Family Times November 2015

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The Parenting Guide of Central New York www.familytimes.biz | November 2015

Flavors of Thanksgiving

2015

Holiday Gift Guide

Radio Days Student deejays speak for WBXL

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Family Times November 2015

family times • november 2015

4 • Editor’s Note 6 • Storytime

What’s the crucial ingredient in one family’s Thanksgiving soup? Meatballs. Lots and lots of meatballs.

8 • Radio Days 8

Baker High School’s WBXL has relied on the voices and ingenuity of student deejays for more than four decades.

12 • 2015 Holiday Gift Guide Award-winning games, toys, music, books, apps and more.

16 • Family Fun Calendar of Events 12

Capture a Moment Genevieve, age 5 months, gazes into the camera in this photo taken by her mother, Dorothy Jaskula of Oswego.

We welcome reader submissions, whether photos of your kids or their artwork. Send high-resolution photos (jpg format saved at 3-inches-by-5-inches or larger) or color artwork to editorial@familytimes.biz. Please include the child’s first name, age, hometown, and information about what’s going on in the photo (or the art), as well as the parent or guardian’s full name and daytime phone number, for verification.

Advertiser Index Practice.....................................20 Learn........................................23 Party................................... 24-25 Back Pack Directory.................27

Family Times November 2015

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family times The Parenting

Guide of Central New York

november 2015

Now Hear This!

D

issue No. 163

PUBLISHER/OWNER Bill Brod EdItOR IN cHIEf Reid Sullivan editorial@familytimes.biz MANAGING EdItOR Bill DeLapp PHOtOGRAPHy EdItOR Michael Davis

id you know high school students in Baldwinsville are running a radio station?

When I heard about WBXL, the 175-watt station the students (under the guidance of a faculty adviser) manage, I was keen to get that story in the magazine.

Aaron Gifford’s feature on the station and the people behind it starts on page 8.

Once we get past Halloween, it’s time to start thinking about other holidays, including Thanksgiving. In Linda Lowen’s family, that means preparing a soup that requires many tiny meatballs. How many? See page 6 to find out.

Meanwhile, many parents are starting to think about what their family members might want for Hanukkah or Christmas. The gift guide on pages 12 through 14 contains toys, books, games, apps and other products that experts in each field have deemed educational, durable—and fun. We hope you find the list handy as you begin your holiday research.

And as the snow falls—or threatens to fall—local families will also be planning their visits to annual events such as Dickens’ Christmas in Skaneateles and the Erie Canal Museum’s Gingerbread Gallery. For details on those and more November events, see the calendar, starting on page 16.

cIRcULAtION dIREctOR Tom Tartaro (Ext. 134) cREAtIvE SERvIcES MANAGER Meaghan Arbital dESIGNER Renate Wood dIGItAL MEdIA MANAGER David Armelino cONtRIBUtORS Deborah Cavanagh,Tammy DiDomenico, Aaron Gifford, Eileen Gilligan, Linda Lowen, Cary Rector,Tonja Rector, Maggie Lamond Simone, Laura Livingston Snyder, Chris Xaver AdvERtISING cONSULtANtS Lesli Mitchell (ext. 140) LMitchell@syracusenewtimes.com Lija Spoor (ext. 111) LijaSpoor@syracusenewtimes.com Mike Banks (ext. 115) MBanks@syracusenewtimes.com Matt Romano (ext. 116) MRomano@syracusenewtimes.com

Reid Sullivan Editor in Chief

On the cover: Students Stacy Edwards and Peter Holden-Betts help run the station that broadcasts from Baldwinsville’s Baker High School.

Inside: To learn about the past and present of WBXL, read Aaron Gifford’s feature on page 8.

cOMPtROLLER Deana Vigliotti (ext. 118) cLASSIfIEd/BAckPAck Lija Spoor (ext. 111)

Subscribe to Family Times by mail and receive 12 issues for only $20.

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Family Times November 2015

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Thanksgiving Soup A family’s complex concoction | By Linda Lowen

M

led vegetables and anchovies. Although it filled two large platters, we still scraped them clean when we reached for seconds.

y childhood Thanksgiving memories are practically nonexistent. That’s because my parents and I dined with strangers in places I never saw again.

There were only three of us, so we took the easy way out. The Sunday before, my father bought the newspaper and looked at restaurant ads. He made Thanksgiving dinner reservations based on impulse and price.

After the meal I went upstairs, but one floor wasn’t enough to muffle the noise below. This is what a typical Thanksgiving is like, I thought. This is what real families do. I’d gone from boring to boisterous in one meal. Yes, I was overwhelmed. Yes, I felt like Scrooge. But I also didn’t want to go back to dining with strangers. True, these people technically were strangers, yet I hoped this boyfriend and these relatives would become something more.

Kathy made potatoes au gratin. Slender, athletic, the youngest of the girls, she always brought a rib-sticking heart-attack side dish yet somehow stayed fit.

This was not—and never had been—a recipe for success. So when my boyfriend of three months invited me to his parents’ house for Thanksgiving, I had high hopes.

I pictured a serene Norman Rockwell setting with poised dinner companions.

Instead, I arrived at a home in cheerful chaos, filled to overflowing. Tables had been set up in nearly every room that didn’t have a toilet or a bed. I counted 27 chairs—nine times my usual number of Thanksgiving companions.

The following Thanksgiving, we were newlyweds. When I asked what I could bring to the meal, the answer was, “The relish tray.” That had been Jim’s bachelor-era contribution, but I secretly hoped to develop a signature dish just like my sisters-in-law had.

Mom made the turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and sweet potatoes dotted with butter, brown sugar and mini marshmallows—my daughters’ favorite because it mixed candy with vegetables.

And then there was the decibel level.

Kids ran around screaming. Men yelled at the football game. Women chattered as they attended to boiling pots on the stove and casseroles in the oven. My smile was fixed, my head splitting.

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Family Times November 2015

Jim’s four older siblings were all girls.

Three lived nearby. Barbara was known for her homemade pies. Each year she made one apple and one pumpkin from scratch, down to the pumpkin filling. She also baked “cookies” for Dad—pieces of pie crust cut into shapes for my father-in-law, who couldn’t eat sugar but liked crackers and breads.

Connie made the antipasto: sliced meats, hardboiled eggs, tuna, Italian pick-

Anne, the oldest, lived in California. Her mid-afternoon phone call signaled a pause in preparations as the phone was passed around.

Nothing, however, held pride of place quite like the escarole soup. Similar to Italian wedding soup, it was as essential to the dinner as turkey. For years Mom made the soup all by herself, mixing pounds of ground beef and pork, and rolling tiny meatballs that she browned in a pan before adding them to the soup. As her arthritis worsened, Dad helped out. The task eventually passed from family member to family member, depending on who had enough time to roll the meatballs.

