EDITOR'S NOTE       Last July, I wrote about gas prices hovering around $3 a gallon. This July, gas prices are already over $4 a gallon. Families are definitely feeling it at the pump. Summer typically means vacation, weekend getaways, and lots of day trips for families! More ... LETTERS TO THE EDITOR       Dear Bay State Parent, My name is Donna McMilleon and I am a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty. I have a client who is looking for information on school systems in the area. I remember seeing your review pages on the school systems, all over Worcester County, but I can't find my old copy. More ... JULY'S CHILD       Every child deserves a place to call home and the outpouring of love that is the foundation of a healthy parent-child relationship. However, there are nearly 10,000 Massachusetts children and teens in foster or other substitute care who have suffered abuse, neglect, abandonment, and betrayal at a ... More ... ADOPTION INSIGHTS • PARENT PROSE One NEW Family Picture BY sharon m. yager       "I know it's here. I know it is!" Olya said, sounding more frustrated by the minute. O lya, our nine-year-old daughter, adopted from Russia two years earlier, was hastily thumbing through photos in photo boxes in our living room. More ... Portion of Sales from Adoption Book Benefits Orphan Charity       Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul will touch your heart with stories of finding and creating families. From tales about international orphaned babies and children who spent years in the foster care system to those who were adopted at birth, this special compilation of almost 100 essays conveys ... More ... Circle of Friends JULY CALENDAR OF ADOPTION-RELATED EVENTS Listings are arranged alphabetically by organization.       Adoption Community of New England, Inc. 45 Lyman St., Westborough. Pre-register and RSVP at least 24 hours before events (including free offerings). 508-366-6812. www.AdoptionCommunityofNE.org or E-mail info@AdoptionCommunityofNE.org. More ... Baseball Exhibit Sure to Be A Hit With RED SOX Nation No Need to Visit Cooperstown This Summer. Save the Gas and See Baseball As America Exhibit in Boston       More than a game, baseball weaves together the many threads of American culture. With each new season, hopes and dreams are renewed as fans root for their favorite teams (Go Red Sox Nation!) More ... DAY TRIP GUIDE 8 Things To Do With Your Kids During the Summer of 2008 BY susan scully petroni       Summer - the thought conjures up sunny days, relaxing on a beach, splashing in a lake, BBQs, and making S'mores. Summer also means kids are not in school and have an extra 6 hours a day to learn, explore, and of course spend time with mom and dad. More ... All The World's A Stage EXPLORING CHILDREN'S THEATRE ON THE CAPE BY susan spencer       Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of articles on Cape Cod. M odern American theatre is said to have been born on Cape Cod when Eugene O'Neill and other leading playwrights joined the fledgling Provincetown Players in 1916. More ... Westward Ho PART 2 OF A 4-PART SERIES BY james m. lang and mathew robert photography by mathew robert       ABOUT THIS SERIES FOLLOWING-THE-FOUR WINDS ROAD TRIP ADVENTURE: It seemed like a great idea over a couple of bottles of wine one evening, said the series authors. More ... I can do it MYSELF 10 Ways to Teach Your Child How to Pack His Own Bag for Summer Vacation BY dr. robyn j.a. silverman       Editor's note: This is the second in a series of articles on teaching self reliance. Next month: Teaching your child how to tie his shoe. Fred Johnson had to speak to me IN PERSON. More ... Zula Patrol Lands at the EcoTarium BY lisa littlewood      Zachary and Jacob, 5-year old twins from Sterling, wait anxiously for the show to begin. Both are wearing baseball caps and huge grins as they look up, awed that they would be seeing, in just a few short minutes, Professor Multo, one of their favorite cartoon characters on the huge domed screen th... More ... 15 Family-Friendly Ways to Enjoy Summer BY susan spencer       Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of travel articles on Cape Cod. Fifteen towns equal 15 family favorites for a memorable Cape Cod vacation. Each town has a unique flavor with not-to-be-missed attractions. We've picked out the best kid-tested destination in each town from the Cape Cod... More ...