Monday, September 28, 2009

got my new eyebrows! Spend the day in Lexington

Hi Readers,

My friend picked up me and my eyebrows last Friday. I let them grow out for weeks...very scary! But it was all for a good purpose to visit Elena of Eyebrows by Elena in Lexington.

Elena is baystateparent's new advertiser and highly rated to help a teen, woman, man...anyone with their brows. She provides free eyebrows consultations (An appointment is $50).

While that is expensive compared to do-it-yourself tweezing or a quick wax at the salon, Elena takes the brows seriously, helping you to determine the right shape for your face. I was really happy with the results and all of the special attention!

I thought of my teen years when I had no idea how to style brows, and I just went crazy with the tweezers. I think she'd be a great gift for a young girl who could use a confidence-booster and advice on how to get a handle on her eyebrows. She's also skilled in shaping a man's brows so that they DO NOT looked like they've been styled. She keeps them very masculine but just cleans it all up. I love that for guys! Don't you?!

After that, my friend and I had a fabulous lunch at Lexx in downtown Lexington and browsed the stores. We noticed lots of moms walking their babies on the bike path. Then they stopped on the Common or to have a snack in one of the many cafes.

Downtown Lexington is so pretty! Visit soon while you can still sit outside. And if you treat yourself to get your brows done, tell Elena baystateparent said hi!

www.eyebrowsbyelena.com.

Archaeology Day at Historic Deerfield: October 17, 2009; FREE

Hi Readers,
Here is some free fun in beautiful Deerfield. Visit Yankee Candle's corporate headquarters in South Deerfield. It's so much fun with lots to see and day...a perfect fall excursion! Downtown Northampton is great for a fun lunch! There's an awesome bike path out there too...Questions? Email editor@baystateparent.com.

Archaeology Day At Historic Deerfield
October 17
10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Join us for a day of free walks and talks featuring the work of archaeologists from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This program is part of Massachusetts Archaeology Month. Free and open to the public.






About Historic Deerfield

Historic Deerfield (www.historic-deerfield.org) is a nationally recognized museum offering tours of period houses and the Flynt Center of Early New England Life. Now featuring exhibitions:

* Hadley Sampler: An Anniversary Celebration on view through January 1, 2010.
* Into the Woods: Crafting Early American Furniture, a long-term furniture exhibition on view through 2013.
* Engraved Powder Horns from the French and Indian War and the American Revolution: The William H. Guthman Collection, permanent.
* Celebrating the Fiber Arts: The Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery, a permanent exhibition with changing elements.

Historic Deerfield also offers relaxed fine dining at Champney's Restaurant and Tavern at the Deerfield Inn, lodging at the 1884 Deerfield Inn ( www.deerfieldinn.com ), and shopping at the Museum Store ( www.deerfieldstore.com ). Please call 413-775-7214 for museum information and program schedule.
M10 logo Historic Deerfield is a member of Museums10, a partnership of ten outstanding museums - Amherst College Museum of Natural History, Emily Dickinson Museum: The Homestead and The Evergreens, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Hampshire College Art Gallery, Historic Deerfield, Mead Art Museum at Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College Art Museum, National Yiddish Book Center, Smith College Museum of Art, and the University Gallery at UMass Amherst - in one gorgeous place: the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts. For more information about Museums10, please visit www.museums10.org .

Historic Deerfield

www.historic-deerfield.org

80 Old Main Street, P.O. Box 321

Deerfield, Massachusetts 01342

T: 413-775-7175
F: 413-775-7220

Family Fun on Saturday, October 3 2009

Sat., October 3: Saint Michael School Recycle Day in Hudson, 198 Main St., Hudson. 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Free to drop off paper, clothes, printer, Fax cartridges, and cell phones.
Minimal fees for everything else (stoves, refrigerators, freezers, etc.) Home pick-up available for $20. 978-562-2917 or fundraising@stmikes.org. Accepting dry or canned goods for the Hudson Food Pantry.

Grotonfest
on the Legion Common in Groton is on Sat., Oct. 3, 10 a .m. - 4:30 p. m. grotonfest.com. Rain date is Sunday, October 4th.

Sat., Oct. 3: FREE Try Something New Fall Festival. Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway Conservancy, Dewey Square Parks, Summer Street at Atlantic Ave., Boston. Noon - 6 p.m. Boston’s newest urban green space invites all to this a lively, free event for people of all ages. Learn new ways of cooking, eating and being fit. Food tastings, cooking demonstrations, a farmers market, fun fitness games, live music and dance performances from local groups, public art displays, and a carnival ride. As a first for the Greenway, an artificial ice surface will provide a venue for ice skating. 617-692-0020, hellogreenway.org.

Sat., Oct. 3: FREE Maynard Fest. Assabet Valley Chamber of Commerce, Main and Nason St., Downtown Maynard. 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Dozens of sidewalk sales, over 100 vendors and free family entertainment. Free pony rides. Maynard Fest is traditionally followed by the Maynard Rotary Club's Oktoberfest at Clock Tower Place featuring a beer garden and fireworks.Free. 978-568-0360, assabetvalleychamber.org

Sat., Oct. 3. Barktober Fest. Plymouth. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. An event tailored to dog lovers of all ages. Pet costume contest, pet-related vendors, live entertainment and much more. 508-830-1620 or plymouthbarktoberfest.com.

Sat., Oct., 3: West Boylston Fall Festival. Town Common. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Live music and entertainment, food, children’s activities, artist demos, scarecrow decorating, doll carriage and wagon parade. Rain or shine. wbaf.org.


