JANUARY 2019
FREE
A LITTLE
JOLT
Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens
What treatments newborns need and why How to argue with your teen A weapon to defeat super lice
Health& Wellness ISSUE
Had a Stroke. Back on Stage.
Musician Todd Hobin KNOW THE SIGNS • CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY
Central New York music legend Todd Hobin knew nothing about stroke — but he does now. That’s why he’s raising awareness about stroke risk factors and its signs and symptoms.
F.
FACE DROOPING
A. S.
ARM WEAKNESS
SPEECH DIFFICULTY
Fact: Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Important to know: Stroke can happen to both men and women — at any age. Good news: Stroke is preventable by managing medical risk factors and healthy lifestyle choices. What to do: Time lost is brain lost. So it’s vital to know the signs of a stroke — F.A.S.T. Four words to live by: Call 911 and say, “Take me to Crouse.“ When it comes to stroke, every moment matters. As one of just 10 hospitals in New York State to have earned Comprehensive Stroke Center status, and with the region’s newest ER and hybrid ORs, Crouse offers the most advanced technology for rapid stroke diagnosis and treatment
Read Todd’s story and learn more: crouse.org/toddhobin.
2
FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
T.
TIME TO CALL 911
Our students say it all. Joy of learning
is what it’s all about for students at Rochester School for the Deaf. Since 1876, our students have been discovering the art of communication and education in a nurturing, inclusive environment—at no cost to families. As a private school, our dynamic educational
programs employ skilled professionals who
educate students in a vibrant multicultural and bilingual scholastic setting which includes American Sign Language and English.
H Building futures for deaf and
hard of hearing students
H Focusing on infant, early childhood,
K-12 grades, up to age 21
H Sign language learning programs and
community outreach services
Get in touch today and give your student the joy of learning.
Luke, 7th Grade signing “Happy”
Rochester School for the Deaf Celebrating our 140th Year! 1545 St. Paul Street | Rochester, NY 14621 585-544-1240 • www.RSDeaf.org • email info@RSDeaf.org
FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
3
EDITOR’S NOTE
6
BECAUSE I SAID SO
8
NUTRITIONAL CONTENT
10
HEALTH REPORT
12
BEEN THERE
16
HEALTH CARE
18
A dad’s back sends him an unwelcome message.
Drinking too many caffeinated drinks poses risks to young people
More parents are rejecting preventative care for newborns.
How to argue (or not) with your teen.
One weapon in the war against super lice.
4
FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
CONTENTS
ISSUE
JANUARY 2019
Health& Wellness
20
LEARN
21
PARTY
21
PRACTICE
22
FAMILY FUN CALENDAR
27
ADVERTISERS INDEX
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK January 27, 2019 through February 2, 2019
Celebrating a Tradition of Excellence in Catholic Education
Please Join Us For Our Annual
OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, January 31st
6:00 - 8:00pm
Come for the evening and tour our facility, see students’ work and meet our school community. Feel free to bring your friends. Children are welcomed. Hope to see you there!
2019 2020 STEPPING STONES OF
Holy Family School offers your family: 2 Day, 3 Day and 5 Day Full Day Nursery 3 Day and 5 Day Full Day Pre-K Full Day Kindergarten and Grades One through Six Before/After School Care and Much, Much More!
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL 130 Chapel Drive, Syracuse, NY 13219
(315)487-8515 www.holyfamilyschoolsyr.org
Can’t make it to Open House? Call for a personal tour. 315-487-8515
FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
5
FROM THE
THE PARENTING GUIDE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK
EDIT R
We need schools! Central New York schools are filled with educators eager to guide students; scholars keen to learn; administrators dedicated to supporting teachers and families; and parent volunteers called to pitch in wherever they can. My two sons attend a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school in Syracuse. Every day when I walk to pick up my 10-year-old, I see staffers, parents and kids, connecting at school. The school is a linchpin of the neighborhood. In recognition of the role schools play in the lives of young people, Family Times is in 2019 introducing a new feature, Class of the Month. On this page of the magazine, we plan to shine a light on a different teacher’s class in each issue. I invite principals of Central New York schools to send their nominations for an upcoming Class of the Month to me through our site, family timescny.com (look for the Class of the Month banner on the right side of the page). Explain, in a few words, what makes this teacher’s class special. I am always interested in hearing from readers. I welcome your ideas for interesting parents or kids to write about, and trends affecting CNY families. You can connect with me and our staff on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Find our current stories and photos, and a growing number of archived articles, at our new site, familytimescny.com. You can even call me at (315) 472-4669, Ext. 124. If I don’t pick up, leave a message and I’ll call you back. Here’s to a brilliant and happy New Year!
2018
know four Getting to ing dads slam-dunk
REID SULLIVAN
The present do problem: What le want? other peop
EDITOR IN CHIEF
A rainbow craft snowflake
‘Oh Wow!'
PUBLISHER/OWNER Bill Brod EDITOR IN CHIEF Reid Sullivan RSullivan@familytimescny.com– MANAGING EDITOR Bill DeLapp PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Michael Davis CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Tom Tartaro (ext. 134) CREATIVE DIRECTOR Robin Barnes GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Greg Minix Rachel Barry Melissa DiGiovanna 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
SALES AND MARKETING COORDINATOR Megan McCarthy (ext. 115) MMcarthy@syracusenewtimes.com DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Deana Vigliotti (ext. 118)
ight Gifts to del ages kids of all
lights lake
Do you want to receive Family Times at your school, agency, daycare center or workplace? Contact Family Times’ circulation director, Tom Tartaro, at (315) 422-7011 or TomTartaro@ syracusenewtimes.com, to arrange for delivery.
ON THE
PROGRAM INSIDE
Advertising deadline for April March 16. Calendar for April is March Advertising deadline for February is Jan.is17. Calendar deadlinedeadline for February is Jan. 11. 3. Cover Design by Robin Barnes | Issue Design by Greg Minix | Cover Photo by iStock
6
GENIUSES AT WORK
Lesli Mitchell (ext. 140) LMitchell@syracusenewtimes.com
FREE
DECEMBER
JANUARY 2019 | ISSUE NO. 201
FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
ADDRESS
1415 W. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13204 (315) 472-4669 fax (315) 422-1721 www.familytimes.biz
Spring 2019 Musical Theatre Classes!
The Little Mermaid, Jr.
Shakespeare’s MacBeth
Pre K - Grade 12!
Grades 7 - 12!
February Break Camp Classes
Grades 1-5 February Break - February 18-22 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Performance - Friday, February 22 at 6:00 p.m.
Grades 5-9 February Break - February 18-22 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Performance - Friday, February 22 at 7:30 p.m.
April Break Camp Classes Grades 1-12 April Break - April 22-26 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Performance - Friday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m.
For more information and to register, visit
www.SCTKids.com FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
7
The Tale of the Very Bad Back
When my body sent me an unwelcome message | BY NEIL DAVIS JR.
M
y hair is turning gray. There’s a chance I need reading glasses. I drive the speed limit and I appreciate the artistry of a well-groomed lawn. Go ahead, call me old.
