 The Last Day
By: Amy To Our Kindergarten Teacher: Ms. Kimball. It seems like yesterday we walked into her classroom. I remember that day very clearly, my first born, a child who had some issues with preschool and at the tender age of 5, did not love school or want to go. We were a bundle of nerves and anxiety. She took us calmly and compassionately by the hand and guided us through the transitions, helping a little boy to love school again, guiding him through his obstacles and successes. Now here we are, the last day of school, after a sprint to the finish culminating a year of challenges, joys and most of all growth. It is bittersweet, our last day today. We have had such an amazing year but we are sad that our time with our teacher has come to an end. For us personally it is very hard. My little guy struggles with transitions and it takes a special kind of teacher to know how to handle that. With the end of year transition it has been especially difficult and to end our year of learning from such an incredible teacher who has had such an impact on our lives is even harder. Last week, each day he came off the bus a little sadder than the last, his head hung as he walked toward me. My heart broke each afternoon watching him struggle through the transition of the year ending and the next phase beginning. When I look at her, our special teacher, I see someone brimming with talent: Passion, Understanding, Creativeness, Compassion, Strong Work Ethic and most of all Belief. Belief in our children and the possibilities of what they can do. She could have used her talents to work in any career she wanted but she chose teaching and everything that goes with it including raising other people’s kids to be the leaders of tomorrow. She chose to push through on days when she was sick, overwhelmed, or tired because these little kids needed her. She chose to give her kids -- my kid — second, third, fourth and fortieth chances, and to always believe they could be better tomorrow. She chose to LOVE our children, to invest and put her heart on the line. She laughed at their jokes and anticipated, even came to enjoy, all their crazy quirks including the infamous spring worms. It couldn’t have been easy, taking a group of first time students and turning them into a community, helping to create relationships between the kids that would be a foundation for a lifetime. The world will be better because of her impact in the classroom, the life lessons she has taught and because she cared and loved our children. She is someone who will forever be part of our story and her influence will live on for the rest of my son’s life. Her teaching has shaped my child’s upbringing, character, and helped them on his way to becoming the person he will someday be. So thank you, Ms. Kimball, for everything you have done for us and given to us. You are a very special teacher who will not be -forgotten. We love you.
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 What Dance Can Do for Your Child & Summer Dance Classes By: Laura I'm sure, at some point, you've all read or conversed about the benefits of dance lessons and the many life lessons gained by having your child participate in dance. For example you learn how to push yourself beyond your limits and reach your personal best, how to handle disappointment, learn time management skills, instill discipline, team work, humility, tenacity, and passion. I am living proof of how truly amazing life can be when you are passionate about something. But where is the proof in our children? Having had 5 senior dancers graduate this year from high school and Turning Pointe Dance Studio, I have the proof and it was displayed by these 5 remarkable teenagers! These young women had been dancing with me since they were small. One of these young ladies used to cry every time her Mom dropped her off at the studio. It was clear that she loved to dance so her family kept at it, persevered and conquered and now she is performing in front of thousands of people with poise and confidence. These 5 young women all graduated with high honors (3 of which were in the top 20 students at Falmouth High School) and have managed to maintain rigorous dance schedules. They are loyal, team players even at times of stress and frustration. They are role models and I am confident that they will do amazing things in our community and world. They were accepted to top Universities and are majoring and minoring in subjects like forensic science, dance, art, architecture, neuroscience, physical therapy, and biochemistry.  Here is more of why... Dance teaches the values and skills of creativity, problem solving, and risk taking. Dance lessons are a great place for kids to make new friends. A dance studio provides a safe dance family and community during a time when life can be unpredictable and confusing, especially during adolescence. Dance education helps students develop physical fitness, appreciation of their body, mindfulness of health and effective stress management skills. In today’s technology-driven world, it is becoming increasingly more important for children to adopt a physically active lifestyle early on. Dance gives non-verbal children and outlet to express their emotions. Dance gives children with sensory related issues an opportunity to move freely through space, to work on gross and fine motor skills, balance, and spatial awareness. Many parents find that dance lessons help improve behavioral issues, such as hyperactivity. Studies have shown that children who participate in dance lessons tend to perform better in the classroom. Dance requires discipline and focus, which translates to an improved academic performance. Dance lessons help reinforce educational basics, like counting. Children also learn to differentiate right from left and fast from slow. So for all the parents out there with little ones that are shy or you can't get them unattached to your leg (I am one of those parents)... keep at it. It's all worth it and above is the proof! Laura Sciortino is mother of 6 year old Henry and 4 year old Cordelia, a retired professional ballerina, and owner and dance teacher at Turning Pointe Dance Studio in Falmouth. www.turningpointedancestudio.org Summer classes begin June 26 and there are still spots in most classes! 