Anna Omelchenko | istock photo

As the first course of our traditional Thanksgiving meal, that escarole soup—and those tiny meatballs—set the tone for everything else.

Dad was (and still is) the one whose opinion matters most. “Look at the size of these! Too big!” he’d announce from the head of the table, holding his spoon aloft. “It’s the size of a grape! Who can eat that?”

The first time I tried to roll meatballs, my husband gently informed me that my golf-ball-sized lumps would get us disowned. “But they’ll cook down as they brown!” I insisted.

EAT. DRINK. PLAY. WATCH. PARTY!

Over time, I understood that in its raw state, the ideal meatball starts out no bigger than a grape. It has to be browned slowly to develop a crispy brown skin to withstand the rigors of the soup pot. The perfect cooked meatball is the size of a fat blueberry, which—if you’ve ever rolled a meatball—is very, very time consuming to produce.

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One year Dad crowed over the work of Connie’s daughter Melissa. Home from college, she had helped make the soup. “You know what Melissa did? She rolled 327 meatballs!” Those perfect meatballs, and that mighty number, entered family lore as the soup to beat.

Oddly enough, there was no actual recipe for escarole soup. I learned this the year I worked on a local TV talk show and had to make the soup for our Thanksgiving episode. “Goodness, I don’t know!” Mom spluttered when I asked for ingredients and measurements. “I just add a little of this and a little of that.”

“You don’t have anything written down? The producers want a recipe we can put onscreen for the viewers.”

Eventually, with Connie’s help, we came up with a close approximation. Two ingredients surprised me: canned diced tomatoes and two raw eggs stirred into the soup right before serving. That’s why it never came out right, I thought. I’d tried to copy it using recipes I’d found online, but they always fell short.

I’m glad Mom wrote down her version. Two years ago this month she unexpectedly became ill and, after trying to hold on for the rest of us, she passed away two days before the holiday.

This Thanksgiving, just like every other, we plan on keeping our traditions going. Barb will make the pies and Dad’s cookies, Connie the antipasto, Kathy the potatoes.

Jim and I have been married 27 years and I still don’t have a signature dish. But I’ve learned to make the perfect meatball, and if 328 of them are what’s required for a happy Thanksgiving this year, let’s roll.

Linda Lowen teaches at the Downtown Writer’s Center and is co-producer and cohost of Take Care, a health and wellness radio show on WRVO. She lives in Syracuse with her husband.

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R a d i o D ay s WBXL gives student deejays a voice in the community

By Aaron Gifford Photos by michael Davis

E

ven though the students who run WBXLFM 90.5 at Charles W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville snicker when they see the hairstyles, clothing and record albums of their predecessors, they still hold those teenagers from the eight-track era of radio in the highest regard.

WTKW-FM 99.1 (TK99)’s Rick Deyulio, a man hailed as a walking encyclopedia of classic rock music, got his start at WBXL, as did Dave Fink, a business owner in Baldwinsville. And the student who started it all in 1974 by installing the first antenna, Mark Humphrey, pursued a career in radio engineering and still builds stations across the nation.

Today, the station is 175 watts and reaches most of Onondaga County (about as far south and west as Marcellus) and the bottom half of Oswego County, which includes Fulton, but not the city of Oswego. The broadcasting class is open to students in grades 10 through 12 and is the prerequisite for going on the air.

Students have shows during their free periods (lunch or study hall) or after school. They can also record shows using a computer program. All are required to provide a certain number of public service announcements during their airtime.

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Family Times November 2015

“My first few shows were completely terrible,” says senior manager Stacy Edwards. “I was completely nervous and I laughed the whole time, even though nothing was that funny. Now I can go in and do it without a script or anything.

I like public speaking and I have confidence.”

The vinyl double albums of the 1970s are gone, but the station’s early principles have endured: fostering strong public speaking skills, thorough preparation, creativity, respect for the rules, and the desire to always do better.

Station founder Al Jenner, a retired science teacher, says the station’s mission statement presented to the Board of Education 41 years ago—“to become the delivery system for the ‘products’ of the school”—has not changed.

“The example I always give is, How can I demonstrate what I’ve learned in my physics class to my radio audience and keep them listening for more and more?” Jenner says.

There is no single answer to that question, he adds, although it starts with fully understanding what you’re talking about. You can even apply physics to explain the dimensions and placement of a radio tower and the movements of sound waves. A live or recorded broadcast can be a working lab for any subject area, but it takes sharp presentation skills to hold the listeners’ attention.

“It’s an important experience for the students,” Jenner says. “The more you learn and the harder you work, the better your production is. You get more listeners; your work is more popular. What a great feeling. This is something you carry into your other activities.”

“I wasn’t interested in making them deejays,” he adds. “It’s a terrible job. The better you are, the more likely you get fired. What I was trying to do was get them to communicate. You also learn that it’s about the listener: It’s not about you at all.”

As a child, Jenner wanted to become a radio personality. In the 1960s, he faithfully tuned in every Sunday to WNDR-AM 1260 for disc jockey “Dandy” Dan Leonard’s show from the Teen Canteen, which was broadcast from the Three Rivers Inn nightclub in Phoenix.

Leonard’s fast-paced delivery emphasized his energy and wit.

“He gave us a reason to listen,” Jenner says. “He knew what listeners demanded: You better say something to me, or I’m gonna turn you off.”

Although Jenner worked full time as a science teacher in the Baldwinsville district, he maintained a radio broadcast engineering license and continued to work part time for WSEN-FM 92.1 as an engineer and disc jockey. In 1974, the Board of Education gave Jenner and Humphrey permission and $300 to establish a 10-watt station at the high school. They bought some used transmitter equipment and set up shop on the top floor. Federal standards for licensing were much stricter at that time, so the teacher and student both needed to obtain additional credentials from the Federal Communications Commission.

They visited WGMC at Greece Central School District’s Athena High School in suburban Rochester, borrowing some, but not all, of that station’s operations model.

“Their station was community-driven,” Jenner says, “but I wanted ours to be all about the kids.”

A WBXL radio club was established and the station gradually increased its wattage. Jenner was hired to teach a radio broadcasting class at the high school.

A few years into his tenure, Jenner also learned about the political end of the broadcast business. WRVO-FM 89.9, the National Public Radio affiliate in Oswego, initially blocked his request for additional wattage, but then signed off on it when the two stations learned that they would have to work together to stop a potential new station from broadcasting in their vicinity.

Stacy Edwards, senior manager for WBXL, took the broadcasting class as a sophomore.

Jenner’s class familiarized students with the rules and regulations they needed to know before they could go on air.

Students also had to be able to prepare for their show.

“They need to know when the record ends,” Jenner says. “What can you do that’s better than the music? What is the magic between the music?”

