VOLUME 37, #4 JUNE 2020
FREE!
5 Great Ways
Dads are Different An Open Letter to High School Seniors
Give Your Kids A 1970s Summer
r me Sum E: D I S IN Pull Out & Save!
! o G Guide
2 WNY Family June 2020
June 2020 • Volume 37 • Issue 4
EDITOR & PUBLISHER Michele Miller GENERAL MANAGER Paul Kline SALES REPRESENTATIVES Jennifer Staebell Paul Kline GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Karen Wawszczyk Melanie Schroeder CONTRIBUTORS Barbara Blackburn • Donna Phillips Patrick Hempfing • Deborah Williams Kathy Lundquist • Myrna Beth Haskell Mike Daugherty
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Where It’s At! Happy Father’s Day Features: 6n
5 Great Ways Dads Are Different by Sarah Lyons
8n
Step-Dads Are A Vital Part of Many Families by Louise Hajjar Diamond
10 n
Date Nights That Don’t Require a Babysitter by Pam Moore
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How to Give Your Kids a 1970s Summer by Sarah Lyons
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17 n SUMMER GO! GUIDE A Special Pull-Out Section 33 n
The Family Pet
38 n
An Open Letter to High School Seniors by Chris Dier
Directories:
42 n Summer Camps 47 n Let’s Party
Regulars: 5 n Web Finds / What’s New In The Kid Biz 12 n Raising Digital Kids So, What Now? by Mike Daugherty 14 n Pick of the Literature by Dr. Donna Phillips 16 n Dear Teacher by Peggy Gisler & Marge Eberts 34 n Dad & Daughter Discussions The Three of Us by Patrick & J.L. Hempfing 35 n Parent Previews Sonic the Hedgehog by Keith Hawkes 36 n Family Travel Savannah, Georgia by Deborah Williams 40 n Special Needs Moving with Your Special Needs Child: 15 Ways to Ease the Transition by Krystyann Krywko, Ed.D. 44 n Single Parenting Parenting 2020: Part 2 by Diane Dierks, LMFT 46 n The Kid Friendly Kitchen Fresh Ice Cream by Kathy Lundquist 47 n The Kiddie Gourmet Alton’s Restaurant/Teton Kitchen by Barbara Blackburn
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Find this entire issue online at www.wnyfamilymagazine.com June 2020 WNY Family 3
4 WNY Family June 2020
web.finds Since you may be entertaining the kids at home all summer, we thought these D.I.Y. backyard games, made with many of the materials likely to be found around the house, could be fun for the entire family!
GLOW IN THE DARK BOWLING
Crystal, over at Growing A Jeweled Rose, came up with this idea the whole family can enjoy at night in the backyard. Collect six tall, empty plastic bottles. Buy glow sticks and a hamster ball (both can be found on Amazon). Place one or two activated glow sticks into each bottle (you can also fill the bottles with water if you want). Tape the desired amount of glow sticks to the inside of the hamster ball, and secure closed with tape. Set up your pins and enjoy glow in the dark bowling! https://www.growingajeweledrose.com/ 2014/06/glow-in-dark-bowling.html
BEAN BAG LADDER TOSS
Landee is a mom of three and she’s created an entire carnival of ideas on her site. But we think her bean bag Ladder toss is the simplest idea that you can use for some impromptu fun. Make or buy bean bags. Add some color by “jazzing up” your signage and let the kids have at it. All you’ll have to do is make sure they take turns one at a time to keep each other out of the line of fire and keep score to see who’s the winner. www.landeeseelandeedo.com/ summer-activity-idea-cousin-carnival/
POOL NOODLE SPRINKLER
You’ll find a video on the TipHero site to show you how to make a very simple pool noodle sprinkler using basic materials here: https://tiphero.com/diysprinkler. If you want to create a grander sprinkler that older kids will enjoy, check out https://ziggityzoom. com/ultimate-pool-noodle-sprinkler/ which shows you how to join several pool noodles with duct tape to provide a “jump through” experience!
D.I.Y TIC TAC TOE GAME
We found this simple idea on Tatertots & Jello, as a guest post by Taryn from Design, Dining and Diapers! Keep the kids busy by sending them to hunt for ten similarly sized, smooth surfaced rocks. You can follow Taryn’s directions for staining and painting the lines on your board and sealing both the board and rocks with a coat of polyurethane, or you can simply make a more temporary version of the game with a piece of heavy cardboard. Another option is to have the kids paint designs on the rocks before you add the Xs and Os – another way to keep them busy and creative! Check out the complete tutorial at: https://tatertotsandjello.com/diy-tic-tac-toe-game/
What’s New... IN THE KIDBIZ SOURCES OF FREE KEEP-THE-KIDS-BUSY INSPIRATION! Are you running out of ideas with which to keep the kids busy and creative? FREE online resources are available to provide families with play inspiration! The Genius of Play’s “Play Today” hub offers indoor and virtual play ideas, expert advice, and lots of games to help families make the most of their time together. To access this information, as well as at-home learning resources for social distancing and expert tips from leaders in education and child development, visit TheGeniusofPlay.org. Here are just a few of the free offerings found on the site: The Jim Henson Company launched its new Henson at Home (jimhensonsfamilyhub.com/henson-at-home) digital guide, posting new content on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to help keep kids moving, playing, and connecting. The free at-home activities also feature characters from shows such as Fraggle Rock and Dinosaur Train. Bananagrams has created a resource of free printable activities for kids, with new content added each week. Activities include word searches, coloring pages, and printable games based on its popular Bananagrams and Cobra Paw game (bananagrams.com/blog/freebananagrams-and-cobra-paw-activitysheets). Hooray Heroes (hoorayheroes.com/ stories/freebies) released 10 different personalized coloring books and printables. Everybody needs a superpower! IAmElemental is offering a free downloadable version of their Elements of Power workbook with over 75 pages of coloring, word games, and other creative activities at https://iamelemental.com. Dr. Seuss offers a section of free print-out coloring sheets, Dr. Seuss-inspired recipes, games and more at www. seussville.com/parents. And, under the site’s “Learning at Home Resources,” you’ll also find links to virtual museum tours, animal web cams from prominent zoos, art and music activities, online events, and ways to get the kids moving with active screen time like yoga and Kidz Bop. June 2020 WNY Family 5
— by Sarah Lyons
5 Great Ways Dads are Different
T
here is no denying that there are differences between how moms and dads parent their kids. Just because dads may do things differently than moms doesn’t mean their parenting style is less beneficial to kids. A different perspective on how to handle challenges, how to have fun, and how to show affection is great for kids. Here are some great ways dads are different.
Dads Play Differently When I watch my husband interact with our kids, I notice one major difference — how they play together. My husband will often hide and when the kids start looking for him, he will jump out and scare them. He fills water balloons for an hour to have a water fight that lasts five minutes. He spends time building LEGOs and helping the kids 6 WNY Family June 2020
learn how to follow the instructions. He wrestles with, laughs with, and goodnaturedly teases the kids. They love it. Most of these things I would rarely do, some I would avoid if possible. Dads have a way of bringing silliness and fun into our kids lives, usually in the form of a game. The kids love it, the dads love it, and it strengthens the bond between them.
Dads Are More Flexible This may not apply to all dads but many are a little more flexible than moms. When I was a little girl my mom had a weekly night out with her friends and my dad was in charge. This often meant fried egg and ketchup sandwiches and staying up late watching TV. I remember one day dad let us have ice cream for dinner. We walked to the ice
cream shop and my brother and I ordered bubble gum ice cream cones. By the time we had walked home, we were covered in a sticky mess. Instead of a bath dad sprayed us down with a hose, took us inside and changed us right into our pajamas and called it a night. We all laughed the whole time, including my dad, and I remember thinking how mom would never have allowed that. The next night we went back to our normal routine, but those little moments of silliness and flexibility taught me that sometimes it’s okay to set aside the rules and routine and have fun.
Dads Show Affection Differently Kids enjoy snuggling up with both mom and dad, but in addition to sitting together reading a book or watching a movie, dads have a way of showing
affection that is different from mom. They wrestle, tickle, and roughhouse. They lift kids up on their shoulders and carry them around and often spend time roughhousing and showing affection in a totally different way than women typically do. They carry kids to their beds and throw them onto a pile of pillows, which is usually rewarded with giggles and a shout of “Do it again!”. Dads have a knack for showing affection and having fun at the same time.
Dads Encourage Kids To Try New Things I love how my husband encourages the kids to try new things. It is usually easier for me to just order food for the kids when we are at a restaurant, but my husband lets them speak to the waitress themselves and order their own food. This teaches them independence and how to be comfortable speaking to other adults. If they are too shy to do so, he pushes them out of their comfort zone and tells them they can do it, gently encouraging them to try something new. There are so many situations like this. Dads often will push kids to try new things, learn to do things themselves, or tell them to follow the directions on their own.
No Such Thing As “Dad Guilt” Moms often find themselves developing feelings of “mom guilt” over what they may or may not be doing compared to their peers. While these feelings are unnecessary, women have a natural tendency to compare themselves to others around them. Dads generally don’t have these feelings when it comes to parenting. For example, the Joneses next door only feed their children organic food, their kids are top students, award winning athletes, and their appearance is always perfectly clean and coordinated. Dads don’t care. As long as everyone is fed, wearing weather appropriate clothing, and generally happy, dads consider it a win. There is no need for comparison because dads are caught up in what is going on around them rather than what is going on next door. Chances are they haven’t even noticed the Joneses. This attitude can help our kids with their confidence and help them understand that comparisons are unfair and unnecessary.
Awesome Books About Dads
There may be differences between how moms and dads parent their kids but neither is right or wrong. Each parent has something unique to teach their kids and different ways of showing love.
Sarah Lyons is a Kansas freelance writer who has been published in Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine KC Parent, Austin Family, Creative Child and over 140 other parenting publications.
June 2020 WNY Family 7
— by Louise Hajjar Diamond
Step-Dads Are A Vital Part of Many Families
G
etting married always presents adjustments for the wife, husband, and their extended families. Marrying into an already existing family structure introduces additional challenges and adjustment for everyone involved. Newlyweds may not enjoy the same privacy and bonding time that childless couples experience. Stepparents will have instant roles and new relationships with possibly confused or resentful children. With the proper blend of patience, communication, and support from your spouse, being a stepparent can be a rewarding and positive adventure. Here are some tips for easing the transition, and building and maintaining healthy relationships with your stepchildren.
Give It Time Depending on the situation and age, children may take a long time to accept a stepparent. Teens may take even longer than children under eight. Adolescents may already be struggling with all the adult relationships in their lives. They may also be experiencing things that have nothing to do with the new stepparent. Being too eager to force a relationship may backfire. Giving kids time to get used to you may prove beneficial over time. “The greatest chance to be a positive influence can only be achieved through patient bonding,” advises John Patrick Jacobson, a stepfather of two teenaged children. Your spouse plays a vital role in helping kids and stepparents build a positive relationship. Tad Benson, a stepdad of a six-year-old boy warns that sometimes, “Moms tend to try and force it and make everything all right, but it won’t pay off in the long run.” 8 WNY Family June 2020
Benson maintains, rather than rush the relationship, “It will take time and it needs to be built on mutual trust and acceptance.” He states, “Your goal initially is to survive.” Based on his experience, Benson adds, “As long as everyone is mutually respected and there’s love abounding, you should strive to create your own relationship and family dynamics.” Benson warns that, “Stepdads need to see themselves as stepdads, not biological dads.” Though this may be difficult to accept when you are eager to forge new relationships with step-kids, Benson feels this belief will help to build a better foundation. A new, special bond will most likely develop naturally over time.
Building Trust According to a recent poll completed by stepdads, conversation is the best way to connect with stepchildren. This is followed by activities of mutual interest such as computer games and sports. Stepparents may make progress building relationships with stepchildren by trying to be a loving relative, instead of a parent. Understand that the child may feel threatened and concerned about their place in the family. Children may worry about their relationship with your spouse, their parent. Benson comments, “The thing that worked best for me and our family was that I had an outlook that framed all of my interactions.” In his experience with his stepson, Benson says, “I look at him as an individual, a family member, a loved one that I am helping raise, to mentor, to love, and a friend and a parent when appropriate.” He suggests providing a stepchild with a “sanctuary of love” at home.
Discipline Whether your stepchildren are living with you or just are frequent visitors, chances are as a stepparent, you will need to take care of at least some of the discipline. Benson states, “The important thing to remember is that the stepparent still needs to set boundaries and be firm” while being there to reinforce your spouse and your stepchild’s other natural parent. “Rushing in to be the disciplinarian can undermine the initial trust,” notes Benson. “Over time and once trust is built, experts seem to suggest that stepparents can take a more central role in discipline,” Benson comments on the research he’s done. Jacobson suggests that stepparents “can increase the chance of success in their families if they tread lightly when it comes to discipline.” He warns not to force the kids to call you “Mom” or “Dad.” He continues, “Think of yourself as your spouse’s helpmate and the children’s mentor.” Jacobson says the golden rule of stepparenting is: You can have input, but behind the scenes is best, not in front of the children.
No Set Rules The rules of step-fatherhood are always arbitrary. As with all family structures, there is no set formula that works for all families or relationships. Stepdads may even have different relationships with each child in the family depending on the child’s needs. If the natural parent of your stepchildren is still involved, it may be best to take a less parental role. If the biological parent is deceased or otherwise not involved, stepparents may need and decide to take more active roles once a foundation of mutual trust is established. Taking on the full parental role must first be all right with the surviving natural parent and the kids in order to be successful. It may also be a long process that evolves over time and may be in the best interest of everyone involved.
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Jacobson notes, “A stepdad has to mold himself around the family he enters.” He maintains that if the biological dad remains the chief mentor and patriarchal decision-maker, then the stepdad has to take a backseat in this regard. Step-dads have become a valuable and vital part of many American families and can make crucial, life-improving male role models for both girls and boys. Louise Hajjar Diamond, M.S. has been a school counselor in South Florida since 1990, and is the mother of two college students. June 2020 WNY Family 9
research shows it can actually be good for your relationship.
— by Pam Moore
5) Play A Game
If you’re feeling energetic, break out a two-player game, like Scrabble, Jenga, Checkers, Chess, or Cribbage. If you want to raise the stakes, make the loser be the one to get up with the kids in the morning.
6) Read aloud to one another
Written before COVID-19 hit, this article fits perfectly into today’s “stay-at-home” version of family life.