The typical signs of aging have never bothered me. I’m a father, I look forward to voting, and I occasionally check my 401K. If I ever forget my age, I can always rely on the Teen Choice Awards to set me straight. I have zero interest in watching Riverdale, nor do I care what the Maze Runner is running from. I guess it’s been a few years since I belonged to pop culture’s target audience. I’m okay with all of that. See, I’m still on the comfortable side of 50. Plus, I subscribe to the theory that you are only as old as you feel. Generally, I feel great. It’s a rare day that I fall short of the 10,000step goal on my Fitbit. Last summer, I was even running three or four miles several times a week. Not bad for someone less than a decade away from the senior discount at McDonald’s. Then it happened. One ordinary Tuesday, my body seemingly aged a generation in a matter of seconds. Any injury can make you question your youth, but a back problem is the benchmark for a person being past his prime. Perhaps it’s because a poorly located muscle strain can be so instantly debilitating and inexplicable. One minute I was moving effortlessly around the house, and the next I was hobbling like the old man from Up. Two years earlier, I had suffered a worse injury, a full Achilles tendon rupture that resulted in crutches and months of physical therapy. But that trauma was earned. I had been playing a game of pick-up basketball with a group of other fortysomethings, each of us intent on pretending we were still as agile as our 20-year-old selves. When I jumped up for a rebound, I came down not only with the ball but with the foolish pride of someone who viewed a swollen ankle as a consequence of fierce competition. The hard cast I wore for two months became a badge of honor. My back injury was different. I was merely attempting to bring a medium-sized package in from the porch. It barely outweighed our cat. But in my haste, I had not followed the classic advice to lift with your legs. The next morning, I needed 10 minutes to stand fully upright. I was officially over the hill, and the ride down the other side appeared slow and tricky. I spent the entire day resting, treating myself with an ice pack, ibuprofen and bad television. If an hour of Maury Povich won’t get you off the couch, nothing will. My Fitbit joined in, vibrating and blinking out an inspirational reminder: “Today is the day!” It didn’t seem to understand how clearly defined my physical limitations had become. My own mortality was staring me in the face and I was going to respond as any reasonable person would. “Today is the day,” I replied, “to lie here and sulk, and hope that the batteries in the remote keep working.” Back injuries can be so self-defeating. As a parent, you are supposed to be active, knowing that your children rely on you for everything. I felt lucky to not have a toddler running around the house. (My daughter, at 16, knocks over a lot fewer house plants than she used to.) But that didn’t stop me from worrying that this was the beginning of the end of my mobility, possibly sidelining me during key parenting events. Sadie might soon need help moving into her college
8
BECAUSE I SAID SO
dorm. Instead, all I could picture was her assisting with my own premature move into a retirement community while I cursed the heavy Syracuse winters that had taken a toll on my body. So, on my third sick day, I limped into the Upstate Orthopedics office where an X-ray of my spine drew the curiosity of the physician assistant. “I’m scheduling you for an MRI,” she said, pointing to the gray mass between my L4 and L5 vertebrae. “This disc might be giving you trouble.”
iSTOCK ILLUSTRATIONS
Her diagnosis was nowhere near as comforting as the steroids and muscle relaxers she prescribed. The pain soothed to the point that I didn’t even mind the MRI machine being overbooked. There was a four-week wait for non-emergencies and my sad box-lifting story apparently didn’t qualify. As I healed, my Fitbit continued its motivational assault, each message treading the line between encouragement and nagging. “Time to get moving!” it would suggest, though I interpreted it as, “Seriously, how much Food Network can a person watch?” For nearly a month, I remained in lumbar limbo. Following medical advice, I practiced McKenzie exercises, a series of stretches designed to treat musculoskeletal condi-
tions. The method was devised by Robin McKenzie, a physical therapist who apparently believed in the benefits of contorting oneself like a Cirque de Soleil performer. (To my surprise, the stretches helped and I continue to do them.) An MRI eventually revealed two bulging discs in my lower back. With no surgery required, I was advised to use caution in my return to work. I soon discovered how common my setback was. Everyone my age seems to have dealt with some back issue, and each person is eager to share whichever chiropractor, acupuncturist or yoga move worked for them. It was comforting to know that I was not alone in my vulnerabilities. Age really is just a number. At 48, I’m not in the worst shape. Sure, I could stand to lose three or four (or 12) pounds. But I’ve learned that a back injury is not necessarily a reason to panic. The key is to know your limitations, and to seek help when you’ve reached them. Understand that recovery might take time. And learn how to silence your Fitbit. Neil Davis works at Bristol-Myers Squibb and lives in Liverpool with his daughter.
FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
9
anxiety. The American Physiological Association also notes that caffeine intake in children can result in negative symptoms and behavior including: agitation, nervousness and recurrent headaches. Additionally deaths have been reported related to caffeine toxicity. Also, drinking too much soda or other sugary drinks can lead to increased blood sugar; a single 20-ounce bottle of soda contains 19 teaspoons of sugar. How much caffeine is safe? Children under 12 should not consume caffeine at all, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Healthy teens should limit consumption to 100 milligrams or less, the AAP advises. As for healthy adults, the daily max is recommended to be 400 milligrams per day or less and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are recommended to limit caffeine to 200 milligrams per day or less. How much caffeine is in different drinks? Here is a brief list and checkout a more extensive list from Center for Science in the Public Interest: https://cspinet.org/eating-healthy/ingredients-ofconcern/caffeine-chart Brewed coffee (8 fluid ounces): 95 milligrams Brewed decaffeinated coffee (8 fluid ounces): 2-10 milligrams Green tea (8 fluid ounces): 30 milligrams Starbucks coffee (16 fluid ounce Grande): 330 milligrams Red Bull (8 fluid ounces): 80 milligrams Bai Antioxidant Infusion (16 fluid ounces): 70 milligrams Awake Energy Chocolate (1 bar): 101 milligrams Blue Diamond Mocha Almonds (1 ounce): 24 milligrams Crystal Light Energy (1 packet/16 fluid ounces): 60 milligrams V8 V-Fusion + Energy (1 can/8 fluid ounces): 80 milligrams
iSTOCK PHOTO
It is surprising that more and more products from candy bars to antioxidant drinks have added caffeine. For example, a friend had asked what I thought about Bai drinks for her 9-year-old son. After showing her the caffeine content of the drinks, she quickly realized they weren’t a choice she was going to allow him.
A Little Jolt
Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens BY MOLLY MORGAN
C
affeine is the most commonly consumed stimulant in the world. It’s found in soda, energy drinks, coffee, tea, and chocolate, among other foods and drinks.
Most caffeine intake by children and teens is through soda, coffee and tea, though energy drinks are becoming increasingly popular. About 73 percent of children consume some amount of caffeine on a given day. Studies also find that today children are drinking twice as much soda as they did 20 years ago, averaging 20 fluid ounces per day. The Food and Drug Administration considers caffeine a “safe” substance, yet it can also harm children and teens when over consumed. Excess caffeine can cause heart problems like tachycardia and arrhythmia, along with high blood pressure, hyperactivity and 10
Without looking carefully at products, it can be very easy to overlook the caffeine content, especially if you usually purchase a similar version of a product. If you see the word “energy” on a product, seek out more information about its caffeine content. For example: Crystal Light drink packets and V8 V-Fusion + Energy have added caffeine; each packet of Crystal Light has 60 milligrams of caffeine and each can of the V8 V-Fusion + Energy drink has 80 milligrams of caffeine. What about decaf coffee instead? A cup of decaf coffee still has caffeine, in fact, about two to 10 milligrams of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces, which is negligible but still—I wouldn’t recommend it. Instead, when at a coffee shop choose a fruit smoothie or vanilla flavored frozen drink made with milk! How about tea? In general, per cup (8 fluid ounces) tea does have lower caffeine content than coffee and energy drinks. For example, Gold Peak unsweetened tea (19 fluid ounces) has only 23 milligrams of caffeine. For a completely caffeine-free tea option, choose herbal teas like passion fruit! What about energy drinks? Even though caffeine intake for kids age 12 years and older in moderation is okay, energy drinks are not recommended as the source. The reason is because energy drinks are beverages that combine caffeine plus vitamins, minerals, amino acids and herbs (ginseng, guarana, etc.). The combination of the caffeine and the additives, along with a potentially large volume of consumption, is a recipe for disaster. Additionally there is a lack of regulation that the FDA has over energy drinks, which means you can’t even be certain exactly how much caffeine is in the product. In contrast, the FDA has regulated the allowable amount of caf-
NUTRITIONAL CONTENT
feine in soda to 71 milligrams per 12 fluid ounce beverage. In contrast energy drinks on shelves today can have more than the amount of caffeine compared with soda. A Red Bull Energy Drink has 77 milligrams of caffeine in just 8 fluid ounces. As a sports dietitian I recommend any athlete, including teens, regardless of health and fitness level, avoid energy drinks before, during and after strenuous activities. There have been alleged deaths due to energy drink consumption when consumed before and during strenuous activity. If you are looking for an energy boost for your children (and you too!), here are tips to try.
