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The Parenting Guide of Central New York www.familytimes.biz | July 2014

From

CNY to NYC

A weekend of adventures in the Big Apple Kid fun: a backyard scavenger hunt Lazy summer vs. busy summer Vacation packing gone awry FT July Cover.indd 1

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2-Inside Front

Get the whole family on board for

Fun, AFFoRDAble enteRtAinment at NBT Bank Stadium in July!

July 4:

Come celebrate the land of the free, home of the brave in a salute to America as The City of Syracuse presents Fireworks Friday.

July 5:

Giveaway Saturday and Fireworks Spectacular! First 1500 fans through the gate receive a FREE general admission ticket to the NYS Fair.

July 20:

Enjoy a Pig Roast and Classic Car Day on Family Sunday. Kids 12 and under get in FREE and get to run the bases after the game sponsored by I9 Sports.

July 25:

Christmas in July features a Lucky Fan Giveaway courtesy of Ra-Lin followed by fireworks presented by 93Q.

July 27:

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pirates and Princesses Day on Family Sunday. Kids 12 and under get in FREE and get to run the bases after the game.

And at all home games kids can enjoy a variety of FREE games in the Driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Village Family fun Park!

For game times and more information on all July games visit syracusechiefs.com or call (315) 474-7833.

2014 Season Sponsors

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3-TOC

contents family times • jULY 2014

4 • Editor’s Note 8 • Storytime

Linda Lowen tells of vacation packing gone awry.

10 • Atypical Family

Is a scheduled summer better than an unscheduled one?

12 • Recipe Doctor

Foil packets enhance the flavors of grilled food.

14 • Together Times

Put together an easy scavenger hunt for the kids

16 • From CNY to NYC

Get the most out of a family weekend in the Big Apple.

22 • Family Matters 22

Artist of the Month! July’s creative work comes from Rainie Monteith, age 7. Rainie is a budding artist who loves to draw, paint and make crafts. For the summer, Rainie is living with her mother, stepfather and stepbrother in Jordan. We welcome reader submissions, whether photos of your kids or their artwork. Send high-resolution photos or color artwork to editorial@familytimes.biz or, via snail mail, to Family Times, 1415 W. Genesee St., Syracuse NY 13204. Please include the child’s first name, age, hometown, and information about what’s going on in the photo or art, as well as the parent or guardian’s full name and daytime phone number, for verification. Hard copies of photos or artwork become the property of Family Times and cannot be returned.

FTJuly_1-36.indd 3

Help a child resolve loyalty conflicts caused by a stepparent.

26 • Family Fun Calendar of Events Advertiser Index Learn......................................... 6 Party................................... 20-21 Practice ................................... 23 Camps ................................ 24-25 Backpack Directory................ 34 Family Times July 2014

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4-Editors Note

family times

editor’s NOTE

The Parenting

JULY 2014

Guide of Central New York

issue No. 147

PUBLISHER/OWNER Bill Brod Editor in chief Reid Sullivan editorial@familytimes.biz

Vacation Elation

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Michelle Bowers (Ext. 114) MBowers@syracusenewtimes.com MANAGING EDITOR Bill DeLapp

chool’s out, and it’s finally time to go on a trip or plan activities for days home with the kids.

If you’ve got a few days Eileen Gilligan has an itinerary for a New York City visit. She suggests ways to get there and what to do once you’re in the city (page 16). Naturally, a long weekend is just a start, but once your family gets a taste of the Big Apple, they’ll probably want to return for more. Linda Lowen, meanwhile, casts a critical eye on packing mishaps (hers) that led her daughters to conclude they could pack their own bags (page 8). On the other hand, some days you’re home, you haven’t got a plan, and you have got children begging for something to do. That’s when you can throw together a fun—and educational!—backyard scavenger hunt (page 14). Of course there’s more in this issue, including recommendations for grilling in foil packets; advice for stepparents; and the quite full July calendar of events. Happy July!

Reid Sullivan Editor in Chief

Photographer Michael Davis OFFICE COORDINATOR/CIRCULATION MANAGER Christine Scheuerman DESIGNERS Meaghan Arbital Natalie Davis Caitlin O’Donnell DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Ty Marshal (ext. 144) Contributors Deborah Cavanagh,Tammy DiDomenico, Aaron Gifford, Eileen Gilligan, Emma Kress, Linda Lowen, Cary Rector, Tonja Rector, Maggie Lamond Simone, Laura Livingston Snyder, Chris Xaver ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Advertising Sales Manager Jessica Luisi (ext. 139) JLuisi@syracusenewtimes.com Lesli Mitchell (ext. 140) LMitchell@syracusenewtimes.com Lija Spoor (ext. 111) LijaSpoor@syracusenewtimes.com Joseph Taranto (ext. 115) JTaranto@syracusenewtimes.com COMPTROLLER Deana Vigliotti (ext. 118) CLASSIFIED SALES Lija Spoor (ext. 111)

On the cover: Jonah, age 10, gets into the Big Apple spirit. Inside: Jonah Henry and his brothers, Jaden (left) and Kingston Bowen-Henry, both 6, live with their mothers, Althea Henry and Tanya Bowen, in Syracuse.

Subscribe to Family Times by mail and receive 12 issues for only $24. Call (315) 472-4669 to order. Family Times 1415 W. Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13204 (315) 472-4669 fax (315) 422-1721 www.familytimes.biz

Photos By Michael Davis Design By Meaghan Arbital PARENTING MEDIA ASSOCIATION

PARENTING MEDIA ASSOCIATION

2014 Bronze 2014 Silver Award Winner Award Winner Editorial Awards Competition

Design Awards Competition

Advertising deadline for August is July 17. Calendar deadline for August is July 3. 4

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storyTIME

Our Baggage

Why Mom shouldn’t do all the packing | By Linda Lowen

ost families come home from a summer vacation relaxed and tanned, with souvenirs and seashells. We return with stories of neglect and near disaster, carrying more emotional baggage than we left with. Empty suitcases go to the basement, but the emotional baggage—the stuff I don’t want to deal with—hides in the upstairs hall closet behind the sheets and towels. When I can’t shut the door, I excavate items pushed to the back years ago. “What’s this?” I pull out a weird plastic-paper something. Jaye thrusts it at her younger sister. “It’s the bathing suit from that hotel in Virginia! You thought it was cool!” Em clearly remembers because she twists her lips and glares at me. My daughter Em was 5 years old and 8

her sister, Jaye, 7, the year our weeklong Myrtle Beach vacation fell during a business trip my husband couldn’t postpone. He decided to fly down and join us midweek, leaving me with the girls, the luggage and a 15-hour drive—gas, food and bathroom stops not included. We were renting a small cottage with a full kitchen and fridge. Bedsheets, bath, beach and kitchen towels went in Suitcase No. 1. Check. Favorite cereals, snacks, juice boxes, granola bars, treats in Suitcase No. 2. Check. Large cooler with frozen and refrigerated items. Check. Like many moms, I leave little to chance. And that’s the problem. Most of us need a vacation to recover from our family vacation. In comparison, large-scale troop deployment is easier. Yes, the prospect of the long drive

stressed me out. I checked online and decided to stay overnight at a hotel in Virginia with an indoor pool. It would break up the drive and give us something to look forward to. We loaded the car (one hour), barely got the trunk closed (three tries), put essentials (one bag) at the girls’ feet, and we were ready. We left Syracuse at noon and arrived at 8 p.m. But when we opened the overnight bag, Em’s bathing suit wasn’t there. “You can swim in a T-shirt and shorts,” I told her. “Can’t we get my suitcase?” “I’d have to unload the whole car. Sorry, sweetheart.” Down at the pool, Em hunched on a chaise lounge. She wouldn’t even dangle her feet in the water.

