Family Times January 2014 by Family Times

The Parenting Guide of Central New York www.familytimes.biz | January 2014

Power Parents Moms and dads who make fitness their business

Cover_Jan14.indd 1

When â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;careâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a verb End battles for control Can a squash pass as pasta? 12/18/13 4:41 PM

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contents

8 4

Editor’s Note

Storytime A family cares for its own.

January 2014

Family Matters

Health Report

Moments 22 Teachable Lessons from six months

Who’s the boss? Avoid battles for control.

The HPV vaccine’s effectiveness hasn’t led to widespread use.

Power Parents

Moms and dads who make fitness their business.

in bed.

Recipe Doctor 26 The A veggie disguised as spaghetti starts the New Year right.

28 Family Fun Calendar Events

RE CAPTU

moment To submit a photo for our Capture a Moment feature, visit www.familytimes.biz and click on the “Submissions” tab.

Carlin MacBlane (back row, left), Alyssa Lee, Morgan Gentile, Rebekah Davie; Arianna Monds (front row, left) and Ayush Patel, students at Donlin Drive Elementary School in Liverpool, hold up the December issue of Family Times, where their winning and honorable mention drawings are pictured.

Advertiser Index Learn ............................... 12-15 Practice ................................ 21 Party ................................ 24-25 Backpack Directory.............. 34

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family times

Editor’s Note

The Parenting

Guide of Central New York

January 2014

issue No. 141

PUBLISHER/OWNER Bill Brod Editor in chief Reid Sullivan editorial@familytimes.biz

Seeing Your Breath

h, January, how I love you, let me count the ways: Chances to jog in the snow.

* Increasing minutes of daylight. * The beginning of a fresh year. *

Occasions to wear heavy sweaters I knit when I was single.

MANAGING EDITOR Bill DeLapp Photographer Michael Davis OFFICE COORDINATOR/CIRCULATION MANAGER Christine Scheuerman DESIGNERS Meaghan Arbital, Caitlin O’Donnell, Natalie Hollands DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Ty Marshal (ext. 144)

You might think appreciating January is nuts—to which I reply, why not embrace where we are and when we are? (By way of background, a Syracuse winter day is typically 10 or 15 degrees warmer than the part of New Hampshire where I grew up.) Health and wellness is the theme of this month’s issue, and our cover story is interviews with parents whose jobs focus on exercise, sport or both (page 16). In addition, we’ve got a Chris Xaver recipe to start 2014 off right (page 26); a story about caring for family (page 6); a report about the use of the HPV vaccine (page 10); an essay about a disease’s teachable moments (page 22); and a column on avoiding power battles with your children (page 8). And, though the bonanza of holiday events is over, there are still plenty of things to do in Central New York, and you’ll find listings in our calendar, starting on page 28. Happy 2014!

Contributors Deborah Cavanagh, Tammy DiDomenico, Eileen Gilligan, Emma Kress, Linda Lowen, Cary Rector, Tonja Rector, Maggie Lamond Simone, Chris Xaver ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Gina Fortino (ext. 115) GinaFortino@syracusenewtimes.com Lesli Mitchell (ext. 140) LMitchell@syracusenewtimes.com Joseph Monkofsky (ext. 112) Jmonkofsky@syracusenewtimes.com Kimberly Rossi (ext. 116) KRossi@syracusenewtimes.com Holly Timian (ext. 139) Htimian@syracusenewtimes.com COMPTROLLER Deana Vigliotti (ext. 118) CLASSIFIED SALES Lija Spoor (ext. 111)

Reid Sullivan Editor in chief

On the cover: Jill Perry, of Manlius, dashes through Mill Run Park with her sons Ben, 8, and Max,12. Inside: Perry, a coach and longdistance runner, is one of four fitness and sports professionals interviewed on pages 16 through 20. Michael Davis photos. Meaghan Arbital design.

Subscribe to Family Times by mail and receive 12 issues for only $20. Call (315) 472-4669 to order. Family Times 1415 W. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13204 (315) 472-4669 fax (315) 422-1721 www.familytimes.biz

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Advertising deadline for February is Jan. 14. Calendar deadline for February is Jan. 10.

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Storytime

B y linda lowen

Like my mother, I told people this story because I was proud of Jaye’s compassion. But often I heard “poor thing” in response. Who, me? My kids? Not at all. I believed myself and my girls lucky, because they were too little to know anything about the disease beyond what I told them. In fact, we handled it as if it were no big deal. Ten years later, cancer revisited our family. In June 2004 my mother was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. I was an only child. My father was in a nursing home. There was no question: When the time came, I would care for my mother, with the help of hospice. Jaye was 13 and Em was 10—old enough to understand what lay ahead for their grandmother and old enough to be frightened. Em was the first to say it aloud. She’d had a long-standing tradition of Fridaynight sleepovers at grandmother Aka’s house, but now she was reluctant to go. When I asked why, she blurted out, “Because I’m scared I’m going to wake up and find Aka dead!” “No, you won’t,” I reassured her. “Aka has many good months ahead of her. It’s not like she’ll be healthy one day and gone the next. She’ll begin to slow down and not be able to do the things she normally does. When that happens, she’ll move in with us.”

Initially given five to seven months to live, my mother defied all the odds and lived normally—so normally we almost forgot she was terminally ill. But on Dec. 10, 2005, a year and a half after her diagnosis, the phone call came. “I’d like to come over to your house,” she said. “What time? I’ll pick you up,” I replied. “No, not for a visit. I want to come and stay. Tomorrow if that’s OK.” After she moved in, the slow decline I’d hoped for became a fast slide. Within 24 hours, the change was obvious—as if she’d finally relaxed her grip on life. The first morning at my house, she was too tired to leave her bed. It was her birthday, but she had little interest in her favorite meal or a birthday cake. She stopped eating solid foods and slept most of the day. One afternoon I found her with eyes closed, face pale and tight. No washcloth could ease this pain. Instead, I crawled under the covers, curled up next to her and fell asleep. When I awoke, her arm was draped protectively over me. The next day she requested that hospice deliver a hospital bed to the living room so she could be near us. They set it up that afternoon, next to the Christmas tree. On Dec. 23 our family minister stopped in for a visit. I left him alone with my mother but hovered in the next

hen I was 3 years old, I learned my first lesson in caring for another person. I woke from an afternoon nap and found my mother sick in bed, eyes closed, face tight with pain. I touched her forehead. It was hot. So I did what she’d always done for me: I soaked a washcloth under the faucet, folded it into a square, and placed it on her head. Wringing it out, however, was a skill I’d not yet grasped, so the dripping washcloth left a trail all the way to her bed. When I raised it to her forehead, the water poured over her face. My mother loved telling this story. Each time she did, her eyes grew moist. In telling about it, my mother’s message was: Don’t be afraid to show compassion, even if you make a mess of it. As a child, I never again found my mother taking an afternoon in bed. My own children got an early start caring for another person. Jaye was 3 years old and Em was 9 months old when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. I went from caregiver to care receiver overnight. Nineteen-pound Em had to go live with my mother, because my hysterectomy— specifically, my 8-inch surgical incision— prevented me from lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds. Jaye at least was old enough to stay at home between chemotherapy treatments. She went from playing w ith toys and caring for dolls to bringing me glasses of water, extra blankets, and feel-better drawings. Whenever I had chemo, Jaye went to my mother’s house for a four-day stay. One week, however, I felt good after treatment and thought the worst was behind me. “Let’s bring Jaye home,” I told my husband, so we went and got her. He parked the car in the driveway; she escorted me into the house, guided me up to bed and tucked me in. I leaned in for a kiss, but instead heaved up lunch at her feet. With all the gravitas of a preschooler trying to act like an adult, she walked to the nearest window, opened it, and yelled, “Daddy, come quick! Mommy threw up!” Family Times January 2014

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room. She wanted to fly away, she told him, but there wasn’t enough room for us to fit under her wings. She sounded agitated but then quieted down. He came out a few minutes later and said she was resting peacefully. Those were the last words she spoke. On Christmas Eve, she slipped into a coma. We took turns sitting with her, holding her hand, talking or just listening to her breathing. Over time, it grew slower and raspier. I kept thinking, Any minute now. Minutes lengthened into hours. Hours stretched into days. On the morning of Dec. 28, Jaye had left to babysit at a neighbor’s and Em was sleeping upstairs when my mother’s breathing changed. Just after 8:30 she took a barely audible breath. I waited for an exhalation that never came. After five minutes, I phoned the hospice nurse, Beverly, to let her know my mother had died. I waited until the nurse arrived before I woke Em with the news, then went down the street to tell Jaye. The moment she saw me at the door, she knew. I wrapped my arms around

her and whispered, “Go home. I’ll stay with the kids.” Beverly suggested she be present when my daughters said goodbye. Warm and steady, Beverly answered questions and explained the transition. Together, they sat with Aka for 15 minutes. Weeks later, Jaye

“In telling the story, my mother’s message was: Don’t be afraid to show compassion, even if you make a mess of it.