Focus on hydration! Being under-hydrated can make you feel tired. Sip mostly water throughout the day to maximize hydration levels. Athletes: Arrive to games, workouts and practices hydrated, and sip water throughout. Have quality meals and snacks. Have a routine eating pattern, with several meals and snacks that incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and healthy fats. These foods will help to provide quality calories and longer lasting energy. Get adequate sleep each night. According to the Sleep Foundation, school-age children should get nine to 11 hours of sleep a night. Those ages 14 to 17 need eight to 10
Please Join Us At The
hours, and young adults from 18 to 25 need seven to nine hours. Adults—over 25—also need at least seven hours of sleep a night! So, if you or your children are dragging, first try drinking some water, having a nutritionally rich snack, or just taking a break. And aim to get to bed early for a good night’s sleep. Molly Morgan is a registered dietitian and author of three books. She lives in the Southern Tier area with her two children and husband. Visit her website at creativenutritionsolutions.com.
Our Dinner Sponsors
13 th Annual
Catholic Schools
Light the Way
Scholarship Dinner Friday, January 25, 2019 Marriott Downtown Syracuse
Honoring Bishop Robert J. Cunningham
Visit syrdio.org for tickets & information
We look forward to seeing you!
FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
11
Newborn Protection
Preventative care, including shots, safeguards infants against serious conditions BY LAURA LIVINGSTON SNYDER
G
roups and websites that discourage immunizations are fueling a movement away from vaccines through scare tactics and misleading stories. Like a dangerous version of the game Telephone, social media helps spread misinformation. As a result, fewer children are receiving preventative care and the protection it conveys. Jonathan Chai is a Yale graduate, neonatologist, and director of the neonatal intensive care nursery at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He works exclusively with newborn care and has noticed parents declining vaccinations and other care for their children in Syracuse. “We’ve seen an increasing refusal of immunizations and standard preventative treatment. It’s been increasing over the last few years,” he says. “Now it’s almost every month.” He is referring to vitamin K injections, erythromycin eye ointment and the hepatitis B vaccine. Those parents tell him they’ve done their research, he says. But where is this research coming from and what is it telling parents? 12
As a mom and nurse, I’m here to dispel myths so parents can make informed decisions for their newborn baby’s health. It is a New York State law for all newborns to get the vitamin K shot shortly after birth. Lynne Ponto is the nurse manager of the mother-baby unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She has been in this specialty for 32 years and has seen more parents declining this intervention. The parents are most often concerned about the pain of the injection. “They don’t want their baby in pain, and their minds are sometimes made up when they come in. Our job is to educate, so we try to give information and reinforce what they’ve learned during pregnancy.”
I’m very lucky my boys received this. We were unaware they had hemophilia, a bleeding disorder where their blood is lacking a piece of the clotting process. Without this vitamin it could have been disastrous. Though the likelihood of VKDB is low, Chai points out there have been cases in Tennessee and England in babies whose parents refused the treatment. Yes, infants do receive some forms of immunity from the mother either during pregnancy or from breastmilk. Vitamin K is the exception.
Vitamin K is given in a quick injection in a baby’s thigh. This vitamin, which helps blood clot, is essential to prevent vitamin K deficiency bleeding (also referred to as VKDB).
“We have an 82 to 83 percent breastfeeding rate,” Ponto reports. But since vitamin K is not passed from the mother to the child, breastfed babies are at risk for deficiency. The vitamin K in infant formula is insufficient and poorly absorbed. Those against immunizations suspect an association with cancer such as leukemia, yet there is no evidence for a link.
Chai says bleeding can happen later— sometimes spontaneously—up to a month or two after birth. All babies are born with low levels of vitamin K during the first few months of life, so refusing the shot is like playing Russian roulette with your child.
continued on page 14
HEALTH REPORT
Erythromycin eye ointment shortly after birth is another recommendation. Parents tell Ponto they’re worried about this treatment causing eye infections, making a baby’s vision blurry, or causing discomfort.
Hosting an event? LET US HELP YOU.
CNY Tix is Central New York’s reliable ticket selling platform. We’ll help you sell and market tickets for your local events.
iSTOCK PHOTO
Fundraisers • Festivals • Plays Sports • Concerts • & MORE
cnytix.com 315-422-7011 • info@cnytix.com
A service
of the Sy
racuse Ne
w Times
Child Health Care Associates
would like to welcome Hannah Thornton to our practice in 2019!
Romantic Farmhouse Getaway in Cazenovia, NY
Come enjoy a rustic and romantic retreat in a private suite for two! • Includes queen bed and bath, full kitchen, living & laundry area. • Includes our Farmhouse Breakfast Basket with fresh morning eggs and pure maple syrup! BOOK IN JANUARY — Complimentary WINTER SNOWSHOE PACKAGE BOOK IN FEBRUARY — Complimentary RUSTIC & ROMANTIC DINNER PACKAGE BOOK IN MARCH or APRIL — Complimentary Bottle of PURE NYS MAPLE SYRUP
Nightly Rate: $225 Two night minimum stay
Call: (315)569-7244 or visit us online at: www.redfoxrunbb.com
Two Convenient Locations: 6700 Kirkville Road, East Syracuse 8138 Oswego Road, Liverpool
315-652-8800 Hours: 8am Mon-Fri 8:30am Sat-Sun
Hannah is a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who brings years of experience in pediatric primary care, neonatology and breastfeeding medicine. Originally from New Hampshire, she graduated from Boston College with her B.S. in nursing and worked as a registered nurse in both Labor & Delivery and Neonatal Intensive Care. Hannah pursued her advanced nursing degree from Stony Brook University and obtained a M.S. in Nursing and became certified as a nationally board certified pediatric nurse practitioner. She has worked as an NP in pediatric practices in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and most recently in the NICU at Crouse Hospital caring for critically ill infants. Hannah lives in Manlius with her husband and three children.
