Family Times September 2019

SEPTEMBER 2019

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Students can live life with severe allergies All about inclusion One mother’s response to trauma

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CONCLUSION

8

Change is happening.

PERSONAL ESSAY

10

A mother confronts trauma, in herself and in school.

FAMILY FACES

12

Inclusion specialist Julie Causton wants everyone to belong.

FEATURE

16

At Palermo Elementary, students learn the habits of leadership.

HEALTH

18

What parents need to know about severe food allergies.

CREATE

20

Make a snazzy pencil case and start the year off right.

CALENDAR

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The

Back to School

Issue

21 26-27 27 4

FAMILY TIMES SEPTEMBER 2019

CONTENTS

6

SEPTEMBER 2019

EDITOR’S NOTE

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FAMILY TIMES SEPTEMBER 2019

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FROM THE

THE PARENTING GUIDE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK

EDITOR

September is a month filled with change, energy—and uncertainty. For tens of thousands of Central New York students, September is when they head back to school to face new and greater demands for achievement.

Imagine starting a different job every year.

To get everyone in the right frame of mind for embracing change, we look at school from several perspectives in this issue. Christy Perry Tuohey’s article on page 16 offers a look at Palermo Elementary, a pre-K-4 school that familiarizes students with the habits of leaderhsip.

On page 12, inclusion specialist Julie Causton talks to reporter Tammy DiDomenico about how to make schools places of greater belonging for all students.

There is also an article on students and food allergies by a 16-year-old who’s written a book on the subject (page 18). Another column looks at the topic of trauma, at home and in schools (page 10).

And we’ve got a DIY project from artist Natalie Davis, who shows readers how to make a pencil case out of duct tape (page 20).

Change is in the air at Family Times, too: This is my last issue of the magazine as editor. I write more about that transition on page 8.

I hope you enjoy the September issue. And I hope you will welcome the next editor of the magazine. There is no Family Times without the support of CNY readers!

Happy September!

SEPTEMBER 2019 | ISSUE NO. 209

GENIUSES AT WORK PUBLISHER/OWNER Bill Brod EDITOR IN CHIEF Reid Sullivan RSullivan@familytimescny.com CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Tom Tartaro (ext. 134) CREATIVE DIRECTOR Robin Barnes SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Greg Minix GRAPHIC DESIGNER Karley Harmon CONTRIBUTORS Deborah Cavanagh, Neil Davis Jr., Tammy DiDomenico, Aaron Gifford, Eileen Gilligan, Molly Morgan, Tami Scott, Maggie Lamond Simone, Laura Livingston Snyder, Christy Perry Tuohey, Chris Xaver SALES MANAGER Tim Hudson (ext. 114) ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Lesli Mitchell (ext. 140) LMitchell@syracusenewtimes.com Anne DeSantis (ext. 111) ADesantis@syracusenewtimes.com SALES AND MARKETING COORDINATOR Megan McCarthy (ext. 115) MMcarthy@syracusenewtimes.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Jeff Friedman (ext. 118) ADDRESS

REID SULLIVAN

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EDITOR IN CHIEF

familytimescny.com

Learn how to make a unique and useful zippered case on page 20.

Advertising deadline for April is March 16. Calendar deadline for April is March Advertising deadline for October is Sept.

12. Calendar deadline for October is Sept.

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Design by Karley Harmon Cover Photo by iStock

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Onward!

The future is now

BY REID SULLIVAN

W

hen Family Times first arrived in Central New York, in May 2002, it was the new kid on the block.

The magazine grew and changed, and so did its staff. In September 2006, my predecessor, Tina Schwab, left the editor’s post and I took over. (And when I had my second son, in 2008, Tina did me a huge favor and stepped back in for three months so I could take time off.)

It’s been a fascinating 13 years as editor. I’ve put my sons on the magazine’s cover—one son once, and one son twice. I’ve put coworkers’ children on the cover, and I’ve put scores of other Central New Yorkers’ kids on the cover. (There have also been cover animals: a calf, three dogs and a hen. The pets covers have been some of my favorites!)

I’ve aimed for diversity, seeking out families of color, disabled young people, religious minorities, and gay families to feature in the magazine. My reporters and I have tackled numerous pressing topics: the HPV vaccine, infertility, unsporting conduct in youth athletics, options for deaf children in school, and the local shortage of daycare spots, among many others.

baby times

Putting Family Times out each month requires a team: artists, photographers, advertising salespeople, administrators, freelance writers, fellow editors, delivery drivers, advertisers, and a publisher. We also need readers: parents (and some children) to pick up the magazine, immerse themselves in the articles, peruse the calendar listings, and notice the advertisements that support the magazine.

I’ve enjoyed pulling everyone together to make a beautiful, readable, entertaining and informative magazine. But the universe is telling me that it’s time to do something different.

And my chance for change means the magazine gets a change, too. The next editor in chief of Family Times will be Courtney Kless. I wish her a long and lively tenure at the helm of the most fun magazine in Central New York.

Reid Sullivan was the second editor in chief of Family Times.

She lives in Syracuse with her husband, two sons, and three cats.

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CONCLUSION

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Transforming Tragedies An effort to build resilience to trauma in school

BY SAMANTHA PIERCE

E

veryone experiences distressing events in their lives. You’ve probably heard about trauma, the emotional response to these events. Our emotional reactions to these events can have long term effects on the way we think, make decisions and relate to others. Developing resilience—our ability to cope with stress—makes responding to adversity easier.

I’ve had my share of traumatic and resilience-building experiences, which continue to shape me into the person I am. My experiences shaped me into the kind of person who could recognize the interplay between these factors in the school setting. They also made me the type of person who would insist that my children’s district, the Syracuse City School District, take up the task of intentionally addressing trauma by creating nurturing learning and work environments for students, families, and employees.

I asked Superintendent Jaime Alicea why he found the message about the need to address trauma compelling. He said the loss of people, especially students, couldn’t be ignored. “Syracuse is a small town,” he said as we chatted in his office in July. “Everything is connected.”

WHAT MAKES AN EXPERIENCE TRAUMATIC? A traumatic experience has a few different components. These include: being overwhelming, painful and scary to the person; triggering of the fight, flight or freeze response; threatening the person’s physical or psychological safety; and creating a feeling of loss of control.

I’ve had experiences like this in my life. Moving to a new country at an early age, adapting to a new culture, and going to school were traumatic at times. It’s an experience shared by many students in Syracuse.

One of the most significant events in my life was the death of my sister Sanchia on a sunny August afternoon in 2017. Making the phone calls from the hospital to share that news was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Students in Syracuse have also

10

PERSONAL ESSAY

experienced the sudden loss of family members and friends, often without adequate support to help them learn to live with such dramatic changes.