”

told me how that moment brought home the finality of death. “When you touch someone who’s alive, you don’t even notice they’re warm. But when I kissed Aka’s cheek, she was cold. That’s how I knew.” Afterward, Em went back up to her room and Jaye returned to her babysitting job. Having experienced death in a way few children do—and still sorting through mixed feelings of grief, loss, awe and

respect for life—they somehow went on with their lives that morning. I came home and, with Beverly’s help, did one last thing for my mother. I picked up a hairbrush, ran it through her thick hair, unbuttoned her nightshirt, and slid her arms out of the sleeves in order to wash her. Then, from a bowl I’d filled with warm water, I removed a wet washcloth. I watched the water run down in thin rivulets. I closed my eyes, remembering the first time I’d taken care of another person, and then, with two hands, I wrung the washcloth out. o Linda Lowen writes for MSN.com, teaches at the Downtown Writer’s Center and is co-producer and co-host of Take Care, a health and wellness radio show on WRVO. She lives in Syracuse with her husband and two college-age daughters, who go by the names Jaye and Em in her writing.

Family Times January 2014

Family Matters

B y c a r y a n d to n j a R e cto r

End power struggles with your child

“B

illy you have 10 minutes to end your game. It’s Tuesday, your day to help clean up the kitchen.” “In a minute.” “I asked you 20 minutes ago to end the game!” “Just let me finish this level!” “That’s it, get off the game!” On and on it goes. We often encounter parents and kids locked in a power struggle. The issues vary, but the dynamic is the same. Parents are irritated, angry and cannot understand the kid’s behavior. The child continues the behavior—and gets into more trouble with his parent. Certain misbehaviors are very common and considered normal. Power struggles generally fall into this category. Power struggles do not necessarily mean there is a psychological issue or problem. They arise from normal behavior and are particularly prevalent for toddlers and teens—two times when kids are establishing their indepen8

dence. Some kids are so good at it they take it to an art form! When dealing with power struggles, it’s useful for parents to know how to identify them, recognize the goal driving the behavior and have a planned response. Power struggles can be the root of many problems between parents and kids. A power struggle is when a parent says, “You do this,” and the child’s words or behavior says, “No, I won’t, and you can’t make me.” And often he or she is correct. You can encourage a behavior, but often you do not have direct control over a behavior. Behavioral examples of power struggles that say “You can’t make me” include: Forgetfulness: She can’t remember to brush her teeth, take out the trash, etc. Stalling: “I’ll do it in a minute,” “I have to shower first,” “I’ll do it later.” Intentional inefficiency: He knows how to do the job, but does it poorly. Underachievement: Most often seen with schoolwork and grades.

Untruthfulness: You can’t force her to tell the truth. A parent’s own emotions are key in identifying a child’s motivation. You will know you are entrenched in a power struggle when you feel angry: Your child is challenging your authority, after all! Kids learn at an early age how to please a parent. At some point they wonder what happens if they don’t do what the parent asks. When this happens, the parent is displeased and shows it. The child feels powerful, like he can control the parent’s reaction. The key to avoiding power struggles is to disconnect the pleased/displeased reaction. This may seem like a small thing, but it can be a big shift in how you think of your role as a parent. Your goal becomes to foster intrinsic motivation in your child. It’s relatively easy to disconnect a “pleased” response. Language is a way to accomplish this. For example, when a child brings home a good report card, a parent can respond “You must feel good about earning this grade” or “How do you feel about this test grade?” as opposed to “You made me feel proud” or “I’m so happy you are doing well.” You begin the process of giving back the responsibility for your child’s choices and effort. You want your child to begin to move away from doing something to please or displease you and move toward completing a task because she finds it important. This seemingly small shift in words represents a big shift in a parent’s thinking. In this example how your child feels about her test grade becomes most important. It’s harder to disconnect the “displeased” response. When a child has broken a rule or misbehaved, the parent strives to let the child experience the consequence. Some consequences are arranged, meaning the parent has come up with them. For example, if he doesn’t clean his room today he can’t go to a movie tomorrow. Natural or logical consequences are the ones where a

Who’s The Boss?

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parent doesn’t have to arrange a specific consequence but rather allows a consequence to occur. Homework not completed may mean staying in at recess. Dirty clothes not in the laundry basket means nothing clean to wear. Although it can be difficult, parents can work to stay out of the way and let the situation run its course. Remember, reasonable struggles are good for kids. They build confidence and responsibility. Of course if the situation involves a safety risk or a struggle that is unreasonable for a child’s age, parents should intervene. Rules and consequences can be framed as giving your child a choice. Follow the rule—or choose to break the rule and get a consequence. This means basic rules should have prearranged consequences attached to them. The consequence also needs to be something you have control over. If the child chooses to break the rule, the parent tries to remain matter of fact: Your child has made her choice and this is what will happen. You can still offer words of encouragement as she deals with the consequence of her choice, saying, “You can try again tomorrow.” It may be tempting to think of a consequence you hope will change your child’s behavior forever. However, as a parent you want to consistently send the message “If you choose this course of action, this is what will happen”—small reasonable consequences applied over and over. Often (especially when first establishing a new rule) a child will deliberately choose the consequence. Most often this is a way of testing the limits to see what is really going to happen. Try to remain calm and have faith in his ability to learn to make good decisions. This is not easy for a parent to accomplish and takes practice. With power struggles, sometimes a kid is willing to cut off her nose to spite her face. Her goal is to prove how powerless her parents are to control her behavior. She thinks: “If I fail at school, I win; if I pass, I lose.” An ongoing power struggle robs the focus from what is important. She is not thinking about her education and future, she is fighting to win. Another casualty of ongoing power struggles can be the parent-child relationship. The quality of the relationship can erode because the parent and child are angry with each other much of the time. Allow your child to be in control and independent whenever possible. Pick your fights carefully, giving your child opportunities to make many of the choices he encounters in his daily life. He may not wear the clothes you picked out, but it’s more important for him to be in charge. Power struggles are common. While not abnormal, they can cause a lot of trouble between kids and parents. Recognizing them when they occur and disengaging your emotional reaction from your child’s behavior will help to keep the battles from escalating. o

Cary and Tonja Rector are married and live with their children in Manlius. Cary is a licensed mental health counselor and Tonja is a licensed marriage and family therapist. Consult your own health care provider before making decisions affecting your family’s well-being. To comment on this article, write to editorial@ familytimes.biz.