We are delighted that Hannah will be part of the CHCA “family”! FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
13
continued from page 12 Erythromycin is an antibiotic ointment so it doesn’t cause infections but treats them. It is given to prevent the spread of venereal diseases such as chlamydia and gonorrhea. Even if a mother is free of diseases the baby is still at risk for neonatal conjunctivitis. Its clinical name is ophthalmia neonatorum, or ON, and it can cause eye damage or even blindness. According to ChildrensMd.org, ON can happen quickly. ON can also be caused by bacteria in the environment such or even a plugged tear duct. Once ophthalmia neonatorum is diagnosed, treatment involves a hospital stay and intravenous antibiotics. Application of erythromycin has long since replaced silver nitrate, a potentially toxic and corrosive substance used decades ago. I’ve had erythromycin ointment at one time or another. It doesn’t sting and the blurriness lasts only a short time. Some parents fear the blurriness can interfere with bonding. But a baby’s vision is not perfect after birth, and they can still recognize their mother through their sense of smell and hearing. (And you can always have the application of the ointment deferred until you’ve had some skin-to-skin time.) The hepatitis B vaccine is the only actual immunization for a newborn. It also creates the most concern, which can then trickle down to all the other immunizations a baby will need to get in his lifetime. Parents’ fears range from believing it’s a live virus to questioning compounds in the vaccine. Hepatitis B is a disease that is spread by contact with blood or other body fluids from an infected person. Complications involve liver infection and liver failure. In a nutshell, we are unable to live without our liver. Mothers are routinely tested for hep B, but other people who can come into contact with the baby are not. Ponto says, “We have guidelines regarding immunity, but (it is unclear) how long one is immune for.” Some people are unaware they are infected. Hep B can also exist on everyday items. Even if there is no blood present, objects can be contaminated with the virus, where it can live for a week or more. Because of this, Chai recommends babies get this immunization within the first 12 hours after birth. It is also especially important for everyone, from grandparents to siblings, to be up to date on their vaccines, especially when around newborns. The hepatitis B shot is not a live virus. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (medlineplus.gov), the only vaccines available that are made from a live virus are the MMR and chickenpox vaccine. The MMR (for measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine isn’t suggested until the child is 1 year old, when his immune system is strong enough to build immunity from weakened versions of diseases. Adjuvants, or ingredients added to vaccines, have changed drastically from our parents’ day. This is also the area with the most controversy. Preservatives were added to vaccines in the 1930s to prevent bacterial or fungal contamination when each vial was accessed several times by different needles. In 1997 it was found that children received levels of mercury (through the compound thimerosal, which contains mercury) in immunizations that were higher than recommended, even though it was still no more than the Food and Drug Administration’s limits. It was because of these mercury levels that thimerosal was challenged. As a precaution and to alleviate concern, thimerosal was removed from vaccines in 2001. There is no longer any thimerosal in any vaccine, according to publichealth.org. Multiuse vials of influenza vaccine contain thimerosal, but they’ve been replaced by single-dose syringes, which do not. The public is immunized by these single-dose syringes. Immunization is important for our community as much as the individual. Herd immunity is when a high percentage of the pop14
HEALTH REPORT
ulation is resistant to contagious diseases. We’ve relied on this to eradicate those viruses that kill or seriously harm us. Small pox is the only disease that has been completely wiped out through immunization, according to the World Health Organization. Many other dangerous diseases were being eradicated, but the lack of infection has made the public complacent. Believing the unfamiliar diseases are no longer a threat, many people have chosen to forego vaccines. This current trend is unsafe, especially with recent and local outbreaks such as the mumps at Syracuse University in 2017. Chai concurs. “If rates of vaccination decline we’ll certainly see the re-emergence of previously rare diseases.” Those who are very young and very old have immune systems that are too compromised to fight off these viruses. Ponto asks that parents “educate themselves with evidence-based articles and speak to your doctor. Trust the medical community. We love your children just as much as you do.” Laura Livingston Snyder is a writer and mother of four who lives north of Syracuse. She blogs at freshapple snyder.com.
EXCITED to learn, INSPIRED to grow. r
Join us for ou MAKE YOUR RESOLUTION TO GET Fiscally Fit THIS NEW YEAR! Email us at lending2@edgefcu.org or call (315) 451-0105 today for an appointment!
iSTOCK PHOTO
7545 Morgan Rd, Liverpool (315) 451-0105 edgefcumail@edgefcu.org edgefcu.org
OPEN HOUSE January 27th Noon until 2pm
Learn about our science lab, art, music, and Gifted & Talented programs; all while touring the school and meeting our outstanding teachers! At St. Margaret’s School, our foundation is built on: Faith-Based Education: We pride ourselves in teaching as Jesus did, following Christian principles throughout each and every lesson.
y r u b r e t n Ca tables S After School Enrichment Program: M-F 3-6pm REGISTER NOW! • Safe Hands on with Horses • Fun Arts & Crafts • Horse Care Education • Transportation from Caz Schools • Time for Homework • Canterbury Trainers 315-440-2244 for Tours and Information 4786 Roberts Rd. canterburystablesny.com BOARDING • HUNTER, JUMPER & DRESSAGE LESSONS • SHOWS
Academic Excellence: We strive to provide each student with access to high quality instruction that will prepare them for future success. Our small class sizes allow for teachers to work with students in small groups and really get to know them as individuals. Advanced Technology: In addition to a computer lab where students receive technology instruction twice weekly, each classroom is equipped with instructional technology. Furthermore, we offer a 1:1 Chromebook program in grades 3-6.
Now offering a Gifted and Talented program to students in grades 3-6. Visit StMargaretSchoolNY.org for more information 201 Roxboro Road, Mattydale, NY 13211 315-455-5791 FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
15
How to Argue with Your Teen Turn your disagreements into communication, not conflict | BY TAMMY DiDOMENICO
A
s our children get closer to adulthood, they develop a greater desire for independence and autonomy. We parents must prepare them for life without us. This is letting go.
The process is imperfect. When the balance between attentive parent and teenager-with-burgeoning-self-awareness is askew, harmony can be difficult to maintain. As a parent to two teenagers—18 and 15—I’ve found myself in the midst of a fair share of disagreements. I still have a ways to go before I can declare myself a successful parent of young adults. But I can say that I’ve learned a few things about how best to navigate—and even avoid—arguments with teenage children. Pick your battles. No matter how much we love our children, how much time we spend with them, or how much we try to influence what they are exposed to, stuff gets through. Sometimes we can’t help wanting to influence their choices in friends, clothes, music, driving style, or potential colleges. Part of it is a simple inability to let up on the parenting reflexes. But not everything is worth going toe-to-toe over. I’ve had few arguments with my kids about clothing choices and “friend dramas.” Hair has been a different story. While my younger son has always preferred a close-cropped style, my older son experiments with long hair. I dislike his (to me) unkempt hair so much that it becomes a 16
BEEN THERE
“thing” between us. I’m not proud of it, and I realize that as much as I’m “positive” that his long hair is unflattering, it’s his hair. I stifle my grimaces when he comes home from college, and try not to express my opinion about it unless he asks. It’s an argument that I cannot win, because I no longer have any right to tell him how to wear his hair. I’ve been less flexible when it comes to personal responsibilities. These have probably been the source my most heated arguments. Sure, it would be easier for me to clean the bathroom myself, but I am trying to raise young men who understand that household chores are the responsibility of every member of the household—not just the female ones. So, if someone slacks on his responsibility, he will hear about it. I usually don’t get a lot back in terms of a verbal argument; they know I’m not interested in excuses. (But if rolly-eyes were dollars...) My oldest agrees that his lack of initiative has been the one thing we have battled about the most over the years. In hindsight, I take some responsibility for the problem. When my children were young, I didn’t encourage them to help with household tasks as much as I should have. When I recognized the mistake, I overcompensated by expecting too much. Arguments ensued, and I soon realized that instead of expecting my boys to be intuitive about what I think should be done to help around the house, I ought to just assign them specific tasks. It’s true, young people thrive with boundaries and clear expectations—not ambiguity.
Anything that touches on health and safety, I believe, is a battle worth having. My kids and I have argued over wearing bike helmets (“Don’t even ask!”), car usage (“No, I’m not letting you drive after 9 p.m. with a junior license just because your friends do.”), and curfew (“Nothing good happens after 2 a.m.!”). Most of the time, kids can’t argue with the simple fact that you love them and want them to be safe.)
Weekday Mornings 5:30 -10AM
Avoid power struggles. My children and their friends have grown up in a culture where technology is omnipresent. My husband and I didn’t allow our kids to have cell phones until they could use them appropriately. But I’m starting to wonder if there is ever a good time to introduce a portable computer to a young mind. (It doesn’t help that I am largely indifferent to modern technology, while my husband loves it.) When my sons were younger, controlling phone use was much easier. Today, with teachers using Google Docs and other online programs for communicating and distributing assignments, students often need to use their devices throughout the school day.
iSTOCK ILLUSTRATION
Now that phones are study tools, my rule that phones be put on the foyer table as soon as my sons get home doesn’t work. My younger son and I disagree almost daily about how often he really “needs” his phone, but to save everyone’s sanity, we hammered out the key aspects of phone use regulations and put the results in a contract. Sure, I could keep saying, “We pay for the phone so it’s not really yours.” Or make endless threats to take it away—only to hand it back a day later when he is traveling for a sporting event and needs to be reachable. With a contract, my son knows what the expectations are, and he knows what the consequences are if they are not met. A contract also allows my son to see his own contributions to problem solving in writing. And if a change needs to be made, we discuss and alter the terms of the contract.