The death of a close family member or friend is an obvious source of trauma. As an adult who has access to information and support, I nonetheless still struggle with the impact of my sister’s loss.

Children have the same struggles with different types of traumatic events. ACEs—adverse childhood experiences—include abuse, household challenges, and neglect, which can trigger the body’s trauma response, as identified by the CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACE Study (which can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/violence prevention/childabuseandneglect/acestudy/about.html). I’ve had experiences that fall into each of these categories. Most people in the United States have had at least one before reaching adulthood.

WHAT MAKES STRESS TOXIC? It shouldn’t be surprising that we experience events that trigger trauma responses. Life never goes as planned. Our bodies are designed to respond to stressful environments to keep us alive. That’s a good thing.

When we are forced to remain in a state of activated trauma response, it becomes detrimental to physical and mental health.

The phenomenon goes by many names: chronic stress, toxic stress, complex trauma, post-traumatic stress. Each describes aspects of the over-activation of a neurobiological system designed to function for brief periods—long enough to escape the threat, to keep us alive.

Several years ago, I heard a homeless veteran explain how he experienced post-traumatic stress: trouble sleeping, always alert to danger, intense startle responses to certain noises, thinking about crisis scenarios, forgetfulness, loss of interest in regular activities.

I’ve experienced all of these. The veteran could point to his service in combat zones as a source of his responses.

Meanwhile, the origins of my own stressors at that time were diffuse: worrying about getting the parenting right for both my autistic

ISTOCK PHOTO

children and my typically developing children. Concerns about their futures. Slogging through red tape and unresponsive systems of care.

Feelings of being cut off from meaningful support. Each of these played a role in activating my body’s stress response systems. As my body burned through physical and emotional energy, I didn’t have much left to spend on other things.

Chronic childhood experiences of this level of stress leave fewer resources for healthy growth and development. Just like adults, children and teens exposed to stressful environments can experience a diminished capacity to learn, make decisions, manage their own emotions, and form healthy relationships with others. It often manifests as problem behavior in the school setting.

WHAT ROLE DOES RESILIENCE PLAY?

challenges in a community. Overactive trauma response manifests in the classroom as problem behavior in students, weary staff, low graduation rates, and punitive policies and practices.

Superintendent Alicea appreciated the message as well. In January 2019 he created SCSD’s Trauma and Resilience Advocacy Committee, tasking us with overseeing and coordinating the shift to create nurturing learning and work environments for employees, students and families. The process will take years, but the staff in the district are already expressing hope for the coming school year. As Superintendent Alicea says, “Every kid counts,” even when we’ve grown to adulthood.

Samantha Pierce is a consultant and lives in Syracuse with her husband and five children.

It would be a bleak story if it ended here. However, we are built to restore ourselves to a state of healthy functioning. The human capacity to do so is known as resilience. Some of us are better at healing and relearning how to control our trauma response systems, but we all can do it. I learned to recognize and address the effects of my over-active trauma response by relying on and nurturing my capacity to be resilient.

Safe, stable, nurturing relationships can protect children and adults. Growing up, I had my siblings, parents and critical friendships. The sudden loss of one of those protective relationships has tested my capacity to be resilient. I’ve formed new connections and relationships that are helping me navigate the experience.

Four months after losing my sister, a fellow Syracuse parent said to me, “We really need to be addressing trauma.” At that point, I was ready for the message. The school environment tends to magnify the

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Julie Causton, an inclusion specialist, gives presentations to educators and administrators at schools and conferences around the country.

Let’s Get Together

J

Remaking classrooms so all students are included | BY TAMMY DiDOMENICO

ulie Causton, Ph.D., wants teachers to help students become their best selves. As an educator who has worked at the elementary, middle, high school and college levels, she is passionate about supporting teachers in creating inclusive learning environments. Causton is cofounder of Inclusive Schooling with Kate MacLeod, Ph.D. She’s written or co-written several books on inclusion and teaching. Her first children’s book, The Too Much Unicorn (written with Caitlin Caron), came out in January. Causton consults with school districts across the country on the best ways to make school inclusive.

Causton, 46, is a mother of two and lives in Manlius. She is a former professor in the Department of Teaching and Leadership at Syracuse University. Family Times spoke with her during a break in her travel schedule to discuss creating learning environments that support all students. (This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.)

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FAMILY FACES

Having taught at basically every level of education, what led you to focus specifically on inclusion?

Julie Causton: It was a cumulative process. What I noticed early on in my career was that the more a part of the community a student was, the happier they seemed, the more fulfilled they seemed, the more social interactions they seemed to be having. So, I started to look at that pattern of exclusion related to disability, and also the patterns of inclusion.

The more I learned, the more on fire I became about inclusive education. I still see myself as a learner in that every school I’ve been in and every district that I’m in, I’m learning from and with teachers about best practices.

I went to school in a time when students with disabilities—especially significant disabilities—were educated elsewhere. What is fun for me is to look at the difference now and see that people with disabilities deserve a rightful place in our communities and in our schools. Opening the door is the hard part. But, once it’s open, it generally stays open because educators and administrators see the power of what happens when we rethink schools for kids.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Educators and administrators generally want inclusion. But there is a tendency to label students in the rush to get them the support services that they need.

What can be done to help educators and parents with that?

JC: I believe really strongly that supports are portable and should be brought to students instead of bringing students to supports. It’s about learning how to differentiate. So, if I’m a general education fourth-grade teacher, I understand that the content is challenging, but I need to know how to differentiate that content to give students access points. If kids can’t read it to decode its meaning, then we have to give them new ways to learn that information.

They need to listen to it—maybe have a peer read it to them. We just have to start thinking more broadly about what’s possible.

In New York state, and in lots of places, we’re very deficit-focused. We are constantly looking at how far below the norm a student is. Inclusive education forces us to flip that around and look at a student’s strengths. The very nature of inclusion forces us to rethink pretty much everything about teaching and learning— for the better. A lot of the things we do in special education are just good practices for teaching. When we no longer separate humans by disability, then we start sharing those practices. When we share those practices, better things happen for more kids.

You talk about the role of the classroom teacher in your writing. In a typical or special ed. classroom, they have to evolve in order to best accommodate inclusion.

Where does that begin?

