July 2010 Baystate Parent Magazine

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JULY 2010

FREE

baystateparent baystate parent Massachusetts’

Premier Magazine For Families

AYER MOM ON BEING GLOBAL AND GLAMOROUS

BE LIKE BRIT A DAUGHTER’S LAST WISH BRINGS HOPE TO HAITI FRUIT ON THE BARBIE

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL

GO

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NEWBURYPORT NORTH ADAMS NEW BEDFORD AND MANY MORE! Voted Best Parenting Publication in North America 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008

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Cornerstone’s full day Kindergarten program is a STEP above the rest! Providing a Colossal education for over 15 years. Educating all learners in grades K-6

Visit us at www.cornerstoneacademy.org Yoga/Meditation Social Studies Drama/Gym Math/Science

Reading/Spelling

Individualized academic program in an inspiring environment!

Summer Programs • August 9th - 20th 10:00 - 12:00 • 2-Week Programs • Writing is Exciting Grades 2-5

• Math Enrichment Grades 3-6

• Fast Track to Phonics K-Grade 1

• Yoga for Kids Ages 2-4

All programs - $300.00 Also extended day til 4 available for an additional fee.

5 Oak Avenue • Northboro, MA 01532 508 351-9976 BAYSTATEPARENT 3

4 JULY2010

Est. 1911

Over 1,000 acres of lakeside adventure, included with your stay! Family-Friendly Dining & Lodging Canoeing, Kayaking & Fishing Waterskiing & Knee-Boarding Sandy Beaches around Purity Lake Miles of Hiking & Mountain Biking On-site NH Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Unique Theme & Adventure Weekends Mountaintop & Lakeside Weddings >> Visit PuritySpring.com/BayState for limited-time summer packages

Located between the Lakes Region and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Just 15 minutes south of North Conway WWW.PURITYSPRING.COM • ROUTE 153 • EAST MADISON, NH • (800) 373-3754 BAYSTATEPARENT 5

Monica Rao, D.M.D. Monaf Alyassi, D.M.D., M.S.

Family Dental Care

Run Like a Mother! UPCOMING CAMPS July 12 August 16 Sept. 20 508.579.6064 for more information CoachAlexis@Charter.net

www.AdventureBootCampLLC.com Your Life! Your Body! Your Adventure!

MOTHERS AND FATHERS Are you a parent who experienced feelings of Depression after the birth of your child? Is your child 3 years old or younger? Are you willing to describe your experiences in a confidential interview? If so, please consider participating in one of our 2 Research Studies

Mothering with Postpartum Depression Or Postpartum Depression in Fathers What being in the study involves: The study involves an in-depth interview at a time and place that is convenient for you. The interview will take about 1 to 2 hours to complete. You will receive $20 for participating in the study.

For more information, please contact Janice Goodman, PhD RN 617-726-0862 jgoodman@mghihp.edu Your privacy and confidentiality will be protected at all times. Information will be used for research purposes only

6 JULY2010

• General & Preventive Dentistry • Cosmetic Dentistry (Veneers/Whitening) • Root Canal Treatments • Crowns & Bridges • Dentures/Partials • State of the Art Sterilizing Techniques Saturday Appointments Available. Parking Available in the back of the building.

We Welcome Your Call & Invite Your Questions

We accept most Insurances

Most Indian Dialects Understood

33 No. Main St., 5 Englewood Street No. Grafton, MA 01536 Webster, MA 01570

508-839-4233

508-943-6908

our special guests Ella and Siena captured by Michelle Carr Photography New Bedford, MA michellcarrphotography.com

12

table

In December 2009, Brittany Gengel, 19, of Rutland was visiting an orphanage in Haiti on a school mission trip. An hour after telling her parents she wanted to move there to build an orphanage, she was killed by a devastating 7.0 earthquake. Read how her parents work to fulfill Brittany’s last wish.

the of the home

JULY 2010 • VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 3

in every issue 8

WELCOME

9

GUESTBOOK

10

JUNKDRAWERS

11

TAKE GOOD CARE: Fruit on the Barbie

12

FINALLY, FOREVER: Be Like Brit

14

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: Calendar of Events

36

WHO’S COACHING OUR KIDS: Mike Malley of Worcester

43

UNDER MY ROOF: Family Beach Day

45

MY PLATE: Mr. Ray

48

MOMS ROCK: Birungi Ives of Ayer

FINALLY, FOREVER BE LIKE BRIT

something special 40

22

Summertime in Newburyport is magical: seaside history, eclectic shopping, beach treasures, natural wonders and more! Don’t miss their Homecoming Festival in late July/early August.

28 32 39 44 46 50

THE HOW AND WHY OF CHRISTMAS IN JULY

24 26 28 31 32

NEWBURYPORT THE BERKSHIRES

40

THE HOW AND WHY OF CHRISTMAS IN JULY

You’ve probably heard the phrase “Christmas in July� but what do you think it means? baystateparent plays Santa as we deliver the goods on the how and why of who is “summer-izing� the holiday.

advertising directories

oh, the places you’ll go let’s roll daytrip guide 22

NEWBURYPORT

8 GREAT SUMMER OUTINGS BOSTON BY STROLLER ICE CREAM BULLETIN BOARD PARTY PLANNER ADVERTISING INDEX

sneak peek AUGUST

NEW BEDFORD 8 GREAT SUMMER OUTINGS

SEPTEMBER

AN URBAN GEM BOSTON BY STROLLER: 5 Places to Walk with Baby

OCTOBER

BACK TO SCHOOL THE ARTS THINK PINK

Voted Best Parenting Publication in North America 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008

FT <PZT :XSb B\X[T Our warm and kid-friendly office and reception rooms are designed to be welcoming, fun and special for the whole family. Pediatric Dentistry

Orthodontics

Bruce Stuart Fieldman, D.M.D., P.C. Caroline Pronesti Young, D.M.D.

Reema Dhingra, D.M.D.

& Drilless Dentistry & We also provide Hospital Dentistry for the fearful & special needs child

& Orthodontics for children and adults (Moms and Dads wear braces too)

Drury Square Medical Center • 48 Auburn St.• Auburn • 508-832-6278 BAYSTATEPARENT 7

e m o c l e W The spur-of-the-moment stuff is what makes summer so interesting, poolhopping, impromptu cook-outs, ice cream for supper... And when I think about it, by not diligently emptying out the mini-van from a previous excursion, I go from slacker to prepared with bathing suits, water wings and sunscreen right where we need them.

Love when that happens! July kicks off a two-month spectacular of cramming as much “living” as we can into a 60-day period (depressing in some ways but also exciting). New England families are all over the map, and I don’t think we’d want it any other way. This month, baystateparent takes you on a ride with a triple “Let’s Roll” to Newburyport (dear to many), New Bedford (surprise!) and Hancock (it’s on the New York line, folks), highlighting a selection of the state’s ocean, city and mountains. We also feature a Boston stroller walk and other cool things that many on our staff just discovered ourselves. While you are out and about this summer, we have three requests: • Mail us your child’s drawing or painting, inspired by one of your local outings. Your child’s masterpiece could appear in bsp’s September Arts issue (For complete details turn to page 34 and visit baystateparent. com. Deadline is July 31st). • Look for baystateparent in new places this month. As a result of an agreement with Gate House Media, after they discontinued their monthly publication Parent & Kids and its companion Web site, WickedLocalParents.com last month, we have increased our monthly

circulation to more than 50,000 copies. We’ve added hundreds of new locations throughout Greater Boston which includes nearly 20 communities where we were currently not available. baystateparent will now be found at more than 1,000 distribution outlets in nearly 200 Massachusetts communities! • Lastly, if you find yourself stuck with baby taking an extra-long nap in the car, be thankful that you didn’t clean out the car as your baystateparent will be right where you need it. If anything, take this time to read Trish Reske’s story on the Gengel Family of Rutland (page 12). Our hearts go out to Len and Cherylann Gengel, whose 19-year-old daughter, Brittany, died in the Haitian earthquake last December. Unknowingly, Brittany had texted her parents before the disaster to say she planned to move to Haiti and build an orphanage. Her last wish turned into a gift that would give her parents’ grief a purpose. Bet you can guess what the Gengels are doing this summer... Our Best to the Gengels (and a warm welcome to our new P&K readers!)-

Carrie Wattu, editor

Meet Our Cover Photographer

Michelle Carr

of New Bedford

Tell us the story behind baystateparent’s July cover shot. Cover models, Ella and Siena, vacation every year with their family on the Cape. I have photographed them for four years now and have enjoyed watching them grow up. Last year, we wanted to add a personal touch to the session and include something that they all love to do. So, at 10 in the morning we headed to their favorite ice cream spot! Every artist has a dream. What’s yours? To be known as “the” newborn, baby, children’s photographer in New England and to land on the cover of a national magazine Tell us about photographing children and pets. Sometimes there’s a fuzzy line of difference! Pets don’t have the facial expressions that we do, so it’s a challenge to bring out their unique personality but when I do...it’s magic! 8 JULY2010

I started photographing people’s “fur babies” as I got requests from clients to include their dogs in photo sessions. One client in particular had a dog that was dying of cancer so that was precious. It was then that I realized that most people don’t realize that their time with their dogs is rather short, and they really need to have portraits of their pets before it’s too late to do so. Tell us about memories of photographing your own children. I am married and have three boys, ages 18, 12 and 6. My oldest son just graduated high school and my youngest is entering 2nd grade next year, so it’s an interesting span. Much like the cobbler’s son, I have very few portraits of my own children! I don’t own a small point-and-shoot camera and often times I leave my equipment in the studio as it is too cumbersome to bring along for regular family activities. Unfortunately, I miss a lot of snapshot moments. Is there a photo you wish that you had from your childhood? I was

the third child so you know how that goes...much fewer pictures of me than of my older siblings! I wish I had more photos of my mom who passed away when I was 23. Moms are always the ones behind the camera and therefore there are very few pictures of them. I try to impart this to my clients to let them know that this is about their legacy to their children. They need to get in front of the camera as much as possible so that their children will have that always. Ten or twenty years from now, children aren’t going to think ‘Gee, sure wish Mom had lost 10 pounds before she had her picture taken,’ or ‘Wow! Mom sure is wrinkly and old looking!’ Children love their parents no matter what, and all they want are visual memories of their parents and them together. Tell us about your new studio. The Carriage House has a long history in New Bedford and is one of those buildings that you cannot help but notice. The first time I passed by five years ago, I wanted it. Through the years, I

Massachusetts’ Premier Magazine For Families

baystateparent publisher GARETH CHARTER 508-749-3166 x153 gcharter@holdenlandmark.com

editor CARRIE WATTU 413-265-1202 editor@baystateparent.com

creative director PAULA MONETTE ETHIER 508-865-7070 baystateparent@holdenlandmark.com

calendar editor LESLIE CASTILLO 508-877-6446 calendar@baystateparent.com

graphic designer STEPHANIE RENAUD 508-865-7070 srenaud@holdenlandmark.com

promotions JENNIFER ANTKOWIAK 508-269-1728 jemsa2@charter.net

sales & business development manager STEPHANIE PEARL 774-364-0296 stephaniep@baystateparent.com account executive STACI LaTURNO 774-364-5073 stacil@baystateparent.com account executive ANNE BRIDGE 617-620-9402 anneb@baystateparent.com

ING COM N SOOSchool

ck to • Ba Arts • The k Pink 0 • Thin .865.707 s ate 08

account executive EMILY RETTIG 774-364-4178 emilyr@baystateparent.com

R Call 5 ertising dv For A

contributing writers PAULA GALLAGHER MARY GREENDALE JIM KEOGH SANDY MEINDERSMA photograthers MICHELLE CARR STEVEN KING

DONNA MORIN KATHLEEN REALE AMANDA ROBERGE JULIA QUINN SZCESUIL Illustrators HANNAH GREGUS SELINA WOGGERMON

presidents KIRK and LAURIE DAVIS

baystatestateparent 117 Elm St., Millbury, MA 01527

508-865-7070

www.baystateparent.com campguide.baystateparent.com www.massfieldtrips.com baystateparent Inc. is published monthly with a main office at 117 Elm Street, Millbury, 01527 508-865-7070 Fax 508-865-7979 It is distributed free of charge throughout Massachusetts. www.baystateparent.com • info@baystateparent.com Distribution Agency: Insight Distribution Management 978-728-7785/603-661-8370 • Insightdm@yahoo.com

14 Parenting Publications of America Awards, 2009 4 New England Press Association Awards, 2009 6 Suburban Newspapers of America Awards, 2009 Including 1st Place in Community Service Voted Best Parenting Publication in North America 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2008 Suburban Newspapers of America

GUEST BOOK Dear baystateparent, I’m a baystateparent Facebook fan and noticed a post about Boston Red Sox peanut-free sections and wanted to give you a heads-up regarding the Lowell Spinners. What’s great is that they are not offering a peanut-safe section but the entire stadium will be peanut safe by not selling any peanut-containing products during three games this summer. More information can be found on my Web site: bestallergysites.com/news/peanut-freespinners/

would dream of someday being in it. It was a dream that I really never thought would actually come true. When the space eventually opened up, I walked in and saw my branding colors already on the walls (orange and grey)! This space seems like it was designed specifically for Michelle Carr Photography! I am able to conduct sessions inside and out as there is a

gorgeous garden to the side and back of the carriage house.

That being said, I hope in future editions of baystateparent you will give equal attention to the subject of “when it is real,” and offer articles and resources that will be helpful to those parents and families who really are struggling to understand and deal with neurologically-related behavioral issues. Struggling to deal with them, in fact, often in the face of school pschyologists, principals and teachers telling them not to worry -- he’ll grow out of it. If I had listened to many of these same professionals along the way, I would have a very different 15-year-old son than the one I have now, and believe me, he would not be a better one.

newlywed couple,- she, a women’s wear buyer, he, a mens’ wear store in Worcester, who married in June of 1935 and opened a children’s speciality store. They thrived on being together, 24 hours a day, and my mother worked side by side with my dad until three months preceding her death in June of 1986.What is even more amazing (particularly to myself) is the fact that I fell passionately in love with this place and chose to keep it going after my dad’s passing in February 2001. I live in an aura of loving history and tradition and am truly passionate about what I do. Celebrating 75 Years-

What you would like moms to know: That they don’t have to take a trip to my studio. I am actually 90% on location! I travel all over Massachusetts and Rhode Island including the Cape and Islands. I suggest a place that is meaningful and

Mary Robbins, Northboro

Phyllis Lakin, Gardner

Winners! Meet some of bsp’s recent winners and check out our frequent giveaways at baystateparent.com as well as updates on Facebook (We are 930 and growing strong!)

Ruth Lovett Smith Founder and Editor, Best Allergy Sites , Harvard

Family Four-Pack to Zoo New England:

Family Four-Pack to Roger Williams Zoo:

Phyllis Lakin

Dear baystateparent, Few small retail establishments survive 75 years, but Lakin’s Inc. Children’s Fine Apparel in Gardner has a very special story – the love story of a

Family Gift-Pack to the Worcester Tornadoes and Roger Williams Park Zoo: Heidi Auvinen, Ashburnham

Seeking Sitters Gift Certificate: Heather Williams, Holden

Brunch for Four at Henrietta’s Table, Cambridge: Renee Earnest, Millbury

Handy Mandy DVD:

Gail Lincoln, Dudley MelissaLynn Zicuis, Worcester

My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Duper Super Sleuth DVD: Jennifer Aradhya, Groton

Tooth Fairy DVD:

Sherry Rotondo, Rutland

Thoughts on our July issue? Email your comments and suggestions to editor@baystateparent.com. All letters will be edited for clarity and length. Please include your full name and town for publication.

The Burbine Family, Winchester Mimi Wan, Arlington Elaine Hague, Waltham Alex Vanegas, Cambridge

steven king

Dear baystateparent, I just finished reading the article entitled “The Problem Could Be Spelled B-O-Y” [June 2010] and I just can’t help putting in my two cents about it. It was a great article, as articles go, in terms of addressing and allaying anxieties and concerns that many parents have. And hopefully this article and the book it refers to [The Way of Boys] will be helpful to many. However, I have to tell you that I actually cried when I read it -- because for every one of the kids and families who have an experience like Michelle Seaton, there are two or more who really are in need of help, but are told that they are just making a big deal out of nothing. And for those families, having no one to support them, no one to understand that this really is different -- well, I can’t tell you how difficult that is. You would truly have to experience it to know it.

special to my clients, whether that is their home, an area beach, a vacation spot or an ice cream shop. Most people are surprised to learn that all of my newborn sessions are held in the client’s home. I prefer to travel to the new mom and baby and bring all my equipment and props with me so that the family is the most relaxed and comfortable.

The Libby Family, Lexington LOOK AT . . .

What We Are Picking

OF OUR OWN!

• Lettuce - Head Come Visit Us At • Lettuce - Loose The Farmers’ Market • Radishes Thursdays • Spinach 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at The Biotech Park, • Summer 381 Plantation St., Worcester Squash • Zucchini Saturdays 9:00 am - 1:00 pm • Fresh Local at E.M. Jenckes Store, 283 Main St., Douglas Strawberries

We Are Open Year Round Monday through Sunday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm

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Water your Family can Trust

Do you trust your water? What is your water problem? PROBLEM: • Red/Brown Staining • Rotten Egg Smell • Blue/Green Staining • Scale, Dry Skin • Odor/Taste

CAUSE: • Iron/Manganese • Hydrogen Sulfide • Acidic Water • Hardness • Minerals/ Contaminants

Call for a free in-home water analysis & consultation

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Pernet Family Health Service is proud to announce

Caring with Confidence a Nursing & Homemaker service • Program for families bringing home a new baby • Have a Nurse &/or Homemaker come to you! • Nurses perform newborn assessments, offer education including: swaddling, lactation • Get help with errands & chores during this critical time

Give Your Family the Focus They Need – on the Newborn! For information & rates contact Kara Guenette, Nursing Coordinator 508-755-1228 ext 261 or kguenette@pernetfamilyhealth.org 10 JULY2010

J U N K D R AW E R S A LITTLE OF THIS, A LITTLE OF THAT

CHARMING Read for Early READERS Looking for more diversity in the books your children read this summer? Chinese-American identical twins, Ling and Ting, are the stars of an adorable new book Ling & Tin: Not Exactly the Same (July 2010, Hardcover, $14.99, Ages 6 – 9). Through their adventures making dumplings, practicing magic tricks, getting their hair cut and more, the sisters show that people can be very different, no matter how much they look alike on the outside. This is the latest work by award-winning author and illustrator, Grace Lin of

Somerville. baystateparent applauds Lin’s book for filling the noticeable lack of titles featuring original Asian characters. To receive a free copy of Lin’s charming new work, visit baystateparent.com and click “Giveaways.” Grace Lin is also the author of the 2010 Newbery Honor, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

VISIT Whalom Park AGAIN and AGAIN When Lunenburg’s Whalom Park closed in 2000, park-goers bid emotional farewells to rides and memorabilia relating to their childhood memories. “The saddest day of all was in October 2006,” says Paul L’Ecuyer, former Whalom Park entertainment director (1979 – 1989) and current owner of the Drawbridge Puppet Theater in Lunenburg, “when the ‘Flyer Comet’ roller coaster came to the ground with a final crash. People surrounded the fence and watched - some cried as the famous old wooden roller coaster left the landscape it had formed for so many years. Pieces of wood were handed out to those who wanted a small keepsake of Whalom Park.” Paul hopes that the new residents moving into condominiums on the land “will remember - or learn, that for 107 years, more than 240 million families enjoyed the same land...It was a land designed for relaxation, a woodland park where families came together to have fun.” To keep the Whalom Park childhood memories alive, Paul has designed and created a virtual “memorial” featuring an interactive map of what Whalom Park looked like prior to its closing, filled with photographs, 50+ video clips and lots of memories. He invites all those who have a special place in their heart for Whalom Park to visit, share their memories and enjoy. drawbridgepuppets.com/ WhalomParkMemories.html

A HEALTHY Playdate The Grafton FARMERS’ MARKET Stay-at-home dad, Michael Urban, is not only in the thick of parenting but also “in the thick of a very vibrant local food scene that is really getting exciting,” he says. As the market manager of the Grafton Farmers’ Market, he says that the number of farmers’ markets has sky rocketed in the last couple of years and that, “all the ‘moms’ are talking about farmers’ markets, CSAs (veggies), local cheese and grass-fed beef.” In its second year, the primary focus of the market is definitely families, says Michael. “Last year the market became a default play group with kids running around the common like crazy while moms and dads chatted. I personally love this because one of my key goals as a stay-at-home dad is to be a ‘memory maker’ for my kids (ages 5 and 2), and I know that they’ll have fond memories of walking around the market gnawing away on an apple or peach with their friends.” Michael planned several family events last year which he says he will do again - Art in the Park with the Worcester Art Museum, Family Day with the YMCA, History Day and a Strawberry Festival to kick the season off. The Grafton Farmers’ Market has 300 visitors per market day and is open every Thursday from July 8 through Oct 21st. graftonfarmersmarket.com

Angelbare - FREE Cosmetic CORRECTIONS for Children “Children and teens are sensitive about their appearance. Unkind remarks made by others can hurt them very deeply and scar them emotionally,” says paramedical practitioner Shahla Whitmore, founder and owner of Angelbare Paramedical Cosmetics of Wellesley. Whitmore offers free micro-pigmentation to children 8 years and up who have lost their eyebrows due to chemotherapy, alopecia, albinism,

burns, surgery and other circumstances. By combining hairline stroke technique and soft colors, Whitmore creates subtle and natural looking eyebrows. The pigments are FDA approved and MRI-safe. Complimentary consultations are available by calling 781-235-0111. For more information, visit angelbare.com.