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Health Report

B y E ileen G illig a n

Needle Points Forty percent of U.S. teen girls have not gotten the HPV vaccine

f there were a vaccine for breast cancer, she wouldn’t be able to close the office doors ever, says Dr. Linda Imboden of Brighton Hill Pediatrics in Syracuse. Yet nearly half the teenagers in the United States remain without the vaccine known to prevent most cervical and throat cancers. Human papillomavirus, or HPV, has been found to cause most cervical and vaginal cancers as well as throat cancer and genital warts in men and women. This is tough stuff to talk about with adolescents and even parents. The virus is considered a sexually transmitted disease. But doctors recommend the three-shot series that makes up the vaccine be given at some time from ages 11 to 13. The shot is approved now from ages 9 to 26, but it is most effective when given earlier or before teens become sexually active, according to two Syracuse pediatricians. “I can’t even understand people not wanting it,” Imboden says. Medical insurance these days covers the cost of the three-shot vaccination, according to two medical offices. When told what the vaccine is for, one 12-year-old girl said to her mother, “But I’m not going to have sex now, Mom.” That’s the point, doctors say: Vaccinate before children become teens and young adults become sexually active. One mother of two girls, Denise DiRienzo of Pompey, says she was initially hesitant about the vaccine due to early advertising. But she’s talked to several physicians about it and done some more research, enough to quiet the debate in her home. “We should take every step as a parent to keep them from contracting a devastating illness,” DiRienzo says. “It seems it’s just preventive care.” “The side effects seem minimal,” she notes, which the pediatricians confirmed. The side effects are the same ones that can follow other vaccinations, such as pain at the location of the shot, nausea or slight fever. “It’s really safe,” Imboden says. “Well over 40 million doses have been given.” In June The New York Times editorialized in favor of parents getting their daughters vaccinated. The paper’s editorial board noted that the percent of girls infected with high-risk strains of the HPV virus

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declined by half in recent years, an improvement attributed to the vaccine. But only 40 percent of teenage girls are getting vaccinated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That amount should have increased in recent years due to the success noted in the aforementioned studies. In comparison, the vaccination rate is way over 75 percent in Australia and even Rwanda, the CDC notes. “Unfortunately (these days) everyone is very skeptical about vaccines, which is really kind of sad because they have prevented so many deaths and illnesses,” says Dr. Kathleen Shefner, a Syracuse pediatrician whose children in the appropriate age range received the vaccine. Also, because this vaccine is aimed at a sexually transmitted disease, some parents initially felt uncomfortable, as if by allowing the vaccinations they were encouraging their children to become sexually active. “I would suggest that—because this is a vaccine for sexually transmitted diseases—parents look at communicating as openly as possible when they feel that (their children) are ready to deal with these types of issues,” Shefner says. Open communication is “actually the best protection we can give them— so that they understand what the consequences of actions can be and feel that there’s somebody at home that they can talk to.” HPV is responsible for about 19,000 cancers diagnosed in women each year, of which cervical cancer is the most common, according to the CDC. About 8,000 cancers in men are caused by HPV each year, the most common of which is throat cancer. Two types of the vaccine are available. Cervarix, which is just for females, prevents two strains of HPV, and Gardasil, which is for females and males, prevents those two strains plus two more. Each vaccine is given in three doses. After the first shot, the patient should return two months later for the second and then four months after that for the third shot. The effectiveness is better if a person receives all three shots and gets them in the correct time period, Shefner says. Adolescents get vaccinated for meningitis at age 11 and whooping cough at 12, Imboden notes—not to mention the flu vaccine possibly every fall. “They could have one crummy day with a lot of shots or you could wait until 12 years old,” she says. “You have to discuss it with your doctor.” “Our job as pediatricians is really trying to protect our children,” Shefner says. The vaccine is “a really valuable tool and it’s going to prevent a lot of illness down the road.” o Eileen Gilligan, an award-winning writer and mother of two, lives in Baldwinsville. Family Times January 2014

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power parents When it’s your profession, fitness comes first

Interviews by Tammy DiDomenico

Photographs by Michael Davis

arents who establish fitness habits early just may lead their children to a healthier adulthood. “I think it’s important for parents to be good role models. Make fitness a priority in your own life,”

says Tiffany Sisko, owner of O Yoga Studio, on West Fayette Street in Syracuse. “Make it part of family time. Make it fun. If you want to be healthier, make one little change at a time and find a balance.” Family Times recently talked to four area fitness professionals about the importance of being active. (Interviews have been condensed and edited.)

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Tiffany sisko When Tiffany Sisko, 35, was expecting her son, Caden, she began studying yoga as a low-impact form of exercise. “I loved it,” Sisko recalls. “It slowly became part of my life.” These days, yoga is a much bigger part. As owner of O Yoga on Syracuse’s Near West Side, Sisko balances teaching with running her business and raising her son, now 8.

Why yoga? I started practicing a little over nine years ago. I had always been a fitness enthusiast. I taught aerobics in college, and spinning. But when I was pregnant, I couldn’t do any of that stuff. I needed a low-impact option. A friend suggested I try yoga. I got a prenatal yoga DVD and loved it. I just stuck with it. I was offered a job in Boston and started practicing at a studio called Back Bay Yoga. That changed my life. I couldn’t get enough of it. The teacher suggested that I become an instructor. Everything just kept falling into place, and in September of 2011, I opened the studio. How does the business fit in with family life? Caden used to attend classes quite often. I started this in part because I wanted to be able to spend more time with him. Doing this allows me to pick him up from school. The studio schedule was built around that time. Now, if he doesn’t want to come to class, I don’t push him. He’s more into team sports right now, but he’s always at the studio and he stays very involved. What’s unique about your studio? My intention was to create a place that was very welcoming to everybody. That’s partly about the yoga practice, but also about the community of people. I wanted a safe place where there really was no judgment, no expectations—just a comfortable, safe place to be. How many students? Generally our classes average from 10 to 50 people. I have a Hip Hop Yoga class on Monday evenings that always has about 50 people. It’s just yoga, but the lights are low, the music’s really loud and it’s a faster paced, really intense physical class. The purpose is to get people in the doors that are nervous about yoga.

What does yoga do for you? There is just something about the physical practice that trickles into your life. I started to be more calm—not just during class. I just started to soften and people noticed it. I do a lot of other physical activities: I run and I cross train. But none of that brings me that peace. So many other people tell me they’ve had the same experience and it’s neat to help people achieve that. Does Caden understand why you do this? We talk a lot about fitness and caring for yourself, caring for others. Nutrition has been a huge part of his childhood. I grew up on processed food. So it’s been important for me to teach Caden about making choices that are sustainable for life. What trends do you see with young people and their approach to fitness? I see stress as the biggest problem for people now. It seems everyone is just busier and busier. We are all pulled in so many directions and it seems a lot of technology has made that even more difficult. People have a hard time just shutting down and taking time away from their phones and their email. There is a lot more pressure on college students with the job market being the way that it is and people feel guilty about making time for themselves. More than anything, I try to encourage people to have an attitude of acceptance. It’s not only OK to make time for yourself, it’s critical. With the younger kids, it’s the electronics that worry me. There isn’t a lot of outside play. I battle that with Caden and I won’t cave on it. Do you offer classes for children? Not yet. It’s on my radar. I am noticing more people with teenage kids who bring them to yoga. Families are coming in, which I love.

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Jim and Kim Andrello For Jim and Kim Andrello, owners of Team Andrello Mixed Martial Arts in Liverpool and two other dojos, the practice of martial arts is far more than a pastime. It’s a family passion. The couple met as youngsters, both drawn to the competitive nature of martial arts and its emphasis on personal goals. Jim, 43, is a sixth-degree black belt and certified master instructor. Kim, 40, is a fifth-degree black belt. During a visit to the Liverpool location, part of Pacific Health Club on Old Liverpool Road, students are likely to find not only Kim and Jim, but any one or all of their children: Damario, 16, Damiana, 14, Dante, 13 and Diangelo, 7.