IS HIRING Are you a student looking for some part-time work or a career-minded individual seeking a job with competitive pay and some awesome benefits? We are currently have the following openings: • LPN full-time or part-time, 3-11 • Home Health Aide Counselor • Resident Care Aide part-time
Don’t wait, APPLY NOW TO:
• CNA full-time or part-time, all shifts • Group Home Residence
Menorah Park
4101 East Genesee St, Syracuse, NY 13214 (315) 446-9111 | www.menorahparkofcny.com amusolino@menorahparkofcny.com | AA/EOE
Accentuate the positive. When our children begin to take the reins of their lives, we may not always like where they’re headed. I could fight with my youngest about why he should take his grades in English more seriously. But I’ve learned that discussing options for improvement works better. And I try to start those discussions by reminding him of the things he does well. I could argue with my older son about the fact that he didn’t work enough hours over the summer and needs to get a job now that he’s in college. We do debate over his still-developing time management skills—but I also tell him that I’m proud of how hard he is working on his coursework and that I am excited to hear about everything he is learning in his classes. Parenting is a long road, and none of us have easy answers. I’m willing to put in the work to make sure that the arguments my kids and I have now will leave minimal collateral damage. Let’s face it, I want these guys to keep coming back for dinner table conversations every once in a while when they are well into their twenties, thirties, and beyond. According to my youngest, there’s no point to arguing anyway. “Fighting…with you?” he said, laughing, when I asked him his thoughts about me writing this column. “Just tell them the truth, Mom—that I always win.” Award-winning writer Tammy DiDomenico lives in DeWitt with her husband and two sons.
DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE
DELAYED
VISION SKILLS? Offering vision therapy to help to correct your child’s visual deficits that may be contributing to reading or other academic disorders.
Weiss, Savedoff & Ciccone Doctors of Optometry, PC
Excellence in professional vision care services | Quality ophthalmic materials
60 Presidential Plaza, Madison Tower, Syracuse • (315) 472-4594 8116 Cazenovia Road, Seven Pines Bldg #7, Manlius • (315) 682-2835
WWW.EYE-CARE1.COM FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
17
Beat the Super Lice How to overcome a hair-raising problem | BY REID SULLIVAN
D
on’t fear the super lice!
Every year, an estimated 6 million to 12 million U.S. children ages 3 to 11 contract head lice, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preschoolers and elementary students are more vulnerable, primarily because lice are transmitted head to head. Kids touch heads at camps, sleepovers, on sports teams, and just roughhousing. Anecdotally, outbreaks occur most frequently in the warm months. By offering this guide to you now, though, I hope to have you well prepared if you notice your daughter scratching her head fiercely, or get a note sent home from preschool that says another child has contracted head lice. It Can Happen to Anyone First off, a head lice infestation is not a sign of a dirty home, poor hygiene or bad parenting. Though a child’s infestation is quite inconvenient, it’s not a tragedy. You and your family can successfully cope with head lice and live to laugh about it. Using the method I recommend will take some time, but it does not require you to shave your child’s head. Don’t do what I did, years ago, when I encountered lice on one of my offspring: run out and buy a slew of lice-killing and lice-preventing shampoos and sprays. These products are frequently ineffective, toxic, or both. Pediculus humanus capitis—human head lice—can be defeated with old-fashioned nit picking, using a special metal comb, and combing is not harmful to humans at all. It’s also remarkably effective, unlike many over-the-counter shampoos containing active ingredients such as pyrethrin or permethrin. 18
HEALTH
Such shampoos’ lice-killing capacity has waned over the years. In fact, lice resistance to pediculicides—caused by misuse and overuse—has led to the term “super lice.” What’s more, many shampoos do not kill nits (the lice eggs), so you have to shampoo the child repeatedly, seven to 10 days between applications, to destroy the hatched lice. (Several preparations are flammable, so they’re not to be used with blow dryers or near cigarettes. The synthetic silicone oils called dimethicones are not pesticides; they’re used in some newer anti-lice systems, but they are among these flammable substances.) Feeble Foes The good news is that head lice are rather delicate. Lice at all phases of their life cycle are specifically adapted to feed, grow and reproduce on the human scalp. They need the heat, humidity and availability of human blood (gross, I know) in order to thrive. Off the scalp, even a full-grown adult louse will weaken and die in a little over a day. And the claws of the head louse—perfect for crawling on human hair or the scalp—don’t work to get around on household objects or fabrics. Once a louse falls off a head, it’s nearly impossible for it to find its way back. The nits, too, require the moisture of the scalp in order to develop and hatch. If you pick them off, they dry up. For the same reason, in my opinion (and that of the researchers whose studies I reviewed) you don’t need to go through all the bother of vacuuming furniture, isolating stuffed animals, or doing many loads of laundry. If you want to be extra cautious, wash the pillow cases of the person with the infestation. Use hot water and a hot dryer. Or just set the pillowcases aside for a day or two.
Your Weapon: a Comb So how do you know your kid has lice? I’d recommend you get a metal lice comb first. It’s the best tool for combing out lice and nits, and ensuring that what you’re seeing isn’t skin flakes or just dirt. (Most drugstores have several types available for sale. Only buy the kind with metal teeth.) Lice most prefer the areas at the nape of the neck and behind the ears. A bad infestation will be obvious; the child’s head will be teaming with moving critters, some as large as a sesame seed. A newer infestation might be subtler. Wet the child’s hair and comb through it to determine if there are any lice moving around. Nits are especially hard to see. They are attached to the hair, near the scalp, and are hard and teardrop shaped. Each one is white or yellow and less than a millimeter long—barely larger than the hair itself. They are usually close to the scalp. Unlike dandruff, they won’t come off a strand of hair easily.
iSTOCK PHOTO
A louse’s life cycle takes about two weeks to complete. The nit hatches in six to nine days. In seven days, the hatched nymphs reach adulthood and are able to lay more eggs and infect other people whose hair they contact. Each adult female can lay up to eight nits a day, according to the CDC. So within a week of contracting lice, a child could be harboring 56 nits or more, from the egg laying of a single female. Sadly, there’s never just one louse. And the numbers increase exponentially, until an entire uncivil civilization is spreading across your kid’s scalp. But you can fight those invaders and reclaim your child’s head. Above all, remain calm. (This is my standard advice for all crises, big and small.) Your lice enemies are numerous, stealthy and relentless. You need to keep a cool head and be methodical in your approach. The Method You are going to have to buy some products, set up a work space, encourage your child to sit still for at least an hour and probably longer (depending on how many lice he’s got), and go through your kid’s hair with a literal fine-toothed comb. Indeed, you can do all of this without a comb; I’ve read of people nit picking with their fingernails alone. For my suggested setup, you need: an ordinary wide-toothed plastic comb; a metal lice comb, preferably with grooved teeth; a hair conditioner or mild cleanser like Cetaphil or the generic version; a source of water, such as a sink or basin; and plenty of tissues or paper towels.
remove all the potentially egg-laying lice, from nymphs to adults. Each day you’ll see fewer and fewer live lice, until they’re all gone. Then you just have to keep checking and combing to ensure that you catch newly hatched lice from eggs you didn’t remove—before they reach adulthood and lay more eggs. After two weeks, or three to be certain, you will have broken the cycle. (After the first infestation in our family, I started checking every week. We already had the comb!) Above all, use this as an opportunity to be kind and compassionate toward your child. She is itchy and uncomfortable. She has to sit still for you to get through all the hair. You may accidentally tug and hurt her. So speak nicely, and try to enjoy jokes together or talk about the videos she’s watching. Together you can get through this trial. And at the end of it, you’ll have the lice comb and be able to squelch any future infestations before they get out of control. Reid Sullivan is the editor in chief of Family Times and lives in Syracuse with her husband, two sons, and three cats.