JC: It’s societal. I think we can start at any place. I’ve seen parents be the catalyst for it, I’ve seen a teacher right out of Syracuse University be the catalyst for inclusion. I’ve seen an administrator who says, “This is what I believe.” I’ve seen students who say, “I don’t like it when our friend goes down the hall. We think he can be in this class with us.” Systemically, I see a lot of hope when I think about teacher prep programs like Syracuse University that have dual licensure—students have general and special education licenses when they graduate, and they know everything there is to know about inclusive education. I taught there for 14 years and I know they are changing schools and systems in profound ways. On the other side of it, I teach administrators. George Theoharis (SU School of Education professor) and I have a summer leadership institute for administrators from all over the country. (Inclusion-fest 2019 took place in August at Syracuse University.) They learn how to create more inclusive schools. They often go back to their schools and start to look closely at their systems. I often equate it to Brown v. Board of Education. In 1954 we decided that you can’t segregate people by race, and yet we still think it’s okay to segregate people by disability in our practices. Nobody intends to do that, but just look at our classrooms.

So why aren’t administrators embracing inclusion on a wider scale?

JC: When you lead a change like this, the resistance from some administrators is pretty significant because they are being asked to do things they may not feel comfortable with. I’ve studied the change process, and there are all sorts of steps that humans go through, and none of that is pleasant to be on the receiving end of.

Is cost a factor?

JC: It doesn’t cost more money to teach inclusively. We move resources from segregated classrooms to inclusive ones. Schools don’t get more teachers, or more paraprofessionals, or anything like that. It is costly in terms of energy. It takes a lot of energy to move a system and to get everybody on board, skilled up, and able to meet the needs of all learners, and then to problem solve when things don’t go well. But the rewards are great. All educators, I believe, have come to this work with the right intentions: to do right by kids. The problem is, our systems aren’t always set up to do the right things for kids. When educators see it, they know it, and the resistance dies down and the support for the work continues.

Parents want their kids to be as included as possible.

Inclusion takes some of the stigma out of any kind of diagnosis. Has your research confirmed that?

JC: I would say so. Belonging is key before students can learn at all, so that stigma is of course very big. But even bigger than that is the fact that all kids need to feel like they are part of their school community, and moving away from a school community has a pretty negative impact on self-esteem and all those other pieces.

Parents intuitively know this and feel it themselves. That’s one reason why they are fighting for inclusive education.

I’ve been to many different programs and placements, and although some of the teachers and experiences for the kids are really good, I have yet to see something that is so fabulous and specialized that it couldn’t be replicated in their home district. They could all be brought to students’ districts so they don’t have to deal with the stigma and the problems with belonging that can cause students to not be able to learn for years at a time.

In New York state, a typical elementary school might have a couple segregated classrooms. Within those, there might be six or continued on page 14

Do you find that the current emphasis on student and teacher performance creates barriers to inclusion?

JC: I think high expectations are good for everybody. I think the people who become successful at inclusive education are those who can learn easily how to give students access points and differentiate the material. When you have a lot of lockstep teachers just covering content, kids can really struggle. But when there are teachers who have a wider array of tricks and skills, then it’s not an issue to educate kids—even when expectations are high.

FAMILY TIMES SEPTEMBER 2019

13

continued from page 13 seven adults. If we redeploy those resources to general education classrooms, we can cover a lot of places so that any kid who struggles with anything has adult support. When it is done beautifully, they provide all kinds of supports to all kinds of kids. It’s better for every classroom to have multiple adults. The problem is we are keeping all the resources in rooms, and I have yet to see a room where I thought it was worth the stigma and sacrificing the belonging.

You worked with Salem Hyde Elementary School in Syracuse on inclusion.

JC: Salem Hyde was very successful with inclusion even before we got there but became even more inclusive. Their students with disabilities saw really lovely academic gains. We worked with Roberts School also—probably 15 years ago. Things have probably changed or morphed in some way, but we worked closely with them for three years at a time.

How does being a parent influence your work?

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When I had a child with a disability that became even clearer to me. In my professional life, I am considered to be an expert in disability and inclusion. But then I sat at a table where I wasn’t really seen as an expert in much. I was surprised by how quickly the power structure of the IEP meeting itself took over, and how quickly my ex-husband and I were kind of silenced. I kept thinking, “I have a Ph.D. in special education. I should know this stuff.

I should be able to stand my ground at a meeting.” But when they are talking about your child, it’s definitely quite emotional. It just really bolstered my belief in supporting families.

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FAMILY TIMES SEPTEMBER 2019

15

Good Habits for Leaders

Above, students and staffers decorate the halls at Palermo Elementary School. Below, Abby Grzesik holds her Leadership Notebook.

T

hird-grader Abby Grzesik knows exactly how many days she was absent from school in 2018-19 (only missed one week), just how much her subtraction skills improved in Quarter Four (from a score of 63 to a high of 100), and how many days this school year she has read on her own (seven days a week each month, except for one week in December 2018, when she only read five days).

One day last June, near the end of the 2018-19 school year, I visited Palermo Elementary to learn about the program and talk to students, teachers and administrators about how they use it. (All students’ grade levels in the story were as of June 2019.)

“We keep track of our data in our binders at the student level and then we keep track of our class data, of how our class is doing and then we do some schoolwide displays,” Principal Peggy Scorzelli explained. She said that the notebooks are also where students can write about the roles they play in the school community.

“Some teachers have them reflect on the classroom job that they do, that they signed up for.”

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FEATURE

CHRISTY PERRY TUOHEY PHOTO

Abby and her fellow students at Oswego County’s Palermo Elementary School keep track of their attendance and progress in reading and math in what are called their Leadership Notebooks.

Their school uses them as just one part of a model called Leader in Me, a type of curriculum that encompasses academics, school culture and life skills. Through this model, the students learn to practice habits and principles that can earn them leadership roles in their classrooms and schoolwide.

Palermo Elementary encourages students to take charge

PROVIDED PHOTOS

BY CHRISTY PERRY TUOHEY

Palermo Elementary is a pre-kindergarten through fourth grade school in the Mexico Academy and Central School District. Students begin learning the Leader in Me principles, habits and roles in pre-K. “We’re doing synergy,” said third-grade teacher Megan Cernaro. “So what does that really mean? It’s just that teamwork.

When they first learn the habits, when they’re little, the synergy is teamwork, or really, it’s building on each other’s strengths and using that for the better, for the good as a whole.”

In her classroom, Cernaro’s students have assigned, applied-for leadership roles such as being class greeter or morning meeting facilitator. “It’s them owning and feeling that’s it’s not just the teacher’s classroom or it’s not just the educators’ school. It is ours together.”

The process was adapted for educational settings from the 1989 book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey.