How long have you been training in the martial arts? Kim: Thirty years. Jim: Almost 34 years. K: Jim was 8 when he started and I was 12. My parents got me into it. My dad was a police officer and he thought my sister and I needed self-defense training. J: I was raised by a single mom, and she thought it would be good for me. Are your kids involved with the business? K: They are all here today! My oldest son is now involved with the volunteer fire department, so he’s not here as much, but the others are here pretty often. They are all active with martial arts. Was it a natural fit for all of them? K: Like any kids, they would go through a little phase. They all pretty much started by the age of 4—a little later for our 7-year-old. J: Now we have to pull back. They’ll train every day. Do they understand the role of martial arts in your life? J: They grew up in it and their friends are so connected to the martial arts. This is the only life they know. Do they like other sports? K: They all played football at one time, even my daughter. But they continued their martial arts training year-round. How has coaching changed? J: I would say people are busier. From a coaching standpoint, you have to get more done in a shorter period of time. Students now come two, three days max. Ten years ago, they might be at the dojo five or six days a week. Now, people are recommending martial arts for conditioning for other sports. So, that’s a change, too.

How large are your classes? J: We can go from 20 to 50. Do you get many questions from parents who want to help their kids become more active? J: Sometimes. For some, this is like their last-ditch effort to get their kids involved with something physical. Maybe some kids don’t take to a team sport, so they join our team, which is basically a class in which you’re working toward individual goals. We usually just have the kids take a class. We find it’s easy to get the kids connected. Some kids just haven’t found that niche yet. It’s very personal. How do you balance family and work life? K: We have it down to a routine. Our kids are homeschooled, so they are with us during the day. Then we come here in the evening. Do you see many families coming in together? J: A ton. That’s pretty much what we do. The bulk of our students come from one member starting and the rest of the family joins in. Have parental attitudes toward martial arts changed over the years? J: I think so. In the past, people had a little bit of a negative attitude toward it. Now, a lot of parents seek it to help their children develop confidence and discipline. Are your kids competitive about their training? J: Not with each other. K: Because they started at such different times, they each have their own path. If I asked them who the best martial artist in the family is? J: They’d say Mom. I’d say Mom!

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Jill Perry Jill Perry, 43, has always been in motion. The Manlius resident is a running coach as well as an ultra runner: someone who runs distances longer than the 26.2mile marathon. She hits the local trails several times a week, either with her clients, or with one or more of her five children: Vincent, 16, Patrick, 14, Max,12, Grace, 11, and Ben, 8.

How long have you been a runner? Even as a little girl, I ran. I just loved running and doing obstacle courses. What did you enjoy about it? I felt like when I was running, I could use my imagination. I still do; I can pretend I’m somewhere far away. Sometimes I can pretend I’m not even a person. How did you get into ultra running? My father was an Eagle Scout leader and he just loved the woods and being outdoors. I got that from him. Unfortunately, he died young. I got into trail running as a way I could be out in the woods and keep in touch with him. I still do some road running, but the trails are where my heart is. How many groups do you work with? My youth running group is on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I have a group just for women on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. I have a night group that goes out. I’m very flexible and I’m able to be home with my kids when I need to be. Are all of your children runners? Patrick was the most naturally inclined to run. He’s a lot like me—very driven. Ben has much the same interest. The others—because they are in my kids group they are getting more of a love for it. How do you nurture a healthy lifestyle at home? I just don’t have junk food in my house; that’s for me, too. If I had a bunch of chocolate in my house, I’d be eating it. Two of my kids are vegetarians. Do you encounter parents who push their kids into running? Sometimes I see parents living their kids’ dreams as their own. I think there comes a point where the kid will rebel and they are not going to do it. I think running is a mental sport and if you don’t want to do it, you’re not going to do it.

Any advice for the chronically timecrunched? The less time you have, the harder you’ll work to get it in. Everybody has 20 to 30 minutes to do something for themselves as far as exercising. I know myself, if I don’t get a run in, I’m thinking about it all day long and I’m crabby. The one hour I run helps me get more out of the other hours of my day. What’s been more beneficial to you: the physical or mental rewards of running? It’s hard to say because they are so connected. I would say the mental health comes first. As a trainer and a parent, do you encourage people to mix things up? If they want to. My kids like to mountain bike. My son Ben played football. My daughter dances and is going to be playing basketball. At their age, really at any age, they should just try it. You never know. Unfortunately, once kids get to high school, it’s hard for them to just try a different sport. Any advice for new runners? It’s important first to be consistent in your training. Secondly, develop your endurance. Only with the first goals established should new runners be concerned with speed. It’s better to get out for 15 minutes every day than to run one day a week for an hour. Naturally the speed will come along as you build up endurance Where are your favorite places to run? I love Morgan Hill. I like the Finger Lakes near Ithaca; those are my favorites. Green Lakes and Highland Forest are more convenient. I’m a creature of change. I need to try different places.

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dean foti Growing up in Oneonta, Dean Foti and his three siblings were rarely without some kind of sporting equipment in their hands or at their feet. But by 10th grade, soccer began to take precedence for Foti. He went on to play as a student at Syracuse University, then coached that same team over a 20-year career. For the past three years, Foti, 52, has worked as technical director for the New York State West Youth Soccer Association. The Corning-based organization oversees and implements rules and guidelines for youth soccer clubs. Foti and his wife, Holly, have three daughters: Riley, 16, and 13-year-old twins Lannie and Sophia.

When did soccer become such a big part of your life? I grew up playing all sports. I have two brothers and a sister, and we were always doing something. It was a very cyclic thing. In the fall, everyone played soccer or football. Everyone played baseball or softball in the spring. Our high school was small, so even then it was easy to be involved in several different sports. Was it important for you to model an active lifestyle for your children? Soccer has been a big part of my life. And my wife played lacrosse at the University of Maryland. So, our kids were destined to be around sports and develop their own interests. When we have free time as a family, we often do something active. Do your children play soccer? All three of my daughters play soccer, but lacrosse, volleyball and, for one, track are also in the mix. They are fortunate to have had some level of success in sports, but for at least one, sports may not end up being a huge part of her life. Did you notice any downside to the increasing emphasis on organized sports for kids? I think kids are not physically or mentally ready to start specializing in one sport until they are 13 or 14. But the trend is to start that earlier now, and it’s gotten to the point where kids are playing year-round. There are so many different leagues and clubs; there’s no off-season or voids anymore. So, kids don’t have as many opportunities to play a sport they are less skilled in. They are less able to step back and support their teammates.

Are kids being pushed too hard? Coaches use best practices to help ensure that players are physically and mentally healthy. The goal is to keep them healthy and interested. Declines in performance and interest level are commonly seen by the time students are 13 or 14. Coaches are seeing that younger than it used to be. But I do like the idea that proper nutrition and being fit is now more at the forefront of kids’ minds these days. Have you faced these issues with your kids? My oldest daughter was injured last July. She plays on the girls varsity soccer team for her school and she tore her ACL: a serious sports injury. She needed surgery and it was not easy for her to understand that she wasn’t just missing a few games. This has been a long recovery—the kind of thing where you get over a small hurdle and think you’ve won the Super Bowl. She had to shift her focus. She’s well-rounded and into a lot of different things, so we encouraged her to look at it as a time to focus on other interests, to look at it as a refreshing break. She is healing well. What advice would you give parents who want to encourage a more active lifestyle for the kids? Anytime you can find activities that involve the whole family, or friends, and that are fun, it will be better for the kids. It can be anything from soccer to golf, to walking the dog; even shopping at the mall can be active. Whatever activities you choose, doing them together as a family can be an incentive. With younger kids, often if you give them some gear and leave them to their own devices, they will find a way to have fun. Keep exposing kids to things, and they will decide. o

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Teachable Moments

B y E mma K ress

Taking Things Lying Down Lessons from six months in bed

’m writing this from bed, as I wrote the previous three columns. I have a connective-tissue disease called Ehler’s-Danlos syndrome. Connective tissue links everything in our bodies: It’s in and around our muscles, organs, joints, veins, etc. I have been in pain for as long as I can remember, spent more time in doctors’ offices than I care to admit and been flattened periodically for months at a time. Last year, from my bed, I watched leaves and then snow fall. It’s surreal and disorienting, a down-the-rabbit-hole experience, to watch the world move along as you stay still. But even Alice learned lessons when she fell into Wonderland. My body is doing its thing and so is my brain. Every experience is not just a teachable moment but also a learning one, if we allow it to be. Here are some ideas I’ve picked up after six months mostly in bed. Listen. My condition has not always been as bad as it is now. When I maintain my fitness and nutrition and keep stresses at bay, I’m functional much of the time and, although I’m still in pain, I flatter myself that most people would never know. But when I let exercise therapy slip and stress dictate my days, my body has a pretty effective way of telling me off: It falls apart. It’s in those hectic moments that we most need to listen— to ourselves and to others. Two things at once. One morning I was in excruciating pain but still dragged myself to the Y to do my daily swim. As I labored through my laps, two lifeguards approached and asked whether I was OK. I burst into tears. (A definite low point.)

