Get Tickets for the Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley March 7-8-9

Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, every day, run-of-the-mill 10-year-old: normal mom and dad, normal little brother, normal life. That's just the problem – For Stanley, life is too normal.
He wants to travel the world, do something amazing, something no one's ever seen before. Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One night, the bulletin board on the wall above Stanley's bed
comes loose and falls. Right on top of Stanley! And the next morning, Stanley Lambchop wakes up flat. Not just a little flat… Really, really flat. At first it’s not so bad. He can slide under
locked doors, roll up like a mat or become a trampoline. But he can't stay flat forever – someone has to do something. And that someone is Stanley! Stanley puts himself in a big envelope
and travels the world – a human letter! And the adventure begins as Stanley – the ultimate pen pal – scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem in a whirlwind musical travelogue!
And whether he's rapping with the Declaration of Independence, thwarting robberies at the Louvre Museum in Paris, or learning about different cultures through song and dance, Stanley is
closing in on his goal of being a three-dimensional boy once more.

Broadway Across America-Boston invites families to join Flat Stanley on an educational journey that celebrates language, learning, and friendship as the musical theatrical performance of his life arrives at the Colonial Theatre in Boston for 6 shows on March 7-8-9. There is a 7 p.m. show Friday night, 11 a.m., 2 and 5 p.m. shows on Saturday and 11 a .m. and 2 p.m. shows on Sunday. Tickets are $15-$40 and can be purchased at the Colonial Theatre Box Office at 106 Bolyston Street, through http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/ and through Ticketmaster outlets.

GIRL SCOUTS: On Saturday March 8th at p.m. Broadway Across America-Boston is hosting Massachusetts' Girl Scouts for a special performance of The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley. This night includes the chance to earn a Flat Stanley Girl Scout Badge, a night of theater with Girl Scouts from around the area, and a post show discussion with the Flat Stanely actors! Visit http://www.flatstanleyboston.com/GirlScoutNight.html for more information. Girl Scouts will receive discounted tickets to the show -- $11.25 for balcony and $21.25 mezzanine seats.

Click here for the special badge requirements: http://www.flatstanleyboston.com/GirlScoutsRequirements.html

Shrewsbury Dream Dinners Celebrates First Anniversary: March 4

Shrewbury's Dream Dinners is celebrating its first anniversary with an open house on Tuesday, March 4th.
RSVPs are required for the event. The deadline to RSVP is March 2.
There are two times -- 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Enjoy samples of Dream Dinners including Gluten-free menu items, purchase and assemble meals with no minimum order (limited selection and great for newcomers to try us out), and sample MonaVie (gluten-free), a nutrient dense acai berry complex juice consisting of 19 super fruits rich in antioxidants.
Each open house guest will receive $30 in loyalty vouchers (see below for details) and an entry in a variety of give-a-ways including a Dream Dinners basket, a Pampered Chef basket, two MonaVie baskets, and four family four-packs to our "Sunday Funday" at the New England Surge's opening game at DCU. These giveaways will be raffled off at the end of the evening.
For more information call Dream Dinners in Shrewsbury.

Animals at the Museum on Thursday, March 6

Experience The Children Museum in Easton’s Delightful drop-ins as Miss Susan and her informal petting zoo visit on Thursday, March 6 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
While you are there you can also do a simple craft and learn a song or two. The Museum says it never knows what the animal will be so it’s always a fun surprise! The presentation is free with museum admission. No preregistration is required.

The Children’s Museum is located in the Old Fire Station on Sullivan Avenue in North Easton Village. Admission is $6 per person. Members and children under age 1 are free. For more information visit, www.childrensmuseumineaston.org or call 508-230-3789.

Peabody Essex Museum Celebrates Dr. Seuss' 104th Birthday on March 2

"The more that you know, the more places you'll go. . ."

Children and adults will enjoy an afternoon of laughter and activity as the Peabody Essex Museum celebrates what would be Dr. Seuss' 104th birthday with a special program on Sunday, March 2.
A reading of Dr. Seuss' Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose teaches children the many ways animals depend on one another. Following the reading, children can participate in an art activity and create their own set of antlers. This interactive program provides kids with an afternoon of fun and educational activity, and gives parents an opportunity to spend quality time with their children in the Peabody Essex Museum's Art & Nature Center. The Art & Nature Center is an interactive exhibition space where visitors can explore ideas connecting art with nature. Salem's unique natural heritage is displayed through changing exhibitions and an exploration zone. The exhibitions in the Art & Nature Center showcase the global influences nature has on art and culture.

