Locally Raised, 100% Grass Fed Lamb For Sale

Crescent Moon Farm offers 100% grass fed, locally raised lamb. Our lambs and ewes graze on our rolling pasture in Belchertown, and we never feed them grain, animal byproducts, or artificial growth hormones. Feeding lambs only grass results in high quality, delicious meat that is leaner and more nutritious than anything you will find on the grocery store shelf. We have loin and rib chops, shanks, leg of lamb, stew and ground meat available, as well as whole and half lambs for the value-concious lamb lover with freezer space! Contact Kathleen Traphagen at kathleentrap@yahoo.com (413) 253-0528 or (413) 687-1710.

Kitties for sale

Beautiful purebred siamese kittens for sale ($600). The kittens will be ready to take home in mid-December when they are 10 weeks old. We have a long-haired bluepoint male, a long-haired bluepoint female, a short-haired bluepoint male and a short-haired sealpoint male. For more information contact Vivian Liu at 413-549-4227 or vivianfliu@comcast.net

NO SCHOOL FRIDAY - Something COOL to do

Public Skate Session at the Mullins Center Community Rink on Friday, November 30th from 1-4 pm. Admission: $6 Adults, $4 for children 12 and under. Skate Rentals: $3. For more information call: (413) 545-3990.

Friday - Merry Maple Celebration & Toy Drive

The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announces the Annual Merry Maple celebration will be held Friday, Nov. 30 (rain date Friday, Dec. 7).

The Merry Maple celebration has been a tradition for over 30 years and signals the start of the holiday season for many in the community. This year the Chamber has partnered with Family Outreach of Amherst to promote the agency’s Annual Toy Drive which provides new toys, clothing, books and games to local children in need. Bring your Toy Drive donations to the Merry Maple celebration!

The celebration begins at 4:00 pm at the Carriage Shops with a special guest appearance by The Very Hungry Caterpillar from The Eric Carle Museum. At 4:30pm on the Town Hall steps the Amherst Regional Middle School 7th Grade Chorus, led by David Ranen, will perform for the lighting at 4:45 pm followed by the Heart of the Valley Chorus. The UMass Minuteman Marching Band, led by George N. Parks, will lead revelers to the Town Common for the sing along at 5:30 pm. The event culminates that evening with the opportunity to see Santa and enjoy hot cocoa at the Amherst History Museum on Amity Street. For more information contact the AACC at (413) 253-0700.

You need to do this!

Do you plan to do some of your holiday shopping online? If so, please consider signing up with Schoolpop. This super fundraising site has agreements with thousands of online stores to have a percentage (usually 2 - 8%) of your purchase donated directly to the organization of your choice: Crocker Farm! Signing up is quick. After that, each time you plan to shop online, just go to Schoolpop first to find your retailer on their list (including Amazon, Gap, ITunes, Lands End, Discovery Toys, Hearthsong, Nike, even eBay and many, many more).

Crocker Cares Winter Gear Drive

Thank you so very much to all who dropped off coats, boots, snowpants, hats, etc. to the Winter Gear Drive. We received dozens and dozens of donations and many of them went directly to Crocker Farm children in need through their teachers and families.

What remains will be delivered to the Survival Center and to a local social services network tomorrow.

Crocker Java Orders

Click Here for an Order Form in English

Click Here for an Order Form in Spanish

How it Works:
1. Order forms are always available for download here on the blog, or from the PGO mailbox in the Main Office. Fill in an order form and send it, along with check made out to “Crocker Farm PGO,” to school with your child.

2. Orders will be placed the FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month. Coffee will be roasted and shipped fresh in one-pound Kraft bags of whole or ground beans; we’ll send it home to you via your child’s backpack the SECOND WEDNESDAY of the month. (You may opt to pick your coffee up if you prefer; see order form.)

3. Order by the month, or for a few months at a time (see order form). Buy for yourself, for friends and relations, for holiday gifts and for every day. These products make fantastic gifts!

4. Questions? Email Erika Zekos at studiozed@comcast.net.

Products Available:
All coffee can be purchased whole-beans or all-purpose ground.

Crocker Java Coffee: $8.50/lb A strong and exceptionally smooth cup of coffee from Nicaragua. Medium body and slightly dry.

Crocker Java Swiss-water Processed Decaf Coffee: $9.50/lb A full-bodied, but flavorful and aromatic Peruvian coffee. The best tasting decaf in the world!