Date Nights That Don’t Require a Babysitter
A
“
happy marriage makes a happy family,” says sex and relationships therapist Dr. Jenni Skyler. Skyler, a wife, and mom of two young children herself, says many many well-intentioned couples direct time and energy toward their children — at the expense of their marriage. These couples, she says, have it backward. “It may seem less logical to take care of your relationship first, but it actually does affect the family in a positive way.” Date night is an excellent time to connect with your partner, but getting out requires childcare. As we all know, good sitters are rare, not to mention expensive. The SAHDN (stay at home date night) offers quality time with your partner without the hassle or the expense of a sitter. After you put your kids to bed (earlier than usual) here are seven low-key at-home dates to try.
1) Eat Grown-up Food Together
Once your kids are asleep, you’re probably very hungry. You might be tempted to eat the crusts of their sandwiches while you wait for your own dinner. Do not do this. Instead, have a big glass of water (or wine) and wait to savor something you wouldn’t normally enjoy with your kids. My husband and I did this recently and we couldn’t get over the fact that we were able to have an uninterrupted conversation at our own table. Or don’t talk. Just enjoy your food together and take in the precious silence. 10 WNY Family June 2020
2) Go Outside (but not far)
Crack a window or grab the baby monitor and hit the backyard. Have a drink on your patio, spread out a blanket and stargaze, or sit by a bonfire or your fire pit. My husband and I made our own fountain last summer and had so much fun enjoying the tranquil sound over a glass of wine as the sun set after our kids were down. (I confess, we bought the supplies together while a sitter was watching our kids. Yes, we made a date out of a trip to the hardware store).
3) Create Something
It doesn’t have to be complicated or labor intensive. You could turn on some music and do a simple project like working on a puzzle or painting on canvases. I once got my software-developer, directions-loving, rule-following, lives-entirely-in-hisleft-brain husband to make a vision board with me. If I can do that, I’m pretty sure you can get your spouse, no matter how un-artistically inclined, to make a puzzle or a painting with you.
4) Netflix & Popcorn
Watch a movie or binge-watch your favorite show. Or if either of those are too much of a commitment, watch one show, some stand-up comedy, or a few Daily Show clips on YouTube. As a friend said, having fresh, real popcorn in the mix will keep you sitting close to one another. And if you think snuggling up with your honey and a screen doesn’t count as quality time,
There’s something special about listening to your partner narrating a story; which words they put emphasis on, the accents and inflections they include in different characters’ dialogue, and just listening to the sound of their voice. When I was enormously pregnant with our second child and unable to find a comfortable position in which to even hold my Kindle, my husband read me a chapter or two of The Rosie Project every night. He’s done a lot of sweet things for me over the years, but that ranks among the most romantic.
7) Just Talk
Put your phones away and just talk. Ask each other questions. Not questions like “Have you seen the checkbook?” or “Are you going to schedule the sewer cleanout or should I?” No, ask real, juicy questions. If you’re not sure where to start, Lifehack offers a fabulous list that’s sure to inspire you: https://www.lifehack.org/ articles/communication/list-100-questions-ask-your-partner-date-nights.html
8) Get Physical
Have sex. Or don’t. There are a million different ways to be intimate with your partner. Take a shower or a bath together, give each other back rubs, or just kiss. Cuddling is known to cause the release of oxytocin, a hormone that plays a huge role in pair bonding. Whether it happens weekly, monthly, or sporadically, date night is a time for parents to nurture their relationship. It’s a time to remember that we are still the same people we were before we were whisperyelling, “It’s your turn to tuck her back in!” and being careful to avoid the pain of stepping on a rogue LEGO. Date night is a time to have a conversation that’s not about whether the dishwasher is clean or dirty. So don’t worry about creating the perfect, novel date. Focus instead on making it low-key; because the date you actually go on is the date that helps you connect. This article was originally published on Parent Co. Pam Moore has written for The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, and many others.
A
s the whirlwind of the last only a vague idea where I was or who I few weeks of school fly was with and this was the norm. While by, I find myself ready many parents don’t feel quite as for the long, unscheduled days of safe giving their child free reign, summer. Sleeping in, spending we can learn from this attitude. our afternoons poolside, and Kids do not need us to plan playing hide and seek unand intervene in their daily til the fireflies come out. activities. Send them outRealistically, my idea of side, have them go knock carefree summer days on a neighbor’s door and come from my youth ask them to join them. and not from the sumPlay in the sprinkler, ride mers our own kids bikes, draw with chalk, typically experience. drink from the hose, Camps, playdates, and learn to do cartwheels, ball games fill up most jump rope, plant flowof our calendars while ers, or simply sit in the — by Sarah Lyons any free time is consun. Go outside and don’t sumed by parent-planned come home until dinner. educational activities and crafts seen on social media. While these things aren’t Parents today have so bad, it can be a little daunting much pressure to live up to unfor parents due to the pressure to realistic standards. We feel we plan every minute of their child’s must provide educational crafts, summer. The following article was written before COVID-19 hit. Author plan interesting and affordable I have declared this sum- Sarah Lyons writes about wanting her children to have a outings, provide well-balanced mer to be different. My kids will leisurely, unscheduled summer, without the whirlwind of extracurricular activities, all have the kind of summer I had activities and hours of screen time with which today’s kids while cooking healthy, organic as a child. One that is less sched- usually fill their days. How odd that what we once wished food, maintaining a clean house, for we now find confining when activity choices outside our a healthy marriage, and balance uled and more free play, less vidhomes have dwindled to almost nothing. We think Sarah’s eo games and more outside time, article is worth a read, followed by some time to think about our careers simultaneously. The and less parent-planned and how this enforced downtime — as frustrating as it might truth is, none of us are able to more child-created. If, like me, be, especially if it continues into summer — could actually keep up with it all. you are tired of feeling pressure become one of the best summers of your family’s life. The 1970’s parent, while to entertain and educate your balancing many of the career and child every waking moment, use these ferent but limits should be set on screen family obligations we have today, did tips to enjoy your summer, 1970’s style. time to allow kids to experience outdoor not put the type of pressure parents toplay, the joy of curling up with a good day place on themselves. This summer, book, and allowed time to use their own take a break from the pressures of social imaginations. 1970’s kids didn’t have Today parents often feel the need media, enjoy your kids, join them outapps, educational or not, to entertain to sign their kids up for as many camps, side, play a board game, have a movie them and fill their days. Instead, they clinics, and activities as possible to fill night, lounge at the pool, eat a little (or a used their imagination to create inventheir days. In the 70’s, kids did not spend lot of) junk food, and give yourself pertions with recycled trash, build forts their days at baseball camp, they played mission to let things go and accept you with whatever they could find, and cobaseball with the neighbor kids in the can’t realistically keep up with everyoperate with other kids to create games backyard. They didn’t attend theater and thing anyway. that could last for hours. dance camps but instead made up their The key to giving your kids, and own show to perform for parents and yourself, a 1970’s summer is to unplug, siblings. Give your kids the gift of free enjoy, and ease up on the pressures we time to play and try things on their own. “Go outside and come back when place on ourselves. Let’s just enjoy our If kids are away at camps all summer, it’s dinner time,” is what my parents kids and enjoy every unscheduled mothey won’t have time to create their own would say nearly every afternoon when ment because, before you know it, it will adventures. I was growing up. There were no schedbe time to head back to school. uled playdates, meet ups at the park, or specific activities planned. If I wanted to Sarah Lyons is a Kansas freelance writgo to the park, I would ride my bike or Today we love our electronics. It er who has been published in Pregnancy walk there. If I wanted a friend to come is unlikely that many of us can make it and Newborn Magazine KC Parent, along, I would swing by their house on more than a few hours without checking Austin Family, Creative Child and over the way and knock on the door to see if in with social media and responding to 140 other parenting publications. they wanted to join me. My parents had emails and texts. Our kids are no dif-
Let It Go
Ditch The Excess
Go Outside
Unplug
June 2020 WNY Family 11
RAISING DIGITAL KIDS
So,
T
— by Mike Daugherty
t a h W Now?
he stay at home order is slowly being lifted, but for most people, this does not signify a return to normal life. Large gatherings are still not allowed. Pools, youth sports, and various other summer activities are shutdown. Many individuals are still working from home and may continue to do so until the Fall. Quarantine life prompted many to take advantage of the extra time at home to complete a variety of home improvement projects. At this point, folks are finding out there is nothing left to clean, organize, or put together. Here are some tech-based activities for parents who have run out of things to do at home.
Backup Your Family Photos Simply saving your photos to your home computer or storing them on your smartphone is not the best idea. Relying on one device to store a lifetime of memories creates a single point of failure. You can lose years of your digital memories in mere minutes if your home computer gets infected or your smartphone stops working. Facebook is not a reliable option, either. The digital giant is fantastic for sharing pictures, but the quality of your photos is substantially reduced during the upload process. The original image is compressed to a web-friendly ver12 WNY Family June 2020
sion that cannot be resized, enhanced, or printed. The best solution is to use the power of cloud computing to organize and preserve your photos. Adobe Photoshop Elements provides an easy to use interface for arranging, tagging, and organizing those memories. Google Photos offers free, unlimited storage. Similar to Adobe, Google includes some machine learning technology to help you organize and even edit your photos. Google Photos does reduce the quality of your photos, but not enough to be noticeable to most. Alternatively, Dropbox provides two terabytes in their Pro plan for $129 per year. While it is not the free unlimited storage of Google, the two terabytes should be plenty of room for most families. Images and photos are not compressed, so they are kept in their original quality. Creating a plan to organize and save your digital memories is an excellent use of your free time.
Set Up A Password Manager A password manager is an application designed to help you create strong passwords and keep those passwords safe. The service can generate long, complex passwords to replace the existing, weaker passwords you may be using. The application encrypts your login details in your “vault” and automatically enters the
pertinent information for each site you visit. This feature helps prevent hackers or malicious software from stealing your login credential from your keystrokes. In addition to passwords, apps like this can hold credit card information, addresses, PINs, and other sensitive information that websites ask for when making a purchase. This as one of the most effective methods to secure your online presence. I recommend LastPass. It is userfriendly and includes a smartphone app, so your passwords sync to your smartphone as well. A yearly subscription costs $36 and includes premium features that are well worth the investment. For example, if you believe your account has been compromised, LastPass can automatically change your password to many major websites with the click of a button. The cost and time associated with subscribing to a password manager will leave you with a peace of mind that is well worth the effort.
Upgrade Your Wireless With the possibility of schools relying on virtual learning in the Fall, upgrading your wireless network should be at the top of your home improvements list. The wireless network in your home has increasingly become the backbone of many aspects of your daily life.
Smartphones, smart TVs, streaming devices, gaming systems, and in some cases, your doorbell, all require reliable WiFi to handle the demands of your family. Add video conference calls with teachers to that list now. Talk about overload! This is A LOT to ask of one wireless router, especially if the wireless router is built into your cable modem. It is time to look at two aspects of your home network: increasing your internet capacity and adding a mesh network to support your family’s needs. Start by going to SpeedTest.net. Click the Go button, and within a few moments, you will be provided with the speed of your internet connection. The download speed will be the focus of this test. In my opinion, the download speed should be at least 40Mbs to support the needs of four-person family. If your download speed is less than 40Mbs, contact your Internet service provider to investigate the cost of upgrading. Now, on to expanding your wireless coverage with a mesh network. There are quite a few good mesh options out there. Eero is my recommendation due to its ease of use, scalability, and features. Eero is incredibly easy to get set up. Wireless routers can be a bit complicated for the average consumer. An app on a smartphone or tablet will guide you through the setup. It took less than ten minutes to complete the process in my home. The Eero system uses a scalable model to ensure you get the coverage you need, regardless of the size of your home. Smaller homeowners can get by on a single Eero base station while larger homes can utilize additional beacon units to carry the wireless signal throughout. The most impressive is Eero’s feature set that you manage from an app on your smartphone. Parents can set up profiles for a group of devices to do things like pause Internet access during dinner or enable Internet content filtering to help keep children safe online. A pro subscription includes additional options such as threat detection and automatic ad blocking across all your devices. Eero will significantly increase the signal strength and features of your existing network.
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Expand Your Mind Still bored and looking for suggestions? Check out Google Arts and Culture page. While arts and culture are not focused on improving your home, they can help improve your mind. The site is packed with unique virtual tours, activities for adults, audio journeys, and a whole lot more. It is easy to get lost for a few hours in the stories, exhibits, and explorations. The site can be found at https://artsandculture.google.com/ Mike Daugherty is a husband, father of three young children, author, speaker, Google Innovator, and possible Starbucks addict. He is a certified educational technology leader who has served in a variety of roles through his eighteen-year career in public education. Currently, Mike is the Director of Technology for the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School district in Northeast Ohio. As an IT director he has developed creative, well thought out solutions that positively impact teaching and learning. June 2020 WNY Family 13
PICK OF THE LITERATURE — by Dr. Donna Phillips
W
ith the hope of warm weather and getting outdoors, we begin to move into a new way of living our summers in Western New York. Couple this with Father’s Day and we have the perfect opportunity to celebrate Dad in the great outdoors. Whether you are in the backyard or the backwoods, using books to set the stage for an adventure is always a great idea. Quiet time reading together with dad, talking about what might happen, and planning are ways to develop language, predicting skills, and problemsolving strategies. These precursors to the actual event itself will most certainly help create anticipation and excitement.
If you have ever walked a creek as a child, you can recall the sounds, smells, and sights of the plants, animals, and insects there. You probably saw things skittering, swimming, darting, and flying as you walked the banks or carefully jumped from rock to rock. The memories make me wish I had Creek Critters (Arbordale Publishing, Mt. Pleasant, 14 WNY Family June 2020
2020, $17.95), written by Jennifer Keats Curtis from the Stroud Water Research Center and illustrated by Phyllis Saroff. As Luca and his older sister begin their adventure exploring the wonders of their local freshwater creek, we begin to understand how the life there can indicate the health of the stream. Lifting leaves and rocks, scooping up water creatures, collecting samples for future study, and learning to look and step carefully are just some of the things they discover about exploring and respecting nature. Once their day of exploration and collecting is done and the samples are returned to their natural home, the book provides the reader with learning activities and materials for their own adventure. A suggested Field Notebook, recommended things to look for, and other links to resources will provide a thoughtful guide for the family adventure. When we venture out into the woods, we spend a great deal of time looking down, for good reasons. Most of the forest life is on the ground and walking can be tricky on uneven and slippery surfaces. But to change things up, why not explore the forest above you? Life in the tree tops and sky are equally fascinating. It might be interesting to go with the intention of focusing on a particular bird. Whoo-Ku Haiku (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 2020, $16.99), written by Maria Gianferrari and illus-
trated by Jonathan Voss, could provide a model for this, while entertaining and engaging us in poetry. This nonfiction book combines haiku and beautiful ink and watercolor illustrations to tell the story of the Great Horned Owl. Haiku is a sparse form of Japanese poetry that is perfect for capturing the essence of nature. The imagery and space for imagination make each stage of the owl’s life fascinating. As the family grows and faces the trials of life in the woods, we learn to respect nature, the seasons, and the cycle of life. This lovely book will open eyes, ears, and hearts to the wonders of a walk in the woods.
