Syracuse Parent November 2011

parent SYRACUSE

November 2011

Winter

free

prep From family fun to flu clinics, it’s time to get ready!

Remembering

Vanessa One mother’s story of loss and life post-9/11

5

Openers Parent photo album

2 • Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011

Here we go again…

Yep, it’s that time of year yet again – the start to the holiday season, Jennifer when trick-or-treating turns to turkey with all the trimmings followed by a tree full of tinsel or a twinkling menorah.

Many across Central New York Momsense will now turn an eye to the extensive preparation that goes into planning those few days where it all comes together – the décor, the food, the gifts and, of course, friends and family that go along with the celebration of Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah.

And, yet again, I will prepare for my seasonal tradition…Black Friday. Through the years my preparation has evolved from merely glancing through the advertisements in the Thanksgiving paper to a strategic plan of where to go for what item and when. Visiting internet sites, comparing prices and figuring out what store opens first are all part of this master plan.

As my strategy firms up, so too has it changed its focus. When my children were younger, my list consisted of toys, toys and more toys, with the necessary socks and clothes thrown in for good measure.

Without giving too much away in case my children should happen to read this, my list of places to visit on Black Friday does not even include Toys R Us this year – a first.

Sure, there are items that will be on my list that can be found at that store with a giraffe for a spokesperson, but those items can be found at stores that have the other, “non-toy” gifts as well. I think it is safe to say that Fisher Price and Playskool will not be brands found under the tree. Instead there may be some Nike, Nintendo and Justice (a brand known by any parent of a “tween” girl.)

This year I also hope my children will appreciate even more the less commercial aspects of the season – the story of the first Christmas and what it means to us as well as what I think are the best moments of the season – conversation with loved ones around the Thanksgiving table, the baking of cookies to share with friends and family and the beauty of a chorus of voices raised in song on Christmas Eve. I do believe that as they grow older they will learn that these are the true gifts of Christmas, not the shiny, beribboned boxes to be found under the tree.

Wing

Carol Paden

Grace and Alisia, both of Brooklyn, NY, leap into the water, enjoying a day of summertime pleasures by the lake. The two spent a week with host parent Carol Paden this past July as part of The Fresh Air Fund’s Friendly Town program.

Family wins Fresh Air Fund annual photo contest

Homer resident, Carol Paden, was among the winners of The Fresh Air Fund’s 2011 Photo Contest. All winners were selected from the hundreds of pictures sent in by volunteer host families throughout 13 Northeastern states and Canada, reflecting the memorable experiences they shared with their New York City visitors this past summer. Categories include Brightest Smiles, Family Moments, and many more.

The Carol Paden’s photo was determined the winner in the Lake-time Fund category, and features Fresh Air visitors, ten-year-old Grace and nine-year-old Alisia, enjoying summertime fun in New York.

This summer, nearly 5,000 New York City children visited volunteer host families in suburban and rural communities through The Fund’s Friendly Town program. See related letter on next page.

Parent album submissions Editor Jennifer Wing 434-8889 ext. 340 editor@syracuseparent.net Ad Sales Colleen Farley 434-8889 ext. 315

We want your news!

Syracuse Parent welcomes submissions of pictures, stories and letters. Send to: Syracuse Parent 2501 James St., Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206 email: editor@syracuseparent.net

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On the cover

We want your photos!

Whether recording a milestone, like the first lost tooth or first solo bike ride, or a family outing to places like the zoo or your local hill for sledding, send in pictures taken of your family and score bragging rights with your friends if they wind up on our pages!

Simply email your high resolution (200 dpi or more) photo to editor@ syracuseparent.net. Make sure to include the kids’ IDs, ages, hometowns and parents’ names.

Stephanie Chatas

Catching some late-fall sunshine are Gabriel Sickler, 10, and Oliver Sickler, 21 months, sons of Jonas and Kelly Sickler of Syracuse.

Openers

Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011 • 3

Tragedy on the gridiron

For all the wrong reasons, high school football in Central New York seemed to find its way into headlines beyond the sports page in this otherworldly autumn.

You had Marcellus and its JV team taking an odd side trip to a cemetery that stirred national debate. You had the fifth down in the last minute of the West Genesee-Baldwinsville classic. You have the ongoing saga at Skaneateles, questions of residence and eligibility that might never get resolved to everyone’s complete satisfaction.

Then came that one Friday night, and all the silly stories instantly took a backseat to something that no player, coach, parent or fan could even imagine.

Phoenix was playing Homer. A playoff berth was on the line. In the third quarter, a Firebirds lineman named Ridge Barden, starting for the first time in his varsity career, had a helmet-tohelmet collision with a Trojans lineman, a disturbing yet routine event in this game of violence.

Except that this wasn’t routine. Barden went down. Though conscious, his condition turned worse, even as medical professionals did everything possible to tend to him on the field, in the ambulance and at the hospital.

Hours later, Barden passed away. He was 16.

In following this game, you prepare for a lot of different circumstances, chief among them injuries. So many different times, I’ve seen the stretchers on the field when an injury had even a chance to be serious, only to find out later that the player was okay and would fully heal.

So try to imagine, if that’s possible, if you’re a Phoenix player, having seen Barden carted off.

You play the rest of the contest and, when it’s done, board the bus to return home. Then, when you get back, the coach tells you that your teammate is gone.

Just the same, put yourself in Homer’s position. One minute, you are happy that you’ve won the game and advanced to the Section III playoffs, and the next minute you don’t care anything about wins or losses and you feel collectively sick and heartbroken, too.

We are in a time where there’s increased sensitivity to head injuries and concussions in football, at all levels. Studies have shown the long-term effect these collisions have on NFL players once their careers are over, and among some there are calls not to have any contact in youth football until they’re close to their teen years.

Even with all that knowledge, though, nothing prepares you for this. Parents have lost a son.

Teammates have lost a friend and colleague. And no amount of words, comforting though they may be, can ease the heartache, at least in the short term.

At the least, we can celebrate Ridge Barden’s all-too-brief life, appreciate a young man who walked an hour home from practices and, to keep strong, flipped tractor tires.

Ridge did not possess a vast amount of natural talent. College coaches weren’t likely to recruit him. For him, this was just a game, something to work at and be proud of before real life and adulthood set in.

In that sense, Ridge represents tens of thousands of kids, all across this country, that go out for high school sports. For at least 95 percent of them, this will mark the pinnacle of their athletic careers, with no scholarships or professional dollars waiting at the end, just the application of life lessons learned on the playing field and pride and camaraderie that you can never buy.

That’s what makes this story even sadder. A whole lot of people, outside of this realm, will focus on the tragedy and cry out for changes, all of them with good intentions, but no appreciation of the fundamental truth behind this story.

Understand this – Ridge Barden wanted to be out there, on that line, taking the hits. No one asked him or forced him to do so. His loss should not keep any other football player from wanting to do the same, in order to meet some other person’s agenda.

The best thing all of us, in the Central New York high school sports community, can do is put our collective arms around the Barden family and all the people in Phoenix, and also help the folks in Homer, who must now wonder how they are going to recover from this and focus on the playoffs.

There, and in all the other places where they’ll gather on the gridiron in weekends to come, we can only hope and pray that the tragedy of Ridge Barden is never, ever repeated.

Phil Blackwell is Eagle Newspapers Sports Editor. He can be reached at pblackwell@eaglenewsonline.com.

Phil

Blackwell Random thoughts

Parent letters

Fresh Air Fund thanks local volunteers

To the editor: This year, 134 New York City children found out once again just how special summer is in Central New York.

Fresh Air Fund hosts, volunteers and local supporters dedicated their time and efforts to help these inner-city youngsters experience simple summertime pleasures, including afternoons of swimming, fishing at sunset and

Guest column

The fairness lie and Princess Grayce The title for this column has actually been on a “post-it” note on the back of my iPad for probably three weeks. I woke up at 5 a.m. this morning with Theressa this column on my mind, when it occurred to me that for the last five days I had fallen for the lie. You see, I was in a snit the last five days because I was being treated unfairly. We will get back to that.

