Listings, Events, Attractions - July 3-August 1, 2010

July 3, Play Ball! An All-American Festival, noon-4 p.m. at Norman Rockwell Museum. Celebrate America's favorite pastime and the art of Norman Rockwell. Meet Linda Ruth Tosetti, Babe Ruth's granddaughter; learn about the major leagues from Brian Daubach, former Red Sox first baseman; and more. July 3-4, Greater New Bedford Summerfest is back for it's 15th year. This festival brings over 150 performers and artisans to the historic district of New Bedford. The two-day festival hosts folk music on seven stages throughout the New Bedford Whaling Historical Park, The Artisan's marketplace, the Fine Arts Arena, and the International Bazaar. July 9, Cartoon Network Presents: Move It!, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Norman Rockwell Museum. Cartoon Network, Time Warner, and Norman Rockwell Museum, are bring the brand new Move It Movement to Stockbridge. Exciting themed activity and learning stations include a Skate Park Challenge, NBA/WNBA FIT Activity Zone, Crayola Outdoor Challenge, and more. July 9-10, Knit and Crochet Show at the Radisson Hotel Manchester at the Center of New Hampshire, Manchester, NH. Thousands of crocheters and knitters from the Northeast and across the country will be practicing their purls and chains and spotting their favorite color ways in skeins of fiber. For novice to pro with a crochet hook or set of knitting needs, the event provides a host of activities for learning and enjoyment. Members of CGOA and TKGA enter the show floor free. The public is invited; tickets are $10 ($5 for each additional day). Two dollar off coupons can be downloaded from www.knitandcrochetshow.com. Children 12 and under enter free. CGOA and TKGA memberships are available online or on site at the show's registration counter for those who want to join and save. July 10, 7th Annual Ceil Goral Tag Sale, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Senior Center, 67 Conz St. Clean out your attic and de-clutter your home for a good cause by donating your unwanted treasures to the Council on Aging. Proceeds support Senior Center programs and services. Free and open to the public. Donations are the key to the tag's sale's success. So community members are asked to donate items that the do not use. In general, the most popular items are things that other people need and will use. The NCOA will accept household items, jewelry, small pieces of furniture, children's games, toys and collectibles for the tag sale. Donations for the tag sale will be accepted starting June 29, on weekdays from 9:30-11:30 a.m., and 3-4 p.m. or by appointment. We cannot accept donations of books, clothing or large appliances for this event. For more info call 587-1228. July 12, MCAS and SAT Prep courses will be included in STCC's College for Kids Program designed for students in grades 2-11. Courses will run from July12-22 and July 26-Aug 5. Applications are not being accepted. Courses fill up quick, so early enrollment is strongly recommended. For more info, visit http://cbt.stcc.edu/collegeforkids or call 413-755-4501. July 13, Ice Cream Social and Karaoke, at the Senior Center, 67 Conz St. Northampton seniors are invited to enjoy a free ice cream sundae while listening to or participating in karaoke from 1:30-3:30 p.m. There is no cost but pre-registration is required. Info: 587-1228. July 14, Some of the Best Water in the World, Westfield. Meeting time 9:30 a.m. Leader Jack Megas (782-3962). Some of the world's highest-quality drinking water comes from our region. So why pay for bottled water, with all its associated environmental problems transportation cost, misuse of petrochemical resources, ocean trash, landfill issues, etc.? Join us for a tour of our local water facility, the West Parrish Filters, run by Springfield Water and Sewer Commission. Call Megas for directions. www.naturalist-club.org. July 14, "Beethoven's Ninth" at 7 p.m. at the DCR's Hatch Shell on Boston's Esplanade adjacent to the Charles River and Storrow Drive. Boston Landmarks Orchestra with Conductor and Artistic Director Charles Ansbacher, the New World Chorale directed by Holly Krafka, and soloists Jayne West (soprano), Mary Westbrook-Geha (mezzo-soprano), Robert Honeysucker (bass), and Matthew DiBattista (tenor) will perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 ("Choral") for the first concert of its 2010 Landmarks Festival at the Shell. The program will also include Beethoven's "Consecration of the House" overture. All concerts are free and open to the public. For more info visit