Sat., Oct. 3 and Sun., Oct. 4: Harvest Festival and 25th Anniversary.
Heifer International, Heifer Learning Center at Overlook Farm, 216 Wachusett St., Rutland. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Spend the day exploring the homes of Peru, Poland, Kenya and more without ever leaving New England. Enjoy Heifer animals and traditional children’s harvest games such as a hay maze. Purchase local pumpkins and browse fair trade and unique hand-crafted items from around the world. Enjoy a slice a cake in celebration of Heifer’s 25 years of inspiring Overlook visitors to help Heifer build a better world. Food booths on site or byo picnic lunch. A $5, C 12 and under, free. 508-886-2221, heifer.org/overlookevents.

Job Opening at baystateparent

baystateparent Magazine has a job opening for a business-minded, savvy person. Creative thinker, friendly, professional...someone who is passionate and willing to think outside the box to make things happen. Email Stephanie Pearl, baystateparent's sales and business development manager: stephaniep@baystateparent.com.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Saturday, October 10, 2009 in Harvard

Plan ahead! There's a festival in Harvard over Columbus Day weekend. Carrie

Harvard Flea Market

featuring 170 Booths of antiques, collectibles, household items



www.harvardfleamarket.com



HARVARD, Mass., September 22, 2009 – The League of Women Voters of Harvard and the Harvard Schools Trust are pleased to announce the upcoming 38th Annual Columbus Day Weekend Flea Market to be held on Saturday, October 10, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on the grounds of The Bromfield School in Harvard. (Rain date October 12, 2009)



Each year, thousands of bargain hunters attend this landmark event to select from a huge variety of goods including antiques, collectibles, memorabilia, furniture, glass, household items, sports equipment, toys, clothing, farmers market items and more. In addition, many nonprofits will be selling delicious fall harvest food items, including pies on the common for the 52nd year at the Congregational Church Apple Festival. Parking and restrooms will be available. Admission is a $3 donation per person; a $1 donation per child ages 6 – 12 and seniors ages 65 plus; and a $5 donation for early birds (before 9:00 a.m.).



This is the second consecutive year that the Harvard Schools Trust is co-sponsoring the flea market with Harvard’s League of Women Voters. Formerly, the Harvard Conservation Trust co-sponsored the event. All net proceeds from the 38th Annual Columbus Day Weekend Flea Market will be evenly split between the league and the Schools Trust, both local nonprofit organizations.



“The Harvard Schools Trust is thrilled to be co-sponsoring the flea market again this year with the League of Women Voters of Harvard,” said Steve Finnegan, Board of Directors, Harvard Schools Trust. “The Harvard Flea Market is a wonderful family and community fall harvest event, and we encourage everyone to come out and peruse the treasures in support of our schools.”



“The tremendous success of the Harvard Flea Market is due in great part to the help we receive each year from over 100 dedicated volunteers,” said Valerie Hurley, League of Women Voters. “We extend a wholehearted thanks to all our volunteers for their time and efforts which help support a great cause.”



Directions to Harvard Flea Market: The Bromfield School, 14 Massachusetts Ave. (Route 111), Harvard, MA 01541 (Take Exit 38A off Route 2 or Exit 28 off I495)



About The Harvard Schools Trust

The Harvard Schools Trust was formed in 1989 as a nonprofit, exclusively educational and charitable organization to raise funds to supplement the curriculum and activities of the Harvard Public Schools (www.psharvard.org). Through its grants program, the Trust provides Harvard Elementary School and the Bromfield School with supplemental curriculum support, equipment, extra-curricular experiences, and staff development. For more information email: info@harvardschoolstrust.org or visit the website at www.harvardschoolstrust.org.



About The League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters of Harvard (www.lwvharvard.org), established in 1950, is a local branch of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and the League of Women Voters of the United States. It is a non-partisan, multi-issue, grassroots organization whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in local, state, and federal government and to influence public policy through education. For Flea Market info email: fleamarket@lwvharvard.org or visit the website at www.harvardfleamarket.com.

Boston Ghost Cruises in October 2009

We received this listing too late to include in our Halloween print line-up of events (coming up in our October issue). Thought it would be fun to share it here since it sounds pretty unique. Have fun. Carrie

The Boston Ghost Cruises will return to Boston Harbor for several Halloween events October 24, 30 and 31. What better time of year to go out and see the sites and hear the tales. The frightfully exciting journeys offer terrifying encounters with Ghosts and Ghouls, dragging some of Boston’s oldest skeletons out of the closet.



The cruises are scheduled as follows:

Saturday, October 24 at 7 & 9 p.m.

Friday, October 30that 7:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 31st at 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. cruise recommended for families)

Tickets for Boston Ghost Cruises are on sale at www.bostonghostcruise.com or by calling 781-784-SHOW.

Art in the Afternoon: October 18, 2009 in Worcester

Arts in the Afternoon
October 18, 2009
2 - 6 p .m.
FREE admission
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
Main South Clubhouse
65 Tainter St., Worcester, MA

Live dance and chorus performances
Refreshments
Artwork from outstanding Worcester-area artists
student artists

508.754.2686, x 205

Meet Waiting Children, Sunday, September 27, 2009

Jordan’s Furniture Hosts “The Adoption Option”
to Find Adoptive Homes for Children in Foster Care



(Reading, MA) – Have you ever thought about adopting an older child or sibling group? If you have, then come to “The Adoption Option” on Sunday, September 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at Jordan’s Furniture, 50 Walker’s Brook Dr., Reading, MA.



Jordan’s Furniture hosts the event in collaboration with the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) and the Massachusetts Department of Children & Families (DCF) to help find permanent families for children in foster care. Adults and families who are interested in learning more about the process to adopt children from foster care are invited to this free informational event. Families who are new to adoption are encouraged to arrive promptly at 9:00 am for the “newcomers’ orientation” workshop to make the best use of the Adoption Option’s resources and opportunities.