Nature Did It First: Engineering Through Biomimicry (Dawn Publications, Nevada City, 2020, $8.95), written by Karen Ansberry and illustrated by Jennifer DiRubbio, is a fascinating book that explores how humans have taken what works in nature and applied it to everyday life. A walk in the woods will never be the same when you begin to look for these clever things that nature has designed. This combination of narrative information and poetry are the perfect way to engage our desire for explanations and the imagery that poetry created. From radar to Velcro to slippery surfaces, nature has provided
prints, chews and scratches, and poop (traces) to tell the story of who was there and what they were doing. Photographs help us learn what we should be looking for. The educational supports, quizzes, and challenges at the end of the book will make your next walk in the woods, or in your yard, even more interesting. This book and others in this series are available in eBook read alouds in English and Spanish, and more resources are available at the publisher’s website www.ArbordalePublishing.com.
man with solutions to problems and this book explains them all. The glossary at the end of the book helps to promote vocabulary and problem-solving activities, and the resources and links will get us looking more closely to the details around us in the woods. Nothing is more mysterious than finding animal tracks and traces in snow, mud, dirt, and even on hard surfaces. They make you wonder who or what has been there and what were they doing. Night time seems to be active for so many animals and the hints they leave behind are just what an animal detective is looking for. In Animal Tracks and Traces (Arbordale Publishing, Mt. Pleasant, 2020, $17.95), written and photographed by Mary Holland, we learn how to find and interpret these clues. Just like a CIA investigator, we learn to look for foot
Books can provide the perfect staycation and right now that is what we are all doing… staying home and often indoors. A great way to take a tour of the world and learn some geography and information about life in the sea is Atlas of Ocean Adventures (Wide Eyed Editions, Minneapolis, 2019, $35.00). This oversized book takes us to parts of the world and places beautiful, mysterious, and even dangerous to learn about ocean life and the world in which it lives. Sea Dragons and Clown fish in Australia, the Albatross on the South Georgia Islands (do you know where that is?), Lantern Fish in Costa Rica, or the Seahorse from Madagascar… the Table of Contents is a world tour in itself! The maps, illustrations, diagrams, and details of this beautiful, detailed, engaging, and informative book will help it become a favorite and perhaps inspire more exploration, searching, and adventures during our social distancing and after travel is allowed.
With libraries and bookstores closed, the availability of these books and others like them, can be solved by the Internet, which can provide opportunities to purchase, explore, and expand our access to them. While we await the opening of our businesses and institutions, we can instead await the arrival of the delivery service to bring us new ideas, things to do, and even places to go. So for Father’s Day this year, plan an adventure close to home and get ready together with a good book! Dr. Donna Phillips is an associate professor in the College of Education at Niagara University. She lives on Grand Island, NY and is the mother of two adult children and the grandmother of one.
June 2020 WNY Family 15
DEAR TEACHER – by Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts
Helping all parents make their children’s educational experience as successful as possible
R
eaders: As you well know, your children’s education has radically changed in the last few months with e-learning becoming the new norm. And considerable uncertainty exists about when traditional learning will return. You are probably concerned about what you should be doing this summer to enhance their education. First of all, you need to cut yourselves a little slack! While your children have been deprived of the normal educational setting, their time with you has been very valuable to their educational growth. All the educational experts agree that spending quality family time leads to greater success in school. Because of lost school time, you may need to focus more than usual on educational activities this summer. However, you do not need to be your children’s teachers. Instead, the Internet largely can do the job for you. Not only does every State offer free online education for every grade, there is not a subject that is not supported by some website. Take the time to go online and investigate the many choices that exist. You are probably aware of the areas where your children may need help and what will appeal to them. Once you have
established this, set a daily time for educational work. But don’t go overboard with too much time devoted to schoolwork. An hour is fine for younger children and two for older ones. The computers used for academic work need to be used in a spot that can be viewed by adults. And younger children who are not as accustomed to online work will need a parent or caregiver to help them some of the time, as will some older children. While work on school skills may or may not be necessary for your children, one thing that you should do is to focus on helping them develop a keen sense of intellectual curiosity. It will serve them well in the future. How do you do this? Your opportunities are limitless. And your best friend in accomplishing this endeavor is again the Internet. Use search engines to find topics from the life cycle of frogs to the American Revolution to capture their interest. Here a few interesting websites that you might include in your search:
This Day in History
www.history.com/this-day-in-history
Fun and Free Educational Websites for Kids
www.verywellfamily.com/best-freeeducational-websites-for-kids-3129084
How has your child’s education changed?
Christ the King School ~ Founded in 1929 ~ 2 Lamarck Drive | Amherst, NY 14226
Our Enrollment Is OPEN! CALL US TODAY for a VIRTUAL TOUR and to speak to our principal, teachers and families.
716-839-0473
16 WNY Family June 2020
In times of uncertainty, you want your child to have the best education possible. Small class sizes, seamless learning and strong core values become even more important.
Christ the King School offers more than just a do-it-yourself classroom experience. We are a family. Our teachers care deeply about their students.
The strong faith based atmosphere can give your child the foundation and the tools they need to flourish in an uncertain environment.
33 Education Companies Offering Free Subscriptions to Parents While Schools Are Closed www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/ parenting/g31677468/educationcompanies-offering-subscriptions/
The Best Nature Webcams for Science Learning at a Distance www.weareteachers.com/ best-nature-webcams/
Here are some things you should consider aside from how much education your children received after their schools closed. Every summer children lose some of what they have learned during the school year. This is more true of math than any other subject. It is wise for parents to find out what math skills their children need to have acquired at their grade level. This information is available on State education websites as well as the Common Core website. Unfortunately, not all of these skills may have been taught this year, so it would be wise to have your children study them. We have found that videos on the Internet are especially helpful in learning new math concepts. You will also find the Kahn Academy (www. khanacademy.org) offers helpful math materials at all grade levels. There is no skill in the first three grades that is more important than learning how to read. And after that, being a good reader is the key to success in every subject. Go on our Dear Teacher website, and you can determine your children’s reading level. If they are reading below their grade level, check out how they can improve under Reading Skills. The techniques described here really work. And look at the section on Reading Activities to keep your good readers’ skills sharp. One activity that we particularly endorse is the family reading half hour in which everyone sits in the same room and reads. Helping your children work on their academic skills, as well as develop intellectual curiosity, includes finding some fun activities for them to do. On our website we have loads of science projects, art activities, social studies, and other activities which can be fun and educational at the same time. Games should be considered so everyone in the family can have fun together. Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or to the Dear Teacher website.
r me m u S
! o G Guide
Western New York Family Magazine
June 2020
Summer Go! Guide • June 2020 WNY Family 17
Dear Readers —
T
his year’s GO! Guide is definitely “skinny” compared to last summer’s edition due to the unusual circumstances caused by COVID-19. The safety of your children is the highest priority for the many businesses, small and large, whose advertising is what allows WNY Family to publish at all. The Empire State Road Trip article, which is the centerpiece of the guide, was planned well over 6 months ago. We hope you’ll enjoy reading it and save the section to help plan a welldeserved family trip once it’s safe to do so. Should our region open up more in the coming weeks, be sure to check out last year’s Summer Go! Guide (by going to https://bit.ly/3cB7VOz) for a great many more ideas on how you can get out of the house and spend a summer on the GO! in Western New York!
Attractions Aquarium of Niagara
Experience the Aquarium of Niagara! You’ll flip for the sea lion show, wonder at the penguins and smile with the seals! Make your visit extra special and meet a seal or penguin! Open year-round at 9:00 am. 701 Whirlpool St., Niagara Falls, NY 14301 • 716-285-3575 www.aquariumofniagara.org See ad on page 18
Backyard Comfort Mosquito Joe of the Greater Buffalo Region
Looking to take back your outdoor spaces from pests this summer? Mosquito Joe has got you covered! We offer a variety of residential and commercial pest control services, that will allow you and your family to enjoy the outdoors again! 3016 Niagara Falls Blvd., North Tonawanda, NY 14120 • 716-418-1818 www.buffalo.mosquitojoe.com See ad on page 24
Family Programs JCC Buffalo
With 2 convenient locations, the JCC features 2 indoor pools, an outdoor pool, and everything else needed for a fantastic summer! Join us for Day camp for children in Grades K - 11, a swim team, special holiday parties at the outdoor pool, a community garden, amazing Dual Zipline, climbing wall and so much more! 787 Delaware at Summer in Buffalo, NY 14209 • 716-886-3172 2640 North Forest Road, behind UB at Aububon in Amherst, NY 14068 • 716-688-4033 See ad on page 27 www.jccbuffalo.org
Fun Eats Pautler’s Drive-In
Established in 1958, Paultler’s lets you relive the old days with a fun atmosphere, retro décor and fresh food. Try a juicy hand-pressed certified Angus burger, Sahlen’s hot dog, premium soft-serve custard and Perry’s Ice Cream. Kids can’t resist the creamy ice cream and climbing on the playset too! 6343 Transit Rd., East Amherst, NY 14051 • 716-636-1690 www.pautlersdriveinofclarence.com
See ad on page 19
During these uncertain times, be sure to check out our July & August issues for great content and updates on what’s reopening for family fun! 18 WNY Family June 2020 • Summer Go! Guide
Hands-On Fun!
Look Forward to
NUF REMMUS
Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries
in 2021!
The 37 Buffalo & Erie County Public Libraries & the “Library on Wheels” bookmobile provide a variety of year-round, all ages virtual and in library programs, services and more than 3.2 million books including eBooks for everyone! Libraries & library cards are FREE! Visit us soon! 716-858-8900 www.Buffalolib.org See ad on page 28
S
adly, many of Western New York’s wonderful, familyfriendly summer festivals and events have been or will be cancelled this summer. We’re listing them under the months in which they usually occur, along with their websites, but without specific dates, so you can use this listing as a reference to check on those that may still have a chance to take place later this summer, or to use as an “earlybird” reference for 2021.
Indoor Recreation Gymnastics Unlimited
Flip into summer with us! Your child will be head over heels joining our classes, fun mini day camp, birthday parties or live Online classes! Discounted Registration fee for fall if paid by June 15th! 70 Weiss Ave, West Seneca, NY, 14224 • 716-677-0338 www.gymnastics-unlimited.net
June
See ad on page 19
Living History
Ransomville Community Faire niagarariverregion.com Ten Mile Garage Sale niagarariverregion.com
Genesee Country Village & Museum
Visit New York State’s Largest Living History Museum! Less than 1 hour from Buffalo, Genesee Country Village & Museum has fun for the whole family as costumed interpreters bring history to life at a living, working 19th-century village. Visit www.gcv.org. 1410 Flint Hill Road, Mumford, NY 14511 • 585-538-6822 www.gcv.org
Allentown Art Festival allentownartfestival.com Strawberry Festival merrittestatewinery.com
See ad on page 31
Olcott Beach Duck Race olcott-newfane.com
Restaurants
Fairy House Festival artpark.net Celtic Faire gcv.org
Salvatore’s Hospitality
Salvatore’s TO-GO ordering with curbside pickup is now available. Watch our website and Facebook page Salvatore’s Hospitality for weekly specials and promotions. Online catering is available for intimate gatherings. Our expansive dining room and patio will reopen following safety guidelines. 6461 Transit Road, Buffalo NY, 14043 • 716-635-9000 www.salvatores.net See ad on page 24
70 Weiss Ave. • Orchard Park/West Seneca (Near Duff’s & Leisure Rinks) • 677-0338
Safety Fair & Touch-A-Truck nypa.gov/niagarapowervista Continued on page 31
Drive in for a great time!
Summer 2020 REGISTER NOW
FALL 2020 ~ Early Bird Discount if you Register by June 15th Classes begin Sept. 8
NEW!!! On-line classes!!
LIKE US ON
You can’t get your child into the gym? We will bring the coach to you virtually! Call for details!
www.gymnastics-unlimited.net
✶ LUNCH ✶ ✶ DINNER ✶ ✶ ICE CREAM ✶
(716) 636-1690 6343 TRANSIT RD. EAST AMHERST, NY
www.pautlersdriveinofclarence.com
Summer Go! Guide • June 2020 WNY Family 19
One of the major advantages of living in the Buffalo area is the many wonderful places to visit and things to do as a family within only a few hours drive. Last fall, WNY Family was invited to take part in an “Empire State Road Trip,” which took us to three awesome destinations — Chautauqua Lake, Watkins Glen, and the Thousand Islands. You may have followed our editor, Michele Miller, as she toured these destinations and couldn’t resist posting some of the highlights on Facebook. Now, she’ll share ALL the details with you, so you can make plans for a summer or fall road trip of your own!
Empire State Road Trip
the hotels” he builds. Without a doubt, that is happening in Jamestown. Already popular in the summer season because of all that Chautauqua Lake offers, as well as the arts and cultural programming at the Chautauqua Institution, interest in the area grew with the opening of the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum in 1996, and has now sky-rocketed with an increasing number of visitors due to the National Comedy Center, which opened the first week of August in 2018, coinciding with Jamestown’s annual Lucille Ball Comedy Festival. The Center is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors annually and have a $23 million annual economic impact on the region. Born in Jamestown and raised in Celo ron, Lucy, as we’ll refer to her from here on, envisioned her hometown as a place that would become known for celebrating comedy in all its forms, and the hard work that goes into writing and performing it.
