St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.
Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.
First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.
Nov. 28 Becket Federated Church, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.
Dec. 5
Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here.
We're trying out blogs to offer shorter, easy-to-find news. Let us know what you think.
Send press releases and announcements to info@iberkshires.com. Need to contact someone at iBerkshires? Here's how.
Mammography Dispute The government's issued controversial new guidelines stating that women shouldn't get annual mammograms until age 50, rather than age 40.
iBerkshires will be meeting with local medical experts Monday. Have a question you'd like answered on this issue? Send it info@iberkshires.com with "mammogram" in the subject line.
By the American Counseling Association 01:35PM / Thursday, July 17, 2008
Family Driving Vacations Don't Have To Be Stressful
Planning a family summer vacation with a fair amount of driving? Although we can't reduce the stress of today's gas prices, we can offer suggestions to make traveling with your kids more pleasant.
Start by remembering how boring car trips can be for someone locked in that back seat.
Entertainment distractions, like books, games, puzzles and handheld electronic games, can keep kids occupied, reduce boredom and avoid family stress.
Music is also a great pacifier for kids, especially teens. Earbuds and an MP3 or portable CD player mean happier traveling kids and quiet time for Mom and Dad. Another popular option is an inexpensive (often under $100), portable DVD player. A few DVDs and earphones usually yield hours of quiet, happy kids.
Help your kids plan their "boredom breakers." Have them pack a "fighting boredom" bag of fun goodies. For younger children, help them choose a variety of engaging items, then hand them out one at a time during the trip, including a couple of new surprises you snuck in.
For car-seat toddlers, have a basket of toys and as each one gets dropped, just hand over another. At the next rest stop, put them back in the basket and start over again.
Of course, you'd also like the kids to actually experience some of the trip. One technique is to have them map out the travel route, listing landmarks and interesting things, before the trip. Then let them track the trip progress on the map and tell you when something is coming up.
Stopping at some of the most inviting ones keeps kids involved, helps break the boredom, and provides opportunities to stretch and blow off steam. Plus you'll often see entertaining or enlightening things.
And breaks, even short ones, do matter. Teens might endure ten hours of driving, but most small kids will melt down after six. Make the journey, not just the destination, part of your vacation fun.
Finally, don't forget how much food counts. A hungry child is never a happy child.
Bring along snacks and a cooler of drinks, or make frequent food stops. Well-fed youngsters and teens make for better traveling companions.
Driving is often necessary for many family vacations and still the most economical way to travel with a family. With a little planning, lots of entertaining distractions, and plenty of snacks, your family driving vacation can not only be less stressful, but a lot more enjoyable.
"The Counseling Corner" is provided as a public service by the American Counseling Association, the nation's largest organization of counseling professionals. Learn more about the counseling profession at the ACA Web site, www.counseling.org.