“Five minutes of on-air time might have a half-hour of preparation,” says current adviser Paul Mizer, who teaches the broadcasting class. “A good show is all about preparation.”

Under FCC regulations, there cannot be more than 35 hours per week of dead air. But the station’s requirements are much more stringent, with 24 hours of programming per day, although much of that is recorded and many programs are reruns.

WBXL is not allowed to have a format, Mizer says, because that would present competition to the commercial stations.

With this arrangement, one show might

Junior manager Peter Holden-Betts likes solving problems at the station.

Continued on next page

Family Times November 2015

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Al Jenner, right, founded WBXL in 1974, starting with 10 watts.

Now the station is 175 watts and broadcasts to most of Onondaga County and the bottom of Oswego County. time slots or troubleshooting equipment malfunctions.

He co-hosted the show about human stupidity and hopes to become a television game show host some day.

He remembers his first time on air as somewhat awkward.

“I was nervous,” he says, “and it lasted for a while.

But then it was fun. The idea for the show (called Why?) worked. We found any odd or weird news and we just talked about it.”

“This station is the best decision I ever made in my life,” Holden-Betts says.

Continued from previous page

feature Led Zeppelin, with the next deejay playing classical cellist Yo-Yo Ma. “The kids say we have the most variety on the FM dial,” Mizer says.

The station has empowered creativity. One student has a show about computer gaming, while another plays pieces from the school’s marching band and discusses the nuances of those arrangements.

One of the co-managers had a show about “human stupidity.” The other manager had a decade-themed show, during which she and a cohost would play music from the 1970s or 1980s and also talk about the toys, television shows and fashion styles from those eras.

Rick Deyulio, the deejay at TK99, had a theater-of-the-mind “time machine” show with sound effects and different characters.

“He knew classic rock inside and out,” Jenner says. “When the mike was on, he had a gift. He talked with the people; he didn’t talk at them.”

Thanks to online technology, the station can also broadcast live high school basketball games, which was not possible in the station’s early years. Unlike their predecessors, however, the students cannot do weekend shows, mainly because of supervisory and liability concerns, Mizer says.

On-air jocks have to master other skills, too, including playing music that their daytime radio audience— adults—would enjoy, even if it doesn’t appeal to fellow teens.

“They may not like it,” Mizer says, “but I’m the one getting the calls 10

Family Times November 2015

from the people who don’t like the music.”

Disciplinary actions are rare.

Two decades ago, during a holiday break marathon in which alumni helped staff the station to keep it continually running, Jenner turned on his radio late one night to hear two of his former students making fun of the station’s equipment and bad-mouthing some of the music.

He immediately drove to the school, removed them from the building and remained on air until the next deejays came in at 6 a.m. Mizer, who is in his fourth year as the station adviser, has only had to revoke on-air privileges for a handful of students.

A major responsibility for the radio station adviser today is monitoring the playlists. The jockeys cannot bring their own music in.

The station is required to use music from subscription-based services that cover the licensing rights of the artists. To police this, Mizer relies on peer pressure and two student managers—“my eyes and ears”—to make sure the rules are followed.

Stacy Edwards, the senior manager, took Mizer’s radio class as a sophomore and had her own time slot (the decade-themed show) last year. She never imagined that she could develop the ability to improve and think on her feet so quickly.

As a manager, she enjoys the leadership and teaching responsibilities.

Edwards is also the president of the school’s volunteer-based TEA Club.

Peter Holden-Betts, the station’s junior manager, likes to solve problems, such as finding ways to fill

WBXL alum Phil Nagy, who graduated in 1981, said the opportunity to tinker with electronics is what inspired him to first get involved with the station back in 1979. He pursued a career in computers and currently works for Hewlett-Packard. His son, Alex, served as the station manager before graduating in 2011.

Nagy pointed out that while he and his peers loved to rock the airwaves, they also broadcast Board of Education meetings and memorial services for beloved former employees of the district. That aspect of community service was important. He still has reel-to-reel recordings of some old shows.

“Al (Jenner) had the wherewithal that just teaching broadcasting and radio was not enough to keep us going,” Nagy says. “I think that variety and importance to the community is what kept the station from becoming a budget cut.”

Mizer, who teaches, besides broadcasting, five technology classes at the high school, says watching kids excel in public speaking has been the most rewarding part of his role.

“When we start the class, you always have at least one kid who won’t speak in front of his peers. Then you learn to write short and to the point, and you learn how to make the audience believe that you are talking to each and every one of them,” he says. Students “learn this and grow, and they enjoy speaking.”

Back in his time as adviser, Jenner had a variety of techniques, tricks and tests for preparing students. On the first day of class, the kids give a one-minute formal introduction of themselves to the group.

A few weeks into the semester, he helped conquer one student’s stage fright by having her stand behind a movie screen when she talked. The students worked in teams to present and evaluate manuscripts for news, sports and entertainment. They were required to enunciate all words correctly, and if they didn’t, their peers would mimic a buzzer sound to alert them of their mistake.

“It was fun for them,” Jenner says, “but they also learned that in order to be a good speaker, you have to be a good listener.”

Aaron Gifford is an award-winning writer who lives in Cazenovia with his wife and two children.

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h Annivers a r y 25t

30 GIVING GREAT GIFTS for

A Collection of NAPPA winners

By Julie Kertes

Deciding whether a toy, book, game or album will make a good holiday gift can be a daunting task involving a taxing list of questions.

Is it made well? It is age appropriate? Will it last? Will the child like it? Most importantly, is it fun?

For the last 25 years, the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) has made it our business to answer those questions for you. Our expert judges and parent and kid testers play with and evaluate hundreds of products each year and choose only the best of the best to receive the NAPPA seal. We’ve put together a sampling of winners below, all of which were recognized for their quality, durability and, of course, the “fun” factor.

See more of our winners at NAPPAawards.com.

Music & DVDs

Meet the Pod Squad

Deep Woods Revival

Red Yarn Productions, $15, www.redyarnproductions.com, Ages 2-8

Miss Melodee’s “Find Your Melody” Album

Melstar Entertainment, $14.99, www.missmelodee.com, For the entire family

French for Kids: Allons Danser!

(Let’s Dance!)

