Mama Says

MetroAlliance Church will sponsor an Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 3-12 on Saturday, April 19, at 10 a.m., on the grounds of Zone Recreation Center, at Lorain and West 65th. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Puppets of Praise will present a puppet show about the meaning of Easter. Sorry, no rain date.

By the way, MetroAlliance would also like to invite you to gather for “Mom & Me,” a ministry to moms and their children under the age of 5. It’s a monthly gathering for inspiration and friendship-building with other moms, including interactive activities for moms and their children. The next two gatherings are Thursday mornings at 10 a.m., April 17 & May 22. For more information or to register, contact Sue Rowe, Director of Family Ministries, 216-281-8702 or Jeff@bright.net

A group of neighborhood residents and churches have come together to plan a “Gathering For Peace Potluck.”  On Wednesday, April 23 from 6 - 8 p.m. at the Franklin Circle Christian Church, 1688 Fulton Rd. (near W. 28th St.) individuals and families are invited to gather for a meal and activities designed to bring healing and hope to the community. 

In addition to the shared meal, there will be craft activities for children, youth, and adults including the folding of paper cranes.  Jakkia Boyd, a storyteller will perform, as will Kwaw Steven Boyd, a drummer.

Central to the evening will be the creation of a Milagro, a Latin American cultural tradition used to ask for a quick recovery of a sick person or a good future for children.  This milagro exhibit will call for the healing of our world from a time of war and for a peaceful future for our children.  Persons attending are invited to bring a photo, a small treasure, or a written goal or desire for our future to add to the milagro.

As part of the evening, a “penny collection” will be received to raise money for UNICEF, the children’s relief arm of the United Nations.  In addition, there will be singing and the reading of children’s books about peace.

Primary organizers include Molly Carrion and the Rev. Allen V. Harris.    For more information, or to RSVP, call 216-781-8232 or 216-281-9151.

Morning play group meets from 10 a.m. - noon unless otherwise noted. For directions to this month’s locations, contact Diane Lechner at playgroup@mamasays.org

FRI 4/4 Amy Kelly

FRI 4/11 Joy Harlor

MON 4/21 Barb Caskey (older kids on holiday are very welcome, too!)

FRI 4/25 Jefferson Branch Library (time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.) Bring your own snack or one to share!

After-school play group meets at the West Side YMCA on Fridays from 4 - 6 p.m. There will be no for after-school playgroup on 4/18 or 4/25. As the weather improves, look for us outside on the playground. Bring your own snack. A small cash donation to help support our Y is also very welcome, but not required.

One of the first weekends we lived in Cleveland, my husband, John, and I were walking to the West Side Market when we saw a whitetail deer on the St. Ignatius playing field.

Although we’ve never again seen anything quite that large, we’ve encountered plenty of interesting creatures in our own backyard — snakes, possums, falcons, woodcocks and even a wayward green parakeet. After nine years, we’re still seeing new things.

But spotting new animals and birds in the city takes patience and a lot of luck. A family looking for more instant gratification on their neighborhood nature hike should probably start looking for wildflowers. I recently came across a lovely little book that is the perfect first guide for children. It’s called Wildflowers Around the Year, by Hope Ryden. Cleveland Public Library owns several copies which you can request. It would also make a great Easter gift. It lists for $17 and the ISBN is 0395858143. Call Bookstore on West 25th and ask them to order it for you (216-566-8897).

Ryden selected only 38 flowers for her collection, which is presented with one gorgeous full-page “portrait” of the flower, and one page of interesting facts, legends about the plant’s uses, and comments on its common names. About one third of the collection could be easily spotted by an observant preschooler while on a wagon ride through her own neighborhood.

Nearly all of the others could be seen on a hike in the Cleveland Metroparks. Guided wildflower hikes for families are scheduled this month at these reservations:

Rocky River Reservation (North), SUN 4/13, 2 p.m. Meet at South Mastick Picnic Area (on Valley Parkway just south of Mastick).

Rocky River Reservation (South), SUN 4/27, 2 p.m. Meet at Willow Bend Picnic Area (on Valley Parkway south of Cedar Point Rd.)

North Chagrin Reservation, SUN 4/27, 1:30 p.m. Meet at Strawberry Picnic Area (southeast of the intersection of Routes 6 and 91, off the Buttermilk Falls Parkway).

The Aphrodesiatics have performed at Open Air on Market Square, MOCA Cleveland and now they’ll be coming to another local art treasure — the Art House, at 3119 Denison in Brooklyn Centre.

On Saturday, April 26, the seven-piece ensemble will bring the old quonset hut to life with their unique blend of acid jazz and funk. Cost is just $5 per person at the door; proceeds benefit Art House.

The show starts at 10 p.m., so you could tuck the kids in yourself and leave the sitter with nothing to do but watch that new Hunter series on your TV. But since you’re heading that way anyway, why not leave a little earlier and stop for a quick and casual supper at El Manantial, Cleveland’s only Dominican restaurant? It’s the one at Clark and West 25th with the bright green storefront.