1
Y
Chautauqua
ou may already be familiar with the term “economic development.” That’s exactly what has been going on in Chautauqua County, more specifically, in Jamestown, NY and its neighboring village of Celoron, NY. 2018 was a banner year for the area, with two huge, new tourism magnets opening within a month of one another — the $50 million, 37,000-square-foot National Comedy Center and the world-class Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, a $38 million project, reportedly the largest hospitality investment in Chautauqua County history. We experienced three of Hart Hotels’ “Harbor Collection” award-winning hotels during our road trip and were surprised to learn that Hart Hotels is a privately-owned company based in Buffalo, with corporate offices on Dingens Street. They have 30 years experience in developing, operating, and managing hotels and restaurants, currently operating eleven hotels with The world-class Chautauqua Harbor Hotel stands on the lakefront and offers many amenities, both inside and outdoors. 20 WNY Family June 2020 • Summer Go! Guide
over 2,000 hotel rooms, and employing 900 people. Hart Hotels was founded by William P. Hart in 1985 and is privatelyowned by the second generation of the Hart Family. We were told that Hart Hotels President and CEO David Hart “believes in making the community grow along with
On March 12, 2019, the National Comedy Center was designated as the nation’s official cultural institution dedicated to the art of comedy by a bill passed by both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives and signed by the President. That’s a serious honor for a museum that finally opened its doors 29 years after Lucy’s death in 1989. The non-profit Center was finally made possible with funds raised from state, federal, and private philanthropic support.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 situation, be sure to check with individual destinations about their current status, hours, and fees.
of people in the lounge have in common and present choices based on that information. Be prepared to see your photo appear on the brick wall if your pick is chosen! After passing through the One Liner Hallway, which connects the two original buildings and whose glass walls are engraved with one-liners from many famous comedians while their voices are also heard, sit on the Prank Bench and hear sounds that will definitely make you laugh!
NATIONAL COMEDY CENTER 203 West 2nd St., Jamestown, NY www.nationalcomedycenter.org
Only 90 minutes from downtown Buffalo, the National Comedy Center is now a “must-see” destination. Its creators took an old train station and what used to be a power plant facility, combined the space, and turned it into one of the most technically advanced museums in the world. The Center was selected as one of the 100 World’s Greatest Places in 2019 by Time Magazine, named a 2019 USA Today Best New Attraction, listed as one of 100 Reasons To Love America by People Magazine, and, more succinctly, has been touted as “one of the best museum’s in the country” by Condé Nast Traveler. Upon entering the Center, you can’t help but notice the huge, colorful screen overhead, which plays video clips of comedians you are sure to recognize. Each visitor gets a wristband fitted with an RFID chip. Kiosk-type tablets in the entrance scan your wristband and then ask for your name, email address, and have you select your favorite comedians and the TV shows, movies, and cartoons that have made you laugh. The tablet also takes your picture, which will surface later as you interact with some of the 50 immersive and interactive experiences in the museum. When compiled, this information creates a “humor profile” unique to you, allowing the Center’s hightech infrastructure to personalize your trip through the museum, and after your visit, your profile, with all the accompanying images, will be emailed to you!
comedy face and step in front of a green screen to have your photo taken. You can purchase a print in a colorful souvenir folder on your way out — and the background that appears will take you by surprise! There’s so much to see and do here, plan to spend at least three hours or more enjoying the museum. Here are just some of our favorite “experiential” exhibits. The Hologram Theater features an 8-12 minute show on the hour. On our visit, comedian Jim Gaffigan… or at least a hologram of Jim Gaffigan… put on a performance that combined his personal experience trying to break into the business with bits from his comedy act. The Standup Lounge is set up like an intimate comedy club. “Sign in” on the tabletop with your wristband and choose the comedian whose act you’d like to see. The technology behind the wristband will calculate what the “humor profiles” of the group
Iconic Props recreated in fluorescent colors — a “rubber” chicken, a seltzer squirt bottle, an arrow through the head, chattering false teeth, a banana peel, and more — sit on shelves waiting for visitors to place them on a special table which will then light up with clips of those props being used in comedy through the years, right up to present day. Create A Cartoon teaches you how to create a character on a touch screen, step-by-step. When complete, it’s another item you can email to yourself. Ham It Up allows you to choose a silly headshot of one of your favorite comedians and do your best to mimic their expression while a camera captures the results. Your image will appear on the wall next to your comedian’s face, and you can then share it with your friends. In what’s known as the participatory wing of the museum, you can try Comedy Karaoke. Choose one of more than a dozen comedy routines from various comedians and see if you have what it takes to do stand-up in a karaoke room complete with stage, microphone, tables for the audience, and even a bar featuring local brews, in case you need to loosen up!
continued on page 22
There’s one more step before you actually enter the museum. Put on your best Summer Go! Guide • June 2020 WNY Family 21
EMPIRE STATE ROAD TRIP: CHAUTAUQUA continued... LUCILLE BALL DESI ARNAZ MUSEUM 22 West 3rd Street, Jamestown, NY www.lucy-desi.com
At the age of 17, Desirée Hunt met and married a local Jamestown, NY boy, Henry Durrell Ball and moved to Montana, where Henry was a lineman for a telephone company. On August 6, 1911, Lucille Ball was born in her grandparents’ apartment at 69 Stewart Street in Jamestown, delivered by her grandmother Flora Belle Hunt. Desirée and Lucy returned to Henry in Montana soon after the birth. Unfortunately, when Lucy was only four years old, her father succumbed to an illness when her mother was five months pregnant with Lucy’s brother Fred. Having few resources, Desirée and Lucy returned to Jamestown and the Hunt grandparents played a major role in Lucy’s life. Lucy is actually buried in the Hunt family plot in Jamestown’s Lake View Cemetery.
Choose one of more than a dozen comedy routines from various comedians and see if you have what it takes to do stand-up in the Comedy Karaoke cafe.
On the Green Screen you can act the part and put yourself into a classic comedy like Lucy & Ethel’s famous chocolate factory scene from an “I Love Lucy” episode, or a more contemporary skit from Saturday Night Live (again, it will be sent to you). Face off with a family member or friend in Laugh Battle, where you compete to be the last one to laugh at preprogrammed “funnies” that appear on your screen. Cameras use Microsoft artificial intelligence facial recognition technology to detect even the slightest glimmer of laughter! While interactive exhibits form the major portion of the museum, there are many classic artifacts from famous comedians on display — Seinfeld’s puffy shirt and Emmy award, Rodney Dangerfield’s suit, scripts, and handwritten notes, Carol Burnett’s and Phyllis Diller’s costumes, Dan Akroyd’s motorcycle which he personally rode to the museum and donated, Beldar, Prymat and Connie Conehead’s motorcycle helmets, and much more. As you work your way through the exhibits to the museum exit, with the use of your wristband you’ll receive a personalized “sense of humor analysis” onscreen and a “Joke To Go” card as a souvenir. Editor’s Note: We’d recommend the museum for school-age children and up, the older the better. “Sponge Bob Square Pants” was among the kiosk humor choices for the youngest visitors and they may get a kick out of a few of the more “hands-on” exhibits, like the Prank Bench, Ham It Up, Act The Part, or Create A Cartoon. 22 WNY Family June 2020 • Summer Go! Guide
In an autobiographical manuscript discovered by Lucy’s children after her death, Lucy describes her childhood in detail, including the fun she had at the Celoron Amusement Park, which was only a few steps away from where she once lived at what is now 59 Lucy Lane in Celoron, a house with a blue polka dot garage door! Today, the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel sits on the shore of Chautauqua Lake where the amusement park, torn down in 1962, once stood. Most people remember Lucy from the famous television show “I Love Lucy” in which she starred with her husband Desi Arnaz. It was startling to find out that “I Love Lucy” ran from 1951 to 1957 but has never left the air — it is still in re-runs today. A lesser known fact is that Lucy made more than 70 movies before “I Love Lucy” aired, appearing in a total of 82 movies in her long career, from 1933 to 1974. The Lucy-Desi Museum occupies a space that was a former Woolworth’s in downtown Jamestown, just around the corner from the National Comedy Center, and pays homage to this iconic comedienne and her husband of twenty years. It features original
EMPIRE STATE ROAD TRIP: CHAUTAUQUA continued... memorabilia, costumes, props, Emmy Awards, replica “I Love Lucy” studio sets, Lucy’s 1972 Mercedes-Benz, and more. The upper floor of the museum houses the Tropicana Room, a re-creation of Lucy’s TV husband Ricky Ricardo’s (Desi Arnaz) Manhattan night club where groups can hold special events. Storyboards in the museum explain that Desi Arnaz came from a prosperous Cuban family who lost everything during a Cuban revolution in 1934, fleeing with his family to safety in Miami when Desi was 17. While still a high school student, Desi was hired to play guitar at a Miami Beach hotel where he was discovered by the popular bandleader Xavier Cugat. Desi later vaulted to success when he popularized a new dance craze called the Conga Line. Soon Desi was starring on Broadway and in 1940, he met Lucy on a Hollywood soundstage when she was completing a movie there. After a whirlwind courtship, Lucy and Desi eloped in 1940 and remained married for 20 years. There is enough memorabilia in the museum — and gift shop — to thrill any Lucy fan. If you’re young enough to not have seen “I Love Lucy,” we recommend watching re-runs, which can be found on various streaming services or CBS online,
before paying a visit to the museum. From 1951-57, I Love Lucy had more total share of viewers than any other show on television. Watching I Love Lucy in the 1950s became a ritual for much of America. Lucy was a beloved actress and Hollywood icon whose legacy lives on and whose wish to see comedy elevated to celebrated stature has come true at both the Lucy-Desi Museum and the National Comedy Center.
PANAMA ROCKS
11 Rock Hill Road, Panama, NY www.panamarocks.com If you love the outdoors and enjoy seeking out the unusual formations that Mother Nature creates, Panama Rocks is a fantastic place to explore. Only a short 25-minute drive from Jamestown, it has been a privately-owned park since 1885, the same year Niagara Falls was officially designated the first State Park in the United States. Owned by the Weston Family since 1979, the park is solely funded by revenue from guest visits. Four hundred million years ago, this area was a shallow ocean known as the Appalachian basin, the northern end of which extends offshore into Lakes Erie and Ontario, as far as the United States–Canada border. Panama Rocks is reputed to be the
most extensive formation of glacier-cut, ocean-quartz conglomerate in the world, forming a ridge half a mile long. The one-mile loop trail takes you through a world of towering rocks, some over 50 feet tall, covered in moss and lichens, surrounded by an ancient forest where the tree roots often grow on and over the surface of the huge stones. You’ll pass through stone formations called Castle Rock, Fat Man’s Misery, Indian Fireplace, Tower of Babel, Counterfeiters Den, and Ice Cave Crevice, among others. When you pick up your tickets, you can get a copy of “The Lost Treasure of Panama Pete” which explains how to use clues hidden around the rocks to find Pete’s Treasure Box. The treasure hunt is based on actual historical records, which say that in the 1800s a bank carriage was robbed in Panama and the stolen gold was believed to be hidden in Panama Rocks. If you can walk up a flight of stairs, you can do the trail. Just be sure everyone wears sturdy footwear. (This is NOT the place for flip-flops!) Off the trail, there are caves and narrow passageways to explore. You will be given a map upon buying your tickets.
continued on page 24
More About The Chautauqua Harbor Hotel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Located on the shore of Chautauqua Lake, the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel (10 Dunham Ave., Celoron, NY, www.chautauquaharborhotel.com) is the newest and largest of the Harbor Hotel collection with 135 guestrooms. Situated on 9 acres — the former site of the Celoron Amusement Park, which thrived there from the 1890s through Lucille Ball’s childhood, finally closing in 1962 — its expansive, landscaped grounds on 1,100 feet of lakefront feature expansive patios with fire pits surrounded by colorful Adirondack chairs, a mini golf putting green, the circular, lakeside Carousel Bar, which pays tribute to the site’s history, and the man-made Sunset Island patio — jutting out into the lake and connected to the hotel property by a footbridge, serving as a beautiful setting for a wedding or other special occasion. Inside, the hotel offers generously sized guestrooms and suites, many with scenic lake views and balconies, in-room refrigerators, indoor/outdoor heated swimming pool and hot tub, a restaurant open
for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the option of waterfront dining, a state-of-theart fitness center, a ballroom for large functions, and a business center. Thoughtful touches include a complimentary morning coffee and tea bar on every floor, nightly turn-down service with
chocolates on your pillow and soft music playing upon your return, and a concierge service staffed by one of three lovely ladies referred to as “The Golden Girls.” The hotel is ADA approved and accessible. A transient boat dock is available for those arriving from the lake.
Summer Go! Guide • June 2020 WNY Family 23
EMPIRE STATE ROAD TRIP: CHAUTAUQUA continued... Editor’s Note: You can bring a baby along in a sling or carry a toddler in a back carrier, but this is definitely NOT a place for preschoolers walking on their own. Because there are many tree roots to step over, some deep crevices and steep drop-offs, we recommend children be at least 8 years old, although you are the best judge of your child’s abilities. (Go to the Panama Rocks website and view a video tour of the trail.) “Axcellent Adventures” is also offered at Panama Rocks. A covered pavilion houses the axe throwing which is available to adults and youth age 11 and up. Everyone must wear close-toed shoes. Their “Axpert” coaches will teach you how to throw an axe measuring 16-18 inches. They follow safety guidelines established by the National Axe Throwing Federation (www.nationalaxe.com). It should be noted that the Boy Scouts of America’s Guide to Safe Scouting identifies axe throwing as age-appropriate for Boy Scouts when proper safety rules are followed. Reservations, which can be made online, are recommended for axe throwing; walk-ins are based on availability. Check their website for available dates and cost, which is in addition to the cost of a trail ticket.
At Panama Rocks, you’ll find a world of towering rocks, some over 50 feet tall, covered in moss and lichens, surrounded by an ancient forest where the tree roots often grow on and over the surface of the huge stones.
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24 WNY Family June 2020 • Summer Go! Guide
2
Watkins Glen
O
ur home base for our visit to Watkins Glen, only 2 1/2 hours’ drive from Chautauqua, was the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel (16 N. Franklin St., Watkins Glen, www. watkinsglenharborhotel.com). Built in 2008, with 104 guestrooms, it was the prototype hotel for the Hart Hotels Harbor collection and is very similar in style, services, and amenities to the Chautauqua property. It sits at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, one of 11 Finger Lakes in Central New York. Nestled between the rolling hills of the lake, the hotel offers a spectacular view. You’ll find Captain Bill’s Lake Cruises in Watkins Glen (www.senecaharborstation.com) just a stone’s throw from the hotel, offering a variety of cruises including 1-hour sightseeing tours aboard the vintage 49-passenger mahogany vessel Stroller IV, and lunch, dinner, and entertainment cruises aboard the Seneca Legacy. The charming village of Watkins Glen, with plenty of shops and restaurants, is only a few steps from the hotel. The friendly staff at the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, located just down the block, can provide you with a wealth of information on activities and destinations that suit your family’s particular interests.
