activities.

• Family and community events.

• Parent leadership opportunities.

Information about early education and care opportunities and other community resources that support parents in their role as their child's first teacher: www.eec.state.ma.us/ ChildCareSearch/CFCE.aspx

SU P PORTED BY ©

April 11, May 2, 16: Playing with the Past Badge for Junior Scouts

needing emotional support, or parents looking to enrich their young child's development and education, or a family struggling with parenting challenging children.”

Beyond Babies & Books, Parent Cafes, and StoryWalks, CFCE grants promote groups for active toddlers and preschoolers, Welcome Baby programs for parents of newborns and infants, and offer Ages and Stages Questionnaires to give parents a sense of expected developments for every month of life. Programs are tailored in each community to meet the current needs of parents, and coordinators such as Milner are always looking for suggestions and feedback.

The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care uses the theme “Brain Building in Progress” to underscore its purpose: helping parents all over the state understand their role in teaching their kids. Milner says that she and her fellow coordinators are there to encourage parents from birth to age 8 in any way they need.

“It is really about letting that family know they are not alone, and we can help and guide them to local supports” she says.

You are your child’s first teacher, and you deserve to have advocates every step of the way.

school vacation

Puppet Festival April 20-24, 10 am-5 pm

Live Performances • Everybody Loves Pirates by Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers • Raccoon Tales by Puppet Showplace Theatre Artist-in-Residence Brad Shur • African Adventure Tales by Crabgrass Puppet Theatre • Lollipops for Breakfast by Bonnie Duncan • Peter and the Wolf by National Marionette Theatre Plus live animal demonstrations

by Dave’s Soda and Pet City, art activities, science experiments and more.

FULL SCHEDULE AT SPRINGFIELDMUSEUMS.ORG.

21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA 01103 • 413.263.6800 •

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. ROY

Springfield Unites To Curb Dramatic Dropout Rate

BY KATHRYN M. ROY

H

igh school graduation rates in Springfield continue to lag, but there’s a renewed effort to improve those numbers through targeted focus areas aimed at meeting the needs of younger students.

The Springfield GradNation Summit, held at Springfield College late last fall, brought together educators, community leaders, families and others to help devise a strategic plan aimed at helping Springfield high school students find success.

The summit was prompted by America’s Promise, the national organization led by Colin and Alma Powell, focused on attaining a 90% graduation rate across the country by 2020. America’s Promise selected Springfield as one of 100 communities to host a GradNation Summit over a three-year period, contacting

the United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) to organize the event with the school district and community partners.

Sylvia de Haas-Phillips, Senior Vice President Community Impact for UWPV, said her organization was thrilled with the opportunity to help the district increase the high school graduation rate, which stood at 54.9% in 2013, the most recent rate available.

“We partnered with them throughout the planning process, working closely with Springfield Public Schools,” she said. “This will result in an action plan for Springfield middle school students.”

The plan, presented early this year to America’s Promise, involves several components, including youth engagement, parent engagement, mentoring and out of school support, safety, and an early warning

response system. Much of the early implementation of the plan will involve data gathering to help guide stakeholders in addressing the most pressing issues.

Representatives from UWPV, which earlier devised the Stay in School attendance campaign in Springfield, will focus on competency/academics, attendance, and behavior.

These three areas are considered the main indicators of whether a child is going to graduate from high school with his peers.

“It’s an opportunity to highlight an important part of the educational continuum,” de Haas-Phillips said.

“There’s a lot of good work going on with pre-K, reading by Grade 3 [initiative] — we’ve just identified middle school as an area that needs more understanding and attention, as it’s such a critical pathway to high school.”

“What we have to do is figure out how we can better capture students’ attention academically.”

— Azell Cavaan, Chief Communications Officer, Springfield Public Schools

The Springfield Parent Academy Presents…

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A Family Event Focusing on Health and Wellness

Wednesday, June 24th, 2015 – ALL DAY EVENT

Parent and Community Engagement Center, 91 School Street, Springfield

All Are Welcome!

DEMONSTRATIONS • MUSIC ZUMBA • ENTERTAINMENT RAFFLES • COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOOD AND MORE! 16 APRIL2015 17

For more information please visit SpringfieldParentAcademy.com or call 413-787-6764

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Azell Cavaan, Chief Communications Officer for Springfield Public Schools, said middle school does present a unique challenge in Springfield, and elsewhere.

“It just seems those in-between, pre-teen years naturally seem to be a difficult and challenging time for those kids who are growing into young adulthood,” Cavaan said.

“The social pressures, the changes happening within the body, all of those things come into play and they manifest themselves in many ways, including in schools and academically. What we have to do is figure out how we can better capture students’ attention academically.”

There is some positive news when it comes to middle school academic achievement, Cavaan noted.

“Over the last two years, our middle schools here in Springfield made some greater gains in English Language Arts and Math on the annual statewide assessment test,” Cavaan said. “The gains at our middle school level have been higher than the average gains across the state. So we are experiencing our middle school students having some academic growth, but it’s not enough.”

There’s a reason for the push to help middle schoolers. The city’s eight “pure” middle schools — those housing only Grades 6 through 8 — are all at Level 4 under the state Department of Education’s Accountability and Assistance Level. Schools ranked Level 4 have three years to improve before being considered for takeover by the state.

Cavaan said United Way’s assistance with the Stay in School Campaign has been crucial.

“Attendance is one of the greatest indicators of high school success and graduation,” she said. “If you are a student with low attendance, it’s an indicator you’re going to have problems graduating.”

The partnership’s combined efforts to get more kids in school have helped. The most recent statistics show an average daily attendance rate of nearly 93%, which

translates into 171 out of 180 school days.

De Haas-Phillips said the United Way’s strength is mobilizing community support to help students succeed, and success inside and outside of the classroom is important.

“It’s not just what happens in the school day,” de Haas-Phillips said. “It’s what happens outside of school as well.”

United Way partners with agencies that serve children, such as the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, the Springfield Parent Academy, Jewish Family Services, Stand for Children, and others, to engage both children and families.

De Haas-Phillips said United Way works to make sure all services are aligned and providing what the students need, and will be further evaluating those services.

“We’re doing a pretty involved evaluation of community-funded partners; a lot of them serve middle school students,” she said. “We’ll be working on sharing the qualitative data with the school system. We’ll look at the things that are working, taking a holistic and integrated approach, with community needs driven by metrics and outcomes.”

Cavaan said the work coming out of the GradSummit will piggyback on the new approach the district is taking to get struggling middle schools back on track.

“We’re creating what’s going to be known as the Springfield Empowerment Zone,” Cavaan said. “We’re in the process of banding together these eight middle schools, operating under a new partnership with the district and the teacher’s union.”

There have been some groundbreaking negotiations between the district and the teacher’s union to attract and retain the highestquality middle school teachers the district can find.

“They did a great job of pulling these different organizations that usually work in a vacuum together,” Cavaan said of UWPV.

Stay in the know!

Keep on top of the • latest news • giveaways • family events

SUMMER FUN FOR KIDS AND TEENS! • Video Game Design • Cooking with Chef Dino • American Sign Language • Into the Wild!

Wilderness Survival • Cops, Crime Scenes, and Careers • Web Design • Composing and Performing Music • Lego Robotics • Minecraft Construction • Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball ...and many more!

www.hcc.edu/summer

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• fun with our weekly e-newsletter.

Head to baystateparent.com to sign up.

Learning differently demands teaching differently.

Eagle Hill School

www.ehs1.org

413-477-6000 BAYSTATEPARENTWEST 16 17

DIY

Fast, Fun & Functional Teacher Gifts Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4-8 baystateparent Creative Director Paula Monette Ethier shares three inexpensive, easy projects you and your child can make together.

Teachers will love and, more importantly, use these goodies.

Grab 'N Go Note Pad Directions

• Scrapbook paper • 1 5x7 acrylic frame • Glue gun • X-Acto knife • Ribbon and embellishments • 1 package of Post-it Notes

1. Cut paper and slip in frame 2. Decorate with ribbon and embellishments of your choice using glue gun to secure 3. Glue Post-it notes to frame

'

Supplies

Cost: Less than $5 for those who have scrapbook paper, a glue gun, knife and embellishments on hand.