One of the lifeguards tried to make me laugh by singing “Y.M.C.A.,” hand movements and all. I smiled weakly and continued on. Then, a strange thing happened. After a few laps, I found myself humming the song and smiling. It was an epiphany: I can be happy and in pain. Choose laughter. Another swimming day, a splasher entered my lane. His arms attacked that surface like missiles. Every time he passed head-abovewater me, I scrunched my face against the onslaught. Someone gave me a sympathetic look and I burst out laughing. After that, every time he passed, I laughed. I have no control over who gets in my lane any more than I have much control over this disease. But I do get to control my reaction. Take joy. I love that phrase: Take joy. It’s so beautifully active. Joy is everywhere; we just have to grasp it. At first, as there was so much I was unable to do, I was saddened by what I saw as a narrowing of my life. However, I began to see the way this disease brought my priorities into focus. I couldn’t take my children apple or pumpkin picking last year. But I take joy in being able to kiss them every morning when they wake and every night before they sleep. Seize the small moments of pleasure. Don’t apologize. One day, a woman approached my swimming lane asking to circle swim as we already had two people in the lane. “Sure,” I said, “but I’m sorry I’m really bad.” “Never apologize,” she said simply. I realized in that moment how often I apologize for not being healthy. Our world is made for

well people. Doors are heavy, halls are long, steps are steep, and we’re all in a race to get somewhere. But we shouldn’t apologize for taking up space, for doing what’s right for our health. Get help. Recently, I saw a tabloid article about Miley Cyrus whose headline read: “Miley finally admits she needs help.” But my response is, doesn’t everyone? Why is shame attached to asking for help? Perhaps it has something to do with our pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps mentality. Still, I know I can be fierce, independent and strong and ask for help. I’m proud to have assembled an incredible team of healers who work together to make me well. I am blessed with supportive family and friends. Even the lifeguards and swimmers at the Y— virtual strangers—notice when I struggle. This world is hard enough as it is. We make it harder by isolating ourselves and imposing strict ideas about how we should be. In order to care for myself, I’m taking a break from Family Times. I’ve written much in this column over the years about modeling for our children. While I haven’t been able to play with my children the way that I used to, I hope that I am showing them a different set of lessons that are equally worthwhile. Perhaps my story will serve as a lifeline for someone else. o Emma Kress, a teacher at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, has held a variety of educational posts at levels from pre-K to 12th grade. Send comments about this article to editorial@familytimes.biz.

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RECIPE DOCTOR B y C h r is X a v e r

Looks like spaghetti, acts like a vegetable

’m not saying you put on a few pounds during the holidays. But the average American puts on one to two pounds in the period from Thanksgiving through Dec. 31. That number can rise to five pounds for folks who are already overweight. And kids, they’re not immune. It’s common for kids to gain a pound during the holidays, too. Why? Well, we tend to give ourselves license to eat what we want because we’re “celebrating.” But a pound or two a year really adds up (she says from experience). So I’m here to help us get back on track this year! That doesn’t sound like much fun, does it? But here’s the kicker: When we do it right, eating healthy doesn’t have to be punishment. In fact, at my house we eat right every day and truly enjoy it. And believe me, I don’t eat food that doesn’t taste good. If I’m going to eat it, and share the recipe, it’s going to taste great. Not good, but great! 26

CHRIS XAVIER PHOTO

The Sneaky Squash Twirl Time: Charlotte and Bryce Dunn dig into their “sketti” and sauce. Here’s a true story. I went to a friend’s house, planning to prepare spaghetti squash for dinner. The kids at this house don’t usually eat “healthy” foods; in fact, chicken nuggets are a staple in the 2-yearold’s diet. And here I am, about to feed them squash with sauce. Expecting a battle, I placed the food on the table and waited. The 2-year-old took his seat, picked up his fork, and twirled away, thinking he was eating “sketti.” Seriously! If you don’t say anything to the kids, they won’t even know they’re eating squash. (Neither will the BIG kids in your life who think they don’t like vegetables.) If you’re not familiar with this low-carbohydrate vegetable, let me give you some history. The unusual winter squash (Wikipedia gives other names as Cucurbita pepo var. fastigata and squaghetti) comes in a variety of colors, from an off-white to orange. It’s oblong and has a somewhat hard shell. The key to this magical fruit is what hap-

pens when it’s heated. It starts solid, and as it bakes (or steams), the flesh turns into strands that resemble spaghetti. It is super easy to make. If I have the oven on anyway, I toss it in for an hour at 350 degrees. If not, I stick it in the microwave for 22 to 25 minutes. I don’t even cut it in half and pull out the seeds first. I hate to cut raw squash in half. It’s dangerous. The skins are often virtually impossible to cut. No matter what squash I’m working with, I cook it whole first, let it cool so I can handle it, and remove the seeds afterward. Danger averted. Now that we’ve got the “sketti” covered, let’s focus on the sauce. I know the traditional Italians in our audience call it gravy, but at my house it’s sauce. I don’t care what you call it; I just want to make sure you don’t pour it prepared from a jar. Commercial spaghetti sauce is filled with sugar and sodium. Instead, let’s make our own from pantry staples. It’s quick, easy,

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RECIPE Sketti and Sauce

CHRIS XAVIER PHOTO

1 large spaghetti squash (baked or microwaved), seeded 1 pound (90 percent or leaner) ground beef 1 large carrot, finely sliced or grated 4 cloves garlic, minced 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes 2 tablespoons onion powder (if your kids eat onions, use the real thing!) ½ teaspoon celery seed ½ teaspoon pepper ½ teaspoon salt ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Brown the ground beef (and whole onions if you choose) and drain. Add the carrot and garlic, and stir until fragrant. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and finish with the seasonings. Serve over your “sketti” and top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

“Like” us on Facebook and share pictures of you and your family trying our recipes!

and you know exactly what’s inside. No sugar! For fast dinners most weeknights I keep my pantry stocked with canned crushed tomatoes. Whipping up sauce with canned tomatoes is almost as quick as opening a jar of the pre-made stuff. I start with lean ground beef and sauté it with onion powder, celery seed and a carrot that I’ve quickly run back and forth on my mandoline so it’s chipped into tiny thin slices. Add Italian seasoning and some freshly grated Parmesan cheese and you can’t go wrong. This dish is tasty and healthy. It is low-fat, low-carb and full of fiber and protein. Talk about starting off the new year right! Serve this and know you’re back on track. o Chris Xaver, Ph.D., is a local TV and radio personality with three children and five grandchildren. Her healthy lifestyle show, The Sweet Life, is airing on public television stations nationwide.

Expires 2/28/14

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Please note: Mistakes happen. To confirm event details, call the sponsoring organization’s phone number or visit the website.