Junkdrawers strives to highlight the products, people and places of Massachusetts. Have an idea? E-mail editor@baystateparent.com

TAKEGOODCARE

Fruit on the Barbie HAPPY ENDINGS:

BY

kathleen reale

Can’t have a S’more due to food allergies or celiac disease? Or just looking for new ways to enjoy your favorite fruits? Fret no more; grilling fruit on the grill makes a sensational ending to any summer barbecue. Eating a piece of fruit can be a juicy, mouthwatering experience. Grilling caramelizes the fruits’ natural sugars, transforming them into sugary, tasty and dessert-like treats. Following are a few tips on grilling fruit on the barbecue: • Clean it up! Because grills take on the residue of past cookings, make sure that the grill is cleaned especially well prior to cooking any fruit. Use a wire brush and elbow grease! (Note: Whenever cooking any gluten or allergen free items on a non-designated gluten free or allergen free grill, it is important to clean it thoroughly to ensure that no unwanted gluten or allergen residue is picked up through cross-contamination).

• Pit it out. Stone fruits such as peaches, plums and nectarines do best on the grill. Their strong flesh and firmness make them good candidates when it comes to standing up to the grill’s heat and constant turning. • Cool things off. Serve grilled fruit with a dollop of vanilla bean ice cream or mango sorbet. The various textures and temperatures, as well as the wide spectrum of sweetness and tart will add an element of surprise and diversity to the dessert.

Nectarines and Peaches: Cut fruit in half, remove pit. Cook about 5 minutes each side.

Strawberries: Use large strawberries. Cook quick over low to medium heat for 2-3 minutes.

• Cooks up quick! Because of the natural sugars in the fruit, they tend to cook swiftly on a grill. To prevent charring, tend to the fruit closely. Look for soft and tender skins and grill marks to gage doneness.

Plums: Cut in halve and remove pit. Cook 7-8 minutes, skin facing up. Apricots: Cut in half and remove pit. Cook 5-6 minutes or until softened.

Bananas: Peel bananas. Brush with olive oil or melted butter. Grill over medium heat for 6-8 minutes until browned lightly, turning once during cooking.

Following are some popular fruits’ grilling cook times and pointers:

Cantaloupes, Honey Dews and other melons: Remove rind and cut into “smiles”, about ½ to ¾” thick. Cook 5-7 minutes total. Brush lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking and turn frequently.

Kathleen Reale lives in Hopkinton and is the founder of BeFreeForMe.com, offering those diagnosed with celiac disease, as well as others with an intolerance or allergy to gluten, nut, dairy, fish and soy, coupons, support, recipes, reviews, articles and savings to effectively manage their allergies and save money in the process. Sign up for free at BeFreeForMe.com.

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BAYSTATEPARENT 11

FINALLY,FOREVER: BUILDING AN ORPHANAGE IN MEMORY OF BRITTANY GENGEL

Be Like

BRIT BY

In

trish reske

December 2009, Brittany Gengel, 19, of Rutland MA, was home on winter break from Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Brit was excited about her upcoming school mission trip, “Journey of Hope to Haiti” with international relief organization Food for the Poor. Brittany told her parents that she was thinking about changing her major from Communications to Human Services.

“The three of us talked, heart-to-heart,” Brittany’s mom Cherylann recalls. “We said, ‘Brit, you’ll know, when you come back from Haiti. It will change your life.’”

“I want to move here and start an orphanage” Just hours after arriving in Port-au-Prince on January 11, 2010 Brittany excitedly

My Family’s Recipe for

looking great for less 1. Visit Cutie Patutie’s 2. Shop all the brands you love in one stop (compliment yourself on your efficiency)

phoned and texted her parents. The group of eleven students and two faculty members had visited an orphanage. Brit fell in love with the Haitian children. “She wasn’t even there for an hour, when she texted me and said ‘Mom, I know what I want to do with the rest of my life.’” says Cherylann. “That’s what a profound affect it had on her.” Brittany told her parents that after she graduated, she wanted to move to Haiti and build an orphanage. She also spoke by phone with her mom. Cheryann recalls the peace she heard in her daughter’s voice. “She was content,” she says. “She was where she was supposed to be. I wish that all of us had that peace that she had in her voice. It’s what we all strive for in our lives.”

3. Marvel at the selection and the price 4. Enjoy clothes 5. Plan your next visit Note: This recipe is for all stages of life, maternity wear, infant, toddler, tween and teen! Consign outgrown items for maximum savings

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Just an hour later, a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked Port-auPrince. The earthquake claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Brittany, fellow Lynn University students, Stephanie Crispinelli, Christine Gianacaci and Courtney Hayes, and faculty members Patrick Hartwick and Richard Bruno did not survive the quake. “Our hearts are broken,” says Brit’s dad Len Gengel. “But our daughter died doing what she wanted to do. She was feeding the poorest of the poor.” Brit’s phone calls and texts to her parents— communicating her newfound calling to help the Haitians—became a way for the family to “triumph over this tragedy,” Len says. “She gave us our purpose, to honor her. And that is a blessing.” Cherylann agrees. “We knew how Brit felt, and we have a direction. We have

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something to hold onto to keep her memory alive. ” The Gengels started the foundation, Be Like Brit (belikebrit.org) to honor their daughter’s wish to help the children of Haiti. The foundation’s Mission Statement is “to serve the children of Haiti by establishing a safe, nurturing and sustainable orphanage in an environment where they can grow, learn and thrive.” It is a statement of hope for Haitian children, born out of the heartbreaking loss of a child.

A Shining Star

she had, they’re talking about what she did with her life. That’s the moral of the story. That’s the question: What are we going to do with our lives? What kind of impact are we going to have?” In short, how will each of us Be Like Brit? For more information on Britney Gengel’s Poorest of the Poor Fund, visit: belikebrit.org, and on Facebook at facebook.com/belikebrit Trish Reske is an award-winning writer and mom of four from Westborough, MA. She visited Haiti on a humanitarian trip in November 2009. You can read more of Trish’s writing at trishreske.com.

“ What is forever is the good that every one of us has the power to do to make a difference….In life and in legacy she’s touched people around the world and throughout this country and in this community with her compassion… We should strive to Be like Brit. ” - Senator Scott Brown, Eagle Hill High School 2010 Commencement

“Brit was fabulous. She was our shining star.” says Len. “She was a beautiful girl inside and out. She made kids feel special. Brit was always for the underdog. That’s just who she was. That’s why she went to Haiti.” Her mom adds that, “Brit was not a saint. She wasn’t a missionary. She was just a regular teenage kid. She got in trouble, she made mistakes, but she was terrific. She was my baby and I loved her, but she was just a normal kid. She was one kid doing one kind thing.” Brittany, who would have turned 19 on January 20th, was the oldest of three Gengel children. Bernie (18) recently graduated from Eagle Hill High School in Rutland and will be attending Suffolk University in the fall. Richie (14) will be a sophomore at Eagle Hill. Bernie is serving alongside his parents on the board of the Be Like Brit foundation.

Continuing the Compassion While the Gengels raise funds to build an orphanage in Brit’s honor, their broader desire is that Be Like Brit will inspire many acts of individual compassion. “A lot of kindness is coming out of this horrific tragedy,” says Cherylann. “People are doing things that maybe they wouldn’t have done before. They don’t necessarily have to go to Haiti and build an orphanage, they can do something right here. They can go to their local food pantry. They can help their next-door neighbor. They can say something kind to someone else.” Len agrees. “Be Like Brit is about continuing the compassion. Brit was all about compassion. As human beings, that’s one of the greatest gifts we can give another,” he says. The Gengels and a small group of family members travelled to Haiti in June to explore potential partnerships with organizations for building and running the orphanage. The trip was also a time for the family to pay pilgrimage to the Hotel Montana, where Brittany spent her last moments. She was recovered from the ruins of the hotel after the earthquake and is laid to rest in Worcester. In a country where Brittany marveled to her parents that a new toothbrush for a child was “like Christmas,” the Gengels want to continue helping the “poorest of the poor” in Brit’s honor. “Brittany was given a lot of things in life, and she appreciated everything she had, but she wanted to give back of herself, which I’m very proud of,” says Cherylann. “People aren’t talking about the things BAYSTATEPARENT 13

PLACES YOU’LL

GO

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! - dr. seuss

Courtesy of Central MA Convention & Visitors Bureau

OH, THE

GO CAMPING! 28 state forests and parks offer camping in Massachusetts. Some even rent cabins and yurts. mass.gov/dcr/recreate/camping.htm

14 JULY2010

GO UP!

On July 17 and 18, visit Greenfield for the Green River Festival, the Pioneer Valley’s biggest outdoor event of the summer and the only music festival in the state that features hot air balloons and balloon rides. greenriverfestival.com

Kindra Clineff

Kindra Clineff/Willard Brook State Forest, Ashby

Courtesy of Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

GO 1830S! Step back in time for a 19th-century July 4th celebration complete with 21st-century fireworks. osv.org.

GO FRUITS AND VEGGIES! The Wellfleet Farmers’ Market is just one of 200 farmers’ markets across the Bay State offering fresh produce and festivities this summer. mass.gov/agr/massgrown/farmers_markets.htm

OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO

arab tribal fusion class; photo karli cadel courtesy of jacob’s pillow dance

MELTDOWN WARNING: Before you pack up the mini-van, please confirm your destination. Although we’ve done our best to assure accuracy at press time, things can and do change… A Adult C Child Y Youth M Member NM Non-Member PP Per Person

1THURSDAY Lego Zone. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St. Acton. All Day. (Also July 2 and 3). Join Lego lovers of all ages in community building projects. $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org New England Aquarium Whale Watch. Central Wharf, Boston. Through July 31. 9:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.; Weekends: 10 a.m. & 2 p.m., evening trips at 6 p.m.; Holiday Trips: July 4, 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.; July 5 (holiday observed): 10 a.m., 2 p.m. & 6 p.m. Enjoy the view as a high-speed catamaran whisks you to the whale feeding grounds just 30 miles east of Boston. The destination is Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary, a rich feeding ground for whales, dolphins, sea birds and other marine life. Marine biologists point out the sights along the way and tell you all about these magnificent creatures while you get a front-row view of the action. A $39.95, C $13.95. 617-973-5206, neaq.org FREE Fitness Walking through the Greenway. Dewey Square Plaza, at the corner of South St. and Purchase St., Boston. (Across from Fitcorp). Noon – 12:45 p.m. Did you know a regular routine of brisk-paced walking daily can help you lose weight, lower cholesterol, strengthen your heart, and reduce the likelihood of future health problems? Fitcorp Master Trainer, Kelly Cassidy leads this free walking group every Thursday through October. Colonial Children’s Faire. Old South Meeting House, a Museum and National Historic Landmark, 310 Washington St., at the intersection of Milk Street, Downtown Crossing, Boston. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Enjoy colonial games like snail, ninepins, or jackstraws. Make your own patriotic crafts, and try on the unfamiliar and sometimes intricate clothing of the 18th century. (Crafts and activities are designed for school aged children). A $6, C (6-18) $1, under 6, free. 617-4826439,osmh.org Kids Debate the Tea Tax. Old South Meeting House, a Museum and National Historic Landmark, 310 Washington St., at the intersection of Milk Street, Downtown Crossing, Boston. 2 p.m. Children of all ages are invited to take the role of Patriot or Loyalist in this child-friendly, interactive and lively debate about the tax on tea that resulted in the Boston Tea Party of 1773. Huzzah! This program includes language and concepts designed for school-aged children. A $6, C (6-18) $1, under 6, free. 617-482-6439, osmh.org. 136th Annual Brockton Fair. Brockton Fairgrounds Belmont St./Rte. 123. (Through July 11). Lively and exciting entertainment for all ages. Midway full of rides, surprisefilled magic show, demolition derby, horse racing, amateur boxing, figure 8 racing, stock car football, big bear show, magician, petting zoo, puppet shows, livestock shows and fireworks displays. For a list of activities and pricing: 508-586-8000 River Celebration with the Gundalow. Children’s Museum of New Hampshire. 6 Washington St., Dover, NH. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Learn more about New Hampshire’s amazing rivers and the important role flat-bottomed gundalow boats played in transporting materials and goods on the state’s river highways. Enjoy hands-on activities and demonstrations in the museum and tours of the Captain Edward H. Adams gundalow docked just outside on the Cochecho River. All activities are included in regular admission. $8 PP, under 1, free. 603-742-2002, childrens-museum.org

SUNDAY, JULY 4

FREE Let’s Dance! at the Pillow in Becket with family-friendly performances, an intergenerational dance workshop and more! jacobspillow.org Molly’s All-American Party. American Girl. Natick Collection. Noon – 1 p.m. A special event to learn about life on the home front during World War Two. Learn Molly’s favorite dance step and enjoy a meal. $26 PP (gratuity not included). For girls 8 and up. Reservations required. 877-247-5223, americangirl.com Navigation For Novices at Mayflower II. Plimoth Plantation. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Also July 8, 15, 22, 29. Join David Foxe, a 17th century sailor, as he shares some of the tools and methods of navigating a 17th century ship. Handle a variety of navigation tools such as: charts, a cross staff, a chip log and more! Near the end of this one-hour program, David will “come out of character” to field questions from a modern perspective. Free with museum admission. A $28, C (6-12) $18. 508-746-1622, plimoth.org FREE Story Time: Gardens. Barnes & Noble, 444 A Broadway Saugus. 10:30 a.m. 781-231-4711, bn.com

2FRIDAY

FREE Fun Friday at Plimoth Plantation. 137 Warren Ave., Plymouth. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 508-747-1622, plimoth.org FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 444 A Broadway, Saugus. 6:30 p.m. Celebrate imagination! Leo Lionni writes of “Frederick,” a tiny mouse with a talent all his own. 781-231-4711, bn.com FREE Friday Kid Flicks. Worcester Public Library, Salem Square, Worcester. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Every Friday in July. 508 -799-1671 or email icotto@worcpublib.org Fireworks and Patriotic Concert. Cristoforo Columbo Park (East Park) Shrewsbury St. and Fantasia Dr., Worcester. 8 – 10 p.m. The Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra will present a concert of patriotic music, classical music and Broadway favorites. Jane Shivick will be soloist. Rain Date: Sat., July 3 and Mon., July 5. 508-754-1234.

3SATURDAY Fireworks. NARA Park, Acton. 9:15 fireworks. actonma.gov.. Rain Date: Sun., July 4th.

Stomp Rockets. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rt. 27, Acton. All Day. Come explore the engineering design process by creating a rocket and shooting it into the air using special stomp rocket launchers. $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org

Auburn Independence Day Celebration. 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Parade (11 a.m.), Vendors, contests, games, food, live music, demonstrations and fireworks (9:30 p.m.) 508-8327736. auburnguide.com

Half Price Friday Nights at The Discovery Museums Summer Program. 177 Main Street, Rt. 27, Acton. 4:30 – 9 p.m. Through August 27. Every Friday evening this summer the museum will stay open late for family fun until 9 p.m. Half-price admission starts at 4:30 PM. $5.25 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org

FREE Fourth of July Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 800 Boylston St., Boston. 11 a.m. Also July 4. 617-2476959, bn.com

By the Bays Fourth of July Fine Art and Craft Show. 733 Main St., Brewster. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Watercolors, furniture, jewelry, pottery, stained glass, photography, oils, weavings, shells and folk art of many kinds. capeshows.com.

Fourth of July Storytime & Craft. The Harvard Coop, 1400 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 11 a.m. thecoop.com

FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 210 Andover St., Peabody. 7 p.m. Celebrate Independence Day by reading, “America Is...”. It’s a story about all the areas of the United States. Also color flags to take home. 978-573-32361, bn.com

By the Bays Fourth of July Fine Art and Craft Show. 733 Main St., Brewster. See July 2 listing for details.

Chatham Fourth of July Parade and Strawberry Festival. Main St., Chatham. Parade steps off at 9:30 a.m. and travels down Main St. from the corner of Shore Rd. to Veterans Field. Parade info: 508-945-5199 or chathaminfo.com. Strawberry Festival, featuring strawberry shortcake, hot dogs, sandwiches and beverages at First United Methodist Church, 569 Main St, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Strawberry Festival information: 508-945-0474.

FREE 2010 Fitchburg at Coolidge Park. Youth events, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; softball tournament, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.; antique cars, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; music, 1 – 7 p.m.; doll/carriage parade, 1 – 2 p .m.; chow chip poker, 2 p.m.; duck race, 5 p.m Fireworks display from Rollstone Hill will light the sky over downtown Fitchburg. ci.fitchburg.ma.us. FREE 39th Annual Gunstock Craft Festival. Castleberry Fairs & Festivals, Gunstock Recreation Area, 719 Cherry Valley Rd., Gilford, NH. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Through July 5. Over 100 booths overflowing with American-made arts, crafts and specialty foods. Daily craft demonstrations include flame work glass, hand thrown pottery, floral design, wirework and beaded jewelry. Sample delicious specialty foods. Free admission, free parking, rain or shine and friendly pets (on a leash) are welcome. 603-332-2616, castleberryfairs.com/index.php Gloucester Fireworks. Gloucester Horribles Parade, 6 p.m. Grand Fireworks Display over Gloucester Harbor, 10 p.m. capeannvacations.com. Onset-Nahant Fireworks. Over Onset Bay at dusk. onsetvillage.org. Every Saturday in July at Plimoth Plantation. Flag Making at Mayflower II, 10 – 11 a.m. Learn about the history of the flags exhibited onboard Mayflower II and have a chance to make an English flag to take home. Knot Tying at Mayflower II, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. This pier-side activity gets Museum guests hands-on with knot tying, using the same types of knots sailors would have used on the high seas in the 17th century. Do It Yourself Navigation: How To Make A Clinometer, 3 p.m. During this hour-long program, participants aged 7 and up will receive a short introduction to some of the fundamentals of celestial navigation with a brief overview of some of the tools that were used. Participants will also be provided the materials and instruction to build their own clinometer, a tool used to measure angles and heights of distant objects. Free with museum admission. A $28, C (6-12) $18. 508-746-1622, plimoth.org. Rutland Fireworks. Memorial Field, Rutland. Doll Carriage Parade, 1 p.m. Band Concerts, 5:30 and 7 p.m. Fireworks, 9:20 p.m. Chicken BBQ and Strawberry festival held at 4:30 p.m. behind the Fire Station. rutlandma4thofjuly.org Fourth of July Spectacular. Salisbury Beach. Beachfront concert and Sat. fireworks. beachfests.org. BAYSTATEPARENT 15

OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO

SATURDAY, JULY 17

Head to the North Shore for some lobster...The Boston Lobsters, that is. New England’s Professional Tennis Team is holding their family day at their home court in Middleton. Kids meet and greet the players as well as Larry the Lobster himself! Free tennis lessons start at 2 p.m. before the 4 p.m. match. Tickets: bostonLobsters.net

Family Fun Olympics at Davis’ Farmland, 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Also July 4. Hop to victory in the potato sack race and test your strength in the haybale toss. Spit with Mom cheering you on during the watermelon seed spitting contest. Match power and accuracy in the cowboy hat ring toss. $18.95 Ages 2 – 59. 978-422-MOOO, davisfarmland.com. Greater New Bedford Summerfest. Over 70 renowned and emerging performers and 90 juried arts and crafts vendors in New Bedford’s authentic historic district during the first weekend in July. The two day family-oriented festival offers continuous folk music from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on seven sound stages throughout the New Bedford Whaling Historical Park ranging from the 1200 seat “Custom House Stage” to the intimacy of the 55 seat “Meet the Performer” area. Children under 12 are free on Sat. and Sun. Adult weekend pass: $20. newbedfordsummerfest. com. Also July 4th. Lights for Liberty. Stanley Park, Westfield. Food, music, fun and fireworks. stanleypark.org

4SUNDAY Amherst July 4th Parade. amherstjuly4thparade.com. FREE Let’s Dance! at the Pillow. Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Becket. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The Pillow offers a new

community-wide event aimed at encouraging participation in dance. Let’s Dance! includes free performances; open dance classes and workshops especially well-suited for adults and teens in a variety of movement styles including yoga, Pilates, social dance, and more; a free master class with Doris Duke Theatre artist Camille A. Brown; a free raffle; food and drink; and other attractions. All performances, classes, events and workshops are free. Performances are family friendly and Jeff Bliss will be teaching Families Dance Together, an intergenerational dance workshop enjoyable for all ages.413-243-0745, jacobspillow.org Celebrate Independence at Boston’s Sanctuary of Freedom. Old South Meeting House, a Museum and National Historic Landmark, 310 Washington St., at the intersection of Milk Street, Downtown Crossing, Boston. 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Also July 5. Follow the clues of a selfguided Meeting House Scavenger Hunt to discover how Old South Meeting House has been used in the past. Coloring and other revolutionary activities available. A $6, C (0-18), free. 617-482-6439, osmh.org By the Bays Fourth of July Fine Art and Craft Show. 733 Main St., Brewster. See July 2 listing for details. Arts & Music Festival. Bridgewater. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Immediately following a July 4th parade on the grounds in front of Boyden Hall (the “Quad”) at Bridgewater State College. Highlights include a kids’ festival, railroad train rides,

juried art show, art displays, crafters, demonstrations, a performance by Arts for Youth, music performances by Jenna Crewsick, Matt Putnam, Elyse O’Connor, Mike Higgins, and Bridgewater’s own, MBB, a chain saw sculpture demonstration by Jesse “The Machine” Green, poetry slam tent and events for all ages! In addition, there will be a community bake sale as part of the Share Our Strength/Great American Bake Sale. bridgewater4th.com. The 4th of July at Buffumville Lake, Charlton. Nice lake beach, grills and trails. $1 per adult. 508-248-5697 or nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/bvl/bvlevent.htm. Duxbury 4th of July. Breakfast, road race and parade. duxbury4thofjuly.com. Falmouth Bike and Carriage Parade and Fireworks. Main St. 10 a.m. Rain Date: July 5. Fireworks at Falmouth Heights Beach, 8:45 p.m. 508-566-9884. falmouthchamber.com. Fourth of July Parade. Downtown Fitchburg. 1 p.m. Bands, fire trucks, antique cars and more. Follow the parade route on Main Street. ci.fitchburg.ma.us. Spectacular Fireworks at Hampton Beach. NH. hamptonbeach.org.