ABC Coasters Supplies • 1 sheet of cork • Scrabble pieces (25 per coaster) • Mod Podge • Disposable paintbrush • Glue gun • X-Acto knife • Ribbon Directions 1. Glue Scrabble pieces to cork sheet, 5 across and 5 down (25 pieces) 2. Once secure, with paintbrush coat tiles with Mod Podge. Let dry and repeat two more times 3. Cut cork flush with Scrabble pieces, into coaster shape 4. Wrap with ribbon Cost: Scrabble tiles are sold in bulk and can be found online for around $8 per pack of 100. Cork can be purchased in 12 x12 square sheets for around $6. One 12x12 sheet will yield 9 coasters.

No. 2 Vase Supplies • Pencils (we used approximately three dozen to fit our vase) • Glass vase • Ribbon • Glue gun • Flowers 18 APRIL2015 19

Directions 1. Glue pencils on vase one at a time.

2. Wrap ribbon around pencils, add flowers and water Cost: Visit a dollar store to purchase the vase and pencils ($4 total). Use ribbon you have on hand and your only additional cost is the flowers of your choice.

Adventure Awaits Shake off those winter blues with a mix of fashion and family fun this spring.

Fairway Fine Isabel and Eamonn look cool and collected in a mix of navy, light blue and khaki that easily combines casual and class in many a spring setting. Left: Jonny O Polo Dress (sizes 4-10).

Right: Jonny O Shirt and Shorts (sizes 4-8).

BAYSTATEPARENTWEST 18 19

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Make Waves Ella, Camilo and Kylee know it’s true: Kids can be safe from the sun and have fun with these all-American red, white and light blue swimsuits and colorful cover-ups at any water hot spot.

Left: Snapper Rock Cover-Up (sizes 2-14); Snapper Rock 3-piece Swim Suit (Rash Guard and 2-piece Suit, sizes 4-12).

Middle: Snapper Rock Rash Guard and Swim Short (sizes 2- 8).

Right: Snapper Rock 3-piece Swim Suit (Rash Guard and 2-piece Suit, sizes 2-6).

20 APRIL2015 21

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Monkeying Around The snow is almost gone, which means it’s time to break out of the winter-long white palette and inject some bright colors into your wardrobe.

Solimar, Hudson, Keegan, and Charlotte are proof you can hit all the family hot spots while being fashionable in a mix of orange, yellow, and playful blue-and-white stripes. Left: Sweater and Beach Pant by Persnickety (sizes 4-10); YOLO Tee

by Creamie (sizes 6-14). Middle left: One-Piece Romper by Deux par Deux (sizes 4-6). Middle right: Graphic Tee by Mulberry Bush (sizes 2T-4T); GNU Brand Shorts (sizes 2-5). Right: Kitty Dress and Cropped Leggings by Deux par Deux (sizes 12m to 4T).

BAYSTATEPARENTWEST 20 21

Slam-Dunk Disney ADVENTURE AWAITS

How to Make the Most of the Magic…And Your Money

BY SARA POKORNY 22 APRIL2015 23

Do

you find that as you’re planning a getaway to Walt Disney World thoughts of soaring high in Peter Pan’s Flight or singing along to the infamous little ditty while floating through It’s a Small World are shattered by other non-magical notions, such as where to eat, what park to go to first, what hotel to stay in, or Oh my gosh, why is there so much to think about?

First, comfort yourself in the fact that you are not alone. Sue Pisaturo, who operates Internet-based, Authorized Disney Vacation Planner agency Small World Vacations, knows the importance of such a milestone and even likens it to another big life event.

“It’s almost — maybe not equal to, but on the same importance level for some people in their lives — like a wedding,” she says. “It’s such an emotional vacation. People have very high expectations for how this is going to create magical moments for their families. It’s about creating once-in-a-lifetime memories.”

Yet, is the stress necessary? Those we deemed Disney experts and interviewed said no; you just need to have a plan of attack.

A good starting point is choosing dates, a task made easier by checking Touring Plans (touringplans.com, $12.95 for a one-year subscription), a Website that features a very accurate Crowd Calculator.

The data-driven tool predicts how busy each park will be every day of the year on a 1-to-10 scale, 1 being the least crowded and 10 representing the most packed. It also lists park hours, Extra Magic Hours, and any special events that may affect your visit on any given day.

Holiday weeks are obviously busy, as is the week between Christmas and New Years and spring break time from mid-March until April. As for good times to visit, Touring Plans’s Brian McNichols points to the second week of September, around the time when school starts, as it tends to be one of the least busy weeks of the year.

Once a time frame is figured out, move on to budgeting main trip components. Though it may be

tempting to bundle things, Sarah Stone, who runs the popular newsletter and Disney resource MouseSavers.com, said that might not be the cheapest way to go.

“The main components of a Disney World vacation are accommodations, theme park tickets, meals, souvenirs and transportation,” she says.

“Probably the easiest way to save money is to purchase these items separately. Disney vacation packages are convenient, but they don’t always save you money. If you are willing to do some work on your own, you can

40 square miles, or the size of San Francisco. Figuring out when to go where doesn’t have to be a pain.

Whether you’re a down-to-the-minute planner or someone who likes schedules a little loose, there’s a method to the madness.

Small World Vacations’s Pisaturo highly recommends the purchase of Magic Bands, colorful wrist bands that sync with decisions made via My Disney Experience that help parcel out meal times, Fast Pass+ ride selections and entertainment times.

This still leaves how to schedule each

find ways to save money on all of the primary expenses of your trip.”

Trip costs will vary depending on several factors, but Stone sets the baseline for a weeklong trip for a family of four at $3,000, plus travel expenses.

Seeking out authorized brokers (a list of which can be found at MouseSavers) may help save money on park tickets. Many brokers buy blocks of tickets directly from Disney and sell them at a discount.

“Depending on the ticket, you may be able to save as much as $28 per person,” Stone said.

Some travel agencies offer coupons for on-property Disney rooms for as much as 15% off the regular rate, and they can stack on top of any discounts Disney may be offering at the time.

Park logistics are always daunting; after all, the entire WDW resort is

day, and for that Touring Plans can help. The site provides step-by-step itineraries that list what rides to go on and when.

“You can move rides around, add attractions, put in meal times or a break outside the park if you want to do that,” McNichols said.

Touring Plans’s mobile app Lines also helps keep things moving in real-time at the park. Lines is another data-driven feature, calculating how long wait time actually is for every ride. Guests can check the app for updates and plan which ride they will hit next, and then once at the ride update the app with the actual wait time to help other visitors.

“There are wait times posted in the park, but they aren’t always completely accurate, as Disney errs on the side of caution,” McNichols noted. “Not only is it kind of fun to see how long you waited, it also helps

Modified Mouse: Recent Changes At The Parks

Need to know what rides will be shut down and when? Which are gone for good, and which are new? Stay up-todate by visiting allears.net/tp/rehabs. htm, or take a glance at our list.

coaster The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, a new place to encounter characters in The Enchanted Forest, and Dumbo-themed Storybook Circus.

• As of Feb. 25, the Sorcerer’s Hat in Disney Hollywood Studios was completely removed.

• Peter Pan’s Flight in Magic Kingdom has a new interactive element while waiting in line.

• Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom has several new attractions: family

• Among attractions permanently shut down are the American Idol

us out a lot. Our models are updated instantly if your wait was drastically different than what we predicted, which thankfully doesn't happen too often.”

Also be aware that Disney is more than happy to help you plan your trip long before you arrive.

“Guests are able to schedule advance dining reservations 180 days in advance and FastPass+ reservations 60 days in advance [if staying on a Disney property] or 30 days in advance [if staying off-property],” says Jodi Grundig of Natick, a member of the Disney Parks Moms Panel, an online forum in which readers can submit questions to an array of panelists, who run the gamut from moms to grandparents.

“You do need to book in advance for the most popular restaurants and attractions [especially during the busy season]. Make planning these things a family affair — that way the kids will feel like they are part of the process.”

That said, it’s also understood that not everything is set in stone.

“How are you supposed to know exactly where you’ll want to eat and on what day six months in advance?

You most likely don’t, but make the reservations anyway,” Touring Plans’s McNichols advises. “You can always cancel them.”

Taking a day outside of Disney — without sacrificing the magic — is also cost efficient, and something Carol Geary of Shrewsbury recommends.

