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6 Hudson Valley Parent n March 2020 T hey're almost here. Those sunny days. Warmer outdoor temperatures. Green grass. Leafy trees and colorful blooms. March marks the welcome be- ginning of spring in the Hudson Valley. It's not that I don't like winter. Snowy after- noons and frosty outdoor treks are great. So is the season's cozy, snuggle-up vibe. And those steaming cups of foamy latte and comforting bowls of chunky chili. So good. One of the best parts of living in the Hudson Valley is celebrating its changing seasons. From the winter's brisk air, to spring's exciting rebirth, summer's fun-in-the-sun activities, and the fall's earthy harvest, each season offers its distinct blend of natural beauty, happenings and opportunities. Even better is that every few months the anticipation of the next season's flavors takes hold, making way for new, yet familiar paths to explore. Like the springtime's annual maple sugar events and St. Patrick's Day Parades on page 27. In fact, turn to our print (pages 26-32) and online (hvparent.com/calendar) calendars for a whole range of the spring's family-fun activities. One year-round activity that fam- ilies can do as often as they'd like is cook together. See how Erin Ander- son of Port Ewin and her 9-year-old daughter, Avi, discovered the joys of preparing and sharing their meals together in Elora Tocci's story, 'Fam- ilies spring forward in the kitchen,' pages 22-23. Then again, it's fun for families eat out, too, whether it's to make the most of a special event or stir things up on a typical weeknight. Get tips on keeping your youngsters happy and the mood bright at restaurants from Erica Higgs piece, 'Eating out with kids,' pages 18-20. And for kids whose challenges make it hard to find a great fit for them at school, turn to pages 14-16 for Roxanne Ferber's informative story on school programs that maxi- mize academic and social success for kids with special needs. Accomplished architect, Kim Hoover, is in the female minority when it comes to being an architect. But as the owner of Hoover Archi- tecture in Gardiner, she's in the rarer position of being the proprietor of a woman-owned architecture prac- tice. See how Hoover enjoys life as a mom and business owner in Boss Lady, on page 34. Happy spring! Next month: Best Towns of the Hudson Valley looks at the top places in the region to raise a family; Real Talk discusses teen depression; Me Time offers home remodeling tips; I am a Hudson Valley Parent features Brian Maher, supervisor of the Town of Montgomery; Boss Lady chats with Naomi Hersson-Ringsko of the Dept. of Small Interventions, plus how-to books, calendar listings, and more provide handy resources for families. Celebrate the flavor and fun of each season KAREN MASERJIAN SHAN Editor's Journal Publisher TERRIE GOLDSTEIN tgoldstein@excitingread.com Editor KAREN MASERJIAN SHAN kshan@excitingread.com Dir. of Business Development KATHLEEN MERZ kmerz@excitingread.com Executive Assistant LESLIE CORTES lcortes@excitingread.com Media Advisor MARY ZAK mzak@excitingread.com Promotions Manager ROBIN HOFFMAN rho man@excitingread.com Cover Photography SAMANTHA ZBIKOWSKI focusonus.net Layout & Design ENGLE PRINTING also publishers of MY TripPlanner.com family MY TripPlanner.com family Hudson Valley Parent is published monthly by: The Professional Image Marketing & Public Relations Inc. 174 South Street • Newburgh, NY 12550 Phone: 845-562-3606 • Fax: 845-562-3681 hvparent.com This publication is copyrighted by the publisher. Reproduction without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Hudson Valley Parent welcomes submissions, although we cannot accept responsibility for work submitted nor guarantee publication.