Manchester By the Sea Independence Day Parade. 9:30 a.m. capeannvacations.com. FREE Molly’s Stand-up Star Craft. American Girl. Natick Collection. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. In 1944, Molly and her friends loved to say “Hurray for the USA!” Show your own patriotic spirit as you design a stand-up paper star that you can take home and display. For girls ages 8 and up. americangirl.com

Independence Day at Plimoth Plantation. In Defense of the Colony. 1 – 2:15 p.m. Museum guests meet Governor Bradford in the Fort Meetinghouse in the17th Century English Village to discuss an outline of the colony’s military affairs. Come examine the town’s artillery and learn about period weaponry. Porcupine Hair Headdress—Honoring A Native Military Tradition is also happening all day at the Art Ctr. Visitors are invited to meet Bob Charlebois at the Crafts Center today. MA $28, C (6-12) $18. 508-746-1622, plimoth.org Celebrations in Rockport. Rockport Firemen’s Parade, 6 p.m.; Rockport Legion Band Concert on Back Beach, 8:30 p.m.; Rockport Bonfire on Back Beach, 9 p.m. capeannvacations.com. Fourth of July Spectacular. Salisbury Beach. Beachfront concert and more festivities. beachfests.org.

FREE Try Our Pool Free Day at Benjamin Hill Park, 93 Benjamin Rd., Shirley. 1 – 7 p.m. Celebrate the Fourth with a free day of swimming in the Olympic-size pool. 978-425-9536. Star Spangled Springfield. Court Square, Springfield. 7:30 p.m. on the steps of City Hall. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. from the Memorial Bridge with musical simulcast Mix 93.1, live musical entertainment and food. 413-733-3800, spiritofspringfield.org. Family Fun Olympics at Davis’ Farmland, Sterling. See July 3rd listing for details.

FREE Molly’s Star Whirler Craft. American Girl. Natick Collection. 1 – 3 p.m. Say “Hurray for the USA!” just like Molly did in her day—learn to make a patriotic star whirler. For girls ages 8 and up. americangirl.com

An 1830s Independence Day Celebration. Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge. 6 – 10 p.m. Bring a picnic or plan on supper at one of the food service outlets. Fireworks follow at dusk over the countryside. Tickets:. osv.org.

An American Celebration! Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Noon – 5 p.m. A children’s bike and wagon parade, traditional games and crafts, historic garden tours, live music, living history, hands-on activities, and food and fun for all. Kids free. Active military and their families, free. Parking on-site; free. 603-433-1100. strawberybanke.org.

The Wakefield Independence Parade. Wakefield. 3 p.m. julyparade.org.

Greater New Bedford Summerfest. See July 3rd listing for details. Plymouth’s Fourth of July Festivities. Parade, 9:30 a.m.; waterfront concert, 7 p .m.; fireworks, 9:15 p.m. The Legion Bud Band starts at 7 p.m. and ends just before the fireworks begin, with the playing of the 1812 Overture. 508-747-7174, July4Plymouth.com

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16 JULY2010

Independence Day Parade and Celebration. Pepperell. town.pepperell.ma.us.

Salem Celebrates the 4th. Fireworks at dusk. salemchamber.org.

Independence Day Parade. Hingham. Dedicated to the town’s 375th anniversary. Enjoy the annual Vintage Classic Baseball Game featuring the Coopers and the Derbys. 781749-1312, hingham-ma.gov.

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Provincetown Parade and Fireworks. Parade starts at 11 a.m., Fireworks at dusk. ptownchamber.com.

Happy Birthday USA Family Day. The Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History, 235 Wellesley St., Weston. Noon - 4 p.m. Games, prizes and arts and crafts activities using postage stamps. Free stamps, tips about starting a collection and refreshments. A $8, Sr/St $5, under 16 free. 781-768-8367, spellman.org. Family Picnic on the Common and Reading of the Declaration of Independence. Westminster. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Bring your family and a picnic lunch to enjoy on the common on Academy Hill and listen to a reading of the Declaration of Independence, written in 1776. westminsterma.gov.

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5MONDAY Bessie’s Birthday Bash. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rt. 27, Acton. 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Also July 6. Join Bessie - the big, green, Discovery Museums’ dinosaur - to celebrate her 28th birthday. Dinosaur Egg Hunt, face painting, musical instrument petting zoo, costumed characters and, of course, cupcakes! Special programming provided by Teamworks, Lakeshore, the Bolton Community Music School, and Paulette Morin. . $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org Colors of the American Flag. The Discovery Museums, Acton. 10 a.m. Make an optical illusion of the American flag in honor of our country’s independence day. $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org Celebrate Independence at Boston’s Sanctuary of Freedom! Old South Meeting House, a Museum and National Historic Landmark, 310 Washington St., at the intersection of Milk Street, Downtown Crossing, Boston. See July 4 listing for details. Chelmsford Fourth of July Parade. 10 a.m. One of the largest Fourth of July parades in the state. Enjoy creative floats, food, marching bands and patriotic music. Along Route 4 from Drum Hill to the downtown. 978-250-8415, chelmsfordparade.com. Natick 4th Celebration. Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast at St. Paul’s, 7 a.m. - Noon. Flea Market on the Common, 8 a.m. - 3 p .m. The 55th Annual Parade starts at the 9/27 Plaza and travels down Route 27 to Route 135 in Natick Center, 9 a.m. Concert on the Common with The Boston Soul Revue, 7 p.m. natick4th.org. FREE Story Time: Lucy Cousins theme. Barnes & Noble, 210 Andover St.,Peabody. 10 a.m.Stories by L978573-3261, bn.com America’s Hometown 4th of July Celebration. South and North Streets., Pittsfield. 10 a.m. The 2010 “We the People” parade is the largest 4th of July parade in America. More than 100 floats, marching bands, giant balloons and participants. An old-fashioned family Picnic on The Common follows with craft/food booths and entertainment. 413-4436501, 413-447-7763, pittsfieldparade.com. Walk in Art Class. The Clayground, 65 James St., Worcester. 1 – 2 p.m. Monday through Thursdays in July and August. Make a different project each class. No reservations necessary. $18 PP plus tax. 508-755-7776, theclaygroundma.com

6TUESDAY FETCH! Lab. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. Drop-in 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Science Discovery. Test and sharpen your skills as you design, build, and explore various engineering and science activities inspired by

FETCH!’s Ruff Ruffman! Take home FETCH! activities and resources to share with family and friends! $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org FREE Toddler Tuesdays. Boston Harbor Island Alliance. Spectacle and Grape Islands Boston. 9 – 11:30 a.m. Meet up with other moms, dads and caretakers for a Stroller Stride on Spectacle or Groovin’ on Grape fitness activities with a guide. Ferry fares - A $14, Sr (65+): $10, Family four pack (2 A & 2 C), $39, C (3-11) $8, C (under 3) free. 781-740-1605 x202, bostonharborislands.org. Five-Minute Doll ’Dos. American Girl. Natick Collection. 11:30 a.m. She’ll learn to do super-fast styles, including a braided headband, twisty bun and game-time ponytail. $24 PP. For girls 8 and up. Reservations required. 877-247-5223, americangirl.com Wampanoag Homesite. Plimoth Plantation. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Native Maritime Days. Eating seasonally was at the heart of the Wampanoag diet in the 17th Century and Cape Cod Bay is full of delicious varieties of fish this time of year. Saturdays and Tuesdays this July, see fish of all kinds, including shellfish cooked, or roasted by the fireside at the Wampanoag Homesite. A $28, C (6-12) $18. 508-7461622, plimoth.org Meet a Worm. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St. 1 – 3 p.m. Make friends with some worms! Kids meet red wriggler composting worms in their habitat and hold a giant night crawler. Ages 3 – 11. Program free with $8.50 admission, under 1, free. 401-273-5437, childrenmuseum.org/calendar.asp Nature Adventures with Picture Books: Life Under Rocks and Logs. Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 9:30 – 11 a.m. Discover what life can be found in the ground under rocks and logs. Read a book to learn about life in the soil, and then take a walk, rolling over rocks and logs exploring what creatures live in such dark, damp spaces. A $9, C, $7. 978-887-9264, massaudubon.org Build It! The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. Drop in 10 a.m. – Noon. (Children’s Discovery). LEGO building for toddlers. $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org

7WEDNESDAY Mister Vic Family Music Night. Great Brook Farms, Bolton. Every Wed. 6 - 7:30 p.m. Music, fun, dancing, family-style dinner. Prepay online to guarantee seating. Rain or shine. Indoors or outdoors. greatbrookfarms.com Groton Fireworks. Town Field (behind the Library), 6 p.m. 978-448-1100. Summer Seekers. Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. Series program 4 classes. 3:30 – 5 p.m. Tuesdays through July 27. Also Wednesdays July 7 through July 28. All ages. Go on an adventure filled with hands-on discovery each week. $40 PP. Preregistration required. 781-2592206, maasaudubon.org

Sail Setting Activities onboard Mayflower II. Plimoth Plantation. 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Also July 14, 21, 28. Assist Plimoth Plantation maritime staff setting sails aboard Mayflower II. Guests are encouraged to lend a hand. Crewmembers will climb into the rigging, as staff discuss and guide activities from the deck. Haul on a halyard, brace a yard and get a feel for the teamwork required to sail a 17thcentury square-rigged ship. FREE with admission. A $28, C (6-12) $18. 508-746-1622, plimoth.org Wheels at Work. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St. 10 a.m. - Noon. Also July 14, 21, 28 and August 4, 11, 18, and 25. Climb aboard a fire truck, ambulance, forklift, giant digger and more and meet the drivers who operate them. Explore a different vehicle each week! Ages 3 – 11. Program free with $8.50 admission, under 1, free. 401-273-5437, childrenmuseum.org/calendar.asp

8THURSDAY Summer Nights Special. Edaville USA, 7 Eda Ave., Carver. 4 p.m. – Dusk. (Also July 15, 22, and 29). Paw Sox Night, Brockton Rox Night, PBS kids club, free ice cream and hot dogs, wellness night, jazz night! $15 PP, under 2, free. 508-866-8190, edaville.com Tie Dye I. The Children’s Museum in Easton, The Old Fire Station, 9 Sullivan Ave. 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Bring a 100% white cotton t-shirt or buy one at the Museum, or bring a pillowcase or pair of socks for this perennial favorite. $6 PP. 508-230-3789, childrensmuseumineaston.org. Bitty Bear’s Story Time. American Girl. Natick Collection. 10:30 a.m. Preschoolers and their parents can hear a reading of Bitty Bear’s Story Time, then enjoy an art activity and tasty treats. $10 PP. For girls 3 and up. 877-2475223, americangirl.com FREE Bitty Twins Animal Safari. American Girl. Natick Collection. Noon – 2 p.m. At this fun event, preschoolers can punch-out and color paper animals to take home. For girls ages 3 and up. americangirl.com FREE Story Time: Dr. Seuss Stories. Barnes & Noble, 444 A Broadway, Saugus. 10:30 a.m. 781-231-4711

9FRIDAY FETCH! Lab - Float My Boat. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. 10 a.m. - Noon. Children’s Discovery. Investigate floating and sinking using a variety of familiar materials as you create your own boat to float in tubs of water. Also, it’s half-price Friday after 4:30 p.m.. Bring your blanket and picnic basket and explore sound through singing and playing with Ms. Karina at 6 p.m. Half-price admission is $5.25. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org Tanabata-The Japanese Star Festival and Sugar Free Nights. Boston Children’s Museum. 6 – 8 p.m. Learn the romantic tale of the two separated stars. Write a

wish on tanzaku and hang it on bamboo trees! Yummy and healthy alternatives to sugary foods. A $12, C (1-15) $9, under 1, free. 617-426-6500, bostonchildrensmuseum.org Dog Days of Summer I. The Children’s Museum in Easton, The Old Fire Station, 9 Sullivan Ave. 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. At 11 a.m. meet specially trained dogs who work with the disabled, then at 1 p.m. meet Cokie the therapy dog, and Tug and Louie from Shoo Geese! Border Patrol. At 2 p.m., meet Apache, who works at Logan Airport. $6 PP. 508-230-3789, childrensmuseumineaston.org/SummerDropInDays.asp FREE American Girl Craft Worskhop. American Girl, Natick. Girls can create a mini notebook where they can record all their favorite summer memories. For girls 8 and up. americangirl.com FREE Summer Movies Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 210 Andover St.,Peabody. 7 p.m. Listen to the stories that inspired Toy Story 3 and Shrek. Draw your own movie scenes.978-573-3261, bn.com Family Dusk Paddle: River Mammals. Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 6 – 8 p.m. Have you ever seen a muskrat swimming or a beaver slapping its tail in alarm? Look for these elusive mammals and discover some of the clues they leave behind as we make our way along the Ipswich River. A $15, C $13. 978-887-9264, massaudubon.org/ipswichriver

10SATURDAY Bessie Needs a Bath! The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. 10 a.m. – Noon. Plenty of soap bubbles and sponges will be on hand to ensure the dinosaur mascot gets nice and clean. $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org Sharks! Ocean Detectives at the New England Aquarium. Central Wharf, Boston. 2 – 3:30 p.m. Children will work with parents and peers to unlock the secrets of the deep while developing their math, science and literacy skills. Detectives takes place in the Aquarium’s Harborside Learning Lab and is for children ages 5-7 with adult. C $30 (adults included in the price). 617-973-5206, neaq.org Kamishibai - Japanese Storytelling. Boston Children’s Museum. 11 a.m., Noon & 1p.m. A story about a little crab and his adventure! Also Kitchen Science: Air Blown Watercolor. 11:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. Explore how water behaves while experimenting with colors.A $12, C (1-15) $9, under 1, free. 617-426-6500, bostonchildrensmuseum.org FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 800 Boylston St., Boston. 11 a.m. Also July 11. “ 617-247-6959, bn.com. Fireworks. Clinton Middle School. Rain Date: July 11th. The Village Fair. Jacob Sears Memorial Library and the Evangelical Free Church, Center St., East Dennis. 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Legendary lobster rolls, home-fresh baked

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OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO goods, attic treasures and children’s crafts and activities, raffles, bake sale and more. 508-385-9561. Family Overnight at Battleship Cove. Battleship Cove Five Water St., Fall River. Spend the night on a WWII battleship! Guests enjoy all-day admission, three delicious meals and the opportunity to participate in shipboard activities. They will also receive a free Overnight Survival Guide filled with fun facts and activities. For pricing: 508678-1100, battleshipcove.org. Swan Festival. Onset Bay Association, 4 Union Ave., Onset. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 508-295-7072, onsetvillage.com. Teddy Bear Picnic. Spooner House Secret Garden, 27 North St., Plymouth. 10 a.m. - Noon. A lively morning of storytelling, hands-on kids’ activities and a puppet play. Don’t forget to bring your teddy bear! For ages 4 & up. $6 PP. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 508-7460012, pasm@verizon.net plymouthantiquariansociety.org 3rd Annual Plymouth Harbor Folk Festival. 12 - 7 p.m. Also July 11. Hand crafters, the Plymouth Rotary food tent, a village for local non-profit organizations and the Plymouth Farmers Market. Held on the Plymouth waterfront at Water and Leyden Streets. 508-747-7727,projectarts.com. Dig In! Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St. 1 – 3 p.m. Also July 11. Celebrate the ground below – dig in to dirt and make magic with mud! Kids sift through soil for buried treasures and cook up mud pies with all the fixings. Ages 3 – 11. Program free with $8.50 admission, under 1, free. 401-273-5437, childrenmuseum. org/calendar.asp Rainforest Reptiles at Davis’ Farmland. 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Also July 11.Hop on in to see gators, lizards, snakes, frogs and even a giant tortoise! Ages (2 – 59) $18.95 PP. 978-422-MOOO, davisfarmland.

Family Campout: Camping 101. Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row,Topsfield. 6 – 9 p.m. Have you always wanted to go camping and hiking as a family, but didn’t know where to begin. Come experience real camping in a safe environment while learning the basics. Cover how to set up a campsite, leave no trace principles, cooking and more. A $22, C $18. 978887-9264, massaudubon.org/ipswichriver

11SUNDAY Face Painting Fun. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. Drop in 10 a.m. – Noon. Children’s Discovery. Be a butterfly, a tiger, or anything else you can imagine as your face gets decorated.. $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org FREE Vintage Baseball, Costumed Civil War Storytelling and Fishing Clinic. Boston Harbor Island Alliance, Georges Island, Boston. Baseball: Noon - 1 p.m. and 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Step into the 1860s and watch Civil War-era baseball games played at historic Fort Warren with original rules and uniforms. Ferry fares - A $14, Family Four-Packs $39. C (3-11) $8. Under 3, free. Other activities: 617-223-8108, bostonharborislands.org Explore Collections. Boston Children’s Museum. 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Put on white gloves and explore some of the Museum’s hidden treasures. A $12, C (1-15) $9, under 1, free. 617-426-6500, bostonchildrensmuseum.org Memories with Mom. American Girl. Natick Collection. 4:30 p.m. Enjoy a delicious meal, plus a commemorative photo and keepsakes to take home as a reminder of the memories made during your special day. $30 PP (gratuity not included). For girls 6 and up. Reservations required. 877-247-5223, americangirl.com Rainforest Reptiles at Davis’ Farmland. Sterling. See July 10th listing for details.