NCircle Entertainment, $9.99, www.ncircleentertainment.com, Ages 3-7

Whistlefritz, $14.99, www.whistlefritz.com, For the entire family

Simpatico by Renee and Friends

The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child Double Feature

One Melody Records, $11.99, www.reneeandfriends.com, For the entire family

NCircle Entertainment, $19.99, www.ncircleentertainment.com, For the entire family

Tomorrow Is a Chance To Start Over by Hilary Grist The Secret Mountain, $16.95, www.thesecretmountain.com, Ages 2-8

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Family Times November 2015

The Wonder Years Complete Series Time Life, $249.95, amazon.com, Ages 8 and up

Toys & Games

Colorforms Big Wall Playset Colorforms, $29.99, www.Colorforms.com, Ages 3 and up

Don’t Dump Dumpty Game BeginAgain, $30, www.beginagaintoys.com, Ages 2 and up

Alphabet Learning Locks Lakeshore, $29.99, www.LakeshoreLearning.com, Ages 3-7

Hello Kitty Karaoke Kar by Dynacraft Dynacraft, $199.99, www.dynacraftbike.com, Ages 3 and up

Jr. Jump ’n Slide Bouncer Little Tikes, $199.99, www.littletikes.com, Ages 2-8

Glow Show Sticker Launcher

Moose Toys, $24.99, www.buyglowshow.com, Ages 5 and up

Minions Bike with Fart Blaster by Dynacraft Dynacraft, $89.99, www.dynacraftbike.com, Ages 4-8

Ninja Control Leonardo

Playmates Toys, $59.99, www.playmatestoys.com, Ages 4 and up

Roominate Amusement Park

Roominate, $49.99, www.roominatetoy.com, Ages 8 and up

PortaPlay

Oribel, $149, www.loveoribel.com/us, Ages 18 months and up

Shape Whiz

SimplyFun, $24, www.SimplyFun.com, Ages 10 and up

Continued on next page

Family Times November 2015

13

Toys & Games (continued)

Spiral Art Design Center

Lakeshore, $19.99, www. LakeshoreLearning.com, Ages 4-11

Worry Eaters

Tonka Mighty Dump

by Dynacraft

Dynacraft, $349.95, www.dynacraftbike.com, Ages 3 and up

The Haywire Group, $22.99, www.haywiregroup.com, Ages 3 and up

Apps, Tech Toys & Websites

ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy

Age of Learning, $7.95 per month (subscription), www.ABCmouse.com, Ages 2-7

Bluebee Pals

Kayle Concepts, $59.99, www.bluebeepals.com, Ages 3 and up

Speakaboos

Speakaboos, $4.99 for a 1-month subscription and $49.99 for a 1-year subscription, www.Speakaboos.com, Ages 2-7

Books House of Robots by James Patterson - Audiobook Edition

Hachette Audio, $17.98, www.soundcloud.com/hachetteaudio, Ages 8-12

I Am Malala (Young Readers Audiobook Edition): How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World Hachette Audio, $22.98, www.soundcloud.com/hachetteaudio, Ages 10 and up

Music Together Singalong Storybooks: Hey, Diddle Diddle, Ridin’ in the Car and Two Little Blackbirds Music Together, $9.95 board book; $13.95 hardcover, www.musictogether.com/storybooks, Ages 1-8

Julie Kertes is general manager of the National Parenting Publications Awards.

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Family Times November 2015

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Aladdin. 12:30 p.m. The Magic Circle Children’s

Theatre presents an original, interactive version of the tale, in which children in the audience can dress as a fairy tale character and help Aladdin find the magic lamp and win the princess’ heart. Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St., Syracuse. $5. 449-3823.

Sciencenter Showtime. 2 p.m.; Saturdays.

Every Saturday, see an interactive presentation on a different aspect of science. Upcoming topics include: whale behavior; rocketry; engineering; and social insects. Sciencenter, 601 First St., Ithaca.

Admission: $8/adults; $7/seniors; $6/ages 3-17; free/under 3. (607) 272-0600. www.sciencenter. org.

Drop In Family Games. 1-3 p.m. Children

(ages 5-12) can come in and play board games; Duplos available for preschoolers. Parents and caregivers welcome. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org.

Halloween Magic Show. 2:30 p.m. David

“Pirate Dave” Moreland brings a show filled with

as animals throughout the zoo chomp and stomp pumpkins of various sizes. Also, first day of the animal-created Art Gone Wild! Exhibition (through Nov. 20). Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. Admission: $8/ adults; $5/senior citizens; $4/children; free/age 2 and younger. 435-8511.

ELECTION DAY with a caregiver can make seasonal crafts; all materials provided. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org.

Kids in Motion. 6:30 p.m. Children ages 1-5 will have a ball playing with maracas, shaker eggs, scarves and more as they move to music.

Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration preferred: 492-1727.

Wednesday, Nov. 4

Moto-Inventions. 1-2 p.m.; Sundays. Tinker

Read, Sing, Play Storytime. 10 a.m.; also Nov. 18. Children ages 2-5 can take part in stories, songs, fingerplays, music and more. Paine Branch Library, 113 Nichols Ave., Syracuse. Free. 4355442.

Day of the Dead Party. 2-3:30 p.m. Everyone from age 8 to 18 can celebrate Dia de los Muertos by eating traditional foods, making crafts and learning more about this Mexican holiday. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free.

Registration required: 446-3578.

Beginning Yoga. 4 p.m.; also Nov. 18. People of

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) 272-0600.

Monday, Nov. 2 Storytime. 10 a.m.; Tuesdays. Children ages

1-5 can enjoy books, songs, dance and fun. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free.

435-3519.

Craftastic Critters. 4:30-5:30 p.m.; also Nov.

9, 16, 23 & 30. Kids ages 5-10 can drop in to make a craft. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374.

all ages (children must be accompanied by an adult) can learn the basics of yoga breathing, stretching and meditation. Bring a yoga mat or small blanket, and wear loose clothing. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. 435-3519.

Creation Club Junior. 4-5:15 p.m.; also Nov. 18. Kids can learn skills for using technology for everything from 3D printing to game design. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374. www.fflib.org.

Teen Geeks Lite. 6-8 p.m. Teens can hang out,

play games, eat snacks, and create—video-game free, in this version of Teen Geeks. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 4570310. lpl.org.

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Family Times November 2015

Calendar

family times The Parenting

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Maybe, with the help of a couple of very lost penguins, the Spirit of Christmas will prevail!

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Other common vision disorders such as amblyopia (lazy eye) and strabismus (crossed eye) can often be successfully treated with vision therapy. Vision therapy can be rehabilitative in the case of head trauma, concussion, stroke, or brain injury. In these cases, patients can be trained in the redevelopment of lost vision skills.

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17

Calendar

Thursday, Nov. 5 Happy Feet. 9:30 a.m.; also Nov. 12 & 19. Kids ages 2-5 play with a soccer ball during a class that incorporates rhymes, songs, stories, adventures and games. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374. fflib.org.

Trail Tales. 1 p.m.; also Nov. 19. A naturalist

reads two nature-themed stories and then leads a hike whose theme matches the stories; for children ages 3-5, accompanied by an adult. Beaver Lake Nature Center parking lot, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $4/parking. 638-2519.

Friday, Nov. 6 Baby and Me Tour. 11:30 a.m. Parents or caregivers can join a docent tour while babies enjoy the colors and shapes of the artwork. Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. Free.