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The pony-tailed lifeguard asked, “Why aren’t you swimming?” “Because my dumb mom forgot to pack my swimsuit.” “We’ve got disposable bathing suits. You want one? It’s free.” She pulled a thin package from the towel cabinet. Em took it into the locker room and came out smiling. The bathing suit was Tyvek, and she crinkled as she walked. She looked better suited to enter the U.S. Postal Service mail stream than a hotel pool. Jaye hooted. I elbowed her to be quiet. Afterward, Em was about to toss the suit in the garbage but I took it from her. Something told me . . . never mind. The next day, we arrived in Myrtle Beach at 3 p.m. I just wanted to get the key to the cottage, unpack and crash. But the girls chanted, “Beach! Beach! Beach!” After hauling their suitcases up to their bedroom, I snuck down the hall to the master bedroom for a brief 10-minute nap. “MAAHHMMEE!” Em’s wail jolted me awake. “Where’s my swimsuit?” She’d gone through a growth spurt, so we’d just bought three new ones. Intending to wash them before the trip, I’d left them on the front hall table. I was about to yell an apology when Jaye’s loud whisper cut me short. “I told you not to let Mom pack your bag. You can’t trust her. And you’re old enough to do it yourself.” “No I’m not.”

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“Yes you are. You’re 5. I told you what happened when I was 4. Mom forgot my underwear. She kept saying it was OK, I could wear my bathing suit all week.” “Gross.” “Yeah, gross. And she wasn’t going to buy any underwear ’til I started crying. I started packing my own clothes after that. At least she packed your underwear, right?” The whites were still in the dryer back home. They say you can’t remember pain. But stupidity? That’s unforgettable. Fifteen years later, the contents of the linen closet still cause guilt. I grab the disposable suit from Jaye, now grown up, ball it up and shove it into a garbage bag. “Don’t need that anymore.” “Speaking of which . . . “ Jaye holds up a bottle of color-changing suntan lotion. “Jeez, Mom, this is like 10 years old. It’s expired. Whatcha keeping it for?” “You never know when you’ll need an extra bottle of suntan lotion.” “Yeah, like that time you sent me to sleepaway camp without any lotion or bug spray. Remember I came home all bitten and sunburnt?” I sigh, turn back to the closet, and discover a set of striped bed linens stained with streaks of suntan oil from our Cape Cod vacation last summer. I’d forgotten beach towels, so I made everyone dry off with the fitted sheet and lie on the sand with the flat sheet. I inspect the stains. At least the pillowcases came home unmarked. Linda Lowen. She lives in Syracuse with her husband and two college-age daughters, who go by Jaye and Em in her writing.

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atypical family

Lazy vs. Crazy

Balancing scheduled and unscheduled summer weeks

“C

an we do the Christian School of Performing Arts Summer Camp, Mom, please?!” both my children plead.

I sigh. Isn’t summer about chasing butterflies and looking for rainbows? Don’t we live all school year for the hazy, warm days of not having to get up and out the door to anywhere in particular? No cute outfits needing to be pressed and ready in the morning. No healthy lunches needing to be packed. No caring if hair is brushed, faces are washed or teeth are sparkly clean.

| By Deborah Cavanagh

I, too, became aware. The initial heartbreak of giving up both my children for hours to strangers in the strange land of school brought a realization. That deafening silence in my house announced a bit of freedom. I now had hours to myself each school day. I was able to clean the house, grocery shop and attack the laundry pile. I had time to develop new hobbies. I quickly grew accustomed to this me time—time that goes away once summer vacation begins.

I come from a different starting point than most. My oldest child, Amanda, has special needs. From the moment she was medically able she started receiving occupational, speech and physical therapy. An academic tutor came to our house. Play therapists brought toys and games multiple days a week.

angkritth / iStock

When she was old enough to attend school, all these services and adults followed. They joined teachers, administrators, teaching assistants and numerous others. Sounds great. All these people working hard to help this wonderful child reach her fullest potential. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate it tremendously and know they are all motivated to see my daughter achieve. But what it also means is people constantly telling me what we need to be working on to make strides in their area of expertise. It means adults coordinating with me to either come to my house or to her school. It means constantly hearing how she/we stack up against norms in various areas of development. It means stress.

But is summer supposed to be more months of each of us doing our own activities? More of me dragging sleepy children out of bed because we have to be on the road before 9 a.m.? More standing in the kitchen at 7 a.m. packing lunches?

I live for the days of summer when all comes to a halt for those few months. Summer means not being judged. Not being stressed. Not being on a schedule. Summer is not just for the kids: It is for me, too.

Summer, like childhood, seems over in an instant. I want to hold on to my time with them as long as I can. But I cannot hold too tightly or I will smother. Plus, I hate to admit it, but summer is not just about me.

My second child, Jason, was born when Amanda was 4.

I live for the days of summer when all comes to a halt for those few months. Summer means not being judged. Not being stressed. Not being on a schedule. He merrily joined our summer adventures. Nothing that had to be done was on the calendar. Eventually both children became aware of the activities of their friends. They could now read the flyers sent home in their folders advertising camps, programs and summer group activities. Classmates were calling to see if they could join them at sleep-away camp.

So we compromise. Each child picks a camp to attend once summer officially begins. This usually fills up much of July. In August we head to the Outer Banks for a week and then spend the end of summer with no official plans. This allows us to relax, regroup and get ready for the new academic year. It also means that by the first day of school we are craving our days of routine and schedules, because to be honest, too much family time and we all start getting on each other’s nerves. So here comes another wonderful Syracuse summer vacation. We are excited, and we are ready. Deborah Cavanagh lives in Manlius with her husband and two children. She has written for local organizations supporting children and adults with special needs and publishes the blog www.momofmanyneeds.com.

Family Times July 2014

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recipe DOCTOR

The Magic of Foil

Grilling packs of food yields delicious results |

hether your family likes camping or just cooking out in the backyard, chances are this summer you’ll be firing up the grill or campfire and making a meal. For me, these are the times that memories are made of.

By Chris Xaver

before you head out and then have one less thing to do (and less packing to carry) to the fire.

I remember helping my grandmother make our meals on numerous summer camping adventures. Even then, I liked to help make meals. And one thing we know for sure is that kids are much more likely to eat what they have helped to prepare.

What to put in your foil packs is really up to you and your family’s likes and dislikes. I love chicken or turkey, so they’re often my go-to protein in this dish. But I’ve made such good foil pack dinners with zucchini and fish (for me, it’s salmon—an “oily” fish and less likely to dry in this type of very hot cooking environment), with shrimp, beef, pork, heck, really any protein will work.

But burgers and hot dogs not only get old fast, they’re not necessarily the most healthy and certainly aren’t the most creative. If you haven’t tried foil packages, it’s time to give this time-tested outdoor cooking staple a go. The great thing about foil cooking is that you can do it one of two ways. You can either create the packs at the fire site, or create them at home

The trick to making your foil pack is to slice everything into “like” size pieces. If you’re cubing the protein, then cube the vegetables, too. If you’re using potatoes, I like to slice them on a mandolin; the very thin slices are more likely to cook tender than chunks would. Kids love to use the mandolin, but we adults realize those are tricky and can be dangerous. If yours has

a finger guard, then let them have fun (with you nearby in case they start trying to move like an Iron Chef). If not, it’s most likely best if you slice the spuds and give them the pleasure of arranging the discs in the foil package. Now, a few words about potatoes. Sweet potatoes are much lower on the glycemic index than white potatoes. And even with white potatoes, there are differences. Baking (russets) have more sugar than new potatoes. If you’re really worried about sugar, it’s best to parboil any potato, and then drain off the starchy water before finishing in the foil packet. That may be more work than you want to do, but it will lower the amount of glucose in the spuds. So, I prefer sweets. They sound like they would wreak havoc on your insulin levels, but they really do produce less of an effect. Sweets are considered “medium” on the glycemic index. But wait,

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there’s more! We tend to think potatoes are just starch and starch is bad for us. But sweet potatoes have been found to actually help regulate blood sugar (even in people with type 2 diabetes). That’s why we’ll leave the skin on these orange gems when we slice them thinly. The dietary fiber in a sweet potato paces the digestive process. And, now, I’m getting technical, but this is good stuff—sweets raise adiponectin. What does that mean? Well, in case you didn’t know (and who would!) adiponectin is a protein hormone that helps us all regulate our insulin metabolism. So, for those of us watching our sugar consumption, sweet potatoes are a solution, not a problem. And these tubers give us a ton of vitamin A. Enough to meet 35 percent of the average adult’s daily needs, but for kids that can be up to 90 percent of their daily needs. While sweet potatoes (and most orange and red foods) contain an exceptional amount of beta-carotene, to get absorbed into our bodies we need some fat with that! Just a tablespoon of olive or coconut oil will do the trick. Plus, “good” fats help us feel fuller longer.