12WEDNESDAY FOR PARENTS Fostering Young Children’s Friendship and Social Skills. COMPASS for kids, Whitney Place, 3 Vision Dr., (Route 9 West), Natick. 7 – 9 p.m. Do you know children who seem to struggle with basic skills related to peer relationships, such as approaching other children or groups, early empathy or voice modulation? Identify specific social challenges faced by young children and explore strategies to help children learn how to make friends and interact appropriately with others. A $25. 781-862-4446, compassforkids.org FREE Story Time: Dancing Theme. Barnes & Noble, 210 Andover St., Peabody. 10 a.m. 978-573-3261, bn.com No Time to Waste. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St. 10:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. Also July 19 and 26. Learn what’s funny about trash in a family comedy show about recycling. Four 20-minute shows. Ages 5 – 11. 401-273-KIDS, childrenmuseum.org FREE Affordable In-Home Childcare. Originalnanny service, Panera Bread,120 Gold Star Blvd., Worcester. 5 - 6:30 p.m. 508-755-9284, originalnanny.com

13SUNDAY Fetch! Lab. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. 10 a.m. - Noon, Children’s: Parrots. What a racket! Turn an ordinary cup and string into a screeching, squawking sound machine. Drop-in 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., Science Discovery: Design, build and experiment when you do fun engineering and science activities inspired by FETCH!’s Ruff Ruffman. $10.50 admission to both museums. 978264-4200, discoverymuseums.org FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 98 Middlesex Turnpike Burlington. 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. 781-273-3871, bn.com

Exploring Fruits & Vegetables Family Workshop. Children’s Museum of NH, 6 Washington St., Dover, NH. 11 a.m. Families are invited to join Eileen Behan, RD, to explore the amazing world of fruits & vegetables through interactive and take-home activities. Children use their senses to taste, touch, smell and look inside different fruits and vegetables, and participate in a nutrition scavenger hunt. This is a drop-in program with no pre-registration required. A $8, under 1, free. 603-742-2002, childrensmuseum.org Ice Cream and Fireflies. Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St. (Rt.16), Natick. 7:30 – 9 p.m. What’s better than ice cream on a summer night? Why not add a little fun outdoor exploration? Join the adventure and look for flashing fireflies, listen for the songs of frogs and more! A $14, C $9. 508-655-2296, massaudubon.org FREE An American Girl Debut. Natick Collection. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Also July 20 from Noon – 2 p.m. and July 27 from Noon – 2 p.m.) This day is all about learning to be your very best. There will be personalized crafts for girls and doll and fun activities designed to let your girl’s inner star shine. For girls 8 and up. americangirl.com Mud Play. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St. 1 – 3 p.m. Children dig, scoop and build with mud and natural materials. Ages 3 – 11. $8.50 PP, under 1, free. 401-273-5437, childrenmuseum.org/calendar.asp FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 444 A Broadway Saugus. 2:30 p.m. Special Event D.E.A.R-Drop Everything and Read! 781-231-4711, bn.com FREE MOMS Club of Sutton Open Playgroup. For location, contactvp@MOMSclubofsutton.com. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Crafts and games for children, coffee and refreshments, the MOMcycle table and much more! Learn about the MOMS Club of Sutton and make some new friends. Come for 5 minutes or come for 2 hours. MomsClubOfSutton.com Nature Adventures with Picture Books: Animal Locomotion. Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 9:30 – 11 a.m. Read and

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18 JULY2010

508-230-3789, childrensmuseumineaston.org/SummerDropInDays.asp

learn about different animal movements. Go for a walk looking for animals, paying close attention to how the animals move. Along the way, participate in a fun animal locomotion game. A $9, C $7. 978-887-9264,massaudubon. org/ipswichriver

FREE Things that Go Evening Stories & Craft. Gale Free Public Library, Holden. 6 - 6:30 p.m. Ages 3 1/2 and up w/ caregiver. Listen to stories about different modes of transportation and make a special craft to take home. 508829-0230 or stop by the Children’s Room to register.

FREE La Leche League Meeting. Blessed Sacrament Church: Phelan Ctr., 551 Pleasant St., Worcester. 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Get information and support to help you breastfeed. Babies and children are welcome. Gently used maternity clothes on sale for just one dollar per piece. Open to families with children age 3 – 6. Registration required. 508-523-5720, llleus.org/web/WorcesterMA.html

FREE Story Time: “Bearies� Theme. Barnes & Noble, 444 A Broadway Saugus. 10:30 a.m. 781-231-4711, bn.com

16FRIDAY

14WEDNESDAY

courtesy of verrill farm

FREE Catch the Science Bug. Spectacle Island, Boston Harbor Island. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Ferry fares - A $14, Family Four-Packs $39. C (3-11) $8. Under 3, free. Other activities: 617-223-8108, bostonharborislands.org FREE Trucks, Diggers & Cruisers. Gale Free Public Library, Holden. 10 - 11 a.m. See town vehicles up close and personal. Bring your cameras. Held in the municipal lot across the street from the library on Route 31. Rain or shine! All ages.508-829-0228 FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 210 Andover St., Peabody. 11 a.m. Hear stories by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and then write our own backwards bedtime story. 978-573-3261, bn.com FOR PARENTS Teaching Your Values When the Other Parent Doesn’t Live Them. Parenting Solutions, 6 Colonial Dr., Westborough. 7:30 – 9 p.m. A Parenting That Works! program led by Dr. Sylvia Sirignano, a developmental psychologist and Mr. Glenn Smith, a marriage and divorce counselor. $30 PP or $45 per parenting couple. 508-366-7557, parentingsolutionsprograms.com

SATURDAY, JULY 17

Top off a New England blueberry pancake breakfast at Verrill Farm in Concord with dessert...blueberry pie! Compete in the pie eating contest if you dare. verrillfarm.com.

15THURSDAY Nature Puppet Show and Encounter. The Children’s Museum in Easton, The Old Fire Station, 9 Sullivan Ave.

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FREE Ferry Day. Spectacle and Georges Islands, Boston. Make a Spectacle of Yourself on Spectacle Island and Long Wharf Pier, 11 – 2 p. m. Elaborate face-painting for adults and kids. Plays in the Park at the Fort Warren Stage on Georges Island, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Ferry fares - A $14, Family Four-Packs $39. C (3-11) $8. Under 3, free. Other activities: 617-223-8108, bostonharborislands.org FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 98 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington. 6:30 p.m. 781-273-3871, bn.com Fish N’ Ships Festival at Mayflower II. Plimoth Plantation. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Through July 18). An

Stay Cool on a Hot Day Call now about our week long summer programs in July & August (Ages 8 & up) - 10-3 Tuesdays & Thursdays (Ages 4-7) - 10:30-12

DR. VERA AND DR. PANAGIOTU HARVARD TRAINED PEDIATRIC DENTIST 144 PLEASANT ST, WORCESTER • 508-754-9825 • WWW.WORCESTERKIDSDENTIST . COM

Backyard Adventures'

10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Go Wild! with Robb and his wacky puppet friends at 11 a.m. as they take kids on a wild (and imaginary) adventure to learn about animals and nature. At 1 p.m. enjoy the Birds of Prey program with Marla Isaac of New England Reptile and Raptor Exhibits, then dissect an owl pellet ($1 fee per pellet) while supplies last. $6 PP.

Trike Track and Half Price Friday Night, Fetch! Lab event. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27 Acton. All Day Children’s Discovery. Trike Track is through July 18. Practice balance and coordination, learn about traffic safety signs and have fun as you peddle your way through a trike track. Bring your own tricycle or use one from the Museum.Fetch! Lab: All Wound Up from 6 – 8 p.m. (It’s also half-price admission) at the Science Discovery. Rubber band powered races! Build a rubber band racer, wind it up, and let it go. $10.50, after 4:30 Half Price Friday night for each person: $5.25 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org.

Check website for details & registration forms Bring your own food and beverages any night! Monday & Tuesday: 10am - 5pm • Wednesday & Thursday: 10am - 9pm Friday & Saturday: 10am - 10pm • Sunday: 12pm - 6pm

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OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO enjoyable weekend of maritime fish and fun! Onboard the ship on Friday, experience chart making at 10 a.m. and learn maritime knot-tying at 3 pm. On Saturday 10 a.m. knot-tying is once again offered, and on Sunday 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., experience 17th century chart making. A $28, C (6-12) $18. 508-746-1622, plimoth.org FREE Story Time and Meet the Star of “If you Give a Pig a Pancake.” Barnes & Noble, 444 A Broadway, Saugus. 6:30 p.m. 781-231-4711, bn.com

So You Think You Can Dance Clinic. Giguere’s Dance Studio, 148 Main St., Cherry Valley. 1 – 4:30 p.m. Learn three dance routines in one afternoon at this intermediatelevel dance clinic. Lyrical, Broadway Jazz and Hip Hop will be taught by the staff of Giguere’s Dance Studio. For ages 12 and up. Pre-registration and pre-payment is necessary. $30 PP. 508-892-3797, dancewithshelly.com Verrill Farm Blueberry Pancake Breakfast & Pie Eating Contest. 11 Wheeler Rd., Concord. 9 a.m.

(gratuity not included). For girls 8 and up. Reservations required. 877-247-5223, americangirl.com

$20 full day, $5 per show (includes workshop participation) 617-926-2787, cbact.org.

Birds of Prey at Davis’ Farmland. 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Also July 18. Tom Ricardi from the Massachusetts Bird of Prey Rehab Facility will be at Farmland with amazing eagles, hawks, owls and more. Show times are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Ages ( 2 – 59) $18.95 PP. 978-422-MOOO, davisfarmland.com.

The Big Dipper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival. Elm Park, Highland St. and Park Ave., Worcester. 10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sample: Cold Stone Creamery of Millbury, Crystal Caves of Auburn, Janine’s Frostee of Ware, Broadway Restaurant, Friendly’s, Hood and Turkey Hill... Moonwalks, face painting, a food tent with grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cold drinks and snacks, a large raffle with a Bose Wave Radio as grand prize, NEADS puppies, team mascots, clowns, face painting, and all day entertainment. The Lions Sightmobile will provide free hearing and vision screening, and Child Protection Resources will offer free fingerprinting and photo/ID’s for the kids. All proceeds benefit the programs of Children’s Friend, the oldest child and family service agency in central Massachusetts. A$5 (10 and up) C (5 – 9) $2, C (4 and under) free.

17SATURDAY FREE Fifteenth Annual Family Fun Day. Acton Family Network, Great Hill Field, School St., Acton. (Behind South Acton Fire Station). 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Music, games, arts & crafts, moon bounces, bubbles, bake sale and much more. The Pocket Lady with all her pockets full of prizes might also make an appearance. To top it all off, head over to the fire station to wash the fire truck. actonfamily.org

18SUNDAY Family Fun on the Boston Harbor Islands. Orienteering on Thompson Island , 12:45 - 3:15 p.m. Learn the basics of navigation with a map, compass or GPS. Meet at the Spectacle Island Visitor Center at 12:45 p.m. Bring your own GPS. Music in the Park on Spectacle featuring ensembles from Berklee College of Music, 12 – 4 p.m. Boston Bhangra Dancers Georges Island, 1 - 3 p.m. Plus Stories of the Islands: Snow in Summer on Georges Island, 1 – 2 p.m. Ferry fares - A $14, Family Four-Packs $39. C (3-11) $8. Under 3, free. Other activities: 617-223-8108, bostonharborislands.org

Gerwick Puppets presents Aesop’s Fables. Eric Carle Picture Book Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 1 p.m. Join the award-winning Gerwick Puppets for fables rich in fun and foibles. Free with admission. A $9, C (under 18) $6, Family Admission (2 adults and 2 youth) $22.50. picturebookart.org Family Field Trips: Tidepool Trek. New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston. 9:30 - 11 a.m. Aquarium educators will provide the expertise, field guides and equipment to explore some of the different aquatic habitats in New England. Most programs begin and end at the field site. $18 PP. 617-973-5206, neaq.org FREE Story time. Barnes & Noble, 800 Boylston St., Boston. 11 a.m. 617-247-6959,bn.com Critter Day: The Creature Teachers. Boston Children’s Museum. Noon, 1 & 2 p.m. Do you know what toucans eat? Have you ever met a kinkajou? Meet these creatures and more! A $12, C (1-15) $9, under 1, free. 617-426-6500, bostonchildrensmuseum.org Summer Night at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. 5 – 8 p.m. Explore the Harvard Museum of Natural History during extended hours! Join informal tours of the galleries with Harvard graduate students and participate in special programs. Check out the famous glass flowers, and don’t miss the museum’s newest exhibit: “Headgear: The Natural History of Horns and Antlers.” At 6:30p.m. join Allison Gale, a graduate student in Harvard’s Earth & Planetary Sciences, for a tour through the museum’s historic gems and minerals gallery. She will discuss how the gallery’s more than 3,000 specimens were collected, and what makes them so scientifically valuable. At 7 p.m., join wildlife author Sy Montgomery for a lecture and book signing: “Birdology: From Hens to Hummingbirds—And One Big Living Dinosaur.” A $9, C $6. 617-495-3045, hmnh.harvard.edu/lectures_and_special_events/index.php

THAR SHE BLOWS!

Want to see where they keep the really big animals? Join the New England Aquarium in Boston for an incredible whale watching experience aboard the Voyager III...all summer long. neaq.org

– Noon. Blueberry pancakes, Massachusetts maple syrup, bacon/ sausage, juice and milk or coffee served outside under the tent. 11 a.m. Blueberry pie eating contest - Enter when you arrive, there is no fee & the rules are simple: just bring your appetite & the first to finish an 8” pie - no hands allowed - wins! Fun for all ages! Music by The Yankee Stompers. Hay rides available for a small fee. A $7, C under 10 $4.50. 978-369-4494, verrillfarm.com

Fire and Ice. Old Sturbridge Village. 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. An exciting summer event featuring historical 19th century hand-pump fire wagons and ice-cream. Free with admission. A $20, C (3 – 17) $7, under 3, free. osv.org

Barnstable County Fair. Rte. 151, East Falmouth. Noon-10 p.m. Daily through July 24. $10 admission. Kids 12 & younger free with paying adult. BarnstableCountyFair.org

Family Explorations: Sanctuary Foray. Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 1 – 2:30 p.m. Take a walk on the wild side as you explore nature through hands-on activities and a leisurely-paced hike. Visit a meadow and look for insects and spiders, and investigate a vernal pool in summer. Then stop for a refreshing popsicle break. A $8, C $7. 978-887-9264, massaudubon.org/ipswichriver

Dazzle Your Doll. American Girl. Natick Collection. 2 – 6 p.m. Your girl will learn fancy salon secrets and fiveminute doll ’dos, then decorate a tropical doll outfit that’s perfect for the beach. Plus, every girl will enjoy a delicious meal and take home a doll-sized travel booklet. $50 PP

3rd Annual CBACT Children’s Theatre Festival. Consortium of Boston Area Children’s Theatres (CBACT). Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown. 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. An action-packed day of performances in the Mosesian Theater and interactive workshops for all ages.

Eve Rising Music Festival. Winnekenni Castle 347 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill. 11 a.m. In partnerships with Mamapalooza, Eve Rising, will host New England’s finest female musicians for a day of live music, family fun and a goal to raise $25,000 for local and global charities, which aid, protect, teach and empower women as their mission. Tickets: $10 /children 14 and under are free. everising.org. The Wonders of Butterflies & Dragonflies. Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., (Rt.16), Natick. 1 – 2:30 p.m. Walk and explore the fields and other habitats looking for Broadmoor’s many dragonflies and butterflies and learn more about these beautiful creatures. A $12, C $8. 508-655-2296, massaudubon.org/ Nature Art. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St. 1 – 3 p.m. Kids sculpt with sand dough and use a host of natural materials to make playspaces big and small. Ages 3 – 11. $8.50 PP, under 1, free. 401-273-5437, childrenmuseum.org/calendar.asp Birds of Prey at Davis’ Farmland. Sterling. See July 17th for details.

19MONDAY Special Group Rate Day. Edaville USA, 7 Eda Ave., Carver. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Ride the train, ride amusement

continued on page 37

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LET’SROLL

BEACH BOUND AND MORE

Newburyport BY julia quinn-szcesuil

steven king, photographer

W

hether you are looking for history, a great shopping excursion, a day at the beach, or just a nice dinner out, a day trip to the city of Newburyport will make you happy. Perched in the very northeastern corner of the state, Newburyport boasts a centuries-old seaside history. Many sea captains called Newburyport home and built grand houses that continue to grace the city with an elegant beauty. Newburyport’s pedestrian-friendly downtown gives it a nice small-town feel, with

22 JULY2010

scores of stores and restaurants located within a few square blocks. You can find the most delightful surprises in shops that sell housewares, mermaid statues, candies, lotions or homemade lip balms. Or you can sit in the waterfront park and revel in the picture-perfect view of the harbor. Newburyport is a walking city, one that is easy to get around and approachable for even the youngest family members. If you want to head out further to Plum Island, plan your trip to drive out to that sandy stretch and then return to park in Newburyport’s free central lot or one of the satellite lots to do some exploring.

Beach Treasures, Natural Wonders My daughters, Caroline and Jillian, and I started our warm day by heading all the way to Plum Island, taking a left from the Plum Island Turnpike down Northern Boulevard until we came to the very end where the Plum Island Range Light, a circa 1787 lighthouse, stands guard where the Merrimack River meets the Atlantic Ocean. There is a parking lot with a playground and a boardwalk that stretches to the expansive tip of the island. This is

one of Caroline and Jillian’s favorite spots as they can play on the playground and have a bite to eat before sprinting to the huge beach. It also feeds our insatiable habit of searching for beach glass. Many visits have found us marveling at the treasure of cloudy, colorful bits of glass in the sand (although many are still sharp, so be cautious in bare feet). On the way back to Newburyport, we stopped in the Plum Island Soap Company on Northern Boulevard where we spent some time smelling all the homemade soaps, oils, bath gels and concoctions. My 12-year-old was smitten with the exotic

LET’SROLL

black licorice lip balm. You can usually see products being made right on the premises, and the big bricks of uncut soap are fascinating to parents and kids alike. If nature is your thing, the Joppa Flats Education Center, on the way back downtown, makes for a nice stop. A highly regarded birding area, the Mass Audubonrun center often offers programs for kids. They also have on-going art exhibits and a room where visitors can observe the ocean front and learn about birds in the area. We all found the table with a variety of shells to identify not only educational, but fun to see all the differences up close.

Seaside History and Eclectic Shopping Being the birthplace of the United States Coast Guard, maritime history is a substantial part of Newburyport’s story. The Custom House Maritime Museum gives an overview of events that helped put the town on the sea faring map. The Cushing House Museum at 98 High Street has a beautiful garden, and the home’s 21 rooms show what it might have been like to live as a prominent Newburyport merchant in the late 19th century. But for many families, strolling around downtown, for shopping or for taking in the area’s natural beauty, is a big draw. We poked into The Tannery, surprised by its extensive size. What appears to be a small area from the parking lot is a collection of stores where you can buy long French marshmallows for less than $2 at Red Bird Trading Company, purchase fresh baked breads and rolls (my girls devoured the plain rolls in an instant) at Annarosa’s

Bakery or even paint your own pottery at Pottery Isle. There is a toy store, a bookstore and a few places to get a bite to eat.

is right in that area, and they offer great information and maps. Summertime in Newburyport is magical. There are fantastic parks including the enormous Maudslay State Park (minimal parking fee) and neighboring Moseley Woods, both of which sit on the banks of the Merrimack River. On a hot day, cool respite can be found here, as often can some kind of open-air concert. Whale watches and river tours are also available from downtown, ranging from a quick harbor tour to an hours-long excursion. The Chamber of Commerce hosts several events throughout the year, including a popular Sidewalk Sales and Homecoming in late July/early August and a Riverfront Music Festival. Take the time to really investigate Newburyport and you will be taken by

Food for the Body, Food for the Soul In Newburyport center, your famished family can choose from all kinds of selections. You can get just about any magazine or breakfast entree at Fowle’s Cafe, which has been selling food and an enormous selection of newspapers, magazines and cigars in town since 1865. There is a Not Your Average Joe’s right in the Firehouse Center for the Arts building (bathrooms there, too), and The Grog on Middle Street has been a Newburyport mainstay for generations. Michael’s Harborside offers riverside dining in the warmer months. You can also mix it up and get a few take-out meals, combining Thai, Mexican, pizza or Indian and then gather your crew into the central plaza where you can eat on benches while the kids play on the stone structures. What we really love about Newburyport is the ocean-scented breezes. A walk around the boardwalk behind Waterfront Park leaves you refreshed. You can sit for a while just watching the motions of the water or the boats and collect your energy for more sightseeing. But do not miss the fascinating sculptures in Somerby’s Landing Sculpture Park. An enormous nest by artist Lisa Victoria, a metal horse by James Burnes and even a steel elk by Wendy Klemperer captivated my kids, who wanted to make sure they saw all the sculptures. The Chamber of Commerce

FOOD PARKS MUSEUMS

the depth of its history, its quiet beauty and the sheer amount of fun a family can have. Julia Quinn-Szcesuil is an award-winning freelance writer living in Bolton with her family.

Some Helpful Web sites Include: newburyportchamber.org newburyhist.com tannerymarketplace.com customhousemaritimemuseum.org thegrog.com harbortours.com plumislandsoap.com somerbyslandingsculpturepark.org yankeehomecoming.com

HOMETOWN TOUR Wanna play tour guide? Show baystateparent around your town, and we may feature the tour in an upcoming issue!

SHOPS

To be considered, email editor@baystateparent.com.