Barefooting it The idea of questioning “fairness” came out of a conversation that I had with someone whom, I think, anyone would say life has treated unfairly. He sustained significant life-long physical damage based upon someone else’s error. That is unfair, I think we would all agree. However, this led me to some questions that make me terribly uncomfortable. What makes something unfair? What if there is no such thing as fair? What if fair is a myth?

As a mom, I am often asked to distribute “fairness.” My little daughter, Sarah Grayce, is the great monitor of fairness in our house. My husband and I are convinced she will work for some U.N. peace-keeping force someday. Because she has two older brothers, she often gets the short end of the stick. So I am asked to distribute fairness and sometimes I find that tantamount to impossible.

As a marriage and family therapist, I am asked to do the same thing with conflicted couples. I am asked to adjudicate right and wrong and then to pronounce judgment and punishment. (Thankfully, that is not my job.) But on some level it is my job as a mom. So I struggle as a mom and a therapist with what is fair. So my little daughter, Sarah Grayce, leads me to the answer.

When Sarah has been so horribly wronged by her brothers, we talk about using our words; we talk about fairness; we talk about responsibility for self and responsibility to one another in this little family. Then we find solutions…most of the time. There are some times that we don’t. Then Sarah and I talk about her name. I named my daughter Sarah Grayce. Sarah means Princess. Grayce, you can figure out. So I talk to her about distributing grace and considering it is her middle name, she thinks that’s cool. I explain to her that things are not always fair but that is where grace comes in.

So maybe fair is what we aim for but come short of; we find a greater gift in grace and forgiveness. In my work with conflicted couples, the wounded member often is seeking something that they actually cannot and do not want to find. She may be hurt that he had an affair. How can one possibly distribute fairness in that mess? What they find in time, generally speaking, is grace and forgiveness. It is quite a journey.

Here is the real kicker. I don’t want things to be fair. If everything was fair, I am afraid that I would probably have more problems. I would certainly have more speeding tickets. I would certainly have more people mad at me. I would probably not be writing this column. If everything was fair, I think we might be paying $5 at the gas pump. Oh, yeah, that one seems to be getting closer.

So back to my snittiness. I realized this morning that I had been in a snit for five days because I had been treated “unfairly” by a group of people. For argument’s sake, let’s say I was being treated unfairly. So what? So, I was treated unfairly. So, they judged me harshly. So, I wasn’t given a chance. It happens. It will continue to happen.

Life has been and will continue to be unfair. I think I have wasted enough time being snitty.

I was sufficiently hurt. I have sufficiently processed it. It is time to be about the business of getting along with one another - offering grace and forgiveness. I think I choose today to be the administrator of my daughter’s name. I choose today to be a benefactor of grace and forgiveness.

McMorris

Theressa Dawn Bremer McMorris, MS, LMFT, is in private practice in Syracuse and Rome. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has served on the local chapter board of CNYAMFT and the state board NYAMFT. Her experience encompasses systemic consulting, conflict management consultant and speaker. She is a wife and mother of three.

roasting s’mores over a campfire.

None of this would be possible without Marie Bailey, your local Fresh Air Fund volunteer leader, who works throughout the year to make sure host families and children have the opportunity to enjoy memorable summertime experiences together. I invite you to join Marie Bailey and the local Fresh Air Fund committee to help spread the word about the wonderful opportunity of hosting next summer.

The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to over 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. For more information on how you can help to continue this wonderful tradition of volunteering, please call Marie Bailey at 252-7304 or visit freshair.org.

Jenny Morgenthau Executive Director Fresh Air Fund

From the stacks

4 • Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011

“White Water”

Terri

by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein, illustrated by Shadra Strickland

Schlichenmeyer

c.2011, Candlewick Press, $16.99, 40 pages

To everybody else, the sky is blue.

Bookworm sez

But you see it in different shades: a lighter tone next to fluffy gray clouds. Pink and purple, like when the sun goes down. Sometimes, you can even see a dark, angry blue like a bruise, just before a good rainstorm.

All around you are colors and if you’re good at pretending, you can imagine what they’d feel like. Green might feel prickly, like grass.

Brown might be soft like a puppy. Silver feels cool, like Dad’s car or Mama’s earrings.

But what would white taste like if it was water? In the new book “White Water” by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein, illustrated by Shadra Strickland, a young boy longs to find out.

Michael loves to go to town with his Grandma. It’s one of his favorite things, so he walked with her to the bus stop. It must’ve been a thousand degrees outside when they finally got there. Michael was thirsty. Was it possible that white water tasted different, better, pure and cold, like a mountain spring?

You can tell a kid all the stories he wants about something monu-

mental that happened before he was born, Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading but nothing will sink since she was 3 years old and she never goes in unless the tales anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in have some relevance Wisconsin with two dogs and 11,000 books. to his life. “White Water” lends that link.

Authors Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein give their young character a little sassiness along with his need to know, and kids will surely identify with Michael and his curiosity. I loved how illustrator Shadra Strickland depicts Michael’s rich imagination: with a heavenly fountain, a giant water bath, sinister police, somber toy soldiers, and – finally – heroes who give him and all children a little encouragement.

Inspired by a true story, I think this book is an excellent way to show 4-to-8-year-olds a dose of history in a way they’ll understand. With “White Water,” story time will tickle them pink.

“Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Strikingly True” c.2011, Ripley Entertainment Inc., $28.95, 256 pages

With math, you fear no fraction, you’re a geometry genius, and you’re awesome at algebra. You’re a walking dictionary, a map on two legs, and the bomb at Bees. You do science experiments for fun.

Yep, you’re one smart cookie, but your teacher doesn’t know that yet. So how ‘bout showing her (or him!) that you know the facts by reading “Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Strikingly True”?

You know how totally fun it is to know stuff that nobody else knows? This book

Creative Environment Day School

Learn about poop shoes, blood painting, and chewing gum sculpture.

Read this book and maybe someday you’ll be like the Scottish woman who read 25,000 books in her lifetime!

Loaded with hundreds of full-color pictures and thousands of cool factlets, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Strikingly True” is one of those books you can rest assured kids will love to read because of the subject matter inside it.

What they’ll find in here will satisfy their curiosity and appeal to their sense of odd.

Because this book is so browse-able, it fits any attention span and several reading levels (although – beware - some of what’s in here might be too scary for smaller kids). And because it’s the same Ripley’s you grew up with, this is one of those books you can get caught reading, too.

But kids will get the biggest kick out of it, so grab one for your young reader next time you’re out. For middle-schoolers and up, “Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Strikingly True” is a smart book to have.

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has a lot of that kind of information and a ton of pictures, too…

Find out about the most dangerous sports (you might be surprised!), a set of stairs leading to a real grave, chocolate skulls, dead fly art, and a $1,000 hamburger.

655-3274

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You are a smart kid.

Member

Advance sale tickets for Wegmans Lights on the Lake, will be available to purchase beginning Nov. 1. The $6 tickets, a $12 retail value, will be on sale through Nov. 16 and admit one car any night, except Dec. 31, to the popular light show. Tickets will be sold at Wegmans and at the Onondaga Lake Park office at the Griffin Visitor Center. Lights on the Lake entry is in the Wegmans Landing section of Onondaga Lake Park which is accessed via Route 370 in Liverpool. For more information, call 453-6712 or visit LightsontheLake.com.

Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011 • 5

What we really lost

A mother remembers the daughter she lost on Sept. 11

By Sarah Hall

Vanessa Langer was a New York girl, through and through.

“Her favorite song was ‘New York, New York,’” recalled her mother, Liverpool resident Donna Marsh O’Connor. “There is actually a wedding video from a woman she used to work for where she and her boyfriend at the time were dancing to ‘New York, New York.’ She just loved the city.”