Resources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www. cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/epi.html U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, published in Deutsches Arzteblatt Internatinal (in English): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC5165061/ “Head Lice Guide, Frequently Asked Questions,” Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (available as a PDF by searching “head lice” at https://ecommons.cornell.edu)
Wash your child’s hair with an ordinary shampoo and rinse. It’s easier to comb through wet hair. Entice your itchy kid to sit on a stool or the lid of the toilet by offering her a tablet filled with entertaining videos and perhaps give her a lollipop or some chewing gum. This is no time to withhold treats of any kind; your job is to make the experience as bearable as possible. It’s going to take a while. Talk to her in a soothing voice. Work through each section of hair methodically, applying the conditioner or cleanser, and combing through first with the wide-toothed comb, to prevent tangles, then from the scalp to the ends with the lice comb. Wipe the comb off on tissues or paper towels. Or rinse it in a basin, and put the bugs down the sink. You may have to comb each hair multiple times to remove nits, which are glued to each strand of hair. Long hair obviously involves more time and effort. Let your spouse take a turn at the combing through, or at least have him or her provide moral support, cheerleading and care for any other children (who, one hopes, haven’t also been infested). Keep on Combing On Day 1 you will take care of the bulk of the infestation. Continue to comb through all of the child’s hair daily to remove any remaining lice or nits. Each succeeding day, you should encounter fewer lice or nits. Do this every day for 10 to 14 days, and you should eventually FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
19
Self portraits created by UPK students
* NOW ENROLLING ENROLLING for for Preschool! Preschool! NOW
Three-day (M,W,F), (M,W,F),full-day full-day program programfor forchildren childrenage age4* 4* Three-day Christiancurriculum curriculumdesigned designed to todevelop develop aa range rangeof ofskills skills Christian toprepare prepareyour yourchild child for forKindergarten Kindergarten to Weekly lessons in Art, Music, Gym,and andLibrary Library Weekly lessons in Art, Music, Gym, environments environments
Give us a call or stop by. 920 Euclid Ave. Syracuse, NY 13210 315-472-5580 ens.upk@gmail.com
*atleast leastage age44by byDec. Dec.1st 1stof ofthe theschool schoolyear year *at
MILY TIMES HORIZONTAL
Space isis limited! limited! 315 315--469 469--7777 7777 5” WIDE X 4.9” Space HIGH
www.faithheritageschool.org www.faithheritageschool.org
OPEN HOUSE FEBRUARY 10 2-4 PM www.mssyr.org 315.449.9033
A private preschool & elementary school for children ages 3-12 20
LEARN
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
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Painting, Bathroom, Kitchen, Basement, Remodeling. Flooring, Door & Window Installation, Plumbing & Electrical. Retired Teacher, 40 years experience.
STILL TIME TO REGISTER! In Camillus & Manlius
Syracuse Stallions Basketball Dance Team
3 TDS Alumni Currently Performing on Broadway
thedancestudiocny@gmail.com Call: 315-922-3232 TheDanceStudioCNY.com WE DO BIRTHDAY PARTIES!
Joe Ball 436-9008
(Onondaga County Only)
Discover the power of family music making Now enrolling for Discover Wintertheclasses! power of family music making
Offering early childhood musicto andchildren, movement classes to Offering early childhood music and movement classes children, and the adults who love them. Classes located all over and the adults who love them. Classes located all over CNY. CNY. To find the one nearest you, call or visit our website To find the one nearest you, call or visit our website www.bluebirdmusictogether.com 427-6985 www.bluebirdmusictogether.com • (315)(315) 427-6985
Discover the power of family music making Offering early childhood music and movement classes to children, and the adults who love them. Classes located all over CNY. To find the one nearest you, call or visit our website
www.bluebirdmusictogether.com (315) 427-6985
Liverpool Youth Soccer League
REGISTRATION HAS BEGUN! Recreational Soccer for Youth in Grade K - Age 13
Only $85
Covers both Spring & Fall Seasons (includes soccer jersey, shorts & socks)
Register by January 1 and Save $10 OFF the registration fee! Register online at www.lysl.net
PARTY PLANNER
PRACTICE
21
iSTOCK ILLUSTRATION
Please note: Mistakes happen. To confirm event details, call the sponsoring organization’s phone number or visit the website.
SATURDAY, DEC. 29 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.
Sciencenter Showtime. 2
Donna B. Performance. Noon-2 p.m. Children
Weekday Snowshoe Jaunt.
TUESDAY, JAN. 1
First Snow Leopard Day.
of all ages can rock in the New Year with Miss Donna B. Participants can also get their faces painted. Central Library, KidSpace (Level 2), 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-1900.
Happy New Year!
NEW YEAR’S DAY
p.m.; Saturdays. Topics of this weekly interactive series cover a different aspect of science at each session. Sciencenter, 601 First St., Ithaca. Admission: $8/ages 2-64; $7/seniors, age 65-plus; free/under 2. (607) 272-0600. sciencenter.org.
SUNDAY, DEC. 30 See Ongoing Events
MONDAY, DEC. 31 Noon Year’s Eve at the Zoo. 10:30 a.m.-12:30
p.m. Ring in the “noon” year with entertainment, games, crafts, and a sparkling-juice toast at noon. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. Admission: $8/adults (ages 19-61); $5/over age 62; $4/ages 3-18; free/age 2 and younger. (315) 435-8511.
FFL Noon Year’s Eve Party. 11:30 a.m.-12:30
p.m. Kids and parents can ring in the New Year with an event that features music, dancing, crafts, snacks, and a countdown at noon. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-6374. fflib.org.
22
CALENDAR
1:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, through Feb. 13. Take a walk around the grounds of Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $5/snowshoe rental; $4/vehicle. (315) 638-2519. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. See snow leopards, Humboldt penguins, red wolves and other animals for half price through Feb. 28. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. Admission January and February: $4/adults; $2.50/age 62 & up; $2/ages 3-18; free/age 2 and younger. (315) 435-8511.
THURSDAY, JAN. 3 Yoga for Kids. 2-3 p.m. Participants ages 5-12
First Day Hike. 11 a.m. Families, individuals and
leashed dogs may choose between two hikes in an event presented by the Friends of Clark Reservation. Buy a raffle ticket for a basket. Enjoy cocoa and cookies after the hike, at the nature center. Sign in at the big pavilion, Clark Reservation, 6105 E. Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville. Free. councilofparkfriends.org.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 2 Wiggleworms. 10:15 a.m.; also Jan. 9, 16, 23 & 30. Toddlers and preschoolers can play with props and musical instruments. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Registration required: oflibrary.org. (315) 492-1727.
can learn breathing and visualization techniques and discover various yoga poses. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration required: oflibrary.org. (315) 492-1727.
Teen Writer’s Guild. 4-5 p.m.; also Jan. 10,
17, 24 & 31. Join fellow teens to write in any of a variety of genres, receive feedback and get support. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-6374. ffl.org.
Game Day. 4-4:45 p.m.; also Jan. 10, 17, 24 & 31.
Kids from 5 to 14 can play on the Wii, plus card games, board games and others. Solvay Public Library, 615 Woods Road, Solvay. Free. (315) 4682441. solvaylibrary.org.
FRIDAY, JAN. 4 Wiggleworms. 10:15 & 11 a.m. Toddlers and
preschoolers can play with props and musical instruments. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Registration required: oflibrary. org. (315) 492-1727.
Free to Be. 10:30-11:15 a.m. Children from ages 3 to 6 can take part in this early childhood music and acting class with live guitar music, creating unique lyrics. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-6374. fflib.org.
Friday Crafts. 4-4:45 p.m.;
also Jan. 11, 18 & 25. Kids from age 4 to 14 can make a different themed craft each week. Solvay Public Library, 615 Woods Road, Solvay. Free. (315) 4682441. solvaylibrary.org.
Robotics Club. 3:30 p.m.; also Jan. 11, 18 & 25.
Children ages 10-15 can learn to design, build, program and test robots using an Elegoo Uno starter kit. Space limited. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. Registration requested: (315) 435-3519.