“We are thrilled to continue our support of the adoption community,” says Eliot Tatelman, President and CEO of Jordan’s Furniture. “We meet so many wonderful children and families through our initiatives. Creating an environment to make these connections happen is what it is all about.”



Prospective adoptive parents will be able to meet Massachusetts’s waiting children and their social workers in an informal setting. Family entertainment, games, refreshments, and activities encourage interaction between waiting children and families.



“Adoption Parties are one of MARE’s most successful tools in placing children,” says MARE’s Executive Director Lisa Funaro. “These events allow families to meet face-to-face with children and make connections that may not happen otherwise. We are delighted to partner with Jordan’s Furniture to increase recruitment opportunities for children in foster care. These children want what most of us take for granted - the chance to blossom in a permanent, loving family.”



In Massachusetts, 2400 children currently in foster care have the goal of adoption, and more than 600 of those children have no aunt, grandparent, or other potential adopter. Nationwide, there are over 114,000 children in foster care in need of adoption. Older, school-aged children, sibling groups, children of color and/or children with special needs tend to wait the longest for families.



Prospective adoptive parents can be almost any age (18+); single, partnered, married, LGBT. Families of various income levels can adopt, as long as they have a stable source of income to support a child. There are no fees to adopt a child from foster care. Financial subsidies may be available, and children adopted from foster care are eligible to attend Massachusetts state colleges tuition-free provided they meet admission requirements.



For more information, or to register to attend The Adoption Option at Jordan’s Furniture, please visit www.mareinc.org or call MARE at 617-54-ADOPT (617-542-3678).

MARE is a private, non-profit organization, founded in 1957 to find “a permanent place to call HOME” for CHILDREN in foster care, including sibling groups and children who are traditionally harder to place.



Jordan’s Furniture is a nationally known four-store furniture retailer. Their innovative combination of entertainment and shopping has turned a local furniture store into a major retailer, drawing customers from all over New England. Philanthropy is a large part of the Jordan's business philosophy. During their 11-year partnership with MARE, Jordan’s has generously hosted and financed many information meetings and recruitment events. As a direct result of Jordan’s support, more than 215 children have found adoptive homes.



###

www.mareinc.org

45 Franklin Street, 5th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1301

MAIN # (617) 54-ADOPT or (617) 542-3678 • MA ONLY (800) 882-1176 • FAX (617) 542-1006 •TTY (617) 542-7772

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Get Out in October for Breast Cancer!

Think Pink Events
Plan a night out with the girls, spend a morning doing yoga, have a family fun day on the Charles, get a sitter for a date night…all to benefit breast cancer!

VOLUNTEER: Volunteers Needed for the American Cancer Society’s 17th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer ® Walk. Fri., Oct. 3 and Sat., Oct. 4. Help the day before the walk to prepare snack bags for walkers, as well as help set up the event. On Sun., Oct. 4 volunteers are needed to help set up and clean up, cheer on walkers, and act as route monitors. 800-ACS-2345, cancer.org/stridesonline.

WALK: The American Cancer Society’s 17th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade, Boston. Sat., Oct. 4. Registration and rolling start for this 5-mile walk is 8 -10 a.m. This is the nation’s oldest and largest one-day walk, raising nearly $40 million since 1993. 800-227-2345, cancer.org/stridesonline.

SHOP: Four Massachusetts Lord & Taylor stores (Braintree, Boston, Burlington and Natick) will hold a Lord & Taylor Benefit Bash on Tues., Oct. 6. Tickets are $5 each and must be purchased in advance. Each $5 ticket is worth 20% off the first item, including Ugg boots, and 15% off remaining purchases made that day including cosmetics and fragrances. Use your Lord & Taylor charge account and an additional 10% will be applied (or open a new account for another 15% off). Each $5 ticket benefits breast cancer organizations across the state including the Ellie Fund (elliefund.org) and Hope in Bloom, a non-profit organization that plants gardens free of charge at the homes of women and men in Massachusetts undergoing treatment for breast cancer. To order tickets, send a self-addressed stamped envelope and a $5 payment for each ticket to: Hope In Bloom, Inc., 202 Bussey St., Dedham, MA 02026. Visit hopeinbloom.org.

BOOK SIGNING PARTY AND SHOP: “You Can Do This!” Book Signing Parties with Author/Breast Cancer Survivor Kelley Tuthill from WCVB-TV5 on Sat., Oct. 17. Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs,Washington St., Hanover and Wed., Oct. 28, 8 Church St., Wellesley. Meet Kelley, enjoy yummy treats and take home an autographed copy of her book "You Can Do This! Surviving Breast Cancer without Losing your Sanity or your Style." Admission is free. Have fun shopping while helping The Ellie Fund fight breast cancer. 10% of all clothing purchases and 80% of all book purchases will be donated to the Ellie Fund's Care for the Caregiver program which provides transportation to medical appointments, childcare, housekeeping and meals free of charge for hundreds of women and families fighting breast cancer in MA. For more details, visit EllieFund.org.

YOGA: Hope in Bloom’s Strike a Pose on Sun., Oct. 18, 9 – 11 a.m. Jen Sundeen of The Durga Yoga Studio in Harvard will lead a two-hour vinyasa flow class at Fruitlands Museum for students of all levels. The practice will conclude with fresh juices, smoothies and vegetarian tapas. Consider spending the rest of the day at the museum, hiking one of the beautiful trails or picking apples at a nearby orchard. $30 per person. Advance registration and payment required. Checks should be made payable to Hope in Bloom and mailed to 202 Bussey St., Dedham, MA 02026. For more information, visit hopeinbloom.org or fruitlands.org.

