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How kids can dive into family history Best of Syracuse for Families 2018 Adoption: an inside story Thanksgiving, with or without doorbusters

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FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

BECAUSE I SAID SO

TOGETHER TIMES

BEEN THERE

BEST OF SYRACUSE FOR FAMILIES

BEGINNER’S GUIDE

NEWS

Yearning for a Thanksgiving without doorbusters.

How kids can dive into family history.

Adoption starts with a look into your heart.

Forty-eight winners of the 2018 readers’ choice poll.

Tips for walking a dog.

A dance instructor tailors a class for children with disabilities.

CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2018

EDITOR’S NOTE

LEARN

FAMILY FUN CALENDAR

ADVERTISERS INDEX

FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

FROM THE

THE PARENTING GUIDE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK

EDITOR

Once we pass Halloween, we launch almost without pause into The Holidays. The first is Thanksgiving. What is Thanksgiving to you? Is it about spending time with rarely-seen family members, savoring special food? Is it a chance to fuel up before you head out in search of amazing bargains? Can it be both? Neil Davis asks these questions and more in his column on page 6. If you want to enhance your time with family members, helping your kids record their stories is one way to do it. Writer Christy Perry Tuohy explains how on page 10. We’ve also got: a family’s adoption story (November is National Adoption Awareness Month) on page 12; a report on an adaptive dance class in Brewerton (page 18); and a list of the family-friendly winners of the Best of Syracuse readers’ poll (page 14). We hope you enjoy the holidays—all of them!

REID SULLIVAN EDITOR IN CHIEF

NOVEMBER 2018 | ISSUE NO. 199

GENIUSES AT WORK PUBLISHER/OWNER Bill Brod EDITOR IN CHIEF Reid Sullivan editorial@familytimes.biz MANAGING EDITOR Bill DeLapp PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Michael Davis CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Tom Tartaro (ext. 134) CREATIVE DIRECTOR Robin Barnes GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Greg Minix Rachel Barry STAFF WRITER Kira Maddox CONTRIBUTORS Deborah Cavanagh, Tammy DiDomenico, Aaron Gifford, Eileen Gilligan, Molly Morgan, Tami Scott, Maggie Lamond Simone, Laura Livingston Snyder, Chris Xaver SALES MANAGER Tim Hudson (ext. 114) ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Anna Brown (ext. 146) AnnaB@syracusenewtimes.com Anne DeSantis (ext. 111) adesantis@syracusenewtimes.com Lesli Mitchell (ext. 140) LMitchell@syracusenewtimes.com

ON THE COVER

Cleo leads McKenna on a walk in her DeWitt neighborhood.

INSIDE PHOTO

McKenna and Cleo relax with Cleo’s mother, Lisa Dolbear, after the photo shoot. (Cleo at nearly 4 is too young to be walking a dog on her own, but her mother was nearby during the photo shoot. For advice on how to walk a dog, see the guide on page 16.)

Advertising deadline for April is March 16. Calendar deadline for April is is Nov. March2.3. Advertising deadline for December is Nov. 9. Calendar deadline for December Design by Greg Minix Photos by Michael Davis

FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

SALES AND MARKETING COORDINATOR Megan McCarthy (ext. 115) MMcarthy@syracusenewtimes.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Deana Vigliotti (ext. 118) ADDRESS

1415 W. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13204 (315) 472-4669 fax (315) 422-1721 www.familytimes.biz

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FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

Eyes on the Pies

What I crave for Thanksgiving | BY NEIL DAVIS JR.

few Thanksgivings ago, shortly after dinner, my father disappeared. Our family had been resting in a satisfying, post-meal lethargy when someone noticed that his car was missing. It was nearly dusk, the weather turning brisk, and the Dallas Cowboys game only in the third quarter. Stranger still, he hadn’t finished his pie. Fearing the worst, I was ready to dial 911.

All the discounted gaming systems would find other homes that day. The same weekend, my parents would end up purchasing a more expensive one online. Although they nearly had to pay retail, it seemed a small price to pay for the invaluable lesson my parents learned.

“The Xbox is on sale,” my mother explained, making sure my nephews weren’t within earshot. “He went to Walmart.”

The strangest part was that my father had been allowed out of the house at all. Yes, some families do make Black Friday (or Thursday) bargain hunting part of their Thanksgiving traditions. Quality time, to some, means not just getting together but also getting 30 percent off a big-screen TV.

This development was worse than anything I had imagined. Falling victim to the continual rollback of store opening hours, my father had inexplicably decided to begin holiday shopping on Thanksgiving night! The turkey wasn’t even cold. An hour later, he returned empty-handed, a look of shock on his face. “It was a madhouse,” he said, describing a line of shivering shoppers that stretched across a parking lot, each of them armed with a credit card, a list and a carb-fueled determination. 6

“Never again,” my father declared after we had revived his good senses with a slice of mincemeat pie.

That, however, has never been our clan. Especially not if the spending spree interferes with the hours reserved for family bonding. It’s tough enough to schedule one meal around all the individuals’ obligations. So, in our family, not a moment is wasted. The meal begins only after we go around the table, each person declaring what they are

BECAUSE I SAID SO

thankful for in a Norman-Rockwell-like display. Then, our tongues loosened by gravy, we converse over dinner, enlivened by the pleasure of the holiday—and the prospect of the bonanza of pies to come. After the feast, it’s a safe bet the remaining time will be filled with games and socializing. There’s never talk of shopping. Even if we’re just watching football, we all know better than to suggest driving to the mall. “I got out the good china so that you could wait in line for a blender!” would be my mother’s response. “A blender?” It’s not that my family is immune to the attractions of holiday shopping. In fact, when I was a kid, Black Friday involved its own cherished rites. We would wake early, pile into a station wagon and head downtown to fight for a parking space. The streets would be decorated with festive lights, as we bounded from one storefront to another, ending up in Sibley’s or Dey Brothers, sifting through a basement bin for half-priced gloves. continued on page 8

iSTOCK ILLUSTRATION

Happy. Healthy. Loved. These are the dreams we have for our children. So we cherish the moments when little giggles fill the room, imaginations take us on great adventures, and when it seems our hearts could burst with pride and love. Here and now, we’d stop time if we could. Because when kids are being kids, we all feel better.