Saturday, Jan. 4 YMCA Folksmarch. 8-11 a.m.; also Jan. 5. Enjoy a non-competitive walking event at your own pace. Routes are either 5K (3.1 miles) or 10K (6.2 miles) and are clearly marked. Oneida Shores County Park, 9248 McKinley Ridge Road, Brewerton. Free/first-time walkers; $3.50/general; $1/ ages 5-16. 676-7366. A World of Puppets. 11 a.m. Open Hand Theater performs “The Secret of the Puppet’s Book.” International Mask and Puppet Museum, 518 Prospect Ave., Syracuse. $8. Reserve: 4760466. Tabletop Bookshelf. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Kids

ages 6-12 can make a real wooden bookshelf, and every participant gets one. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. 435-5326.

Disney on Ice: Passport to Adventure.

11 a.m., 3 & 7 p.m.; through Jan. 5. Embark on the ultimate sightseeing vacation with all your favorite Disney characters. Onondaga County War Memorial, 515 Montgomery St., Syracuse. $15-$65. 435-2121.

Snow White. 12:30 p.m. The Magic Circle Children’s Theatre presents an original version of the fairy tale, in which children in the audience help save Snow White from the Queen’s sleeping spell. Children can dress up as fairy tale characters to enhance their fun. Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St., Syracuse. $5. 449-3823. Sciencenter Showtime. 2 p.m. Explore the

world of seeds. Sciencenter, 601 First St., Ithaca. Admission: $8/adults; $7/seniors; $6/ages 3-17; free/under 3. (607) 272-0600.

Boy Scouts Baked Ziti Dinner. 6 p.m. Fundraiser for Troop 620 of Liverpool will feature baked ziti, salad, bread and beverages. King of Kings Lutheran Church, 8278 Oswego Road, Liverpool. $7/adults; $4/age 12 & younger; $20/family maximum. 652-0309.

Sunday, Jan. 5 Disney on Ice: Passport to Adventure.

11 a.m. & 4:30 p.m. See Jan. 4 listing.

Onondaga Youth Hockey. Noon-12:45 p.m.; first session of eight; Sundays through Feb. 23. Learn about hockey! Onondaga Nation Arena, 326 Route 11, Nedrow. $100/eight sessions. 4369232. www.eteamz.com/oyha.

Moto-Inventions. 1-2 p.m.; Sundays in January. Tinker with recycled materials and electricity to make whirling, moving machines. Sciencenter, 601 First St., Ithaca. Admission: $8/adults; $7/ seniors; $6/ages 3-17; free/under 3. (607) 2720600.

YMCA Folksmarch. 1-3 p.m. See Jan. 4 listing.

Monday, Jan. 6 See Ongoing Events

Tuesday, Jan. 7 Storytime. 10 a.m.; also Jan. 14, 21 & 28. Tod-

dlers and preschoolers, accompanied by a caregiver, can enjoy stories, songs, finger plays, dance and craft activities. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. 435-3519.

Drop in For Legos. 3-8 p.m. Children ages 5-11 can create with Legos; Duplos available for preschoolers. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org.

Vex Robotics Challenge, Jan. 11

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Wednesday, Jan. 8 Multiple Moms Mingle. 6:30 p.m. Monthly meeting of mothers and expectant mothers of multiples. Ruby Tuesday, 3220 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Reserve: 308-0277.

Thursday, Jan. 9 MOMS Club of Syracuse-East. 9:30 a.m.

Gathering for local kids and moms. Manlius United Methodist Church, 111 Wesley St., Manlius. Free. 395-5009. http://momsclubofcuseeast.webs. com/.

Storytime. 10:30 a.m.; also Jan. 16, 23 & 30. A lively mix of stories, songs and rhymes makes this a special time for parents and preschoolers. Betts Branch Library, 4862 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. 435-1940.

Preschool Storytime. 10:30 a.m.; also Jan.

16, 23 & 30. Children ages 3-5 can hear stories, sing songs and enjoy finger play. Soule Branch Library, 101 Springfield Road, Syracuse. Free. 4355320.

A World of Puppets. 11 a.m. Open Hand Puppet Theater performs “The Stonecutter.” International Mask and Puppet Museum, 518 Prospect Ave., Syracuse. $8. Reserve: 476-0466.

Wednesday, Jan. 15

Animal ABCs. Noon. A Rosamond Gifford

Thursday, Jan. 16

Zoo staffer gives a presentation that features live animal visitors, animal artifacts and other fun; best for birth to age 5, accompanied by an adult. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. 435-3519.

Snow White. 12:30 p.m. See Jan. 4 listing. Sciencenter Showtime. 2 p.m. Find out how lizards adapt to their environment. Sciencenter, 601 First St., Ithaca. Admission: $8/adults; $7/ seniors; $6/ages 3-17; free/under 3. (607) 2720600. Sensory Friendly Time. 5:30-7:30 p.m.

MOST staffers turn down the noise, turn off the flashing lights and shut off the air compressors so people with sensory issues can enjoy the museum. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Cost: $5. 425-9068, Ext. 2143.

Syracuse Crunch. 7 p.m. The American Hock-

Friday, Jan. 10 See Ongoing Events

Saturday, Jan. 11 Vex Robotics Challenge. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. In

the regional Vex robotics competition, middle and high school students build robots to play a game called Toss Up. Admission free to family of team members before 10 a.m. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Museum admission: $8/adults; $7/seniors and ages 2-11. 425-9068.

Fashionistas Weekend. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; also

Jan. 12. Kids can wear glamorous outfits; design hats and masks; or give Barbie a new hairdo at the display of Barbie and other fashion dolls. The Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester. Admission: $13.50; free/younger than 2. (585) 263-2700. www.museumofplay. org.

Little Makers. 10:30-11:30 a.m.; also Jan. 14.

Children ages 5-8 can read a story about electricity, learn about Light-up Little Bits Kits, and make light-up creations. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. Registration required: 637-6374.

Toddlers’ Tango. 11 a.m. Little ones can take

ey League team faces the Providence Bruins. War Memorial, 800 S. State St., Syracuse. $16-$20, plus applicable processing fees. 473-4444.

Sunday, Jan. 12 Fashionistas Weekend. Noon-5 p.m. See Jan. 11 listing.

Monday, Jan. 13 Sing-Along Friends. 10:15 a.m.; also Jan. 16, 23 & 27. Children ages 2-5 with a caregiver can enjoy 30 minutes of music, stories and rhymes, then stay to play. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. Registration required: 457-0310. lpl.org.

See Ongoing Events

SmartPlay. 10:30 a.m. Children age 5 and

younger can take part in a play experience designed to encourage discovery, creativity and early literacy skills. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374.

Terrific Thursdays. 11:30 a.m. In this session

of the series for homeschooling families, kids in grades K-12 will learn about the winter sky with a member of the Syracuse Astronomical Society. Weather permitting, participants will look at the sun through a telescope (using a special, safe lens). Preschoolers in the group can take part in activities in a separate room. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. Registration required (including names and ages of all children attending): 446-3578.

Moonlight Skiing and Snowshoeing.

Until 9 p.m.; through Jan. 18. Venture onto Beaver Lake’s 10 miles of trails (if the snow cover is adequate) lit by the moon. Hot chocolate and other refreshments available at the visitor center. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $3/snowshoe rental; $3/vehicle. 638-2519.

Friday, Jan. 17 Toddler Dance Party. 10:30 a.m. Kids ages 18 months-5 years old, with caregivers, can dance with their friends. There will be musical instruments, bubbles and more. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 446-3578.

Tuesday, Jan. 14

Guided Moonlight Snowshoeing. 7 p.m. Explore the woodlands and frozen marshes on snowshoes with a guide; space limited. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $3/snowshoe rental; $3/vehicle. Registration required: 638-2519.

Teen MOPS. 4-6 p.m.; also Jan. 28. Young

Syracuse Crunch. 7 p.m. Vs. Hershey Bears.

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. 569-2542.

Little Makers. 5:30-6:30 p.m. See Jan. 11

listing.

part in creative music and dance using props and instruments. Central Library, Galleries of Syracuse, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. 435-1900.