“Plan a day outside the parks, but on Disney property, so you get the Disney feel,” says the mother of four, whose family has visited Disney 12 times in the past 15 years. “For example, we would rent family bicycles that fit four and ride around the Board Walk resort area to the Beach Club resort and have ice cream at Beaches and Cream.

We’d plan a character dinner at the Contemporary Resort and ride the monorails and visit the great arcade there.”

Overall, and in times of great planning distress, Small World Vacations’s Pisaturo pointed out that you need to remember one thing: “It’s Disney. No matter what you do, it’s going to be great.”

Experience and Backlot Tour in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

• Some attractions will be temporarily shut down this year: Voyage of the Little Mermaid in Disney’s Hollywood Studios from July 7- 10; Liberty Square Riverboat in Magic Kingdom from Aug. 4- 10; Jungle Cruise in Magic Kingdom from April 13- May 5; and Pirates of the Caribbean from May 11- Sept. 25.

BAYSTATEPARENTWEST 22 23

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Mass Moms Share Their Best Disney Advice “Pack your patience! You will be hot and tired and dealing with huge crowds. Take deep breaths and remember to enjoy. When it isn't fun anymore, take a break and go swimming.”

— Michelle Larose, North Grafton

“Share meals and eat at places that made that easy, like the Electric Umbrella in Epcot at the Land Pavillon. There are so many choices from sandwiches to hot and cold entrees and we would share our meals.”

— Carol Geary, Shrewsbury “Take a colorful scarf with you and tie it on your stroller. This saved me so much time searching for my rented stroller in the sea of other rented strollers! I would just quickly look for that bright blue scarf once we exited a ride/show and quickly was able to find it so we could jump back into the fun!

— Courtney Brillant, Natick

“Sometimes characters will come out and watch the fireworks down in the Pete's Silly Sideshow area [in Magic Kingdom]. We took a chance on our last trip and went down to this area to check it out and, sure enough, they were out and we were there with maybe two other families.

We basically had the characters all to ourselves.”

— Amy Randell, North Grafton “If you're staying on a Disney property, chances are the hotel's gift shop will feature Duffy, Mickey's Teddy Bear, and the chance to dress him for the day. My daughter dove into his chest of clothes, dressed him

Wednesday April 22 @ 2pm AS SEEN ON

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Late Night with David Letterman

“Genius” - People Magazine

School Vacation Week Matinee at Symphony Hall!

up and had a certificate featuring her efforts for everyone to see!”

— Kellie Carrara, Franklin “The best time to go is in May, low crowds and pricing is moderate.”

— Alicia Gemme, Sutton “Consider buying the photo plan [Disney PhotoPass]. It was so nice not to carry my big camera around.

Plus, most of the character photo packages were included! We would just scan our PhotoPass card and then a few weeks after the trip I ordered the CD of all the pictures.”

— Jessica Aucoin, Millbury “A Disney vacation is not a relaxing vacation, it's an adventure. As soon as you have that mind set, you will have an amazing time.

Get groceries delivered! When I first heard this I thought it was crazy. Then I tried it. A case of water, some packages of crackers, chips, pretzels, etc. Every day we'd throw some in the backpacks and by the end of the day they'd be gone. There is no way to buy a water or a snack while waiting in line, so we'd open the packs and grab a snack. It was perfect. I do not go to Disney without using this service now. Our last trip we even had a few adult beverages delivered. After all, we're on an adventure, too!

I call Disney about once a month to see if my paid-for package qualifies for any additional discounts. The second time we went to Disney they announced free dining for our dates, so I called and saved about $1,000!

I find out about discounts, etc. at a few sites — disboards.com and wdwinfo.com are two of my favorites.

There are also hundreds of Disney groups on Faceboook where you can ask questions and get immediate answers from other travelers.

Save money by booking the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That seems to be the cheapest time to go and the least busy with some great weather. Plus you get to watch the World transform from fall to Christmas and even get some great Christmas photos!”

— Diana Antul, Templeton “Bring water bottles and hand-held misting fans, all counter service restaurants give free ice water.

Box office 413-788-7033 Free & Convenient Parking

citystage.symphonyhall.com 24 APRIL2015 25

Buy ponchos at home to bring. It will rain in summer and won’t cost as much as buying in parks.”

— Ellen Pecia, Holyo Head to baystateparent.com (keyword: Disney) for more mom tips.

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Magic Wings

Open 7 days a week All year round.

Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens

Proudly sponsored by

ees egr d 0 s8 gs! way ic Win l a It’s t Mag a

Looking for something amazing to do with your family and friends? Visit Magic Wings and marvel at the beauty of nearly 4,000 butterflies, as they fly around you in our tropical indoor conservatory. Open daily 9-5. Gift shop, food court and Monarchs Restaurant on site.

413-665-2805 www.magicwings.com 281 Greenfield Rd. South Deerfield MA 01373

39 South St., Pittsfield, MA 413.443.7171

Berkshiremuseum.org

Opening April 2015, The Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center

Come join us on April Break for two great programs, The Crew in Training Program and Zoo Camp

April Break 20th - 24th The New Crew in Training Program

The CIT program is for teens 14-17 who would like better insight on the day to day life at the Zoo! 9am - 2pm

Zoo Camp • For kids 6-13 • 9am - 3pm • We have something for everyone and we are eager to greet our guests!

• Come see our new Jungle Jeep for small children and “African Wild Winds” simulator.

• Learn about our all NEW Birthday party packages.

• Enjoy our Zoo Keeper Talks and hear about the rich history of the Zoo. • Browse our Zoo gift shop at the end of your visit.

Visit www.forestparkzoo.org for more information 302 Sumner Ave | Springfield | MA | 413-733-2251 BAYSTATEPARENTWEST 24 25

North Conway Named a Top U.S. Destination for 2015

BY SARA POKORNY

T

hough there are 27 towns and villages that make up Mount Washington Valley, one has grabbed travel experts’ attention time and time again, resulting in yet another recent accolade: a Top U.S. Destination for 2015 by Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide book publisher in the world. North Conway, N.H., has also been named one of the 15 prettiest winter towns

by Yankee Magazine, among the top 25 ski towns worldwide by National Geographic, and the top affordable ski destination by Trip Advisor. Its formula for success is simple: Have something for everyone, and have it all the time.

Lonely Planet taps its writers to determine what destinations make the list. Writers, who are constantly on the road throughout the nation researching, nominate cities and towns, and an editorial team narrows the list to 10.

“North Conway was chosen as it's in the heart of the White 26 APRIL2015 27

Mountains and, although a small town, is a dynamic hub for yearround adventure,” said Rana Freedman, Director of Marketing, U.S. at Lonely Planet. “Whether it is skiing, hiking, lazy canoe rides or leaf peeping, there is something for everyone in this quintessential New England village, especially those with children. A few standout features are that it's the starting point for scenic rail service through the Whites, and it's also home to the world-renowned International Mountain Climbing School, which has climbing activities for novices and experts alike.”

“The great thing about North Conway is that it's an ideal destination year-round,” added Regis St. Louis, Lonely Planet’s New England writer, who also contributed to the Best in the U.S. campaign. “In winter, there's great fun to be had on the ski slopes, while in summertime there's strawberry picking, leisurely canoe rides down the Saco River and old-fashioned fun at places

like Storyland amusement park.

And autumn is simply spectacular, with its crisp blue skies and the fiery blaze of colors as the forests transform during the fall foliage season.”

“You have this collection of fabulous recreational opportunities year-round; man-made attractions, natural beauty, a variety of options for staying, dining, entertainment — and it all comes together in one place that’s really very accessible to all of New England,” said Marti Mayne, Public Relations Manager for the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce.

North Conway is nestled into an area where anyone from beginning skiers and advanced snowboarders to savvy shoppers and parents looking to educate their children can find something to do. With a backdrop of more than 700,000 acres of White Mountain National Forest and Mount Washington — the tallest peak in the Northeast clocking in at 6,288 feet — the view isn’t too shabby either, making

Photos by Dan Houde/Wiseguy Creative Photography

ADVENTURE AWAITS

North Conway a classic New England spot.

The town boasts a train station, a skating rink in winter, two shopping districts with about 200 stores (all of which are tax-free), and approximately 150 lodging properties and 75 restaurants — to start.