Art & Nature Story Time on Dr. Seuss' Birthday
For children ages 3-6 with accompanying adult
Free with museum admission.
Reservations by Friday, February 29.
Reservations can be made by calling 978-745-9500, ext. 3011.
Program is made possible by New Trade Winds/ECHO.A

Peabody Essex Museum presents art and culture from New England and around the world. Our campus features numerous parks, period gardens and 24 historic properties, including Yin Yu Tang, a 200-year- old house that is the only example of Chinese domestic architecture on display in the United States.
HOURS: Daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ADMISSION: Adults $15; seniors $13; students $11. Members, youth 16 and under and residents of Salem enjoy free general admission and free admission to Yin Yu Tang.
INFO:Call 866-745-1876 or visit www.pem.org

Storytime at the Museum on March 9

The Williams College Museum of Art presents a Storytime Extravaganza—an explosion of visual, musical, literary, and tasty delights from its Storytime program.
Families can enjoy a special performance by the Philadelphia-based children’s rock band, The Cat’s Pajamas! Find the poetry of candy—in Felix Gonzalez Torres’s installation made out of silver-wrapped chocolates, which you can eat!
Have some hot cocoa, listen to storytime readings, and create artwork of your own all on Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m.
This is a free, public event and all are invited to attend. Please RSVP at 413-597-2038.
The Williams College Museum of Art is located on Main Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Admission is FREE. For more information, call 413-597-2429

Terrific Tuesdays at the Museum

Consider attending "Terrific Tuesdays” at The Children's Museum in Easton on Feb. 26.

Do you have those winter blues? Nothing to do? Then drop-in to the The Children's Museum in Easton on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 10:15-11:00 a.m. for a special activity. This week the museum is going to pound, pinch and pull! Come check out our wide variety of Play Dough hammers, rollers and stampers. Learn some beginning clay techniques.

Terrific Tuesday activities feature hands-on arts, crafts, and science activities. All activities are free with museum admission and no registration is required.

Hours for the Children's Museum are Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.. Admission is $6 per person, members and under one is free. For the most up to date information on Terrific Tuesdays, please call the Museum at 508-230-3789 or visit www.childrensmuseumineaston.org.

DVD Contest Winners!

The following 5 readers are the winners from the January magazine give-a-way of a Stardust DVD:
Matt Wallace, Spencer
David Abe, Framingham
Tyler Arnold, Rutland
Mallory Thompson, Gardner
Andrew Lynch, Franklin

Leap Day Celebration at Franklin Park Zoo on March 1

Leap on over to Franklin Park Zoo on Saturday, March 1 for for a fun-filled day of leap year celebrations to be held in the Tropical Forest.
Children can participate in a leap-frog competition, make crafts, and visit with our resident amphibious friends.
To raise awareness about the extinction of frog species across the globe, 2008 has been named “Year of the Frog” by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Throughout the day, learn more about these fascinating creatures that are quickly disappearing from the planet, and discover what you can do to help.

School Vacation Week Puppet Shows

February 16-24 is School Vacation Week. Four different shows will be presented over the course of the week, incorporating a variety of puppetry styles: from shadow and hand puppetry to masks and ventriloquism at the Puppet Showplace in Brookline.
would be extremely grateful. In addition, the performances on February 18 and 19 have been

February Vacation Week Performances
Shows at 1pm & 3pm
Saturday, Sunday
February 16 & 17 The Magic Trunk by Sylvia Markson
Sylvia comes to us with her Magic Trunk, a well-traveled box inhabited by a delightful bunch of quick-witted puppets that she magically brings to life through ventriloquism. Her cast includes Chito, a wisecracking opossum, and an outrageous bird that steals the show, a Genie who lives in a bottle, a talking picture, and many more surprises. Back by popular demand! Recommended for ages 4 and up

Show Change:
Monday, Tuesday
February 18 & 19 Snow White and Other Tales by Perry Alley Theatre
Snow White and Other Tales offers a selection of traditional stories, each told in their own unique way. The show begins with the “Cat Rap”, a break-dancing cat performed by two puppeteers, followed by The Princess and the Pea, which is accompanied by a guitar-playing actor, Little Red Riding Hood, in the style of Ancient Rome, and finally Snow White, a hilarious version told with object puppetry and a humanette. Recommended for ages 4 and up