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FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

continued from page 6 The day would not be complete without a visit to Syracuse’s Original Karmelcorn Shoppe and a stop to admire the gleaming tree in Clinton Square. If we were lucky, a gentle snowfall would dust the evening with a coating of magic. Times have changed a little. It may be due to the kid goggles through which I—still!—view the holidays. I remember when the Sears catalog was required reading, pages earmarked throughout the toy section. And Santa Claus was the celebrity, his fame built on myth, morals, and that bottomless bag of presents. Childhood wonder fades, but my perspective hasn’t transformed nearly as much as the shopping experience has. Black Friday is no longer for the faint of heart: Serious shoppers get in line before dawn, braving cold and crowds for the chance to land a superb deal and cross items off their list. That, to some, is a custom as treasured as breaking the wishbone. I suppose everyone has a tradition that others can’t appreciate. Each year I watch Die Hard while wrapping gifts. Viewing it has become my ritual, although I own at least a dozen DVDs of heartwarming movies that do not feature exploding helicopters. My daughter’s dance group has their own seasonal practice. On one Saturday afternoon each December they ring bells at a Salvation Army kettle inside Destiny USA. “We wear Santa hats and put on Christmas-y clothes,” Sadie says. She counts it among her favorite Yuletide outings. Whatever your traditions are, I hope you get to celebrate them as only you know how. If that means heading out shopping before your food is digested, then by all means do so. Don’t look for me, though. I will be home, listening to holiday music and eating pie. Have I mentioned all the pie? For me, Thanksgiving isn’t about the sales. It’s about relaxing, watching parades, and continuing the debate about canned vs. real cranberry sauce. (I contend both are terrible.) It’s about planning a meal for 1 p.m. and calling it “dinner.” It’s about spending time with loved ones, eating my own weight in mashed potatoes, and collapsing into an easy chair. It’s about being thankful that family time is always free—which is one heck of a bargain.

A New Heart

A Christmas Tale of Forgiveness

Neil Davis works at Bristol-Myers Squibb and lives in Liverpool with his daughter, Sadie, age 16.

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BECAUSE I SAID SO

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FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

For the Record

How kids can interview family members about their lives | BY CHRISTY PERRY TUOHEY

t this time of year, we’re approaching some of the biggest family-time holidays on the calendar. A Thanksgiving gathering can include so much more than food and football. Holiday get-togethers can be opportunities for your children to learn family history, and for adults to share their stories. As a parent, journalist and genealogy buff, I’d like to share some ideas for how you can help your children become family storytellers. When my son and daughter were younger, their grandparents visited at Halloween each year, to help carve pumpkins, hold their hands as they trick-or-treated in the neighborhood, and share a Snickers bar or two. When son Patrick was in middle school, he was given a Veterans Day writing assignment. He decided to interview his grandfather John Tuohey, a World War II veteran, during the Halloween visit. He then wrote a report for his class based on the interview. Granddad John and Patrick set aside a time and sat at the kitchen table. Pen and 10

notebook in hand, my son wrote out the answers. Even without a school assignment you can encourage your young ones to find a good time, a quiet place and interview tools of choice to conduct a meaningful interview with a family member.

The right age What’s a good age for a child to do a family interview? Informal social media research I did with friends and colleagues indicates that children are most ready to do a family history interview when they are middle-school aged or older. My friend Karen, a teacher, wrote, “I encouraged my students to use a recording, video, and take pictures. Middle and high school are great ages to do this. Definitely have a prepared list of questions so you don’t forget anything.”

Preparing questions After your child has asked her family member if he or she would agree to be

TOGETHER TIMES

interviewed, it’s a good idea to plan what she would like to ask. StoryCorps, a nonprofit oral history project and National Public Radio program, has a great list of potential questions for family members on its website: storycorps.org/participate/great-questions/. Some examples for interviewing grandparents are: What was your childhood like? How did you and Grandma/Grandpa meet? What was my mom/dad like growing up? The focus of the interview may also be on a specific time in the person’s life, as in the case of my father-in-law’s service in the U.S. Navy. “I asked my granddad a few questions about how being a veteran felt like and what it means to him,” Patrick wrote in his report. “First off I asked him how he feels about what he did. In response he said, ‘I’m glad I did what I did because it was the right thing at the time.’” Susan, one of my former journalism students, said that an interview she did with her grandfather foreshadowed her career choice to be a reporter. “I did this in fourth or fifth grade. My grandpa told me stories

iSTOCK PHOTO

If you have access to a video camera for the interview, there are a few basics for your child to consider when videotaping an interview, including position (is the subject seated or standing?), lighting and headroom. You can find how-to videos on the subject by searching “interview framing” on YouTube. “My youngest son was given this assignment in the sixth grade,” my friend Henry wrote. “Both of my parents had passed so we went to my dad’s brother. At 85, he had some remarkable answers. I videotaped the 15-minute session. I’m not sure which one was the happiest: son, uncle or dad! Years later, I found the tapes, transferred them to CD and sent it to my uncle’s children.” If your daughter or son uses any type of recording device, he or she should make sure the phone is charged, or that the digital audio recorder has batteries or that there is an outlet available for the device.

Saving the interview Once the words are down on paper or captured in digital form, making a copy (or copies) will ensure that there is a backup version if something happens to the original. You may want to put a written interview in a scrapbook. You can save digital copies on external flash or hard drives or burn them to CD or DVD using a computer. Making copies is also a great way to share history with other family members. Your family interview may well become part of the group entertainment at a future holiday gathering. A voice recording app is just one of the ways to preserve a family member’s story.

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

about how he collected coal that had fallen off of trains so his family could heat their house during the Depression. Turns out, he had never shared that experience with my mom or my grandma. It was an incredible learning experience and my very first interview!”

Choosing a recording method Your child may choose a higher-tech approach than pen and paper. For example, there are a few options for recording audio and video on smartphones. For recording an interview with only audio, the iPhone has a free voice recorder and audio editor app, which allows you to record MP3 files and even transcribe your audio recordings into text using speech recognition. Google offers a free audio recorder app for Android phones that is simple to use and supports the use of two different microphones, if your child would like to use an attached mike instead of the phone’s built-in mike. You can also find stand-alone digital audio recorders at various outlets including Amazon.com. A good basic recorder runs $20 to $30. Both smartphone types also come with free video apps. Be sure to check the phone’s storage space, as well as the video file size limit. Some Android phones, for example, have a four-gigabyte file size limit, which comes out to about a half-hour’s worth of video. Your phone’s documentation can help you figure out whether to store the file on the phone’s internal storage or an external storage mode. If using a smartphone to record video, it’s also a good idea to anchor the phone so that the resulting video isn’t shaky. You can find smartphone tripods for less than $2.50 on equipment sites like GearBest. FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