“I love the limitless possibilities for outdoor adventures,” St. Louis said. “You can plan an easy-going day by taking a scenic drive along the Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountains, then spend the next day hiking 4,000-foot peaks in the Presidential Range or going zip lining at Attitash. Nature is all around you at North Conway, and there are so many great ways to experience it.”

Those with cabin fever in the midst of cold and snow will find relief in the mountains. There’s skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and snow shoeing at places like Cranmore and Attitash. If hitting the slopes isn’t ideal, ride horses or take a sleigh ride at Farm by the

Photos by Dan Houde/Wiseguy Creative Photography

o

ks

River, a bed and breakfast with stables. Always present, too, are Settlers' Green Outlet Village and White Mountain Outlet Stores.

Take a ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad, which runs between North Conway and Bartlett.

In summer, destinations like Cranmore and Monkey Trunks High Rope and Zipline Adventure Park offer canopy tours, zip lining, mountain coasters and more.

Attitash has the longest single-span zip line in North America. Paddle your way down the Saco River or immerse yourself in nature with a hike at your own pace in places like Diana’s Baths Waterfalls and Echo Lake State Park.

Take advantage of the Northeast’s highest peak, no matter the season.

Mount Washington is known for wild weather, and a summit observatory sits atop it. Travel to the Weather Discovery Center to talk with on-site scientists and partake in hands-on exhibits and lessons for all ages. The best part?

It’s free. All the fun can be had with little ones in mind.

“It’s very much a family destination,” Mayne said. “There’s everything from museums to all sorts of educational fun, Storyland, and train rides.”

Ah, Storyland. Since 1954, the amusement park has welcomed families every summer to visit Mother Goose and her friends, check out live shows, enjoy classic rides like the Antique Cars, Dutch Shoes and Swan Boats, and thrill

rides like the Roar-O-Saurus and Polar Coaster. Now having entertained generations, Storyland hosts so many Massachusetts families each summer, it’s not uncommon to run into your friends from home while at the park.

Forty-five minutes, appropriately to the north, you’ll find Santa’s Village in Jefferson, where it’s Christmas every day. Families regularly return to meet Santa, play the famous Elfabet Game, enjoy nearly 20 rides, check out live reindeer, and more. In 2011, Santa added the Ho Ho H20 Water Park to the property, providing a welcomed respite from hot summer days and an easy way for kids of all ages to cool off and relax.

If ever there were a time to partake in the beauty of North Conway, this year would be it. The town, chartered by Colonial Gov. Benning Wentworth and home to famed names like Julia Ruth Stevens (daughter of Babe Ruth) and poet E. E. Cummings (who owned a summer home), celebrates its 250th anniversary this year.

Several tours of the area are planned throughout the months, with larger celebrations like the Arts Jubilee Annual Pops Concert at the base of Cranmore Mountain and a huge Independence Day party on the schedule as well.

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Early Registration Discount Full Day and Half Day Email us at louisenoelsdanceandgymnastics@verizon.net

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87 Norman St., West Springfield (Across from the main gate of the Big E)

Head to baystateparent.com, Keyword: North Conway, for links to locations, activities, and 250th events.

Dr. Mark Medaugh 413-323-4335 20 George Hannum St Belchertown, MA 01007 belchertown-dentist.com Join us on

We give your family something to SMILE about

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ADVENTURE AWAITS

Summer Fun

ADVENTURE AWAITS

Secret Savings:

New England Whaling Museum

How to Get the Most Out of Your Museum or Zoo Membership

No

matter what the economy, we all want to get the most for our money.

Purchasing a museum or zoo membership for a family is a big investment, and one of the best ways to get the most from that is to take advantage of the reciprocity that is part of that membership. Reciprocity means that once you belong to one museum or zoo, the entrance fee is waived when you visit another

participating museum.

“My sister lives in Pennsylvania near Zoo America and we have a membership to the Roger Williams Zoo,” says Eric Trotta of Milford.

“When we visit her we can go to the zoo there, and we’ve traveled all over going to different zoos without having to pay the entrance fee. We went to the Philadelphia Zoo, the Bronx Zoo and even the Granby Zoo in Quebec. We love to go to the zoo in the winter. As long as there isn’t

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum

Zoo New England

Scott Erb Photography

BY MICHELE BENNETT DECOTEAU

too much snow on the ground, it is usually very empty and still lots of fun.”

Many zoos, like Zoo New England near Boston and the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, belong to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a national organization that ensures that zoos are caring for their animals properly, coordinates conservation efforts, and provides professional development training for zookeepers. In addition, AZA

zoos and aquariums provide free and reduced entrance fees to each other’s members. Other AZAmember zoos in Massachusetts include Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro and Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford.

“We buy a museum membership every year,” says Katherine Lee of Acton. “We just got a museum membership to the Science Museum [Museum of Science in Boston] and used it a few times there, but

Financial Literacy.

For the future.

We are dedicated to teaching students the importance of saving today for a brighter tomorrow.

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MEMBER FDIC MEMBER DIF

28 APRIL2015 29

o

m

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum

New England Whaling Museum

ADVENTURE AWAITS then used it again while out on the West Coast at a family wedding. We went to the Pacific Science Center, Portland Zoo, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and the Evergreen Aviation Museum. This paid for our membership.”

“Reciprocal memberships give museums broader outreach to expand your learning. It helps get people to visit your museum from other parts of the state and the whole country,” notes Leslie Galluzzo, Development and Membership Associate at the Springfield Museums & Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. “Reciprocal membership is a huge money saver. You get access to so much more education and learning, but with any great museum visit, you walk away with a great experience. This benefit gives you even more experiences.”

Because the Springfield Museums have both a science museum and art museums, they are members of more than one reciprocal membership organization. “We are part of ASTC [Association of Science Technology Centers] and this is available to all our paying membership levels. It covers science and children’s museums within a 90-mile radius,” Galluzzo says. Other local ASTC museums include the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole and the EcoTarium in Worcester.

Typical of many museums, more expensive membership levels have greater benefits.

“NARM [North American Reciprocal Museum Association] is available for our Patron and above levels,” she notes. “It covers art museums nationwide regardless of residence. Each membership that pays for this level gets a gold North American Reciprocal sticker on their membership card allowing them access.” NARM card holders receive free admission to many of the botanical gardens, historical centers, and museums of all kinds in Massachusetts.

“It is important to read the fine print,” Trotta notes. “Always call before using your membership at another museum. Sometimes they exclude other museums close to you.” Many times other museums may limit the number of people who receive free entrance. Even if your card admits two adults and four children, the reciprocal museum benefit may only cover two children.

“When you are looking to buy a museum membership, look at the reciprocal list and see if they have anything in an area you have family or if you are going on vacation somewhere,” Lee adds. “You need

to make sure you are actually going to use it.”

There are other ways to help your dollar stretch further while sampling the many cultural institutions. Many local museums offer free entrance to specific groups or during specific times. These times and dates are very limited and it is always best to check to see if this is still correct.

The Worcester Art Museum is one; on the first Saturday of the month, the entrance fee is waived from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Discovery Museum in Acton

offers free admission 4:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. the first Friday of every month.

The Smith College Museum of Art in Northampton offers Free Second Fridays 4 p.m.-8 p.m., encouraging families to attend and get creative.

Nearby Amherst College’s Beneski Museum of Natural History is always free for all ages.

Customers of Bank of America also enjoy free museum entrance at a handful of museums in Massachusetts, including the MIT Museum and the Worcester Art Museum. In addition, a limited

number of museums in Central Massachusetts are offering a $2 admission price to EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card holders.

Head to baystateparent.com (keyword: reciprocal) for a full list of Massachusetts museums and attractions that offer reciprocal benefits.

Who KneW

history

Could Be so

AWesoMe!

old sturBridge VillAge sturbridge, massachusetts

Family Farm Fest | april 18 - 26 Wool Days | may 23 - 25 pounD oF Cure | may 30 - 31 FreeDom Week | June 15 - 21 inDepenDenCe: July 4th | July 3 - 5 MAKE HISTORY! www.OSv.ORg BAYSTATEPARENTWEST 28 29

Photo courtesy by Dennis Vandal

OUT& ABOUT

Happy Birthday T-Rex. Springfield Science Museum. April 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

30 APRIL2015 31

Family Afternoon with Multi-Arts. Jones Library, Amherst. April 12, 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m.