   Drool Baby Expo By Molly This past week I was so excited to see that Magic Beans is going to be hosting a second Drool Baby Expo this year! I have been to Drool twice since it deput in 2011; once in 2012 and again in 2014. The Drool Baby Expo is an event that allows expectant parents, parents, grandparents and people who just love baby products to check out all the newest and greatest products and services all in one place. Each product booth as one to three representatives from the company that will chat with you and demo products as well as make suggestions of what might work best for your family. What I like about this is all the products are right there for you to get your hands on and try out; want to try actually folding or pushing that stroller you can, not sure that the car seat you saw advertised online really simplifies installation try it out. The second Drool Baby Expo of 2017 will take place September, 14 from 3pm-9pm at the Westin Waterfront Hotel in Boston. Tickets are now on sale now and there are options for every price range. The least expensive option (the early bird pricing) starts at $10 for Value Ticket just gets you into the event (great for spouse/family/friend), $20 gets you a Standard Ticket which includes one drink ticket and raffle opportunities, $30 for Couples Standard Ticket (one standard ticket and one value ticket), for $45 you get a Premium Ticket which includes a gift bag, raffle opportunities and two drink tickets for $10 more you can get a couples ticket, then for $100 ($10 more for couples) you get a Single VIP Ticket which includes a super deluxe gift bag with over $200 in products and services a gift card to Magic Beans, raffle opportunities and two drink tickets. The exhibitors that I am most looking forward to checking out include Ergo, Britax, Bob, Thule, Uppababy, LuLaRoe, Astlen and Bugaboo. At the event you have the opportunity to purchase all the products or order them at the on-site Magic Beans Pop-up Shop. most with discounts or special deals (you do not actually have to take the products that night). The VIP and Premium tickets do sell out quickly so if you want them order soon! If you plan on going I recommend getting there early as it does get crowd as afternoon turns to evening. I am looking forward to attending and checking out all the new products without my kids (kids are not prohibited but they make it hard to check products out and the venue is not really child friendly for toddler and up; babies in carriers would be fine). Have you been to Drool? Might you go this year?  Molly, her husband, and their 4 and 6 year split their time between their little piece of the cape in Orleans and Cambridge. She was a kindergarten teacher before her oldest was born then became a SAHM. She loves running, books, supporting literacy, nature walks, arts, craft, knitting and sewing as well as being outside and on the beach!
Local Family Vacations Are A Perfect Way to Make Memories By: Amy In our home, we are firm believers in creating experiences and quality time with our kids because these are the things our children will remember. So recently when we were offered a chance to go up to North Conway and check out the family friendly Red Jacket Inn Fox Ridge Resort and StoryLand we were thrilled to have a mini family vacation in order to create some memories with the kids. Both businesses generously offered complimentary stay and admission to help facilitate this review. 
North Conway is only a 4 hour drive coming from Cape Cod. We got an early start though and decided to go via Lincoln, NH so we could drive the Kancamagus highway on the way since check-in for the hotel was not until 3pm.
This did add travel time to our trip up however it gave us a chance to take our time on a Friday and enjoy the trip up taking some breaks and enjoying the scenery. The kids LOVED seeing the mountains and scouting for moose along the way and at one point we actually saw one walking down the side of the road!  Relaxing in their kid "cave" & excited for StoryLand!