See Jan. 11 listing.

Saturday, Jan. 18 Preschool Fair. 10 a.m.-noon. Parents can

talk to representatives of local preschools and see what they have to offer. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org. continued on page 32

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FTJan- Base Edition NAT.indd 29

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World of Puppets, Jan. 11

Tuesday, Jan. 21 See Ongoing Events

Wednesday, Jan. 22 See Ongoing Events

Thursday, Jan. 23 Kindness Matters Storytime. 10 a.m. Event features the book Llama Llama and the Bully Goat, with a focus on kindness and compassion. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 449-2948. Dance Party. 3:30 p.m. Kids ages 5-12 can listen to cool tunes and perhaps pick up a few new dance moves. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. 435-5326.

Immaculate Conception Open House.

4-6 p.m. Learn about the school for children in pre-K through sixth grade, whose philosophy centers on faith, values and academic excellence. Immaculate Conception School, 400 Salt Springs St., Fayetteville. 637-3961. www.icschool.org.

continued from page 29

Sleeping Beauty. 12:30 p.m. The Magic Cir-

cle Children’s Theatre presents an original version of the fairy tale, in which children in the audience help the Prince save Sleeping Beauty from her jealous sister’s spell. Children can dress up as fairy tale characters to enhance their fun. Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St., Syracuse. $5. 4493823.

Family Movie. 2 p.m. See PG-rated Despicable

Me 2 in the library’s auditorium. Betts Branch Library, 4862 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. 4351940.

Instrumental Scholastic Jazz Jam. 2-5 p.m. High school and college students, enthusiastic amateurs and budding professionals learn and perform in a supportive environment backed by musicians from the CNY Jazz Orchestra. Jazz Central, 441 E. Washington St., Syracuse. $3/students; $6/others. 479-5299. Sciencenter Showtime. 2 p.m. Join the 4H TailWaggers and their dogs and learn how they get ready for a dog show. Sciencenter, 601 First St., Ithaca. Admission: $8/adults; $7/seniors; $6/ ages 3-17; free/under 3. (607) 272-0600.

Syracuse Crunch. 7 p.m. Vs. Binghamton Senators. See Jan. 11 listing.

Skaneateles Winterfest. 6 p.m.; also Jan.

Sunday, Jan. 19 See Ongoing Events

Monday, Jan. 20 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY Illustration Demo and Storytime. 11 a.m. Storytime features Under the Freedom Tree, and the book’s illustrator, London Ladd, gives a demonstration. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 449-2948. Electricity Day. 1-5 p.m. Kids can drop into

the FFL Fab Lab and play with electricity (safely) using Snap Circuit and Little Bits Kits. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374.

Tune in Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, at 9:20 a.m., for columnist Maggie Simone’s preview of what’s in the next edition of Family Times!

Friday, Jan. 24 25. Go on an ice sculpture tour, watch the Polar Bear Plunge or take part in other activities. Jan. 24’s Winter Walk begins at Skaneateles Library, 49 E. Genesee St., or the Creamery Museum, 28 Hannum St. Polar Bear Plunge takes place 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 (registration at 11:30 a.m.). Various locations of other events: Genesee, Jordan and Fennell streets, Skaneateles. Fees charged for some events. 685-0552. http://bit.ly/1h0DqPh

Syracuse Crunch. 7 p.m. Vs. Hershey Bears.

See Jan. 11 listing.

Saturday, Jan. 25 College Fair. 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Colleges

and universities will offer information about their schools, and mini-seminars on financial aid and other topics will take place. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org.

Skaneateles Winterfest. 12:30 p.m. See Jan. 24 listing.

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Family Times January 2014

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January 2014 Paws and Claws. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; also Jan. 26. Meet unusual animals and a pack of special dogs. The Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester. Admission: $13.50; free/ younger than 2. (585) 263-2700. www.museumofplay.org.

Anime After Hours. 6-9 p.m. An evening

Lego Learn About It Event. 11 a.m. Lego

Owl Prowl. 7-9 p.m. Join a naturalist on a

activities, fun and surprises in anticipation of the release of The Lego Movie. Space limited. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. Reservations required: 449-2948.

Sleeping Beauty. 12:30 p.m. See Jan. 18 listing.

Sciencenter Showtime. 2 p.m. See some

live reptiles and amphibians and learn about these misunderstood animals. Sciencenter, 601 First St., Ithaca. Admission: $8/adults; $7/seniors; $6/ages 3-17; free/under 3. (607) 272-0600.

of gaming and anime screenings for all ages. Cosplayers encouraged. Program starts promptly at 6 p.m. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 446-3578. snowshoe hike in search of magnificent and secretive owls. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight. Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. $8/individual; $25/family. Register: 673-1350.

Sunday, Jan. 26 Paws and Claws. Noon-5 p.m. See Jan. 25

listing.

Manlius Pebble Hill Open House. 1 p.m. Prospective families can learn about the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pre-k through 12th grade program, admission process, scholarships and tuition assistance. Parents and children can sit in on mini-classes and see the school in action. Manlius Pebble Hill School, 5300 Jamesville Road, DeWitt. 446-2452. www.mph.net.

Chilly Chili 5K Run/Walk. 1 p.m. A benefit

for Cazenovia Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House features a run (or walk), followed by a chance to chow down on some hearty chili. Cazenovia Middle School, 31 Emory Ave., Cazenovia. $26/registration (late registration more): www.chillychili.com. 655-KIDS.

Montessori Open House. 2-4 p.m. Find out about the school that serves more than 150 children, ages 3 through 12, and its preschool and elementary education based on Montessori philosophy and methods. Montessori School of Syracuse, 155 Waldorf Parkway, DeWitt. 449-9033. continued on page 32

Montessori Open House, Jan. 26

Family Times January 2014

FTJan- Base Edition NAT.indd 31

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continued from page 31

Taste of the Mosaic. 4 p.m. Performances

by members of the Mosaic Collective—the Dance Theater of Syracuse, Syracuse Community Choir, the Syracuse Vocal Ensemble and the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company. St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, 310 Montgomery St., Syracuse. Free. 428-8151.

Robert Rogers Puppet Company Show.

7 p.m. The company, which specializes in productions for young people, will perform “Mendel, Who Treasured the Sabbath.” Temple Concord, 910 Madison St., Syracuse. Free. 475-9952.

Monday, Jan. 27 See Ongoing Events

Tuesday, Jan. 28 See Ongoing Events

Wednesday, Jan. 29 Chinese New Year Event. 4-5 p.m. Cel-

ebrate Chinese New Year with a storytime and craft. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374.

Thursday, Jan. 30 See Ongoing Events

ONGOING EVENTS Horsedrawn Hay or Sleigh Rides. 11

a.m.-4 p.m.; weekends through March 3. Twenty-minute ride into the woods at Highland Forest, 1254 Highland Park Road (off Route 80), Fabius. $6/person; $3/age 5 & under. Registration required: 683-5550.

Cross Country Ski Lessons. Saturdays & Sundays, 10 a.m. & 12-3:30 p.m.; Jan. 4-Feb. 23. One-hour introductory lesson, weather permitting. Highland Forest, 1254 Highland Park Road (off Route 80), Fabius. $25/lesson & equipment rental; $10/lesson only. Reservations required: 683-5550. Try Snowshoeing. Sundays, 12:30 p.m.; Jan. 5-Feb. 23. One-hour clinic includes instructions and a short snowshoe hike. Beaver Lake Nature Center, Route 370, Baldwinsville. Admission: $3 per vehicle. Registration required (day of hike, starting at 8 a.m.): 638-2519.

