Brick House's Back to School Event
BH’s Healthy Start! Back-to-School Event Joins the Turners Block Party!
In an effort to support even more children as they prepare to return to school, The Brick House’s third annual Healthy Start! Back-to-School Event will be presented as one facet of the second annual Turners Falls Block Party, which drew approximately 1,000 people to Avenue A last summer. Offering free dental screenings; the creation of child I.D. packets (with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department); information on healthy eating (from the Community Health Center of Franklin County), fire safety (from the Turners Falls Fire Department), local Scout troops, school PTOs, and other family support options; free school supplies and healthy snacks; and free haircuts for school-age children, Healthy Start! is intended to give local children a boost before they return to school. Volunteers from The Brick House will also be offering free face painting to the children who drop by.
Dr. Dara Darabi, whose Avenue A Dental office is at the corner of Fifth Street, performed free dental screenings during the two previous events that took place at The Brick House. This year, he generously offered his office space, and we decided to fold our event into the Block Party, which will enable us to support a much larger number of children. Dental screenings and the making of Children I.D. packets will take place inside Avenue A Dental from 2:00 to 5:00 pm, and the remaining activities being presented on the sidewalk and in the parking spaces in front of the office.
The Brick House could use your help in this endeavor, especially since we have no idea how many kids may come through the door. We are seeking hairstylists who would be willing to donate an hour or more of their time in order to give children free back-to-school haircuts. It would be great to have three or four people giving haircuts at the same time, because it would allow more children to be served. We are also asking for donations toward the purchase of school supplies. Children usually receive a few folders, pencils in a pencil box, and a box of crayons. It would be wonderful to be able to give these starter items to all of the children who come to us. Lastly, if anyone might be interested in just being a presence at the event, in order to support the staff members and help the families that will drop by, we would welcome the assistance. If you would like to become involved in, or monetarily support, this event, please contact Karen Stinchfield at 863-9576 or kstinchfield@thebrickhouseinc.
We are always looking to connect with community members who would like to be involved in making RiverCulture projects happen. We have specific opportunities as well as big picture planning. From October's Haunted House, to Feast for the Arts, to helping us with a marketing plan, to many things in between, we have something just right for you. 
It is the battered cassette jammed in the tape deck of the getaway car, the music Ida Lupino cues up on the roadhouse jukebox as she counts the till after close. This is Queen of the Minor Key by Eilen Jewell, a smart cookie with a heart of burnished gold and enough stories to keep even the rowdiest crowd hanging on her every word. Though its long shadows and dark corners make her kingdom feel intimate, her sovereign domain stretches as far as the imagination. Its denizens seek refuge in padded rooms, abandoned automobiles... and strong spirits. They defend their territory by any means necessary: weird voodoo, sawed-off shotguns, broken bottles. 
Come partake in merriment and play as you are transported to another time: Merchants hawking their wares, Games to test the skills of both children and adults, Stages showcasing the realm's finest entertainers! Wander the streets listening to minstrels infusing the air with music. Meet Robin Hood and his Merry Men as well as Maid Marian! But watch out for the Sheriff! And the Twisted Pixies! 
The Strathmore Mill Redevelopment Project will result in the restoration of a picturesque brick mill complex and adjacent grounds to its place as a cornerstone of the community and downtown economy in the historic village of Turners Falls, Massachusetts. The Town of Montague seeks an innovative partner to serve as master developer for this unique redevelopment opportunity in a location that boasts both natural beauty and the conveniences of an urban area. 
RiverCulture is the proud recipient of the 2011/2012 
