WEEKEND PICKS: Two Ideas for Saturday, April 28

Here are two BONUS Calendar events happening this Saturday, April 28 -- not in our print edition!!!

1. It’s Spring! What child doesn’t love exploring ponds to find the prize: salamanders and frogs? Bring the kids to a Vernal Pool Exploration at the Mass Central Rail Trail in Rutland at 10 a.m. Your family will learn that a vernal pool can be a mere puddle or a huge body of water. The important thing is that it’s where frogs and salamanders go to lay their eggs. Meet in the parking on the state park entrance road. Call Robin Peters 508-886-6541 with questions and to register. Wear boots or old sneakers - you may get wet. For more information visit http://www.wachusettgreenways.org/. (FYI - This is the postponed event from Saturday, April 7 at 10 a.m.)

2. A Family Fun Fair for families with children under the age of 5 will be held at the Kane Elementary School, 520 Farm Road in Marlborough from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Families will meet childcare providers, preschool centers, local businesses, community resources, family-focused organizations, and children’s entertainers. There will be many free prizes and giveaways. Puppet-making with the Arts Alliance and entertainment by musicians and storytellers will ensure plenty of fun, free activities for children and their families. There is ample parking for this FREE event. The Fair is wheelchair-accessible. For additional information call 508-485-0085. The Fair is sponsored by the Community Partnerships for Children and the Assabet Valley Family Network, a non-profit organization that provides education and support to families with children aged pre-birth through 3 years, who reside in Hudson, Marlborough, Northborough, Southborough and Westborough and is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.

***Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to area food pantries

FRIDAY is HOOD Milk Bottle Day in Boston --- Ice Cream at 11 a.m.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the giant Hood Milk Bottle's "Great Bottle Sail"-- a journey by barge across Boston Harbor to its final destination at the Boston Children's Museum has declared tomorrow (Friday, April 20) Hood Milk Bottle Day.
At 11 a.m., there will be a small ceremony attended by Hood Vice President Jeffrey J. Kaneb, Lou Casagrande, president of the Children's Museum, the mayor, and the "Hoodsie Twins" mascots, who will handout ice cream to the children who attend the public gathering.
The bottle had disappeared from its popular spot during the renovations for the museum this past winter. The museum re-opened to the public last Saturday and will welcome the milk bottle back as its neighbor tomorrow.

For those driving in please note the Congress St. Bridge is currently closed to traffic. For driving directions and parking information available at:www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/plan/directions_car.html

WEEKEND PICK: Easter Egg Hunt at Belkin Family Lookout Farm

WHAT: The Easter Bunny will make a special stop at Belkin Family Lookout Farm Saturday to hide Easter eggs for kids and pose for pictures. Children can also partake in crafts and face painting. There will be special prizes for Moms and Dads too!
WHEN: Saturday, April 7th from 10 a.m. to noon (Photos are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
WHERE: Belkin Family Lookout Farm, The Farm Market & Garden Center, 89 Pleasant St. in South Natick
COST: Egg hunt & crafts are FREE. Photos with Easter Bunny are $5 each.
Belkin Family Lookout Farm has been in operation since 1651, and is one of the oldest continuously working farms in the United States. Lookout Farm grows a variety of fruit and organic vegetables, creating the most nutritious and tasty produce possible. Joan and Steve Belkin purchased the 180-acre farm in 2005, and their family is dedicated to continuing 350 years of farm tradition for future generations

LOOKING FOR OTHER EASTER EVENTS THIS WEEKEND?
Check out what's inside the April issue of Bay State Parent magazine at:
http://www.baystateparent.com/news/2007/0401/Articles/018.html