NIGHT AT THE RITZ: Art beCAUSE Breast Cancer Foundation 7th Annual Gala and Celebration of Life at the Ritz Carlton in Boston. Thurs., Oct. 8. Includes a silent auction, music, dinner, dessert and complimentary wine, beer and specialty martinis. A special and inspiring collection of portraits of breast cancer survivors will be unveiled. Visit artbecause.org.

Art beCAUSE is also planning a Nov. 1st 5K in Worcester, a Nov. 8th Theatre Opening at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA, and a Nov. 15th brunch at Selections in Framingham. Details to come at artbecause.org.


GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT: The Ellie Fund for Breast Cancer’s Women in Comedy at the Hard Rock Café in Boston on Thurs., Oct. 15. Also on Fri., Oct. 30 at Memorial Hall in Plymouth. 6 p.m. Cocktail Reception, 7 p.m. Showtime. Join Emcee Susan Wornick of WCVB-TV5 for a hilarious evening featuring live performances by Boston's funniest comediennes plus great food, drinks, gift bags and more to benefit The Ellie Fund! Boston show: $30 in advance, $40 at the door (if available). Plymouth: $20 - $40 depending on seat location plus a $30 VIP Champagne Reception with the Stars (Susan Wornick and all the Comediennes). 781-449-0100, elliefund.org/comdey.

SHOP: Thirty Petals Supports the Ellie Fund. Thirty Petals Boutique, Belmont Center, Belmont. Sat., Oct. 17, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Get a mini-wardrobe consult with Susan Kanoff, enter a raffle, receive a free gift with purchase today. Thirty Petals will be donating 20% of its sales to the Ellie Fund, a non –profit organization that improves the lives of women in Massachusetts as they fight breast cancer. 617-489-2334, thirtypetals.com.

MAKE-UP TIPS: Skincare During Treatment at Images Oncology Boutique. Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Yawkey Center for Outpatient, 9th Fl., Suite 9B, 55 Fruit St., Boston. Thurs., Oct. 29, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Learn make-up tips from David Nicholas International and receive free samples of My Girl's Radiation Cream with tips to soothe and heal skin during and beyond treatment. Light luncheon and refreshments served. 617-726-3211. radiationcreme.com.

WALK: Tread for a Cause, Oct. 1 – 31st, at fitness clubs and YMCA’s across Massachusetts and the country to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). Walk on any pink CYBEX 750T treadmill throughout the month of October 2009, and CYBEX will donate funds for every mile logged. The pink treads, manufactured in Medway, MA, are currently at Super Fitness in Watertown, MA, Super Fitness in Quincy, MA and YYMCA/South Shore in Hanover, MA. Also visit Bodyscapes in Brookline and Southborough. For the month of October, Bodyscapes is donating $1 for every mile clocked on the pink treadmill to The Ellie Fund (and 5 cents for every mile thereafter for the entire year!). Anyone can come to the gym and enjoy a workout on the pink treadmill at Bodyscapes - you don't have to be a member! Bodyscapes is holding a fun Pink Treadmill Kick Off Party on October 1, 8 a.m. - Noon at its Southboro location and 5-8 p.m. at its Brookline location. The Brookline Kick Off will include lots of local celebrities and yummy treats. Admission is open to everyone and is free! if your gym has a commercial pink tread, or to inquire about getting one in your facilitly, visit: cybexintl.com.

To submit any family event to baystateparent’s November and/or December calendars, visit baystateparent.com and click “Submit an Event.” The deadline is always the 6th for the upcoming month.

Gluten-Free and Food Allergy Help in Massachusetts

Struggling with food allergies?

Here are two sources baystateparent recommends for help in dealing with your family's food allergies, particularly allergies to gluten:

BeFreeForMe.com. It’s a web based business (headquarters in Hopkinton) that helps those with celiac disease and food allergies, by sharing tips, ideas, recipes, saving ideas and coupons / coupon codes. The owner lives in Hopkinton and is very knowledgeable and resourceful in offering tips on how the entire family can live a happy, healthy life.

baystateparent's new advertiser, a Whitinsville holistic health counselor and mom, can help your family with food allergies, the gluten free lifestyle, and healthy eating. http://www.danielesrecipe4health.com/

Good luck on your journey, and please do send us any local sources that you have...
Carrie Wattu, editor

Vist the Mass Central Rail Trail: FREE FALL FUN

The Rail Trail is one of my family's favorite places to walk, run, ride bikes, walk the dog and enjoy nature. We park in the lot off of Route 140 (easy to get to off of Route 2 and 290). The kids ride bikes while we run or take the dog for some exercise. It's so beautiful because it's shady and follows a scenic river. No highway sounds! There are lots of people on the trail at most times so it's safe for mom to take the kids alone, and it's appropriate for strollers. Afterwards, have a picnic under the trees, visit Pride Park (nice, little playground) in West Boylston (It's on Route 140 on the left).

Afterwards, you can do some errands at Walmart.....get a baked good at Darby's Bakery....or take the kids to get some penny candy (Parker's Candy Store on Route 140 on the way to 290...just past Honey Farms on the left).


Please note there is a free family friendly event on the Rail Trail on Saturday, Sept. 26th. We have done this in the past. It's very well-done with complimentary activities and food. It's a low-key but engaging day in nature. Plus, it's an affordable and healthy way to spend the day.


Read below for more information on the Rail Trail.

Questions? Email editor@baystateparent.com or call 508.865.7070. Have fun!