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday
February 20, 21 & 22 Critters & Creatures by Larry Hunt
Larry Hunt mixes mask, movement and puppetry skills to create an imaginary world that’s very real. Critters and Creatures plays with the similarities between animals and humans, while underscoring respect for all earth’s creatures. From Bermuda to Hong Kong and Australia, Critters and Creatures has gotten rave reviews as part magic, part illusion, and always funny. Recommended for ages 5 and up

Saturday & Sunday
February 23 & 24 Jack and the Beanstalk by Nappy’s Puppets
This wildly funny show, based around Jack and the Beanstalk (the 4 part mini-series), is a roller coaster ride of short stories, vignettes and songs from children’s literature, traditional puppet theater, and the imagination of the puppeteer. The show features hand crafted shadow puppets and is fast paced, action-packed and full of laughs. Recommended for ages 3 and up.

All shows $10pp. Prepaid reservations recommended. 617-731-6400. Visit Web site for more details: www.puppetshowplace.org.

School Vacation Fun at The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston

From Monday, February 18 through Friday, February 22, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston hosts the Cogan Family Foundation Vacation Week Adventures highlighting fiber and textile arts. Activities during the week include an artist demonstration, art-making activities, and tours focusing on textile and fiber arts ranging from silk to straw. Families can create a tapestry that tells a story, weave with burlap, and make an original piece of art using recycled materials.
Special presenters include local artist Catherine Weller, who will lead a basketry demonstration, and storyteller Laura Ziman, who will entertain younger children in the galleries. Family Gallery Talks with Museum educators will also take place throughout the week.

The MFA’s Vacation Week Adventures, which run daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., are free for children 17 and younger with paid adult admission. ASL interpretation is available Wednesday for select programs. For more information, visitors can view the calendar section of the Museum’s website, www.mfa.org.

FREE SCHOOL VACATION WEEK ACTIVITIES
Story Tapestries
Monday Feb. 18 – Friday, Feb. 22
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
European Silver Gallery Whether they have been created for warmth or decoration, tapestries have served many purposes throughout time. Children can view tapestries in the European galleries, and create their own "story tapestry" with fabric.

Recycled Sculptures
Monday Feb. 18 – Friday, Feb. 22
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Loring Gallery and Workshop Studio
Families can tour the exhibition Ed Rossbach Fiber Art from the Daphne Farago Collection, which features a wide range of fiber and textile art objects, such as baskets, collages, and lace, and sketch ideas for a later creation. Once inspired, families visit the Workshop Studio to enjoy a smorgasbord of recycled materials to use in creating a "green" sculpture.

Burlap Weaving
Monday Feb. 18 – Friday, Feb. 22
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Ancient Americas and African Galleries
Kids can explore new artistic possibilities using burlap (a coarse fabric) as a canvas for their own woven masterpiece. A variety of fabrics, fibers, and felts are available to weave interesting patterns and designs into the burlap canvas.

Family Place Treasure Hunt: Walk this Way
Monday Feb. 18 – Friday, Feb. 22
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Upper Rotunda
Activity cards are available in the Upper Rotunda to lead families on self-guided treasure hunts of the shoe exhibition Walk this Way. Kids can move through the galleries at their own pace, enjoying shoes from around the world, then make kid-friendly connections to the artwork.

Artist Demonstration
Monday Feb. 18 – Friday, Feb. 22
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Lower Rotunda
Local artist Catherine Weller demonstrates basketry techniques in the Lower Rotunda. Kids can watch as she creates an original work of art and talks about the techniques she uses, then try their own hand at her specialized craft.

Family Gallery Talks
Monday Feb. 18 – Friday, Feb. 22
*ASL Interpreted on Wednesday, February 20 at 11 a.m.
11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Meet at Sharf Information Center
Visit the artwork that inspired this week’s Vacation Week Adventures: Fiber and Textile Art. Explore textiles from ancient times to modern-day with Museum educators.

Story Hour
Monday Feb. 18 – Friday, Feb. 22
Noon and 2:30 p.m. (*ASL Interpreted on Wednesday, February 20 at 2:30 p.m.)
Meet at Sharf Information Center
Sit back, relax, and enjoy stories about the week’s theme with Laura Ziman. Great for younger audiences.