Photo by John Ferrarone

Photo courtesy Multi-Arts

Photo courtesy Springfield Museums

Alive with Dance. Bowker Auditorium, UMass Amherst. April 23, 8 p.m.

Family Farm Fest. Old Sturbridge Village.

April 18, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

MELTDOWN WARNING: Before you pack up the mini-van, please confirm your destination. Although we’ve done our best to ensure accuracy at press time, things can and do change…

1 Wednesday

Adam Gudeon. Free with admission. Adults $9, children $6. carlemuseum.org.

Drop-in Playgroup. Northampton Parents Center, 297 Main Street, Northampton.

9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Weekly on Wednesday.

Free. northamptonparentscenter.org.

DIY Natural Egg Dying. Berkshire Co-Op Market, 42 Bridge St., Great Barrington.

3:30 p.m. Use food, flowers, and leaves to make your own naturally dyed eggs to take home. Sign-up ahead. Free. berkshire.coop.

Easter Bunny Breakfast. Holyoke Children’s Museum, 444 Dwight St., Holyoke.

12 p.m. Enjoy a fun, festive breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Reserve ahead. $10. childrensmuseumholyoke.org.

5 Sunday

MotherWoman Postpartum Group.

Midwifery Care of Holyoke, 230 Maple St., Holyoke. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Join mothers for a free, safe, confidential, drop-in support group for expectant and mothers of infants and babies up to age 1. Weekly on Wednesdays. Free. motherwoman.org.

Chess Club. Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main St., Greenfield. 5:30 p.m.-7:45 p.m.

Meet up with other chess players for a timed chess tournament. Free. greenfieldpubliclibrary.org.

Young@Heart April Fools Show. Academy of Music Theatre, 274 Main St., Northampton.

7 p.m.-9 p.m. This second-annual show features new songs and a surprise guest. Tickets: $20-$35. academyofmusictheatre.com.

2 Thursday Treasure Egg Hunt. Mason Library, 231 Main St., Great Barrington. 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.

Decorate your own bag for use in our treasurefilled hunt as you look for the grand prize golden egg. For ages 3 to 5. Register ahead.

Free. gblibraries.org.

Wreck-It-Ralph. Springfield City Library: Mason Square Branch, 765 State St., Springfield. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Bring the entire family to this new classic animated Disney feature, with popcorn provided. Free. springfieldlibrary.org.

Tuck-Me-In Storytime. Hubbard Memorial Library, 24 Center St., Ludlow. 7 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Join us for this bedtime-themed storytime in which children are encouraged to wear their pajamas. Ages 3 and up. Free. hubbardlibrary.org.

3 Friday Bird Walks. Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary, Holmes Rd., Pittsfield. 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Bring binoculars and walk past wetlands and meadows observing changes in bird species this spring.

Fridays. For ages 5 to 12. Members free, nonmembers $3. massaudubon.org.

Getting Real About Motherhood. UMass Family Center, 1200 North Pleasant St.,

Photo by Meghan Burch

Photo courtesy by Dennis Vandal

Photo by John Ferrarone

OUT&ABOUT

Butterflies and Caterpillars Family Workshop. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst. April 19, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Amherst. 9:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Come join a diverse, community-oriented group where you can share laughs and tears, for mothers of infants through preschoolers. Snacks and childcare up to age 5 provided. Weekly on Fridays. Free. motherwoman.org.

Happy Birthday T-Rex. Springfield Science Museum, 21 Edwards St., Springfield.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Come join us as we celebrate the 40th birthday of our T-Rex with a mix of activities and performances throughout the day.

Adults $18, children 3 to 17 $9.50, children 2 and under free. springfieldmuseums.org.

Meet Rockwell’s Models. Norman Rockwell Museum, 9 Route 183, Stockbridge.

2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Find out what it was like to pose for America’s favorite illustrator, as models share their personal experiences. Free with admission. Members free, adults $17.50, youth 6 to 18 $5, children 5 and under free. nrm.org.

7 Sisters Improv Comedy. Mount Holyoke Blanchard Great Room, 50 College St., South Hadley. 8:15 p.m.-9:30 p.m. If you love women and comedy, come join the Unusual Suspects in welcoming improv comedy troupes from the 7 sister colleges. Recommended for ages 12 and up. $3. fivecolleges.edu.

4 Saturday Breakfast with the Easter Bunny. Garden House at Look Park, 300 North Main St., Florence. 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Enjoy this delicious breakfast buffet with one of spring’s

most emblematic characters. Reserve ahead.

Adults $10, children 2 to 12 $8. lookpark.org.

Kids Cooking Class. Chandler’s Restaurant, 25 Greenfield Rd., South Deerfield. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Have fun with your child as you explore the craft of cooking in a no-pressure setting utilizing ingredients and safe utensils. Register ahead. $25 per child.

(413) 665-1277.

16th Annual Egg Hunt. Hubbard Memorial Library, 24 Center St., Ludlow. 11 a.m. Bring your own basket as you search the grounds for colorful eggs and take your chance to win prizes. Free. hubbardlibrary.org.

Eggstravaganza. The Zoo in Forest Park, 302 Summer Ave., Springfield. 11 a.m. Kick off spring by collecting eggs along our bunny trail while meeting live animals and our own goodie-gifting bunnies. Adults $9, children ages 1 to 4 $3.75, children 5-12 $6. forestparkzoo.org.

Easter Egg Hunt. The Stockbridge Library, 46 Main St., Stockbridge. 11 a.m. Come enjoy a special spring story time followed by an Easter egg hunt — just don’t forget to bring your basket. Free. stockbridgelibrary.org.

Author-Illustrator Storytime. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m. Join award-winning author Julie Sternberg as she reads her new book, Bedtime at Bessie and Lil’s, with its illustrator,

Sunday Improv Fun. North Star, 135 Russell St., Hadley. 7 p.m.-8:15 p.m. Come try your hand at improv and then sit back and watch the Ha-Ha’s perform their well-curated and always delightful comedy routine. Recommended for ages 13 and up. $5. thehahasisterhood.com.

6 Monday Free Soup and Game Night. Hope & Olive, 44 Hope St., Greenfield. 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m.

Enjoy a free buffet of soups and breads, and sit down with friends to play games and chat. Free. hopeandolive.com.

Mom’s Night Out. Grow, Thorns Marketplace, 150 Main St., Northampton. 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

Join mothers for a free, safe, confidential drop-in group for mothers of infants and young children through preschool. Expectant mothers welcome. Free. motherwoman.org.

7 Tuesday Drop-in Playgroup. Otis Town Hall, 1 North Main Rd., Otis. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Come play and chat at this parent-child playgroup where all caregivers are welcome.

For children up to age 5.

The Nile Project. UMass Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, 151 Presidents Dr., Amherst.

7:30 p.m. Come experience a new musical collaboration bringing together 15 musicians from 11 countries along the Nile River basin, featuring music so infectious it will get you jumping on your feet, clapping, and dancing to the incredible rhythms. Adults $15-$25, youth 17 and under $10. fac.umass.edu.

Gryphon Trio. Bernhard Music Center, 54 Chapin Hall Dr., Williamstown. 8 p.m.

Come hear a repertoire that ranges from the traditional to the contemporary, as the Gryphons redefine chamber music for the 21st century. Free. williams.edu.

8 Wednesday Mother to Mother Support Group.

Square One’s Family Square, 1095 Main St., Springfield. 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Face the challenges of being a parent with a safe, BAYSTATEPARENTWEST 30 31

OUT&ABOUT importance of staying active as a family. Free. springfieldlibrary.org.

confidential support group for pregnant and postpartum mothers with children up to 5 years old. Childcare and light refreshments provided.

Weekly on Wednesdays. Free motherwoman.org.

Dance for Every Child. Academy of Music Theatre, 274 Main St., Northampton.

2 p.m.-4 p.m. Come enjoy contemporary, West African, improvisational, and tap dancing at this specially designed kid-friendly performance. $6. academyofmusictheatre.com.

Putnam Cosmetology Showcase.