My sister and her family joined us on the local family vacation and we all arrived at the hotel around 3pm. Upon driving in the kids were immediately excited about the giant hill that the resort sits up on as well as the colorful miniature golf course! Our rooms both had great views of the hill and mountains out back with a long patio perfect for us adults to enjoy the view. Our room also had a small room off of the main room with two small kid beds and a tv. This was PERFECT for the kids as they felt they had their own space and I highly recommend booking this room if you have little ones! After relaxing for a bit we decided to head out for an early dinner at Moat Mountain Brewery. If you have never had a chance to eat here then add it to your MUST TRY list right now! The food is absolutely amazing and if you enjoy local beers they have some of the best! It is also a louder restaurant so having the kids there is not an issue.
TIP: Get there early as it fills up fast due to how popular it is
The next morning we got up and enjoyed the complimentary breakfast offered by the resort. There were a lot of other families there most likely also planning on going to StoryLand for the day so we did have to wait a little bit for a table. The kids wanted to play mini golf and visit the pool but we reminded them we could do this after our visit to StoryLand.
TIP: Avoid the popular times of 8:30-9:30am for breakfast. Either plan to go earlier or after the rush so you don’t have to wrangle your minions while fighting off hunger pains and your need for coffee. StoryLand
When we arrived at StoryLand, the line was already pretty extensive, we already had our tickets and my sister and her family had pre-purchased them so we were able to go into a faster moving line. We started by heading out to the antique cars to beat the lines and then off to my personal favorites of the water rides including the Bamboo Chute which we road 7+ times as well as Dr. Geyser’s Remarkable Raft Ride!
After we had sufficiently drenched ourselves and quickly changed we walked on over to the Loopy Lab, another parent favorite. Whoever came up with this attraction idea is a genius and we honestly could have spent our entire day here. The Loopy Lab consists of 2 floors where kids get to gather and fire foam balls across the whole place. Personally we love to go up to the second floor and fire foam balls down at people as well as gather them so they all blow up at once via the vacuum. 
Next we headed out to do a few more rides before lunchtime. My nephew who is obsessed with trucks of all kinds loved the farm tractor ride and the dig play area while my son loved the crazy barn, riding it twice! We then took a little break for lunch beating most of the crowd to the World Pavilion.
The kids were re energized after having some food and we continued on to check out a few more rides and games before we headed to the swan boats and Cinderella. The line to see the princess was not as long at this point which was perfect! 
As the kids began to tire out we entered into the shady part of the park and we were able to start to decompress by visiting the animals, visiting Mother Goose and checking out some of our favorite fairy tale houses. The pumpkin house, three bears’ house and the school house were our favorites. The kids enjoyed a nice story with Mother Goose herself, which was the perfect way to start to end our visit. We also spent a few minutes on the now much less crowded grandfather tree (making it easier to keep an eye on the kids), chatting with Humpty Dumpty (no line), and another one of my favorites: Farm Follies!!! We also got a chance to see Christopher Robin and his gang (again no line) on our way out.
The last thing we always do prior to leaving is get our annual license photo! This is a must for us as we love to see the kids grow each year in the pictures. Our son has collected several at this point and proudly displays them on his wall while this was a first for our daughter. This is a perfect way to have a unique little momento from your visit. 
Parent PRO TIPS for StoryLand:
After a very busy day at StoryLand we headed back to the hotel to recharge. We decided to brave the fun outdoor pool for a bit and although it was a little cool, the kids had a fantastic time just floating and playing. Meanwhile I enjoyed the view and snapped some fun pictures of the kiddos while researching a good dinner choice for all of us!
The pool bar was open and had adult beverages as well as juice and soda options available for purchase. We spent about an hour relaxing and swimming around before we headed out as a group to the Muddy Moose, which is a wilderness themed restaurant that was just perfect for all of us to eat at with kid friendly options and tons to look at for the kids! 