Thinkstock photo

It’s time to make our packets. Use a heavy-duty aluminum foil. Shiny side in or out really doesn’t matter. (We’ve just busted that myth!) I pour about a tablespoon of oil on the bottom and smear it around. Then I layer. If I’m using a starch, it goes down first. Then the veg and the protein on top. I fold tightly so the steam doesn’t escape. This will help keep things tender in this high-heat environment.

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How you fold is up to you. It can be a square, a rectangle, or even wadded up like a drawstring bag. Just make sure the steam doesn’t escape and you can get it on and off the coals or the grate. Grill over medium-high heat for about 12 minutes turning just once. Make sure to check for doneness before serving, as cooking on a grill or open flame is an inexact science.

The Parenting Guide www.familytimes.b of Central New York iz | March 2014

Games Parents Play

Home Repair Grants Available! You may be eligible for a grant to remove lead from your property if:

If you’re looking for a bit of a “s’more” reprieve, consider taking a dollop of marshmallow fluff and putting it on the end of an enormous strawberry. Hold over the flame until just lightly browned. Now, that’s what I call camp food!

• You own or rent a property in Onondaga County built before 1978, and • Your family or the family living in the rental property meets income guidelines, and • A child under the age of six lives in the home or visits often.

The Recipe 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts 1/4 cup chopped mixed herbs 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons lemon juice

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Toss chicken breasts in the olive oil, herb and lemon juice mixture in a bowl.

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Divide among four foil packets.

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Grill over medium-high heat, 12 minutes.

Chris Xaver, Ph.D., is a local TV and radio personality with three children and five grandchildren. Her healthy lifestyle show, The Sweet Life, is airing on public television stations nationwide.

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together TIMES

The Game’s Afoot!

A scavenger hunt can be super summer fun | By Laura Livingston Snyder

e’re into the dog days of summer and my kids are running out of new things to keep them busy. Here’s a productive activity for one child or a whole group that will encourage exploration and discovery, as well as work their brains: a scavenger hunt! A scavenger hunt is easier and quicker to arrange than a treasure hunt because the items to be found are already in existence. If there is time to organize and the kids are more interested in solving riddles 14

that will lead them to a hidden object, plan a treasure hunt. Both are loads of fun. Or, depending on the age group, mix it up and combine them. If you’re like me and need to do something spontaneous, a scavenger hunt it is. This adventure is waiting in your own back yard and doesn’t require much prep work. Don’t have much space in your yard? Use a local beach or park and have the kids find and collect what nature has discarded. Tailoring the objects to the location provides a ready-made list; or

print out one of several pre-made versions available online. (See wikihow.com/ Create-a-Scavenger-Hunt or search for “scavenger hunt ideas” under Images.) I like to be creative and make my own. Don’t forget to use open-ended ideas to foster independent thinking. Examples are: “Look for something thin”; “Find something that begins with the letter ‘A’”; “Collect two objects that are green.” Here are some other suggestions on how to have a hunt and gather of your own.

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15-Feature

Tools: Arm each child with a pencil and a basket or bag for collection. Supply specialized equipment like a small spade if there will be digging involved. Decide on the goal and prize: You’ve got the power. Are the players to get the most items during a timed hunt or is it a contest of whoever finds everything on the list first? Kids are inquisitive. They really won’t care either way and will enjoy the journey just as much as the reward. Choose an inexpensive prize of stickers, a bag of candy or a blue ribbon. I think the longer they scamper around the better. They get great exercise and are tired by bedtime. Plus, I enjoy watching them. I know exactly where they are while I relax in a lawn chair with a tall glass of lemonade. Lay out the rules: In public locations there should be no picking plants or disturbing wildlife. Point out boundaries of property lines and “off-limits” areas such as waterways, climbing trees or neighbors’ yards. Remind the hunters to be respectful of others. Lists for the little ones: Include toddlers by using plastic eggs in well-seen places. Use pictures of tactile items such as smooth stones, soft dandelions and bumpy sea shells for preschoolers who cannot read. With elementary kids who can sound out simple words, sneak in objects that will help them learn about their environment (what is moss and where will I find it?). Help them along. If an item might be difficult to find, give map-like clues such as “Take three steps from the shed and look for red rocks.” Sometimes “X” needs to mark the spot. Challenge the older kids: Instead of listing the item, have teens use their phones or iPods to research. Prompts such as “This is Canada’s most popular symbol” will be more of a test than asking them to find a maple leaf. Make them think with clues like “Putting this under your chin means you like butter.”

And the winner is … Everyone is a winner. For my scavenger hunt I can recycle and return to nature what my children have borrowed with nary a carbon footprint left behind. They have a sense of adventure and completion, and I’ve had a moment to put my feet up. My kids are so inspired by this game they will make up their own for days afterwards, too, giving me a break from hearing “I’m bored!” Laura Livingston Snyder is a writer and mother of four who lives north of Syracuse. She blogs at nestingdolll.blogspot.com.

Laura Livingston snyder photos

Ready, set, go! Be sure to explain what they’re going to do, because as soon as the lists are in their hands, they’ll be off and running. These hunts are so versatile they can be altered for nearly any time or place. Feeling cooped up on a rainy day? Try an indoor hunt. A long road trip becomes an opportunity for “collecting” out-ofstate license plates, foreign cars, or other families on the highway. A research scavenge is quiet. Have them find information for vacation destinations (When did Disney land open? Who was Martha’s Vineyard named after?). For more specialized hunts check out mykidsadventures. com/scavenger-hunt-ideas.

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Agata & Andrew Mieczko / Flickr

16-Feature

From CNY to NYC A Big Apple weekend is just the ticket By Eileen Gilligan

Here are some ideas for how parents and their children of all ages have tackled the Big Apple and returned wanting to go back for more. An important disclaimer: You can’t do it all. New York is one of the greatest cities in the world and a weekend there will not do it justice. So just think of it as a lifetime project. Little by little through the years you and your kids will get to know it and feel more comfortable there every time. So, for starters, plan to leave on a Friday. Before you go, consider whether purchasing the City Pass admissions ticket or a similar multi-attraction pass will save your family money, depending on how many attractions you’re planning to visit during one stay. CAR, Bus or Train Sometimes cheap plane tickets can be found from Syracuse to one of the NYC airports, but don’t count on it. By car, it’s about a five-hour drive from Syracuse. One must feel strong enough to maneuver in the big-city traffic and wealthy enough to pay the hotel parking fee, which can be $30 or more per night. Consider the bus: Someone else drives; the coach buses are fairly comfortable; they make one or two stops on the way down; and they drop you off at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, from which it’s easy to get to your hotel. I like this

option and recommend taking a cab to the hotel to add another transportation experience to the weekend. Our kids love holding on in a NYC taxi while it speeds around the city. (Remember to tip 15 percent to 20 percent on top of the travel rate in a NYC cab.) Some like the train. From Syracuse, this option also takes about five hours and can be relaxing or tormenting depending on your children. You and the kids will be contained within a few seats but can get up and walk to the bathrooms and dining car for snacks. A little pricier than the bus, Amtrak will deposit your family at Penn Station near Seventh Avenue and 34th Street. Finally, many parents choose the New Jersey route. Huh? That’s right. Drive to New Jersey to spend the weekend in NYC. Many motels offer relatively low room rates. Walk or take a shuttle bus from the motel to the nearest train station and take a Path Train into “the city.” This can be fun and save a bundle of bucks. If the motel offers a pool, that can be a nice treat at the end of a busy day. These motels usually offer another benefit: free parking. So once you’re there, try to relax. I recommend taking Friday night to rest up after the trip. If you’re in the city, go out for dinner and back to the hotel for early bedtime. If you’re in Jersey, take a dip in the motel pool, get some dinner and head to bed.