Springfield City Library: Central Branch, 220 State St., Springfield. 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Students and teachers from Putnam High School’s Cosmetology Department will showcase their skills with some audience participation perfect for tweens. Free. springfieldlibrary.org.

Lego Club. Jones Library, 43 Amity St., Amherst. 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Meet and build with fellow Lego enthusiasts. Free. joneslibrary.org.

Photo by Dennis Vandal

Family Craft Night. Springfield City Library: East Springfield Branch, 21 Osborne Ter., Springfield. 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Come enjoy family fun during this nighttime crafting activity.

Free. springfieldlibrary.org.

9 Thursday Drop-in Playgroup. Northampton Parents Center, 297 Main Street, Northampton.

9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Weekly on Thursdays.

Free. northamptonparentscenter.org.

Monsters University. Springfield City Library: Mason Square Branch, 765 State St., Springfield. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Bring the family to this beloved Pixar prequel to Monsters, Inc., with popcorn provided. Free. springfieldlibrary.org King John. Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity St., Amherst. 7 p.m. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see Shakespeare’s King John, following the mercurial ruler after his command is questioned. Recommended for ages 12 and up. $10. amherstcinema.org.

Deceptive Practice. MASS MoCA, 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams. 7:30 p.m.

Witness a mesmerizing journey into the world of modern magic and the small circle of eccentrics who were its perpetual devotees in this decadein-the-making documentary. Members $5, nonmembers $9. massmoca.org.

10 Friday A Circle of Moms. MotherWoman, 220 Russell St., Hadley. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join mothers experiencing a challenging postpartum time for a free, safe, confidential drop-in group for mothers of infants and babies up to age 1.

Free snacks and childcare up to age 5 provided.

Weekly on Fridays. Free. motherwoman.org.

Culinary Cupcake Showcase. Springfield City Library: Forest Park Branch, 380 Belmont Ave., Springfield. 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Students and teachers from Putnam High School’s Culinary Department will showcase their skills in this hands-on cupcake decorating demo perfect for tweens. Free. springfieldlibrary.org.

Jazz Ensemble & Studio Orchestra. Bowker Auditorium, UMass Amherst. April 29, 8 p.m.

Stargazing. Notchview Reservation, 2241 Berkshire Trail, Dalton. Dusk. Join the Arunah Hill Nature and Science Center, which shares its expertise and telescopes in observing the night sky. Weather permitting. Free. thetrustees.org.

12 Sunday Second Friday. Smith College Museum of Art, 20 Elm St., Northampton. 4 p.m.-8 p.m.

Have fun and explore the art museum for free, where before 6 p.m. you can use the museum’s inspiration to help create a hanging kinetic sculpture. Free. smith.edu/artmuseum.

Tween Night Out. Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 15 Crissey Rd., Great Barrington. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Bring your friends and enjoy a night hanging out as you play pool, foosball, Ping-Pong, and lounge with classmates.

Snacks and drinks provided. $6. berkshiresouth.org.

11 Saturday Lego Build-a-Thon. The Lenox Library, 18 Main St., Lenox. 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Join us for our annual Lego Build-a-Thon specially tailored for junior engineers. For ages 5 to 14.

Free. lenoxlib.org.

Life in a Vernal Pool. Bartholomew’s Cobble, 105 Weatogue Rd., Sheffield. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Join us for a visit to a large vernal pool where we’ll look for eggs, masses of wood frogs and salamanders, fairy shrimp and fingernail clams, while learning about this complex ecological community. Register ahead. Members $5, families $15; nonmembers $8, families $20. thetrustees.org.

Easthampton Bookfest. Easthampton City Arts, 43 Main St., Easthampton. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

This inaugural day of events highlights the rich literary culture of our region. Free. easthamptoncityarts.com.

Weekend Family Play Time. Erving Elementary School Gym, 28 Northfield Rd., Erving. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Come play with parachutes, Duplos, playgroup materials, and friends. For children ages 12 and under.

Registration requested. Free. (978) 544-5157.

Family Hike. Leverett Public Library, 75 Montague Rd., Leverett. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Bring the whole family to explore and share the joy of nature in our own backyard while we hike and read Owl Moon. Free.

(978) 544-5157.

Drawing Day. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst.

12 p.m.-5 p.m. Join the museum during its annual day of family-friendly projects designed to celebrate drawing and foster new and imaginative ways to draw. Free with admission.

Adults $9, children $6. carlemuseum.org.

Dads and Kids Book Club. Springfield City Library: Mason Square Branch, 765 State St., Springfield. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Help your child develop a love of reading during this story time, arts and crafts, and snacking session in which dads and children can mingle. For children ages 3 to 5. Free. springfieldlibrary.org.

Family Afternoon with Multi-Arts. Jones Library, 43 Amity St., Amherst. 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m.

Participate in creative collaborative family projects using illustration, storytelling and cardboard animals as you meet new friends before bringing home your creation. Free. joneslibrary.org.

Ukulele Choir & Chamber Orchestra.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 11 a.m. Enjoy this delightful group of young musicians as they perform their annual concert covering music from rock to classical to folk. Free. carlemuseum.org.

American Woodcock Dance. Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Rd., Hampden. 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. You are invited to hear and watch the male American Woodcock, as he moves inland and establishes his territory through an amazing dance to find a mate.

Members $6, nonmembers $8. Register ahead. massaudubon.org.

Family Fit Zumba. Springfield City Library: Mason Square Branch, 765 State St., Springfield. 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. Bring the entire family to this specially designed Zumba class emphasizing Zumba basics and the

For more events, visit baystateparent.com 32 APRIL2015 33

Art Walk. Easthampton City Arts, 43 Main St., Easthampton. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Have fun during this showcase and celebration of galleries, artists, restaurants, and shops in the Easthampton community. Free. easthamptoncityarts.com.

13 Monday Drop-in Playgroup. Northampton Parents Center, 297 Main Street, Northampton.

OUT&ABOUT 9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Weekly on Mondays.

Free. northamptonparentscenter.org.

14 Tuesday Chapel Jazz Ensemble. Bowker Auditorium, 100 Holdsworth Way, Amherst. 8 p.m. Wind down and enjoy this student musician ensemble promising to please. Adults $10, children $5. umass.edu.

15 Wednesday Drop-in Playgroup. Northampton Parents Center, 297 Main Street, Northampton.

9:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Weekly on Tuesdays.

Free. northamptonparentscenter.org.

Lego Club. Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Meet and play with fellow Lego enthusiasts. For ages 5 and up.

Free. pittsfieldlibrary.org.

Teen Creative Writing. Forbes Library, 20 West St., Northampton. 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

Work on a variety of activities and share your work as you feel comfortable during this creative writing session with provided snacks.

For teenagers. Free. forbeslibrary.org.

Lumumba. Amherst Cinema, 28 Amity St., Amherst. 7 p.m. View this award-winning political thriller dramatizing the journey of the Congo’s first Prime Minister and legendary activist Patrice Lumumba. Recommended for ages 12 and up. $10. amherstcinema.org.

Avenue Q. Dever Stage at Westfield State, 577 Western Ave., Westfield. 7:30 p.m.

This gut-busting, puppet-filled, hilarious Tony-winning musical comes alive onstage at Westfield State University. Recommended for ages 13 and up. $12. (413) 575-5356.

16 Thursday Kid’s Fun with Science. Greenfield Public Library, 402 Main St., Greenfield. 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

Learn about and use science in a fun craft or experiment. For ages 6 and up. Free. greenfieldpubliclibrary.org.

Locomotor/Non Locomoter. Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, 151 Presidents Dr., Amherst.

7:30 p.m. Come experience this full-length dance work in two parts exploring the torque and tension that propels the body backwards and forwards. Adults $15-$42, children $10$15. fac.umass.edu.

17 Friday Drop-in Playgroup. East Hampton Family Center, 43 Main St., Easthampton. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. For children up to age 5 with caregiver. Weekly on Fridays. Free. (413) 527-5496.

Welcome to Kindergarten. Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield.

5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Enjoy this event filled with games, activities, and music designed for children and their families who are preparing to enter Kindergarten. Free. berkshiremuseum.org.

Wallace Roney Quintet. Bernhard Music Center, 54 Chapin Hall Dr., Williamstown.

8 p.m. You are invited to join this evening performance featuring the seminal jazz musician mentored by Miles Davis. Free. williams.edu.