Great Expectations

A family is created—with time, love and fate | BY TAMI SCOTT

t took about a year and three months from the time we began the adoption process with our chosen agency to meeting our 6-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter for the very first time. What an incredible day that was! The journey to that day, however, included a few obstacles, but from what I’ve heard that’s pretty average. For example, some couples wait years for a referral, becoming so frustrated they want to give up. For other prospective parents, the process goes quickly, even happening within months. My point is that some self-knowledge can help you when you face road bumps—or unexpected acceleration—in the process. Once you know your own mind, you will be fortified with more patience and perseverance. And time can be a factor in the types of adoptions available to you, depending on how long you’re willing to wait. (If right now you’re in the middle of the process, you can probably relate to what I’m saying!) If you’re thinking about adopting, but not sure where to start, it’s best to do a lot of research and soul-searching. This will help you and your partner better understand the right fit for you, and for your soon-to-be child. When my husband and I decided we wanted to adopt, we weren’t exactly sure how to 12

begin. We went to an informational meeting at a local adoption agency. The presenter discussed the importance of finding out where you are on the spectrum of adoption— meaning are you set on adopting an infant only, or would you consider older children? Is race a factor for you? Special needs? Are you willing to foster to adopt? Are you comfortable with open vs. closed adoptions? Do you want to adopt within the United States or outside? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. And while it’s useful to talk it out with loved ones, and seek different perspectives from other adoptive parents and families, your answers to these complex questions must come from your very own place: your heart. My husband and I had to find out where our hearts were leading us. . . which we soon realized was Colombia. The agency we found specialized in finding forever families for sibling sets. My husband and I were in our late 30s and early 40s (I’m the older one) and felt time was of the essence. We both agreed we’d want more than one child, so adopting siblings made sense. And so the process started: home visits, fingerprints, background checks, medical exams, blood tests, paperwork, delays, and paperwork—lots and lots of paperwork! When all

BEEN THERE

was said and done, we learned to wait again. Then one day we got the call. Our flights were booked and we arrived in Colombia within a week. We spent exactly six weeks and one day there, finalizing the adoption while getting to know our beautiful children, their personalities, likes and dislikes. We also met other brand-new parents with whom we connected and still keep in touch. Since then, we were blessed with one more child: About five months after we arrived home from Bogota, I found out I was pregnant. Our family is now complete with a daughter, two sons and a wide range in ages: 17, 11 and soon-to-be 4. I’d like to say it’s been an easy ride, but anyone with children—biological or adopted—would know I’m just blowing smoke. Adopting children may be different from birthing children biologically, but the end result is the same: You become a family. There’s no getting around the pain and joy that comes with family. And although there’s the saying that children don’t come with an instruction manual, there are a lot of resources out there to help prepare you for when they do arrive. In retrospect, I wish I had used the tools

presented to us by our social worker at the time, which were mostly books. I thought, “Love will take care of any problems we face.” Well, yes, love provides a foundation, but so does education! And while I did crack open a book or two, I didn’t finish them. My husband, however, did, and shared the knowledge he acquired to the best of his ability. My advice to you? Read! Not only should you find the books that best pertain to your situation—or could pertain to your situation— but make sure you’re emotionally ready for both the changes and the challenges. After a bunch of research, if you’re still unsure, don’t rush. Delays have their purpose. Take your time, consider the options, ask questions. And for reference, check out this page dedicated specifically to helping people undecided about adoption: childwelfare.gov/topics/adoption/adoptive/before-adoption/. Other links on the page can also help. One final thought about an encounter that seemed comical when it happened, but which I later realized reflected a profound truth. All three of our kids and I took a walk to our neighborhood pharmacy to buy a few things. Our youngest, blond and fair-skinned, was in his stroller. Our middle and oldest, both Hispanic with dark features, were standing next to me. The cashier said to me, “Were they all born blond?” I just looked at her, initially puzzled, and then I realized she was serious. I answered, “No, just him,” and smiled. She didn’t see that difference. Instead, she saw a family. Tami Scott is an award-winning writer who lives in Liverpool.

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FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

BEST ANIMAL/ PET RESCUE Helping Hounds Dog Rescue

for Families PHOTOS BY MICHAEL DAVIS

BEST DATE NIGHT LOCATION Francesca’s Cucina BEST SPORTS VENUE Carrier Dome BEST GYMNASTICS Blaze Gymnastics BEST OUTDOOR TRAILS Green Lakes State Park BEST PLACE TO SKI Labrador Mountain BEST PLACE TO BIKE Onondaga Parkway BEST PLACE TO ICE SKATE Clinton Square BEST BOWLING ALLEY Flamingo Bowl BEST PUMPKIN PATCH Tim’s Pumpkin Patch BEST APPLE PICKING Beak & Skiff 14

FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

BEST AMUSEMENT OR WATER PARK Enchanted Forest Water Safari BEST GO-KARTS Thunder Island BEST PRESCHOOL Jowonio School

BEST ANIMAL WHISPERER Justin Bonn, Justin’s Canine Campus BEST RADIO PERSONALITY Ted Long & Amy Robbins, 93Q BEST TV PERSONALITY Christie Casciano BEST WEATHERPERSON Wayne Mahar

BEST LOCAL BEST AFTER SCHOOL AMBASSADOR Carrie Lazarus PROGRAM Learn As You Grow BEST BURGER Blarney Stone BEST PLAYGROUND Wegmans Playground BEST HOT DOGS at Onondaga Lake Heid’s of Liverpool Park BEST LIBRARY Liverpool Public Library BEST FAMILY RESTAURANT Tully’s BEST PET DAYCARE Justin’s Canine Campus BEST VET Liverpool Animal Hospital

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Dog Walking for Beginners

hristina Evans is a dog trainer with CNY Pet Training & Behavior. She co-teaches a class called Beast on a Leash, for dogs who are reactive—barky, growly, pully. She also knows a lot about ordinary dogs and the mischief they can get into. Evans lives in Clay with her husband, Bobby, children, Ava, 10, and Max, 7, and dogs, Winston, 3, and Trina, 12 (pictured on this page). She offered some of her best advice for taking your dog out and about. LET’S GO! Your dog enjoys walking with you. It’s good for your bond, though it’s not all the exercise a dog needs. DOGGIE ACTIVITY Typically, a dog needs to run around more than is possible on a short stroll. Every day, make sure you throw your dog a ball or play together with a toy. Evans likes a flirt pole—a squeaky toy attacked to a rope attached to a pole. LEASH SPECS Use a buckle collar, or a front-clip harness if yours is a strong dog. A heavier dog may need a head halter. Clip on a 4-to-6-foot flat leash. A retractable leash is inadvisable because it rewards the dog for pulling. Instead, train your dog to stay by your side, with the leash loose. Training happens with positive reinforcement—also known as treats.