Dorling Kindersley / iStock

he Big Apple. New York City. It’s so big and imposing and filled with possibilities. It’s hard to winnow down what to do and where to go. Yet we are so close, many parents feel the desire to take their kids for a visit.

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17-Feature

Agata & Andrew Mieczko / Flickr

IF YOU GO GETTING THERE Regional Transportation Center 131 Alliance Bank Parkway, Syracuse. (315) 477-1152. amtrak.com

Buses trailwaysny.com megabus.com

BUS TOURS Skyline skylinesightseeing.com

From $32 adult and $22 child for oneday pass booked online.

Gray Line newyorksightseeing.com From $54 adult and $44 child for two-day pass.

American Museum of Natural History

PASSES City Pass & New York Pass DAY ONE Start with the dinosaurs, whales, bugs and sky. That means heading to the American Museum of Natural History, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan at 79th Street and Central Park West. Tickets are $22 for adults and $12.50 for children ages 2 to 12. Plan to spend one to three hours there depending on the interest and attention span of your children. Take some time before visiting to study the museum’s “Plan Your Visit” page on its website to determine where to take your children first. Luckily, snacks are easy to find in New York. Sit down in the museum cafeteria or get a big pretzel from a street vendor. Try an ice cream store or simply pause with a juice bag. It’s time to tour the Big Apple.

Dorling Kindersley / iStock

After walking the museum’s halls, enjoy the outdoor scenery from a guided tour bus. Double-decker buses thrill kids of all ages and riding one can provide a relatively quick look at all New York City offers. Jump off or grab lunch at the end of an hour’s ride. Several companies offer this service. Skyline Sightseeing is one that offers hop-on, hop-off rides for one or more days starting at $22 a person if purchased online. By early afternoon the kids probably will be ready to run around, so head to the Central Park Zoo, which is located off Fifth Avenue at 64th Street. Buy tickets online before you go to save 10 percent. The penguins delight as do the sea lions, bird exhibits and reptiles in the main zoo. (Look up their daily feeding times online as well.) Then move on to the Tisch Children’s Zoo, which offers some interactive play areas for

children itching to get involved. Buy the “Total Experience” tickets and the family can relax in the 4D movie theater. Check the zoo’s website for the featured movie, with show times every 15 minutes. This could be a good place for babies to nap and others to cool off. The zoo closes at 5:30 p.m. on weekends. After all that excitement, I’d be ready for a nap, dinner or a swim back at the motel if possible. Or, if older children are along, head to Broadway for a show. Advance ticket sales are the best way to go if you don’t have time or patience to stand in the half-price TKTS line in Times Square, the South Street Seaport or Brooklyn earlier in the day. Full-price tickets can be very expensive, but each Broadway show is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some sales can be found: Disney credit card holders receive discounted ticket offers at times for Disney productions; sign up for a theater newsletter that offers sales; or just try your luck with prices for off-peak shows during the week. Another option after the zoo is to walk five blocks south to visit FAO Schwarz, the famous toy store located across from the Plaza Hotel and Central Park at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue. It closes at 7 p.m. most days. A real-life toy soldier greets visitors at the front door. If you want to wait until morning, schedule a pre-opening 45-minute tour that concludes with a continental breakfast with a toy soldier by the Big Piano, the one featured in the movie Big, starring Tom Hanks. (Due to mature content, I’m not recommending watching that movie with the kids until they’re teenagers.)

citypass.com, newyorkpass.com

SHOW TICKETS TKTS tdf.org. Times Square, Father Duffy Square, Broadway and 47th Street; Downtown Brooklyn: In 1 MetroTech Center at the corner of Jay Street and Myrtle Avenue Promenade; South Street Seaport: Corner of Front and John streets. SIGHTS American Museum of Natural History Central Park West and 79th Street. (212) 769-5100. amnh.org

Suggested admission: $22, adults; $12.50, ages 2-12. Pay admission of your choice when buying tickets in person; full price when buying tickets online.

Central Park Zoo Fifth Avenue and 64th Street. (212) 439-6500. centralparkzoo.com

$18 adult and $13 child admission to zoo, Tisch children’s zoo and 4D movie. Save 10 percent by buying online.

Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal, 4 South Street. nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/ staten-island-ferry.shtml

Free. At least every 30 minutes around the clock.

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SIGHTS 9/11 Memorial and Museum Liberty Street. (212) 312-8800. 911memorial.org

Memorial admission is free. Museum admission is $24, adult; $15, ages 7-17.

Empire State Building 350 Fifth Ave. (212) 736-3100. esbnyc.com

Main deck only: $29, adult; $23, ages 6-12. Buy tickets online and skip ticket line on ground.

Rockefeller Center 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. rockefellercenter. com

Top of the Rock 30 Rockefeller Plaza. (212)6982000. topoftherocknyc.com Observation deck tickets: $29, adult; $18, ages 6-12.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art 1000 Fifth Ave. (212) 535-7710. metmuseum.org

St. Patrick’s Cathedral Fifth Avenue and 51st Street. (212) 753-2261. saintpartrickscathedral.org

SHOPPING FAO Schwarz 767 Fifth Ave. (212) 644-9400, Ext. 4173. fao.com

Saks Fifth Avenue 611 Fifth Avenue, between 51st & 52nd streets. (212) 753-4000

M&M’s World Times Square, 1600 Broadway. (212) 295-3850. mmsworld.com

Toys R Us Times Square, 1514 Broadway at 44th Street. (646) 366-8800. toysrusinc.com/about-us/timessquare/

EATERIES Cake Boss Cafe

625 Eighth Ave. (646) 590-3783. cakebosscafe.com

Eataly

200 Fifth Avenue. (212) 229.2560. eataly.comnyc-restaurants

DAY TWO Start the day at Battery Park in the south end of Manhattan Island to catch a free ride on the Staten Island Ferry. This iconic ferry leaves every half-hour and gives a 25-minute ride past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, where many immigrants landed upon arriving in the United States a century ago. The working ferry provides transportation to more than 60,000 passengers a day and is a secret tourist spot for real New Yorkers. Upon landing at the St. George Terminal in Staten Island, disembark from the ferry and board again for the return trip. When back in Manhattan, notice the 28 granite benches designed to look like Native American canoes in the waiting areas. If you want to postpone the Manhattan cruise to dusk, consider a twilight cruise around the Statue of Liberty. After the ferry, let the kids stretch in Battery Park, where they may encounter street musicians, artists and other entertainers. Be prepared for beggars as well; decide how you will explain these folks to your children and whether you will give them money, say hello, etc. Of course, this is a discussion you may have already had concerning street people in Central New York, but one is likely to see more in NYC. Depending on the age of your children, the Empire State Building or the 9/11 Memorial may be next on the agenda. The 9/11 Memorial is free for visitors, although the museum requires paid admission starting at $15 for children ages 7 and up and $24 for adults. The 9/11 Memorial is located at the World Trade Center location, which can be reached easily by subway or bus. Names of each person who died in that terrorist attack as well as the 1993 bombing there are inscribed around the two memorial pools. The Empire State Building is located north at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue and is open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. An elevator ride to the main observation deck on the 86th floor costs $29 for adults, $23 for children ages 6 to 12. Add a trip