Dark Chocolate Java Drops: $8.50/lb Vienna-roasted, shade grown Guatemalan and Mexican coffee beans, sensuously surrounded by pure dark chocolate. A mouthful of 100% organic pleasure. Half of the profits are returned to the indigenous cooperative in Costa Rica that provides the cocoa butter.

Hot Cocoa: $4.50/ 3/4 lb Organic, creamy, chocolatety goodness in a mug. Half of the profits are returned to the indigenous cooperative in Costa Rica that provides the cocoa.

Car Seat Needed

This Just In - Wish Fulfilled! Thank you very much to Marcia who offered up a car seat in record time! :)
A community member is looking for a gently used car seat for a toddler (convertible, or forward facing type). If you have one that you can spare, please bring it to the Main Office at the school or get in touch with Erika (256.1045 or studiozed@comcast.net). Thank you.

Openings for Infant/Toddler Care

Licensed Family Childcare with Infant and Toddler Openings. Located in the Orchard Valley neighborhood. Open M-F 8:00-5:30. Please call or email Marcia for more information.
Marcia264@yahoo.com or 253-5560

Amherst Community Arts Center

December Workshops: Drop & Shops: Bring your kids to ACAC for a 3 hour workshop while you shop in town. Saturdays: Dec 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd. 9:30-12:30 and 12:30-3:30pm.$30/workshop.Pre-registration required.

Workshops in: Paper-making, Whistle Making, Marble Chutes, Clay Masks, Paper Masks,Cards & Wrapping Paper, Origami4-week mini sessions Silver Jewelry Fabrication Enameling for Everyone Jewelry Fabrication for Teens. Ages 12-18 *above classes with Margaret Langdell Creating on the Potter's Wheel w/Lucy FagellaAges 18 & up
CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION!(413) 253-9265Or EMail: hm.acac@gmail.com

Crocker Cares Warm Winter Gear Drive

Last opportunity to donate! Send your extra winter clothes in right away!

To ensure all Crocker Farm children are toasty and warm this winter, we are having a Winter Gear Drive. Please take a look in your closets for any gently used items. Donations of coats, snow pants, snow boots, hats, mittens, gloves, and scarves will be accepted. ALL sizes, children and adults are in need.

Gear Drop off:
Continues November 13th – 15th
All week in the school lobby.

Gear Pick up:
We will be in the lobby offering donated winter gear to families who are in need of some of these items. Please plan to come by Thursday November 15th 8am – 10am or Friday November 16th 6pm – 8pm.

Any left over items will be donated to the Amherst Survival Center. If you have any questions, please contact Erika Zekos studiozed@comcast.net or 256-1045. The Winter Gear Drive is sponsored by the PGO. Thank you for your donation.

Muddy Brook Farm: Horses

Muddy Brook Farm offers horseback riding lessons Ages 6-15 years Maximum 15 students. Enjoy lessons, grooming, tacking up and fun barn chores. Contact Kathy at 413-537-7262 muddybrookfarm@yahoo.com

Giving our school a Hand

A big thank you to our generous community! We have raised $2,106 for Crocker Farm through the Lend a Hand Fund. The PGO will use this money to fund the many creative requests from teachers for special projects in their classrooms and around the school.

It's not too late to donate if you haven't had a chance yet. Every dollar goes to our school!
* Write a check to Crocker Farm PGO & send it in with your child or mail it to us.
* Send cash in with your child in an envelope that says "Crocker Farm PGO".
* Make a tax deductible contribution online at the Amherst Education Foundation: Scroll down to "Crocker Farm Lend a Hand Fund". www.amhersteducationfoundation.org/donation_listings.

Say Cheese (again)

Picture retake day is scheduled for Tuesday Nov. 13th. If your child is retaking his/her picture, send back the original. Keep your class picture. If your child is having their picture taken for the first time, send in the order form with your payment.

A+ Update

Way to go! In just one month the 27 families signed up with Stop&Shop's A+ Bonus Bucks program have earned $68.32 for the school! If yours is one of the 160 Crocker Farm families who has not signed up yet then just: 1. Take out your Stop&Shop card. 2. Remember that our designation code is 05194, and 3. click here to enroll now.

Next PGO Meeting

The next meeting of the CF PGO will be Thursday December 13th at 6:30pm. Drop your kids off in the cafeteria (childcare is free, as always) and join us in the Community Room.