By Isabell Macrina
Hometown Weekly Staff
The Westwood Young Women’s Club’s annual Family Summer Concert series transformed the Council on Aging gazebo into a music venue for people of all ages to enjoy. This past week featured childhood music educator and children’s music performer, Vanessa Trien and the Jumping Monkeys.
Vanessa Trien has been embracing the whimsy and wonder of children’s music entertainment for years and with her friends the Jumping Monkeys, she featured both original music and classic children’s songs that everyone can sing and dance along to. Her performances are engaging beyond just the dancing. When she sang “The Lion Sleep Tonight” she encouraged those “lions” to “sleep” before waking up to join in the chorus.
Kids ran around the lawn, playing with their friends and dancing to the music. The WYWC set up tables to sell pizza and ice cream but also sold streamers where the kids would run behind them. Parents and caregivers set up chairs and blankets but let the kids have their fun.
Local businesses also got involved in connecting with the community. Westwood Public Library sent out their Bookmobile loaded with children’s books for families to check out and even set up a story time chair for people to read books aloud to their kids. Diaper Circle set up a table to share their message and accept donations for things parents and young children need. With the help of the community, they collect diapers from families who no longer need them and distribute them to families in need in the greater Boston area. Miss Joslyn’s Dance also had a table with papers and stamps kids could play with. They had a promotion deal for dance classes the kids could take.
The evening was wild, full of laughter and children singing and dancing, a wonderful summer evening