www.landmarksorchestra.org or call 617-520-2200. July 15, Catching a Breath of Air at Ashley Reservoir, Holyoke, starting at 8:30 a.m. Leader: Colette Potter (786-1805). Let's head out for an early morning scenic walk along a flat waterfront trail on this midsummer day. Come along on this pleasant stroll, conversing the while away, reacquainting yourself with the birds and plants all around. Call to register and for meeting place. Bring your binoculars and dress for the weather. Bad weather cancels. www.naturalist-club.org July 16-18, Annual Festival Betances. For the 36th year, this festival produced by Inquillinios Boricuas en Accion, Casa de la Culture, and the residents of Villa Victoria, will celebrate Puerto Rican and Latino arts and culture through a variety of family events, traditional foods, crafts and vendors. July 18, Ferns and Their Relatives for Beginners, from 2-4 p.m. Leader: Dave Lovejoy. About 50 species of ferns and their relatives (club-mosses and horsetails) grow in Hampden County. Some have rather articular ecological requirements and are not found in the Sanctuary, but about a dozen species are rather common and should be fairly easily found on this casual walk. All walks and workshops will meet at the entrance sign to the Frank Stanley Beveridge Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, Stanley Park, Westfield, and will cancel if there is heavy rain. Bring along your field guides, binoculars, and camera. Call park headquarters at 568-9312, with any questions. July 18 and 25, Aug. 1 and 8, Axiom Events Acoustic Concerts at Sevey Park, Main Street, Wilbraham with the permission of the Wilbraham Conservation Commission. Sign up at 1 p.m.; 2-4 p.m. for performances; 4-5 p.m. for clean-up. Pleasant park atmosphere. Bring your own lawn chairs and lemonade. Also call for artists, musicians, and actors. Monologue/dialog, reading, poetry, etc. for Axiom Events Acoustic Concerts. Pre-event publicity only when PR is received with sufficient lead time of six to eight weeks. Info: 543-9340; email: pjzz@mapinternet.com. July 25, Brockton Cape Verdean Day is an annual celebration, which honors the culture of Cape Verde. July 30-Aug 1, Great Connecticut Traditional Jazz Festival. This family oriented weekend held at The Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Meriden, CT is celebrating its 24th year in 2010. The jazz festival includes a total of four venues, 2 inside and 2 tents, making for a music filled experience that everyone can enjoy. Bands and artists include but are not limited to, Sarah Spencer, Sugarfoot (Youth) Jazz Band, Triple Play, and Stephanie Trick. Food, water, soda, wine and beer will be available at affordable prices. Personal coolers are not allowed on the grounds. Parking is free! For more info, reservations, group tickets, etc., call 1-800-468-3836. Ongoing, QuickBooks Training for Small Businesses will be offered by The Center for Business and Technology at Springfield Technical Community College for current and prospective entrepreneurs. Program instructor Amy Grabowski, owner of Fiscal Training Solutions, a company that provides custom QuickBooks consultation and training will lead the 8-hour workshop. CBT also offers more advanced/specialized web-based training programs. Interested individuals can go to http://cbt.stcc.edu or call (413) 755-4225 or 755-4501. Ongoing, Web-Based Medical Coding and Billing Specialist Program. The Center for Business and Technology at Springfield Technical Community College invites those interested in gaining coding skills for entry-level positions or preparing for the AAPC Certification Exam. Individuals who successfully complete the certification exam after completion of the program will be known as Certified Professional Coders. Courses begin every 8 weeks. Ongoing, Walking Club. CCOA Health & Fitness coordinator Violet Suska and dedicated volunteers will continue their seasonal walking program on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:45-10:45am (weather permitted). For more information call 534-3698. Ongoing, Shine Counselor. Chicopee Senior Center will begin hosting a shine counselor Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-4pm by appointment only. Call 534-398 to make your appointment or for more information. Tuesdays and Thursdays in July and August, Historic Property Tour, 2:30 p.m., Norman Rockwell Museum. Explore the rich history of the region and Linwood, our 1859 Berkshire cottage, with Curator of Education Tom Daly, during an invigorating walk and talk on the museum's bucolic grounds.