Carrie Wattu, editor

A Special Place in Time

The Mass Central Rail Trail Is a Unique Community Resource


By Kenneth McDonnell
Wachusett Greenways Director
mcdonnellk@charter.net

Many find it a way to connect with nature. Some use it for exercise – walking, jogging, bicycling, cross-country skiing and more. For many young families, it’s an ideal destination for safe, off-street walking and stroller use on essentially flat terrain, or for a child’s first tentative ride on a bike. It can be a place to introduce children to the joys of reading in an idyllic setting far from televisions and computer games. Others find it a contemplative place to simply get away from it all.

Along some stretches you’ll find folks fishing the streams and ponds nestled just steps away. Still others value it for the connection to our shared heritage and history. And many people find it a worthwhile outlet for their desire to serve the community through a variety of volunteer opportunities.

The “it” is the Mass Central Rail Trail (MCRT), a multipurpose, non-motorized public way being developed in Worcester County since 1995 by Wachusett Greenways. This grassroots team of volunteers works year-round to connect the communities of the Wachusett region – Barre, Holden, Oakham, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, Sterling and West Boylston – with trails and greenways. Today the product of this “labor of love” is a unique community resource treasured by outdoor enthusiasts of all ages from all walks of life.

To date, Greenways and its partners have built 15 miles of rail trail, including six bridges and a tunnel, as they endeavor to complete the 30 midstate miles of the MCRT.

An Old Railway Reclaimed for All to Enjoy

Stretching from Northampton to downtown Boston, the MCRT – or simply the rail trail, as it’s known locally – traces the 104-mile route of the abandoned Massachusetts Central Railroad, which was shattered by a hurricane in 1938.
The MCRT is envisioned as the east-west spine of a Commonwealth trail network. Today parts of the MCRT are open, including the Greenways sections and the Norwottuck section, from Northampton to Amherst, under the management of the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Mile by mile, dedicated volunteers, property owners, government agencies and businesses are partnering in communities across the state to dig out the old Mass Central and open it up.

Many Hands Make Light Work

Each year, Wachusett Greenways manages to develop about one additional mile of rail trail. This summer, the trail was extended west between Muddy Pond, in Rutland, to Route 122 in Oakham. The work included construction of a new bridge to replace the original over Parker Brook, which was washed out in ’38. In time, the Wachusett Greenways section of the trail will extend into Barre.

Building a rail trail is an “all hands on deck” undertaking and often years in the making.First, since Wachusett Greenways owns almost none of the rail trail land itself, volunteers work with property owners and town and state officials to gain the right to reclaim the old railway and develop and maintain it as a rail trail.
Next, trail crews clear the thick growth of trees and underbrush that have choked the abandoned rail bed over the years. Bridges must be built to span waterways weaving beneath the trail. In Rutland, the old Mass Central tunneled beneath Charnock Hill Road, off of Route 122A. Today, a new tunnel, built through a partnership of the Town of Rutland, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the George I. Alden Charitable Trust and Wachusett Greenways, leads the traveler under the road near one of trail’s most dramatic points, the Charnock Cut, a quarter mile of railway excavated deep into sheer rock.

Greenways volunteers remove trees and chip the brush. Greenways then arranges with local contractors to remove stumps, grade the cleared rail bed, provide for proper drainage, put down a layer of gravel, and finally “pave” and roll it using crushed granite. The result is a finish smooth, level and hard enough for even wheelchair access – essentially a high quality unpaved 10-feet-wide trail passing through some the region’s most appealing terrain.

Since the rail trail traces an actual railway of the late 1800s, the maximum grade is about 1% in most places, or one foot of elevation for every 100 feet of distance. So walking, jogging, cycling and even baby strolling is can be as relaxing as a leisurely amble in the woods – or as strenuous as you like.

While the rail trail is Wachusett Greenways’ largest project, the group also helps develop other trails and open spaces, including the White Oak Trail in Holden, which connects to the trails of the town’s Trout Brook Reservation on Manning Street.
Work crews gather year-round to maintain completed sections of the trails for access and safety. Earlier this year, Greenways crews, in concert with town maintenance crews and workers from the DCR, worked long hours clearing the endless damage from last December’s devastating ice storm.

Year-round Outdoor Events

Wachusett Greenways sponsors outdoor activities throughout the year, enriching the lives of children and grown-ups of all ages. For example, its Family Fun Day offers something for everyone – trail exploration, games, food, bicycle safety activities, live music and much more. Held this year in September, the festivities took place in connection with Greenways’ annual Springdale Mill Celebration and the dedication of a restored section of the trail in West Boylston washed out last May due to beaver damming nearby.

The Springdale Mill historic site is located along the rail trail in Holden, adjacent to the Quinapoxet River. Interpretive signage installed by Greenways volunteers leads visitors through the site with an informative narrative describing the history and workings of the once-thriving woolen mill and tenement village. The Mill operated from 1864 until it was razed in 1906 in connection with the then newly constructed Wachusett Reservoir, which is fed by the Quinapoxet. Today the Mill site stands as a stark reminder of the industrial past of the Wachusett watershed.
Greenways also sponsors a full schedule of other events, which take place locally and across the region, including trail bike rides, hikes, nature walks, canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and more. (See accompanying events schedule.)

The Rousing Success of ‘StoryWalk’


In 2007, Greenways brought StoryWalk™ to the rail trail. In this free, interactive attraction, pages of a children’s book are posted along the trail, and the farther children and parents walk, the more engaged in the story they are likely to become.
Currently the StoryWalk features Danny and the Dinosaur, by Sid Hoff, on the trail in West Boylston. Earlier, StoryWalk showed Leaves, by David Ezra Stein, and The Mitten, by Jan Brett.