ON VIEW
The entire Museum is free (for children 17 and under) during the Cogan Family Foundation Vacation Week Adventures, including numerous exhibitions. Visitors can see Rhythms of Modern Life: British Prints 1914-1939, which features more than 100 lithographs, etchings, woodcuts, and linocuts of colorful, Jazz Age images; Ed Rossbach Fiber Art from the Daphne Farago Collection, which celebrates the artistry of Edward Rossbach, widely recognized as a pioneer of the contemporary fiber arts movement; Jewelry by Artists: The Daphne Farago Collection provides a chronological survey of studio jewelry in the 20th century; Walk This Way, which features footwear ranging from ancient Egyptian sandals to contemporary designs by Vivienne Westwood and Marc Jacobs; and the unconventional exhibition Drawing: A Broader Definition, which expands the definition of drawing to include works on a variety of surfaces (paper, ceramic, metal, cloth).

GETTING TO THE MUSEUM
The Museum is accessible by taking the Green line "E" train to the MFA stop, the Orange line to Ruggles stop, or bus #39 to Ruggles Street. The MFA is also a stop on the Beantown Trolley. The Museum is expecting many visitors to School Vacation Week, so parking will be limited. For more information on the MFA’s Vacation Week Adventures, please call 617.369.3300 or visit the MFA’s website at www.mfa.org.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), is recognized for the quality and scope of its encyclopedic collection, which includes an estimated 450,000 objects. The Museum’s collection is made up of: Art of the Americas; Art of Europe; Contemporary Art; Art of Asia, Oceania, and Africa; Art of the Ancient World; Prints, Drawings, and Photographs; Textile and Fashion Arts; and Musical Instruments.
Open seven days a week, the MFA’s hours are Saturday through Tuesday, 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.; Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 9:45 p.m. General admission (which includes two visits in a 10-day period) is $17 for adults and $15 for seniors and students age 18 and older. Admission for students who are University Members is free, as is admission for children 17 years of age and younger during non-school hours. No general admission fee is required during Citizens Bank Foundation Wednesday Nights (after 4 p.m.). Voluntary donations are welcome. Gund Gallery exhibitions are ticketed events that require an additional fee. For general information, visit the MFA website at www.mfa.org or call 617.267.9300.

Curious George Marathon on PBS Kids Monday

On Monday, February 18th, catch twice the monkey business, twice the learning, and twice the excitement as Curious George stars in his own marathon of back-to-back episodes on PBS KIDS. The special two-hour marathon will include four favorite episodes of George's amazing adventures. "George to George" will air in place of the regularly scheduled PBS KIDS preschool block (check local listings for specific times).
Since its September 2006 debut, Curious George has been the number-one rated weekday children's series on television among kids ages 2-5 years. The half-hour, animated series airs daily on PBS KIDS and is seen by nearly nine million people each week.
Brought to PBS KIDS by Imagine Entertainment, WGBH Boston, and Universal Studios Family Productions, with the support of Curious George publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Curious George the television series is designed to inspire kids to explore science, math and engineering in the world around them in a fun and entertaining way.
"We're thrilled that George is back for his second President's Day marathon on PBS KIDS," said Executive Producer for Universal Studios Family Productions, Ellen Cockrill. "Well into his second season, George's lovable (mis)-adventures continue to resonate with viewers, and we couldn't be more excited about his phenomenal appeal."
This President's Day weekend, watch as George takes a job in Chef Pisghetti's kitchen, where they experiment with kitchen magic in "Curious George Takes a Job."
In "Ski Monkey," George learns the hard way that deep snow isn't the easiest for a monkey to play in, until he discovers skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing. Chaos ensues in the aisles of the grocery store when George tries to help customers in "George the Grocer," and continues when George learns about broken bones after a museum mishap in "Housebound".
Following these and other monkey adventures, the marathon concludes with "Curious George versus Winter," when George learns why summer isn't the only fun season!
"What better way to kick off the holiday than to watch our curious little monkey get himself into fun predicaments," said WGBH Executive Producer Carol Greenwald. "It's our pleasure to bring kids a double dose of George's math, science and engineering-related mishaps all in one day."In addition to the President's Day marathon, kids can extend their fun with the Curious George Web site (www.pbskids.org/curiousgeorge), which features two new interactive activities. In "I Love Shapes," kids are encouraged by the Man With the Yellow Hat to help George sort items by color and shape as they move down a conveyor belt, and in "Pogo-A-Gogo," George's new pogo stick allows him to jump up and catch objects such as hats, toys, presents, bags and tools, with help from little monkey fans at home.

Bay State Parent Wins 8 Awards!

Bay State Parent magazine won 8 awards from the New England Press Association at its banquet on Saturday night. The magazine also was one of three finalists for the George A. Speers Newspaper of the Year award in the monthly circulation category, but lost to Vermont Woman magazine. The magazine earned 4 first place, 3 second place, and 1 third place awards.