to the deck on the 102nd floor of this skyscraper for an additional $17. As a resident of New York, a visit to the Empire State Building should be required sightseeing. When back on the ground, walk or ride about 13 blocks north on Fifth Avenue to Rockefeller Center. In cold weather, the open-air skating rink greets visitors in front of the building; tables with umbrellas line the rink in warm weather, beckoning visitors for food and drink (not cheap but a fun atmosphere). This is a good location to get in shopping, snacking or a full meal. Take time to view the art deco murals and sculpture produced during the Depression and lining the walls and corridors of the entire complex inside and out. Some visitors prefer the observation deck at the Top of the Rock on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors from which one can view the Empire State Building. Others head to the NBC Television Studio Tour, which unfortunately is closed for renovations until much later this year. Before leaving this area, view the expansively decorated windows of the flagship Saks Fifth Avenue store or check out its elaborate first floor—or more, if you and your credit cards dare. Across the street is the historic St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where visitors may enter and tour the Roman Catholic church, which officially opened in 1879. If you pause to sit in a pew, ask the children to find and count the red cardinals’ hats hanging from the ceiling. Next, one could head north to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or a bit south to the frivolity of Times Square. Times Square, located from 42nd Street to 47th Street bounded by Broadway and Seventh Avenue, features the lights of theater marquees, the sounds of traffic, plenty of candy and toys. One can’t miss the giant M&M’s World store with its two-story wall of colorful M&Ms candies. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to midnight. For a customized souvenir, try the “personalized printer,” which will allow an image or words to be designed on your M&Ms in just about two minutes. With candy in hand,

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Tony Fischer/Flickr

insapphowestrust / flickr

18-Feature

Tony Fischer/Flickr

insapphowestrust / flickr

19 head over to the Toys R Us flagship store at 44th Street. Take a ride on the 60-foot tall indoor Ferris wheel, wander through the life-size Barbie dollhouse and listen for the roar of the 20-foot animatronic T-Rex dinosaur, among other exhibits, er, toy areas. Tours of the store are available with advance reservations. If children have saved their souvenir money until this point in the trip, this toy store experience may go pretty well. If you’re ready for an expensive snack, stop into the Cake Boss Café, located at 625 Eighth Ave. near Times Square. Open from 7 a.m. to midnight, this new hot spot allows fans of the TV show Cake Boss, and its master baker Buddy Valastro, to try his pastries without traveling to one of his bakeries in New Jersey. Enough extravagance, it’s time to take in one more museum: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, located on Fifth Avenue at 71st Street. Children will be delighted to see the knights’ shining armor, artifacts from ancient times and some Egyptian mummies among the thousands of items collected there. Admission fees are listed as suggested donations and the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. (This museum is another good option for a Saturday-night activity.) Don’t hesitate to

sit down and rest on the museum’s steps that face Fifth Avenue. It’s likely street musicians or magicians will entertain your family there. OK, with sugar purchased and a souvenir in the bag, it should be time to head home. If you’re staying until Monday, head down to 200 Fifth Avenue to find your favorite food in former “Iron Chef” Mario Batali’s Eataly. This food complex boasts seven sit-down restaurants and several stands for take-out food, such as sandwiches and desserts. The latest addition is a Nutella bar, which features the chocolate-hazelnut spread in pastries. Reasonably priced pizza and other Italian dishes can be found at one or two of the restaurants; others feature high-end delicacies that may be too much for a child’s palate or allowance. Be careful about staying until Monday, however. By now the children may have figured out you’ve skipped other attractions, such as a hansom cab—or horsedrawn carriage ride—through Central Park; lunch and shopping at the American Girl store; and a visit to the South Street Seaport. Not to mention at least 15 other museums, famous stores and more. Let the kids plan—and pay for—the next visit to NYC.

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22-Family Matters

Thinkstock photo

family MATTERS

Loyalty Binds

When a child feels conflicted about a stepparent | By Cary and Tonja Rector

n our work with stepfamilies we often hear about children’s behavior toward a stepparent: “My husband’s daughter doesn’t like me! She is rude and he does nothing about it,” says a woman who sits with her arms crossed during a therapy session. Her husband shakes his head and looks defeated. “I don’t know why my daughter acts like she does,” he says. “My wife is a great stepmother; she does a lot for my daughter. When I try to talk to my child about her behavior, all she says is that I don’t understand.” Children’s hostility toward stepparents can be a source of tension in the household and cause arguments between the adults. In a stepfamily, every family member has his or her own story or special perspective and unique challenges. Understanding the situation from the child’s point of view can be extremely helpful for the adults. When a divorced adult finds a new partner to share his or her life, it is a joyous occasion. This is particularly true if the prior marriage and divorce was filled with conflict. Finally, something positive 22

and uplifting! Not so for children. Children whose parents have divorced tell us it is difficult for them to see their mother or father with someone else. The new relationship responsible for a parent’s happiness can evoke the opposite emotional reaction in a child. There is sadness at the finality of their parents’ split, anger at the amount of attention their parent gives the new relationship and a strong sense of loyalty to the other parent. Loyalty binds are common for kids when a parent remarries. They occur even when the divorce has been amicable. If the child has an especially close relationship with a parent, the bind can be even stronger. How can they accept Mom’s new husband and still stay loyal to their dad? For children, it can feel like a betrayal to love (or even like) a stepparent. Conflicted loyalties can be at the root of a child’s seemingly rude behavior toward a stepparent. For the stepdaughter in our example, whom we’ll call Jenna, even enjoying a dinner made her miserable. “My stepmother is a really good cook and the food she made was great. My

mom doesn’t cook like that. I thought the dinner was good, but felt funny saying it. Dad kept commenting on how delicious it was and looking right at me. I know he wanted me to say something, but I couldn’t. I got a knot in my stomach and ended up leaving the table and going to my room. He doesn’t understand. It feels wrong to like my stepmother’s cooking better than my mom’s!” To help loosen loyalty binds, children need to hear from adults that caring for a stepparent does not make them disloyal to a parent. In Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships, author Patricia Papernow encourages parents to have “loyalty bind talks.” Papernow offers an example: “Having a stepparent can be kind of confusing. I want you to know that your mom has a permanent place in your heart. Like the sun. Like the earth. I hope you come to care about Claire. But even if you do, her place in your heart will be a totally different place from your mom’s place.” Grandparents, guidance counselors, parents, therapists and stepparents can all talk to kids about loyalty binds.

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Thinkstock photo

When we talk with children who have a stepparent, we say that having another significant adult in their life whom they didn’t pick or have any control over can be difficult. However, we ask them to remember this person is important to their mother or father. We suggest to the child and adults that the only expectation is the child treat the stepparent respectfully while remaining open to the possibility of developing a closer relationship. Sometimes

it works out well and there is another helpful and caring adult in their life, but it’s also OK if it remains respectful but superficial. Understanding Jenna’s loyalty bind helped both her father and stepmother relax and take a more empathetic view. With the pressure off, Jenna was free to develop a relationship with her stepmother over a number of months. Tentative at first, theirs grew into a mutually respectful and caring relationship.

Practice

Trying to force the stepparent-child relationship can worsen loyalty binds. Stepparents should not attempt to “win the child over” and parents should not push the child to accept the stepparent. A stepparent trying harder and doing more for a child can actually make a loyalty bind worse. Let the relationship unfold naturally over time. Shared activities will help but should happen over time and never be mandatory.