PEOPLE, MEETING NEW DOGS There is a proper and safe way to introduce yourself to an unfamiliar dog. A child should learn to ask the adult he is with if he can meet the dog. Then, if he gets the okay, he asks the owner if he can pet the dog. If the owner approves, the child can pet the dog between the collar and the tail. When Evans is the one holding the leash, she asks her dog to sit before meeting someone new. If her dog is wiggly, she will give him or her a treat for remaining by her side. POOP Bring bags with you, always. Collect your dog’s waste and drop it in a trash can on your route or at home. It’s the right thing to do. Nobody likes to step in poop!

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT On your walks, bring tasty, stinky treats that powerfully motivate the dog to earn a reward. Milk bones are bland; you want the kind of treat that a dog can smell.

KIDS AND THE LEASH Can a child walk a dog alone? Not until age 13 or 14, Evans says. With a child and a dog, Evans uses a double leash system: She puts her dog on a 4-to-6foot leash and a 10-to-15-foot leash. The child can hold the short leash, while the adult holds the long one.

BEGINNER’S GUIDE

MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

OTHER DOGS Ideally, when walking your leashed pet, you will avoid other dogs. If you are about to approach another dog, change direction or cross the street. Reward your dog with a treat for following you without pulling.

urns 29!

Coming Soon!

Our December issue will feature a special publication all about Liverpool’s upcoming Lights on the Lake event! Go behind the scenes to see what it’s like to work at this local wonderland, and check out a complete seasonal calendar for Onondaga County parks. You won’t want to miss it!

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Discover the power of family music making

children, and the adults who love them. Classes located all over 5” WIDEand X 4.9” HIGH the adults who love them. Classes located all over CNY. CNY. To find the one nearest you, call or visit our website Offering early childhood music and movement classes to

To find the one nearest you, call or visit our website www.bluebirdmusictogether.com 427-6985 www.bluebirdmusictogether.com • (315)(315) 427-6985



Academic excellence from a Biblical mindset



Purposeful learning with dual-credit college courses, Varsity Athletics and Performing Arts

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A safe, loving environment where teachers can teach, and students can learn. Christian Education grades Pre-K through 12

Discover the power of family music making

Offering early childhood music and movement classes to ren, and the adults who love them. Classes located all over NY. To find the one nearest you, call or visit our website

www.bluebirdmusictogether.com (315) 427-6985

OPEN HOUSE DECEMBER 9 2-4 PM

www.mssyr.org 315.449.9033

A private preschool & elementary school for children ages 3-12

LEARN

The Chance to Dance

Children with disabilities get a class of their own | BY TAMI SCOTT

icero native Lauren Calcagnino recently found a way to blend her two life passions—dance and working with children with disabilities—by offering a new type of class at Rae’s Institute of Dance and Movement in Brewerton. The program, called Adaptive Dance, and created specifically for children with disabilities, is less than two months old and open to children ages 5 to 18 of all ability levels. Calcagnino is a local speech-language pathologist who has been dancing since age 2. When she began to explore adaptive dance options in the Syracuse area, she found there were not many available, which surprised her. She approached Rachel Mason, owner of Rae’s. “She very much welcomed the idea and (so) I began exploring how to best implement it at the studio,” Calcagnino says. “I began researching trainings throughout the United States to attend, to ensure I went about it in the best way possible. And I stumbled upon one at the Boston Ballet. It happened to be during the summer and I felt it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” The two-day session focused on several topics: developmental and motor disabil18

NEWS

ities, such as Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder; how Boston Ballet structures its adaptive classes; and use of supports and props, including chairs, visual schedules and fidgets. Calcagnino also gathered resources for potential implementation into her own classes, such as music and warm-up ideas, and techniques for adapting movement for students with various disabilities and differences.

teamwork, listening and memory skills, and on building their dance knowledge, rhythm and stretching abilities.

Ultimately, Calcagnino took away the fundamentals: Her classes are similar in structure to Boston Ballet’s, but she also made changes to reflect the local needs.

“We like to keep the classes smaller in size to allow for enough support and supervision for those who need it,” Calcagnino says. Class size is capped at around 10, and additional teachers will be present for support.

“This program (is) geared toward the students who sign up. I want to meet them at the level they’re at and include their interests in any way I can,” Calcagnino says. “I expect to change things with every class from here on out, too, to make sure the students are successful and enjoying the class.” Adaptive Dance is held on Saturday mornings and is split into two 45-minute class times. The 10:30 a.m. session is for children ages 5 to 12; the second class, at 11:30 a.m., is for 13- to 18-year-olds. Classes are designed for kids who are not able to take typical dance classes, and Calcagnino focuses on enhancing each student’s confidence,

The program began in late September and will run through June, with two in-house performances per year—one in December and one in June—at the black-box theater in Rae’s Institute of Dance and Movement’s new studio at 8860 Brewerton Road in Brewerton.

Children are also welcome to check out the class before signing up to get a feel for it and decide whether it’s something they’d want to continue. Calcagnino will accept student sign-ups at any point if there is still room and if there is a reasonable amount of time left before the performances. “I simply want to give (children with disabilities) the opportunity to do (dance) in a supportive and comfortable environment where they can grow at their own pace,” Calcagnino says.

About The Teacher Lauren Calcagnino began dancing at age 2. Although she attended various studios over the years, she became a student at Rae’s Institute of Dance and Movement in eighth grade and continued through her senior year in high school.

MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTOS

Calcagnino studied ballet/pointe, jazz, tap, hip-hop, tumbling and modern dance. She began teaching dance at Rae’s after she graduated high school in 2011, and at other studios while attending college and graduate school. She earned her bachelor’s degree at SUNY Cortland, with a major in speech and hearing sciences, and a minor in psychology of children with exceptionalities. She earned her master of science degree in speech-language pathology at Nazareth College in Rochester. She is involved as a dancer with the Mason Dance Project, the company affiliated with Rachel Mason, owner of Rae’s. Calcagnino works full time as a speech-language pathologist in the Liverpool Central School District. In the evenings and on Saturdays, she either teaches dance or takes dance classes herself. Currently, she teaches two hip-hop classes and the Adaptive Dance classes.