The habits are:

• Be Proactive

• Begin With the End in Mind • Put First Things First • Think Win-Win • Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood • Synergize (combine the strengths of your team) • Sharpen the Saw (tap into the highest and best contribution of everyone on a team) The first school to adapt and use the Leader in Me process was A.B. Combs Leadership Magnet Elementary, a public school in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1999. Since that time, thousands of Leader in Me schools have been established in more than 80 countries.

Over the past several years, Palermo Elementary has earned the Leader in Me Lighthouse Schools certification, administered

by Franklin Covey, a time management training and assessment services company that formed when the Franklin Quest company acquired author Stephen R. Covey’s Covey Leadership Center. Being a Lighthouse School means Palermo has “produced outstanding results in school and student outcomes.”

“There’s actually a rubric that we had to evaluate ourselves on and then (Franklin Covey representatives) came and they interviewed parents, students and staff,” Scorzelli said. “We’re so fortunate that we have this milestone in our journey.”

Lighthouse Schools have both faculty- and student-level teams.

Student Lighthouse Team members have schoolwide leadership roles. One of the roles is running assemblies during the school

year, which student team member Rylee Smith enjoys doing. “‘Lighthouse’ means we stay after school and you have a meeting and you talk about Funtabulous Friday and what we’re going to do, and then you work together,” said Rylee.

Rylee’s teammates rotate their roles in planning the weekly Funtabulous Friday assemblies. “Wednesday is when we assign the jobs that we need to do, and then Thursday we practice,” explained Madison Hopp, a fourth-grader.

The assemblies require the team members to come up with games for students to play. There’s a team within the Student Lighthouse Team called the Beat the Clock team. “If you’re on the Beat the Clock team, you synergize and think of a game and then try to explain and make up how you’re going to explain to the audience what they have to do,” said student team member Mackenzie Hopp, Madison’s twin sister, also in grade 4.

Robert Teifke, a teacher and the student team co-facilitator, gives the group feedback on their plans and ideas, but he lets the students take the lead. “I try to step back as much as I can,” he said. “I’m there for support and guidance, but we really push for all of the ideas and the creativity to come from them.”

Student leadership roles aren’t just about games. From the beginning, students are encouraged to take initiative. They’re encouraged to anticipate the consequences of their actions and be accountable for their choices. Teacher Megan Cernaro begins the school year reviewing students’ “Circle of Control”; within the circle are elements of school life over which they have control. Students are encouraged to account for their influences when making decisions.

“These are good life skills,” Cernaro said.

Her class also does “secret kindness missions” for which they brainstorm ideas in their class meetings. “Right now their mission is to greet people that they may not know,” Cernaro said. “We talk about how you may be the one person that says hello to that person all day.”

Student Lighthouse Team member Lily Sanschagrin offered her definition of leadership: “Being a leader means you are proactive and if you see someone that is bullying someone, you will help them to stop getting bullied,” she said. When asked what she might say to the bully, Lily answered, “You can say ‘It’s not nice to bully people,’” a true statement that is not punitive or aggressive.

Abby Grzesik shared her advice on what other kids her age can do to stay focused on their educational and character goals, using the habit of putting first things first. “You try to set aside, as we think of it, bigger rocks, the more important things, and smaller rocks, the less important things, like video games and reading if, like, you’re reading comic books or something that’s not for school,” she said. “So I would say if they need tips on how to keep on track, make a chart and have your mom help you.”

Wise words from a third-grade leader in the making.

Christy Perry Tuohey is an author, journalist and freelance writer living in Syracuse.

FAMILY TIMES SEPTEMBER 2019

17

Allergy Adjustments

Parents can support their food allergic child

BY OLIVIER DELDICQUE

F

or many families, September is about kids getting back to school, playing fall sports or starting other new activities.

This means new teachers, coaches and friends. A family dealing with a child’s food allergies has additional anxiety about all the changes.

One in 13 children in the United States has a food allergy; 40 percent of allergic kids have reactions to more than one food. Every child has likely been exposed to the problem since nearly every class at school has someone with an allergy.

I am now 16, and I was diagnosed with severe food allergies when I was 3 months old. I’m severely allergic to dairy, peanuts, tree nuts and raw eggs. While most people understand a peanut allergy, I meet people all the time who confuse my dairy allergy with an intolerance. If I drink milk or take a scoop of dairy yogurt, my throat will close up. Peanuts are just one of the top eight allergens that can lead to anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal.

There is no cure for food allergies although there are some promising treatments. Strict avoidance is the only way to prevent an allergic reaction. The only way to treat an anaphylactic reaction is with an injected dose of epinephrine as soon as possible. People with allergies must carry this medication with them at all times.

Living with food allergies is challenging because food is a part of our daily life and especially our social lives. For myself, I try to strike a balance between living cautiously and living a full “normal” life. It’s important for everyone to realize that people with food allergies aren’t trying to make life difficult, they are trying to stay alive. If you’re bummed you aren’t being served peanuts on your flight or that your child can’t take a peanut butter sandwich to school, try to think about the parent’s fear that their child will stop breathing 30,000 feet in the air or that their 5-year-old will take a bite of that sandwich at school. It’s not an easy way to live. A little understanding goes a long way.

Here are some tips everyone can use to keep us all safe and happy.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE If your child has a friend with an allergy, ask questions. Chances are your child is already protective of their friend. My classmates were always supportive of me. Don’t be afraid to invite the food allergic child over! Talk with the other parent. Likewise, if you are the parent of a child with an allergy, ask what food will be served at the play date or party. Offer to bring safe snacks for your child.

This is what my mom always did. She also volunteered to provide the food for class parties. This takes the stress off everyone.

Most important is for everyone around the child with the allergy to know what to do in case of a reaction. (Remember coaches and bus drivers, too.) Food is everywhere. Talk to your child about getting help from a teacher if they think their food allergic friend is in trouble.

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HEALTH

ISTOCK ART ELEMENTS

This age is a good time to start planting the seeds of empowerment in your child with allergies. My parents worked with me on reading food labels, ordering food in a restaurant and learning how to cook. We also talked about trust: Even if people have good intentions in their kitchens, I cannot eat a food unless it is clearly labeled. Don’t take it personally if I turn down your cookies at church—I’m politely protecting myself.

and parents along the way. I also have great friends who know about my allergies.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL

It is unfortunate that allergies are on the rise. However, through the years I have found more resources available and more options for safe, well-labeled food. Still, we all hear about tragedies that occur. One food allergy death is too many. By working together as a community, we can keep food allergic kids safe.

As I got older, managing my food allergies changed. I began to do more activities on my own and started carrying my auto-injector myself. The teen years are the most dangerous for kids with food allergies. This is when the most fatal reactions occur. Teens don’t want to draw attention to themselves so they might not talk about their allergies or carry their medication. They are more likely to deny symptoms, allowing a reaction to get out of control.