And the project has been an inspiring success, as the words of StoryWalk readers of all ages reveal. Hundreds of visitors have taken the time to write comments in guest books posted on the trail following the last page of each story.
“It was osum! [sic.], proclaimed one six-year-old. And not just kids enjoy StoryWalk. Under Ages of Children, one grown-up wrote “young at heart,” another “inner child.” Others commented, “Best walk ever with a 5-year old!” “Thanks for the bonus reason to come out on the trail” and, from a youthful 55-year-old, “I loved it! It reminded me of my childhood heart, the heart I seek each time I’m on this trail.”

StoryWalk’s crowning moment was perhaps the time the West Boylston High School girls’ running team came by, and without breaking stride, one of the girls yelled out the text of each page to the her compatriots.

Volunteers Can Do Wonders

Wachusett Greenways thrives thanks to the vitality of volunteers. From trail work and beautification, to planning and leading events, to grant writing, producing newsletters and website content, and other initiatives, Greenways offers a host of rewarding volunteer opportunities. And it’s a great way to make new friends and do worthwhile things for the community, the Wachusett watershed – and yourself. New volunteers are always welcome!

Although access to its trails and events is free, Wachusett Greenways welcomes members and contributions to help construct and maintain the trail. As a nonprofit 501c(3) organization, contributions are tax-deductible. Membership in Wachusett Greenways is an ideal way to stay connected with the organization, keep current on news about trail progress, and learn about similar organizations across New England.
And please come out and join us in all Wachusett Greenways has to offer!
For more information, please visit www.wachusettgreenways.org.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Fine Dining, Family-Style in Boston on Friday, Sept. 25

baystateparent just received this listing for Friday, Sept. 25th. What a great way to enjoy the city while the kids are entertained with the Institute of Contemporary Art. I hope this catches on and is a new way to dine out...easier than getting a sitter in some ways!


“Fine Dining, Family-Style” at Aura Restaurant with The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston

September 25, 2009

5:30 – 8:00 PM

$30 prix fixe menu for adults

Children’s Menu w/ healthy kid-friendly favorites



To kick off its “Fine Dining, Family-Style” dinner series this fall, Aura Restaurant at the Seaport Hotel hosts the ICA/Boston for a night of art and dining for families. Kathleen Lomatoski of the ICA/Boston will lead a family-friendly, art-focused talk and provide materials for an interactive art activity in the play space. While Mom and Dad enjoy a creative prix-fixe menu from Chef Rachel Klein, kids nosh on healthy versions of their favorite foods, while romping around the specially-designated play area.



Fine Dining, Family-Style is a great way for parents to enjoy a gourmet night out with the family in a relaxed atmosphere perfect for kids to play. And to have partnered with the ICA on our first event – we couldn’t be more excited!

Aura at the Seaport Hotel

One Seaport Lane

Boston, MA

617.385.4300

www.aurarestaurant.com

Girls Night: The Musical Coming to Boston: Oct. 13 - Nov. 22

Girls Night: The Musical, the off-Broadway hit, comes to Boston’s Club Café for a limited engagement, beginning Tuesday, October 13 and running through Sunday, November 22. Written by Louise Roche and directed by Jack Randle, Girls Night is bursting with energy and is packed with every notable female anthem,includingGirls Just Want to Have Fun, I Will Survive, We Are Family, and Lady Marmalade. Press night is set for Wednesday, October 21 at 7:30 PM.



Girls Night: The Musical has earned rave reviews, playing packed houses throughout the United Kingdom since 2003. It premiered in the US in May 2007 and has toured across the country since then. Currently playing a sold-out, open ended run at New York’s Downstairs Cabaret Theatre, it has been described as “’Desperate Housewives’ meets Mamma Mia!” (Applause Magazine), “a boisterous, bust-out, bawdy musical revue” (Wisconsin State Journal), “An infectious, exhilarating sense of intoxication!” (Hollywood Reporter) and “As funny and outrageous as Sex and the City!” (The Advocate).



A touching and hilarious 'tell-it-like-it-is' look at the lives of a group of female friends, Girls Night: The Musical follows five friends in their 30s and 40s as they re-live their past, celebrate their present and look to the future on a wild and hilarious night out at a karaoke bar. Friends since their teens, they have all had their fair share of heartache and tragedy, joy and success. Among the characters are Carol the party girl, blunt Anita who tells it like it is, Liza with her marital (and eating) issues, boring Kate the designated driver and Sharon, the not-so-angelic angel who just couldn’t resist tagging along. Together, they reminisce about their younger days, celebrate their current lives and look to the future, all the while belting out an array of classic anthems such as It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, Lady Marmalade, We Are Family, Man I Feel Like a Woman, and Girls Just Want to Have Fun.



The Boston engagement marks the latest chapter in Girls Night’s meteoric rise from an idea in a British mother’s kitchen, through a community production, medium scale tour and culminating in 2006 in an extensive National Tour in the U.K., starring Lucy Speed (“EastEnders”) and Gwyneth Strong (“Only Fools and Horses”). The story behind Girls Night is an inspiration to any writer still waiting for their big break. Louise Roche, a mother of three children under five, went out one night with a group of friends to see a musical. She looked around the theatre, saw that the audience was mostly women and thought “I could do this…I could write a show that lots of women will enjoy watching.” So she did. She went home and wrote her first play, Girls Night; since that modest beginning, Girls Night has gone from success to success.



Performances of Girls Night: The Musical are Tuesday thru Saturday evenings at 7:30 PM, with matinees on Saturdays at 4 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. The show runs at Club Café, 209 Columbus Ave., Boston MA, for six weeks, playing October 13 through November 22. Nearby parking is available at several area garages, including the John Hancock Garage on Clarendon St. Tickets for all performances are $55 and may be purchased online at www.girlsnightthemusical.com or by phone at 877-386-6968.