Sitting at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel (above) offers an everchanging, spectacular view from lakeside rooms (below).
WATKINS GLEN STATE PARK
picnic areas, playgrounds, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Tours are also scheduled in the summer.
Like the Finger Lakes, the dramatic gorge at Watkins Glen State Park was created by the movement of glaciers. When the last glacier receded from New York State about 10,000 years ago, it left a steep-sided trough for the water of Glen Creek to flow through with enough energy to create the park’s 19 waterfalls, the highest of which — Central Cascade — plunges more than 60 feet.
If you start your visit at the park’s Main Entrance on Franklin Street, there are 800 steps to the top of the Gorge. Experienced visitors, or those not physically able or willing to make the climb, park at the Upper Entrance and walk down the gorge instead of up. During the summer season ONLY, shuttles will take you back to your car ($5 per person).
1009 Franklin St., Watkins Glen https://parks.ny.gov/parks/142/
The gorge was first opened to tourism in 1863 as a privately-owned, luxury resort destination and was purchased by the State of New York in 1906 so that it would remain a natural, historic, and cultural resource for all to enjoy. In June of 2018, a $6.5 million renovation project to transform the main entrance to the park was completed, which includes a new visitors’ center, educational displays, gift shop, and restrooms. The park offers tent and trailer campsites,
Note that the Gorge Trail is only open from mid-May to early November, dawn to dusk. It’s important to wear proper footwear due to the wet and rocky nature of the trails. Water and bathrooms are only available at the park entrances, not on the Gorge Trail. Pets are allowed in the park, but not on the Gorge Trail. Due to the steep nature of the Gorge Trail and hundreds of stone stairs, it is NOT accessible to wheelchairs, strollers, or medical walkers.
continued on page 26 Summer Go! Guide • June 2020 WNY Family 25
EMPIRE STATE ROAD TRIP: WATKINS GLEN continued... WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
2790 County Rte. 16, Watkins Glen www.theglen.com As it exists today, Watkins Glen International, known as “The Glen,” boasts 2.45-mile road course, featuring 7 turns with a variety of banking in turns, and a 3.4-mile Grand Prix course, including 11 turns with banking ranging from 6 to 10 degrees. Road racing came to Watkins Glen in 1948 by way of Cameron Argetsinger, a law student at Cornell University who often stayed at his father’s summer home on Seneca Lake, with the family having ties to the area since the early 1800’s. Argetsinger, an early member of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), proposed an amateur road race to be called the “Watkins Glen Grand Prix” to the Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce. Amid an enthusiastic response to the idea, Argetsinger mapped out a 6.6-mile course using mostly paved roads with a short dirt and gravel stretch, and the SCCA sanction was obtained. After five years of the Watkins Glen Grand Prix passing through the heart of the village, the race was moved to a new location on a wooded hilltop southwest of town. The change came in response to sev-
eral accidents, one of which claimed the life of a seven-year-old boy and injured several others. By 1955, it became clear that it would not be possible to continue using closed public roads that doubled as farm roads. Several engineering professors from Cornell University developed a new 2.3-mile track, which was completed the night before the first practice! The track experienced many changes in the ensuing decades, with highs and lows, eventually declaring bankruptcy and closing in 1981. Fast forward to 1983 when Corning Enterprises, a subsidiary of Corning, Inc., partnered with International Speedway Corp. to purchase the track and rename it Watkins Glen International. The track was renovated, other improvements made, and NASCAR racing eventually returned. Watkins Glen International’s popularity within the NASCAR community has exploded in recent years, as evidenced by the facility being named “America’s Best NASCAR Track” on two occasions by readers of USA Today, and it hosts NASCAR’s only appearance in New York State. During NASCAR weekend at The Glen, the “Family Zone” plays host to the track’s interactive Cayuga Medical Center Kid’s Zone and Teen Zone. The Cayuga Medical Center Kid’s Zone and Teen
Colorful murals with racing themes adorn the sides of buildings along North Franklin Street, the village of Watkins Glen’s main thoroughfare.
26 WNY Family June 2020 • Summer Go! Guide
Zones are always offered at no charge and feature giant inflatables, age appropriate games, and prizes. You don’t have to wait for a race or other special event, like concerts or festivals, to get your thrills at The Glen. The track welcomes guests on a nearly daily basis from April through October with its “Drive The Glen” experience. Find out what it feels like to drive this road course while piloting your own personal vehicle behind a pace car on the 3.4 mile Grand Prix course. After your laps, at a top speed of 55mph, you’ll get to take your picture at the Start/Finish line. Drive the Glen sessions usually take place from April through October, but dates and session schedules are subject to change. Drivers must be 18 years or older to drive, with a valid driver’s license, and your vehicle must be currently registered and insured. Drivers will also need to sign a release waiver. Drive The Glen is available for purchase at The Shop (located in the village at 2 N. Franklin Street, Watkins Glen, NY 14891) or at the Main Entrance of Watkins Glen International (Gate 2). For more information about Drive the Glen, call 607-535-2338 or visit their website.
LAKEWOOD VINEYARDS 4024 State Rte. 14, Watkins Glen www.lakewoodvineyards.com
At 37.9 miles long, Seneca Lake is the largest of the 11 glacial Finger Lakes and the deepest lake within New York State, reaching depths of 600 feet. The lake creates the perfect environment for grape growing and is at the foundation of the wine industry in the Finger Lakes. There are approximately 150 wineries, distilleries, and breweries around Seneca Lake alone. On our trip, we visited Lakewood Vineyards, where the Stamp family boasts 7 decades and three-generations of grapegrowing experience in their 30-plus years of winemaking. They are open 361 days a year, with the grape harvest usually taking place from the first week in September through the end of October, although the exact timing is dependent on weather and the maturation of the grapes. Couples, families and smaller groups of 8 or fewer “tasters” can take a guided tour followed by wine tasting at 10am or 11am on Saturdays, and 1pm on Sundays, for $10 per person (adults 21+). Or just do a
EMPIRE STATE ROAD TRIP: WATKINS GLEN continued... tasting session for $4. After your tour or tasting session, $4 is refundable with a 2 bottle purchase. Kids can enjoy grape juice — served in a wine glass! — a play table with toys, and a visit with at least one of the dogs who come to work with a family member or employee daily. Picnic tables are available outside if you bring your lunch along. Owned and operated by the Stamp family since 1951, the vineyard’s first grapes were sold to the Welch’s Grape Juice Company in 1955. As the economic climate for small commercial grape producers became challenging, the Stamps took the next step and began producing and selling wine made from their grapes. As the wines produced at Lakewood Vineyards gained recognition, so did the acreage in grapes increase — from 45 in 1988 to 80 in production today. Head Winemaker Chris Stamp worked in the family vineyards growing up and in 1983 earned a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science from Cornell University. His brother Dave Stamp is the Vineyard Manager. Chris’ wife, Liz, wears many hats in sales and management. Liz led our group tour and was a fount of information, from how the grapes are grown to the intricate process that turns them into any one of the more than 20 different Lakewood wines. Sixty-seven stainless steel tanks of varying sizes, 218 barrels, bottling machines, and a warehouse stacked with boxes of the finished product are the tangible evidence that a lot of hard work goes into winemaking, but the devotion to family and their three-generation legacy is what makes Lakewood special, in addition to the many awards won by their wines.
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only thing missing from
The
at the Irving M. Shuman Campgrounds
is you!
children grades K-10
CORNING MUSEUM OF GLASS (www.cmog.org) is the perfect “travel day” stop on your way to Watkins Glen. Hot glass shows scheduled throughout the day are entertaining for the whole family. Download their app and play the GlassApp Scavenger Hunt. There is a large café on the premises serving a good variety of foods for lunch — a selection of several hot entrees, pizza, and sandwiches, plus salads, beverages, and desserts The museum is open 7 days a week, from 9am-8pm during the summer months. The best part — admission for kids 17 and under is FREE! REISINGER’S APPLE COUNTRY – Three miles west of Watkins Glen (2750 Apple Lane, Watkins Glen, www.reisingersapplecountry.com), you’ll find this family farm that’s open every day during harvest time, August to November. They feature 20 varieties of U-Pick apples from dwarf trees, as well as peaches, pears, plums, and berries in season — U-Pick red raspberries are available August-September, 9am-6pm. A large assortment of pumpkins also grows on site. Wagons are provided for hauling fruit — and kids! Visit their shop filled with bagged apples, fruits, local crafts, and their famous apple cider donuts. They also make their own maple syrup, jams, jellies, and apple butter. There is a giant Adirondackstyle chair perfect for picture taking, and an outdoor play area for toddlers and preschoolers. FARM SANCTUARY – Discover that each of the more than 500 rescued animals who call the 175-acre Farm Sanctuary (3100 Aikens Rd., Watkins Glen, www.farmsanctuary.org) home have an amazing story to share. The Sanctuary rescues, rehabilitates, and provides lifelong care for hundreds of animals who have been saved from stockyards, factory farms, and slaughterhouses. Take
continued on page 28
To learn more, call Director Michael Garcia: 204-2078.
campcenterland.org
Amherst
2640 North Forest Road behing the JCC Benderson Family Building Summer Go! Guide • June 2020 WNY Family 27
EMPIRE STATE ROAD TRIP: WATKINS GLEN continued... an hour-long tour of the sanctuary with one of their guides, meeting and interacting with the farm animals along the way; learn more about the animals in their Visitor Center; browse their gift shop; enjoy snacks available for purchase on their scenic deck; or, spend the night in one of their cabins or tiny houses! Open May through October. Guided tours are held Saturday and Sunday on the hour during May, September, and October; Wednesday through Sunday on the hour in June, July, and August. The first tour is at 11am and the last tour is at 3pm. LIVELY RUN DAIRY – About 30 minutes northeast of Watkins Glen, on your way up to the Thousand Islands, consider stopping at Lively Run Dairy (8978 County Road 142, Interlaken, NY; www.livelyrun.com) to take a tour and learn how they make their award-winning cheese, cuddle with their goats – and bottle feed baby goats (May-July) or milk a goat (July-October). The Dairy is open May 1-October 31 and tours are held every day except Tuesday and Thursday. Goat cuddling & Farm Tour at 1pm; Cheese Making Tour at 2pm. All tours include a complimentary cheese tasting. MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (MOST) – Syracuse is about the half-way point from Watkins Glen to our third destination the Thousand Islands, making a visit to MOST (Armory Square, 500 S. Franklin St., Syracuse, NY; www.most. org) a perfect way to break up the longest travel segment of the Empire State Road Trip. The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology is a hands-on science and technology museum for people of all ages and includes the Silverman Planetarium and the only domed IMAX® theater in New York State. Exhibits include DinoZone!, Amazon Adventure, Brain: The World Inside Your Head, Innovation Station, Climbing Wall, Lazer Maze, Technotown, Matter & Motion, Earth Science Discovery Cave, and more. MOST is open Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm; and Mondays and Tuesdays during local school Winter Recess, Midwinter Recess, Spring Break, and some holidays. Check their websites for schedule and admission prices.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 situation, be sure to check with individual destinations about their current status, hours, and fees.
Gofingerlakes.org is a guide to the best hikes, bikes, skis, paddles, and adventures in the Finger Lakes region. Check out its 650+ miles of trails covering 12 counties via an interactive map, with trail descriptions, photo galleries, and scenic videos. 28 WNY Family June 2020 • Summer Go! Guide
3
T
Thousand Islands
he first portion of the 3-hour drive from Watkins Glen to the Thousand Islands is quite scenic because you can travel up along the length of Seneca Lake almost until you meet the NYS Thruway which takes you east, connecting to Interstate 81 which heads north into the Thousand Islands region. Our destination was the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel (200 Riverside Dr., Clayton, NY; www.1000islandsharborhotel.com), which is idyllically set on the shores of the St. Lawrence River in an area awash in history and natural beauty. Built in 2014, this 105-guestroom luxury hotel occupies acreage with a breathtaking river view and offers many of the same amenities as its sister hotels. Only a little more than a 3 1/2 hour drive from downtown Buffalo, a visit to the Thousand Islands is like stepping into a different world — a region of scenic beauty which offers everything from fairytale castles to fantastic fishing, boating, hiking, swimming, and camping in the warmer months.
as the Cultural Center of the 1000 Islands, home to the Thousand Islands Art Center, the Thousand Islands Museum — home of the Muskie Hall of Fame — the Clayton Opera House, and the very popular Antique Boat Museum, which is where we spent a morning. The Antique Boat Museum (750 Mary St., Clayton; https://abm.org) displays the largest collection of antique boats in North America, ranging from early canoes to modern racing boats. Our group had the opportunity to cruise the St. Lawrence on a bright, sunny morning with the museum’s Executive Director Rebecca Hopfinger aboard the “Zipper,” a 1974 mahogany-hulled “commuter” yacht that was used in the early years of the 20th century to transport wealthy businessmen from their homes on the Hudson River or Long Island to their New York City offices.