Weekday Snowshoe Jaunt. Every Wednesday in January and February, 1:30 p.m. One-hour trek, led by a naturalist, through Beaver Lake’s winter woods. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $3/admission; $3/ snowshoe rental. Registration required: 638-2519. Half-Price Zoo Admission. Daily, 10 a.m.-

4:30 p.m., throughout January and February. Visit the zoo and save 50 percent on regular admission prices. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, 1 Conservation Place. Admission: $4/adults; $2.50/ seniors; $2/youth; free/age 2 and under. 4358511.

Great Swamp Conservancy Nature Trails. Daily, dawn to dusk. Visitors

can grab their walking shoes (or snowshoes) and explore 4.5 miles of well-groomed, flat trails. Open year round. Cross-country skis and snowshoes for rent for $3/day. Trails feature a 900-foot boardwalk, osprey nesting platform, and wetland and grassland restoration areas. The area is a stop for many migratory waterfowl and songbirds; other wildlife include muskrats and beavers. Great Swamp Conservancy, 3.5 miles off I-90, Exit 34, 8375 N. Main St. Canastota. Free. 697-2950.

Baltimore Woods Nature Center. Hiking trails and parking are free and open every day from dawn to dusk. Interpretive Center open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.4 p.m.; closed Sundays. 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. 673-1350. Barnes & Noble Storytimes. Thursdays, 10

Year of the Horse

Friday, Jan. 31 Chinese New Year Celebration. 9 a.m.-6

p.m.; also Feb. 1. Enjoy Chinese crafts, fortune cookies and more. For preschool through grade 6. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org.

a.m. Join a storytime for toddlers and preschoolers that’s features a book, songs and coloring. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 449-2948.

Maxwell Library Storytimes. Storytimes

and book groups for all ages. Call for dates and times. Maxwell Memorial Library, 14 Genesee St., Camillus. Free. 672-3661.

Northeast Community Center Library Storytimes.

p.m. See Jan. 31 listing.

Preschool storytimes with rhymes and occasional games; youngsters learn group listening and participation skills. Call for times. Northeast Community Center Library, 716 Hawley Ave., Syracuse. Free. 472-6343, Ext. 208.

The Spoon Man. 11 a.m. Jim “The Spoon Man” Cruise offers hilarious interactive comedy for all ages. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 446-3578.

DeWitt Community Library. Library offers hundreds of free programs for parents and children. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. 446-3578.

Saturday, Feb. 1 Chinese New Year Celebration. 10 a.m.-5

Fayetteville Free Library Storytimes.

(Excluding holidays.) First Steps: (Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.) for children who are good walkers. Fabulous 4s and 5s: (Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.) for preschoolers to get skills to prepare for reading. Terrific 2s and 3s: (Wednesdays,10:30 a.m.) kids can learn letters, sounds and words. Cuddletime: (Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.) for babies not yet walking and an adult. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374.

Petit Branch Library Storytimes. Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. Toddler and preschooler storytime for children ages 18 months-5 years and caregivers. Includes stories, rhymes, finger plays and songs. Petit Branch Library, 105 Victoria Place, Syracuse. 435-3636. 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: $3 per vehicle. 638-2519. Syracuse Go Club. Every Monday, 7-10 p.m. Wegmans sit-down dining area, 6789 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. Club devoted to the ancient Chinese game of Go; players of all ages. Free. 479-9073.

Regional Market Farmers’ Market.

Saturdays, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. (year-round). Shop seasonal produce, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, specialty foods and more on display throughout covered sheds; heated shops of Regional Market Commons feature gift and unique items including jewelry, paintings and home decor. Also, flea market, Sundays, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 2100 Park St., Syracuse. 422-8647.

MUSEUMS Cayuga Agricultural Museum. Route 38A, Emerson Park, Auburn. Free. 253-5611. Antique farm life on display.

Corning Museum of Glass. 1 Corning Glass Center, Corning. Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $14/ adults; free/age 19 and under. (607) 937-5371. Ongoing: You Design It, We Make It: Glassblowers choose from among designs submitted by young visitors and create that work on the spot. Cortland Children’s Museum. 8 Calvert

St., O’Heron Newman Hall, SUNY Cortland campus. (607) 753-5525.

Erie Canal Museum. 318 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; closed holidays. Free. 471-0593. Interactive exhibit: Work the Weighlock. The Stonecutters: Exhibit reveals the fascinating world of the stonecutters and quarrymen who built the 83 locks and 18 aqueducts along the 363-mile Erie Canal. Everson Museum of Art. 401 Harrison St.

Tuesday-Friday, Sunday, noon- 5p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $5 donation. 474-6064. World-class museum includes Children’s Interactive Gallery designed to acquaint beginning art viewers with basic art principles, with areas dedicated to portraiture, hands-on activities, and a classroom.

Farmers’ Museum. Lake Road, Route 80, Cooperstown. $11/adults; $9.50/seniors; $5/age 7-12; free; age 6 & under. (888) 547-1450. H.Lee White Museum and Maritime Center. W. First St., Oswego. Mon-

day-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $7/adult; $3/teen; free/age 12 & under. 342-0480. Exhibits highlight more than 400 years of maritime history. Vessels

Family Times January 2014

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January 2014 on display include: New York State Derrick Boat 8 from the Canal System, schooner Ontario and Eleanor D, the last U.S. commercial fishing vessel to work Lake Ontario.

International Mask and Puppet Museum. 518 Prospect Ave., Syracuse. Fri-

days by appointment. First two Saturdays of the month, 10 a.m.-noon (October-April). 476-0466. Permanent collection includes masks, marionettes, shadow puppets and more.

Jamesville Museum. East Seneca Turnpike, under the steeple in the village center. Sunday, 2-4 p.m. Free. 469-1914. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST). 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square,

Syracuse. Tuesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Museum admission: $8/adults; $7/seniors and ages 2-11. IMAX admission only: $9.50/adults; $7.50/children and senior citizens; additional show, $5/adults; $4/children and senior citizens (473-IMAX). Combo museum and single-admission IMAX tickets: $12/adults; $10/children and seniors. Planetarium (only available with museum admission): $2. 425-9068. Hands-on science center features the Bristol Omnitheater, Science Playhouse, Earth Science Discovery Cave, Technotown, and Flight and Space Exhibit. Silverman Planetarium shows “Zoo in the Sky,” for kids under age 8, Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays, 11:15 a.m.; “Seasonal Sky” Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays, 3:15 p.m.

Onondaga Historical Association Museum. 321 Montgomery St., Syracuse.

Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Donation. 428-1864. Syracuse’s only comprehensive local history museum, with exhibits on architecture, local industries, transportation and more.

Oswego Railroad Museum. 56 W. First St., Oswego. Open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Saturdays & Sundays, noon-5 p.m. $2/age 12 & older; $1/ages 6-11; free/age 5 & younger. 342-0028. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park.

1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. Daily, 10 a.m.4:30 p.m. $8/adults; $5/senior citizens; $4/children; free/age 2 and younger. 435-8511. Ongoing attractions include Humboldt penguins.

Sciencenter. 601 First St., Ithaca. Tuesday-Sat-

urday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission: $8/adults; $7/seniors; $6/ages 3-17; free/under 3. (607) 272-0600. www.sciencenter.org. Inspires people of all ages to discover the excitement of science through exhibits and programs.

Strong National Museum of Play.

1 Manhattan Square, Rochester. Admission: $13.50; free/younger than 2. (585) 263-2700. Permanent exhibits include National Toy Hall of Fame with inductees such as alphabet blocks, Barbie, Crayola crayons, G.I. Joe and the ever-versatile cardboard box. Also, super-sized kids’ market and more; lunch available at Bill Gray’s Skyliner Diner.

Calendar listings are free! Send information about your family-friendly event to: Family Times calendar, 1415 W. Genesee St., Syracuse; Fax to 422-1721; or email to editorial@familytimes.biz. Include date and time of event, location with numbered street address and town, price, and phone number for publication. We give priority to low- or nocost events aimed at parents, kids, or parents accompanied by kids. For consideration, listings are due by Jan. 10 for the February issue.

Family Times January 2014

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