—Tami Scott

Lauren Calcagnino teaches an adaptive dance class for kids with disabilities. Opposite page: Calcagnino with Chloe Reider, an unidentified student and helper Amanda Purdy. Top and middle photos: a visual schedule for the class; and stretching, with (from left) helper Montana Mason, Chloe Reider, Sophia Giblin, Ethan Oot, helper Amanda Purdy and Sam Dunn.

FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

• Hiking • Biking • Swimming • Archery • Kayaking • Building race cars • Sledding • Community service

• Awesome

sleepovers

• Cool field trips • Having fun

with friends

? r o f g n i t i a w u o y What are in scouting today! Jo

The life of a Cub Scout is FILLED with adventure! Cub Scouts get to make new friends, go to camp, build and race model cars, learn about nature, play sports, swim, and even launch rockets!

• Contact Longhouse Council at (315)463-0201 • Go to BeAScout.org • Or find us at facebook.com/cnyscouting

For boys and girls 5 - 10 years of age.

ADVENTURE IS WAITING. FIND YOUR PACK TODAY!

Gain confidence. Laugh loud. Build character. Grow strong.

FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

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

SUNDAY, OCT. 28 Spooky Science. Noon-4 p.m. Visit the Scien-

center in costume for tricked-out exhibits, spooky activities and eerie demonstrations. Sciencenter, 601 First St., Ithaca. Free admission. (607) 2720600. sciencenter.org.

MONDAY, OCT. 29 Halloween Party. 4 p.m. Children age 2 and up

can come in costume, hear spooky stories, make crafts, eat snacks, and go trick-or-treating through the library. Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville. Free. Registration required: (315) 446-3578. CLDandJ. org.

TUESDAY, OCT. 30 Monster Madness. 2:30 p.m. Kids ages 5-12 can make monster slime and book marks, among other activities. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31 HALLOWEEN

Trick or Treat at the Library. 5-8:30 p.m. Take a

break at the library for giveaways and a cup of cider. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. lpl.org. (315) 457-0310.

All Hallows’ Eve Teen Trivia. 6-8 p.m. Teens

can test their knowledge of horror, and make fake and edible blood. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. lpl.org. (315) 457-0310.

THURSDAY, NOV. 1 Math Tutoring. 3-4 p.m.; also Nov. 8, 15 & 29.

Teens and adults can ask a volunteer questions, bringing in examples of the math problems with which they need help. Central Library, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-1900.

Marshmallow Sugar Skulls. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Teens and adults can celebrate Day of the Dead by decorating marshmallow fondant sugar skulls from a 3D printed mold. Central Library, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-1900.

Teen Writer’s Guild. 4-5 p.m.; also Nov. 8, 15

& 29. Students in grades 6-12 can take part in a creative workshop, writing in a variety of genres. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Register: ffl.org. (315) 637-6374.

iSTOCK ILLUSTRATION

November FRIDAY, NOV. 2 Play to Learn. 10 a.m.;

also Nov. 16 & 30. Children ages 1-4, accompanied by an adult, can hear stories, sing and play. Siblings are welcome. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.

Free to Be. 10:30-11:15 a.m. Children ages 3-6 (though younger siblings are welcome) can sing along to a live guitar and explore early acting techniques. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-6374. fflib.org.

Sharing Nature. 1 p.m.; also Nov. 9 & 16. Preschoolers, accompanied by an adult, can discover nature with walks, games and crafts. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $7/person; $20/3 sessions. Parking: $4/vehicle. Preregistration required: (315) 638-2519.

Dungeons & Dragons for Beginners. 2:304:30 p.m. Teens and adults can learn to play D&D with volunteers from local company TCG Player. Central Library, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-1900.

Holiday Craft. 3 p.m. Tweens and teens can make a holiday craft, Mason jar soup mix. Petit Branch Library, 105 Victoria Place, Syracuse. Registration required: (315) 435-3636.

FAMILY TIMES NOVEMBER 2018

Robotics Club. 3:30 p.m.; also Nov. 9, 16 & 30.

Kids ages 10-15 can design, build and program robots using Lego Mindstorms kits. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. Registration recommended: (315) 435-3519.

MONDAY, NOV. 5 Gaming for Adults with Special Needs. 1:30-3 p.m. Adults with special needs can play Wii games and board games; caregivers must remain in the room. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

SATURDAY, NOV. 3 Squishing of the Squash. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. When

Halloween’s over, zoo animals get a chance to play with and squish some pumpkins. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. Admission: $8/adults; $5/senior citizens; $4/children; free/age 2 and younger. (315) 435-8511. rosamondgiffordzoo.org.

NYS Model Train Fair. 10

a.m.-5 p.m.; also Nov. 4. One of the Northeast’s premier model train shows, with dozens of vendors and numerous operating layouts. Sponsored by the National Railway Historical Society’s Central New York chapter. State Fairgrounds, Geddes. $10/age 16 & older; free/age 15 and under. (315) 451-6551. modeltrainfair.com.

Paws and Books. 10:30 a.m.; also Nov. 17. Kids

ages 5-12 can read a story to Cooper, a trained Canine Good Citizen. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.

Crafting for a Cause. 6:30 p.m. Participants make stars out of retired American flags to be given to veterans at the VA Hospital. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration requested: (315) 492-1727. oflibrary.org.

TUESDAY, NOV. 6 ELECTION DAY Sip of Color. 2 p.m. Children can take part in an

afternoon of painting, bringing their creations home when they’re done. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. Registration required: (315) 435-3519.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7 Read, Sing, Play Storytime. 10:30-11 a.m.;

also Nov. 14, 21 & 28. Share the love of books with children of all ages. Central Library, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-1900.

Early Learners Storytime. 11 a.m.-noon; also

FRIDAY, NOV. 9 See Ongoing Events

SATURDAY, NOV. 10 CNY Bridges Build ’Em & Bust ’Em. 8 a.m.-1

p.m. Teams of up to three students in grades 4-12 can build bridges out of balsa wood and see them broken to test the bridges’ strength. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Free for student teams taking part in the competition. Admission: $12/ adults; $10/ages 2-15. (315) 425-9068.

Mini Childbirth Education. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Participants and support people will learn what to expect during labor, including stages of labor, medications used during labor, interventions, and comfort measures. Lombardi Chiropractic, 1116 Upper Lenox Ave., Oneida. Free. Registration required: (607) 483-8284.

Toddlers’ Tango. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Toddlers and preschool-aged children, accompanied by an adult, can take part in this music and movement class. Salina Library, 100 Belmont St., Mattydale. Free. Registration required: (315) 454-4524.