That love showed in her apartment, decked out with gear from the Giants and the Yankees – “She called Paul O’Neill her future ex-husband,” O’Conner joked – and in her job, located on the 93rd floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center.

Langer was an office manager for Regis Business International, an office furniture supplier.

Langer – a stunningly beautiful 29-yearold wife who always wanted to be a mother, O’Connor’s only daughter, best friend to her then-14-year-old brother James – was at work on Sept. 11, 2001, when the planes hit. She was somewhere between four and five months pregnant; reports from her obstetrician and the New York medical examiner differ.

Langer’s was one of just 283 bodies pulled whole from the rubble; her mother is thankful for that one small mercy, pitiful though it is. Many families – 1,717 – got no remains at all to bury. She was found on Sept. 24, 2001, but given the volume of remains rescuers and morgue workers had to identify, her family wasn’t notified until the first Monday of the new year, Jan. 7, 2002.

‘Not an activist’ In the months and years since she lost her little girl, O’Connor, a writing instructor at Syracuse University, has become much more politically active than she ever imagined she would be.

“I never expected to know as much as I know about the greater political system and how corrupt it is,” she said. “I was never really interested in class theory or economics. It kind of dropped on me. I was more a writer of creative non-fiction and art. I was more interested in an artistic genre with not even social criticism but what I would call social admission of our collective weaknesses. My area of interest was really race relations.”

After Langer’s death, O’Connor became much more politically active. She is now a member of the steering committee for September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a group of about 200 families of 9/11 victims that advocates for nonviolent resolution to conflict. She was a vocal opponent to the Bush administration and its politics, interviewed by such news agen-

Provided photo

Donna Marsh O’Connor, right, with daughter Vanessa Lang in a photo from 1986. O’Connor shows her New York pride in a Yankees T-shirt, pride her daughter would inherit; Vanessa went on to work as a business manager in the World Trade Center. She was there on Sept. 11, 2001.

cies as MSNBC and the New York Times. our civil liberties and the Constitution, O’Connor also served locally, acting as a because the concept of America was always member of the Liverpool school board and very important to me. In fact, I remember launching an unsuccessful campaign for teaching my students to be very aware of the creation of an ideology. the Onondaga County Legislature.

“But I don’t know that I would know as Despite all of this activity, O’Connor said she doesn’t consider herself an activ- much as I know just in terms of the details of 9/11 as I do now. It wouldn’t have been ist, per se.

“In my mind, an activist is someone a personal ‘what happened to Vanessa.’ It who, really, full-time, puts every single would have been what happened to the waking moment thinking, at least, about city I love. I was born and raised in New York City.” the issue,” she said. “Because In fact, O’Connor just of my grief and my, I would dropped off her youngest say, fragile state, in some son, Jackson, at college outways, I often, even at the side New York City. height of [my feelings of], “All of my kids love New ‘Oh, my God, we’ve got to York City,” she said. “I don’t address this,’ I would retreat know – maybe it’s in the and just be with my family blood.” and say, ‘Nope, it’s someone else’s problem today.’ It’s a matter of, I consider myself Death is not a thing to a vocal person, a writer, but celebrate an activist – I have never The last decade has Provided photo considered myself a true This is the photograph that ran with wrought many changes, but activist.” it has not brought closure to Vanessa Lang Langer’s obituary.

She also doubts she would O’Connor and her family; have gotten as involved as she has if she that’s something she doubts she’ll ever truly didn’t have such a personal connection to have. The demise of the man primarily rethe events of Sept. 11, 2001, though she sus- sponsible for her daughter’s death did little pects she would have had some interest. to assuage her grief.

“I can’t know,” O’Connor said. “My guess “Immediately, my response was sadness,” is no. I mean, my guess is that I would O’Connor said. “It was late evening when it have continued thinking about race, and broke on the news, and I didn’t understand it would have been complicated by the why my first instinct was to cry. I mean, why Islamophobia post-9/11, and I probably would I? And then, when I thought about would have been engaged in that, and I it, it’s clear – when something like that probably would have also thinking about happens to your child, you are locked in a

relationship with that person for the rest of your life. You never could have imagined when you were 5 or 6 that the name Osama bin Laden would be important in your life.

He would be a person who made a pivotal and horrible change, but he had a kind of power over your life.”

O’Connor said her family felt no joy over bin Laden’s death; their family does not celebrate the death of another, no matter what. In fact, she saw it as yet another of the terrorist’s crimes.

“In that sense, if I think about the power and the resources and the ability for this man to make other people act, what a waste,” she said. “Imagine if he had used that ability to make men act in ways that were kind or compassionate. It was sad.”

O’Connor also said the media’s characterization of the so-called “American reaction” to bin Laden’s death was not necessarily accurate.

“They captured what was visible at Ground Zero,” she said. “They can’t capture on camera people in their homes, you know, somber over yet another death, yet another horrible event. So they capture the celebration, and that gets cast the world over as Americans dancing in the streets.”

What we’ve lost....

In the intervening decade, O’Connor and her family have learned to live without Langer, as difficult as it is.

“I’m sure you can ask anybody who has lost a child,” O’Connor said. “No matter what relationship, there are just some relaSee Vanessa on page 8

Nutrition & health

6 • Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011

Exploring celiac disease and the gluten free diet

By Amy Merwarth What is the treatment for Celiac Disease?

At this time, the only known treatment is the glutenRegistered dietician, CDN free meal plan. Most people who follow a gluten-free meal What is Celiac Disease? plan will begin to feel better quickly. The small intestine Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that afwill begin to heal and absorb nutrients fects the digestive system when foods within three to six days. Even though containing gluten are consumed. The References/ may disappear quickly, comsmall intestine becomes irritated and resources available: symptoms plete recovery may take anywhere from swollen when gluten containing foods The Gluten Intolerance Group three months to two years. are consumed. Gluten is found in – gluten.net foods that contain wheat, barley, rye Celiac Disease Foundation – Label Reading and possibly oats. The concern with celiac.org Reading food labels carefully and oats is the risk of potential cross conceliac.com becoming familiar with gluten-containtamination that can occur during the Celiac Spruce Association – ing ingredients is very important when manufacturing process. The damage csaceliacs.org following a gluten-free diet. Unless to the small intestine interferes with a product states it is gluten free you need to check and the absorption of nutrients and this can then lead to poor growth and weight loss. A gluten free diet helps to make sure every ingredient is gluten free. It is important to understand that just because a product is labeled make the symptoms better. wheat free it does not mean that is gluten free. If you are unsure about a specific ingredient in a product, you What is Gluten? should contact the manufacture. The Food Allergen Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat, barley Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) was and rye. Gluten is the substance that holds the dough passed to ensure that consumers could easily and accutogether and acts as a leavening agent. The grains that rately identify food ingredients that may cause an allergic contain gluten are found in most types of bread, cereal, reaction by reading a food label. However, the label pastas and baked goods. Gluten is also present in nonrequirement is limited to the eight major food allergens food items such as medications, vitamins, toothpaste, which include: egg, milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peamouthwash, make-up and Play Doh. nuts, soy and wheat. Therefore, unfortunately this label act does not include labeling products as gluten free.

What are the symptoms of Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease affects everyone differently. SomeWhat can you eat on a Gluten-free Diet? times the disease can even be symptom free. Some of When reading about Celiac disease and the gluten the common symptoms include: abdominal distension, abdominal pain, anemia, bloating, bone pain, constipa- free diet, a lot of the focus is on what foods to avoid.