474-6064. www.everson.org/education/programs.

St. Rose of Lima Silent Auction. 5-9 p.m.

Adults can enjoy dinner and drinks, and take part in silent auctions and other activities to raise money for St. Rose of Lima School, 411 S. Main St., North Syracuse. $10/advance; $18/door. 458-6036.

Saturday, Nov. 7 Beginning Yoga. 10 a.m.; also Nov. 14, 21 & 28.

People of all ages (children must be accompanied by an adult) can learn the basics of yoga breathing, stretching and meditation. Bring a yoga mat or small blanket, and wear loose clothing. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free.

435-3519.

NYS Model Train Fair. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; also Nov. 8. One of the Northeast’s premier model train shows, with dozens of vendors and numerous

18

Family Times November 2015

operating layouts. Exhibit Center, State Fairgrounds, Geddes. $8/age 16 & older; free/age 15 and under. 451-6551. www.modeltrainfair.com.

Sunday, Nov. 8

Cubelets Robots. 10:30 a.m. Children can

7 listing.

NYS Model Train Fair. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See Nov. National Toy Hall of Fame Celebration. 11

build working robots with magnetic blocks. Paine Branch Library, 113 Nichols Ave., Syracuse. Free.

435-5442.

a.m.-3 p.m. See Nov. 7 listing.

Stories and Snacks. 11-11:30 p.m.; also Nov.

School, 5300 Jamesville Road, DeWitt. 446-2452.

14 & 21. Families can hear the stories of the Bible, then gather for freshly baked cookies. Liverpool First Presbyterian Church, 603 Tulip St., Liverpool.

Free. 457-3161.

Reading to Rover. 11 a.m.-noon. Children

ages 6-10 can read to a dog from Paws of CNY. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration required: 492-1727.

National Toy Hall of Fame Celebration.

11 a.m.-3 p.m; also Nov. 8. Take part in revelry in connection with the induction of the 2015 class of toys into the hall (revealed Nov. 5), with special attention on previous inductees—bubbles, Easy-Bake Oven and little green army men. Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester. Admission: $13.50/general; free/younger than 2. (585) 263-2700.

St. Daniel Harvest Festival. Noon-9 p.m.

Festivities include kids games and crafts; bake sale; casino games; and raffles. St. Daniel Church school building, 3004 Court St., Syracuse. Free admission.

454-4946.

Aladdin. 12:30 p.m. See Oct. 31 listing.

Dinosaur Science. 1 p.m. Children ages 4-8 can look at dinosaur fossils and learn the principles of the scientific process. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration preferred: 492-1727.

MPH Open House. 1-3 p.m. Manlius Pebble Hill

Monday, Nov. 9 Lights on the Lake Stroll. 5-9 p.m. Two-mile walking preview of annual wonderland of illuminated holiday scenes at Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool, before it opens to vehicles only. Visitors may stroll some or all of the trail. Holiday characters will be on the trail.

Parking at Griffin Visitor Center, Salt Museum or Willow Bay lots. $2/donation for adults. 453-6712.

Paper Bag Princess Event. 6 p.m. Celebrate the 35th anniversary of this spin on the typical prince and princess tale, with themed crafts and refreshments. Paine Branch Library, 113 Nichols Ave., Syracuse. Free. 435-5442.

Tuesday, Nov. 10 Signing Storytime. 10:30-11 a.m.; also Nov. 24.

Children ages 3-6 can learn six to seven signs that correspond to the week’s story. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 6376374. www.fflib.org.

Free to Be. 1-1:30 p.m.; also Nov. 17 & 24. Children ages 3-6 can take part in this early childhood music and acting class with live guitar music, creating unique lyrics. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374. www. fflib.org.

Coding Club. 4-5 p.m. Students in grades 3-6 can learn code and build websites, games and more. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374. fflib.org.

Lights on the Lake Dog Walk. 5-9 p.m. Dogs are welcome for this

special walking preview of annual illuminated holiday wonderland, including characters. Refreshments for humans and dogs available for sale. Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. Parking at Griffin Visitor Center, Salt Museum or Willow Bay lots. $2/donation. 453-6712.

Calendar

Teen MOPS. 4-6 p.m.; also Nov. 24. 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. Call or text: 569-2542, (518) 441-3690 or 412-4054.

Individual, Group & Family therapy for preschoolers to young adults.

Wednesday, Nov. 11 VETERANS DAY Veterans Day at Sciencenter. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission for active duty military personnel, veterans and their immediate family members; valid military ID required. Sciencenter, 601 First St., Ithaca. Admission: $8/adults; $7/seniors; $6/ages 3-17; free/under 3. (607) 272-0600. www. sciencenter.org.

Toy Story Anniversary Celebration. 2, 4 & 6 p.m. See the entire Toy Story trilogy, with popcorn. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration for each movie preferred: 492-1727.

Tween Cooking. 2-3 p.m. Young people ages 9-12 can try delicious rec-

ipes to take home. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free.

Registration required: 457-0310. lpl.org.

Opening Night Lights on the Lake. 5-10 p.m., daily; through Jan. 3.

Drive through the annual light extravaganza featuring two miles of life-size displays. New displays include the Itsy Bitsy Spider, additions to the Land of Oz and an animated soccer scene. Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. $10/car, Monday-Thursday; $15/car, Friday-Sunday. 4536712.

Barbara Bilinski Mettelman, Ph.D. NYS LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST

1101 Erie Blvd, East, Rm 212, Syracuse, NY (315) 559-1319 Available for assessments and school consultations

Family Times November 2015

19

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Thursday, Nov. 12 Smart Play. 1-1:30 p.m. Children age 6 and under can explore a free-play

environment that promotes discovery, creativity and the development of early literacy skills. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free.

637-6374. www.fflib.org.

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Anime Night. 6-8 p.m. Students in grades 7-12 can watch anime on the large screen, take part in drawing and trivia contests, and more. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org.

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Family Times November 2015

science facts with a hands-on experiment. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org.

Friday, Nov. 13 Pixar Party. 1-2:30 p.m. Celebrate Pixar with crafts, games and short films.

Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org.

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.

Teen Fall Murder Mystery. 6-7:30 p.m. Kids ages 10-18 can join fellow sleuths to find out who is killed in the library and why. Refreshments served.

DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. Registration required: 446-3578.

Syracuse Crunch Lego Night. 7 p.m. The American Hockey League team faces the Binghamton Senators. Lego Night, presented by Bricks 4 Kidz, features Emmet and Wyldstyle of The Lego Movie, and a Lego building area on the concourse. War Memorial, 800 S. State St., Syracuse. $16-$23, plus applicable processing fees. 473-4444.

Saturday, Nov. 14 Bishop Grimes Scholarship Exam and Open House. 7:45-11:15 a.m.