After dinner we all decided to enjoy some family mini golf at the hotel which we highly recommend taking advantage of if you can. The kids loved loved the course which features a windmill, an antique car and a teacup which tied in very nicely with our StoryLand visit from earlier in the day!
Our daughter thoroughly enjoyed wandering around the course and set up her camp on a tiny bridge so she could cheer her big brother and cousin on as they played the course, After our golfing session we again enjoyed the pool for a bit before heading back to the room for bedtime. The baby was out like a light while the boys enjoyed some movie time in the kid cave again. The kid cave room has windows that overlook the porch and my sister's room was adjoining to ours. The adults then sat out on the porch for a bit relaxing and enjoying the view while still being able to peek in on the kids who promptly fell asleep exhausted from all the fun they had. 
The next morning we took a few quick pictures before checking out of the kids to send to the grandparents. The kids loved the giant fox chair and I have to say I kind of wish I had one of these in my yard at home too! I would totally sit in it all day as the kids played around!
After checkout my sister headed back to Cape Cod while we headed on over to the Red Jacket Mountain Resort (sister resort of Fox Ridge) to enjoy Kahuna Laguna Water park for a few hours! We had planned ahead to do the water park on our way out of town because it was a Sunday and would be less crowded plus we could spend through lunch there and then the kids could nap during the car ride home. Our family is all about making the car ride easier on mom and dad! 
We basically had the entire water park to ourselves all morning and until we left. Again this was the perfect way to end our vacation as we were able to have some fun, enjoy all the slides and activities with no crowds plus get the kiddos good and tired for the long car ride home.
Dad played water basketball with Ethan while the baby jumped in the fabulous water swings! Ethan also loved the raft slides and went down repeatedly with Dad while the baby and I watched their excitement! 
Overall our weekend was absolutely fantastic and we had a ton of fun. As we drove back to Cape Cod (always the worse part of any trip) I glanced at their sleeping content faces in the rear view mirror and knew that our weekend was a success. Years from now as they grow they will remember the fun we had as a family and I hope they will do things like this with their kids too!
Sometimes going on vacations, even local ones can be stressful but with a few tweaks and changes to how we plan out the trip, it can be made a little easier! We will definitely be going back next year and can't wait to create new memories with our family. Check the luxurious yet affordable homes at https://precondo.ca/. We hope you find our review and tips helpful and we would love to hear your tips and tricks if you are willing to share them with us!  A Kid free Lunch at Moby Dick’s By Molly This past weekend my kids went to stay with my parents giving my husband and I some kid free time. So on Saturday afternoon after seeing the best lobster rolls on the Cape list I decided to try Moby Dick’s in Wellfleet (not on list but recommended by a friend plus they have steamers). There offerings include mussels, chowder, calamari, crab cakes, raw oysters, salads, clam bakes, grilled fish, fried seafood, lobster roll, sandwiches, burgers, chicken, and even a veggie burger plus desserts. It is a totally kid friendly restaurant with outdoor seating as well (but you might want bug spray) the kids menu includes chowder, cheeseburger, hot dog, grilled cheese, fish and chips, grilled salmon, chicken tenders and Kraft mac & cheese. Another advantage to Moby Dick’s is it is BYOB! My husband and I arrived at Moby Dick’s a little past noon and it was quiet. The menu is listed up on the wall with prices plus printouts of the specials. I knew I wanted steamers and was deciding between a steamed lobster or a lobster roll; I went with a lobster roll platter. You order at the counter by the entrance of restaurant and then they bring the food to you. We choose to sit in the upper dining room which is more open and you have a better view the other dining room is more cozy. My steamers came quickly and were still very hot. They were sand free and so sweet they required no butter for dipping and were definitely worth the $11. The lobster roll came as I was finishing up the steamers which was perfect timing. The platter came with slaw and fries neither of which were very good (next time I would go with just the lobster roll). The lobster roll was nicely stuffed with lots of sweet claw meat and just a touch of mayo and some bay seasoning on top which I could have done without because I felt like it detracted from the lobster flavor. I enjoyed the lobster roll and it was definitely was better than average but not as amazing as I hoped it would be and at $26 the price was a little steep. I would have liked to try the amazing looking desserts that included frappes, Moby’s Key Lime pie, Blueberry Crisp, Lemon Sorbet, Ice Cream, Lemonade Freeze, Strawberry Shortcake, Moby’s Ultimate Madness, and Fudgy Wudgy Chocolate Cake but I decided Moby’s Ultimate Madness which is a brownie, vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream might make me not feel well as my body is not accustomed to really eating shellfish or much dairy anymore. The good news is I didn’t seem to have any issues from eating the shellfish and I now wish I had gotten the Moby’ s Ultimate Madness as I do love a homemade brownie sundae! Have you been to Moby Dick’s what is your favorite thing to get there? Where else do you like to get steamers and lobster rolls from?  Molly, her husband, and their 4 and 6 year split their time between their little piece of the cape in Orleans and Cambridge. She was a kindergarten teacher before her oldest was born then became a SAHM. She loves running, books, supporting literacy, nature walks, arts, craft, knitting and sewing as well as being outside and on the beach!