*Photographer Steven King won first place for personality photo. His was the only award given in the monthly category. Submitted was the cover photograph of the 4th Annual Adoption Guide (2006). The judges wrote: "Striking image that is beautifully lit. The softness of the light helps convey the gentleness of the girl, while her face and eyes captivate the viewer. Her hands feel active and this brings life to the image. Really a lovely photograph."
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* Freelance writer Kate M. Jackson's human interest feature on 9/11 widows (Sept 2006 issue) earned first place for best feature story for a month publication. The judges wrote: Jackson does an excellent job of balancing narrative voice, vivid details and harvest themes to tell this story about personal loss and healing for these widows of Sept. 11. She successfully leads into the story by revisiting how their lives abruptly changes on Sept. 11, and captures the strength of these women through their daily routines as mothers.
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* The magazine also earned second place in that category for freelance writer Lynn Jolicoeur's feature on a camp for children who are HIV-positive, founded by the founder of Jordan's Furniture and his wife (April 2007 issue). The judges wrote: "The writer's magic shows in the way she uses Ivy's compelling story of abandonment to lead to a story about a fun, safe camp that embraces HIV-positive kids. Also, adding some of the thank-you letters from campers helped illustrate and give voice to the personal bond the kids have with this camp and the people who founded it."
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* The magazine's special report on sex offenders and online predators (October 2006 issue)earned a second place award for general news story for a monthly publication. Awarded were Sarah MacDonald, Marguerite Paolino and Susan Scully Petroni. Read the special report at: http://www.baystateparent.com/news/2006/1001/Articles/
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In the advertising category, Bay State Parent magazine won 4 awards.
*The magazine earned first place for a black & white local ad, designed by graphic designer Stephanie Renaud, for a charitable organization (http://www.coachgift.org/. The judges wrote: "This ad does a terrific job of conveying why a gift should be made to the charity it is advertising. Effective headline, minimal copy, great photo. Any parent with a child in sports will be drawn to this ad."
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* The magazine also took second place in the local ad black & white category with a house ad for the magazine's spring furniture & home decor guide. The judges wrote: "Good call to action for thsi ad for thepublication's special section. Clean copy, concise, useful information and an attention-grabbing photo that matches the headline perfectly. The ad was designed by creative director Paula Monette Ethier with copy by editor Susan Scully Petroni.
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* In the best local color ad category, Bay State Parent won first and third place. The first place ad was a help wanted ad for advertising representatives for our growing magazine. Designed by Paula Monette Ethier, the judges wrote: "Very clean reproduction and quality of color. Great benefit headline. Feature visual upper left and leading as it should be. Good use of color. Interesting and a pleasing ad."
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**Bay State Parent's sister publication The Landmark, won 5 NEPA awards. Both publications are part of the Holden Landmark Corp. Editorial cartoonist Don Landgren Jr. swept the weekly 2 newspaper category with first, second, & third place awards. Editor Jim Keough won a first place award for feature writing and a third place award for humor columnist in the weekly circulation division.
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This year's NEPA Contest featured more than 6,000 entries submitted by daily, weekly, and monthly publications published between July 2006 and July 2007. The entries were judged by the American Press Insitute.
The New England Press Association has more than 525 member newspapers with a total circulation of 5.9 million and 9.8 million readers in the six-state region. The annual convention in Boston draws more than 1,000 newspaper professionals.

RECALL: Trek Girls Bikes Due to Frame Failure

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Trek Bicycle Corp of Wisconsin, today announced a voluntary recall of about 49,000 Trek MT220 Girls Bicycles. The bicycle’s frame can break during use, causing the rider to lose control and suffer injuries. rek has received 13 reports of frames breaking, including four minor injuries. This recall involves Trek girls’ bicycles model MT220 and model years 2005 (light metallic blue), 2006 (metallic silver and metallic purple or pink and pearl white), and 2007 (pink and white pearl or metallic purple). The model name is printed on the frame of the bicycle. Model year 2008 bicycles re not included in this recall. The bikes were sold at authorized Trek dealers nationwide from April 2004 through June 2007 for about $300. The bikes were manufactured in China and Taiwan.

Consumers should take the recalled bicycle away from children immediately and return it to a Trek dealer for a free replacement MT220 girl’s bicycle or a $100 discount on a different size Trek bicycle. For additional information, consumers can contact Trek at 800-373-4594 between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Time Saturday, or visit http://www.trekbikes.com/