World of Puppets. 11 a.m. See a kid-friendly puppetry performance called “Sleeping Beauty’s Magical Frog: The Untold Story.” Open Hand Theater, Suite No. 3, Shoppingtown Mall, 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. $5. (315) 476-0466. openhandtheater.org.

Rice Creek Rambles. 11 a.m.; also Nov. 17 & 24.

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

Nov. 14 & 28. Children ages 2-4, with an accompanying adult, can enjoy stories, interactive rhymes, songs and a craft. Salina Library, 100 Belmont St., Mattydale. Free. (315) 454-4524. salinalibrary.org.

Rice Creek Story Hour. 11 a.m. Elementary-aged

THURSDAY, NOV. 8

Explore trails, woods and wetlands with a naturalist on a family-friendly hike. Those under 17 must be accompanied by an adult. Rice Creek Field Station, SUNY Oswego, Thompson Road, 1 mile south of Route 104, Oswego. Free. Call day of to check trail conditions: (315) 312-6677. oswego.edu/rice-creek/.

Junior Home School Nature Series. 10

Sleeping Beauty. 12:30 p.m. See Nov. 3 listing.

17 & 24. Kids can read to a friendly dog from Paws Inc. of CNY. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org. children, especially, will enjoy tales of animals’ wild ways and how humans relate to the natural world; all ages are welcome. Rice Creek Field Station, SUNY Oswego, Thompson Road, 1 mile south of Route 104, Oswego. Free. (315) 312-6677. oswego.edu/ rice-creek/.

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

Activities include kids’ games and crafts; bake sale; casino games; raffles; and a performance by Elvis impersonator Tom Gilbo (5-6 p.m.). St. Daniel School gymnasium, 3004 Court St., Syracuse. Free admission. (315) 454-4946.

Sleeping Beauty. 12:30

p.m. In the Magic Circle Children’s Theatre presentation, children in the audience can help the very nearsighted Prince figure out why Sleeping Beauty falls asleep every time she hears her name. Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St., Syracuse. $6. Reservations recommended: (315) 449-3823.

Ukulele for Beginners. 1-2:30 p.m. Pat Doherty teaches a class for newcomers to the ukulele. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

DIY Day. 2:30 p.m. Kids ages 5-12 can make

autumn candle holders from jars and other materials; all supplies provided. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.

SUNDAY, NOV. 4 NYS Model Train Fair. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See Nov. 3 listing.

CALENDAR

a.m.-noon. Homeschool students ages 5-10 can learn, with hands-on activities, how to enjoy nature while protecting wildlife and habitats. Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 Route 89, Savannah. $8/class. Preregistration & payment required: (315) 365-3588. http://ny.audubon.org/montezuma.

Smartplay. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Children age 6 and

under can explore a free-play environment that promotes discovery, creativity and the development of early literacy skills. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-6374. fflib. org.

Trail Tales. 1 p.m.; also

Nov. 29. Children ages 3-5, accompanied by a caregiver, can hear some stories and go on a trail walk. Beaver Lake Nature Center, Route 370, Baldwinsville. $4/parking. (315) 638-2519.

International Games Week. 2 p.m. Young

people ages 12-18 can celebrate by playing board and card games from around the world. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.

Dinosaurs Dig. 2 p.m. Field paleontologists Mike and Roberta Straka lead an interactive session on dinosaur bones. Petit Branch Library, 105 Victoria Place, Syracuse. Registration required: (315) 4353636.

The College Experience. 2 p.m. A panel of

college students and recent graduates offer advice about classes, life and graduation. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3519.

SUNDAY, NOV. 11

Trading Card Games. 2:30-4:30 p.m. Young

people ages 12-18 can join TCG Player for games and prizes. Central Library, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-1900.

Open Late Til 8. 4-8 p.m. Half-price admission

and hands-on science activities, featuring a Thanksgiving theme. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST). 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Half-price admission: $6/adults; $5/seniors and ages 2-11. (315) 425-9068.

Girls Who Code. 7 p.m.; also Nov. 30. Girls age

10 and up can learn about the library’s new computer science club at this information session. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration required: (315) 492-1727. oflibrary. org.

See Ongoing Events

MONDAY, NOV. 12 Tween Cooking. 2-3 p.m. Kids ages 9-12 can make food to take home. Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. Registration required: (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

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Exclusive stores Luxury brands More than 170 specialty shops Athleta Janie & Jack LEGO L.L. Bean TUMI Von Maur

I-90 to Exit 45, Victor www.eastviewmall.com (585) 223-4420 FAMILY TIMES MONTH 2018

MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

Lights on the Lake, Nov. 15 - Jan. 6

Homebirth Information. 6-7:30 p.m. Meet

homebirth midwife Julie Carlson and learn about her experience and vision. Presented by CNY Doula Connection. CNY Healing Arts, 195 Intrepid Lane, Syracuse. Free. Registration recommended: (607) 483-8284.

TUESDAY, NOV. 13 First Steps. 9:30-10 a.m.; also Nov. 20 & 27. Chil-

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

Baby Storytime. 10:30-11 a.m.; also Nov. 20 &

27. Babies and caregivers can share rhymes, songs, stories and signs in this language-building program. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-6374. fflib.org.

Homeschool STEAM Club. 1:30-3 p.m.

Homeschoolers ages 5-11 can learn with hands-on activities. Parents and siblings welcome. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

Lights on the Lake Stroll. 5-9 p.m. Special

two-mile walking preview of annual wonderland of illuminated holiday scenes at Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool, before it opens to vehicles only. Visitors may stroll some or all of the trail. Holiday characters will be on the trail. Parking at Griffin Visitor Center, Salt Museum or Willow Bay lots. $2/donation for adults. (315) 453-6712.

Teen MOPS. 5-7 p.m.; also Nov. 27. Young

mothers, ages 13-21, with children under 6 enjoy a faith-based program with fun, food and activities while their children are cared for by the childcare

CALENDAR

program. Liverpool First United Methodist Church, 604 Oswego St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 569-2542.

Family Trivia Night. 6:30 p.m. Participants of

all ages can answer questions posed by the libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Google Home Mini. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration requested: (315) 492-1727. oflibrary.org.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 14 Lights on the Lake Dog Walk. 5-9 p.m. Dogs are

welcome for this special walking preview of the annual illuminated holiday wonderland, including holiday characters. Walkers can cover as much of the two-mile stretch as they wish. Refreshments for humans and dogs available for sale. Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. Parking at Griffin Visitor Center, Salt Museum or Willow Bay lots. $2/donation. (315) 453-6712.

Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. $10/car, Monday-Thursday; $20/car, Friday-Sunday. (315) 453-6712.

FRIDAY, NOV. 16 Stories with Donna B. 10 a.m. Donna Butterfield tells stories and leads children age 3 and up in songs and dances. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration requested: (315) 492-1727. oflibrary.org.

Toddler Dance Party. 10:30 a.m. Children age 18 months to 5 years, accompanied by caregivers, can dance, play musical instruments and enjoy bubbles. Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville. Free. CLDandJ.org. (315) 446-3578.

SATURDAY, NOV. 17

Teen Geeks. 6-8 p.m.; also Nov. 21. Teens can play board games in the first session of the month and video games in the second. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

THURSDAY, NOV. 15 Teen Book Club. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Young people ages 12-18 will discuss Jason Reynoldsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Long Way Down. Central Library, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-1900.

Opening Night Lights on the Lake. 5-10 p.m.,

daily; through Jan. 6. Drive through the annual light extravaganza featuring two miles of life-size displays, themed sections, new attractions, and a grand finale.

Jingle Bell Run. 9:30 a.m. A festive, 5K run raises

awareness and funds for the Arthritis Foundation. Long Branch Park, Long Branch Road, Liverpool. Donations. (518) 456-1203 or hbarcomb@arthritis. org. Sleeping Beauty. 12:30 p.m. See Nov. 3 listing.

Family Dance. 6:30 p.m. People of all ages can

take part in fun and simple dances to live music. United Church of Fayetteville, 310 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. $2/adults; $1/teens & kids. syracuse countrydancers.org/community-dance/.

SUNDAY, NOV. 18 See Ongoing Events

Calendar listings are FREE

MONDAY, NOV. 19 First Day Erie Canal Museum Gingerbread Gallery. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; daily through Jan. 6. (Closed Nov. 22.) In this magical village, see more than 30 creations made with gingerbread, candy and pretzels, with a special theme of the Erie Canal and its vessels. Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse. $7/ adults; $5/seniors; $2/age 12 & under. (315) 471-0593. eriecanalmuseum.org.

Teen Minecraft. 3-4:30 p.m. Students in grades 6-12 can hang out and play on the library’s server. Salina Library, 100 Belmont St., Mattydale. Free. Registration required: (315) 454-4524. salinalibrary.org.

Email information about your family-friendly event to: editorial@familytimes.biz. Listings are due by Nov. 2 for the December issue.

Family Coding Night. 6:30 p.m. Families with children age 5 and up can dis-

cover new gadgets, sequence new codes, and engineer designs. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration required: (315) 492-1727. oflibrary.org.

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT

for teaching different grade levels. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.

TUESDAY, NOV. 20 See Ongoing Events

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21

Game On. 2 p.m. Kids, teens and families can play board and card games and

on the Xbox One. Snacks and beverages provided. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.

Painting, Bathroom, Kitchen, Basement, Remodeling. Flooring, Door & Window Installation, Plumbing & Electrical. Retired Teacher, 40 years experience.

Joe Ball 436-9008

THURSDAY, NOV. 22 Liverpool Turkey Trot. 9 a.m.

(Onondaga County Only)

Jordan Elbridge

COUNTRY CHILDCARE KIDS CENTER Open Enrollment

Pre-School: ALL Ages 3-5yrs AGES Before & After School: 3yrs-6th Jordan United Methodist Church 63 Elbridge Street, Jordan 315-689-9686 • jeckatjumc@gmail.com

5K and 5 mile run leave from the Griffin Visitor Center and follow the East Shore Trail, Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. $5-$30. (315) 451-7275.

Weekday Mornings 5:30 -10AM

FRIDAY, NOV. 23 Opening Day Dickens’ Christmas in Skaneateles. Noon-4 p.m.; also Saturdays &

Sundays through Dec. 24. More than 50 Victorian characters, including the author of A Christmas Carol himself, fill the village of Skaneateles, on Genesee, Jordan and Fennell streets. Free. (315) 685-0552. skaneateles.com.

Erie Canal Museum Gingerbread Gallery Grand Opening. 5-9 p.m.

Cookies and cocoa all night, and the music of Merry Mischief following the tree lighting in Clinton Square. Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse. $7/ adults; $5/seniors; $2/age 12 & under. (315) 471-0593. eriecanalmuseum.org.

Clinton Square Tree Lighting Ceremony. 6:30 p.m. The annual lighting of the 50-foot-plus Norway spruce takes place following an evening of music and an appearance by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Downtown Syracuse. Free. (315) 473-4330. syracuse. ny.us.

Cirque Musica Holiday. 8 p.m. Acrobats, aerial-

ists, hijinks and more in a show called “Wonderland,” performed to music by a live symphony orchestra. Landmark Theatre, 362 S. Salina St., Syracuse. $51$61 (plus fees). ticketmaster.com.

SATURDAY, NOV. 24 Holiday Crafts for Kids. 10 a.m. Children of all ages can learn to make their own crafts using materials found in nature. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E.

Free Prenatal Consultation

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Caring for CNY children for more than 40 years. www.PediatricAssociatesNY.com

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FAMILY TIMES MONTH 2018

Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $6/person. Admission: $4/vehicle. Registration required: (315) 638-2519.

snacks. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.

Dance Performance. 11-11:45 a.m. Some 30

Syracuse City Ballet Nutcracker. 7 p.m.; also

dancers from Guzman’s Dance Studio perform a story based on Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Atrium, Shoppes at Towne Center, Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-0401.

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

activities of a mathematician with hands-on activities. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST). 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Museum admission: $12/adults; $10/seniors and ages 2-11. (315) 425-9068.

Dec. 1 & 2. Syracuse City Ballet artists and children perform the tale of a young girl who ventures into an enchanted world after saving a dashing prince. Mulroy Civic Center, 411 Montgomery St., Syracuse. $20-$75 (plus fees). (315) 435-2121. syracusecityballet.com.

SATURDAY, DEC. 1 Holiday Pancake Breakfast. 9

Sleeping Beauty. 12:30 p.m. See Nov. 3 listing.

a.m.-noon. Eat a tasty meal including pancakes, sausage and a beverage, and get a chance to see Santa. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $3-$5/ person. Admission: $4/ vehicle. (315) 638-2519.

Kids Create. 2 p.m. Children of all ages can make a wiggly worm puppet. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3519.