Free admission at Fitchburg Art Museum/Cool Family Snapshot Exhibit

A great chance to check out art in Fitchburg as well as a cool exhibit...


Fitchburg Art Museum will have free admission on Thursday October 1 from 4pm
to 8pm as part of Mayor Wong¹s First Thursday celebrations. This will be the
first opportunity to see the Point Click Shoot ­ Snapshots Celebrating Life
exhibitions.
Every family has its snapshots: Holidays, vacations,
weddings, senior proms and back yard barbecues. Come and view a collection
of 200 snapshots and individual albums along with vintage snapshot cameras.

Docent tour at 5:30 p.m. and children activity sheets for gallery
exploration, and paper and pencils for sketching. Please call on 978 345
4207 or visit www.fitchburgartmuseum.org. The Museum is wheelchair
accessible and is located at 25 Merriam Parkway, Fitchburg, MA 01420.

About the Fitchburg Art Museum
The Fitchburg Art Museum is North Central Massachusetts¹s oldest and most
treasured cultural institution, founded in 1925 through a bequest of artist
and educator Eleanor Norcross. Fourteen galleries house a diverse
collection of over 3,000 objects spanning more than fifty centuries. These
include American and European paintings, prints, drawings and decorative
arts as well as Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Asian and pre-Columbian antiquities,
and changing exhibitions.
Highlights from the permanent painting collections include masterworks from
John Singleton Copley, Rockwell Kent, Georgia O¹Keeffe, Joseph Stella, Raoul
Dufy and Joseph Wright of Derby.

Hours: Wednesday ­ Friday, Noon ­ 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 11 am ­ 5 pm.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Admission: Free for members; $7 for adults. $5 for seniors and students
(13+). Fitchburg Art Museum supports Fitchburg¹s First Thursday program and
is free from 4.30 p.m. ­ 8 p.m. every first Thursday of the month. The
Museum is wheelchair accessible.
Info: Call 978 345 4207 or visit www.fitchburgartmusuem.org/
.
Contacts: Peter Timms ­ Director. Email - ptimms@fitchburgartmusuem.org
. Phone ­ 978 342 4207 ext 301 -
Fiona Casey ­Director of Marketing.
Email ­ fcasey@fitchburgartmuseum.org
or phone ­ 978-342-4207 ext 31

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Free September 20th Back to School Central Mass Roller Derby Event

Central Mass Roller Derby
Back to (S)kool
September 20, 6-10pm
Support your local Roller Derby league this coming Sunday September 20 from 6-10pm as Central Mass Roller Derby presents Back to (S)kool at Roll On America in Lancaster.

Greater Worcester's roller derby league is hosting an open skate with three live rockabilly/punk bands - Second Class Citizens, Creepin' Cadavers and The Prozacs.

Plus back to skool games, raffles, vendors and much more!

$10 at the door (skate rental not included), kids 12 and under free.

Help CMRD raise funds needed to kick off their first bouting season in 2010.

rollonamerica.com

Sunday, October 4: FREE at MIT

Just in....

To celebrate the opening of the MIT Museum’s newest exhibition, Sampling MIT, the museum will be hosting Innovation Sunday on October 4th from 12:00 – 5:00 pm. The Museum will be free all day and visitors can see the latest 3D television, learn how molecules and viruses are being manipulated to make everyday consumer products such as batteries, examine the future of solar energy and the practicalities of human spaceflight, experiment with the new HoloPod camera while looking at marine organisms, and sign up to participate in a breakthrough research study on the human brain. There will be a wide range of family friendly science related activities happening throughout the afternoon and researchers and scientists will be on hand to talk about the exhibit and answer questions.



Innovation Sunday Event

Sunday, October 4, 2009

12:00 – 5:00 pm

MIT Museum

265 Massachusetts Avenue

Cambridge, MA

617/253-5927

Free & Open to the public

For more information go to http://web.mit.edu/museum

Monday, September 14, 2009

Monday, November 2: A Mexican Celebration in Boston

Celebrate Day of the Dead. Forest Hills Trust, Jamaica Plain. November 2, 4 – 6 p.m. A traditional Mexican celebration of remembrance co-sponsored by The Latin American folkloric performance group La Pinata. Based on the ancient traditions of Mexico's indigenous peoples who believed that the souls of the dead return each year to visit their families, the Day of the Dead celebrates the continuous cycle of life and death, embracing cultures from all throughout the Americas. Enjoy a program of music and dance as individuals bring offerings of flowers, copies of photos, mementos, and traditional skull-shaped sugar candies to leave on a decorated candle-lit altar for those departed loved ones. 617-524-3150, foresthillstrust.org.

Harry Potter Fans October 2009

Harry Potter fans, look what's coming to Boston in October!

Harry Potter: The Exhibition. Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. Opens Sunday, October 25.Peer into the wizard's world in a new exhibit featuring more than 200 authentic props and costumes from the Harry Potter films, all displayed in settings inspired by the film sets -- including the Great Hall, Hagrid's hut and the Gryffindor™ common room. View iconic film artifacts such as Harry's glasses, the Marauder's Map, and Hermione's Yule Ball gown, and pause to pull a screeching Mandrake from its pot or try your hand at tossing a "Quaffle."A $6 PP, C (3-11) $23. 617-723-2500, mos.org.