It’s been helpful to me to be a part of the food allergy community. For example, the FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) website (www.foodallergy.org) has great information.

Kids with food allergies can suffer from anxiety, so talking with a school or private counselor can also help.

Olivier Deldicque is the author of When Every Bite Matters: One Teen’s Journey With Food Allergies. He lives in Fayetteville with his parents and two younger brothers.

At this age, help your teen find a carrier for the medication that they will use. Encourage them to wear some type of medical identification. Discuss social scenarios with your teen, offer to host social activities at your home and encourage your teen to be open with friends.

One of the most important things I’ve learned is to not fear the auto-injector. Many people are scared to use it, but the golden rule is: epi first, epi fast. My allergist used to tell me: “No one dies from the Epi-Pen.” At any age, it’s important to communicate and be understanding about food allergies. My family has been fortunate to work with kind and helpful teachers, administrators, chefs, camp directors

An injected dose of epinephrine is the only way to treat an anaphylactic reaction.

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FAMILY TIMES SEPTEMBER 2019

19

Use duct tape to craft an item for school

H

1

BY NATALIE DAVIS

ere is one way to turn duct tape into an original school item.

SUPPLIES

2 Rolls of Duct Tape (each a different color) Scissors

2

Utility knife Stapler Utility mat 9-inch to 12-inch zipper

1.

5.

2.

6.

3.

7.

Lay your first color of tape, sticky side down, on your cutting mat. Put down strips of tape to make a rectangle roughly the size of an 8 ½-inch-by-11-inch sheet of paper.

Gently peel up your rectangle and flip your tape over so the sticky side is facing up.

Lay strips of your second color of duct tape directly on top of your first rectangle.

Trim the edges so they are straight and square.

4.

Pick which side of your duct tape fabric you would like to be the outside of your pencil case. Once you have decided the outside, take out your zipper and line it up with the pull side of the zipper facing down on a short side of your duct tape fabric.

20

CREATE

Staple the top edge of the zipper to the top edge of your fabric.

4

Fold your duct tape fabric over so the bottom meets the top and staple the bottom side of the zipper.

Fold your stapled edges of the zipper over and secure with a half strip of your duct tape. Do this on both sides of the zipper.

TIP Make sure to put a staple at each end of your zipper to ensure it does not zip or unzip too far.

6

NATALIE DAVIS PHOTOS

A Unique Case for Pencils

8 8.

Decide where you want your zipper to be and fold and crease your duct tape fabric, trimming any excess off the end of the zipper.

10

9 9.

Staple each open end of your fabric and seal with another half-strip of duct tape.

10.

Flip your fabric inside out, taking care to push all of the corners through, and you are. . .

TIP

Unzip your zipper before stapling each end.

done!

Natalie Davis is an artist and educator teaching enrichment in the Syracuse City School District. She lives with her family in Jordan.

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Please note: Mistakes happen. To confirm

event details, call the sponsoring organization’s phone number or visit the website.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 New York State Fair.

10 a.m.-10 p.m. (exhibits); through Sept. 2. The fair features thousands of animals, hundreds of commercial attractions, scores of rides and innumerable unusual, exotic and fried foods. Also see the works of New York artists and crafters.

New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse. Admission: $10/general; free/age 12 and younger. $1/Sept. 2.

Parking: $5. (800) 475-FAIR. nysfair.org.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 31

Teen Tuesday. 4-5 p.m. Young people in grades

6-12 can take part in escape room fun. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free.

(315) 637-6374. fflib.org.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4 Teen Writer’s Guild. 4-5 p.m.; also Sept. 11, 18

20l 9 Grandparents Day Storytime. 2-3 p.m.

Children can listen to stories about grandparents, then make a card for a special person in their life.

Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool.

Free. (315) 457-0310.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 8

& 25. Students in grades 6-12 can take part in writing workshops, receive criticism, and brainstorm with others. All genres of creative writing are welcome. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. fflib.org. (315) 637-6374.

Golden Harvest Festival. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. See

Teen Anime Night in Liverpool. 6-8 p.m.

Special Needs Gaming. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.;

Teens can come and talk about anime. Cosplay is okay, but library staff must approve. Presented by Liverpool Public Library. Bloom, Gather, Grow, 305 Vine St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 5

Sept. 7 listing.

MONDAY, SEPT. 9 also Sept. 16, 23 & 30. Adults with special needs can play on the Wii and with various board games; caregivers must remain in the room. NOPL Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane, Cicero. Free. (315) 6992032. nopl.org.

Doula Speed Dating. 6-7:30 p.m. Meet several

through Sept. 2. See August 30 listing.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 6

doulas in 15-minute sessions to see who you and your partner connect with. Ask questions about labor support, postpartum doula services and more.

CNY Healing Arts, 195 Intrepid Lane, Syracuse.

Free. Registration recommended: (315) 707-8097.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 1

SEE ONGOING EVENTS

STEAM Challenge. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Using provid-

New York State Fair. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (exhibits);

SATURDAY, SEPT. 7

New York State Fair. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. (exhibits);

through Sept. 2. See August 30 listing.

MONDAY, SEPT. 2

New York State Fair. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. See August 30 listing.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 3 First Steps. 9:30-10 a.m.; also Sept. 10, 17 & 24.

Children who are good walkers, up to age 3, can with a caregiver take part in a program with music, movement, crafts and more. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-6374.

Baby Storytime. 10:30-11 a.m.; also Sept. 10,

17 & 24. Babies, up to age 2, and caregivers can share rhymes, songs, stories and signs in this language-building program. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-6374.

Kids Tech Time. 3-5 p.m.; also Sept. 5, 10, 12,

17, 19, 24 & 26. Kids can build and create with a rotating variety of toys such as Cubelets, Magnatiles and SnapCircuits. NOPL North Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane, North Syracuse. Free. (315) 4586184. nopl.org.

22

CALENDAR

SEE ONGOING EVENTS

Golden Harvest Festival. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; also

ed materials, kids ages 7-12 can design and build a sturdy tower. NOPL North Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane, North Syracuse. Free. (315) 458-6184. nopl.org.

Sept. 8. Highlights of the festival include: arts and crafts, live music, storytelling, puppet and magic shows, and a petting zoo. Homemade seasonal foods and beverages for sale. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville.

Admission: $5/adult; $1/ages 6-17; free/age 5 & under. (315) 638-2519.

Homeschooling 101 for Parents. 7-8:30 p.m.