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jiminy peak

TH E Berkshires

MORE THAN JUST MOUNTAINS:

BY

A

sandy meindersma

lthough many Bay Staters head to the Cape for their summer vacations, the Western part of the state offers a variety of adventure and culture, with the added bonus of not having to fight the traffic going over a bridge. Just over a two-hour drive from Central Massachusetts, the Berkshires is a region rich in history, museums, outdoor activities and adventure. Although it got its start as a winter destination, Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, located in Hancock, MA (on the New York state border), began summer operations in 1977 and has expanded those operations significantly in the last ten years. The resort, which generates one-third of its power from a wind turbine, runs a Mountain Adventure Park that includes a mountain coaster, an alpine slide, rock wall, giant swing, a euro-bungee trampoline 24 JULY2010

and bouncy house. Visitors can also take the six-person chair lift to the top of the mountain for a spectacular view or tour the wind turbine for an up-close look. New this year is the Aerial Adventure Park, a series of five aerial rope courses with rope bridges, ladders, cargo nets and zip lines through the forest. Each course is harder than the previous, and the levels must be completed in succession. Katie Fogel, assistant director of marketing for the resort, said tickets are sold in threehour blocks and that reservations are recommended. “Three hours is plenty of time, since you’re active the whole time,” she said. “We also offer a combination ticket for the Aerial Adventure Park and Mountain Adventure Park that is just $20 more than a single park pass.” Fogel also pointed out that the resort is centrally located in the northern Berkshires.

zoar outdoor deerfield valley canopy tours

LET’SROLL

“We’re part of a bigger attraction that is the whole region,” Fogel said. Accommodations at Jiminy Peak include one-bedroom suites that feature a mini kitchen and pull-out queen size couch that begin at $169 per night midweek, and condos that have two or three bedrooms and full kitchen, that begin at $229 per night midweek. While Jiminy Peak offers plenty of outdoor adventure, there is still plenty to do just beyond the resort when it rains.

Berkshire Museum

The Berkshire Museum, located one town east in Pittsfield, is an art museum, science museum, aquarium and local history museum all in one. Its traveling exhibit “Wrapped! The Search for the Essential Mummy” is open through October and features Pahat, Berkshire Museum’s world-famous mummy, who is at the centerpiece of the exhibition along with two other mummies each in its own richly decorated sarcophagus. Ancient mummified cats, falcons and a crocodile are also part of the exhibit that offers a variety of handson activities such as mummy-wrapping and exploring a tomb. The museum features a gallery dedicated to Berkshire residents whose innovative efforts have been become known worldwide. Included in the gallery are Zenas Marshall Crane, who founded the first paper mill in the Berkshires and whose company is the only one to produce the paper for U.S. currency; Cyrus Field, who launched the first transatlantic cable and Douglas Trumbull, who created the special effects for a parade of Hollywood successes: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars, Close Encounters

of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and Blade Runner, as well as Back to the Future—the Ride at Universal Studios.

Animagic If making a movie sounds appealing, then make an appointment at Animagic- the Museum of Animation, Special Effects and Art, located in Lee, about 45 minutes from Hancock. In two hours, visitors can tour the museum; see original models from Hollywood movies, as well as museum owner Eugene Mamut’s 1987 Scientific and Engineering Academy Award. After the tour, visitors use their own imaginations and make an animated movie, by creating a model, making the animation movie, recording it, adding sound, music, and

courtesy of tanglewood

courtesy of mass moca

LET’SROLL

3, MOVE IT!, presented by the Cartoon Network on July 9 and summer sketch classes on Tuesday mornings.

worthington ballooning/paul sena

Tanglewood

title and then transferring the completed movie onto a tape to take home.

Norman Rockwell Museum Stockbridge is home to the Norman Rockwell Museum, the iconic American painter, most famous for his covers of The Saturday Evening Post. Take a stroll through the museum, learn which neighbors from town he immortalized in his works and see the special exhibits highlighting the Boy Scouts’ 100th anniversary this year, Rockwell and the movies, as well as an exhibit of the works of cartoonist William Steig, entitled “Love and Laughter.” There are also a number of special programs this month, including: “Play Ball! An All-American Festival” on July

Tanglewood, located in Lenox, is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Whether it’s opening night on July 9, a chamber concert midweek or the Boston Pops and Arlo Guthrie on July 18th, a Tanglewood concert is always a summer highlight. Bring a picnic and enjoy it on the lawn before the performance begins.

Mass Museum of Contemporary Art Located in North Adams, Mass MoCA, as it is known, is considered one of the world’s premier centers for modern art, both visual and performance. With more than 120,000 visitors annually, the museum stages more than 75 performances each year. One of the current exhibits, “Gravity is a Force to be Reckoned With,” is based on the incomplete project “House with Four Columns” by Mies van der Rohe. In this exhibit, by Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, the house is inverted; the ceiling of the original becoming the sculpture’s floor, the floor becoming the ceiling, and all interior elements installed upside down. In the Kidspace, which promotes the understanding and teaching of art through experiential learning opportunities, the “You Art What You Eat” exhibit is on display through September 6. This five-artist show uses foods from Cheetos and Gummi Bears to beets and corn as the primary media.

Other Ideas Whether you love trains, or just want a different look at the Berkshires, the Berkshire

Scenic Railway Museum in Lenox is sure to please. Leaving from the Lenox Station, vintage diesel-electric locomotives haul 1920s passenger cars 20 miles to Stockbridge and back If you can’t resist back-to-school shopping, the Prime Outlets in Lee has over 50 stores, including Under Armour Factory Store, Nike, Banana Republic, and Gap Kids and Baby. History buffs will enjoy the Hancock Shaker Village’s 50th anniversary celebration in Pittsfield or stop by the Berkshire Historical Society in Pittsfield to see where novelist Herman Melville penned Moby Dick. Thrill seekers aged 8 and up may want to head east to Charlemont, where Berkshire East Canopy Tours offers zip line tours, including its new line that is 2300 feet long.

Before You Go For a complete listing of things to do as well as lodging ideas aside from Jiminy Peak, check out the Berkshires Visitors Bureau at berkshires.org or by calling 413-743-4500. For a list of Berkshire resources mentioned here and their links, visit baystateparent.com and click “Blog” (Search the Berkshires). Central MA freelance writer Sandy Meindersma has enjoyed concerts at Tanglewood for many years. She can’t wait to head back to the Berkshires with her husband and two children to check out the activities as a family.

train rides

in The Berkshires In Western Mass.

Lenox to Stockbridge, 90 minute, 20 mile, diesel hauled round trip in 1920s era coaches. Travel over former New York, New Haven and Hartford Berkshire Line, visit two restored railroad stations. The Museum includes rail, trolley and Berkshire Gilded Age exhibits. New this year, Lionel OScale train layout. Visit our Web site for train times. Historic narration offered by our uniformed train crews. Trains run on Weekends and Holidays only. The Polar Express® returns in November. See our web site for details on this and other special events: www.berkshirescenicrailroad.org

10 Willow Creek Rd. Lenox, MA (413) 637-2210

BAYSTATEPARENT 25

LET’SROLL

MORE THAN JUST WHALING

New Bedford BY

mary greendale, michelle carr photography

C

all Me Ishmael. You remember the book that opens with that line, don’t you? It’s from the classic story of Moby Dick, the harrowing and yet romantic voyage of man battling nature, in this case a whale. The book was penned by Herman Melville, presumably based on his own trip aboard a whaler bound for the Pacific Ocean from New Bedford MA, in 1841. Today in the well-preserved Historic District of the “Whaling City,” you will find many references to the man and the book. (Melville himself wrote a charming account of one of the neighborhoods that you can read at the Web site noted below).

I Really like New Bedford. The city gained its prominence as a leader in whaling during the 19th century and is today the nation’s number one fishing port. If your family enjoys history, period architecture, the ocean, oh, or whales, head to South Coast i.e. the seacoast that runs from Wareham (this side of the Cape Cod Canal) to Rhode Island. You’ll find the world’s biggest model ship in New Bedford, and you can even climb on it. The Historic District is on the side of a hill that stretches to the waterfront. I accessed it from Purchase Street. The narrow streets are cobbled; the period buildings are close together because people used every inch of real estate available here in the 1800s. The gas-styled street

City Celebrates! New Bedford is happening Thursday evenings this summer!

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lighting has no overhead wires to interfere with views of the harbor. Visitors are thrust back into the days when whaling created prosperity for some and extraordinary risks for others, and I could almost feel those days as I stood alone in this well-preserved neighborhood on a quiet weekday. In the midst of the neighborhood, on Johnny Cake Hill, stands the Whaling Museum, which is where the ship model is housed. All around are shops that offer antiques, nautical gear and decorative items, clothing and some of the usual souvenir opportunities. And of course, food. I stopped at the Celtic Coffee House located on North Water Street in a great Greek Revival building and found Portuguese Kale Soup, a personal favorite. Rising from the harbor, the styles of homes

become more lavish the higher up you go. Some of them are staggering in their size and beautiful detailing. At the bottom of the hill, it is different. This was the working area, the places where the crews of whalers crammed into apartments between voyages. The building designs transported me; I was uninterrupted by other people and could allow my imagination to flow. Scott Street runs along the bottom of the hill. It has a few painted brick and stucco buildings housing small pubs that looked like Charles Dickens’ England, and I could almost hope to see a whaleman stumble out. Unfortunately, modern civilization has separated the street and the Historic District from the harbor by Route 18. But it’s worth crossing Rt. 18 (at the safely lighted intersection)

LET’SROLL LET’S ROLL

to access the working state fish pier, the Waterfront Visitors’ Center, Harbor Tours and a ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. There are many other treasures inside the Historic and Waterfront Districts that you can read about on the Tourism website. The sights are densely-packed. If you head out of the District and go Downtown (which is really Up-town since it is up the hill), you’ll find many more restaurants, official government buildings, a fire museum, art museum, stores and the Zeiterion Theater, which is fully restored from the Vaudeville Era and is home to the New Bedford Symphony and many other performances from around the world. zeiterion.org (Weird Al Yankovic was scheduled in June so you know the offerings are eclectic.) At the west side of the city is Buttonwood

Park Zoo where the city has created a “Berkshires to the Sea” park that provides a natural history of the wildlife and habitat of Massachusetts, including brown bears, bald eagles and harbor seals. There are also creatures not from here, like Bison and Asian elephants, and they have a farm area with an array of Old MacDonald’s animals. They created an American Livestock Breeds Conservancy in 1977 to preserve the older, less specialized breeds of animals to make sure that they do not become extinct. bpzoo.org This city is the site of the world’s largest celebration of the Portuguese, the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, July 29-August 1 (portuguesefeast.com). If you have never been to an ethnic event like this, you are missing a slice of culture (and slices of

desserts!) that are really delightful. The music, the food, the party atmosphere, the spirit and pride for their native land all blend to provide charming fun for a family. I have enjoyed many such events in my life. New Bedford’s offers a one-of-a-kind celebration in a city that offers much to see and savor. Depending on your travel route into the city, you will perhaps pass through the area that is more impoverished. Like all urban areas (population of the city is 100,000), this one has its social challenges, but their worst are a far cry better than many of the cities I have visited. Even along the streets with less affluent homes, you find charming architecture typical of the 20th century, and some have been well-maintained. New Bedford is a real working city. It offers diverse cultures, fabulous history,

arts and entertainment and sights, and it is all arranged in a comfortably-sized city that feels safe and pleasant. South Coast is a delightful region that is less traveled, but offers seashore, the beautiful Horseneck Beach in Dartmouth, an active farming community, cranberry bogs, history and architecture that span the many eras from the Pilgrims to today, ethnic foods, museums and sights all along the way. It’s a good daytrip or weekend with something for every age group. Mary Greendale is a Holliston-based freelance writer. Start your quest for information about activities and sights at the tourism page at newbedford-ma.gov/Tourism/Welcomes/ Welcome.htm.

BAYSTATEPARENT 27

8 LET’SROLL

Compliments of the following eight advertisers

GREAT

The Bolton Fair

The Fairgrounds at Lancaster 318 Seven Bridge Road, Route 117, Lancaster, MA 01523 www.boltonfair.org 978-365-7206 $10 Adults, $5 Children 7-12

SUMMER OUTINGS

Aug. 12 – 15 (Aug. 11: preview night for midway) An old-fashioned agricultural fair! Kid’s Country has children’s entertainers and old- fashioned games. Vendors include craft, commercial and farmer’s markets. Educational exhibits including chick hatchery, blacksmithing, sheep herding and shearing. Entertainment includes lumberjack & magic shows, racing pigs and midway rides. Pavilion stage with live bands, singers and dancers.

3 reasons this is a perfect family day trip: 1. A wide variety of animal exhibits for animal lovers (everything from sheep and goats to raptors, marsupials and bearded dragons!) 2. A memorymaker the kids will look forward to year after year 3. Wholesome entertainment for

Wenham Museum

132 Main Street, Wenham, MA 01984 www.wenhammuseum.org 978-468-2377 $7 Adults, $5 Children ages 1+ The Wenham Museum is a family-friendly museum celebrating childhood and New England family life from the 17th century to today. Enjoy 10 model train layouts, a world-renowned doll collection, vintage dollhouses, an interactive family gallery, costumes and textiles, antique toys, historic photographs, a circa 1690 historic home, seasonal interactive exhibitions and programming.

3 reasons this is a perfect family day trip: 1. All the fun of a big museum with the charm and safety of a small museum located in a quintessential North Shore town. 2. Unique, affordable destination where visitors can experience hands-on exhibits exploring New England family life 3. The perfect museum to introduce young families to museum concepts in a fun and interactive setting

Boarding House Park

40 French Street, Lowell, MA 01852 www.lowellsummermusic.org/kids 978-970-5200 Free

Famous since 1939 for their legendary ice cream, Kimball Farm offers 36 holes of adventure style mini-golf, a bumper boat pond, farm animals and live animal shows. Kimball Farm also features a driving range, Grand Slam Batting Cages and Olde Sawmill Arcade.

3 reasons this is a perfect family day trip:

3 reasons this is a perfect family day trip:

1. Come at 10 a.m. for free snacks and art projects. 2. Watch a great free show at 11 a.m. 3. By noon you can take a free trolley ride around historic downtown Lowell!

1. Huge and memorable ice cream servings! 2. Dinner offerings available 3. Offers a Give Me Five $30 pass to choose five different activities (including ice cream, sundae or frappe)

BLUEBERRIES Check website or call for more info!

BLUEBERRIES ~ PEACHES ~ APPLES ~ RASPBERRIES (in their season)

FARM KITCHEN serving Sandwiches, Ice Cream, Strawberry Slush, Smoothies and more.

www.kimballfarm.com 978-486-3891

Nature’s Classroom Presents

Summer Camp Experiences with Life Tech Venture’s • Nature • Sports • Robots • Fine Arts • Adventure and more! Convieniently Located in Central MA Offering Day and Residential Camps Single or Multiple Week Sessions

Don’t let your child get “left inside” Dr. John G. Santos, Executive Director

234 Ball Street, Northboro

508-393-6406 • www.tougasfarm.com 28 JULY2010

400 Littleton Road, Westford, MA 01886 (Other locations in Carlisle, Lancaster, Jaffrey)

Yo-Yo People (July 14) are one just one of the performances being held every Wednesday and Thursday morning this summer. They are Guinness World Record holders and have been on TV showing off their World Champion yo-yo skills. Kids can enjoy art projects and natural snacks from Apple & Eve, CliffKids and Stretch Island Fruit Company before each show and then ride the trolley afterward – all for free!

Pick Your Own

Barnyard Animals ~ Playground

Kimball Farm

For Complete Informational Package

800-433-8375 www.naturesclassroom.org

DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

LET’SROLL

51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 www.decordova.org 781-259-8355 $12 adults; $8 seniors, students, and youth; free children under 5

FREE FUN FOR KIDS! DeCordova’s 35-acre campus offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience contemporary art in the Museum galleries and outdoors in the park.

3 reasons this is a perfect family day trip:

Springs Brook Park/ Swim Area Operated by the Town of Bedford Recreation Department 181 Springs Road, Bedford off Rte 4 in the center www.bedfordrecreation.org Daily $7 per person weekdays and $9 per person weekends (ages 1 and up) or purchase a summer membership ($85-$305). Weekdays: $25 max family rate. Enjoy the spray park, playground, small water slide, swim dock, lap lanes, bathhouse, concession, picnic area with grills, basketball and volleyball courts. Spring Brooks also offers Red Cross swim lessons. Smoke-free facility.

3 reasons this is a perfect family day trip: 1. Man-made swim area surrounded by sandy beaches set in a beautiful wooded setting. 2. The water is filtered, chlorinated and tested weekly by the Board of Health and Red Cross certified lifeguards are always on duty. 3. Entertainment throughout the summer, too

1. Offers many ways to interact with art for all ages inside and outside the museum 2. Provides an extensive variety of family programs, all free with admission 3. Families can enjoy a day together with the art, a picnic on the lawn, or play time with a Frisbee and the dog!

Free Friday Nights in July at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum! On July 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30 the campus will be open extended hours, 5-9pm. Free admission will include: • Admission to the Museum and Park • Live musical performances • Art making activities

Bring a picnic or rent a basket and blanket and purchase an à la carte menu from the Café @ deCordova. For more information, visit www.decordova.org or call 781.259.8355.

10AM Arts/Snacks 11AM Stage Show 12PM Trolley Rides

7/7 Debbie & Friends 7/8 Curious Creatures 7/14 The Yo-Yo People 7/15 Angkor Dance Troupe 7/28 Wayne Martin Puppets 7/29 The Jim Show 8/4 Ben Rudnick 8/5 Bari Koral 8/11 The Nields 8/12 Bonaparte LOWELLSUMMERMUSIC.ORG/kids

SPRINGS BROOK PARK SWIM AREA Sandy Beaches, Spray Park, Waterslide, Swim Dock, Bathhouse, Concession, Picnic Grove with Grills, Playground, Volleyball, Basketball. Red Cross Swim Lessons Available

Located at 181 Springs Road in Bedford, MA Hours: June 10 - Aug 15,10 - 7:30 • Aug 16 - Aug 29, 11 - 7 Fees: Weekdays $7 person / Weekends $9 per person Summer Memberships available from $85 - $305 Image: Jim Dine, Two Big Black Hearts, 1985, bronze, 12’ x 12’ x 33’, Lent by Hamilton Arts, Inc.

Call 781-275-1392 or for full information visit www.bedfordrecreation.org BAYSTATEPARENT 29

LET’SROLL

Southwick’s Zoo 2 Southwick Street, Mendon, MA www.southwickszoo.com 1-800-258-9182

$12.75 child/senior (62+), $18.75 adult, $24 Combo (Admission & mechanical rides) Situated in the tranquil countryside on over 200 acres, Southwick’s Zoo is home to hundreds of animals, like chimpanzees, lions, tigers, giraffes, mandrill monkeys and white rhino. Venues: Earth Discovery Center, Elephant Facts/Fiction, animal rides, Bird Talk, kiddie rides, petting zoo, Woodland Express, Skyfari Sky Ride, Deer Forest, picnic grounds, playpark, food venues, Purple Peacock Gift Shop.

3 reasons this is a perfect family day trip: 1. Even offers kiddie rides and a petting zoo! 2. Just a short drive off of Route 495 or Route 146 3. Open every day including holidays

Wednesday August 11 Preview night for midway Thursday August 12th thru Sunday August 15th • New Expanded Midway • Food • Entertainment • Exhibit Hall • Animal Shows & Contests • Commercial & Craft Vendors • Kids Country Entertainment & Games.

Free Parking No Pets Please 30 JULY2010

See Website for schedule of events, entertainment, prices & hours www.boltonfair.org The Fairgrounds at Lancaster, Rt. 117, Exit 27 off Rt. 495

LET’SROLL

An Urban Gem BY

Tougas Family Farm

234 Ball St., Northboro, MA www.tougasfarm.com 508-393-6406 Spend a day enjoying the fruits of the New England summer as blueberrypicking season begins at Tougas in July. The picking is easy here- Tougas has an extensive blueberry patch with low bushes – perfect for little farm “hands.” Afterwards, the kids can visit the barn area and feed the animals, or play in the playground.