 Our annual Cape Cod Fireworks & Parades listing is back! Every year this POPULAR listing helps local and visiting families find where the 4th of July Fireworks and Parades are taking place. Just check out our 2016 list to see all the past fun! Below we have compiled a listing of all the fireworks, parades and other celebrations taking place across Cape Cod & the Islands. If you know of a local event on Cape Cod, the Islands or any of the surrounding areas, that we have forgotten to include, then please comment at the bottom of this post and we are happy to add it! Fireworks Mashpee, MA Date: June 30, 2017 rain date July 1 Time: Dusk Place: Mashpee High School Local Tip: The festivities begin at 5 p.m. with a whole evening of food, rides, games, music, and lots more. Annual Mashpee Community Picnic & Fireworks will be held on Friday, June 30th at Mashpee High School beginning at 5PM. Rain date for the event will be Saturday, July 1st. Fun for all ages! Carnival style games, face painting, dunking tank, pony rides, toy race car tracks game and train rides! Food available for purchase will include: hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage/pepper/onions, BBQ sandwiches, chowder, popcorn, novelty & scooped ice cream, cotton candy, fried dough, cannolis and more!! K-9 Dog Demo by the Barnstable County Sheriff’s, children’s entertainer and DJ Danny Walsh. Fireworks begin around 9:15PM. Onset, MA Date: July 1, 2017 (rain date July 8th) Time: Dusk Place: Onset Beach & Bay Local Tip: The village of Onset is on the "mainland" side of the Cape Cod Canal, just over the bridge. It's an absolutely gorgeous little village, and well worth a visit! Orleans, MA Date: July 2, 2017 (rain date July 6th) Time: Dusk Place: Rock Harbor Local Tip: You can also see the Rock Harbor fireworks display from Cape Cod Bay beaches in Brewster and Eastham. They'll be off at a distance, but still fun to see. Nantucket, MA Date: July 3, 2017, rain date July 5th Time: Dusk Place: Jetties Beach, Bathing Beach Road (July 5 rain date) Edgartown, MA Date: July 4, 2017 Time: Dusk Place: Harbor Local Tip: The parade begins at 5pm on July 4th. The Fireworks start at dusk on the harbor. See you there! Please visit http://www.edgartown-ma.us/ for more information about the Parade & Firework show. Falmouth, MA Date: July 4, 2017 Time: Dusk Place: Falmouth Heights Beach Local Tip: Do you have a portable radio? Be sure to bring it with you, and tune to PIXY 103 (102.9 FM) to hear the music that accompanies the fireworks. Fireworks can also be viewed easily from Surf Drive Beach (food available for purchase), Bristol Beach and Menauhant Beach. Also please consider buying an annual fireworks t-shirt or donating during fundraising via the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce to help support this amazing show! Hyannis, MA Date: July 4, 2017 (rain date September 2, 2017) Time: Dusk Place: Lewis Bay Local Tip: The best viewing spots are the beaches around Hyannis Harbor and on the West Yarmouth beaches along Lewis Bay. Pack a picnic basket for dinner and stake out your spot in late afternoon. Or have a bite to eat at a nearby restaurant, then walk to the beach for the fireworks show. (Don't forget your cover-up clothes. It gets chilly on the beach after sunset, even in July!) Plymouth, MA Date: July 4, 2017 Time: Dusk Place: Plymouth Waterfront Local Tip: Fireworks will begin @ 9:00-9:15PM depending on night sky Plymouth Waterfront! Fireworks can also be viewed from private beaches all along the shore. Provincetown, MA Date: July 4, 2017 Time: Dusk Place: Provincetown Harbor Local Tip: For a very special experience - watch the fireworks from onboard a ship in the Harbor. On July 4th, Dolphin Fleet offers whale watch plus fireworks cruises as well as a fireworks-only cruise. These cruises are very popular, so reserve your spot early. (Dolphin Fleet: 1-800-826-9300) Parades Barnstable - Has a lot going on so we listed all events. 