Well how about all the foods you can eat. The following tion, cramping, dental hypoplasia (enamel missing on is a list of foods that are allowed on a gluten free diet: all teeth), dermatitis herpetiformis (rash), diarrhea, poor plain fruits and vegetables, 100% fruit juice, plain meats, growth, fatigue, folate deficiency, foul smelling stools, white or brown rice, bread products that are made from inability to concentrate, irritability, muscle cramps, osnon-wheat flours, plain nuts, beans and legumes, eggs, teopenia, osteoporosis, short stature, sleep disturbance, white milk (fat-free, 1%, 2% or whole), butter, margarine weakness, weight loss and/or vomiting. and/or all oils.

Gluten-free banana bread:

Ingredients

1 cup Arrowhead Mills White Rice Flour 1 cup brown rice flour 1/4 cup potato starch flour 1/4 cup tapioca flour 1 teaspoon xanthan gum 1 tablespoon Hain Pure Foods Featherweight Gluten Free Baking Powder 1/2 cup canola oil 2/3 cup honey or brown sugar 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 1 standard loaf pan. Blend bananas with sugar and oil. Stir in dry ingredients. Blend well until all ingredients are moist.

Transfer batter into prepared loaf pan and bake for 40 minutes or until test skewer comes out clean. Cool on rack before slicing.

County holds flu, pneumonia vaccine clinics The Onondaga County Health Department, in partnership with the University of Rochester Medical Center has scheduled flu and pneumonia vaccine clinics throughout Onondaga County. The clinics are scheduled through Saturday, Nov. 19. Cynthia Morrow, MD, MPH, commissioner of health for Onondaga County, explained, “Getting a flu vaccine is the single best way to prevent getting the flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all children over 6 months old get a flu vaccine.” Morrow further explained that the flu vaccine is especially important for children and adults with high risk conditions such as asthma. Starting today, Onondaga County residents can schedule appointments either online at onflu.net or by telephone at 435-5752.

Those individuals with access to a computer and an email account can schedule a flu or pneumonia vaccine appointment on-line anytime, 24 hours a day. Friends and/ or family members can also schedule an appointment for those who do not have web access. Individuals can schedule up to 10 appointments for themselves, family and/ or friends. The on-line service also includes information about locations and directions to clinics, what you need to bring to your appointment, and general information about both flu and pneumonia prevention.

The CDC recommends all children 6 months to 18 years old get a flu vaccine each year. To support this, and to provide optimal customer service, all Onondaga County Health Department flu and pneumonia vaccine clinics will provide flu vaccines for children six months old and older and their families. Furthermore, FluMist (a vaccine that is sprayed inside the nose) will also be available for those who prefer an alternative to the traditional flu shot. FluMist is only recommended and offered to healthy children and adults ages 2 to 49 years old.

Children under the age of 9 who have never had a flu vaccine series before will need two doses of vaccine (either the shot or FluMist). The second vaccine should be given one month after the first shot or FluMist. If your child is under 9 and only received one dose of vaccine last year, they should receive two doses this year.

The CDC further reinforces that it is particularly important for certain people to get a flu vaccine because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with, or care for, people who are at high risk for developing flu-related complications. These targeted groups include: Pregnant women Children younger than five, but especially children

younger than 2 years old People 50 years of age and older People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions People who live in nursing homes and other longterm care facilities People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including: Health care workers Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than six months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated) The pneumococcal shot, sometimes called the pneumonia shot, is recommended for people over 65 years old and people 2 to 64 years old with health problems, or who are on a drug treatment that lowers the body’s ability to fight infection. Anyone 19 to 64 years old who is a smoker or has asthma is also encouraged to get a pneumococcal vaccine.

Usually one shot is enough, but if you get your first dose before 65 years old, additional doses may be needed. Talk to your health care provider to determine if you should get See Flu clinics on page 8

Nutrition & health

Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011 • 7

Five tips for choosing a childbirth education class A recent report from the World Health Organization set off alarm bells for many expectant parents. The report showed that newborns in 40 countries, including Cuba, South Korea and Poland, have a lower risk of death than newborns in the United States.

For expectant moms, one of the best, and often overlooked, ways of improving the odds of a safe and healthy birth is to take a good childbirth education class. But how do moms know whether they are choosing a class that will make a difference?

“A good childbirth education class can make the difference between feeling out of control and overwhelmed, and being able to handle the expected and unexpected on the day of your baby’s birth,” said Marilyn Curl, president of Lamaze International. “A really good class will also help moms-to-be avoid routine interventions like inductions and being confined to bed, which can actually increase the risks around birth.”

Here are some factors mothers-to-be should consider when selecting a childbirth education class:

1. Research the class curriculum

Ask to see the content covered in childbirth courses carefully before selecting one.

There are a variety of curriculums, and different approaches may work better for different people. Some courses do little more than orient women to the procedures of the hospital, regardless of whether those protocols are backed by research findings.

Curl cautions that women should be wary of ‘patient obedience classes.’ “Any class that simply focuses on what women are or are not allowed to do according to the procedures of the institution is not going to equip them properly for labor and birth.” Curl said.

Expectant parents should consider what they want to gain from taking the class and make sure those points are part of the curriculum. Lamaze classes focus on educating parents about six safe and healthy birth practices that are based on extensive clinical research. “Women rarely receive all of the best care practices, so it is critical for parents to educate themselves about their options,” Curl said.

Typical topics covered in Lamaze childbirth education classes include: l Normal labor, birth and early postpartum l Positioning for labor and birth l Pain management techniques l Labor support l Communication skills l Comfort measures, including breathing strategies, relaxation and massage techniques l Risks and benefits of medical procedures l Breastfeeding l Healthy lifestyles If the instructor teaches the class in a hospital setting or in a doctor’s office, parents should ask whether the instructor feels she has the freedom to discuss controversial topics related to childbirth and whether the class will discuss strategies for broaching these subjects with their care providers. This information can help parents evaluate whether the class will focus on teaching the safest birthing practices, rather than explaining hospital policies.

5. Check class size

For first-time parents, in particular, having personalized attention from the instructor is an important part of a childbirth education class. Ask about the size of the class.

Ideally, there should be a maximum of 12 couples enrolled to ensure each has a chance to interact with the instructor and ask questions.

Choosing a class with an informative curriculum, a knowledgeable instructor and personalized attention are crucial for ensuring expectant parents have their questions and concerns addressed before the baby’s birth. More information on childbirth education courses is available at lamaze.org.

About Lamaze International Lamaze International promotes a natural, healthy and safe approach to pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting practices. Knowing that pregnancy and childbirth can be demanding on a woman’s body and mind, Lamaze serves as a resource for information about what to expect and what choices are available during the childbearing years. Lamaze education and practices are based on the best and most current medical evidence available.

Working closely with their families, health care providers and Lamaze educators, millions of pregnant women have achieved their desired childbirth outcomes using Lamaze practices.

The best way to learn about Lamaze’s steps to a safe and healthy birth is to take a class with a Lamaze certified instructor. To find classes in your area, or for more information visit lamaze.org.

Check what kind of experience and background the prospective teacher has and ask about the instructor’s certification. Lamaze offers the only internationally recognized childbirth educator certification program that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educators must pass a rigorous examination to show they meet the highest professional standards and have the necessary knowledge and skills to teach courses. To find a local Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE), visit www.lamaze.org.

3. Invest some time

Between work schedules, family obligations and setting up the nursery, expectant parents may feel pressed for time. But parents-to-be need to make certain they devote plenty of time and attention to preparing for labor and birth. A one-day crash course might sound like the quickest way to get up to speed, but parents may not retain as much information from a course taught in this format. Online forums and TV shows focusing on birth do not offer personalized or in-depth information that’s found in a class.

Lamaze classes typically provide 12 hours of instruction and discussion. The classes are spread across six weeks to ensure parents have time to absorb the lessons and consider priorities as the big day draws closer. “It may seem like a big time commitment, but nothing is more important than preparing for a safe and healthy birth and a good start for the baby,” Curl said.

4. Plan ahead

Classes fill up quickly, so start researching courses early. Try to sign up for a Lamaze class six to eight weeks ahead of time – around the first week of the second trimester.