Clayton is just up the river from the region’s premier attraction, Boldt Castle. A 20-minute drive by car brings you to the more “touristy” Alexandria Bay, where Uncle Sam Boat Tours and shuttles transport U.S. visitors to the Castle, whose history of a love story ending in inconsolable grief intrigues everyone who visits. George Boldt immigrated to the U.S. from Prussia in 1864 at the age of 13 and began as a kitchen worker in a small New York City hotel. At age 25 he was hired by his future father-in-law to manage the dining room of Philadelphia’s most exclusive gentlemen’s club. By 1881 he owned the Bellevue hotel in Philadelphia, later also buying a competing hotel nearby. When William Waldorf Astor opened New York City’s Waldorf Hotel in 1893, George Boldt became its proprietor. William’s cousin John Jacob Astor IV built the adjoining Astoria Hotel in 1897, and George Boldt is said to have mediated their feuds, eventually managing the merged and
continued on page 30
The first question most people ask is, “Are there really 1,000 islands?” Having visited before, we’ve received a variety of answers to that question; 1,077 is the most current total we heard on this trip, but that varies depending upon how many counties bordering Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River you want to include in your estimate. The differing count might also depend on your definition of an island. To be classified as an island, a land mass must be above water 365 days a year and support at least one tree! Clayton (www.1000islands-clayton. com/) is a quaint little village on a peninsula surrounded by the St. Lawrence River, minutes from the Canadian border. It is known Summer Go! Guide • June 2020 WNY Family 29
EMPIRE STATE ROAD TRIP: THOUSAND ISLANDS continued... soon-to-be world famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Thus, George Boldt became a selfmade millionaire as a hotelier. In 1900, Boldt set out to build a fullsize Rhineland castle in Alexandria Bay on Heart Island in the St. Lawrence River. The castle was meant to be a display of his love for his wife, Louise. Three hundred workers, including stonemasons, carpenters, and artists fashioned the six-story, 120 room castle, complete with Italian gardens, a drawbridge, an unusual-looking children’s playhouse which contained a bowling alley in the basement, and a powerhouse to provide electricity and running water, which itself looks like a miniature castle. Unfortunately, during the four years she waited for Boldt Castle to be completed, Louise Boldt, the mother of two children, became increasingly frail and suffered from a heart condition. She died from heart failure in January of 1904 at 41 years old. Upon her death, Boldt telegraphed the island and ordered all construction to stop. Broken-hearted, Boldt never returned to the island, leaving the unfinished structure behind to fall into ruin at the mercy of weather and vandals. The property remained vacant for over seventy years. In 1977, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority (TIBA) acquired Boldt Castle and the Boldt Yacht house, and has spent several million dollars restoring and renovating the structures. It is still an onging process today. Beautifully restored castle rooms, including original furniture that had been stored in New York City awaiting the cas-
tle’s completion, and luxurious gardens delight visitors from mid-May to midOctober. Check their website (www.boldtcastle.com) for current information. The Castle is only accessible by boat; purchase a shuttle ticket at the Uncle Sam Boat Tours kiosk on the dock in town. Once on the island, you can stay as long as you like, catching any Uncle Sam boat back to Alexandria Bay before closing time. Boldt Castle tickets can be purchased online or at their ticket office when you arrive on Heart Island. The Antique Boat Museum (ABM) is home to “La Duchesse,” the two-story, 106-foot-long houseboat George Boldt had built and lived on while he supervised the building of the Castle. It is a highlight of any visit to the ABM, although there is an extra fee to tour it. It’s well worth the price to hear the guide share the details of
its opulent history. Tours occur on the hour and visitors must sign up in advance at the museum admission desk. When Louise Boldt died, the houseboat fell into disuse and at one point it deteriorated so badly that a pipe broke, filling the boat’s first deck with water. The McNally family of Rand McNally map fame eventually purchased it and made necessary repairs. La Duchesse was donated to the ABM in 2005 and still requires constant upkeep to preserve it. During our visit, a workman was sanding the peeling paint off the ceiling of the open rear deck that served as a delightful lounge for many parties and is shaded from the sun by $30,000 worth of newly replaced red and white striped awnings. The ABM is only open through midOctober, so check their website for exact dates. They offer a variety of ticket packages, some of which include the La Duchesse tour and/or a 45-minute “Ride the River” cruise in a classic 30-foot mahogany runabout. Alexandria Bay has shops to browse through and quite a few restaurants. Our favorite on a previous visit was Cavallario’s Steak & Seafood (www.cavallarios.net). They are only open for dinner but the food and the service were excellent. The kids will enjoy Fins Eatery & Pub (www.finseateryandpub.com), a casual place to dine while enjoying the many aquariums built into the walls! You’ll find it on Route 12, which is the main road running between Alexandria Bay and Clayton. After a visit to the Antique Boat Museum, the Wood Boat Brewery (www. woodboatbreweryny.com/) is nearby and is a good place to stop for lunch or a snack.
30 WNY Family June 2020 • Summer Go! Guide
Look Forward to June cont.
ER FUN
Juneteenth Festival juneteenthofbuffalo.com Lewiston Garden Festival lewistongardenfest.com Strawberry Festival willvill.com Kids Free Week gcv.org Kenmore Days villageofkenmore.org Newfane Kids Fishing Derby olcott-newfane.com Free Fishing Days dec.ny.gov/outdoor/89821.html
July
Independence Days lancastervillage.org
r N U F REMMUS e m m u S Fun Galbani Italian Heritage Festival buffaloitalianfestival.com Wild Renn Fest hawkcreek.org Sanborn-Lewiston Farm Museum Festival sanbornhistory.org Wild America Nature Festival wildamericafest.com Old Olcott Days olcott-newfane.com Gerry Rodeo gerryrodeo.org Niagara County Fair cceniagaracounty.org
August
Attica Rodeo atticarodeo.com
in 2021!
Eden Corn Festival edencornfest.com Erie County Fair ecfair.org Lewiston Art Festival artcouncil.org Soldiers of the Revolution oldfortniagara.org Revolutionary War Living History Weekend hullfamilyhome.com Fiddlers’ Fair gcv.org New York State Fair nysfair.ny.gov Elmwood Festival of the Arts elmwoodartfest.org/ War of 1812 Encampment oldfortniagara.org
Ellicottville Rodeo ellicottvillerodeo.com French & Indian War Encampment oldfortniagara.org Free Family Saturdays artpark.net Sterling Renaissance Festival sterlingfestival.com Pirate Festival olcott-newfane.com Geneseo Air Show nationalwarplanemuseum.com Genesee County Fair gcfair.com Canal Fest canalfest.org Chautauqua County Fair chautauquacountyfair.org Old Home Days oldhomedays.org Burger Fest hamburgburgerfest.com Summer Go! Guide • June 2020 WNY Family 31
WHEN LIFE RETURNS TO NORMAL, ALL THESE FAMILY FAVORITES WILL BE WAITING TO Welcome You!
Co unty e i r E & o B uffal ical Gardens B o tan
Exp lo re & Mo re
The N iagara Po w er Vista
Canals ide
B uffalo Museum of Science
The B uffalo Zo o
And so will...
Serving our region’s young and growing families since 1984
Albright -K no x Northland 32 WNY Family June 2020 • Summer Go! Guide
Aquarium of N iagara
Canines, Cats and Coronavirus in Erie & Niagara Counties
I
nformation on the coronavirus (COVID-19) is everywhere, as is how to keep you and your family safe. But what about the other, furrier members of the family — your pets?
THE FAMILY PET
ing room is less full.
There have been a handful of human-to-animal transmissions world-wide in pets belonging to people with COVID-19. Currently, there are no reports of pets transmitting the virus to humans.
• Whenever possible, only one “pet parent” should accompany the pet in the exam room. Exam rooms are generally small areas and minimizing the number of people in the rooms decreases exposure risks to COVID-19. In some cases, the hospital staff may provide car service and take your animal inside while you wait in your vehicle, returning the pet to you after the exam and any medical attention required.
In these uncertain times, your veterinarian remains your “other” family doctor. The Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society wants to let clients know that most clinics in Erie and Niagara Counties are open and able to, at minimum, see sick pets.
• Social distancing, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, still applies. Please try to give the staff space so they can safely work on your pet. They understand that at certain times, with certain pets, this may not always be feasible.
In order to help veterinary hospitals remain open, they are requesting clients follow and take precautions seriously. These precautionary measures are intended to minimize risk to veterinary medical staff so that they can continue to stay open and keep all pets healthy.
• If you are sick, please stay home and have someone else bring your pet to the office. Also, let the veterinary staff know if you think you may be ill from COVID-19 so they can take further precautions with your pet.
• Please call first as many hospitals have altered normal office hours. • Ask if any new procedures are in place that you need to follow. Many clinics are requiring clients to call or text when they arrive and stay in their cars until the exam room is open or the wait-
tect them from a possible infection. This means: • Don’t let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household. • Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people. • Walk dogs on a leash maintaining at least 6 feet (2 meters) from other people and animals. • Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather. As a reminder, you should always wash your hands after play with, petting or handling your pet. Animals are like any other surface on which a virus can live temporarily. The Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society is comprised of more than 75 small animal hospitals and more than 200 practitioners in Erie and Niagara Counties. It exists to advance public awareness and understanding of proper pet health care, veterinary services and the veterinary profession.
• Have a plan so that if you are unable to care for your pet, someone else can and will. It’s the same thing you would do for your child or elderly parent. Until more is known about how this virus affects animals, treat pets as you would human family members to proJune 2020 WNY Family 33
Daughter
& d a D
Dcuns by Patrick and J.L. Hempfing
This month we say goodbye to Patrick Hempfing’s column, most recently co-written with his daughter. Patrick has decided to retire his column to concentrate his efforts on writing his second book. In our next issue, we plan to introduce a new column, “Journey Into Fatherhood,” written by a Western New Yorker who’s becoming a dad for the first time.
D
o n ’ t let the title throw you. When I say, “the three of us,” I’m not referring to my wife, daughter, and me. Jessie, her dog, and me? No, that’s not it either. Let me give you a clue. One of the three is not a living thing, though if Jessie is ever without it, you might guess otherwise. I bet you know now. That’s right – Jessie, me, and her phone.
The e Thre s of U
Though many of Jessie’s friends had cell phones in earlier grades, my wife, Mattie, and I didn’t see the need. It’s not that Jessie didn’t give Mattie and me her best sales pitch — on multiple occasions. Besides the additional expense of a phone, Mattie and I didn’t see the rush for Jessie to have this electronic extension of her hand. A few days into her sixth-grade school year, though, Jessie informed Mattie and me that she needed a phone for her schoolwork. I’ll let Jessie provide you with her reasons because, to be honest, I don’t remember them all. She did say she needed to take photos of the homework assignments written on the board. When I was in school, it worked fine to scribble my assignment or whatever information I needed from the blackboard onto a piece of notebook paper. Who knows, maybe my grades would have been better if only I could have taken pic34 WNY Family June 2020
tures instead? The focus of this column, though, is not the numerous ways that Jessie uses her phone, but how “we can’t leave home without it.”
Jessie, I’ll turn it over to you now. Are you glad Mom and I gave you a phone for 6th grade? Yes, I realize it was Mom’s hand-me-down, but based on my view, you seem to be happy with it.
Jessie, Age 13 Having a phone is very important. As you develop more freedoms, such as going places by yourself, or even getting separated from your parents in a store, it is important to be able to call to locate them. Also, the tween years are when you start figuring out who you are and making more friends. It is good to be able to text your friends, so you can talk to them outside of school. Your phone can also be very useful in school. At my school, you’re expected to be able to take a picture of the homework, because if you must write it in a planner, you will be late for your next class. We can also access the references for our classes, do quizzes, and check our grades, all from our phones. In addition, we can contact our teachers and classmates and see what assignments we’re missing. Overall, as you approach your teenage years, you will begin to have uses
for a phone… and there’s nothing phony about it. Okay, so Dad has adjusted to our three-cell-phone family. Jessie, I’m proud of you for using your phone responsibly and know you’ll continue to do so. But whether Jessie’s phone use is minimal or a bit too much, one thing is certain ’tween daughter and dad, I love my girl and my girl loves me. This daddy-daughter column began when Jessie was 9 as she and I shared our views on various topics during her tween years. She’s now a teenager, and it’s a good time to end our co-authored monthly columns. Thank you to Michele Miller, Western New York Family Magazine’s editor and publisher, who shared our stories and to all our readers. I hope we conveyed that when fathers (and mothers) have different perspectives from their tweens, love helps us reach understandings. We won’t always see eye-to-eye, but we can always listen and love one another no matter what. As Jessie, her smartphone, and I journey through her teenage years, I want to close with an important message: It’s always okay to call Dad, no matter what time it is or where you are. Dad is always here for you and will be glad you called. Call for help through rough situations, even when they are of your own making and it’s not your finest hour. Dad will love you unconditionally. Call when you have something wonderful to celebrate. It doesn’t matter how big or how small, Dad will be thrilled to share your joy. Call to say I love you or for no reason at all. I can’t think of a better way for Jessie to use her phone. Parents have an important job that never ends. Remember to cherish ments. Happy Father’s Day!
the
mo-
Patrick Hempfing had a 20-year professional career in banking, accounting, and auditing before he became a father at age 44. He is now a full-time husband, stayat-home dad, and writer. Follow Patrick at http://patrickhempfing.com. J. L. Hempfing, now 15, began writing with her dad in kindergarten. Her current hobbies include playing clarinet, saxophone, and piano. She also enjoys marching in her high school band. If you enjoyed this column, you’ll like Patrick’s first book, MoMENts: A Dad Holds On. The book compiles favorite stories and new material and is available for sale on Amazon.
— by Keith Hawkes
PARENT PREVIEWS –
Making Media Entertainment An Easier Choice For Families
Sonic the Hedgehog PG OVERALL RATING:
C-
VIOLENCE: (B-) An individual is shot by an arrow. Someone is punched in the face. Several people are hit with various objects in a bar fight. An explosion injures some characters. Drones shoot lasers and bullets. A character fires a tranquilizer gun. SEXUAL CONTENT: (A) None. LANGUAGE: (B+) There is one minor profanity and a half dozen terms of deity. ALCOHOL / DRUG USE: (B-) Adults are shown drinking alcohol in a bar.