9am · Barnstable/West Barnstable - parade and village activities. West Barnstable - The parade will start at 9 a.m. from the County Complex on Railroad Avenue, proceed down Main Street, turn left onto Mill Way and end at the Village Hollow. · Hyannisport Beach Club 2K run/parade 10am · Centerville parade Centerville - The village of Centerville's parade begins at 10 a.m. with a route that goes from the Centerville Elementary School, up Bay Lane, then right onto Bumps River Road, left onto Park Avenue, right onto Main Street, and continuing to the Centerville Recreation Building where it ends. 11am · Cotuit: parade Cotuit - At 11 a.m. the parade will start from the Post Office and proceed down School Street and up Main Street to the Waldorf School. · Hyannisport: parade Hyannisport - The village of Hyannisport holds their parade at 11 a.m., after the road race (road race begins at 9 a.m.). The parade begins at Hyannisport Post office and ends at West Beach Club on Dale Avenue. 2:00pm Hyannis Inner Harbor Boat Parade Hyannis - Boat Parade in Hyannis harbor beginning at 1:15 p.m., The best viewing is along Ocean Street at assemble and head to the inner harbor to show off their red, whi 4pm · Hyannis: parade Main Street is the place to be at 4 p.m. for the Hyannis 4th of July street parade 5-7pm · Town Band entertains on the Village Green, Hyannis 7pm to Dusk · Free concert with Funktapuss at Aselton Park 9pm (rain date, Saturday, September 2nd) · Fireworks, shot off from a barge in Lewis Bay (rain date for fireworks only, Saturday, September 2nd.)  Parades on Saturday July 1 Pocasset: Salt Marsh Lane 4th of July Parade: 1 p.m., Barlows Landing Road, Pocasset. Parade starts from St. John’s Church in Pocasset and goes down Barlow’s Landing Road, through Salt Marsh Lane. Theme: “American Broadway Shows.” Residents and families of Salt Marsh Lane design floats, decorate bikes and themselves. July 4th Day of Parades Bourne - Beginning at 10 a.m., along Main Street in Buzzards Bay Edgartown - The parade begins at 5pm on July 4th. The Fireworks start at dusk on the harbor. See you there! Please visit http://www.edgartown-ma.us/ for more information about the Parade & Firework show. Chatham - Chatham's parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. and will proceed down Main Street and continue on Crowell Road to Tip Cart Drive Edgartown: Martha’s Vineyard): 5 p.m., beginning at the intersection of West Tisbury Road and Pinehurst Road, taking a right onto Main Street, a left onto Pease’s Point Way next to the monument, then a right onto Morse Street, a left onto Fuller Street, a right onto Thayer Street, right onto North Water Street, right onto Main Street, left back onto West Tisbury Road, ending at the Edgartown School, 35 Robinson Road. Falmouth - 10 a.m. Beginning at the Village Green, down Main Street to Peg Noonan Park Children and families dress in creative Uncle Sam costumes. They parade down Main Street to Peg Noonan Park where prizes are awarded. www.falmouthvillageassociation.com Orleans - Begins at 10 a.m. on Eldredge Park Way, goes along Rt. 6A, Main Street, Rt. 28 and back to Eldredge Park Plymouth - July 4, 2017 - 9:30 am Begins at Mayflower Business Park 428-430 Court Street Theme: Salute to "Super" Heroes http://july4plymouth.com Also Plymouth 4th of July 5K info INDEPENDENCE DAY CONCERT - Free on the Plymouth WaterfrontThe Esther and Alcide Ruffini Fourth of July Concert Steven Karidoyanes, Conductor Laura Carlo, guest narrator Classical radio host for WGBH and WCRB, reading excerpts from the Declaration of Independence accompanied by the orchestra. The Plymouth High Schools Marching Band join the orchestra for the finale to the ‘1812 Overture.’ Tuesday, July 4, 2017-7:30PM Pilgrim Memorial State Park | (Plymouth Waterfront) 79 Water Street | Plymouth, MA For information: plymouthphil.org. Provincetown - Starting at 11 a.m. at the East End, Harbor Hotel, up Commercial Street to Franklin Street. Theme: Show your Colors, Red, White and Blue!!! Parade Route: Harbor Hotel all entrants are required to enter the Harbor Hotel parking lot on the snail road side. Proceed Down Commerical St Finish: At Franklin St. around 1pm Sandwich - At 10 a.m. the parade begins at the Wing School on Water Street, to Old Main Street, right on Beale Avenue, left on Morse Road, and finishing at the fields behind the Wing School Wellfleet - Parade of antique cars at 9:00 a.m., parade of floats begins at 10 a.m. from the Town Pier to the center of town and back. Woods Hole - This popular 4th of July parade, organized by the Marine Biological Laboratory, begins at noon and proceeds down Water Street. Sandwich Boat Parade When: July 4, 2017, 9 p.m. Where: Shawme Pond, Sandwich Admission: Free More Info: Sandwich Recreation Department (508) 888-4361 The Sandwich Boat Parade has been around since the late 1800's! The Boat Parade is comprised of small boats and canoes decorated in creative ways using paper lanterns illuminated by candles. The boats parade by the bandstand for all to see, and for the Recreation Department and Recreation Committee to select the evening's winners. Want to take part in the parade? Contact the Sandwich Recreation Department (see phone number, above) to enter your boat. Other EventsSunday
Wellfleet: 8:30 a.m., 5-mile adult fun run; 10 a.m., 1.2-mile children’s fun run with prizes given to all. Adult course beginning at Mayo Beach parking lot, Kendrick Ave., run along Wellfleet Harbor to Sunset Hill and back. Children’s course from Mayo Beach parking lot to Chequesset Neck Road and back. Children 6 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Tuesday the 4th of July Sandwich: 8:30 a.m., 3-mile road race and fun run behind the Henry T. Wing School, 33 Water St. 11:30 a.m. egg toss, followed by a picnic in the park and music by Brian Sances Band at noon to 2 p.m. at the Henry T. Wing School. 1 p.m. water games and “THE FOAM” foamy water from the Sandwich Fire Department. At 7:30 p.m., Dale and the Duds will perform “oldies but goodies” at Shawme Pond Bandstand behind Town Hall on Route 130. At 9 p.m. there will be a boat parade behind the bandstand featuring small boats decorated with paper lanterns and candles. Falmouth: 9 a.m., 6th Annual Run Jack Run Family Fun Run/Walk beginning at Falmouth High School boys’ soccer fields, continuing down Gifford Street, ending at Trotting Park soccer fields. FHS a capella group Soulfege will sing the national anthem before the race. Hyannisport: 9 a.m., Beach Club 2K Run at the Hyannisport Post Office, 44 Longwood Ave. Nantucket: 9 a.m., annual reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 11 Orange St. There will be a patriotic sing-along with Bob and Diane Lehman and the Meeting House Community Chorus. Children can sign a replica of the Declaration of Independence and “ring” in the Fourth of July on the 1815 Portuguese bell in the Meeting House tower. 