(exam); open house (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.). Bishop Grimes Junior/Senior High School, 6653 Kirkville Road, East Syracuse. $15/exam; free/open house. 3147157.

CNY Bridges Build ’Em & Bust ’Em. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Teams of up to three

students can build bridges out of balsa wood and see them broken to test the bridges’ strength. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Free/student participants, teachers & family members arriving before 10 a.m. Spectators must pay admission: $10/adults; $8/ages 2-11 and seniors age 65 and older. 425-9068, Ext. 2163.

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Fun With Science. 3-8 p.m. Kids and families can drop in and discover

tors can see and play a variety of video, tabletop and card games. There will also be tournaments, gaming arts and crafts, cosplay and live music. Center of Progress Building, State Fairgrounds, Geddes. $12/individual; $35/family (up to 2 adults, 4 kids); free/age 6 & under.

Highland Forest Open House. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Meet the staff, buy season tickets, find out about outdoor clubs, or enjoy horse-drawn wagon rides and refreshments. Highland Forest Park, County Road 128, Fabius. Free. 683-5550.

In Another Galaxy Weekend. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; also Nov. 15. Dress as your favorite science fiction character and journey to another universe during this special weekend. Strong National Museum of Play, 1 Manhattan Square, Rochester. Admission: $13.50/general; free/younger than 2. (585) 263-2700.

Aladdin. 12:30 p.m. See Oct. 31 listing.

Thanksgiving Craft. 1 p.m. All ages of kids can make a Thanksgiving

suncatcher. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free.

Registration required: 492-1727.

Artful Tales. 1 p.m. Children age 3 and up and caregivers can enjoy an afternoon of storytelling and gallery exploration. Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. Free. 474-6064. www.everson.org.

Fall Wind Chimes. 2 p.m. All ages of children can take a walk outside and

find supplies to make their own wind chimes. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. 435-3519.

Sunday, Nov. 15 Model Railroad Show. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; also Nov. 15. See layouts of Lego trains, Thomas the Tank Engine and various sizes of model trains. Presented by the Oswego Valley Railroad Association. Fulton War Memorial, 609 W. Broadway, Fulton. $3/adults; free/under 12. 343-2253.

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21

Calendar

PETER PAN

Calendar

Montessori Open House. 2-4 p.m. Families can learn about the preschool and elementary school, for ages 3-12, which educates children based on the Montessori philosophy and methods.

Montessori School of Syracuse, 155 Waldorf Parkway, Syracuse. 449-9033.

Monday, Nov. 16 American Girl. 6 p.m. Children ages 8-12 can

explore the historical periods of the different American Girls through crafts, games and food.

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

Mexican Train Game Night. 6-8 p.m. Kids age 12 and up can play a fun variation of Dominoes.

Library staffers will teach beginners the rules.

DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt.

Free. Registration required: 446-3578.

Tuesday, Nov. 17 Yoga for Families. 10:30-11:15 a.m. Kids ages

3-6 and their parents can take part in a full-body experience that features puppets, stories, songs, yoga poses and breathing exercises. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free.

Registration required: 637-6374. www.fflib.org.

Wednesday, Nov. 18 Tween Homeschool Book Club. 1 p.m.

Young people can talk about Amber Lough’s The Fire Wish. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. Registration required: 457-0310. lpl.org.

Teen Geeks XD. 6-8 p.m. Students in grades 7-12 can play video games on a large screen and on a smaller display. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org.

Thursday, Nov. 19 Terrific Thursdays. 11 a.m. In a program for

homeschooling students and families, children in kindergarten and up can learn about the different jobs at zoos, with an educator from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd.

E., DeWitt. Free. Registration required: 446-3578.

Pizza and a Book Club. 6 p.m. Students in grades 5-8 can read a book and come to the library to talk about it and eat pizza. This month’s selection is Ann M. Martin’s Rain Reign. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse.

Free. Registration required: 492-1727.

first child; $20/additional child. Registration required: 695-2211. www.kidzclubfun.com.

Art Gone Wild Reception. 6-8 p.m. Art created by animals at the zoo—with trunks, paws, feet, hooves, skin, and more—will be auctioned off to support local zoo keepers. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. Admission: $5/person; free/age 6 and under.

435-8511.

Saturday, Nov. 28 Family Train Day. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Trains run on a large indoor model railroad and in loops on the floor; also a children’s play area. Presented by the Central New York Large-Scale Railway Society.

The Commons, Driver’s Village, 5885 E. Circle Drive, Cicero. Free. Ghdavis81@verizon.net.

chase crafts, food and other items at a benefit for Willow Field Elementary School, 3900 Route 31, Liverpool. Free admission. 453-1196.

Junior Café Scientifique. 9:30-11 a.m. The

Technology Alliance of Central New York presents a talk by Rebecca Loy about shipwrecks and other ocean floor obstacles, and updating U.S. coastal maps. The talk is geared toward middle school students, who must be accompanied by an adult.

Attendees can visit the exhibits after the presentation. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Free.

Register by email: jrcafe@tacny.org.

Aladdin. 12:30 p.m. See Oct. 31 listing.

Sunday, Nov. 22 Sunday Funday. 2-4 p.m. Children age 4 and up

and adults can take part in hands-on art activities, games and more. Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. Free. 474-6064. www. everson.org/education/programs.

Monday, Nov. 23 Christmas Snap N Play. 5-8 p.m. Open play

hours and a chance to get a photo taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kids can play while waiting their turn. For children up to age 8. KidzClub Indoor Play and Party Place, 219 Route 57, Phoenix. $12/ child. 695-2211. www.kidzclubfun.com.

Make a Candle Holder. 6-7 p.m. Teens can

create a Thanksgiving candle holder using a 3D printing pen. Paine Branch Library, 113 Nichols Ave., Syracuse. Free. 435-5442.

Tuesday, Nov. 24 See Ongoing Events

Wednesday, Nov. 25 Teen 8 Bit Perler Design. 6-8 p.m. Teens

First Day Erie Canal Museum Gingerbread Gallery. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; through Jan. 3. (Closed

Thursday, Nov. 26

Teddy Bear PJ Party. 5-8 p.m. Kids from toilet trained to age 8 can be dropped off for a night of stuffed-animal fun with trained staff. Includes kid’s meal, and stuffing a new friend. KidzClub Indoor Play and Party Place, 219 Route 57, Phoenix. $30/ 22

Family Times November 2015

6:30 p.m. The annual lighting of the 45-foot-plus Norway spruce takes place after an evening of music and an appearance by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Downtown Syracuse. Free. 473-4330. www. syracuse.ny.us.

Willow Field Craft Fair. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Pur-

Friday, Nov. 20

Toddler Dance Party. 10:30 a.m. Kids ages 18 months to 5 years can dance, play musical instruments and enjoy bubbles. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 446-3578.