18 Saturday Pleasant Valley Clean-up Day. Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 West Mountain Rd., Lenox. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Help us prepare our beautiful properties for the busy upcoming summer and fall, with a pizza lunch provided for all volunteers. Register ahead. Free. massaudubon.org.

Floodplain Forest Canoe Trip. Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Rd., Easthampton. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Celebrate Earth Day in the water as we weave in and out of trees while canoeing up our floodplain forest, before returning to land and viewing a Great Blue Heron rookery. Register ahead. Members $15, nonmembers $20. massaudubon.org.

Family Farm Fest. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge.

9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy expanded hands-on and interactive activities through the Village, along with family-friendly performance and entertainment, including music and puppet shows, and meet new arrivals at the farm. Runs through April 26. Adults $24, youth 3 to 17 $8, children 2 and under free. osv.org.

Vernal Pools. Laughing Brook Nature Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Rd., Hampden.

10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Join our Naturalists as we explore a vernal pool, looking for egg masses, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates while learning why these watery communities are so crucial to our ecology. Register ahead. Members $5, nonmembers $7. massaudubon.org.

Native Bees. Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Rd., Easthampton. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Learn about the social and amazing bee while we play a bee game, make a bee craft, and even make a home for a bee. Register ahead.

Members $5, nonmembers $7. massaudubon. org.

Bee Week. Jones Library, 43 Amity St., Amherst. 10:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Enjoy the Story of My Bees from storyteller Jonathan Mirin from the Piti Theatre Company. Free. joneslibrary.org.

All Day Game Day. 2 Flights Up, 399 Main St., Dalton. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Come enjoy this full

day of tabletop gaming goodness, where you are welcome to bring your games or use ours. $5. 2flightsup.com.

Paper-Cutting Workshop. Jones Library, 43 Amity Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Join master paper-cutting artist Susan Urban and learn how to make your own paper-cuts. For ages 8 to 12. Register ahead. Free. joneslibrary.org.

Marimba Extravaganza. Bowker Auditorium, 100 Holdsworth Way, Amherst.

8 p.m. Enjoy the avenues of sound that the ubiquitous percussion instrument can make during this fun concert. $10. fac.umass.edu.

Williams Percussion Ensemble. Chapin Hall, 62 Chapin Hall Dr., Williamstown.

8 p.m. Enjoy the vast terrain of sound and rhythm from this favorite Williams group employing instruments, found sounds, and electronics. Free. williams.edu.

19 Sunday Butterflies and Caterpillars Family Workshop. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst.

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Celebrate spring with open-ended butterfly-themed activities for the whole family. For ages 6 and up. Register ahead. Member duos/trios $22, nonmember duos/trios $25. carlemuseum.org.

Nutshell Playhouse’s Pirates. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

Come watch this swashbuckling adventure featuring bold buccaneers and a pirate ghost, performed with masks, miming, music, and puppets. Purchase ahead. $5. carlemuseum.org.

Boot Camp for Dads. Wesson Building, 759 Chestnut St., Springfield. 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

This class for expectant fathers covers such topics as forming a new family, the changing role of fathers, and how to meet the needs of the new mom. Register ahead. $20.

(413) 797-2229 The Maltese Falcon. Academy of Music Theatre, 274 Main St., Northampton.

4 p.m.-6 p.m. Follow Humphrey Bogart as private-eye Sam Spade who finds himself hounded by police in this classic 1941 mystery.

Recommended for ages 11 and up. $5. academyofmusictheatre.com.

20 Monday Patriots’ Day Celebration. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Join us in learning how the start of the Revolutionary War affected a small New England community where young visitors are invited to become minutemen and women with crafts and music. Free with admission. Adults $24, youth ages 3 to 17 $8, ages 2 and under free. osv.org.

Drop-in Playgroup. Easthampton Family Center, 43 Main St., Easthampton. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. For children ages 0 to 5 with caregiver. Weekly on Mondays. Free. (413) 527-5496.

Spring Break ArtBar. MASS MoCA, 1040 MASS MoCA Way, North Adams.

11 a.m.-5 p.m. Come have fun with specially designed springtime crafts. Through Saturday.

Free with admission. Adults $18, children 6 to 16 $8, children 5 and under free. massmoca.org.

Shadow Puppet Theater. Emily Williston Memorial Library, 9 Park St., Easthampton.

11 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn how to make your own shadow puppets and assemble each of the quirky characters for their use in a puppet show of their own. For ages 5 and up. Free. forbeslibrary.org.

North American Birds of Prey. Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. 1 p.m.-2 p.m.

Meet five live birds of prey as you learn about hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons. Member adults $5, children $3; nonmember adults $15, children $8. berkshiremuseum.org.

Every Picture Tells a Story. Norman Rockwell Museum, 9 Route 183, Stockbridge.

1 p.m.-4 p.m. Participate in hands-on art making, tours, and performances in the galleries inspiring you to create your own masterpiece. Through Saturday. Free with

Celebrate Stuffee’s Birthday Stuffee, our Amelia Park Children’s Museum health ambassador, teaches children in pre-K and up the function of the human body and the importance of eating healthy!

Freeevent with full admission price

Friday, April 24, 2015 2 pm - 4 pm

Join us as we celebrate with healthy snacks, cake, party favors and fun!

BAYSTATEPARENTWEST 32 33

OUT&ABOUT admission. Members free, adults $17.50, youth 6 to 18 $5, children 5 and under free. nrm.org.

The Birth Circle Support Group. Treehouse, 305 North St., Pittsfield. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. This drop-in support group provides a safe space for mothers and their support system to explore the different aspects of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Partners, those interested in learning about the process of birth, and infants in arms welcome. Free. motherwoman.org.

21 Tuesday Village Theatre Company. Jones Library, 43 Amity St., Amherst. 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Come join the Village Theatre Company for this onehour workshop of theatre games and creative fun. For ages 8 to 12. Free. joneslibrary.org.

Animals Around the World. Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. 1 p.m.

Come take a trip around the world with the Creature Teachers, as we explore the diverse habitats and habits of our creatures from various parts of the globe. For ages 5 and up.

Free. pittsfieldlibrary.org.

22 Wednesday Cupcake Decorating with Santa. Yankee

Candle Village, 25 Greenfield Rd., South Deerfield. 11 a.m. Join Santa on break from Christmas and decorate cupcakes. $3.

(877) 636-7707.

Family Multi-Arts Afternoon. Forbes Library, 20 West St., Northampton. 2 p.m.-3 p.m.

Create collaborative projects to take home using illustrations, storytelling, and three-dimensional objects while engaging with new friends. Free. forbeslibrary.org.

Popovich Comedy Pet Theater. Symphony Hall, 34 Court St., Springfield. 2 p.m. Come watch this family-oriented blend of the unique comedy and juggling skills of Gregory Popovich and the extraordinary talents of his performing pets. Members $18-$22, nonmembers $20-$25. citystage.symphonyhall.com.

Hyde Costello as you join in providing ideas on how to turn a scribble into a drawing. For ages 5 to 10. Free. joneslibrary.org.

Melha Shrine Circus. Eastern States Coliseum, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 7 p.m.

The annual Shriners’ Circus returns and once again promises to entertain families of all ages as you watch acrobats, clowns, jugglers and more. Runs through Sunday. $14-$18. melhashrinecircus.com.

Alive with Dance. Bowker Auditorium, 100 Holdworth Way, Amherst. 8 p.m. Watch works choreographed and produced by UMass Dancers covering a variety of styles of artful movement. Adults $10, children $5. fac.umass.edu.

24 Friday

23 Thursday

We Are All in This Together. Community Action Family Center, 90 Federal St., Greenfield. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join mothers of infants and babies up to one year old experiencing a challenging postpartum time in a safe, confidential drop-in group. Expectant mothers welcome. Free snacks and childcare up to age 4 provided. Weekly on Fridays. Free. motherwoman.org.

David Hyde Costello. Jones Library, 43 Amity St., Amherst. 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Create a collective story together with local author David

Mister G. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. Come enjoy this Latin Grammy-

Keeping Baby Safe. Baystate Health Education Center, 361 Whitney Ave., Holyoke.

6 p.m.-9 p.m. This class teaches basic life support, infant CPR, first aid for choking, baby-proofing your home, and car seat safety.