PARAMOUNT PICTURES Released on DVD: May 19, 2020
For additional information on this film’s content, visit www.parentpreviews.com
E
ver since he was little, Sonic (Ben Schwartz) has been running from anyone who tries to catch him. Hiding out on Earth, the extraterrestrial hedgehog has been feeling lonely, and his sadness triggers an outburst in the form of a massive blue energy ball that wipes out the power in the small town of Green Hills. Not surprisingly, this draws the attention of the federal government, which sends the nefarious Doctor Ivo Robotnik (Jim Carrey) to investigate. Sonic teams up with the local sheriff, Tom Wachowski (James Marsden) to make a run for it, but along the way, realizes his friends might be more important than his own plans. For a story about a supersonic hedgehog, this movie drags like it’s stuck in super glue. Consumed by the titular rodent’s near constant (and highly aggravating) patter and narration, the movie subjects you to one hackneyed Hallmark moment after another until you’re lying on the couch and begging for death. What’s the life expectancy of a hedgehog, anyway? It can’t be much longer than this. Oddly, these clichés are a benefit in disguise. Since you’ve seen basically everything here in other movies, this one just evaporates from your mind as soon as it’s done, leaving behind an oily mental film of resentment and irritation which I suspect will clear up by morning. That’s actually the kindest thing I can say about Sonic the Hedgehog: you probably won’t ever think about it again. Despite its boredom-inducing superpowers, Sonic is otherwise innocuous. There are few content concerns — in fact, I think this has the fewest profanities of any movie I’ve seen this year, with six
Sonic feel so strongly about his home? What has happened in his past that makes him feel so attached to a place? What are Tom’s reasons for wanting to leave in the first place? WATCH AT HOME If you’re looking for stories about humans befriending aliens, there are lots to choose from. The classic film in the genre is, of course, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, with its winsome story of a lonely child who finds a lost alien. In The Iron Giant, a boy befriends a giant space alien with a voracious appetite for metal objects. A teenage girl gets to know an alien transformer hiding out in the form of a Volkswagen Beetle in Bumblebee.
terms of deity and one use of “hell.” Ironically, that’s how the movie will feel to any parent unfortunate enough to find themselves trapped with a youngster who’s dying to watch it. I would rather have all my teeth removed at the dentist’s than sit through this again. Without anesthetic. Although kids might enjoy watching this hyper-active bit of product placement, I really don’t think parents need to martyr themselves for an hour and a half to please youngsters who could be just as happy watching almost anything else. Honestly, suffering through Sonic isn’t one of the essential trials of parenting and you can give this one a pass without any guilt at all. Look on skipping this film as good selfcare. You’re welcome. TALK ABOUT THE MOVIE WITH YOUR FAMILY Sonic is unhappy with Tom for wanting to leave Green Hills: Why does
Unlikely friendships spring up between all sorts of creatures. In Big Hero 6, a young boy befriends a robot and the two set off to capture a dastardly villain. A girl shelters a yeti in Abominable and sets off on a journey across China to return him to his Himalayan home. LOVED THE MOVIE? TRY THESE BOOKS If you want to get lost in a video game world, there are lots of books to read and savor. Fantasy writer Terry Pratchett turns his hand to sci-fi with Only You Can Save Mankind. Protagonist Johnny is hooked on video games and then, one day, the aliens in the game surrender, pulling Johnny into the game as he tries to negotiate with them and find his way back home. For fun books about aliens, your youngster can read Claire Freedman and Ben Cort’s Aliens in Underpants series. Matthew McElligott also creates friendly extra-terrestrial visitors in Even Aliens Need Snacks. June 2020 WNY Family 35
FAMILY TRAVEL
Savannah — by Deborah Williams
At the time this column was being written, Georgia was the first state to begin the reopening process. You may be able to visit later this summer, or save this article for reference when planning a future visit to a destination that has much to offer families.
S
avannah, Georgia has been called the Belle of the South. Tybee Island, just 20 minutes from the city’s Historic District, is Savannah’s beach. It has been a popular vacation spot for more than a century, beckoning visitors with miles of expansive public beaches, a popular fishing pier, kayaking tours, and wildlife galore from dolphins to pelicans. The Tybee Island Light Station is Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse. Its history dates back to 1736. It has been guiding mariners’ safe entrance into the Savannah River for almost 285 years. It is one of America’s most intact light stations, having all of its historic support buildings on the site. The keeper’s house
36 WNY Family June 2020
is open for touring and visitors can climb to the top of the lighthouse for a great view. Across the street is the Tybee Island Museum housed in what was part of Fort Screven during the SpanishAmerican War in 1899. Fort Pulaski National Monument, operated by the National Park Service, is 10 minutes from Tybee Beach. It features fun and educational activities for the whole family including guided tours, a movie, a museum, hiking trails, and dogs are even welcome. Children’s activities include the Junior Ranger Program, the Junior Civil War Historian Program, and the Civil War Trading Card Program. Check them out in the Visitor’s Center.
known as the “father of the American Cavalry” when Congress selected him to command the newly formed cavalry unit in 1778. He was mortally wounded during the Battle for Savannah in 1779. The fort’s name honors his supreme sacrifice for liberty.
Casimir Pulaski became a national hero in Poland when he fought for Polish liberty against Russian and Prussian forces in 1771. A year later, Poland lost the fight and Pulaski was forced to flee his homeland. He met Benjamin Franklin in Paris in 1777 and was inspired to join America’s fight for freedom. Pulaski became
Our guide tells us that in spite of the 25 million bricks used during the 18-year construction of the fort and the 11-footthick walls, the Union army was victorious in the Civil War. Their soldiers used what were then considered experimental “rifled cannons” which proved to be more powerful, and compelled the Confederate garrison inside Fort Pulaski to surrender.
“I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it and to live or die for it,” Pulaski said.
Civil War Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman was spellbound by Savannah’s beauty —declaring the city a fitting Christmas present for President Abraham Lincoln and sparing it the destruction he wrought on much of the rest of Georgia. His famous telegram to Lincoln reads: “I beg to present to you as a Christmas gift, the City of Savannah and 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition and also about 2,000 bales of cotton.” A fun way to learn about the city’s fabled history is to take a Trolley Tour of the Historic District, one of the largest in the country. Pick up tickets and start your tour at the Visitors Center. The city began in 1733 when General James Edward Oglethorpe and 120 colonists arrived at Yamacraw Bluff on the Savannah River to establish the colony of Georgia, last of the English colonies in the New World. Oglethorpe designed the grid of broad thoroughfares and spacious public squares that continue to be the city’s hallmark and created the country’s first planned city.
gothic synagogue in North America has been named one of the 15 most beautiful synagogues in the world. It is the third oldest Jewish congregation in the U.S. During our tour several costumed historic characters popped up on the trolley to tell their stories. Characters could be a pirate, Forest Gump, Gen. Oglethorpe or in our case Robert Smalls, an escaped slave with an extraordinary story. In the midst of the Civil War, this slave had commandeered a heavily armed Confederate ship and delivered its 17 black passengers from slavery to freedom. He went on to become a U.S. Congressman. Local residents revere the memory of Juliette Gordon Low who founded the Girl Scouts of America on March 12, 1912. Our trolley guide pointed out the Juliette Gordon Low Federal Building —
the first federal building in the country named for a woman. Girl Scouts, past and present, should not miss a pilgrimage to her house at 10 E. Oglethorpe Ave. It is the city’s first Registered National Historic Landmark. It may be the only “house museum” in the nation created specifically for girls to enjoy. Low, who was known as Daisy, was born here in 1860 and lived in and visited the house throughout her life. It was here she made the historic phone call in 1912 to her cousin saying: “I’ve got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all of the world, and we’re going to start it tonight!” The roster of the very first girl scout troop complete with the
continued on page 39
“He banned lawyers and hard liquor,” our driver tells us. “But alas his ban was not permanent.” Just five months after Oglethorpe established the colony, the largest group of Jews arrived in Savannah and established Congregation Mickve Israel. They brought with them a Torah, a hand-written parchment scroll, now on display as the oldest Torah in North America. The only June 2020 WNY Family 37
An Open Letter to High School Seniors Our “Tweens & Teens” columnist Myrna Beth Haskell will return next month. Due to the circumstances inflicted upon us by COVID-19, we’ve chosen to print a special letter to high school seniors that has gone viral since Chris Dier, 2020 Louisiana Teacher of the Year and National Teacher of the Year Finalist, posted it on his blog (https://chrisdier.com) on March 16, 2020. Dier missed out on his own senior year of high school when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. We think every high school senior in America can benefit from what he has written.
Dear High School Senior,
O
n Friday afternoon a few Let’s be abundantly clear – you seniors came into my were robbed, and it’s unfair. If you’re classroom after the last upset, then you should embrace those bell rang. They were concerned about feelings. Commiserate with one another. prom and their senior trip. It broke my Some folks will downplay the situation teacher heart to listen. As because they won’t know you’re reading this, you what it feels like to have most likely have similar their senior year stripped at Help one concerns. the last moment. another and
This is supposed to I, for one, will not your family. be your year. The year for downplay it as it happened ~~~~ your senior prom, sporting to me. Hurricane Katrina events, cheer competitions, devastated my community You’re living senior trips, clubs, and the I was a high school through history. when rest of what senior year senior. I remember leavYour bold has to offer. You were suping my school on a Friday reaction to posed to be the captain of afternoon with my buddies that team, the officer of that this is going to only to never return to that club, or that student who I was supposed to make history. school. wanted to be with their be the captain of my soccer friends one last year before team, go to prom with my venturing into the unknown. This was longtime crush, and finish the year with THE year that your entire schooling was my lifelong friends. But it was all canbuilding up to. But it was robbed from celed. Instead, I stayed in a shelter and you because of this global pandemic. finished high school in a different state. 38 WNY Family June 2020
It was tough, and I had to find solace in places I never envisioned. It was hard, but we made it through. And I’m reliving that pain as I think of your disruption to your senior year. Most do not need to experience Katrina to know that this is tough on you. Those of us who work in schools do so because we care above all else. That caring does not stop once you leave those school walls. In situations like these, we worry more about you. There is a lot of uncertainty, but rest assured, districts across the nation are working in creative ways, from potentially abbreviated school years to organizing social events when this subsides, to make this situation the best they possibly can for you. Some educators are working endlessly to transfer to virtual learning and accompany those without the internet. Administrators are working to get those meals together for those who need them. We are all in crisis mode but know that we are all doing everything we can to help during this tumultuous time. You are not forgotten. We are thinking about you. We are here for you. We care. There’s nothing I, or anyone, can say to make up for that time you are losing in what is supposed to be one of the best years of your life. But I can offer some encouragement. Right now, you have the power to make the most out of this unfortunate situation. If a decade of teaching has taught me anything, it’s that people your age are resilient and innovative. Your generation can navigate multiple worlds and bounce between physical and digital spaces with ease. You are part of the most racially and ethnically diverse generation, and you embrace those differences in ways adults seem to struggle. You courageously put yourselves out there for the world to see and criticize. You push boundaries and challenge norms. You find ingenious ways to compensate for any gaps you may have accrued without the help of educators, whether it’s through Khan Academy or a sibling. It’s a small wonder why “postMillennials are on track to become the
most well-educated generation yet” according to Pew Research. I can also offer some advice. Help one another and your family. They need you. Do your grandparents or your elderly neighbors need groceries? Offer support. Some teachers may even need your help as many try to transition to online learning. We need you. Utilize your tech savvy ways to bring yourselves closer together. Practice “social distancing,” or physical distancing, but stay as social as ever. FaceTime. Text. Tweet. Snapchat. Make TikTok videos (I don’t know if that’s still a thing, so don’t laugh if I’m already out of date). Use these platforms to connect and uplift. Binge Netflix and Disney+. Make memes. Exercise. Read books – maybe even those boring ones your English teachers were stoked for you to read. Or just read manga. Read something! Reach out to those friends you know don’t have internet access. Call and check up on ‘em. Listen to podcasts. Make a podcast. Start a hobby. Journal for posterity. You’re living through history. Your bold reaction to this is going to make history. Lastly, I can offer some support. You may not know me, but I feel your pain; it stings. We as educators mourn with you. Again, you are not forgotten. We see your hard work. We value your unique perspectives. We hear your audacious voices. We cherish all of it, and we will continue to do so even from afar. I am sad for you; truly, I am. I feel deeply for you; truly, I do. It makes my heart hurt as I write. But if there is any group that can plow through this in creative ways, it is your group. There is no pandemic strong enough to silence you or dent the passion of your generation. Keep your head up and keep fighting. Our country needs you because you provide hope for our future. This year may not be what you envisioned, but I’m eager to see what you do with it. After all, it is still very much your year. Stay healthy,
Chris D ier,
a high school teacher
FAMILY TRAVEL continued... girls’ signatures is framed and hanging on the wall. Low encouraged girls to prepare not only for traditional homemaking but also for possible roles as professional women and for active citizenship outside the home. Savannah is still a busy port and the riverfront has also enjoyed a transformation in recent years. Streets are still paved with the stones that served as ballast on ships sailing to Savannah during the 18th century. Now the waterfront buildings are home to restaurants, boutiques, and candy shops specializing in pralines, a decadent super sweet pecan candy. Hop on board the Georgia Queen for a riverboat tour of the waterfront. We had a good view of a favorite waterfront statue called “The Waving Girl.” This is actually a statue of Florence Marcus who became a legend in ports of the world for greeting and waving to all the ships that entered and left the port for nearly 45 years. Legend has it that she was waiting for her fiancé who never returned from sea. The city is well known for its wealth of dining establishments, but the Pirates’ House has a history like none other, as well as great food. Since 1753, the restaurant and its characters have been welcoming young and old with food, drink, and good times. You may even see the ghost of a seafarer. Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic novel Treasure Island men-
tions this establishment when it was a tavern and a pirate hangout. Savannah is famous for its many inns and there are also a wide choice of hotels, motels, and resorts in the city and on Tybee Island. A cottage rental on Tybee Island is particularly good option for families. We stayed in Brooks Cottage, a short walk from the beach. It was a comfortable, spacious house with screened in front and back porches, a large, fully-equipped kitchen and three bedrooms as well as board games, TVs, and WIFI. Dogs are welcome. Travel Tip of the Month: At press time the beaches were open in Tybee Island and many attractions had also opened. Be sure to consult the visitor centers for the latest information. For Savannah go to visitsavannah.com or call 877-SAVANNAH or 912-644-6400. For Tybee Island go to VisitTybee.com or call 877-344-3361. For Mermaid Cottages on Tybee Island go to mermaidcottages.com or call 912-704-4618. Deborah Williams is a veteran travel writer whose work has been featured in national and international publications. She lives in Holland, NY and is the recipient of the Society of American Travel Writers’ Lowell Thomas Gold Travel Writing Award. June 2020 WNY Family 39
Empower
Ability Inspire Advocate
— by Krystyann Krywko, Ed.D.
Special Needs Potential Thri
Growth Strategies
Moving with Your Special Needs Child: 15 Ways to Ease the Transition
I
t is estimated that one out of five families move every year; which means that for many families the early weeks of summer are often filled with packing boxes, contacting new schools, and finding new dentists.
once the move is definite. “Children trust their parents to tell them important information that affects their lives; this trust can be damaged if your child finds out you are planning a move before you tell them.”
While transitioning to a new neighborhood or town can bring an assortment of stresses, this stress can be amplified when a family moves with a special needs child. Routines, therapies, and support networks can be disrupted and the entire family can feel on edge. Whether this is your first move or you are a seasoned veteran, the following tips will steer you and your family on the path to a smoother transition.
Keep them involved: As a parent, you know what your child can handle emotionally. While taking a child house hunting might work in some families, for others it makes sense to wait. “Our children are visual learners,” says Sharla Jordan, mother of six boys (four with special needs) “so once we had a contract to buy our new home I drew out a sketch of the floor plan and explained where their bedrooms would be and where their toys would go. This really helped reduce anxiety.”