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2. Consider the instructor’s training

8 • Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011

Things Tue Nov. 1

Mother Goose Time 11 to 11:30AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Playtime for children with a Mother Goose rhyme, felt board activities, blocks, musical instruments, active songs and a short story with Mrs. Hart.

For children, ages 1-2. Registration preferred.

Sciencenter Math Time: “A Remainder of One” 10:30AM. Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to hear the story “A Remainder of One”

by Elinor J. Pinczes and create kaleidoscopes.

Kids under three receive free admission. Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY. sciencenter. org or (607) 272-0600.

Meet NOOK Color 11 AM. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd E., De Witt. Bring your NOOK Color and learn about the benefits of our color touch screen NOOK at this 1-hour tutorial. Please RSVP at the NOOK counter or call the store at 449-2948.

Director’s Tour - Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center 2PM. Enjoy a second opportunity to tour the 31st annual quilt show with Executive Director Donna Lamb. Included with $6 general admission to exhibition, free for Schweinfurth members and exhibiting quilters. Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, 205 Genesee St., Auburn. 255-1553, mtraudt@schweinfurthartcenter.org.

Wed Nov. 2

Toddler Storytime 10:15AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Songs, finger plays and stories with Mrs. Tucker. (20-25 minutes) For children, ages 2-3. Registration preferred.

Toddler Storytime 11AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Songs, finger plays, stories and a craft with Mrs. Tucker.

(35-45 minutes) For children, ages 3 & up.

Registration preferred.

Montezuma Birding Trip 8 to 11AM. Travel to Montezuma’s birding hot spots in the Montezuma Audubon Center’s van to experience migrating waterfowl and wintering songbirds and raptors. Participants are encouraged to bring their camera and binoculars. Fee: $7.50/child, $10/adult, $30/family; $5/person if you drive yourself.

365.3588.

Thu Nov. 3

Toddler Storytime 10:15 AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Songs, finger plays and stories with Mrs. Tucker. (20-25 minutes) For children, ages 2-3. Registration preferred.

“Laura Ingalls Wilder” 9:30 to 11:30AM. Laura and her family travel across America in search of a place they can call home. Facing obstacles such as scarlet fever and eviction from their land, their

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pioneering spirit and family bonds are tested but never broken. This uplifting story of one of America’s most beloved authors comes to life in ArtsPower’s popular musical. Meet the cast. Appropriate for ages 7-12. Tickets are $8pp. Contact The Palace Theater, 824-1420, palacetheater.org.

NOOK: The Simple Touch Reader 7 PM. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd E., De Witt. Join us to learn about the newest member of our NOOK family – the Simple Touch Reader. Bring your NOOK and explore the many features of our fabulous new eBook Reader. Please RSVP at the NOOK counter or call the store at 449-2948.

Toddler Storytime 11 AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Songs, finger plays, stories and a craft with Mrs. Tucker.

(35-45 minutes) For children, ages 3 & up.

Registration preferred.

Storytime: Children Make Terrible Pets Toddler Storytime 10 AM, 3454 Erie Blvd E., DeWitt. Featuring Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown.

Barnes & Noble story times are always fun, filled with great books, silly songs and cool activities. Great for toddlers and preschoolers!

Fri Nov. 4

Nature Art Expo Award winning artists will be displaying their works of art at the Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Rt. 89, Savannah.

Flu clinics a pneumococcal vaccine.

Appointments for a flu or pneumonia vaccine are necessary and should be made in advance. Clinics are open to Onondaga County residents. Payment accepted for the flu vaccine includes: Medicare Part B, Medicaid, cash, or check. Most other major insurances can be billed. Coverage will depend on your individual plan. If you are not covered, you will be billed. The cost for an adult flu shot or adult FluMist is $30, the cost for a children’s flu shot or FluMist is $15 and the cost for a pneumonia shot is $55. No one will

Sat Nov. 5

Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood Workshop 9AM to noon. Join Baltimore Woods Educator Katie Mulverhill for a hands-on workshop and become a Project Learning Tree certified educator. The workshop will explore the Environmental Experiences for Early Childhood guide and will demonstrate some of the exciting hands-on activities it contains. The workshop accommodates up to 20 participants. Light refreshments provided and participants receive a copy of the guide.

Registration required by Nov. 2. Cost for members $10, nonmembers $13.

Nature Art Expo Award winning artists will be displaying their works of art the Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Rt. 89, Savannah. Paintings

by John James Audubon and photography by local Naturalist David Spier will also be showcased. Call 365.3588 for details.

Perusing with Pups 11 AM to noon. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Read to a dog from Sunshine Friends. Read your favorite story, joke book or a book about a topic that interests you. For children, ages 6-10.

Registration required.

Montezuma Migrants Field Trip from page 6

be turned away due to their inability to pay.

To schedule an appointment for a flu or pneumonia vaccine log onto onflu.net or call the flu hotline from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 435-5752. Below please find a listing of all Onondaga County Health Departmentsponsored 2011 flu and pneumonia vaccine clinics: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 29, Solvay-Geddes Community Center, 1010 Woods Road, Solvay 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, McChesney Recreation Center, 2308 Grant Boulevard, Syracuse

Vanessa tionships that will function as a rubber band around your life. You move away and you’re joyful, you laugh – we’re a joyful family, and we spend a lot of time laughing in our family. But it’s like a rubber band, and there are times when you won’t be able to predict when that rubber band is going to tighten and it’s going to bring you right back to the moment or the day or the days surrounding or the memories that are absolutely poignant.”

O’Connor recalled a late-night flight back to Syracuse from an interview in New York City.

“The lights dimmed in the aircraft, and all I could think about was hearing Vanessa cry for the first time when she was born,” she said. “I just spent the entire flight sobbing.”

The death of a child is different from any bereavement you’ll ever experience, O’Connor said, even the death of a parent.

“You don’t get over that the way you get over even the death of a parent, as heartbreaking as that is and as much as it stays with you for the rest of your life,” she said. “It’s different. You’re responsible for your child. You expect them to be there at the end of your life. You don’t leave a child behind. You’re continually wondering, what is your responsibility to this being, even though this being isn’t there anymore?”

O’Connor said surviving, though it seemed impossible at times, was basically the only option, especially since she

Paintings by John James Audubon and photography by local Naturalist David Spier will also be showcased. Call 365-3588 for details.

9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Nov. 5, Eastern Hills Bible Church, 8227 Manlius-Cazenovia Road (Route 92), Manlius 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, Erwin First United Methodist Church, 920 Euclid Ave., Syracuse. 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 12, Believers Chapel, 7912 Thompson Road, Cicero 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 10, Tucker Missionary Baptist Church, 515 Oakwood Ave., Syracuse from page 5

still had two other children.

“You know, you have to live,” she said. “I mean, I have two sons. I adore them. They deserve joy. I feel like I spent as much of their childhoods crying and somber as it was fair to do, and then some.” ... and what we can get back O’Connor said it helps her to know that others grieve with her on the anniversary of the attacks.

“I am happy when people know that they lost something profound on that day,” she said. “I want them to feel that, because I feel that much of what they lost that day they can take back. A lot of what they lost that day they’ll never take back, and some of what they lost that day that they can’t get back, it’s good that they lost it.”

One loss we as the American people suffered was our sense of security. “[We had] this naïve sense that we’re entitled to safety when there are so many places in the world where people don’t have that same right and that same sense,” O’Connor said. “We shouldn’t feel like our own government or our own way of life protects us. We’re all in it together on the globe, and that was a wake-up call.”

In the days and weeks immediately following the attacks, O’Connor saw, through her grief, America come together as a nation to help one another. She saw a kindness and a brotherhood that, in the years since, has been lacking.

She said she’s hopeful that the memory of the attacks will

bring that sense of benevolence back.

