Winthrop Cultural Council Funds an April Family Fun Day

Winthrop, Mass.-Through a grant from the Winthrop Cultural Council and Mass Cultural Council, local musician and children's author Ralph Tufo will host a free Family Fun Day for the public between 2 and 4 p.m. on April 7.

Tufo, a member of the Americana band Squeezebox Stompers of Winthrop and author with the nonprofit Ella's Way of North Andover, says the event will reinforce the Winthrop Cultural Council's mission of providing the community with a multi-sensory arts and humanities experience with author readings, arts and craft activities, and live music.

Children's authors are scheduled to read their picture books to attendees to foster messages of empathy, inclusion, and teamwork. Tufo will read "True Friends Indeed" about feathered brothers Seemore and Sydney taking a stand against bullying at the Revere Beach Sand Castle Festival. Sherry Cerino, the founder of Ella's Way plans to read "Ella and the All-Stars" and talk about her nonprofit's mission of spreading kindness and allyship through stories written by her organization's authors. Poet and fiction writer Christine Ricci-McNamee of East Boston will share the problem-solving adventures of an affable dog searching for his family's wayward suitcases in "Logan and the Lost Luggage".

Area artists will share their love of visual expression through children's activities. Jory Mason of Plymouth, a juried member of regional and international art associations and illustrator of the Seemore the Seagull series, will guide youngsters in an exploration of pastels. Meanwhile, Dawn Mahoney, the president of the Winthrop Art Association plans to lead a hands-on workshop of creating oversized clamshell and marker masterpieces.

Two Northshore area bands will tickle the ears of event attendees with a collection of melodies paying tribute to nearby and faraway landmarks and musical roots. Tufo with the Squeezebox Stompers duo says he's looking forward to playing "Seemore the Seagull Sea Chantey" and "Alligator Stomp." The Sunny Fishcakes' Revue of Gloucester will offer its acoustic stylings with all listener donations earmarked for the Gloucester Food Bank.

Tufo says the Family Fun Fest is being held inside the accessible For Kids Only Afterschool hall to protect against Mother Nature's unpredictability and accommodate attendees with special needs. As a board member of the Winthrop Advocacy Resources Community nonprofit and a multi-faceted artist, Tufo says he's excited about helping to facilitate the upcoming community celebration of culture and diversity.

Event Details

Date: April 7, 2024, 2 to 4 p.m.
Location: For Kids Only Afterschool, 233 Winthrop Street, Winthrop
Parking: Rear of the building
Admission: Free
For more information: ralphtufo@gmail.com

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Colleen Lent, M.Ed., M.S.
Volunteer Publicist
Ella's Way
45 Colgate Drive
North Andover, MA 01845
colleenlent@ellasway.com

Website: https://ellasway.com/index.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Ellas-Way-100064492854532/

Restaurants for Respect Article: https://www.carriagetownenews.com/community/restaurants-for-respect-program/article_c5709a12-47f4-11ee-976d-0fbd3330ae0f.html

Winthrop Cultural Council Mission: "Promoting excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences, to improve the quality of life for all Winthrop residents, and to contribute to the economic vitality of our community."

Mass Cultural Council Mission: "Mass Cultural Council works to elevate our rich cultural life in Massachusetts. We serve the Commonwealth and all who live, work, visit, and play here by amplifying creativity, providing resources, expanding relationships, and championing transformational changes that maintain and grow a thriving creative and cultural ecosystem."

This release was published on openPR.