Two Corn Mazes

Check out these corn mazes for fall fun:

Marini Farm Corn Maze. 259 Linebrook Rd., Ipswich. 3 – 6 p.m. (Also Fridays 3 – 6 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. – 6 .p.) Through October 31.
Experience one of the largest and most challenging corn mazes in the New England region. Travel ear to ear in 8 acres of interactive learning and adventure. A $9.50; children under 12, $7.50978-356-0430, marinifarm.com


Mike’s Corn Maze. Warner Farm, 25 Main St., Sunderland. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Through October 31. 173rd anniversary of the conclusion of the voyage of The HMS Beagle. The maze features the famed British naturalist Charles Darwin with his penetrating gaze chiseled out of solid corn. Darwin is pictured with an assortment of the galapagos finches whose habitats were isolated volcanic islands. Put on your farm appropriate footwear and come for a nature walk along miles of corn-lined trails. No pets. A $9, C (4-12) $6. 413-665-8331, mikemaze.com.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Leominster Moms!

Don't go it alone. Get out and meet some moms and friends for the kids. All are welcome!

Leominster Moms: The Leominster Moms Club is meeting on Mon., Sept. 14, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., at the Leominster Library for their monthly meeting. All welcome. FREE! leominstermomsclub.com.

Walk N Wag: Sun., Sept. 20 in Sturbridge

It's free admission on Sun., September 20th to Walk N Wag at the Hamilton Rod and Gun Club from 10:30 a .m. to 4 p.m. Rain or shine! Walk begins at 12:15. Raise funds for the Second Chance Animal Shelter! Win Prizes!

Activities include: K-9 demos, doggie contests, dog costume parade, vendors, photography, microchipping, agility and much more.

Chicken bbq, vegan dishes and snack foods

secondchanceanimals.org
508.867.5525

Monday, September 7, 2009

Braces for 8 year olds?

Hi There,
Anyone have any words of wisdom when braces are recommended for an 8-year-old?
There is a lot of conflicting reactions and discussion out there, and it's making me lose my confidence.
I did some online research last night regarding my daughter's underbite, and it appears, when it's a skeletal issue, braces are one way to move the jaw. Its recommended to do this early (age 8). Still, headgears, pallate expanders and surgery may be done. I can't fine anything that says children outgrow an underbite.
Any words of wisdom from those of you who have been through it?
Carrie Wattu, editor

The Shofar Factory and Pre-Rosh Hashana Fun Fai

just sent in to the editors at baystateparent:

The Shofar Factory and Pre-Rosh Hashana Fun Fair is open to the general public on Sunday, September 13th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Chabad Center, 159 Boden Lane in Natick. Admission is $8 per person (children 2 and under are free) and family price is $20. For an additional fee of $9 participants can purchase and make their own Shofar. Reservations are helpful and appreciated but not required. Call or email by Sept. 8 if you wish to guarantee a shofar for you to make. For more information or reservation please call 508-650-1499 or email education@chabadnatick.com. You may also visit www.chabadnatick.com.

Friday, September 4, 2009

Free Yoga Class on Fri., Sept. 11 at Lucy in Natick

Hi Everyone, baystateparent features clothes from Lucy in our September issue (check out the hooping article). Here's a free way to diversify your workouts:

On September 11th, Framingham's Center for Yoga will be holding two 30min yoga classes for beginners inside the Lucy store in Natick. The first class will be Krupala at 11am and the second class will be a Hatha class at 1pm. Everyone is encouraged to bring a mat. Everyone will receive a free class at the Center for Yoga.

lucy | natick
1245 worcester st. | suite 1154 | natick, ma 01760
t 508.647.4752 | f 508.647.4769
store_natick@lucy.com

Sunday, September 27: Birthday Party at the Children's Museum of New Hampshire

Hi Readers,
baystateparent just received this event. Have you checked out this museum yet? It moved locations last year. Have Fun! Carrie

Children’s Museum Birthday Celebration Features Live Entertainment, Cake & Ice Cream


(Dover, NH / September 3, 2009) – The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire will celebrate its 26th birthday on Sunday, September 27 with an afternoon of activities and treats, including birthday cake and ice cream for all, special live entertainment and party games.

The Children’s Museum Annual Birthday Celebration runs from noon – 5 pm, and the schedule includes:

12-5 pm: “Touch A Truck” Ambulance Awareness – Climb aboard and explore a real ambulance with the professionals from McGregor Memorial EMS

1 pm: Author visit - John Stadler, author of The Cats of Mrs. Calamari and other children’s books, will meet young fans and show how a book is created from start to finish

2:30 pm: Puppet Show - Lesley Smith and the Theatre of Life Puppets will present an eco-themed puppet show featuring Sammy Snail

Ongoing activities during the celebration will include face painting and party games, and each child can make and decorate a special birthday crown to wear home.

Delicious refreshments will be available throughout the day. Guests are invited to enjoy a slice of birthday cake generously provided by Harvey’s Bakery and ice cream generously supplied by River Bend Variety. Both businesses are neighbors of the museum in downtown Dover and have provided lots of help and support to the museum during its first year in the Garrison City.

The Children’s Museum was founded in 1983 in Portsmouth and moved to its current larger location in Dover in July 2008.

All birthday party festivities are included in the regular price of admission: $8 for children and adults, $7 for seniors, and free for museum members and children under age one. Children's Museum of New Hampshire; 6 Washington Street, Dover NH 03820; 603-742-2002; www.childrens-museum.org.


About the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire

The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is located at 6 Washington Street in Dover and offers two levels of hands-on, custom-created exhibits for children ages 1-12. Children can explore a wide range of subjects, from dinosaurs, music and aeronautics to world cultures, art and natural history. Open year-round, the museum hosts a variety of live performances, workshops, classes and special events for families. For more information, please call the museum at (603) 742-2002 or visit www.childrens-museum.org.