3 reasons this is a perfect family day trip: 1. During August, the blueberry, peach and raspberry season typically overlap, so in one visit, you can pick all three fruits. 2. Bring your own lunch to enjoy in the picnic area or buy lunch (delicious homemade sandwiches, freshly baked fruit pies, crips, donuts and ice cream from the kitchen) 3. Very convenient and clean bathroom facilities are located near the playground

paula gallagher

Quick. Think like a kid and hop on a bike for a ride on The Minuteman Bikeway. This urban gem offers users of all ages a wonderful opportunity for recreation, enjoying nature and exploring the amenities of several historic Massachusetts communities. The Bikeway, a ten-mile stretch of family fun located just five miles outside of Boston, is for the training wheel set to teens and beyond. The trail located between Cambridge and Bedford Massachusetts is 12-feet wide, paved and quite flat, making it accessible to all. The Bikeway utilizes an abandon section of the Boston & Maine’s, Lexington to West Cambridge rail bed. Local community activists initially developed the trail in 1993 as an eco-friendly alternative means of commuting. The eastern end of The Bikeway is at the Red Line’s Alewife Brook T-station, and the western terminus is located at The Bedford Depot, just a short distance off Rte 4 (Great Road), on Loomis Street in Bedford. Riders can get off and on The Bikeway at many locations along the route in Cambridge, Arlington, Lexington and Bedford.

Bike Breaks Along the Way Arlington’s Spy Pond comes into view at about a mile and a half into the trip from Cambridge. On sunny summer days, canoes, kayaks and small sailboats are out on the 100-acre pond. If you are biking with young children, a ride from Arlington Center to Alewife Brook and back is approximately four miles and the pond is a great place to stop for a picnic and to play on the playground. The Bikeway has a small break as you enter Arlington Center, at Swan Place. It is here that you must cross Mass. Ave. in order to continue on the Bikeway. The crosswalks and lights make it safe and easy to dismount your bike and cross the busy intersection. In Arlington Center, across from the

Bikeway is a free museum dedicated to Cyrus Dallin, the 19th century sculptor who created the bronze statue of Paul Revere during his famous ride. The ride from Arlington Center to Lexington Center is approximately four miles. All along The Bikeway, there are brooks, meadows, wildflowers and woodlands to enjoy. At Arlington’s Great Meadow, Tophet Swamp and Parker Meadow, you can see beaver, ducks, geese and other

wildlife, as well as enjoy hiking trails and additional unpaved bike paths. The Battle Green and Minuteman Statue, located at Lexington Center, commemorates the location where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired. Other Revolutionary War era sites are just a few moments walk from the Bikeway, and includes The Old Burial Grounds with Revolutionary War headstones. The visitor’s center, located on Mass. Ave can provide additional information and is just a few steps off The Bikeway. Traveling west, it is approximately four miles from Lexington Center to The Bedford Depot. There are several lovely meadows and a few benches and stonewalls along this end of the trail where you can stop and enjoy the quiet. Crossing over busy Route 128 signals you are nearing the end of the Minuteman Bikeway in Bedford. At the little yellow and red freight house, known as Bedford Depot, you can

explore a restored train car, or purchase refreshments and train memorabilia. The Minuteman Bikeway ends at Bedford, but there are additional unpaved trails to Concord and Billerica, which are in the immediate area of The Depot. As in Arlington and Lexington, there are crosswalks and lights along The Bikeway for safe crossing of busy intersections. Bike racks are located at both Arlington and Lexington Centers where you may wish to lock up your bike and explore some of the historic sites. There are also many shops and restaurants along The Bikeway. Several bike shops are also located on the route, for a quick bike check or any needed repairs. Public toilets are available at the Alewife T station, the visitor’s center in Lexington Center, The Bedford Depot and at many restaurants just off the Bikeway. There is free parking in Bedford at the lot next to The Bedford Depot and metered parking lots in both Lexington and Arlington Centers. The lots are free on weekends. Limited parking is found on some side streets off Mass. Ave. but most parking on the avenue is limited to two hours. If you are riding east and taking the T at Alewife Station into Boston, you can lock up your bike in the bike cage located at the station. The locked cage and has twentyfour hour video monitoring and is free of charge after obtaining an access card from the MBTA ticket office. Riders may bring their bikes on the subway between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., or after 7:30 p.m.. For additional Bikeway information and links to other Massachusetts bike trails, you may access the Minuteman Bikeway at Minutemanbikeway.org. Also visit railtotrails.org . Paula Gallagher grew up in Arlington. Today, Paula, her husband Michael and their two daughters often enjoy the Minuteman Bikeway and the Nashua River Trail.

Come Soon. Come Often! www.rwpzoo.org

NEW THIS SUMMER - TAKE A “JOURNEY THROUGH THE WILD!” Fun, free programming like puppet shows, story times & more - every day! (Free with Zoo admission; see website for complete schedule.) BAYSTATEPARENT 31

Compliments of bugaboodaytrips.com

pressions with a round of “ribbits” while parents enjoy the beauty of the common. After hopping around the playground, kids can cool off at the neighboring Frog Pond. Boston Common, 1 Tremont at Beacon Street.

4. SPECIAL SANDWICHES. Take a lunch break at nearby Parish Café. One of Boston’s quirkiest and tastiest sandwich shops, their eclectic sandwiches are all created by local chefs. The bestnamed sandwich is Elephant Walking on Eggs, a creation of Gerard Lopez, owner of The Elephant Walk restaurant. A kid’s favorite is a gourmet fried egg sandwich called the Egg Sandwich Lyonnaise. Make lunch extra special and venture around the corner for an impromptu picnic in the scenic Public Gardens. While waiting for the sandwiches, parents can sample something from the extenseive beer list. Try a pint of Magic Hat Humble Patience. Who doesn’t need a little patience on a daytrip? The Parish Café, 361 Boylston Street.

LET’SROLL

BOSTON BY STROLLER 5 PLACES TO WALK WITH BABY

5. A CULTURAL FINISH. 1. PANCAKE POWER.

2. SHOPS & CRAFTS.

There’s loads of fun to be had in America’s Mother city where historical architecture houses modern indulgences. Power up on pancakes at The Paramount, a Beacon Hill neighborhood staple. Known for thick, fluffy pancakes, there’s also an ample selection of eggs and burgers for those craving a little protein. Food is made to order cafeteria-style, so kids can watch their breakfast being prepared right in front of their eyes. There are no chocolate chip pancakes on the menu, but bring some chips and the chef will throw them in for you. Children are sure to support the effort. The Paramount, 44 Charles Street.

Shop off your breakfast on Charles Street. This narrow street has been described as the closest you’ll get to jumping headfirst into a Charles Dickens novel, and it is home to Boston’s most charming andsophisticated boutiques featuring everything from funky one-of-a-kind jewelry to cool vintage toys. Spark your child’s creativity at the Rugg Road Paper Company. This tiny stationery shop stocks over 500 kinds of paper, as well as stylish wrapping paper and cards. In the back of the store sits a seven-foot guillotine paper cutter. Bug-themed rubber stamps, colorful ribbons, and paper punches are simple ways to inspire your child’s imagination. Come back for the monthly Craft and Activity

32 JULY2010

Night where kids learn crafty tasks, like how to make accordion books or emboss letterhead. Rugg Road Paper Company, 105 Charles Street.

3. FROG FUN. Charles Street conveniently borders the oldest public park in the country, the framed Boston Common, home to the Tadpole Playground. Several animated bronze frog statues inhabit the playground, including one fellow on the entrance gate dangling a webbed foot. Children can double their fun on the twin slides, play a game of leapfrog, and practice frog im-

End the day with some culture at the Isabella Stweart Gardner Museum. Designed to resemble a 15th-century Venetian palace, the museum houses an art collection comprised of over 2,500 objects ranging over several periods from ancient Rome to 19th-century America. The colorful center courtyard features a Medusa mosaic visible from every room upstairs. Kids can go room to room trying to spot Medusa while parents admire the artwork. The museum has an excellent guidebook that point out other unique features for kids to discover like the fact that no two columns are alike. It also supplies activity pages encouraging kids to draw what they see. The guidebooks are free as is admission for kids and anyone named Isabella. It’s not to late for a name change. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 280 The Fenway.

LET’SROLL

Breezy Picnic Grounds Waterslides All Day Family Fun‌nearby! • (3) 300’ Waterslides • Certified Lifeguards • 500’ Beach • Concession Stand • Clean Restrooms & Changing Facilities • Free parking

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ENTER TO WIN A

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Win a Fashion Sketch

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COURTESY OF baystateparent AND VERY WENDY DESIGNS As a busy, modern mom, sometimes it’s hard to feel fashionable. To help you become your most glamorous self, baystateparent has partnered with nationally recognized fashion illustrator and event artist, Wendy DeFeudis of VeryWendy Designs. Wendy will create a fashion illustration makeover just for you! To be considered for baystateparent’s exclusive fashion makeover, please fill out our entry form at baystateparent.com by July 31st. Be prepared to attach a photo! to attach a photo!

For more information visit verywendy.com.

baystateparent proudly announces our first-ever

ART CONTEST:

Massachusetts Masterpieces Children of all ages, as you enjoy the great state of Massachusetts this summer with your families, send us your artistic creations based on your outings. We want to see family fun in the Bay State through your eyes! Winners will be featured in baystateparent’s September Arts issue! Deadline to enter: Saturday, July 31st Open to children in Kindergarten through Grade 12

34 JULY2010

For contest details, visit baystateparent.com and click “Art Contest” on our homepage.

BAYSTATEPARENT 35

WHO’S COACHING OUR

KIDS

y e l l a M l Michae Joe Schwartz Little League and Holy Name Varsity Football coach and Regional General Adjuster for Property, the Hanover Insurance Company Age: 44, Hometown: Worcester, Family: wife Mary, son Shamus (15), daughter Timary (12) Coaching experience: 1989 to present, Holy Name High School Varsity Football, 2000 to present, Joe Schwartz Little League coach and board member, Worcester Vikings Football Coach 1983-1987 and 2005-2009, Greendale Youth Flag Football 2002-2005. neighborhood when she was young and never wanted to be left out of any games her brother was playing. She would always tag along. When she was 4, she would stand in full uniform in the outfield of her older brother’s instructional games and bat once at the end of the game. She is currently the only girl playing little league baseball at Joe Schwartz. She does not seem to mind being the only girl on the team, and the boys don’t mind either.

steven king

Do you have any game-day rituals? Youth sports: no game-day rituals; High school: yes, but it will remain a secret.

Coach Malley with his daughter, Timary, the only girl playing on his little league team.

C

oaching Philosophy: Youth sports: provide an atmosphere where the kids can learn the game, have fun and a positive experience. High school varsity sports: the little things matter, being disciplined on and off the field and understanding commitment. Biggest pet peeve as a coach: Wasted talent and lack of effort on any level 36 JULY2010

drives me crazy and not paying attention to a coach while he/she speaks. Best way to motivate kids: Be positive and prepared to coach at a practice. If you’re up-tempo and motivated, it will transfer down to your players. Tell us about your daughter being the only girl on her little league team: She was only one of two girls in the

Highlight of coaching career? I have several. First, in 2001 coaching Holy Name to its first ever Division 1 Super Bowl with a group of players who went 0-11 the year prior, and in 2009 winning our first Division 1 Super Bowl with a group of players who were very young and played above expectations. Both teams showed what hard work and dedication can achieve. Also my son Shamus’ first homerun at 10 years old; Cooperstown 2009, a week of baseball coaching a group of local players; my daughter scoring the winning goal for her travel pee wee hockey team in overtime to win the district championship this year. What do you want to accomplish with the kids you coach? To see them succeed on and off the field, stay healthy and graduate college What do you do when you are not coaching? Relax, play cards with friends,

golf and get ready for the next season Many of our readers have young children just starting their careers in sports. What advice can you give them about the years ahead? In youth sports, let your children enjoy what they are doing. No one I have ever heard of was picked to go to the NFL, NBA, NHL or MLB in minor league/little league baseball or youth sports. The more they enjoy, the more they are going to want to play. Be positive with them, not critical. Kids excel at their own pace; all kids are different. Eventually if it is meant to be, they develop into athletes but no matter what, you want their youth sports career to be a positive experience and good memory. Anything else you’d like parents to know about coaching (especially high school kids) today? A lot has changed in the last twenty years. Kids have more opportunities and distractions off of the playing field: work, cars, other teams, travel, girlfriends, etc. They have to stay focused. In high school, you are getting prepared to hopefully go to college and then into the working world. Kids should still play as many sports as they can handle while maintaining good grades. Keeping open communications is a good thing; all of my players get my phone number(s) to call with any problems, questions, or just to say hi. If you know a coach baystateparent could profile, email editor@baystateparent.com

continued from page 20

Meet Ruff Ruffman from FETCH! The Children’s Museum in Easton, The Old Fire Station, 9 Sullivan Ave. 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Come meet Ruff, host of the PBS Kid’s show FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman. Participate in some challenges, make some crazy concoctions and eat lots and lots of cake! The Mix 104.1 Street Team will be here from Noon – 2 p.m. handing out ice cream. $6 PP. 508-230-3789, childrensmuseumineaston.org/SummerDropInDays.asp

park rides, play in the ball pit, and meet Casey the Frog. A $13, under 2, free. 508-866-8190, edaville.com Toddler & Preschooler Morning Movie. Gale Free Public Library, Holden. 10 - 10:45 a.m. Up to age 5. Gather your youngest library participants to wiggle along with The Wiggles: Here Comes the Big Red Car on the big screen. 508-829-0230 or stop by the Children’s Room to register.

FREE Bugs Evening Stories & Craft. Gale Free Public Library, Holden. 6 - 6:30 p.m. Ages 3 1/2 up with caregiver. In the spirit of celebrating the earth and all its inhabitants, enjoy stories about bugs and make a special craft to take home! Call 508-829-0230 or stop by the Children’s Room to register.

Delicious Desserts for Girls & Dolls. American Girl. Natick Collection. 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Learn to bake special girl- and doll-sized treats with the chefs at American Girl. $35 PP (gratuity not included). For girls 8 and up. 877247-5223, americangirl.com

FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 444 A Broadway, Saugus. 11 a.m. 781-231-4711, bn.com

World Peace and Prayer Day. Blue Star Equiculture Draft Horse Sanctuary and Organic Farm, Burgandy Brook Farm, 3090 Palmer St., Palmer. 2 p.m. Through July 21. Blue Star Equiculture invites you to participate in a weekend of music, history, horses and prayer for peace. A $10, C $5. Monday is free. 413-289-9787,worldpeaceandprayerday.org

23FRIDAY

No Time to Waste. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St. See July 12 listing for details.

20TUESDAY FETCH! Lab. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. Drop in 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Are you ready for a challenge? Design, build, and experiment when you do fun engineering and science activities. $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org Nature in the City (A Professional Development Workshop). COMPASS for kids, Cambridge Family YMCA 820 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 7 – 9 p.m. Discover how even the smallest, darkest outdoor or indoor space can have a piece of the natural world - for children of all ages! $25 PP. 781-862-4446, compassforkids.org Bitty Bear’s Story Time. American Girl. Natick Collection. 10:30 a.m. Preschoolers and their parents can hear a reading of Bitty Bear’s Story Time, then enjoy an art activity and tasty treats. $10 PP. For girls 3 and up. Reservations required. 877-247-5223, americangirl.com FREE An American Girl Debut. Natick Collection. See July 13 listing for details. Animal Trackers. Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St. 1 – 3 p.m. Kids compare animal tracks, make their own wild footprints and stamp a trail of tracks. Ages 3 – 11. $8.50 PP, under 1, free. 401-273-5437, childrenmuseum.org/calendar.asp Nature Adventures with Picture Books:Woodland Creatures. Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 9:30 – 11 a.m. Learn what animals live in the forest. Go for a hike to look for animal signs such as scat, nests, and tracks that may be found around the sanctuary. Open to families with children ages 3 – 6. Registration required. A $9,C $7. 978-8879264, massaudubon.org/ipswichriver

THURSDAY, JULY 22

Meet Ruff Ruffman from FETCH! at The Children’s Museum in Easton. They’ll be plenty of challenges, crazy concoction-making and lots and lots of cake! For more information, visit childrensmuseumineaston.org

Friday is Fun Day at The Discovery Museums. 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. Beginning at 10 a.m. - closing, 9 p.m. Kitchen Chemistry: Discover fun experiments using common ingredients found in your kitchen. The beloved dinosaur mascot, Bessie, will make a special appearance at the beginning of the program to introduce the tools of a chemist and model their proper use. Meet the TriHy: Drop-in 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Science Discovery. Be inspired to imagine ‘green’ cars that use alternative forms of energy and are fun! See the TriHy, a unique vehicle that gets 40 mpg on used cooking oil, biodiesel, vegetable oil, jet fuel or home heating oil. Summer Tree Walk at 6 p.m. at the Science Discovery. Make a mini collection of leaves, find ways to preserve them, and learn how to identify trees in your own backyard. Outdoor program, rain or shine. Note: The walk is not handicap accessible. Bring your blanket and picnic basket and stay for our ½ Price Friday Night Summer Evening! $10.50 - Half Price Friday Summer Nights begins at 4:30 admission $5.25 PP. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org Sugar Free Friday Nights. Boston Children’s Museum. See July 9 listing for details. FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 98 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington. 6:30 p.m. 781-273-3871, bn.com

21WEDNESDAY

stylists’ clips. $24 PP. For girls 8 and up. Reservations required. 877-247-5223, americangirl.com

22THURSDAY

FREE Admission Free Summer Evenings at the Museum Concord Museum. 5 - 8 p.m. Bring family, friends or out of town guests to linger in the Museum’s engaging history galleries and special exhibition, “into your hands…”, take in the quiet eloquence of the “Exploring Concord” film, and enjoy the historic beauty of period rooms filled with Concord antiques. Create your own memories with familyfriendly, hands-on activities. concordmuseum.org.

FETCH! Lab. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. Drop in 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., Science Discovery. Are you ready for a challenge? Design, build, and experiment when you do fun engineering and science activities inspired by FETCH!’s Ruff Ruffman! $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org

Stylists’ Secrets from the Doll Hair Salon. American Girl. Natick Collection. 11:30 a.m. Bring your doll and discover stylists’ secrets to pulling off a perfect ponytail wrap, double-flip twist, and other special tricks using

The Worminator. Boston Chidlren’s Museum. 11 a.m. – Noon. Explore the big bad world of worms. A $12, C (1-15) $9, under 1, free. 617-426-6500, bostonchildrensmuseum.org

Curious Creatures. The Children’s Museum in Easton, The Old Fire Station, 9 Sullivan Ave. 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Get up close (or as close as you dare!) to real live reptiles and exotic animals with programs from Curious Creatures at11 a.m. and 1 p.m.. Meet a baby alligator, a giant lizard, turtle, spider, snake and other creatures in this hour long hands-on program. $6 PP. 508-230-3789, childrensmuseumineaston.org. FUN Origami with Harou. Gale Free Public Library, Holden. Drop in between 2 – 4 p.m. . Ages 6 and up. Join popular local artist, Harou, to participate in unique origami projects to take home! 508-829-0230 or stop by the Children’s Room to register. Stars, Moon and Constellations. Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St. (Rt.16),

New Horizon Karate and More Adult Programs: Friendly • Safe • Professional • Convenient Schedule Come to ALL Karate • JuJitsu • Kickboxing Adult Programs Come to them all. Try everything. 3 month for You don’t have to choose.

$99.00 • Safer • Faster • Stronger • Self Improvement Start now, come all summer!

Have fun Meet People Self Improvement

Fitness Flexibility Burn Calories

Call (508) 852-3333 • www.horizonkarate.com Rt 12 across from Steve’s Pizza • West Boylston • Exit 4 off I-190 BAYSTATEPARENT 37

OH,THEPLACESYOU’LLGO Natick. 8:30 – 10:30 p.m. Fun under the stars! Summer skies can be great for star viewing. View the moon through a telescope and learn about our summer constellations. $15 PP. 508-655-2296, massaudubon.org/broadmoor FREE Story Time: Dogs! Barnes & Noble, 210 Andover St., Peabody. 7 p.m. 978-573-3261, bn.com FREE Thomas the Tank Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 444 A Broadway, Saugus. 6:30 p.m. Thomas the Tank Engine stories, crafts and activities. 781-231-4711, bn.com. Friday Kid Flicks. Worcester Public Library, Salem Square, Worcester. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Every Friday in July. 508 -799-1671 or email icotto@worcpublib.org

24SATURDAY

Boston. 11 a.m. ALL Olivia!! by Ian Falconer. 617-2476959, bn.com

27TUESDAY Meet Bessie! & FETCH! Lab. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. 10 a.m. - closing 4:30 p.m. Come meet Bessie, the mascot of The Discovery Museums at 10 and 11 a.m. at the Children’s Discovery. *Bessie is a costumed museum staff member. FETCH! LAB. Drop-in 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Science Discovery. Test and sharpen your skills as you design, build, and explore popular engineering and science activities inspired by FETCH!’s Ruff Ruffman. $10.50 admission to both museums. 978-264-4200, discoverymuseums.org

extravagant, elegant Fancy Nancy clothes and jewelry for a special luncheon on the lawn of Gale Free Library! Bring a blanket and an exquisite picnic lunch. If it rains, the event will be canceled and a new date announced. 508-829-0230 or stop by the Children’s Room to register. FREE FOR MOMS Keeping Skills Fresh Over Vacation. MetroWest Boston Mothers & More, Whitney Place Assisted Living, 3 Vision Dr., Natick. (Rte 9W). 7:30 p.m. A panel of teachers will provide their insights into just how much reading, writing, and other activities children need in order to keep skills fresh over the summer. metrowestmothersandmore.org FREE Story Time: Disney Stories. Barnes & Noble, 210 Andover St., Peabody. 11 a.m. 978-573-3261, bn.com

FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 800 Boylston St., Boston. 11 a.m. 617-247-6959, bn.com

FREE Friday Kid Flicks. Worcester Public Library, Salem Square, Worcester. 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Every Friday in July. 508 -799-1671 or email icotto@worcpublib.org

FREE Battle Flags. Submarine Force Museum, Groton, CT. Many subs, especially those that fought in World War II, created battle flags to celebrate their accomplishments. Make one of your own to take home! ussnautilus.org.