SATURDAY, JAN. 5 Music with Donna B. 10:30 a.m. Donna Butter-
field leads an interactive music program for children age 2 and up. Rhythm instruments, puppets and storybooks are part of the fun. Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville. Free. CLDandJ.org. (315) 446-3578.
Paws to Read. 10:30-11:30 a.m.; also Jan. 12, 19
& 26. 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.
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.
Try Snowshoeing. 12:30 p.m.; Saturdays &
Sundays, through Feb. 24. In this snowshoe clinic, participants will receive instructions and go on a short snowshoe hike. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $5/snowshoe rental; $4/vehicle. Call day of hike to register and check conditions: (315) 638-2519.
Paint Chip Calendars. 2 p.m. Young people ages
Slime Science. 2 p.m.
Young people can practice their chemistry skills and make squishy, stretchy slime. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 4353519.
Mad Scientists. 2 p.m. Children in K-5 can take part in science activities presented by members of SciExcite, a nonprofit organization run by high school students. Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville. Free. Registration required: CLDandJ.org. (315) 446-3578.
Try Snowshoeing, Jan. 5
MONDAY, JAN. 7 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.
SUNDAY, JAN. 6
TUESDAY, JAN. 8
Sunday Funday. 2-4 p.m.; weekly, through April
First Steps. 9:30-10 a.m.; also Jan. 15, 22 & 29.
14. All ages of visitors can explore the galleries, see art making, hear stories, and play games. Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. $8/ general admission; free/under 12. (315) 474-6064. everson.org.
MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO
12-18 can make colorful calendars using paint chips, dry erase markers and other materials. Snacks and beverages provided. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. Registration requested: (315) 435-5326.
Children who are good walkers, up to age 3, can with a caregiver take part in a program with music, movement, crafts and more. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. (315) 637-6374. fflib.org.
Baby Storytime. 10:30-11 a.m.; also Jan. 15, 22 & 29. 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. 1:30-3:30 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.
Teen Tuesday. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Young people in
grades 6-12 can take part in a different program each week. This week it’s hands-on art with the Everson. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. Registration required: fflib.org. (315) 637-6374.
Teen MOPS. 5-7 p.m.; also Jan. 22. Young
mothers, ages 13-21, with children under 6 enjoy a faith-based program with fun, food and activities while their children are cared for by the childcare program. Liverpool First United Methodist Church, 604 Oswego St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 569-2542.
FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
23
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 9 Teen Tabletop Games. 6-8 p.m. Teens can
play board games and eat snacks. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 4570310. lpl.org.
THURSDAY, JAN. 10 Trail Tales. 1 p.m.; also Jan. 24. 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.
Young Naturalist Club. 4:30 p.m. Children
age 8 and up can learn science while taking part in hands-on activities. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3519.
FRIDAY, JAN. 11 Preschool Books and Cooks. Noon-2 p.m. Chil-
dren ages 3-5 and their families can discover books and recipes. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. Registration required: lpl.org. (315) 457-0310.
SATURDAY, JAN. 12 Paws and Books. 10:30 a.m.; also Jan. 19.
Support for Pregnancy. 6-7:30
p.m. Meet professionals who offer services to pregnant and postpartum women, including a counselor, a physical therapist and a chiropractor. Presented by CNY Doula Connection. CNY Healing Arts, 195 Intrepid Lane, Syracuse. Free. Registration recommended: (315) 707-8097.
See Ongoing Events
Family Dance. 6:30-7:30 p.m. People of all ages
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 16
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. syracusecountrydancers.org/community-dance.
Teen Video Game Night. 6-8 p.m. Teens can
Battle of the Bands. 7 p.m. In the 17th
play games on the big HD screen and the smaller screen. Snacks will be served. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. lpl.org. (315) 457-0310.
THURSDAY, JAN. 17 Moonlight Skiing and Snowshoeing. Until 9
p.m.; through Jan. 20. Venture onto Beaver Lake’s 10 miles of trails (if the snow cover is adequate) lit by the moon. Hot chocolate and other refreshments available at the visitor center. Bring a flashlight and a friend for safety. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $5/ hour for snowshoe rental; Admission: $4/vehicle, paid as you exit. (315) 638-2519.
Pups ‘n Pages. 11 a.m.-noon.;
FRIDAY, JAN. 18
Circle Children’s Theatre presentation, children in the audience help teach the Beast kindness and good manners. Audience members are encouraged to dress up as a fairy tale character and become part of the royal court. Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St., Syracuse. $6. Reservations recommended: (315) 449-3823.
DIY Day. 2:30 p.m. Kids ages 5-12 can make win-
dow clings from fabric puffy paint. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.
SUNDAY, JAN. 13 See Ongoing Events
MONDAY, JAN. 14 Young Naturalists. 4 p.m.
Students in grades 3-8 will take part in hands-on games and observation of the local environment. Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville. Free. Registration required: CLDandJ.org. (315) 446-3578.
24
CALENDAR
Sensory Friendly Time. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Staff
TUESDAY, JAN. 15
Writing and Comic Drawing Club. 7 p.m.
Beauty and the Beast. 12:30 p.m. In the Magic
engage in puzzles of all kinds, from word puzzles to jigsaws. Snacks and beverages provided. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326. turn down the noise, turn off flashing lights, and shut off air compressors so people with sensory processing challenges can enjoy the museum. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST). 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Museum admission: $5. (315) 425-9068.
Children ages 5-12 can read a story to Cooper, a certified Canine Good Citizen, then they can make a dog-related craft. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326. also Jan. 26. All ages can read to or just hang out with one of the volunteer dogs. NOPL Cicero, 8686 Knowledge Lane, Cicero. Free. (315) 699-2032.
Puzzle This. 2 p.m. Young people ages 12-18 can
Students in grade 6 and up can develop characters and plot twists for their stories. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Registration required: oflibrary.org. (315) 492-1727.
Guided Moonlight Snowshoe Hike. 7 p.m.;
also Jan. 19. Explore the woodlands and frozen marshes on snowshoes with a guide; space limited. Program is only offered when conditions are acceptable. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $5/snowshoe rental; $4/vehicle. Registration required day of hike: (315) 638-2519.
annual competition, high school bands vie for the title of best band (and a cash prize of $200 and recording time at a local studio). Jewish Community Center of Syracuse, 5655 Thompson Road, DeWitt. $10/admission. (315) 4452360. jccsyr.org.
SUNDAY, JAN. 20 See Ongoing Events
MONDAY, JAN. 21 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY Drop In Crafts. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sea-
sonal crafts are available for children of all ages. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. lpl.org. (315) 457-0310.
Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. 2-3 p.m. Participants age 5
and up can watch a short film about the civil rights leader and celebrate the day with crafts and snacks. NOPL North Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane, North Syracuse. Free. (315) 458-6184.
TUESDAY, JAN. 22 Post-Regents Destressing. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; daily
SATURDAY, JAN. 19
through Jan. 25. Slow down at the library by enjoying stress-relieving activities including coloring and making your own stress ball. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3519.
Winter Living Celebration.
Snowman Storytime. 6:30-7 p.m. Read about
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Outdoor activities and demonstrations include cross-country skiing, horsedrawn sleigh rides and winter camping. Indoors there’ll be live music, children’s crafts, nature-related exhibits, and refreshments for sale. Rogers Environmental Education Center, 2721 Route 80, Sherburne. Donations. (607) 6744733. friendsofrogers.org.
Preschool Fair. Noon-2 p.m. Representatives
from area preschools will explain their programs. A financial adviser can discuss 529 education savings plans, and there will be activities for children. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. lpl.org. (315) 457-0310.
Beauty and the Beast. 12:30 p.m. See Jan. 12 listing.
snowmen and make a fun snowman or snowwoman craft. NOPL North Syracuse, 100 Trolley Barn Lane, North Syracuse. Free. (315) 458-6184.
Homeschooling 101 for Parents. 7-8:30 p.m.