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., there will be events on Main Street, including a dunk tank, a watermelon-eating contest, face-painting, a pie-eating contest, bike decorating, Matt Fee Tea Toss, a puppet show, and Uncle Sam bean toss. 5 p.m., Independence Day games for families at Children’s Beach off Harbor View Way. Activities include a tug-o-war, three-legged races, and sack races. Chatham: 11 a.m., Strawberry Festival at the First United Methodist Church for strawberry shortcake and lunch, 16 Cross St. Yarmouth: 11 a.m. to noon. Historical Society of Old Yarmouth annual Fourth of July picnic, Kelley Chapel Meadows. Free for members and guests. Provincetown: 3 to 10 p.m., first “Monumental 4th of July Picnic” on the grounds of the Pilgrim Monument, 1 High Pole Road, Provincetown. Visitors can enjoy food from Mac’s Seafood with a choice of lobster roll or fried chicken, both with sides and desserts and includes access to the cash bar. Fireworks to follow. Tickets: $45 for adults, $15 for children. Tickets and parking can be reserved online at pilgrim-monument.org. Hyannis: 3:15 to 4 p.m., “Decorate your Bike, Carriage, or Wagon Contest” at the Hyannis Village Green on Main Street for children up to age 12; decorated “vehicles” can join in the parade for a ride down Main Street. Riders must wear helmets, and parents are welcome to accompany their children. Register at 3 p.m. Town of Barnstable Band will play patriotic songs from 5 to 6:30 p.m at the Village Green. Funktapuss will perform 7 p.m. at Aselton Park, 250 South St. (See Parades above)  Stroller Cleanup Time By Molly As you may or may not know I am a total stroller junky. I have been known to buy a stroller on a really good sale use it for a while then sell it or find a great deal on a used stroller and clean it up then use it for a while and sell it to move on to the next stroller. The one exception to this are my single and double BOB Revolutions which I love and will have until the day no more stroller are required for my kids or probably any other family members kids who knows. When you are a stroller junky like me you need to know how to clean your strollers to make them look great again. Now that the warm sunny weather has finally arrived it is a great time to clean your stroller and do some basic maintenance. The way I like to clean my strollers is first vacuum out any crumbs or chunks of stuff then on a nice sunny warm day take them outside and hose them down until they are soaked with water. Once soaked I take a sponge and a toothbrush or larger soft brush plus a bucket of warm soapy water (I use unscented dish soap other people love Dawn) and starting at the top of the stroller and scrubbing it down. The tooth brush works great on the straps and in crevices. After I have scrubbed down the whole stroller I rinse all the soap off and dry the metal parts down with a towel and let it dry in the sun. I know some people also use Oxiclean spray and spray down the stroller and let it sit in the sun before washing it to help with staining and mildew. Also some seat fabric that is removable like Uppababy and Baby Jogger you can wash in the washing machine just make sure to put it back on the frame to dry. Once your stroller is nice and clean you should look it over for any maintenance it might need. If it has removable wheels take them off and wipe down the axles and clean out grit that might be in the axle shaft. You can lubricate the shaft with white grease or BuggyLOVE WheelLOVE and also you can put WD40 on brakes or squeaky shocks just make sure not to get it on the fabric as it stains. Here are some online resources: Cleaning a BOB UPPAbaby tips Cleaning a Baby Jogger Cleaning a Bugaboo Do you have any great trick for cleaning your stroller?  Molly, her husband, and their 4 and 6 year split their time between their little piece of the cape in Orleans and Cambridge. She was a kindergarten teacher before her oldest was born then became a SAHM. She loves running, books, supporting literacy, nature walks, arts, craft, knitting and sewing as well as being outside and on the beach!
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