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24-Camp

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25-Camp

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Summer Activity Planner

Summer Fun Days at

6/19/14 12:06 PM

Calendar

26-Calendar

Michael Davis Photo

Family Fun Events

Syracuse New Times and Family Times Street Painting, July 26

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

Friday, June 27 Meet an Alpaca. 11 a.m. Children age 2 and

up, with a caregiver, can meet a Cedarvale Farm Alpaca. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration preferred: 492-1727.

Jamesville Balloonfest. 4-11 p.m.; through

June 29. Amusement rides daily; flights of more than two dozen special shape and hot air balloons, weather permitting. Live music acts and arts and crafts fair. Jamesville Beach Park, Apulia Road, Jamesville. Admission: $10/general; free/age 12 and under (some attractions additional cost). 703-9620. www.syracuseballoonfest.com.

Shakespeare in the Grass. 5:30 p.m.; through

Saturday, June 28

June 29. A performance of William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. Food and ice cream available for purchase. Bring your own lawn chair or blanket. Thornden Park amphitheatre, entrances at Ostrom Avenue and Madison Street, South Beach Street, Ackerman Avenue, Syracuse. Donations. 476-1835. www.syrsf.org.

Ride and Run for the Rescue. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Be active—whether bike riding (2-62 miles) or running (5K)—and raise money for Rescue Mission’s charitable work. Long Branch Park, Longbranch Road, Liverpool. Registration fee/$35-$50. 701-3891. www.ridefortherescue.org.

Minecraft Mania. 6-7:30 p.m. An evening of

Jamesville Balloonfest. 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; through

Minecraft play, building together or individually. Participants are invited to bring their own laptops as there will be a limited number of accounts and computers at DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. Registration required: 263-8749.

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Cheer the hometown Minor League Baseball team as they face the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on the grass field. This game followed by fireworks. Alliance Bank Stadium, 1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse. $5$12. Parking: $5. 474-7833. http://www.milb.com/ index.jsp?sid=t552

June 29. See June 27 listing.

Cherry Festival. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; also June 29. Festival’s activities include picking cherries (sweet and sour); a petting zoo and carnival games; hay rides; and baked goods, ice cream, cheese and crafts for sale. Varick Winery, 5102 Route 89, Romulus. Free admission. 549-8797. www.varickwinery.com. The Princess and the Pea. 12:30 p.m. The

Magic Circle Children’s Theatre presents an original version of the fairy tale, in which children in the audience help the Queen and her staff test

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27-Calendar

Art on the Farm. 10 a.m.-noon. Kids in kin-

dergarten to grade 3 can listen to a story about growing food on a farm, take part in a nutrition activity and create a collage to take home. Abbott Farms, 3275 Cold Springs Road, Baldwinsville. $15. Register: 289-2706. tours@abbottfarms.com.

Toddlers’ Tango. 11 a.m. Little ones can take part in creative music and dance using props and instruments. Central Library, Galleries of Syracuse, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. 435-1900. Shakespeare in the Grass. 5:30 p.m.; through June 29. See June 27 listing.

Baldwinsville. $5/person. $4/parking. Registration required: 638-2519.

Light Trail Photos. 2-3:30 p.m. Kids in grades

Dan the Snakeman. 6:30 p.m. Learn about

Multiple Moms Mingle. 6:30 p.m. Monthly meeting of mothers and expectant mothers of multiples. Ruby Tuesday, 3220 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Reserve: 308-0277.

Tuesday, July 8

Thursday, July 3

Tinker Tots. 11 a.m.; also July 22. Children ages 3-5 will have hands-on opportunities to learn, explore and invent. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374.

1-5 can make light photos in the blacked-out community room; one photo per child. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374. www.fflib.org.

Zoo to You. 10 a.m. Live animals visit the library

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Vs. Buffalo

Bisons. See June 27 listing.

accompanied by an educator from the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. Betts Branch Library, 4862 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. 435-1940.

Sunday, June 29

Friday, July 4

Jamesville Balloonfest. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. See June

INDEPENDENCE DAY

27 listing.

listing.

Shakespeare in the Grass. 2 p.m. See June 27 listing.

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 5 p.m. Vs. Buffalo

Bisons. See June 27 listing.

Manlius July Fourth Celebration. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Traditional events include the Stickley Chair Race (9:30 a.m., in front of Swan Pond); parade (10 a.m.); and fireworks (dusk). Arkie Albanese Ave. and other locations, Manlius. Free. 682-7887. www. manliusvillage.org/recreation.aspx/

Bisons. See June 27 listing.

Fireworks and Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Catch the Syracuse Chiefs in action against the Pawtucket Red Sox, then see a fireworks display. NBT Stadium, 1 Tex Simone Drive, Syracuse. General admission: free. Parking: $5. 473-4330.

Tuesday, July 1

Saturday, July 5

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Vs. Buffalo

Mo Willems Day. 2-3:30 p.m. Kids age 4 and up

can do crafts, play games and read stories about such favorite characters as Gerald, Pigeon and Knuffle Bunny. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. Registration recommended: 457-0310. lpl.org.

Craftastic Critters. 4:30-5:30 p.m.; also July 8,

15, 22 & 29. Kids ages 4-10 can drop in to make a different craft each week. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374.

Family Kickball League. 5-6 p.m.; Tuesdays in

July. All members of the family can play kickball on the green space outside the library; wear sneakers and bring a water bottle. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374. www.fflib.org.

The Little Mermaid. 12:30 p.m. The Magic Circle Children’s Theatre presents an original version of the fairy tale, in which children in the audience help save the Little Mermaid and the Prince from the Seawitch’s spell. Children can dress up as fairy tale characters to enhance their fun. Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St., Syracuse. $5. 449-3823.

Sciencenter Showtime. 2 p.m.; Saturdays. Each week explore a different topic in an interactive show. Sciencenter. 601 First St., Ithaca. Admission: $8/adults; $7/seniors; $6/ages 3-17; free/under 3. (607) 272-0600. www.sciencenter.org.

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Vs. Pawtucket Red Sox. Fireworks follow the game. See June 27 listing.

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Vs. Buffalo

Bisons. See June 27 listing.

Wednesday, July 2 Wild Berry Ice Cream Hike. 1:30 p.m.;

also July 26 & 30. Search for raspberries and blackberries to pick, then make some ice cream. Beaver Lake Nature Center, East Mud Lake Road,

4-9 can come dressed up and make their own crowns and wands in addition to enjoying activities and treats. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. Registration required: 457-0310. lpl.org.

Wednesday, July 9

grades 1-5 will make and watch chalk rockets explode outside the library. (Film canister donations needed for the program.) Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374.

Summer Reading Kickoff Party. 2 p.m. Kids

Aug. 18. Personal trainer Joseph Labbate leads teens to improve their fitness with personal assessment and goal setting. Paine Branch Library, 113 Nichols Ave., Syracuse. Free. 435-5442. Preregistration required by email: dmcgregor@onlib.org.

Calling All Princesses. 2-3:30 p.m. Kids ages

Make Chalk Rockets. 3-4:30 p.m. Kids in

Monday, June 30

Teen Get Fit Club. 4-5 p.m.; Mondays through

snakes and reptiles and their importance to the environment. Space is limited, so arrive early. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 263-8749.

Little Gather. 11 a.m.-noon.; Wednesdays through Aug. 13. Parents with children age 3 and up can see all kinds of entertainment, from magic shows to storytelling, and get a chance to introduce little ones to the museum. The first show focuses on science and math. Corning Museum of Glass, 1 Museum Way, Corning. Admission: $16/ adults; free/19 and under. (800) 732-6845. www. cmog.org.