Polar Express Pajama Party. 5-6 p.m. Children can take part in interactive activities and visit with Santa Claus. Then they can see The Polar Express in the six-story IMAX theater (6 p.m.). Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. $15/party and movie ticket. (315) 425-9068. most.org.

than a hundred bagged lunches to hand out to the hungry and homeless in downtown Syracuse. The Road, 4845 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. (315) 218-6066. wholelygroundsattheroad.org.

Weekend Walks With a Naturalist. Saturdays and Sundays, 2 p.m. Nature discovery hike with different topics each weekend. Beaver Lake Nature Center, Route 370, Baldwinsville. Admission: $4/ vehicle. (315) 638-2519.

Great Swamp Conservancy Nature Trails.

Daily, dawn to dusk. Throughout the year, visitors can grab their walking shoes and explore 4.5 miles of well-groomed, flat trails. Trails feature a 900-foot boardwalk, osprey nesting platform, and wetland and grassland restoration areas. The area is a stop for many migratory waterfowl and songbirds; other wildlife include muskrats and beavers. Great Swamp Conservancy, 3.5 miles off I-90, Exit 34, 8375 N. Main St., Canastota. Free. (315) 697-2950.

Baltimore Woods Nature Center. Hiking trails and parking are free and open every day from dawn to dusk. Interpretive Center open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Sundays. 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. (315) 673-1350.

Family Film. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. See A Muppet Christmas

Maxwell Library Storytimes. Storytimes and

SUNDAY, NOV. 25

Carol. Included with admission. Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. $8/person. (315) 474-6064. everson.org.

See Ongoing Events

Sleeping Beauty. 12:30 p.m. See Nov. 3 listing.

Northeast Community Center Library Storytimes. Preschool storytimes with rhymes and

MONDAY, NOV. 26 See Ongoing Events

TUESDAY, NOV. 27 See Ongoing Events

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28 See Ongoing Events

THURSDAY, NOV. 29 See Ongoing Events

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

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

Festival of Trees Opening Day. Noon-5 p.m.;

through Dec. 9. (Open during museum hours: Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Wednesday, noon-5 p.m.; Thursday, noon-8 p.m.; Dec. 9, noon-9 p.m.) See beautifully decorated trees, wreaths and other displays, donated by local individuals and organizations. Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. $8/person. (315) 474-6064. everson.org.

Kids Minecraft. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Kids in grades 3-5 can hang out and play on the library’s server. Salina Library, 100 Belmont St., Mattydale. Free. Registration required: (315) 454-4524. salinalibrary.org.

Syracuse City Ballet Nutcracker. 1 & 6 p.m.; also Dec. 2. See Nov. 30 listing.

Harry Potter in Concert. 7:30 p.m.; also Dec. 2.

See the movie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets while Symphoria performs John Williams’ score. Landmark Theatre, 362 S. Salina St., Syracuse. $41$71 (plus fees). ticketmaster.com.

SUNDAY, DEC. 2 Syracuse City Ballet Nutcracker. 10 a.m.

(sensory-friendly performance) & 2 p.m. See Nov. 30 listing.

Teddy Bear Tea. 1-3 p.m.

Refreshments, live entertainment, art activities, and the Teddy Bear Parade. (An event of the Everson Museum of Art.) Grand Ballroom, Marriott Syracuse Downtown, 100 E. Onondaga St., Syracuse. $25 (includes Festival of Trees admission). Reservations required: everson.org/FOT18. (315) 474-6064.

Harry Potter in Concert. 1 p.m. See Dec. 1 listing.

ONGOING EVENTS Lights on the Lake. 5-10 p.m., daily; Nov. 15-

Jan. 6. Drive through the annual light extravaganza featuring two miles of life-size displays, themed sections and a grand finale. Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. $6/car, Mondays & Tuesdays with Wegmans Shoppers Club card. $10/ car, Monday-Thursday; $20/car, Friday-Sunday. (315) 453-6712.

Erie Canal Museum Gingerbread Gallery.

can learn about the library’s new computer science club at this information session. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration required: (315) 492-1727. oflibrary.org.

Daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Nov. 19-Jan. 6. (Closed Nov. 22, Dec. 25 & Jan. 1.) Dec. 24 & 31: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. See a fantastical village of houses, boats and more, built with gingerbread, candy, crackers and other edible items. Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse. $7/adults; $5/seniors; $2/age 12 & under. (315) 471-0593.

Manga Mania Book Club. 4 p.m. Young people

Peanut Butter Jelly Time. Thursdays, 5 p.m.

Girls Who Code. 3:30 p.m. Girls age 10 and up

ages 12-18 will read and discuss manga and have

CALENDAR

Members of the community can join in making more

book groups for all ages. Call for dates and times. Maxwell Memorial Library, 14 Genesee St., Camillus. Free. (315) 672-3661.

occasional games; youngsters learn group listening and participation skills. Call for times. Northeast Community Center Library, 716 Hawley Ave., Syracuse. Free. (315) 472-6343, Ext. 208.

NOPL Brewerton Storytimes. Babies 3

months-24 months: 9:30-10 a.m. Age 2 and up: Mondays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. NOPL Brewerton, 5440 Bennett St., Brewerton. (315) 676-7484.

NOPL Cicero Library Storytimes. Toddler

Story Hour: Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. Preschool Story Hour: Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-noon. NOPL Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane, Cicero. Free. (315) 699-2032.

NOPL North Syracuse Library Storytimes. Birth-age 3: Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. Ages 3-5: Thursdays, 11 a.m.-noon. NOPL North Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane, North Syracuse. Free. (315) 458-6184.

Onondaga Free Library Storytimes. Baby

Storytime (age 2 and under): Tuesdays, 11 a.m. (not Nov. 20). Family Storytimes (age 2 and older): Wednesdays & Thursdays, 11 a.m. (not Nov. 21 or 22). Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. (315) 492-1727.

Petit Branch Library Storytimes. Tuesdays,

10:30 a.m. Toddler and preschooler storytime for children ages 18 months-5 years and caregivers. Includes stories, rhymes, finger plays and songs. Petit Branch Library, 105 Victoria Place, Syracuse. (315) 435-3636.

Regional Market Farmers’ Market. Saturdays,

7 a.m.-2 p.m. (year-round); Thursdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (May through November only). Shop seasonal produce, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, specialty foods and more on display throughout covered sheds; heated shops of Regional Market Commons feature gift and unique items including jewelry, paintings and home decor. Also, flea market, Sundays, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 2100 Park St., Syracuse. (315) 422-8647.

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