Clinton Square Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Saturday, Nov. 21

can learn how to make retro 8 bit perler designs.

Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool.

Free. Registration required: 457-0310. lpl.org.

Nov. 26, Dec. 25 & Jan. 1.) Imaginative uses of ice cream cones, candy and, yes, gingerbread abound in dozens of creations with a variety of themes, including the Erie Canal and its boats. Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse. $5/adults; $4/ seniors; $2/age 12 & under. 471-0593.

acters, including the author of A Christmas Carol himself, fill the village of Skaneateles, on Genesee, Jordan and Fennell streets. Free. 685-0552.

THANKSGIVING See Ongoing Events

Friday, Nov. 27 IMAX Polar Express. Noon & 3 p.m.; through

Jan. 3. See the movie about a boy on the edge of not believing in Santa Claus until he takes a wild train ride to the North Pole. Additional screenings on Fridays and Saturdays. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. $10/adults; $8/ages 2-11 and seniors age 65 and up. 425-9068.

Opening Day Dickens’ Christmas in Skaneateles. Noon-4 p.m.; also Saturdays & Sundays through Dec. 20. More than 50 Victorian char-

Dickens’ Christmas in Skaneateles. Noon-4 p.m.; Saturdays & Sundays through Dec. 20. See Nov. 27 listing.

Aladdin. 12:30 p.m. See Oct. 31 listing.

Peter Pan. 2 p.m. (preview); through Jan. 3.

Musical adaptation of the show delivers an adventurous treat, with songs such as “I’m Flying” and “I Won’t Grow Up.” Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St., Syracuse. $30-39/adult; $35/age 40 & under; $20/age 12 & under. 443-3275. SyracuseStage.org.

MaKey MaKey Design Workshop. 2-4 p.m.

Kids ages 8-16 can work with the kit that allows them to turn everyday objects—like Play-Doh and bananas—into a computer keyboard. Materials are provided. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. Registration required: 446-3578.

Polar Express Pajama Party. 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Children, who are invited to wear pajamas, can take part in activities, including making crystals, whistles, and liquid nitrogen ice cream. There will also be a visit with Santa Claus. Then they can see The Polar Express in the six-story IMAX theater.

Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. $4/ person for party, in addition to movie tickets: $10/ adults; $8/ages 2-11 and seniors age 65 and up.

Reservations required: 425-9068, Ext. 2132.

Sunday, Nov. 29 Dickens’ Christmas in Skaneateles. Noon-4 p.m.; Saturdays & Sundays through Dec. 20. See Nov. 27 listing.

Peter Pan. 2 p.m. (preview); through Jan. 3. See Nov. 28 listing.

Monday, Nov. 30 See Ongoing Events

ONGOING EVENTS Lights on the Lake. 5-10 p.m., daily; Nov. 11Jan. 3. Drive through the annual light extravaganza featuring two miles of life-size displays. Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. $10/car, Monday-Thursday; $15/car, Friday-Sunday.

453-6712.

Erie Canal Museum Gingerbread Gallery.

Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Nov. 20-Jan. 3. (Closed Nov. 26, Dec. 25 & Jan. 1.) Imaginative uses of ice cream cones, candy and, yes, gingerbread abound in dozens of creations with a variety of themes.

Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse. $5/ adults; $4/seniors; $2/age 12 & under. 471-0593.

Babies Classes • Mixed-Age Classes Big Kid Classes

Register Online Now for our 10 week Winter Session!

SewSyracuse Seamstress

Green Lakes Music Together

Private and small group sewing lessons

446-1017 • greenlakesmusictogether.com Classes in Syracuse, Dewitt, Clay, Camillus, Fayetteville, Skaneateles & Auburn

www.sewsyracuse.com 315-427-1994

3 day per week preschool program ONLY $190 NOW ENROLLING pER YEAR! AGES 3-5

©2015 Kumon North America

YEARS

Math. Reading.

preschool

Confidence.

at

Kumon helps children succeed in the classroom and in life.

Thompson Road B.O.C.E.S.

For catching up to grade level, discovering new levels of challenge, or reaching virtually any other academic goal, the Kumon Math and Reading Programs are individualized to every student’s needs.

Now’s the time for Kumon.

Schedule a free placement test now at 4463 East Genesee St., Dewitt, NY 13214

315.928.3700 • kumon.com/dewitt

Box

success 2015-2016 school year

Schedule a tour today to reserve your child’s spot!

The

Crayon

Kumon Math & Reading Center of Dewitt

Inspiring your child’s

• • • • • •

Call 433-2234

Arts & Crafts Music Appreciation Creative Movement Activities Puppet Shows Computer Skills Cooking Activities Math & Science Skills Language Activities

Preschool and pre-k for 3- and 4-year olds

Clean, secured and licensed facility Open 7:00 am – 6:00 pm Flexible enrollment; full- and half-day options NYS approved curriculum Physical education, field trips & music programs Enrichment classes available: Ballet, tap, jazz, gymnastics, karate and sports • SMART boards in pre-k classrooms 5655 Thompson Road • DeWitt 315-445-2040 x120 • www.jccsyr.org

Family Times November 2015

23

Learn

FUN FILLED MUSIC AND MOVEMENT CLASSES FOR INFANTS THROUGH AGE 7

Party Planner

Birthdays!

Give the gift of a party to grow on!!

Have a party the kids & parents will love organized by our Lego® experts!

Private Party Packages are fully customizable!

Call: (315) 632-8592 email: mmoore@bricks4kidz.com Located in Shoppingtown Mall

www.bricks4kidz.com/cny

PareNts Night Out

Teddy Bear PJ Party Friday, November 20 5-8pm

Christmas Snap-N-Play “Pictures with Santa without the wait!”

Monday, November 23 - evening sunday, December 6 - Day

register Online today: www.kidzclubfun.com 219 Rt. 57, Phoenix • (315) 695-2211 • info@kidzclubfun.com 24

Family Times November 2015

St. Vincent De Paul

Nature discovery hike with different topics each weekend. Beaver Lake Nature Center, Route 370, Baldwinsville. Admission: $4/vehicle. 638-2519.

Day Care Center

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

UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR 4 YEAR OLDS FROMfor 9:00AM 11:30AM! Pre-K three- and four

Throughout the year, visitors can grab their walking shoes (or snowshoes) and explore 4.5 miles of well-groomed, flat trails. 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.

year oldsFOR available.

WE CARE CHILDREN 6 Weeks - 12 Years

MEALS FOR SERVED DAILY: WE CARE CHILDREN Breakfast, Lunch & Snack 6 Weeks - 12 Years

BEFORE, AFTER SCHOOL & SCHOOL HOLIDAY CARE NOW AVAI Monday - Friday 6:30am-5:30pm

MEALS SERVED DAILY Breakfast, Lunch & Snack

Baltimore Woods Nature Center. Hiking trails and parking are

1103 BURNET AVE. • SYRACUSE, NY • (315) 476-75

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.

