After a hot and humid last gasp of summer a week ago, fall came roaring back — and even brought with it a hint of winter with a frosty morning earlier this week. Ah, gotta love Berkshire weather!
But as the calendar indeed officially turns to autumn this weekend, one of my favorite Berkshire events is back: Lee Founders Weekend. Billed as "the town of Lee's annual birthday celebration," the event features three days of fun for the entire family.
The celebration kicks off on Friday, Sept. 20, with vendors and events running from 3 to 10 p.m., in the middle of which is the "Taste of Lee" event featuring more than a dozen local restaurants showing off their goods from 5 to 8 p.m. For the kids is a bounce house, pumpkin decorating, face paintings, music and more, including the "Lee Idol" talent competition at The Spectrum at 7:30 p.m.
That's a big day in itself. But wait ... there's more! On Saturday, events run from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., including the highlight of the weekend for many: the Hometown Parade along Main Street at 11 a.m. Immediately after the parade will be the fireman's muster at the Athletic Field, which is especially popular with little boys, and more children's entertainment on the Lee Library lawn. Wrap up the day by giving the family a taste of culture from 4 to 8 p.m. with the Latino Festival under the tent on the green.
The fun continues on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a pancake breakfast, walking tour of Lee and the ever-popular Duck Race to benefit the Lee Youth Association. A new Sunday addition this year will be a magic show under the tent on the Green at 3:30 and 4:30 p.m.
So what if you have spent the entire weekend in Lee with the kids, and by Sunday night you are tearing your hair out because the kids. Just. Won't. Listen. Consider a Monday evening salve of a Child Care of the Berkshires program titled "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk." Really, what parent among us hasn't needed something like this at some point?
The workshop runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Haskins Center in North Adams. It is based on the classic book by Faber and Mazlish and aims to teach parents common sense ways to help them and their children become better listeners and how to gain their child's cooperation and resolve family conflicts peacefully.
Parents will receive workbooks that follow the series and a "How to Talk So Kids Will Listen" book at course completion. Registration is required at 413-664-4821, so I guess you can't wait until the kids misbehave all weekend before you realize how helpful this workshop might be. It's OK. You can admit it now. No one is judging you. Pick up the phone. You can do it.
Berkshire County native Rebecca Dravis of Williamstown is a former journalist who now works for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. She can be reached at rdravis@verizon.net.
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