BEFORE THE MOVE Fill them in: Children can easily sense tension so it’s important they remain connected with the significant changes that accompany a move. Lori Collins Burgan, author of Moving with Kids: 25 Ways to Ease Your Family’s Transition to a New Home, emphasizes how important it is to tell your child 40 WNY Family June 2020
Get up to date: Paperwork is easily overlooked during a move so now is a good time to begin collecting your child’s medical and school records. This can include information such as: current doctors and therapists; medications; IEPs; explanation of diagnosis and therapies your child currently receives.
Ask for referrals: Ask your child’s current doctors and therapists if they are aware of anyone that practices in your new location, or what professional organization you can turn to in order to find a qualified therapist. Reach out to potential schools: Once you have a rough idea of what neighborhood you will be moving to, contact local schools and tell them about your child. Ask about what services the school is familiar with and also check to see if there are some local special needs families that you are able to connect with.
DURING THE MOVE Be prepared: Even before moving day arrived, Ms. Jordan knew one of her sons would have a difficult time. “We arranged for a friend and neighbor to watch him and the youngest two. We told him he was going to be the babysitter’s helper so he felt like he was involved with the move.” Recognize feelings of loss: Help your child recognize the many emotions they might have on moving day. While she might be excited to move to a bigger house so she can have her own bedroom, she might also be sad she will be so far away from her best friend. Give you child choices: These don’t have to be big choices, and can be as simple as giving your child a backpack and having him fill it with toys or books that he wants to have near him for the car or airplane ride to your new residence. Make sure their room is set up first: Seeing their familiar possessions in a new space will help your child feel
less anxious about all the changes. Set aside her possessions and furniture and try to have them put in the moving truck last, that way they will be the first to be taken into the new house. Take care of yourself: Make sure you don’t forget to look after yourself on moving day. Eat nutritious foods and drink plenty of water. Practice healthy coping skills and recognize your own emotions as you adjust to the changes. Model these behaviors first and then pass them onto your child.
AFTER THE MOVE Find some support: Moves are stressful on everyone and it’s important you take time to find support for yourself as well. “Organizations, such as The Arc (www.thearc.org) and Best Buddies (www.bestbuddies.org) were a great help to my family when we moved,” says Troy McClain, brother and guardian of a younger sister, who is developmentally delayed and profoundly deaf. “They understood both the needs of our family and the transitional bumps that occurred in my sister’s behavior and attitude during the move.” Connect with other families: Reach out to families that have a child with a similar diagnosis, or families that live close by and have children that are a similar age. Having a friend to play with or to start school with can be a big help. Visit the school: “My son expresses his anxiety through inappropriate physical interactions with his friends,” says Eileen Wolter, mother of an autistic child, “so taking him to visit the school several times before the start of the year really
Make a personal moving story! Social stories are often used to help children on the autism spectrum prepare for new experiences, but Deborah Michael, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of North Shore Pediatric Therapy in Chicago, says they are a great tool to help any child deal with anxiety. Follow the guidelines below to help your child better understand the moving process. •
Draw/take pictures/use magazine cut-outs of what will happen prior to the move (packing boxes, etc); what will happen the day of the move (movers will come; drive/saying good-bye to friends/fly to new house; furniture/boxes will arrive later); what the new house/town will look like. You might want to make three separate booklets.
•
Provide a separate page for each step of the move. Write a few sentences below each picture that will help explain the story to your child.
•
Keep the story positive; focus on your child’s strengths.
•
While it’s okay to point out potential problems that might arise during the move, it’s also important to provide solutions. For example, “It will be sad to say good-bye to your friends, but you will meet new friends at your school.”
•
Introduce the booklet to your child as a bedtime story and keep it on their bookshelf, so it becomes part of their regular routine.
•
The earlier you can introduce the story before the move the better. Ms. Richardson, of Thriving with Autism, suggests introducing these stories at least 2-4 weeks in advance so the move will become a normal part of your child’s thinking.
helped. He visited his classroom and met his teacher ahead of time so that first day wouldn’t be so nerve-wracking for him.” Go on a tour: of the house, of the town, of the parks, all the places that you need to visit to help your child adjust to their new surroundings. Keep the continuity: Schedules are important to many special needs children and can become easily derailed after a move; look for similar activities in your new location. “When we were making our move,” says Mr. McClain, “we knew that
bowling on Monday was an important part of DoraLynn’s schedule so we looked for a place where we could sign her up to bowl on Monday in our new town, which helped with the structure she needs.” Krystyann Krywko, Ed.D. is a writer and education researcher who specializes in hearing loss and the impact it has on children and families. She writes from a parental, as well as a personal, perspective; she and her young son were diagnosed with hearing loss one year apart.
June 2020 WNY Family 41
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n Part One, last month, I discussed the difficulties of raising children in our highly complicated and technological world, and we compared them to the problems parents faced over 100 years ago. Not surprisingly, it was easy to see the stark contrast. Even though we must take a more thoughtful and proactive parenting approach going into the 2020s, it does not necessarily have to be a more difficult one. Like I said before, it’s only a matter of changing the delivery — which for many of us who were raised on the “old school” approach — this could be a challenge. A client of mine recently took a strong stand on electronic usage in her household because she and her new husband felt it was interfering with their family time together. Her kids, age 13 and 11, disliked her suggestion to have three “dark” nights per week. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evening, the television and electronics go off after 5:00pm in their home. Although the kids grumbled at first, she says it has turned out to be the savior of their family time. It’s amazing what you can think of to do when electronics just aren’t an option. She reports they’ve done everything from having chess tournaments to just all reading in the same room together. It has become a time that even the kids are starting to appreciate. Why did that work for her? Probably because as a single parent, she began interjecting creative alternatives into their lives at a very young age, which made it easy to transfer this style to her new two-parent household. They were doing chores for a chance at the toy grab bag when they were young elementary age. They began having regular family meetings (about every three months) when they were a few years older. They’ve always given the kids a chance to make choices and had a clear-cut work/reward system in place. This allowed her to teach her kids this world is not black and white. It takes creativity, flexibility and a strong sense of self-worth to survive all the bombardments of our daily lives. Survival skills today — albeit for a more abstract world — are not unlike those taught at the turn of the 20th century.
44 WNY Family June 2020
What can all parents do to give children the best chance for success in the coming decade? 1) Sit down frequently with your kids, one-on-one, and find out what’s going on in their lives. Be interested, not suspicious! 2) Regardless of what the world teaches, or your kids say, you are still the parent. You are entrusted with the duty to raise responsible, law-abiding citizens. That means you have the final say in what they do on a daily basis. This doesn’t mean you control them — this means you guide them. If you don’t, any number of individuals will. 3) Start early (when they’re infants) to do the guiding. Anyone who waits until her child is 13 to start the process will be hard-pressed to get beyond the snickers and the smart remarks. 4) Don’t automatically assume that having a live-in partner will make you a better parent. There are thousands of two-parent families who are doing a horrible job because they can’t agree on values or parenting styles. Sometimes parenting alone is a blessing compared to what it would have been with the child’s other parent by your side. Think long and hard before you take on a co-parent. Your children are like a million-dollar business investment. You would never choose just anyone to help you manage a business you’ve built so carefully yourself. Remember, if it won’t improve your quality of life (emotionally, financially, mentally), it’s not worth entering into a marriage or long-term relationship. 5) The best gift you can give your children is encouragement. Be interested in their talents. Help them learn from their failures and celebrate with them in their successes. In a world full of negative influences, you may be the only bright spot in their lives. In the third and final part of this series, I will address specific parenting challenges that single parents are likely to face in the 2020s. Diane C. Dierks is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also author of The Co-Parent Toolbox (2014 Aha! Publishing) and Solo Parenting: Raising Strong & Happy Families (1997 Fairview Press). For more information visit her website is www.dianedierks.com.
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June 2020 WNY Family 45
Family
Ice Cream Sandwiches
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raving ice cream AND looking for an activity for the kids? Make your own! You don’t need an expensive ice cream machine or other specialty kitchen gadget. Leave it to grandma to come up with something that’s as modern as it is easy. She handed me a baggie filled with a few simple ingredients and said “shake it.” I was skeptical, but five minutes later, I had a perfect serving of soft serve ice cream. It also allows control of the quality, the ingredients, and the fat content. Fast, cheap, versatile — I could do this. Better yet, the kids can do it. For an added bonus, this can be classified as a science experiment, demonstrating how salt lowers the temperature of ice and speeds the freezing process. That part mystifies me, but we sure do enjoy the end result! A few tips:
Use full fat milk or cream (if not allergic to dairy) – the higher the fat, the creamier the final product. Skim or low fat works, it’s just not as creamy. For dairy free or low fat milk, you can add a teaspoon plain oil per cup to boost the fat for better results.
Use only good quality heavy duty freezer bags for both the inner and outer bag, otherwise the salt can leach through (not too tasty!). Make sure that both bags seal tightly – you don’t want a mess.
Knead the bags as you shake them to get even distribution of the ice and the liquid.
Wear gloves or place the baggie in a sweatshirt or towel while shaking – it gets very cold.
Make other flavors of ice cream (soy cream, rice cream) by adding in chocolate, strawberry, peppermint or caramel syrup, flavored extracts, or add-ins like chocolate chips, chopped fruit, cookies, or mini marshmallows.
Kosher or rock salt work best, but table salt will do.
46 WNY Family June 2020
Fresh Ice Cream
Free of: DAIRY, EGGS, SOY, WHEAT, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, GLUTEN Yield: 1 cup Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes
1 cup milk (soy milk, rice milk or other dairy-free alternatives) 2 Tablespoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 4-5 cups ice cubes 1/2 cup salt (Kosher or rock salt work best) 1 quart size sealable FREEZER bag 1 gallon size sealable bag Pour milk/milk alternative, sugar, and vanilla into quart-size baggie. Seal tightly. Place the ice and salt in the gallon-size baggie, then place the sealed smaller baggie inside the larger baggie and seal. Shake the bags until the mixture becomes hardened, about 3-5 minutes. Remove ice cream bag from ice bag, wiping off salt from outside of bag. Serve immediately or can be placed in freezer for several hours if harder ice cream is desired.
Free of: DAIRY, EGGS, SOY, WHEAT, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, GLUTEN Yield: 1 serving Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes 2 large, round cookies or waffles (allergy safe, read ingredients) 1 scoop slightly softened fresh ice cream (allergy safe) Place the flat side of one cookie up, top with a scoop of ice cream, place the flat side of the other cookie on top. Push down to flatten slightly. Freeze for an hour or until firm. If you have any questions about our column, e-mail Kathy at allergy@ roadrunner.com. For further information about food allergies, contact FARE www.foodallergy.org, or call 1-800-9294040. Kathy Lundquist is a Western New York parent whose son, now an adult, was born with severe food allergies. Over the last two decades, she has worked tirelessly, in a variety of capacities, to increase community awareness about food allergies.
THE KIDDIE GOURMET — by Barbara Blackburn
Alton’s Restaurant
Teton Kitchen
2250 Walden Ave. at Union, Cheektowaga
415 Dick Road, Depew
716-681-7055
716-393-3720
~ SPOONS ~
~ SPOONS ~
altonsrestaurant.com
FOOD 4/5 SERVICE 5/5 FAMILY FRIENDLY 5/5
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lton’s has a large menu with an abundance of choices. We placed our order over the phone, then picked up the food, giving a generous tip — to keep the local business alive. The food we enjoyed was filled with more salt than our homemade but was more than satisfactory. There are several Alton’s locations. Check the different menus. We were impressed that the restaurant had available everything we ordered, unlike some of the others. We ordered a mixture of breakfast and lunch items; dinner is not available at this time. The kids’ menu is a nice option, though. “Just for kids” is structured for ten years and under and served with a kid beverage. I ordered one kid meal (no beverage included then). The Jr. Alton’s Special was more than ample for someone over ten: one egg, one pancake, French toast, with sausage, ham or bacon ($5.99). I chose the French toast and sausage. Syrup was included for my French toast. The poached egg was perfectly executed, even after arriving home and being transferred to a real plate. Alton’s has a Senior Selection for 55 years and over, with smaller portions. Six choices are ample for more modest appetites. Three breakfasts and six lunch or dinner items for kids certainly make this place one for all generations. Since we don’t usually do take out in normal times, this was an adventure. Dad’s adventure consisted of Grilled Portobello ($10.49) marinated and topped with roasted red pepper, fresh spinach, melted mozzarella cheese and garlic herb mayo on toasted focaccia. This met the challenge of getting enough veggies when eating restaurant fare. We chose another serving of French fries over soup or dinner salad and enjoyed them the next day after being crisped up in the oven. Even though we didn’t order the most ordered item here, Chicken Souvlaki, we were happy eating what we term both “in and out.”
tetonkitchen.com
FOOD 4.5/5 SERVICE 3.5/5 FAMILY FRIENDLY 4/5
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oing down an Asian avenue of dining, we chose another place with multiple locations. Once again, we urge you to check what’s available at the different locations. Although there was no kids’ menu, selections can adjust to families with kids. Even though the telephone server said he had Thai Duck Salad ($9.99), he didn’t when we got there. So, we did without since the other serving sizes were so ample. The Japanese Tempura Shrimp Box was a winner. It comes with Miso Soup, House Salad, California Roll, Rice, 5 pieces of vegetable and a choice of meat, shrimp ($14.99) or Vegetarian Tofu ($12.99). Miso often tastes like sea water. This one smacked of the sea but was palatable. The seasonings were otherwise delicious. Since we had recently dined on shrimp, we went the tofu route, and found it very tasty. My Miso Ramen Noodle, of Japanese origin, held a different flavor. This came with beef and fish balls ($9.99). The fish balls were so delicious that I wished I had more of them than the slabs of beef with fat around the edges, making it a challenge for both chopsticks and teeth. The culinary prize was the Tempura NY Cheese Cake ($7.00). This was custardy and creamy with just the right sweetening and a touch of graham cracker, deep-fried to golden perfection. Teton Kitchen’s dumplings and Sushi should please many kids, as they do my grandkids. Just make sure that you have a Plan “B” to order in case Plan “A” doesn’t work out.
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y t r Pa One of the Nicest Things 5C8A0L-L0745 You Can Give Your Child TODAY! Is HAPPY MEMORIES! Invite Skiddles the Clown to Entertain at Your Child’s Next Birthday!
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48 WNY Family June 2020