“The American people can wake up and stop fighting each other so hard,” O’Connor said. “Stop worrying so much about the deficit and worry about the compassion that we’re losing on a daily basis. Most people, whether they admit it or not, are struck with fear sending their kids to school, because the social anxieties are heightened, the social meanness is heightened. We’re just a meaner, more hardened nation at every level, and that we can change.

We can take that back.”

O’Connor said she sees it especially right here in our own backyard; she saw it firsthand while serving on the Liverpool school board.

“In our area, in our suburbs, on our school boards – yes, in some places, there is corruption, and it needs to be ferreted out, but the backbiting every single moment, every single day, toward people who don’t deserve it – it just isn’t going to stop.”

O’Connor said she hoped people used the anniversary of the attacks to make these important changes and to remember what’s really important: to remember the real losses we suffered, the kindness and the beauty in the world, beauty embodied in a 29-year-old woman who wanted nothing more than to be a mom and work in New York City.

“If we’re not going to use 9/11 to understand what we really lost and not what we pretend-lost,” O’Connor said, “then I hope this is the last time we think about it.”

Things 8 to 11AM. Peak waterfowl migration at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge brings over 200,000 ducks and geese to Central New York. Baltimore Woods staff will be on hand to point out rare migrants before they move on to warmer waters. Meet at Baltimore Woods at 8AM to carpool, otherwise meet at Montezuma at 8:30AM. Please register. Donations are appreciated.

Sciencenter Showtime! “Do-It-Yourself Sensors�

2PM. What goes on when we’re not around? Join makers Dirk Sward and Victor Aprea to explore the world of do-it-yourself sensors that can help us answer that question. Watch a live assembly of a Nanode sensor kit, and learn how to use one to more closely observe the world around you. One visitor will win a free, assembled sensor.

Included with admission. Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY. sciencenter.org or (607) 272-0600.

Yarn “bombing�

1 to 4 PM. Participants needed to help an artist create a public artwork with yarn!

During three class meetings, participants of Yarn Bombing with Mary Giehl will learn/reinforce basics crocheting skills while planning, executing, and installing a yarn “bombing� on the grounds of the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn. Class fee is $99. For more information or to register, visit www.cayuga-cc.edu/ communityed or call 294-8841.

Appraisal Day 10AM to 5PM. Discover the value of items hiding in your attic or collecting dust on

your display shelf! The Rockwell Museum of Western Art will host an “Appraisal Day� at 111 Cedar St., Corning. Ten experts from Heritage Auctions from NYC will be on-hand for one-on-one identification and appraisal of objects. The experts will offer an estimated insurance value on each piece. Heritage Auctions is the largest collectibles auctioneer and third largest auction house in the world.

Objects that cannot be carried into the Museum should be photographed, emphasizing details. Please measure the object and record dimensions. (607) 974-4254.

The Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers 11AM. Open Hand Theater, 518 Prospect Avenue, Syracuse. The popular hilarious trio of siblings from Vermont are back with a brainy tale guaranteed to have children rocking and adults chuckling. Schoolteacher Ichabod Crane helps the Headless Horseman find a new head and a spookier image.

The Horseman saves the day of course, and everyone ends up happily ever after! You’ll be spellbound by Frogtown’s 20 hand-crafted puppets and creepy shadow puppet sequence. Tickets: $6 for children, $8 for adults.

Purchase at the box office: 476-0466.518 Prospect Avenue, Ash Street door, or online openhandtheater.org.

Sun Nov. 6

Trunk Shows - Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center 2Pm. (Sundays through Dec. 11). Trunk Shows are “show and tell� opportunities for artists/quilters to discuss their work. Meet

Admissions Open House

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Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011 • 9

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regional quilters and see examples of their work. Included with $6 general admission to exhibition, free for Schweinfurth members and exhibiting quilters. Nov. 6 - Genie Barnes, “Quilts: What’s Their Worth?� Nov. 13 - Caris Burton, Nov. 20 - Quilt Inspiration Group (Syracuse). Nov. 27 - Barbara Feinstein & Emily Klainberg. Dec. 4 - Sally Davis, Dec. 11 – Studio Art Quit Associates

active songs and a short story with Mrs. Hart.

For children, ages 1-2. Registration preferred.

Sciencenter Storytime: “I Am Water�

10:30 AM. Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to hear the story “I Am Water� by Jean Marzollo and observe water in action. Kids under three receive free admission. Sciencenter, 601 1st St., Ithaca, NY. www.sciencenter. org or (607) 272-0600.

Yum-Yumm-Yummy Storytime 6:30 PM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Come and enjoy some yummy stories about food. Sure to get your stomach growling! For children, ages 2-7. Registration preferred.

Quilt-making class World renowned quilter Nancy Crow returns to teach a five-day work shop Sets and Variables III (Nov. 7-11). This class is geared toward intermediate to advanced quilters who want to expand their knowledge using color, composition, line and value. For more information on this class or to register, visit www. myartcenter.org (follow the QBL2 link) or call the Art Center 255-1553 to register by phone.

Advanced registration is required. Classes are held at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center. The Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center is located at 205 Genesee St., Auburn,

Birding Hike 9 to 11 AM, Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Rt. 89, Savannah. Participants will hike around the woods, grasslands and wetlands searching for migrating waterfowl, raptors and songbirds. Participants are encouraged to bring their camera and binoculars. *Fee: $3/child, $5/adult, $15/family. 365-3588.

Last Breath: The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine

Mon Nov. 7

Tue Nov. 8

Mother Goose Time 11 to 11:30 AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Playtime for children with a Mother Goose rhyme, felt board activities, blocks, musical instruments,

Wed Nov. 9

Thu Nov. 10

Dying to be Perfect: How Teens Can Stay Happy, Healthy and Alive by Robert Cavanaugh 7 PM, Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd E., De Witt. Join Dr. Cavanaugh for an interactive discussion. Utilizing the three stages of space flight as a metaphor for the stages of adolescence, Dying to be Perfect takes readers on an imaginary voyage into the mind of an adolescent.

Storytime: Thanksgiving at Our House 10 AM. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd E., De Witt. Featuring Thanksgiving at Our House by P.K. Halinan. Barnes & Noble story times are continued on next page

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10 • Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011

Things always fun, filled with great books, silly songs and cool activities. Great for toddlers and preschoolers!

Fri Nov. 11

5th Annual Canandaigua Christkindl Market 1 to 7PM. On the historic grounds of the Granger Homestead & Carriage Museum, 295 North Main St., Canandaigua. More than 100 artisans, scrumptious food vendors, and fun attractions and entertainment for the whole family.

Nature Adventure Day Camp Pioneer Adventures!

9AM to 4PM. Get back to basics this Veteran’s Day at Baltimore Woods. 673-1350.

Send your children ages 5-12 to camp for Child Health Plus from New a fun filled day when we’ll use games and York State and Total Care activities to rediscover pioneer living. Camp provides free or low-cost runs from 9AM to 4PM, with early and late health insurance for children care available. Registration forms available at who qualify up to age 19. www.baltimorewoods.org, and pre-registration is required. Cost is $40 per camper, family Much More! required. Space is limited — membership Child Health Plus coverage includes: don’t miss out!

No Co-Pays Well-Child Visits Thanksgiving Craft DentalMore!

Vision, Hearing, SpeechMuch More! 2 PM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 Much W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. In honor of the Hospitalization & Surgery Emergency Care upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, join us as Much More!

Much More!

Much More! we learn about the Legend of the 5 Kernels, what each of the kernels represented to the Pilgrims and make a Legend of the 5 Kernels Much More! card. For children, ages 5 & up. Registration Total Care is the oldest and largest preferred.

Much More!

Medicaid Managed Care plan in Sciencenter- Honoring Veterans MuchOnondaga, More!

Central New York, serving 10 AM to 5PM. On Veterans Day, admission Oswego, Cortland and Tompkins to the Sciencenter is free for active duty sercounties. WithMuch more than 1,000 vice men and women and their families. Valid More! providers, from primary to specialty military ID required. Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY. sciencenter.org or (607) 272-0600. care, Total Care “has you covered.”