Trading Card Game Players. 10-11 a.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 10

Kids age 12 and up can play trading card games such as Pokemon and Magic with an expert from TCGPlayer. Mundy Branch Library, 1204 S. Geddes St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3797.

STEM Program. 10:30 a.m.-noon. Kids can

listen to a story about Johnny Appleseed and then build an orchard using model logs and trees. Soule Branch Library, 101 Springfield Road, Syracuse.

Free. (315) 435-5320.

Paws to Read. 10:30-11:30 a.m.;

also Sept. 14, 21 & 28. Children can read to a friendly dog from Paws of CNY Inc. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free.

(315) 457-0310.

Central New York Tomatofest. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Join the celebration of tomato season’s end—with crafts for sale, activities for kids, and more. Music in various locations downtown, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Children’s entertainment located at Auburn Public Theater, 8 Exchange St. Proceeds benefit local food pantries. Free admission; fee for some activities. cnytomatofest.org.

Homeschooling parents can learn what paperwork to save, what to put in a portfolio, and how to schedule their days. Baldwinsville Public Library, 33 E. Genesee St., Baldwinsville. Free. (315) 457-0310.

SEE ONGOING EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11 Teen Tabletop Games. 6-8 p.m. Teens can hang out, play board games and eat snacks. Presented by Liverpool Public Library. Bloom Gather Grow, 305 Vine St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12 Young Artists. 3-5 p.m. Young people age 10 and up can learn about artists and movements from ancient civilizations. At this session, participants learn about the Byzantine period. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free.

Registration required: (315) 492-1727.

Girls Who Code. 6 p.m.; first of 10 weekly

sessions. Girls ages 10-18 can learn about computer science and how to code in a fun environment.

Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration required: (315) 492-1727.

iSTOCK

September

FRIDAY, SEPT. 13

MONDAY, SEPT. 16

Music & Stories with Donna B. 10:30

Homeschool Family Fun. 1-2:30 p.m.

a.m. Children of all ages will enjoy dancing and singing with Donna Butterfield as she plays guitar.

Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration requested: (315) 492-1727.

La Festa Italiana. 11

a.m.-11 p.m.; through Sept.

15. Celebrate Italian culture, including food, music and bocce. In front of Syracuse City Hall, Washington and Montgomery streets, Syracuse. Free admission. festaitaliana.bizland.com.

Teen Dungeons and Dragons. 4-5 p.m.; also

Sept. 27. Young people ages 11-18 can play (or learn to play) with a teen Dungeon Master. Players must bring: a full Character, a players handbook, and a dice set. NOPL Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane, Cicero. Free. (315) 699-2032. nopl.org.

Taste of David’s Refuge Fundraiser.

7-10 p.m. An evening of food and drink raises money for the nonprofit that devotes itself to “caring for the caregiver.” RedBarn20, Windridge Estate, 2527 Route 20, Cazenovia. $125/person. davidsrefuge.org.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 14

Homeschooling parents and kids can take part in a casual hangout with games and crafts. Maxwell Memorial Library, 14 Genesee St., Camillus. Free.

(315) 672-3661. www.maxwellmemoriallibrary.org.

Teen Minecraft. 3-4:30 p.m. Young people in

grades 6-12 can play on the library’s Minecraft server. Salina Library, 100 Belmont St., Mattydale. Free.

Registration required: (315) 454-4524.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 17 Homeschool STEAM Club. 1:30-3 p.m.

Homeschooling children ages 5-11 can learn about science, technology, engineering, art and math through hands-on activities on the Dinosaur Garden Lawn. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310.

Tuesday Crafternoons. 3:30-7 p.m.; also Sept.

Peppa Pig Live. 6 p.m. In this show, based on

Presented by Liverpool Public Library. Bloom, Gather, Grow, 305 Vine St., Liverpool. Free.

(315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

College 101. 7-8:30 p.m. Parents of prospective college students can learn about financial aid and more with a staffer from College Assistance Plus.

Manlius Public Library, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave., Manlius. Registration required: (315) 682-6400.

Young Artists. 2-4 p.m. Young people age 10 and up can learn about artists and movements from ancient civilizations. At this session, participants learn about the Byzantine period. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free.

Registration required: (315) 492-1727.

National German Language Day. 2-3 p.m.

Young people ages 12-18 can try German snacks, learn some words in German by playing Bingo, and discover books by German authors. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 15 STEM Storytime. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Children

ages 2-6 can take part in a session that sparks the scientific spirit through stories, music, and play.

Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. $5/child.

(315) 425-9068. most.org.

La Festa Italiana. Noon-7 p.m. See Sept. 13 listing.

Fayetteville Festival. Noon-4 p.m. Family

event includes displays by local organizations; music; and children’s activities. Beard Park, South Manlius Street, Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-9864. fayettevilleny.gov.

Kids Classics and Pizza. 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Rice Creek Rambles. 11 a.m.; also Sept. 21

15. See Sept. 13 listing.

Listen to keeper chats at the red panda exhibit, visit a biofact station, and enter a raffle for a red panda plush; help support red panda conservation in the wild.

Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. Admission: $9/adult; $5/senior; $5/ages 3-18; free/age 2 and under.

(315) 435-8511.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18

Teen Video Game Night.

La Festa Italiana. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; through Sept.

International Red Panda Day. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Teen Trading Card Games. 1-3 p.m. Young

ber of the Canine Caring Angels, or just hang out together. NOPL Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane, Cicero. Free. (315) 699-2032. nopl.org. & 28. Explore trails, woods and wetlands with a naturalist on a family-friendly hike. Those under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Rice Creek Field Station, SUNY Oswego, Thompson Road, 1 mile south of Route 104, Oswego. Free. Call day of to check trail conditions: (315) 312-6677. oswego.edu/ rice-creek/rice-creek-rambles.

animals available for adoption (dogs, cats, horses), animal demonstrations, horse carriage rides, music, and food for sale. Jamesville Beach Park, Apulia Road, Jamesville. Free admission. (315) 435-5252.

24. Children from age 3-10 and caregivers can drop in to make a craft. Maxwell Memorial Library, 14 Genesee St., Camillus. Free. (315) 672-3661. www. maxwellmemoriallibrary.org.

characters from the Nick Jr series, Peppa goes on a camping trip with George and her school friends.

Crouse Hinds Theater, Oncenter, 411 Montgomery St., Syracuse. $42.50-$148 (plus fees). ticketmaster. com.

Pups ‘n Pages. 11 a.m.-noon. Read to a mem-

Canine Carnival. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Hundreds of

THURSDAY, SEPT. 19 Trail Tales. 1 p.m. Children ages 3-5, accom-

panied by an adult, can hear two stories and then head out on a hike led by a naturalist.

Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. Admission: $4/vehicle. (315) 638-2519.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 20 Wings of the Night. 6 p.m. Learn all about

bats, then accompany a naturalist on a walk to look for some. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $2/person.

Preregistration required: (315) 638-2519.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 21 Fall Migration Festival. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Festival

features birds of prey, interactive nature tables, crafts, a bird walk, games, a chicken barbecue and more. Great Swamp Conservancy, 8375 N. Main St., Canastota. Admission: $4/adults; $1/age 12 & under. (315) 697-2950. greatswampconservancy.org.

people in grades 7-12 can play Pokemon, YuGiOh and Magic with a staffer from TCGPlayer. NOPL Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane, Cicero. Free.

Registration required: (315) 699-2032. nopl.org.

Children age 7 and up can discuss this month’s selection, Matilda by Roald Dahl. They can also eat pizza and watch the movie made from the book.

Manlius Public Library, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave., Manlius. Registration required: (315) 682-6400.

Early Autumn Paddle. 4 p.m.; also Sept. 28.

Go on a paddle with a naturalist. Snack on cheese, crackers and cider. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $25/canoe, including rental. Registration required: (315) 638-2519.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 22 Petit Book Sale. 11:30 a.m.6 p.m. Thousands of books, music CDs, DVDs and audiobooks will be on sale, most for $2 or less each. Bring your own bag. Petit Branch Library, 105 Victoria Place, Syracuse.

(315) 435-3636.

Westcott Street Fair. Noon-6:30 p.m. The

neighborhood puts on its 28th annual festival, starting with a parade at noon and followed by live music and dance performances, crafts for sale, and a chance to learn about local nonprofit organizations. Children’s performances and activities take place at the Petit Branch library on Victoria Place.

Westcott Street between Concord and Dell streets, and on side streets, Syracuse. Free. (315) 313-5447. westcottstreetfair.org.

Calendar listings are FREE! Send information about your family-friendly event to: rsullivan@familytimescny.com.

LISTINGS ARE DUE BY SEPT. 6 FOR THE OCTOBER ISSUE. FAMILY TIMES SEPTEMBER 2019

23

MONDAY, SEPT. 23

Apple Festival. 5-9 p.m.; through

Sept. 29. Annual event features rides and food (only) on the first day. Other days of the festival include live demonstrations, a DJ, an apple pie contest—and rides and food. Presented by the Lioness Club of Central Square.

Brewerton Speedway, 154 Route 11, Central Square. Admission: $5 per carload. (315) 675-8232. www.centralsquareapplefestival.com.

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX

Front Row Players Fundraiser. 5:30-9:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 24

Local artists perform acts. Wine, beer, appetizers and desserts will be served. A benefit for the program that welcomes performers of all abilities.

Eastern Hills Bible Church, 8277 Cazenovia Road, Manlius. $50. frontrowplayers.org. (315) 663-8390.

Teen MOPS. 5-7 p.m. Young mothers, ages 13-21, with children under 6 enjoy a faith-based program with fun, food and activities while their children are cared for by the childcare program. Liverpool First United Methodist Church, 604 Oswego St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 569-2542.

Harry Potter Interactive Movie. 6-8:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25

Participants will receive a bag of snacks, props and prompts to turn a Harry Potter movie into an interactive event; for children in grade 3 and older.

Manlius Public Library, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave., Manlius. Registration required: (315) 682-6400.

Teen Trading Card Night. 6-8 p.m. A staffer

Moth March. 6 p.m. Learn about the habits of

moths; then spread some fruit-and-molasses mash on tree trunks, and see what insects come to feed on it. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $2/person. Admission: $4/ vehicle. Registration required: (315) 638-2519.

from TCGPlayer will guide participants in playing Pokemon, YuGiOh and Magic. Teens are encouraged to bring their own decks. Presented by Liverpool Public Library. Bloom, Gather, Grow, 305 Vine St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 28

THURSDAY, SEPT. 26

Apple Festival. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; through Sept. 29.

Family Storytime. 10:15-11:15 a.m. Stories,

See Sept. 27 listing.

songs and activities for children age 5 and under and their families, plus a session of playtime afterward. Presented by Liverpool Public Library. Studio B Dance Company, 318 First St., Liverpool. Free.

(315) 457-0310.

Paws and Books. 10:30-11 a.m. Children ages

5-12 can read to Cooper, a certified Canine Good Citizen, and make a dog-related craft. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse.

Free. (315) 435-5326.

Sharing Nature with Your Child. 1 p.m.

Children ages 3-5, accompanied by an adult, can take part in outdoor and nature-related activities.

Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $7/session; $20/3 monthly sessions. Registration required: (315) 638-2519.

Sportsmen’s Days. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; also Sept. 29.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 27

Be the Scientist. Noon-4 p.m. Explore the activ-

Visitors of all ages can try their hands at outdoor pursuits including skeet shooting, turkey calling, archery, fly fishing, BB gun, canoeing and more.

Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery, 1672 Route 321, Elbridge. $5/vehicle. (315) 689-9367. ities of an anthropologist. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Museum admission: $12/adults; $10/seniors and ages 2-11. (315) 425-9068.

Time for Tots Playgroup. 9:30-10:45 a.m.

Education playgroup for children ages 18 months-5 years and their caregiver. Stories, songs, arts and crafts, and more. Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 8131 Soule Road, Liverpool. $3/family. Registration recommended: (315) 622-2843. NYCrossofChrist. org/Tots.

READER GIVEAWAY

Chocolate Train Wreck Tours. 2:30 p.m.; also

Sept. 29. Take a bus tour to the historic site of the 1955 chocolate train wreck. Festival activities include live music, children’s activities and more. Good

ENTER TO WIN TWO TICKETS to

LOCH NESS, A NEW MUSICAL Any showing September 29 - October 13

ENTRY DEADLINE: 9/12/19

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Merry Go Round Playhouse, Auburn VISIT FAMILYTIMESCNY.COM TO ENTER

CALENDAR

Nature Farm Brewery and Restaurant, 1727 Route 12B, Hamilton. www.goodnaturebrewing.com.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 29 Apple Festival. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. See Sept. 27 listing.

National Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk. 9:30 a.m. (registration); 10:30 a.m. (walk).

At the annual event, individuals with Down syndrome along with their friends and families promote acceptance and advocacy with a two-mile walk; picnic lunch and festivities follow. T-shirts available for purchase. Event is now sponsored

by GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse. Long Branch Park, Longbranch Road, Liverpool. Free. Preregistration recommended: (315) 288-7529. syracuse@gigisplayhouse.org.

Sportsmen’s Days. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. See Sept. 28 listing.