Cherry Festival. 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. See June 28

can enjoy music and face painting with Donna Butterfield and sign up for summer reading programs. Central Library, Galleries of Syracuse, 447 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. 435-1900.

Monday, July 7

Sunday, July 6 Moto-Inventions. 1-2 p.m.; Sundays in July. Tin-

ker with recycled materials and electricity to make moving machines. Sciencenter. 601 First St., Ithaca. Admission: $8/adults; $7/seniors; $6/ages 3-17; free/under 3. (607) 272-0600. www.sciencenter. org.

Bubblemania. 6:30 p.m. Doug Rougeux tells

stories, performs tricks and makes bubbles. Space is limited, so arrive early. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 263-8749.

Thursday, July 10 MOMS Club of Syracuse-East. 9:30 a.m.

Gathering for local kids and moms. Manlius United Methodist Church, 111 Wesley St., Manlius. Free. 395-5009. http://momsclubofcuseeast.webs.com/.

Sharing Nature Summer Camp. 10-11:30 a.m.; Thursdays through July 31. Preschoolers, each accompanied by an adult, can hike, play games and do crafts. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $7/session; $30/5 sessions. Registration required: 638-2519. Moreland the Magician. 11 a.m. Show blends magic, puppetry, comedy and audience participation. Solvay Public Library, 615 Woods Road, Solvay. Free. 468-2441. www.solvaylibrary.org.

Friday, July 11 Sharing Nature Summer Camp. 10-11:30 a.m.; Fridays, July 11-Aug. 1. See July 10 listing. Music with Donna Butterfield. 11 a.m. Enjoy

interactive songs and face painting. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration preferred: 492-1727.

St. Elias Middle Eastern Cultural Festival.

4-10 p.m.; through July 13. Enjoy aspects of Arabic culture such as traditional dances, a souk full of crafts, pastries and other food. St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, 4988 Onondaga Road, Syracuse. Free admission. 488-0388. www. steliasny.com.

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the visitor to the castle to determine if she’s a real princess. Children can dress up as fairy tale characters to enhance their fun. Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St., Syracuse. $5. 449-3823.

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Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo

Discover the fun, fun for everyone! Petting Areas, Animal Presentations, Maternity Ward, Exotic & Native Animals, Giant softplay maze-tubes, tunnels, slides & ballcrawl.

Get your free child pass at fortrickey.com

Route 49 - 3 Miles West of Rome (315) 336-1930

We’re your neighborhood

Pediatricians Helmet your Heir! Protect your greatest Assets! Drs. Kristina Hingre, Elizabeth Nguyen, Nick Massa, Celeste Madden and Kathleen Shefner.

Mo Willems Day, July 1

Syracuse Jazz Fest. 5:30-11 p.m.;

also July 12. The annual event features performances by young artists Julia Goodwin (5:30 p.m., Friday) and Nick Ziobro (5 p.m., Saturday) sponsored by the Carrie Lazarus Fund for Extraordinary Talent; headliners Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue (9:30 p.m., Friday) and B.B. King and the B.B. King Orchestra (9:30 p.m., Saturday); fireworks (after B.B. King on Saturday); and many other acts. Bring lawn chairs. Onondaga Community College, 4941 Onondaga Road, Syracuse. Admission: free. Parking: $5. www.syracuse jazzfest.com.

Walk on the Wild Side. 5:30-8:30

p.m. A night filled with animals, crafts for kids, prizes and entertainment, including Amy Robbins from 93Q, raises money for Make-A-Wish Central New York. Rosamond Gifford Zoo, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. $15/adults; $10/ages 5-12; free/age 4 and under (prices $5 more at door). 435-2121. 475-WISH. cny.wish.org.

Summer Murder Mystery. 6-7:30

p.m. Kids ages 10-16 can join fellow sleuths and discover who is killed in the library and why. Pizza will be served. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. Registration required: 263-8749.

Clifford Visits Storytime. 7 p.m. Kids can wear PJs, listen to classic Clifford tales and meet the Big Red Dog himself. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 449-2948.

Saturday, July 12 Family Canoe Outing. 9 a.m. A

475 Irving Ave. Suite 210 • Syracuse, NY • 315-471-2646 • www.mipeds.net 28

naturalist leads a canoeing tour of the lake for kids in grades 1 through 5 and accompanying adults (maximum of four people per canoe). Beaver Lake Nature Center, East Mud Lake Road,

Baldwinsville. $20/family. $4/parking. Registration required: 638-2519.

Gemworld. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; also July

13. The annual show features hands-on education exhibits and demonstrations plus gems, fossils, minerals and more for sale. SRC Arena, Onondaga Community College, 4585 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. $7/adults; free/ under 12 with adult. 672-5328. www. gmss.us.

Smart Play. 10:30 a.m-noon; also

July 17. Children age 5 and under can explore a free-play environment that promotes discovery, creativity and the development of early literacy skills. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374. www. fflib.org.

Numberlys Storytime. 11 a.m.

Great for ages 3-7. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 449-2948.

Reading with Rover. 11 a.m.-noon. Kids ages 6-10 can read to a dog from Paws of CNY in a 10-minute session. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration required: 492-1727. Garden Railway Open House.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. See a large layout with distinctive water features and multiple operating trains; presented by the CNY Large-Scale Railway Society. Robert and Marie Loran, 102 Mohawk Ave., Central Square. Free. 668-9582.

Animal ABCs. Noon. A Rosamond

Gifford Zoo staffer gives a presentation that features live animal visitors, animal artifacts and other fun; best for birth to age 5, accompanied by an adult. White Branch Library, 763 Butternut St., Syracuse. Free. 435-3519.

St. Elias Middle Eastern Cultural Festival. Noon-10 p.m.; through July 13. See July 11 listing.

The Little Mermaid. 12:30 p.m. See July 5 listing.

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11 listing.

Sensory Friendly Time. 5:30-7:30

p.m. MOST staffers turn down the noise, turn off the flashing lights and shut off the air compressors so people with sensory issues can enjoy the museum. Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Cost: $5. 425-9068, Ext. 2143.

Sunday, July 13 Gemworld. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. See July 12 listing.

St. Elias Middle Eastern Cultural Festival. Noon-7 p.m. See July 11 listing. Penguin Palooza. 5:30-8 p.m. At this party there’ll be entertainment, ice cream and other food tastings, and animal demonstrations. Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. $15/advance; $17/door (if available). Registration recommended: 435-8511, Ext. 113.

Monday, July 14 Calling All Superheroes. 2 p.m.

Children ages 5-9 can come dressed as a superhero and make crafts and snacks. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. Registration required: 457-0310. lpl.org.

Experiments with Light. 3-4:30 p.m.

Kids in grades 6-12 can learn about the differences between a halogen light bulb and an LED, they can look through a camera obscura, and more. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374.

Tuesday, July 15 The Amazing Honeybee. 1 p.m. Kids age 6 and up can join a hobby beekeeper to learn how bees make honey and more about these amazing insects. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. Registration required: 263-8749.

Wednesday, July 16 Valley Field Days. Through July 20.

Carnival rides and live music. Meachem Field, West Seneca Turnpike and Midland Avenue, Syracuse. Free admission; various prices for attractions. 492-3530.

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

Thursday, July 17 Meteorologist Talk. 1:30 p.m. Channel

9 chief meteorologist Dave Longley visits. Solvay Public Library, 615 Woods Road, Solvay. Free. 468-2441. www.solvaylibrary. org.

Medieval Times. 6-8:30 p.m. Visit different stations and learn about daily life in medieval Europe. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free admission. 457-0310. lpl.org.

Calendar

Syracuse Jazz Fest. 5-11 p.m. See July

An Adventure in Basic Bike Repair.

2 p.m. Kids age 8 and up can grab a wrench and learn how to keep a bike in good working order. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. Registration required: 263-8749.