Sat Nov. 12

Physician Visits

Your Own Primary Care Physician

Hospitalization

More!

LabMuch & X-Ray

Vision Care

Much More!

Family Health Plus is New York State’s health care program for adults who don’t have insurance but whose income is too high to get Medicaid.

Family Health Plus benefits* include: Physician services

Inpatient & outpatient health care

Dental services

Prescription drugs & smoking cessation products**

Lab tests & x-rays ER & emergency ambulance services Diabetes supplies & equipment

Vision, speech & hearing services Drug, alcohol & mental health treatment Much more!

07850

*some limits may apply to certain benefits. **administered by the Medicaid Fee for Service program

Artist Reception Members’ Group Art Exhibit 2 to 4PM. Through Dec. 30, the third annual art show “Drawing on Talent” featuring works in all media by members of the Baltimore Woods community is on exhibit in the Weeks Art Gallery. Admission to the gallery and reception is free, parking is free, and the public is welcome. Please join us for an afternoon of art talk, food and community. No registration necessary. 673-1350.

Willy Claflin performance 8PM. Open Hand Theater, 518 Prospect Avenue, Syracuse. Willy Claflin is a one-man festival. Spinning intergalactic yarns and counter culture misadventures, he covers the spectrum of spoken word entertainment.

“Musician, puppeteer, and improviser... he is an artist of precision and his fellow storytellers stand in awe of that artistry...”  Bill Harley. Join us for three fabulous evenings of great stories, great performers, and wonderful conversation over coffee and dessert.

Subscriptions (save 15% off individual tickets): $45 for the series. Tickets: $18 in advance, $20 at the door. Purchase subscriptions and tickets online at www.openhandtheater.org Star Mother’s Youngest Child - theatreFigüren 11AM., Open Hand Theater, 518 Prospect Avenue, Syracuse. For two unsuspecting characters, secrets and transformations unveil themselves until both discover that of all the “things” to give or receive, LOVE is the most precious. It all happens in a single day 

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Christmas Eve  in a celebration of the Human Spirit - of friendship and sharing. Based on the story by Louise Moeri, this beautiful performance features small-scale puppetry and wonderful Scandinavian music played on a magical “toy” set. Tickets: $6 for children, $8 for adults. Purchase at our box office: 4760466.518 Prospect Avenue, Ash Street door, or online openhandtheater.org.

Scout Merit Badge Day 2 to 4 PM, Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Rt. 89, Savannah. All scout troops are welcome to complete activities for Forestry and Birding badges and achievements.

Space is limited. Fee: $7/scout. 365-3588.

5th Annual Canandaigua Christkindl Market 10AM to 6PM. Historic grounds of the Granger Homestead & Carriage Museum, 295 North Main St., Canandaigua. More than 100 artisans, scrumptious food vendors, and fun attractions and entertainment for the whole family.

Yarn “bombing” 1 to 4 PM. Participants needed to help an artist create a public artwork with yarn!

During three class meetings, participants of Yarn Bombing with Mary Giehl will learn/reinforce basics crocheting skills while planning, executing, and installing a yarn “bombing” on the grounds of the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn. Class fee is $99. For more information or to register, visit www.cayuga-cc.edu/ communityed or call 294-8841.

Native American Storytelling with Perry Ground 11 AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Enjoy traditional and modern Native American storytelling with Perry Ground. Between stories, Ground will also discuss the clothing (which he will be wearing!), culture and history of Native Americans. This will be an active show as he tells stories and dances among the audience.

Engaging for the whole family. Registration preferred.

Sciencenter Showtime! “Good Bug, Bad Bug” 2 PM. Ever wonder what good insects do?

Join Heather Connelly of Cornell’s Naturalist Outreach Program to learn what separates the good bugs from the bad bugs in relation to our food systems. Learn about the roles bugs play in a balanced ecosystem and what we can do to help them flourish. Included with admission. Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY. www.sciencenter.org or (607) 272-0600.

Sun Nov. 13

5th Annual Canandaigua Christkindl Market 10AM to 4PM. Historic grounds of the Granger Homestead & Carriage Museum, 295 North Main Street, Canandaigua. More than 100 artisans, scrumptious food vendors, and fun attractions and entertainment for the whole family.

Tue Nov. 15

Mother Goose Time 11 to 11:30 AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Playtime for children with a Mother Goose rhyme, felt board activities, blocks, musical instruments, active songs and a short story with Mrs. Hart.

For children, ages 1-2. Registration preferred. continued on next page

Things

Wed Nov. 16

Volunteer Lunch Noon. Baltimore Woods Nature Center, located at 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus, offers our volunteers a lunch of locally harvested foods at the Interpretive Center.

All our volunteers are welcome! Please rsvp in advance. 673-1350.

Simple, Fresh & Healthy: A Collection of Season Recipes by Linda Hafner 7 PM. At the end of the day, gather around the table for a simple, fresh, and healthy meal. With her farm-fresh focus and divide-and-conquer strategy, it’s entirely do-able, even for those with the busiest schedules. Talk and signing.

Nature Hike 9 to 11 AM. Participants will hike around the woods, grasslands and wetlands experiencing the sights, sounds, and smells signifying that autumn is here. Participants are encouraged to bring their camera and binoculars. *Fee: $3/child, $5/adult, $15/ family. 365.3588.

Toddler Storytime

10:15 AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Songs, finger plays and stories with Mrs. Tucker. (20-25 minutes) For children, ages 2-3. Registration preferred.

11 AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Songs, finger plays, stories and a craft with Mrs. Tucker.

(35-45 minutes) For children, ages 3 & up.

Registration preferred.

Thu Nov. 17

Toddler Storytime

10:15 AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Songs, finger plays and stories with Mrs. Tucker. (20-25 minutes) For children, ages 2-3. Registration preferred.

11 AM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Songs, finger plays, stories and a craft with Mrs. Tucker.

(35-45 minutes) For children, ages 3 & up.

Registration preferred.

NOOK: The Simple Touch Reader 11 AM. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd E., De Witt. Join us to learn about the newest member of our NOOK family – the

Simple Touch Reader. Bring your NOOK and explore the many features of our fabulous new eBook Reader. Please RSVP at the NOOK counter or call the store at 449-2948.

Star Party: Leonid Meteor Shower 7:30 to 9PM (Back-up date: Nov. 18) Baltimore Woods Nature Center is located at 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. The Leonid meteor shower is one of the year’s finest, so come and have a look! Also visible will be the planets Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, plus many bright star clusters and nebulae of the early winter skies. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to lie back and watch for meteors when you’re not looking through a telescope, and be sure to dress warm if the night is cold. $5 for members, $15/family; $8 for nonmembers, $25/family. 673-1350.

Storytime: Thanksgiving Rules 10 AM. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd E., De Witt. Featuring Thanksgiving Rules by Laurie B. Friedman. Barnes & Noble story times are always fun, filled with great books, silly songs and cool activities. Great for toddlers and preschoolers!

Second Childhood Book Club 7 PM. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd E., De Witt. An adult book club for people who are excited about kids’ books and want to discuss them with other grownups. November: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, a nuanced portrayal of a nation and a girl bound for freedom. (or a compelling, impeccably researched novel that shows the lengths we can go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual.)

Fri Nov. 18

Home School Nature Series: Bird Bonanza 1 to 3 PM. The bird migration is mostly over but many birds will stay at Montezuma during the winter. Explore the world of autumn birds with binoculars and watching the feeders. We’ll hike around the marsh and through the forest in search of ducks, geese, swans, and songbirds preparing for winter. Then, we’ll make a bird feeder to feed birds at home. Designed for home-schooled children ages 6-13, our two-hour programs provide fun, hands-on opportunities to learn about and experience our natural world. Fee: $7/session.