Chocolate Train Wreck Tours. 2:30 p.m. See Sept. 28 listing.

MONDAY, SEPT. 30 Family Movie. 10-11:30 a.m. Children of all ages will enjoy The Secret Life of Pets 2. Free popcorn!

Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. fflib.org. (315) 637-6374.

ONGOING EVENTS Horseback Riding. Sept. 6-Oct. 28: Friday,

Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. See Highland Forest on an hour-long guided horseback ride; age 5 and up. Highland Forest Park, Route 80, 3 miles east of Fabius. $35/hour. Reservations required at least 24 hours in advance: (315) 289-3775.

Downtown Syracuse Farmers’ Market.

Tuesdays, 7 a.m.-3 p.m.; through Oct. 8. Farmers and produce dealers offer vegetables, fruit, nuts, flowers, baked goods and more for sale. Clinton Square, Syracuse. (315) 422-8284. downtownsyracuse.com.

Weekend Walks With a Naturalist.

Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. Nature discovery hike with different topics each weekend. Beaver Lake Nature Center, Route 370, Baldwinsville.

Admission: $4/vehicle. (315) 638-2519.

Baltimore Woods Nature Center. Hiking

trails and parking are free and open every day from dawn to dusk. Interpretive Center open MondayFriday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Sundays. 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus.

(315) 673-1350.

Every day is a new adventure at...

Baltimore Woods Nature Center Nature’s Little Explorers Preschool Series Wednesdays, Sept.18 - Oct. 23 Night at The Woods Family Program September 21 Autumnal Fairy Fest October 12

Sign up at baltimorewoods.org

Marcellus, NY (315) 673-1350

NOAH AND HIS PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGIST, IRENE CHERRICK, MD

Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital opened in 2009 to provide safe, innovative and family-centered care for children in Central New York. Today, we serve children and families across 17 counties—and beyond—with 100,000 patient visits each year.

Upstate offers more than 50 services just for kids, and also is the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center. Our commitment to quality care and an exceptional patient and family experience is evident in our culture and in the smiles of our patients.

We are proud to care for the familes of Central New York for all special birthdays, and for many more to come.

FAMILY TIMES SEPTEMBER 2019

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Fall Classes Now Forming Beginner thru Advance & Adult Classes

Syracuse School of Dance Registration Sept. 4th from 5-7pm at the Studio or call 315-472-0235

Creative Movement • Ballet • Jazz • Modern • Hip Hop • Tap • Musical Theater •

Hey Moms!! How about a class for you?

All new PiYo class offered Wed. at 10am.

PiYo is an athletic blend of yoga combined with mat Pilates designed to enhance muscle strength and length, improve posture, flexibility and physical awareness.

www.syracuseschoolofdance.com • 920 Euclid Ave, Syracuse

FALL Registration Pre-Ballet to Advanced levels Wholesome environment, costumes & choreography Professional staff State-of-the-art studios www.lightoftheworldballet.com 315-396-1886 3537James Street, Sacred Melody Plaza

Studio Opens

Thursday, Sept. 5th

BEGINNER TO ADVANCED 2.5 YEARS & UP BALLET, TAP, JAZZ, POINTE & LYRICAL

Find Yourself IN Dance

ECD IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE OUR CHAPTER SPONSORSHIP for the

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY OF DANCE ARTS

Joan Condlin’s

LIVERPOOL

School of Dance

7948 MORGAN RD., LIVERPOOL EST. 1972 • MEMBER OF DEA

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315-652-1875

PRACTICE

CLASSES for the 2019-2020 SEASON BEGIN SEPTEMBER 9TH For more Information Call 315.632.4945

118 Mill Street, Suite 2, Fayetteville___ elevationcontemporarydance.net elevationcontemporarydance@gmail.com

all F is A-MAZING!

Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze

Sept. 14 - Oct. 31 Weekends 9am-5pm & Fridays 1-5pm until 10/31 PIG ROAST SUNDAY, SEPT. 29

GIANT JUMP PAD & HUMAN FOOSBALL • U-PICK PUMPKINS • CORN MAZE JUNGLE MAZE • BARREL TRAIN • TREE MAZES • SLIDES & TUNNELS • PEDAL CARS FARM PETTING AREA • ROPE SWINGS • WAGON RIDES • GIFT SHOP • FOOD AVAILABLE FLASHLIGHT NIGHT, OCT. 25

Springside Farm

Fall Registration

Now Open

315-683-5860 • springsidefarm.net 1850 Rt. 91, Pompey (3mi. south of Rt. 20, 2mi. north of Rt 80) HANDICAP & STROLLER ACCESSIBLE

Discover the power of family music making

Excellent Training in a Friendly, Positive Atmosphere!

Register online at TheDanceStudioCNY.com

Camillus & Manlius locations

VISIT OUR TDS DANCE SHOPPE!

Now enrolling for fall classes!

Offering early childhood music and movement classes for families all over Central New York www.bluebirdmusictogether.com • (315) 427-6985

Call or Text 315-922-3232

After School Program 2019–2020 School Year Before and After School Child Care on Location, Inc.

Discover the power of family music making Offering early childhood music and movement classes to children, and the adults who love them. Classes located all over CNY. To find the one nearest you, call or visit our website

www.bluebirdmusictogether.com (315) 427-6985

Serving children in grades K-6 Programs located in: Central Square, Liverpool, Onondaga Central, Solvay, West Genesee & Westhill Districts

Available Vacation Weeks, 1/2 Days, Snow Days & More!

Busing from Ed Smith, Syracuse Latin School, J-D schools, F-M schools and area private schools.

Call today to reserve your child’s spot!

• K – 6th grade • Open for snow days, half days, holidays and superintendent days

• Enrichment classes available • Homework room available • Before school care available, too!

A place where everyone belongs.

Providing quality, NYS Licensed care since 1992

5655 Thompson Rd., DeWitt • 315.445.2360 • www.jccsyr.org

LEARN

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NEW ARRIVAL

The Upstate Family Birth Center offers a safe, comfortable place to welcome your baby into the world.

We work with you and your doctor to provide the birth experience you seek, and further support you with physicians, neonatal and family nurse practitioners, specialty trained nurses, and access to anesthesia on site, around the clock.

Our newly updated unit adds to that experience, with comfortable, private, suites. Each suite is a familyfriendly space with a pullout couch, so loved ones can stay close by.

TO LEARN MORE, GO TO UPSTATE.EDU/BIRTHCENTER

ASK FOR THE EXPERTS. ASK FOR UPSTATE. LOCATED AT 4900 BROAD ROAD, SYRACUSE, NY