Snowshoe rental: $5/day. 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. 673-1350.

BEFORE, AFTER SCHOOL & HOLIDAY CARE NOW AVAILABLE! Monday - Friday 6:30am - 5:30pm

Wegmans Playground. Boundless Playground for children (and parents) of all ages and abilities includes accessible swings, slides, bridge and more, including special section just for the tiniest tykes. Onondaga Lake Park, Route 370, Liverpool. Free. 451-PARK.

1103 BURNET AVE. • SYRACUSE, NY • (315) 476-7508

Tune in Wednesday, Nov. 25, at 9:15 a.m., for columnist Maggie Simone’s preview of what’s in the next edition of Family Times!

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 no-cost events aimed at parents, kids, or parents accompanied by kids. For consideration, listings are due by Nov. 6 for the December issue.

on the air with

Ted & Amy in the Morning on FamilyTimes_October2015.pdf 1 9/9/2015 2:09:51 PM

A Charlie Brown Christmas Reserve Your Tickets Today!

Join the Peanuts Gang to discover the true meaning of Christmas

Dec. 11, 12, & 13 Dec. 18, 19 & 20

C

M

www.OpenHandTheater.org

Y

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CNY DENTAL ARTS PLLC

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Daniela Chobor DDS

New Patients: Eligible for FREE Whitening for Life!

Accepting Most Major Insurances

Calendar

Weekend Walks With a Naturalist. Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m.

MASTER THE POWER OF PATTERNS!

(315) 478-5640

CNYDentalArts.com Family Times November 2015

25

NOW AVAILABLE

Making It Count:

F ROM A

TO Z The Life and Times of Art Zimmer An exciting new book commissioned by Shirley Sherburne Zimmer Edited by Lois Gridley Available from LOG CABIN BOOKS

A gift for All Ages Great for hot or cold drinks on the go!

www.logcabinbooks.com

Join us for an Admissions

Onondaga County’s newest Montessori School Now enrolling children ages 3-5 Call today to schedule a visit!

315.698.0390 SloaneEmori.com FB.com/SloaneEmoriMontessori

Open House

Art Zimmer has led an intriguing life for 77 years. A Art Zimmer led an intriguingfarm life boy hard-working and has entrepreneurial-minded fromfor Randallsville, York, he barely graduated 77 years. ANew hard-working and entrefrompreneurial-minded Hamilton High. Few people that he farm boy predicted from Ranwould own 13 major businesses, including the dallsville, New York, he barely graduSyracuse New Times. In his long career he encountered atedfrom from High.such Fewaspeople people all Hamilton over the world, His Royal predicted thatMinister he would own 13 major Highness the Prime of Kuwait, boxing champ businesses, the Syracuse New Lee George Foreman,including 1950s rock-n-roll star Jerry Lewis, Grammy-winning singer he Louencountered Rawls, Saddam Times.

In his long career Hussein’s UdayallHussein, Mariasuch Von as Trapp, peoplesonfrom over theandworld, whose life was immortalized in “The Sound of Music.”

His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Along the way, he formed strong opinions about of Kuwait, boxing champ George government and politicians in Syracuse and ForeNew York 1950s rock-n-roll starbook.

Jerry Lee State.man, It is all, and much more, in the

Lewis, Grammy-winning singer Lou now Hussein’s available from Rawls, Book Saddam son Uday Hussein, and Maria Von Trapp, whose www.logcabinbooks.com life was immortalized in “The Sound of Music.” Along the way, he formed strong opinions about government and politicians in Syracuse and New York State.

It is all, and much more, in the book.

Sunday, Nov. 22 2pm-4pm Currently enrolling children ages 3-5

Book now available from

www.logcabinbooks.com

7900 Davis RD. N • Clay, Ny • 315.698.0390

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Call or stop in today!

431-2787

10/20/15 9:12 AM

Pediatricians

26

Order your personalized gifts now and be ahead of the rush!

BACK PACK C LASSIFIED DIRE C T O R Y To advertise in the Back Pack Directory call 472-4669 and press 2.

December issue deadline: Nov. 12.

Activities

Events Soule Road Holiday Craft Fair Sat. 12/5, 9 am - 3 pm Soule Road Schools 8338 Soule Road, Liverpool 120 crafters, raffles, and food.

Come do some holiday shopping and support our school!

Contact: Liz Corrigan 451-7441 srecraft@yahoo.com

Body Recognition Class Movement. music. instruments. imagination.

We will explore the motions of our bodies with dance. For children 8 mos.-5 yrs old.

Birthday parties available. Call Tamar @ 446-2750 or www.toddlerstango.com

Child Care

Miscellaneous SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE: Proceeds benefit local animals in need, 10am-4pm, Friday & Saturday.

Route 20, 1/4 mile West of Morrisville, (formerly Buzzy’s Morrisville Diner), 6 miles East of Cazenovia.

For More information or to Volunteer, email Gail Smith at rsmith@twcny.rr.com

Music Instruction Jordan Elbridge Country Kids Childcare Center

What’s in our Backpack Giveaway?

Kidz Club

4

Admission Punch Card To enter:

Send all contact information to promotions@familytimes.biz with “Kidz Club” in the subject line. Entry deadline is noon on 11/18/15.

NOW ENROLLING 3 YEAR OLDS Pre-School Program: Ages 3-5yrs & Before & After School Program: UPK-6th Jordan United Methodist Church 63 Elbridge Street, Jordan ** 689-9686**

Dance Instructions

PIANO LESSONS Beginners- welcome & wanted!

Private lessons only. * 30 yrs + teaching * (315) 478-2272 *

Services TheDanceStudioCNY.com Camillus & Manlius - Classes for Age 1 & Up! Fall Schedule & Classes Coming Soon!

682-7877 or thedancestudiocny@gmail.com

Painting, Remodeling, Flooring, door & window install./plumbing & electrical bathroom, kitchen, basement Retired teacher, 35yrs exp.

Joe Ball 436-9008 (Onondaga County only)

Family Times November 2015

27

15TH ANNUAL CNY DIABETES FORUM

DIABETES: ACROSS THE LIFESPAN NOVEMBE R IS DIABETE S AWARENE SS MONTH.

Wednesday, Nov. 4

5 to 8 p.m.

Upstate University Hospital Community Campus 4900 Broad Road, Syracuse Seating for this free community event is limited. Parking is free in F lot only.

To register please call: 1-800-464-8668 or 464-8668 SPONSORS:

Event Parking F Lot Directions to the Community Campus can be found at: www.upstate.edu/directions