31SATURDAY

Ride with Pride ForgeWorks Farm Horse Show. 21 Campbell Court, Rutland. For details, visit forgeworks.net.

25SUNDAY Alcott Family Summer Picnic. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 1 – 3 p.m. Kids will be able to try their hand at making butter and ice cream – playing outdoor games and creating a picture journal to commemorate the day. A $12, C (5 – 13) $5, under 5, free. 78-456-3924 x291, fruitlands.org Kit’s Imagination Celebration. American Girl. Natick Collection. 4:30 p.m. A special event to learn about how clever Kit used her imagination to make things better during the Great Depression. $26 PP (gratuity not included). For girls 8 and up. Reservations required. 877-247-5223, americangirl.com Flippo the Clown at Davis’ Farmland, Sterling. See July 24 listing for details.

26MONDAY FREE Story Time. Barnes & Noble, 800 Boylston St., 38 JULY2010

Annual Art Encampment. Bumpkin Island, Boston. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.Come and experience art in nature as nearly 40 artists colonize Bumpkin to create amazing art installations with only the materials they carry on their backs. bostonharborislands.org. Also Sun., July 31.

FREE Halfway Day. Submarine Force Museum, Groton, CT. Mark the midpoint of summer the way submariners mark the midpoint of their time at sea-with special games and activities. ussnautilus.org.

FREE History of Fire Fighting in Hingham. Hingham Town Hall 210 Central St., Hingham. An open house at the Fire Museum in Bare Cove Park. 781-749-1312, hingham-ma.gov

Family Campout- Birds of Ipswich River. Mass Audubon Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 6 p.m. – 9 a.m. This wonderful overnight will focus on the birds of the sanctuary. After the tents are set, participate in games, practice owl calls and then hike the trails to test our calls and listen for other night sounds. A $22, C $18. 978-887-9264, massaudubon.org/ipswichriver

Movies on the Milk Bottle. Boston Children’s Museum. 8:15 p.m. Watch a program of short, kid-friendly films. A $12, C (1-15) $9, under 1, free. 617-426-6500, bostonchildrensmuseum.org

Sports, Health & Fitness. The Children’s Museum in Easton, The Old Fire Station, 9 Sullivan Ave.10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Take the Gentle Giant Challenge -climb the stairs on one side of the portable staircase and slide down the other. Meet KO the mascot of the Brockton Rox at 10:30 a.m.. Get some game tips when you meet a player from the Boston Breakers women’s soccer team from 1:30-3 p.m. $6 PP. 508-230-3789, childrensmuseumineaston.org.

Meet Scott Fischer. Eric Carle Picture Book Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m. Join musician, painter, and storyteller, Scott Fischer as he reads from his new book, Jump! Free with admission.. A $9, C (under 18) $6, Family Admission (2 adults and 2 youth) $22.50. picturebookart.org

Flippo the Clown at Davis’ Farmland. 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Also July 25. You’ve seen him on Nickelodeon and ABC Family, now come see Flippo the Clown live. If you like juggling, magic, balloon twisting and ukulele sing-a-longs, then you’ll love Flippo the Clown! Davis’ favorite clown performs feats of balance, juggles 6 balls at once, performs dazzling magic and makes awesome balloon creations. Ages (2 – 59) $18.95 PP. 978-422-MOOO, davisfarmland.com.

discoverymuseums.org FREE Community Day at MFA. 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10 a.m. - 9:45 p.m. Free admission all day includes guided tours, self-guided artmaking activities and entry to all exhibitions, including “Nicholas Nixon: Family Album,” “Under the Skin: Tattoos in Japanese Prints,” and “Visiting Masterpieces: Vincent van Gogh’s The Sower.” 617-267-9300, mfa.org

JULY 30 & 31st

The Red Sox Wives take over Fenway Park during the 17th Annual Can & Cash Drive. Donate 10 non-perishable food items (or a $10 donation) in exchange for an autographed photo of a Red Sox player, handed out by one of the Red Sox Wives. Since the Food Bank and the Wives will be stationed outside the gates, fans do not need a ticket to the game to participate. For more information, visit gbfb.org.

Family Dinner & Movie Night. Gale Free Public Library, Holden. 6 - 7:40 p.m. All ages. In preparation for the annual Fancy Nancy luncheon, bring a bag dinner to enjoy while watching The Princess and the Frog on the big screen! 508-829-0230 or stop by the Children’s Room to register. An American Girl Debut. Natick Collection. See July 13 listing for details. Yoga & Creative Movement PLAYshop. COMPASS for kids, Kindercare Learning Center, 520 Lowell St., Peabody. 7 – 9 p.m. Learn how to help children experience the joy of movement while expressing their creativity. Discover how to have fun together while increasing body awareness, coordination, self expression and cooperation. No yoga experience is necessary. A $25. 781-862-4446, compassforkids.org

28WEDNESDAY Summer Explorers. Boston Children’s Museum. 11 a.m. – Noon. Discover the nature of summer. A $12, C (1-15) $9, under 1, free. 617-426-6500, bostonchildrensmuseum.org Fancy Nancy Luncheon. Gale Free Public Library, Holden. 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. All ages. Wear your most

29THURSDAY Opening Day for the A-Maze-Ing Race Cornfield Maze. Davis’ MegaMaze, 145 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling. Open weather permitting; call 978-422-8888.Admission:

30FRIDAY davisfarmland.com. Fun Fridays including Half Price Friday Night Events. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Rte. 27, Acton. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. closing. Dr. Seuss Story Time. 10 a.m. & 6 p.m. Children’s Discovery. Dress in your favorite pajamas and come listen to a collection of popular stories by Dr. Seuss. Fetch! Lab Motion Picture, Drop-in 10 a.m. – Noon. Children’s Discovery. Create a thaumatrope (wonder turner) – an optical illusion toy that makes two pictures look like one. Also drop-in 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. at the Science Discovery to learn about persistence of vision when you make a thaumatrope or put Ruff Ruffman in motion with a flipbook! Remember you can bring your blanket and picnic basket for the ½ Price Friday Night Summer Program from 4:30 - 9 p.m.! $10.50, after 4:30 on Half Price Friday Nights, $5.25 PP. 978-264-4200,

FREE Blue Discoveries Family Day: Harbor Studies. New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Learn more about the blue planet through art, science and storytelling. Programs highlight Aquarium favorites as well as hidden treasures. All activities are included in Aquarium admission. Free with admission. A $21.95, C (3-11) $13.95. 617-973-5206, neaq.org. FREE Play Date: Inside the Creative Process. The Institute of Contemporary Art., Boston. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Bring the family to see a mural created by ICA teens, learn firsthand how murals are created, and try your hand at drawing with guest artist Raul Gonzalez. Step on the stage for workshops with Summer Stages Dance at Concord Academy and their guest choreographers. Family movement workshops will be followed by presentations of youth dance and a choreographer’s showcase. Museum admission is free for 2 adults per family with children 12 and under on the last Saturday of the month. icaboston.org. FREE Story Time: The Best New Picture Books. Barnes & Noble, 800 Boylston St., Boston. 11 a.m. 617247-6959, bn.com Pirates of the Cove. Battleship Cove, Five Water St., Fall River. 1 - 4 p.m. Hey Mates, Come dressed as your favorite pirate! You’re invited to a pirate’s adventure at the Fall River Carousel. AARGH! Seek buried treasure, face painting (or tattoos), crafts, unlimited Carousel rides, plus pirates’ grub & grog. A$10, C$15. Reservations required. 508-678-1100, battleshipcove.org

Submit an Event

For best results, fill out our form at baystateparent.com. Keep in mind, our deadline for August is Monday, July 5 at 6 p.m.

E-mail Leslie Castillo at calendar@baystateparent.com

It’s FREE.

You Scream We Scream

A Chocolate Dream

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Ice Cream, Slush, Candies, Fine chocolates, Gifts, Party favors, Fudge, Candy & Dessert Tables.

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Holy Cow Ice Cream Shop

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West End Creamery and Family Farm

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BAYSTATEPARENT 39

THE HOW AND WHY

Christma BY

carrie wattu selina woggermon illustrator

A Party Theme: Popular for Family Reunions and Campgrounds Family reunion organizers famously go all-out with theme. Central to their celebration is the T-shirt. How about “Christmas in July 2010: The Smith Family Renuion” and have slide shows showcasing each family’s holiday photos? A fun twist could be throwing a “Mele Kalikimaka” party, Merry Christmas in Hawaiian, where you combine a luau with the holiday theme. (For more ideas on how to bring this theme together, see baystateparent’s sidebar.)

Just a Marketing Gimmick baystateparent reader, Renee Earnest of Millbury, always thought that Christmas in July was, “a crazy-themed sale for stores who needed a rush in the dead of summer.” She’s right. In the United States and Canada, there are no national holidays between the first week of July (Canada Day on July 1 in Canada and the Fourth of July in the United States) and Labor Day/ Labour day, leaving two months holidayfree. Stores need something to fill in the gap to boost sales. The upside is...maybe you’ll be able to get a really good deal.

A Time to Leisurely Shop

i

really don’t want to think about Christmas in July. The only thing I want to be hunting down this month is the perfect spot to park my butt on a beach chair, not the ideal Christmas gift for my loved ones. Like many of you, I give so much of myself to the power holiday in December (and even earlier as baystateparent thinks “holiday” months in advance). Plus, I know the back-to-school buzz will intrude on my August. Can I please just have July to myself? One of my pet peeves is when the kids pop in a holiday-themed DVD during the summer. It just feels wrong to mess with the annual holiday magic when the kids start watching Rudolph and Frosty in their bathing suits. I try to put away all the holiday-themed DVDs and books so that every December, there is an excitement 40 JULY2010

about unpacking and enjoying them again. Regardless, Christmas in July themes are popular this month. Whether it’s a time for you to draw upon your inner Santa, reminding children to behave because Santa really is watching all year round, or it’s motivation for you to get some shopping done at promotional sales, here’s what baystateparent learned about Christmas in July. Choose your favorite definition.

Christmas in July is a Big Deal...in Australia! baystateparent reader Tabitha Brand of Shirley says that celebrating Christmas in July in Australia (where she is originally from) is geared towards a generation of older Australians or “Ex Pats” (the English who miss their English Christmases). Since Australia is bit cooler in July than

in December, people can actually enjoy a turkey dinner. “You could not sit down to a hot cooked lunch in December as it is too hot, so Christmas in July is just about coming together and having a hot meal.” As we all know New England weather is unpredictable and it can be cold in July, anyone up for grilled turkey?

A Time to Celebrate with Those you Missed Christmas is sometimes celebrated in July by families and friends who may have missed out on the holidays due to distance, illness, schedules, military service, inclement weather and many other reasons. If you know you won’t be able to celebrate with extended family this coming December, you could consider surprising everyone, summer-style.

Christmas in July can also be a time to do some bargain shopping early for the holidays, says Mercedes Budzinski of Worcester. Chances are you have some vacation time this month to browse and find some deals. Since many people will be traveling this month and visiting unique shops and outlets, it’s a great way to spend some money without feeling guilty (they are gifts after all) as well as find some cool presents that you will be excited to share.

Catching up with Friends baystateparent reader, Christine Sweeney of feels that Christmas in July is simply a time to celebrate the holiday with friends that you don’t get time to see during the month of December, adding that it’s “much more relaxed in summer!” And dig out the recipes you only enjoy once a year!

Family Fun without the Commercialization Rebecca Bell of Berlin likes that families can throw a fun holiday-themed celebration

WHY OF

mas in July or without all of the commercialism of December. Families can incorporate the spirit of giving and all of Christmas’ other virtues without the distractions.

Financial Kick-Off Christmas in July is also a kick-off to saving money for the real holiday...just five months to go. By planning ahead, you avoid the temptation to overspend. Sarah Clark of Franklin says July is a time to “start to think about shopping for Christmas so that you are not too overburdened with bills at Christmastime.”

as we do at Christmastime.” Some think of it as a time to treat their families since it’s been several months since indulging at Christmas and paying off the bills. In this spirit, Rosemary Nelson’s family of Millbury likes to do some fun shopping and take a little vacation. So whether you are onboard the Santa sleigh this month or not, Sutton mom, Denise Rogan, reminds us about simplicity, adding that Christmas in July is just “a little bit of unexpected excitement.” Carrie Wattu is editor of baystatparent. Her “Christmas in July” is seeing all of the friends and family she missed during the busy school year.

Charity Reminder Food kitchens are always trying to educate us that families are hungry all year round and not just at Thanksgiving and Christmas, when donations are the most abundant. July is a good time to remember the Food Bank in your area and organize a family or neighborhood food drive. Have everyone bring a canned good to your upcoming cook-out, or the next time your kids want to have a lemonade stand, talk about which charity your family can choose to donate the profits.

A Bit of Unexpected Excitement Just for fun: How about when the kids wake up on Sunday, July 25 this month, surprise them with some decorations, holiday songs and a themed breakfast? “It’s just another way to show that Christmas can be any time of the year!” says Almerinda Andrade of Marlborough. July used to be a time when Denise Mejia of Central Mass started her Christmas shopping. “Now I am lucky if I start in November!” Christmas in July, she thinks, “is really about having as much fun in July

Christmas in July Party Ideas Shannon Haraldsen of Framingham, says “Celebrating the Christmas holiday in

July is a way to ‘summerize’ the holiday. Instead of stockings, use pails by the fireplace. Instead of a Christmas tree, maybe decorate a berry bush. Make sugar cookies in summer-themed shapes.” Other ideas baystateparent gathered include: • A visit from Santa • Cookie exchange • Red and green popsicles • Ice cream snow balls: soften vanilla ice cream, mold into balls and refreeze. Serve snowballs on a plate of chocolate sauce with a mound of whipped cream and a candy cane • Mint chocolate chip or peppermint ice cream pie • Snowcones! • Red and green decorations (easy to find any time of year) • Tree decorating in your yard • Christmas lights (let the untangling begin!)

• Red and green food: strawberry and spinach salad; tomato and basil appetizers; guacomole; pasta salad with red and green peppers; pizza topped with broccoli... •Marshmallows: Have the kids make igloos or marshmallow towers. Bust out the mini-marshmallow guns. Roast giant marshmallows on “snowman arms” (sticks). • Christmas songs • Snowball fight (white water balloons) • Summer snowman contest (Make up a bags filled with mittens, pipe, carrot nose w/elastic band, scarf, top hat and white hula skirt. The first team to dress one member as a snowman wins!) • Mitten unwrap (kids have to try to unwrap an item while wearing mittens) • Red and green leis • Tiki torches with red bows • Beach Boys Christmas CD • Christmas ornaments for guests

MELVIN A. EHRLICH, D.D.S., P.C. “DR. MEL”

Pediatric Dentistry Orthodontics

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The Ellie Fund

Princess Party When:

Friday, August 13, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Where: Boston Sports Club, Wellesley, MA

You’re invited!

Hostess: Bianca de la Garza, WCVB-TV5 What:

Parents and daughters ages 4-8 are invited to wear their favorite party dresses and enjoy singing, dancing, and photos with the princesses, plus fun snacks, mini-manicures and gift bags…with all proceeds benefiting moms and families fighting breast cancer.

Why:

To raise money for The Ellie Fund which provides transportation to medical appointments, childcare, housekeeping and meals free of charge to hundreds of women and families each year who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer in Massachusetts.

Est 1974

Making Musi Last a LIFETIME! A unique music experience for 4 ½ to 8 year old children and their parents. Our fast paced and child centered curriculum includes; theory, sight reading, composition, ensemble playing, ear training, singing, piano, recorder and guitar.

Worcester

Westborough

Register now. Space is limited.

508-898-3888

Tickets: Visit Elliefund.org. $25 Donation per Adult with Child. ($10 for each additional. Free for Breast Cancer Patients and their daughters.)

100% Donated to The Ellie Fund

baystateparent

Boston Princess Parties

childrensmusicacademy.org

Is your child going to be ready for Kindergarten?

s JCC Presch h g u o r oo Bo l Summer Fun Days 2010

Licensed for Children 15 months to 5 years Customize the schedule to match your needs Toddler and Preschool - 2, 3, 4 and 5 day options 9AM to 12noon Extended PreK available 9AM to 1:30PM Early drop-off option starting at 8AM; Lunch option to 1:30PM Extended day programs to 2:15PM, 3:15PM, or 4:00PM All curriculum based and focused on children’s development

45 Oak Street, Westboro, MA www.boroughsjcc.org Contact Lisa Linehan

508-366-6121 x23 Formally the Westboro Area JCC 42 JULY2010

hannah gregus illustrator

rarely took them to the beach during peak solar hours. We waited until late afternoon when the sun was starting to dip and the sun worshippers were packing up, and then we descended. This was our time. I taught my daughter and son how to bodysurf like their grandfather, we threw footballs and Frisbees, and when the lifeguards went home we sat in their chairs like big shots. One of my favorite days occurred on Narragansett Beach a few years ago. It was deep into afternoon, as usual, and pouring rain. No matter. My son and I brought a couple of boogie boards with us into the pounding waves, where we were virtually alone except for a few hardcore surfers. My wife watched from the car, questioning our sanity. At times the rain fell with such force that it felt like a thousand needles poking at your skin. We held the boards over our heads and the sound of the drops rat-atat-tatting onto the polystyrene sounded like we were being strafed with gunfire from a passing fighter plane. Then … the rain lightened, the sun peaked through the dark clouds, and a double rainbow appeared over the bay. When we raced back to the car, we found my wife had bought clam chowder at a nearby stand, and there we sat, towels draped around our shoulders, slurping the hot broth beneath that twin rainbow. Wet. Chilled. Happy. Perfect.

Y M R E D UN ROOF A Son of the Beach BY

Beach Days of Old and Now BY

jim keogh

Any time a hurricane hits and houses along the shore are swept into the sea, folks inevitably ask the question, “Why would anyone build so close to the ocean?” Um, because it’s AWESOME. I’m serious. If I could live anywhere, it would be within spitting distance of the beach. I wouldn’t even need a house. A tent would do; a van would be great. I’d take a cot with mosquito netting. It would be my palace. As a native son of Rhode Island, I’m a beach purist, a snob. Others can have their mountain hikes or leisurely swims in ponds and lakes. I want pounding saltwater surf, sand, and something to throw around — that’s all. I do not require food or drink when I’m at the beach, and the fewer people on parade, the better. (Nothing against people — they’re some of my best friends — but they tend to talk way too loudly into their cell phones.)

Jim Keogh is an award-winning editor and writer. He lives in Worcester with his family.