Register ahead. $35 per couple. (413) 794-2229.

nominated children’s artist whose music spans genres from funk to blue grass and rock. $8. carlemuseum.org.

25 Saturday Our Amazing Wildflowers Walk.

Bartholomew’s Cobble, 105 Weatogue Rd., Sheffield. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Come greet the rich variety of wildflowers and leave with an understanding of how to help identify and protect these gems of our native flora. Register ahead. Members $5, families $15; nonmembers $8, families $20. thetrustees.org.

First Child in the Woods. Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Rd., Easthampton.

10 a.m.-11 a.m. Introduce your youngster to the wonders of nature while you meet other parents and caregivers. For children up to age 5. Register ahead. Members $5, nonmembers $7, children free. massaudubon.org.

Salamanders and More. Mount Warner, 26 Mount Warner Rd., Hadley. 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Help welcome our newest property into our family as we explore the waters of the vernal pools looking for salamander eggs and more.

Members $5, nonmembers $10, children 12 and under free. thetrustees.org.

Kids Can Cook. Berkshire Co-Op Market, 42 Bridge St., Great Barrington. 10:30 a.m.

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OUT&ABOUT

26 Sunday

Learn how to make delicious dumplings using ramps, spring greens, asparagus, and homemade dumpling dough. Free. Sign-up ahead. berkshire.coop.

Upcycled Art for Teens. Springfield City Library: Indian Orchard Branch, 44 Oak St., Springfield. 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Come make colorful pour pots for your plants from found objects in a fun and relaxed environment. For youth ages 11 and up. Registration encouraged.

Free. springfieldlibrary.org.

Live Birds of Prey. Bullitt Reservation, 399 Bullitt Rd., Conway. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Join founder of The Birds of Prey Rehab Facility, Tom Ricardi, as he shares his stories and knowledge, and arranges for you to meet the hawks, owls, and eagles he cares for. Members $5, nonmembers $12, children 12 and under free. thetrustees.org.

Author’s Storytime. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m. Join author Paul Czajak reading his book, Seaver the Weaver, followed by its illustrators The Brothers Hilts discussing their inspiration and process.

Free with admission. Adults $9, children $6. carlemuseum.org.

Painting Together. Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary, 127 Combs Rd., Easthampton. 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Come be inspired by Arcadia as we take a walk, and learn about lines, shapes, textures, and colors found in nature before returning to the studio to paint our own pictures. Register ahead. Members $15, nonmembers $20. massaudubon.org.

Ivan the Terrible. The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle St., Great Barrington.

1 p.m. Watch in HD the dazzling ballet of intrigue following the story of Tsar Ivan IV, Anastasia Romanovna, and the plot that ruined them both. Recommended for ages 12 and up. $17. mahaiwe.org.

Young Artist Piano Concert. Dever Stage at Westfield State, 577 Western Ave., Westfield.

1 p.m. & 4 p.m. Winners from this year’s Young Artist Piano Competition will perform charming pieces for all to enjoy. Free. westfield.ma.edu.

27 Monday Piano, String, and Trombone Ensembles.

Dever Stage at Westfield State, 577 Western Ave.,

Westfield. 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Join us as we bring together three of Westfield State University’s most thrilling ensembles for a collection of performances. Free. westfield. ma.edu.

Jazz Ensemble & Studio Orchestra.

Bowker Auditorium, 100 Holdsworth Way, Amherst. 8 p.m. Watch these two awardwinning ensembles as they perform new works and selected repertoire. Adults $10, children $5. fac.umass.edu.

28 Tuesday

30 Thursday

Drop-in Playgroup. East Hampton Family Center, 43 Main St., Easthampton. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

For children up to age 5 with caregiver. Weekly on Tuesdays. Free. (413) 527-5496.

Spring Stampeded Salamander Search. Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 West Mountain Rd., Lenox. 5:30 p.m.7:30 p.m. Join us as we search the woodlands for the fascinating salamanders who have crept out for the day under logs, stones, and other objects. Register ahead. Member adults $8, children $6; nonmember adults $10, children $8. massaudubon.org.

Kids in the Kitchen. Hitchcock Free Academy, 2 Brookfield Rd., Brimfield. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Enjoy this creative cooking class as we make almond cake and African stew. For ages 6 to 12. $20. hitchcockacademy.org.

29 Wednesday

The Pirates of Penzance. Academy of Music Theatre, 274 Main St., Northampton.

7 p.m.-9 p.m. Experience the always hilarious Gilbert & Sullivan classic about an orphan who wishes to leave behind his raucous pirating lifestyle for the daughter of a Major General, presented by the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School. Children $9-$11, adults $21$23. academyofmusictheatre.org.

Evening at Beaver Ponds. Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, 472 West Mountain Rd., Lenox. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Enjoy an evening in the valley searching for beavers and other kinds of wildlife, and learn about the natural history of beavers at our beaver ponds.

Suitable for ages 3 to 12. Member adults $6, children $3; nonmember adults $8, children $4. massaudubon.org.

For more events, visit baystateparent.com

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Time to get out those gardening gloves! The first White House garden was planted in 1800 by John and Abigail Adams, who grew their own fruits and vegetables rather than buying produce at the local market.

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1

take eight

with Derek Heidemann

What started as a trip to summer camp at age 12 turned into a career for Derek Heidemann. At 14, he began apprenticing with master blacksmiths at Old Sturbridge Village, practicing traditional ironwork just as blacksmiths did 200 years ago. Heidemann became a journeyman blacksmith at 21 and is now a full-time employee, costumed historical interpreter, and Coordinator of Men’s Crafts at the organization. We coaxed him out of the blacksmith shop to answer some questions about life at the Village.

1

What’s the No. 1 question you get from visitors? And what’s the answer?

I think the #1 thing that visitors (especially kids) are curious about is why the smith needs to heat the metal to make things out of it. The answer is the heat from the fire makes the metal softer, so that it can easily be shaped or even welded together with the proper heat. We often let kids or other visitors try to bend a piece of cold metal to see how hard it is and then select a visitor to bend it while it’s hot (under careful supervision, of course!) and people are usually amazed at the difference.

3

5

How did 19th century ironwork turn the head of a 21st century teenager?

Working at the museum as a junior intern, there were quite a few options for exhibits the boys could work in. I worked on the farm, the pottery shop and tin shop, but blacksmithing was something that was typically reserved for the older boys. When I became old enough to start working in the blacksmith shop I found it unique because I learned that, with practice, blacksmiths could make virtually all the tools needed to do their own work, and many of those used in other trades as well. That selfsufficiency was something that resonated with me.

2

What is the one piece of knowledge or awareness you would like visitors to leave with?

I don’t know that there is one thing that is more important than another.

I just generally hope that by coming to our museum and visiting with our staff, visitors learn something meaningful that they can take back to their 21st century lives.

7

What is one aspect of 21st century life that is easy to leave behind when you’re at OSV? The nice thing about the way that our museum is set up is that it is a closed campus that’s almost entirely surrounded by wooded areas. This cuts down on the outside noise of the 21st century world and really makes you feel like you’re stepping back in time.

If you were living in the 19th century today, what would be the best feature and what would be the most difficult?

If I were living in the 19th century today, there’s no doubt in my mind that the best part would be the food. The staff is constantly preparing meals based on those that are documented to our period, and they’re delicious and often so different from what we commonly eat today. We actually offer a couple of different programs where the public can not only eat this kind of food, but also help prepare it, too.

What would surprise visitors about being a historical interpreter?

The 19th century clothes are much more comfortable than people typically assume. A lot of visitors feel that we must be unbearably hot in the summer and cold in the winter, but the fact is the clothing is honestly very utilitarian and well suited for the work we do. Even the shoes made in our shoe shop are incredibly comfortable.

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If you could swap blacksmithing for a day for another job at the Village, what would that job be?

That’s a tough question, but I think I would have to say that I’d want to spend more time in our collection of thousands of artifacts. There is so much to be learned from studying the material culture of the past, and being able to work with those items everyday would be amazing.

What are some of your other hobbies and interests?

As you can probably guess, I’m a huge history buff. I enjoy studying military history especially and going to reenactments of various time periods in American history, but the early 19th century is by far my favorite period.

Stephen King Photography

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