Parents can learn about free library resources, including apps and databases, in this session. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 23 First Day CNY Scholastic Art Awards. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., weekdays; 9
a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays; through March 1. See over 1,000 award-winning artworks by CNY junior and senior high school students. Whitney Applied Technology Center, Onondaga Community College, 4585 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. artandwriting.org.
SAVE THE DATE
SATURDAY, APRIL 27
10am – 2pm
NYS FAIRGROUNDS | HORTICULTURE BUILDING NG ANNOUNCI OF N THE RETUR
R E T S N MO TRUCKS
T o s p o n s o r t h i s e v e n t o r r e g i s t e r a b o o t h , c o n ta c t u s at ( 3 1 5 ) 4 2 2 - 7 0 1 1 FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
25
Kids DIY. 4-4:45 p.m. Kids in K-5 can make a project to take home. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. Registration required: fflib.org. (315) 637-6374.
Teen Trading Card Game Night. 6-8 p.m. Students
in grades 7-12 can play games such as Pokemon, YuGiOh and Magic. Some premade decks will be available, or you can bring your own. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.
THURSDAY, JAN. 24 Career and Technical Education Expo. 5-8
p.m. Parents, families and community members can learn about the programs Syracuse students can take part in to learn technical, academic and professional leadership skills. PSLA at Fowler High School gymnasium, 227 Magnolia St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-4964. syracusecityschools.com/cte.
Valentine’s Day Cards. 6 p.m. Adults can bring
children to make a simple Valentine’s Day craft. Space is limited. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. Registration required: (315) 435-5326.
FRIDAY, JAN. 25 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.
26
CALENDAR
SATURDAY, JAN. 26
SUNDAY, JAN. 27
Vex IQ Robotics Competition. 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
See Ongoing Events
Teams of elementary and middle school students build a robot to solve an engineering challenge. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Syracuse. Museum admission: $12/ adults; $10/seniors and ages 2-11. $35/team registration fee. Information for prospective participants: (315) 425-9068, Ext. 2163 or pplumley@ most.org.
Make a Fidget Toy. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Kids can come any time on this day and make a fidget toy using household items. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-3519.
Pokemon Open Play. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Kids ages
8-12 of all interest and experience levels can bring cards (or use provided decks) to play with experts from TCGPlayer. Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville. Free. CLDandJ.org. (315) 446-3578.
Be the Scientist. Noon-4 p.m. Explore the
activities of a veterinarian. 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.
Beauty and the Beast. 12:30 p.m. See Jan. 12 listing.
Meet the Masters Art Class. 1-2 p.m. Children in K-6 learn about master painters, copy a masterpiece, and explore color theory. NOPL Brewerton, 5440 Bennett St., Brewerton. $10/session. (315) 676-7484.
Lego Club. 2:30 p.m. Children ages 5-12 can help
make a Lego zoo by creating an animal. Afterward, enjoy free building time, gaming on the Xbox One, and snacks. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.
Manga Mania Book Club. 4 p.m. Young people ages 12-18 will read and discuss manga and have snacks. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.
MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO
Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides; see Ongoing Events
MONDAY, JAN. 28 Research Paper Writing Workshop. 6:30-8
p.m. Students and others who do research can learn about choosing a topic, gathering information and citing sources. Participants should come with a topic, an active library card and their PIN. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. (315) 457-0310. lpl.org.
TUESDAY, JAN. 29 See Ongoing Events
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30 See Ongoing Events
THURSDAY, JAN. 31 Xbox in the Evening. 5 p.m.
Young people ages 12-18 can game on the Xbox One and enjoy snacks and beverages. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. (315) 435-5326.
ONGOING EVENTS 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 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. Daily, 10 a.m.-
5 p.m.; through Jan. 6. (Closed Jan. 1.) Dec. 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.
Horsedrawn Sleigh (or Hay) Rides. Saturdays & Sundays,
11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; through Feb. 24. Also Jan. 14 & Feb. 18. A 20-minute ride into the woods. Highland Forest Park, County Road 128, Fabius. $6/adults; $3/age 5 & under. (315) 683-5550.
Peanut Butter Jelly Time. Thursdays, 5 p.m. Members of
the community can join in making more 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.
CNY Scholastic Art Awards. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., weekdays; 9
a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays & Sundays; Jan. 23-March 1. See over 1,000 award-winning artworks by CNY junior and senior high school students. Whitney Applied Technology Center, Onondaga Community College, 4585 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. artandwriting.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. Snowshoe rental: $5/day. 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. (315) 673-1350.
Barnes & Noble Storytimes. Thursdays, 10 a.m. Join a storytime for
toddlers and preschoolers that’s features a book, songs and coloring. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. (315) 449-2948.Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville Storytimes. Call or visit the website for times. Community Library of DeWitt and Jamesville, 5110 Jamesville Road, Jamesville. Free. Registration recommended: CLDandJ.org. (315) 446-3578.
Maxwell Library Storytimes. Storytimes and book groups for all ages. Call for dates and times. Maxwell Memorial Library, 14 Genesee St., Camillus. Free. (315) 672-3661.
Northeast Community Center Library Storytimes. Preschool storytimes with rhymes
and occasional games; youngsters learn group listening and participation skills. Call for times. Northeast Community Center Library, 716 Hawley Ave., Syracuse. Free. (315) 472-6343, Ext. 208.
ADVERTISERS INDEX 93Q............................................................................................. 17 Bluebird Music Together........................................................21 Canterbury Stables..................................................................15 Child Health Care Associates...............................................13 CNY Tix..................................................................................... 13 Crouse Hospital......................................................................... 2 Edge Federal Credit Union................................................... 15 Erwin Nursery School............................................................20 Faith Heritage School.............................................................20 Family Life Network...............................................................13 Flamingo Bowl......................................................................9, 21 Holy Family Catholic School...................................................5 Joe Ball’s Home Improvement..............................................21 Jordan Elbridge Country Kids...............................................21 Liverpool Youth Soccer League...........................................21 Menorah Park Jewish Home................................................. 17 Mike Carter’s Cartoon Island...............................................21 Montessori School of Syracuse............................................20 Red Fox Run Bed & Breakfast..............................................13 Rochester School for the Deaf...............................................3 St. Margaret’s School..............................................................15 Syracuse Children’s Theatre...................................................7
NOPL Brewerton Storytimes. Age 2 and up: Mondays, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Syracuse Diocese Catholic Schools..................................... 11
NOPL Cicero Library Storytimes. Toddler Story Hour: Tuesdays &
The Dance Studio CNY.........................................................21
NOPL Brewerton, 5440 Bennett St., Brewerton. (315) 676-7484.
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. Call for times. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. (315) 492-1727.
Petit Branch Library Storytimes. Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. Toddler and pre-
schooler 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. 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.
Upstate Medical University................................. Back Cover Weiss, Savedoff, & Ciccone................................................... 17
Calendar listings are FREE Send information about your family-friendly event to: editorial@familytimes.biz. Listings are due by Jan. 11 for the February issue. FAMILY TIMES JANUARY 2019
27
SURGICAL WEIGHT LOSS OPTIONS
LEARN MORE
The challenges from having obesity are complex. As the longest established bariatric program in Central New York, Upstate is committed to helping you make a change for your better health. Our team has a proven track record of providing both compassionate support and successful outcomes. If you are considering bariatric (weight loss) surgery, come learn more from our experts. Free information sessions are held at Upstate University Hospital’s Community Campus, 4900 Broad Road in Syracuse. (Formerly Community General Hospital). Free parking is available in the hospital parking garage.
TO REGISTER FOR THE TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 5 PM SESSION, PLEASE VISIT WWW.UPSTATE.EDU/BARIATRICS OR CALL (315) 492-5036. Taewan Kim, MD, FACS; Flavia Soto, MD, FACS, FASMBS, ABOM diplomate; and Jesse Gutnick, MD
ASK FOR THE EXPERTS. ASK FOR UPSTATE. WWW.UPSTATE.EDU/BARIATRICS