I consider the beach a sacred place, but my adoration has evolved over the years. When I was a boy, a family excursion to the beach was a morning-til-dusk affair — a true day trip. We left the house with a cooler filled with cans of Stop & Shop sodas and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and headed for Second Beach in Newport, our favorite. My father loved to ride the waves, and he taught me how to travel so far and fast that you scraped your belly on the sand. There were, of course, discomforts. The Keoghs are a fair-skinned Irish lot, and in those pre-sunscreen days I endured my share of blistering burns on my back and shoulders, the kind that doctors warn make you susceptible to certain cancers later in life. I am now later in life, and have had my share of suspicious moles scraped off my body thanks to all those glorious days of unprotected sunplay. When we had our kids, my wife and I

amanda roberge

I recall, with a slight longing, the beach days of old. My husband (then-boyfriend) and I would stop at the deli after a leisurely morning at one of our apartments reading the paper. We’d grab a couple sandwiches and sodas and the beach chair that we’d bought together – one of our first major purchases. We’d head to our favorite beach, the rocky one with the breachway, and camp out with books, a walkman (remember those?) and our grub. We stayed until we were good and ready

and stopped for a six-pack and some Chinese takeout on the way home. Life was good. Fast forward 15 years, and here I sit, planning out my next beach day with our kids. I need at least two months to prepare. You see, I’m not a very organized person and this whole family fun thing throws me off my game. With a zest for adventure and a spirit of spontaneity I can’t seem to effectively manage, I really have way too many opportunities to screw up our good times. I am famous for campfires with no marshmallows and beach trips with no sunscreen. A long drive to a famous mall usually finds me having forgotten my wallet, and my ultimate specialty (that my kids get to enjoy on an ongoing basis) is a backpack with no lunchbox. While my children and husband have gotten used to it and have evolved into people with very keen improvisational skills, I often feel like the one lone loser on the planet who can’t seem to get it together. Blessedly, I am frequently reminded that I am in good company. Even my Type-A friends struggle with the family beach trip. The mention of bringing the crew out for a glorious sun-filled seaside adventure causes groans all around. “Going to the beach used to be so much more fun,” says my friend Kam, reminding me that once upon a time we could lay back and soak up the sun, read a book or even take a catnap. Now we have been reduced, or perhaps promoted, to junior lifeguards: constantly scanning the shore for little bodies, counting heads and waving them in from the deep. “It’s like a full-day anxiety attack,” adds my friend Jane, who now prefers the playpen-like safety of her backyard pool. But there comes a moment that erases all that bad stuff – the moment where your child comes to you with a seashell, or a particularly appealing strand of seaweed or a starfish. And you take in the wonderment of it all, what it is to be a child at the beach. And it’s worth all the prep, all the schlepping, all the packing and driving and trips across the hot sand. Until they ask for the sand pail, which is of course still at home in the yard with its faithful counterpart, the shovel. And at that moment, you are simply full of relief because you remembered the sunscreen. Amanda Roberge is a freelance writer living in Leominster with her husband and three daughters. Each month, Under My Roof explores the different perspectives of one theme by two different parents, freelance writers, Jim Keogh and Amanda Roberge.

BAYSTATEPARENT 43

BulletinBoar EDUCATION Pediatric Behavioral Health, LLC

To advertise call Stephanie Pearl at 774-364-0296 or email stephaniep@baystate parent.com DAYCAREPRESCHOOL

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Call for details 978-342-4164

SCHOOLS

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Accepting Applications: Pre-school — 3 programs A.M. & P.M. Full Day Kindergarten Grade 1 through Grade 8

Where the growth & development of each individual child is nurtured

now enrolling! children 2.9 - 5 years old

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Accredited by the N.E. Assoc. of Schools & Colleges

PEDIATRICDENTAL

To advertise call Stephanie Pearl at 774-364-0296 or email stephaniep@ baystateparent.com

3a 1aXP] ;TT ?TSXPcaXR 3T]cXbc Â’ 8]UP]cb c^ CTT]b Â’ B_TRXP[ =TTSb 2WX[SaT] Â’ 8]R[dSX]V 0[[ >acW^S^]cXRb

-USIC -OVEMENT FOR )NFANTS THROUGH +INDERGARTENERS WITH THE 'ROWNUPS 7HO ,OVE 4HEM ™

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Play-Learn Preschool ‌where a loving and warm environment comes naturally!

• Offering a 2, 3, 4 and 5 day morning program • Flexible schedule to ďŹ t the needs of BUSY families • Morning program for children enrolled in after school public programs • Wednesdays offer a “Lunch and Playâ€? program

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MUSICLESSONS

Miss Toni and Miss Judy Call for an appointment to speak with us, and visit our program in action!

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JULY2010

ll To advertise carl Stephanie Pea 6 29 at 774-364-0 or email stephaniep@ m nt.co baystatepare SCHOOLS 1]`\S`ab]\S /QORS[g

Learning! Laughing! Movement! Singing! Arts and Crafts! Solid curriculum to prepare for Kindergarten

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<]e 3\`]ZZW\U T]` Music TogetherÂŽ, Keyboard Class, Suzuki Violin, Lessons & Ensembles

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5`ORSa 9 $ A quality education founded on the four foundations (Education, Character, Social Responsibility and Family) that are the Cornerstones to Life.

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TUTORING Math • Reading • Writing Study Skills • SAT Prep Algebra Workshops Help with your summer reading! 623 Chandler Street Tatnuck Square, Worcester Tel: 508-797-5050 • Fax: 508-797-5051 www.theknowledgequest.com

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stacy trasancos

bout six years ago my husband suggested we take our children to visit an elderly person once a week to teach them about respect and giving. At the time we had a 9-year-old boy, Max, and two baby girls, Abigail and Grace. Our parish put us in touch with a man we call “Mr. Ray.� Right away Max and Mr. Ray discovered that they were a good match at checkers. We developed a routine of visiting a few hours each week and just chatting while they challenged each other. Mr. Ray was hard to beat. Max taught him other games and they sparred at those while the little sisters searched for toys around his house. Perhaps spending two hours a week losing a checkers game wasn’t the pinnacle of excitement for a young man, but we sensed very early that these visits were meaningful. Over the next few years Max came on the weekly visits less as he became busier with school activities, but the girls still visited with me. Our family was changing, but Mr. Ray was there. He helped to welcome three more children into our family. Checkers was phased out by preschool card games, and a weekly ritual of eating cookies began. Mr. Ray also began to collect enough lollipops at the bank to pass out to each of our children, just little things. We developed a seasonal pattern of sitting by the indoor stove during cold weather and on the back porch during warmer weather. We shared our holiday meals and brought him palm branches at Easter for his wife’s grave, who we learned had died on the very same day Abigail had been born. When the girl’s started school at St. Mary’s Elementary in Worcester, we were surprised when Mr. Ray told us he was born and raised a few blocks away from that school and even attended it as a boy. When we decided to name our next daughter after my grandmother, Marie, Mr. Ray had many questions about her. They had both lived full lives serving large families, and they both lived alone now with their memories. My grandparents lived all their lives in Texas, raising their family together on the same piece of land. Daily habits were different, but the reasons were the same. She cooked the beef they raised on their farm. Mr. Ray’s wife made Italian dishes with the tomatoes they raised in their garden. He felt such a connection to my grandmother that he sent her a card when she got sick and was placed in a nursing home. When she died, we talked a lot about life and death, spirituality and the body. He helped me grieve. There’s much to be learned from someone who has lived so much longer than you have.

It gives you a new perspective. Someday I may be alone. What stories will I have to tell? Who will listen? In many of our conversations, Mr. Ray explained how he had never seen a doctor in his life and didn’t intend on doing so ever. On one of our visits we found Mr. Ray unconscious in his home. I called 911 to take him to the hospital and hoped he would forgive me for breaching his record. The hospital stay was filled with tests and surgery for a pacemaker. Afterward, he was placed in a nursing home and developed pneumonia. He told me that he felt ready to die. He was sick and in pain, unsure if he’d ever leave the nursing home. I can never know for sure what happened in his mind, but from what he’s told me he held on because he knew he had a purpose to live. I will always be amazed at how we happened to visit just in time when he needed help. Two years later, I would see him give our newest daughter, Lucy, a Mr. Ray cookie. The even more amazing thing is since he left the hospital he doesn’t seem to have aged, but to have gotten younger. We don’t visit in his living room or back porch anymore. No! Mr. Ray has started planning outings for us. He stretches us to do things that I wouldn’t normally do with the children. The addition of a little boy named Jack makes six children in our home now and Mr. Ray is a big help when we go places. We had a picnic at the park where Mr. Ray pushed swings and helped the kids do the monkey bars. He had more energy that I did! There was one particular outing that we will never forget. This past fall he planned a trip for us to the Beirne family-run Berlin Orchards. He arranged everything. We picked apples, took a hayride, painted our faces and our pumpkins, rode the horses, played with the chickens and ate our picnic lunch. It was a beautiful day full of smiles and love. I am so thankful for that memory and I look forward to more of them with Mr. Ray. Our friendship with Mr. Ray has turned into something greater than just a weekly visit. It has taught our children so much, adding depth to our lives and purpose to his. The gift of his friendship will outlive Mr. Ray because he has changed our family’s life. Someday eighty years from now I hope my children pass the same gift on to other families‌checkers, cookies, swings and smiles. Thank you Mr. Ray. Stacy Trasancos is a wife, homemaker and mom of six. She and her husband, Jose, are raising their family in Shrewsbury.

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Birthdays Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Weddings/Showers Graduations Proms Dances Fundraisers Holiday/Business

46 JULY2010

C Princess Singer (with Bachelor of Music)

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Magic Show plus balloon twisting, live bunny, comedy for kids Here’s what other moms say:*

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Entertaining children all over New England

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Call Steven Craig at 508-987-7705 or e-mail stevencraig@charter.net

Birthday/ Party Room Central Mass’s only dedicated Climbing Facility! Sign up now for our Week Long Summer Camp Programs • 14,000 square feet of amazing climbing walls • 60 different top rope stations • Climbing walls from 15 - 40 feet high! • Massive lead arch, and super long overhangs! • Separate climbing wall just for kids and parents • Classes for beginners: lead and top rope belaying • Rentals and a retail shop for climbing gear • Lounge area, w/ free wifi • A large bouldering area, with top-outs

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the Storyteller Storytelling fun for Birthday Parties, Schools, Daycare Centers, Library Programs, Special Events and TV Featuring: • Original & Classic Stories • Puppets, Props and Surprises For Bookings and Info Call: 617-713-4349 E-mail: BigJoe@BigJoe.com Visit me on the web at: www.BigJoe.com

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But rockin’ out is a blast!

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Our arrangements make great centerpieces because they’re gorgeous like flowers, but very unique because they’re made from premium, freshly cut fruit. Arrangements are available for pickup or delivery coast to coast. EdibleArrangements.com

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Dinosaur Adventures Camp and College Care Packages Tween Favors Goodie Bags for Birthdays and Special Events * Packaging is free with an order of at least 8 party bags. Minimum of 6 birthday party goodie bags per order. We can personalize each goodie bag for an additional $1.50 per bag and we will add candy to the goodie bag for an additional $1.50 per bag. Camp and College care packages come with a sturdy, reusable tote free of charge!

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Invite your guests & we’ll do the rest!

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For more information please Contact the Babson Skating Center at 781-239-6056

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Bringing the MAGIC to your party

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See Dinosaur skulls, T-Rex teeth and foot prints, along with today’s living dinosaurs such as Crocodile, monitor lizard, turtle, bird and scorpion. Great fun and learning for any dinosaur enthusiast! *This is a traveling only presentation

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BAYSTATEPARENT 47

MOMS ROCK!

Birungi Ives of Ayer BY

carrie wattu, steven king photographer

Age: 33 Occupation: Entrepreneur Mom of: Jediah, 6 Married to: jamie Ives

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Birguni is wearing a Vivienne Westwood Red Label suit with a broach by Lucy Leaver, both English designers. Jediah is wearing an England polo shirt by NEXT and plaid shorts by GAP Kids.

48 JULY2010

ou get the urge to do many things when you’re a mom including an urge you may not have felt before, a calling to become an activist in nutrition, health and environmental issues. Anything that impacts the future of our children awakens the mama bear in us. Birungi Ives is a great example of this. The Ayer mom was always somewhat conscious of the environment, but it wasn’t until she became pregnant with her son, that her interest in green living took off. Birungi started to think, “What changes or choices am I going to make to have the healthiest child possible?” She didn’t want to put anything in her body that might harm her son. She also made the commitment to have a natural childbirth, but at 7 ½ centimeters, she says, “I panicked and got an epidural.” Regardless, her interest in natural living started a consciousness, she says, and her pregnancy provided a metaphor for living a globally aware life. “When you are pregnant, everything that you do or put into your body affects that child. and

as a result affects the extended family... your partner and your other children,” she says, “It’s a ripple effect. The same is true with being globally conscious. Everything that we eat, every action that we take has a ripple effect on every other thing on this earth.” She also knows that a mom’s happiness also has a ripple effect on the family so she has made it a priority to maintain her interests in art, interior design and fashion while raising her son. Birguni is now at a place where she can focus more on her newfound passion: spreading a message about how to live a fashionably fabulous eco-friendly life. She educates consumers through her two lifestyle Web sites: bzen. biz and geof.us, blogging about high-end globally conscious products and design. Her other goal is to include women of color in the Green Movement. “For generations, people of color have been in survival mode,” she says, “and now that the Green Movement is here, they think ‘how can I pay money for organic when I can’t put food on the table? How can I make a choice to be globally conscious when I don’t even feel as if I am being taken care of or I don’t

feel like a priority? How can I be globally conscious when my world here is falling apart?’” Birguni’s message to them, and to moms of all backgrounds, is “anything that is in the right direction is a good thing. Being conscious about what you are putting in your mouth and your child’s mouth, being conscious about what you purchase. They are all good things.” Through her Web sites, Birguni hopes to educate and inspire others that living green is possible and even, luxurious. She is hopeful about her son’s future, “I think organic products will be standard in 50 years and that they will look back and think of us as primitive people putting all of these chemicals in our bodies!” Read more of Birungi’s story at bzen.biz.

9. Something families may not know about living green: Living green does not mean sacrifice; it means living life to the fullest in every aspect of the word.

12. Green places in Massachusetts that I recommend: Just go outside! It’s free! If you walk, run or play, it’s green.

10. On living fashionably while raising a family: Make fashion simple. Accessories are the most inexpensive way to turn Blah into Wow.

13. On fashion for boys: My favorite places to shop for my son is GAP Kids, J.CREW’s Crewcuts and Marshalls. But I also love boutiques, such as The Red Wagon on Beacon Hill and Fritz and Gigi in Concord.

11. On breastfeeding: It was very hard. I would get up in the night and tell my husband that I was going to quit. I had to say, ‘It’s not about you. It’s about the child.’

14. Favorite summer foods: Sushi, salads, monkfish and muscles. And we must not forget the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc to go with it. I love Chilean wine. More bang for your buck!

15. A message for other moms: Every moment is an imprint on a child’s life, so make it a good one. And don’t forget to put your oxygen mask on first! Seeing the good in what moms do is what our monthly “Moms Rock” feature is all about. Tell us about an inspiring mom you know: editor@baystateparent.com.

Take 15 with Birungi 1. I am the queen of: being global and being glamorous! And I ask everyone to do the same: B. GLOBAL and B. GLAMOROUS!! What does this mean? It means being globally conscious, an awareness of your power to impact our global community with your choices, while living your life to the fullest. 2. Three words to describe my family: Diverse Global Thinkers 3. I never thought as a parent that: I would embark on such an interesting journey of self discovery full of unexpected twist and turns, ups and downs. 4. We love going to: Nantucket, Museum of Science, Provincetown, Boston Commons and Groton Library 5. What my child teaches me: what it means to live life without limitations, because he believes anything is possible. Every child knows this, but we forget as adults. 6. What makes me a better mom: my work. It keeps me balanced and connected to my passions. 7. There’s no such thing as: an empty moment. 8. On a fashionable pregnancy: I was not one of those skinny pregnant ladies. By the time I gave birth, I had gained a lot of weight, but I refused to let go of the fashion aspect. Target was a great place as there was a point towards the end that I didn’t want to make another investment in maternity clothes. OK, my body was gone. I couldn’t wear my shoes anymore because my feet were so swollen and I had to wear flip flops, but I did not let go. When I gave birth, my nails were done and I put on some makeup. I hooked myself up. Don’t fall down into the deep hole of unfashionable depression. I tried to hold on for dear life. BAYSTATEPARENT 49

CLASSIFIEDS

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HOMETOWN TOUR

FOOD

Wanna play tour guide? Show baystateparent around your town, and we may feature the tour in an upcoming issue!

PARKS MUSEUMS

SHOPS

To be considered, email editor@baystateparent.com.

Advanced Water Quality Systems, Inc. .... 10 Adventure Boot Camp LLC ..................... 6 AHA! New Bedford .............................. 27 Attorney James Connors ....................... 9 Backyard Adventures ............................ 18 Becker College .................................... 13 Bedford Recreation............................... 29 Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum ......... 25 Bolton Fair.......................................... 30 Boroughs JCC ...................................... 42 Breezy Picnic Grounds .......................... 33 Brigham and Womens Hospital .............. 2 Buttonwood Park Zoo ........................... 27 Cambridge Ellis School.......................... 18 Camp Quinebarge ................................ 41 Canobie Lake Park ............................... 33 Children’s Music Academy ..................... 42 Claytime............................................. 19 Cornerstone ........................................ 3 Cutie Patutie’s ..................................... 12 Dancer’s Workshop .............................. 17 David’s Tavern ..................................... 23 Davis Farmland ................................... 21 Decordova Museum ............................. 29 Devereux Therapeutic Foster Ca ............. 12 Dr. Bruce Fieldman .............................. 7 Dr. Janice Goodman ............................. 6 Dr. Monica Rao ................................... 6 Dr. Mel, Pediatric Dentist ...................... 4 Ecotarium ........................................... 33 Elite Dance School ............................... 39 Ellie Fund ........................................... 42 Finagle a Bagel ................................... 35 Firehouse Center for Arts....................... 23

• Montessori Pre-school & Elementary School • Starting at 2.9 Years

Wollaston Child Care Center PRIVATE TOURS AVAILABLE

“A HIGH QUALITY LEARNING CENTER”

OPEN ENROLLMENT

• Pre-School for Children 15 Mos.-7 Yrs. • Unique Indoor and Outdoor Play Areas • Full & PT Schedules‚ Year Round 7am-6pm • Full Day Kindergarten Program • On Site Healthroom 47 Weston Ave.‚ Quincy‚ MA • Adjacent to Wollaston T Station •

50 JULY2010

617-773-7217

Health Alliance .................................... 49 Holy Cow Creamery/Fore Seasons Mini Golf ..6 Iparty Retail Stores Corp. ...................... 51 Kimball Farms ..................................... 30 Life Tech Ventures/Natures Classroom .... 28 Lowell Summer Music .......................... 29 McDonald’s ......................................... 35 Michelle Carr ....................................... 27 Montessori School of Quincy ................. 50 New Horizon Karate & More ................. 37 Panera Bread ...................................... 11 Parenting Solutions .............................. 45 Paula Swift Photography....................... 17 Pernet Family Health Services ............... 10 Providence Children’s Museum ............... 33 Purity Spring Resort ............................. 5 Real Kids Shades ................................. 37 Roger Williams Park Zoo....................... 31 Santa’s Village .................................... 42 Skribbles Learning Center...................... 20 Southwicks Zoo ................................... 4 Speech-Language and Hearing ............... 35 The Bolton Fair.................................... 30 The Eric Carle Museum ......................... 39 The Hanover Theatre ............................ 52 Tougas Farm ....................................... 28 Vantage Point Farm ............................. 43 Whittier Farm...................................... 9 Wifesaver ........................................... 45 Wild Child Gear ................................... 32 Womens Health of Central Mass ............ 16 Worcester Kids’ Dentist ......................... 18 Worcester Tornadoes ............................ 4 Zoo New England ................................ 50

Adams Montessori School

• Morning or Full Day Sessions • After Care

Come visit us in the historic Adams district. Adams Montessori School 310 Adams Street, Quincy, MA 02169 617-773-8200 • www.msoq.org

There Be Pirates Afoot! Compliments of iParty

Summer provides the perfect backdrop for pirate play, and every swashbuckling pirate needs a treasure chest brimming with jewels and gold coins, swords, a spy glass, hats and accessories plus an inflatable ship filled with ice and “grog.” And no pirate play is complete without a parrot. Aaawwwkkk!

photography by steven king

baystateparent found all the booty for our pirate party at...

Join the Birthday Club! Are you part of the iParty Birthday Club? Well, what are you waiting for?! Sign up today and start receiving iParty exclusive in-store savings and discounts, contest information, FUN party and project ideas along with so much more! Just go to www.iparty.com, complete the form and join the FUN today!

For contest details, visit baystateparent.com and click “Art Contest” on our homepage.

BAYSTATEPARENT 51

Plan ahead for the Holiday Season!

OPEN AUDITION CALL Saturday, August 28, 2010 Sunday, August 29, 2010 Saturday, September 4, 2010

! W O N e l a S n O s t e k ic T

GROU P DI SC OU NTS! Call or visit the box ofďŹ ce to learn how to save.

REQUIREMENTS Ages 7 and older Dancers are required to bring a head shot photo Female dancers should bring pointe shoes $25 audition fee (cash only) Call 508.791.3233 to reserve an audition time! 36 Harlow Street, Worcester, MA www.balletartsworcester.com

December 17-23 Tickets ON SALE TO MEMBERS: July 26 Tickets ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC: August 16

Discounts available for groups, members, students, and WOO card holders TheHanoverTheatre.org ˆ 877.571.SHOW ˆ 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester, MA 01608 Located less than 15 minutes from the Mass Pike. Exit 16 off I-290 Worcester Center for the Performing Arts, a registered not-for-proďŹ t 501(c)(3) organization, owns and operates The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.

52 JULY2010

November 26-28, 2010

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