365-3588.

Symphony Syracuse concert 7:30 PM. Symphony Syracuse will present a concert featuring horn player Julia Pilant in the Crouse-Hinds Concert Theater of the John Mulroy Civic Center. The concert, conducted by Heather Buchman, will also be performed in Wellin Hall at Hamilton College the preceding evening.

Tickets for the Hamilton College performance are $15, $10 for senior citizens, and $5 for students. Hamilton College tickets can be purchased online www.hamiltonpa.org or through the Wellin Hall box office, 859-4331.

Sat Nov. 19

First Annual Harvest Home with Bells & Motley 2:30 to 4:30PM. Baltimore Woods Nature Center is located at 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. For the first time in years the log cabin will come alive with music and

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celebration! John and Sondra Bromka will lead us on an enjoyable journey of nature-based folklore and legend, music, dance and craft of traditional harvest celebrations. Visit www.bellsandmotley. com/ for information about Bells & Motley.

Registration required; must register by November 12. $10/members, $30/family; $15/nonmembers, $45/family. 673-1350.

Yarn “bombing” 1 to 4 PM. Participants needed to help an artist create a public artwork with yarn!

During three class meetings, participants of Yarn Bombing with Mary Giehl will learn/reinforce basics crocheting skills while planning, executing, and installing a yarn “bombing” on the grounds of the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn. Class fee is $99. For more information or to WWW.SENECAFEDERAL.COM register, visit cayuga-cc.edu/communityed or call 294-8841.WWW.SENECAFEDERAL.COM Imagine Syracuse Bookfair Event Noon. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd E., De Witt. A series of performances presented in support of their book fair fundraiser including a gospel singer, a poet, a hip-hop dance group, an urban ballroom dance demo, an African American storyteller and an African Drum and Dance Company.

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stop them. Learn ways to protect your local ecosystem and promote diverse animal and plant populations in your neighborhood. Visitors can participate in a hands-on activity that explores the benefits of supporting local bee populations.

Included with admission. Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY. www.sciencenter.org or (607) 272-0600.

“Capitol Steps” 8PM. Palace Theater. They put the “mock” in democracy. Capitol Steps began as a group of Senate staffer who set out to satirize the very people and places that LOCATED : employed them. 30 CONVENIENTLY years later theyINare going stronger than ever asBALDWINSVILLE this comedy IN: SYRACUSE troupe sing parodiesCONVENIENTLY and NORTH usesLOCATED comedy BALDWINSVILLE LIVERPOOL to make fun of the political world.

Meet NORTH SYRACUSE the cast after the show. TicketsLIVERPOOL are $35pp.

Contact The Palace Theater, 824-1420, palacetheater.org

Sun Nov. 20

Montessori to Hold Admissions Open House 2 to 4P. Montessori School of Syracuse, located in Dewitt, will hold an Admissions Open House. The school provides over 150 children, ages 3 through 12, from 20 different school districts with a quality pre* school and elementary education based on * Montessori philosophy and methods.

Information about the school and the Open House is available at www.mssyr.org or by calling 449-9033.

APY Sciencenter Showtime! “Insect Invad-APY ers” 2 PM. Join naturalist Jeff Clement to learn all about invasive insects, the damage they cause, and what you can do to

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Meet NOOK Color 11 AM. Bring your NOOK Color and learn about the benefits of our color touch screen NOOK at this 1-hour tutorial. Please RSVP at the NOOK counter or call the store at 449-2948.

Cooking Up Literacy 6:30 & 7 PM (2 sessions) Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Using reading, writing, math and social skills, join Mrs. Tucker as you work together as a group to make a recipe. Eat what you make and then take home any leftovers. *Please inform presenter of any allergies. For children, ages 6-12. Registration required.

Sciencenter Animal Time: “What Lives in a Seashell?”

10:30 AM. Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to hear the story “What Lives in a Seashell?” by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and paint their own seashells. Kids under three receive free admission. Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY. www.sciencenter. org or (607) 272-0600.

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Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011 • 1 1

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Tue Nov. 22

Sciencenter Tactile Time: “When Dad Cuts Down the Chestnut Tree” 10:30 AM. Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to hear the story “When Dad Cuts Down the Chestnut Tree” by Pam Ayers and make their own birch bark canoes.

Kids under three receive free admission.

Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY. sciencenter.org or (607) 272-0600.

Judy’s Book Club

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Baltimore Woods Nature Center is located at 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. Interpretive Center and Art Gallery are closed for Thanksgiving. Hiking trails and parking are always open from dawn to dusk.

Fri Nov. 25

Gift Shop Sale Shop for quality nature-themed items at Baltimore Woods and receive 20 percent off during this one-day special sale. Additionally, a 10-percent discount is offered from Nov. 26 through Dec. 23. These discounts are in addition to the regular 10% discount given to members of The Woods.

Become a member today and enjoy these benefits immediately. Baltimore Woods Nature Center is located at 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. 673-1350.

All Pianos & Organs on sale 30%-70% OFF

Prenatal Consultation

24 HOURS

Thu Nov. 24

Color Him Orange: The Jim Boeheim

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CAMILLUS

7 PM. Join Judy and the group by the fireplace as they discuss Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, a graceful, meticulous examination of the lives of two irrepressible sisters, Pearl and May, first in Shanghai, and then in California, from 1937-57.

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Story by Scott Pitoniak Noon to 3 PM. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd E., De Witt. Stop by for a meet & greet with award-winning sports columnist and best-selling author Scott Pitoniak. Color Him Orange identifies the sources of the Basketball Hall of Fame coach’s fierce competitive drive and loyalty to Syracuse.

Sat Nov. 26

Sciencenter Showtime! “Clever Coevolution“ 2 PM. Join naturalist Sarah Jandricic to explore clever adaptations in the world of the predator-prey relationship. Learn fascinating ways that prey have evolved to avoid being eaten, and how predators have co-evolved to adapt for these changes over time. Included with admission. Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY. sciencenter.org or (607) 272-0600.

UNWASTED: My Lush Sobriety by Sacha Scoblic 1 PM. Journalist and alcoholic Sacha Z. Scoblic reveals life under the harsh glare of sobriety in a truly addictive book. Reading and signing.

Nottingham High School PTSO Bookfair 01338

American Girl Club 6PM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Explore the historical time periods of the different American girls through seasonal crafts, stories, games, activities and food. For children, ages 8-12. Registration required.

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Group Piano Lessons Now Forming All Ages

Yamaha, Korg, Roland, Lowrey, Allen, Kurzweil, & Samick Great Northern Mall • 622-3926

1 PM. Nottingham HS graduate Sacha Z. Scoblic presents a reading and signing of her book, UNWASTED: My Lush Sobriety, in support of the Nottingham PTSO book fair fundraiser.

Sun Nov. 27

Fayetteville-Manlius Education Foundation Bookfair Enjoy a wide-range of student performances in support of the F-M Education Foundation Bookfair fundraiser including violin virtuosos, student poetry readings, holiday tunes and a rousing Ukulele group among other performances. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd E., De Witt.

Tue Nov. 29

Teddy Bear Sleepover 6:30 PM. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W.Seneca Turnpike Syracuse. Bring your teddy bear or any stuffed animal for an evening of stories, fun activities and snacks. Leave your stuffed animal overnight and pick him/her up the next day.

You’ll even get pictures of what they did while they were supposed to be sleeping. For children, ages 2 to 8. Registration preferred.

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Sciencenter Earth Time: “Snowballs” 10:30 AM. Toddlers and preschoolers are invited to hear the story “Snowballs”

by Lois Ehlert and create their own paper snowflakes. Kids under three receive free admission. Sciencenter, 601 1st St, Ithaca, NY. www.sciencenter.org or (607) 272-0600.

www.pianoandorgancenter.com

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1 2 • Syracuse Parent and CNY Family • November 2011