Valley Field Days. Through July 20. See July 16 listing.

Big Bang Theory Science Party. 7

p.m. Kids age 12 and up can play trivia and other games; do science experiments; and more. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration required: 492-1727.

Friday, July 18 Syracuse Nationals. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; through July 20. See thousands of hot rods, (pre-1980) classic and custom cars and trucks. (Buy tickets in advance and pay $12 for adults, $6 for kids.) State Fairgrounds, Geddes. $17/adults; $8/ages 6-12; free/age 5 and under. (800) 753-3978. www.rightcoastcars.com . Alice in Wonderland. 11 a.m. The Hampstead Stage Company presents the classic Lewis Carroll story of Alice’s journey down the rabbit hole. Space is limited, so arrive early. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 263-8749. Science Social. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Learn

about the properties of water and bubbles with free outdoor science demonstrations in the park to the east of the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin St., Armory Square, Syracuse. Museum admission: $10/adults; $8/seniors and ages 2-11. 425-9068.

Valley Field Days. Through July 20. See July 16 listing.

Origami Basics. 7 p.m. Kids age 8 and

up can learn folding basics at this meeting of the Origami Club. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. Register: 449-2948.

Star Party. 8:30-10:30 p.m. Participants

can see the Milky Way and deep space objects through telescopes. Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. $8/individual; $25/family. Register: 673-1350.

Saturday, July 19 Syracuse Nationals. 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; through July 20. See July 18 listing. Skate Jam. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Onondaga

Lake Skate Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. $10. Preregistration recommended: 453-6712.

Frog Catching Party. 10:30-noon; also July 26. Children and parents can learn how to catch and release frogs at Phillips Pond. Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. $8/ person; $25/family. Register: 673-1350.

Bubblemania, July 9 Michael Davis Photo

Hencle’s Berry Patch Strawberries Red & Black Raspberries Currants • Garlic Gooseberries Elderberries • Blackberries Various Veggies & Pumpkins

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Strawberries — June Cherries — Late June - July Rasberries — July - August Blueberries — July Shop at our farmstore for Gifford Ice Cream, organic and gluten-free items. Sign up for wagon tours & Art on the Farm. Birthdays or specials events welcome. Watch for our summer festivals

3275 Cold Springs Road Baldwinsville, NY 13027 continued on page 29 638-7783 Family Times July 2014

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Wednesday, July 23

Birth Circle and Tea Time. 10 a.m.-noon. New mothers with babies can share their birth stories, converse and enjoy light snacks and tea with Sara Oakley. Café at 407, 407 Tulip St., Liverpool. Pay what you can. Reservations appreciated: (406) 570-3549. Tie Dye on the Lawn. 1-2:30 p.m. Kids from

preschool age to teens can bring a clean, cotton item (or pair of socks) to tie dye (no large items!). Tie dye materials are provided. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. 457-0310. lpl.org.

Oswego Harborfest. 5-11 p.m.; through July 27.

A children’s parade and kid-friendly entertainment; don’t miss the fireworks over the harbor. Free admission. 343-6858. www.oswegoharborfest.com.

Pregnancy Information. 6:30-8 p.m. Members

BWNC Photo

of CNY Doula Connection answer questions at a fun and informative meeting for pregnant women. Lombardi Chiropractic Center, 1116 Upper Lenox Ave., Oneida. Free. 263-8749.

Batman Anniversary Celebration. 7 p.m. Dress as your favorite superhero or villain for this 75th anniversary celebration. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 449-2948.

Black Light Hike, July 24

Garden Railway Open House. Noon-4 p.m.

See the 500-square-foot miniature layout of the town of Castlerock, with an airport, pond and flowers; presented by the CNY Large-Scale Railway Society. Carl and Thelma Cramer, 7141 E. Carter Road, Rome. Free. 336-4941.

The Little Mermaid. 12:30 p.m. See July 5 listing.

Valley Field Days. Through July 20. See July 16 listing.

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Vs. Lehigh

Valley IronPigs. See June 27 listing.

Sunday, July 20

Syracuse Nationals. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. See July 18

listing.

Anything That Rolls. 9 a.m. Kids and adults can roll with bikes, wheelchairs, strollers and inline skates—or just walk—during an event that raises money and awareness for children and adults with disabilities, brain injuries and mental health needs. Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. $10/adults; free/age 10 and under. 410-3384. Valley Field Days. See July 16 listing. Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 5 p.m. Vs. Lehigh

Valley IronPigs. See June 27 listing.

Thursday, July 24

Monday, July 21

Fizz, Boom, Amaze. 11 a.m. A MOST (Museum

Grandparent/Grandchildren’s Fishing Days. 10 a.m.-noon or 1-3 p.m.; Mondays through

of Science & Technology) educator brings an exciting selection of experiments that fizz, boom and pop. Solvay Public Library, 615 Woods Road, Solvay. Free. 468-2441. www.solvaylibrary.org.

Fridays, through Aug. 1. Grandparents can enjoy quality time with their grandchildren; prizes awarded for largest fish each session. Bait and poles provided. Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery, 1672 Route 321, Elbridge. $3/child; free/accompanying adult. Register: 689-9367.

Snackimals. 2 p.m. Children ages 5-9 can make animals from fruits and vegetables, and eat their creations. Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool. Free. Registration required: 457-0310. lpl.org.

Jazz Up Your Lunch. 12:15-1:15 p.m.; also July 23, 24 and 25. The City of Syracuse All-Star Band, a youth jazz ensemble, will perform at various downtown Syracuse park spaces: Hanover Square (7/21), Clinton Square (7/23), across from Columbus Circle (7/24) and Armory Square (7/25). Free. 473-4330.

Oswego Harborfest. 5-11 p.m.; through July 27. See July 23 listing.

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Vs. Pawtucket

Red Sox. See June 27 listing.

Puppets with Pizzazz. 6:30 p.m. Puppeteer Nancy Sander presents “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” Space is limited, so arrive early. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 263-8749. Black Light Hike. 8:30-9:30 p.m. Take a night

Tuesday, July 22

hike through the forest taking an ultraviolet flashlight in search of glowing insects, algae, flowers and fungi. Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. $8/individual; $25/ family. Register: 673-1350.

Local Author Meet and Greet. 6-8 p.m.

Learn about Amber Lough and her debut YA book set in Baghdad’s Golden Age. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 449-2948.

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Vs. Pawtucket

Red Sox. See June 27 listing.

Pediatric Associates, LLP Caring for CNY children for more than 40 years. www.PediatricAssociatesNY.com

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Family Times July 2014

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Arts and Crafts Festival. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.;

through July 27. Nearly 200 artists, entertainers and craftspeople make their mark on Columbus Circle in Syracuse. 422-8284. www.downtownsyr acuse.com.

YogaKids. 11 a.m. Midge Regier teaches kids age

4 and up how to stay healthy while doing simple yoga poses. Dress comfortably; mats provided. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration required: 492-1727.

Oswego Harborfest. 11 a.m.-midnight; through July 27. See July 23 listing.

4-H Youth Country Fair. 4-8 p.m.; through July

Abbott Farms, 3275 Cold Springs Road, Baldwinsville. $15. Register by July 23: 289-2706. tours@ abbottfarms.com.

Arts and Crafts Festival. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; through July 27. See July 25 listing.

Oswego Harborfest. 11 a.m.-midnight; through July 27. See July 23 listing.

The Little Mermaid. 12:30 p.m. See July 5 listing.

Garden Railway Open House. 1-4 p.m. See a

European-themed layout with storybook and cartoon characters; a pirate ship and more. Presented by the CNY Large-Scale Railway Society. Gordon Davis, 315 Viking Place, Liverpool. Free. 451-3199.

27. The fair and Big 6 Picnic feature wagon rides, live entertainment, kids activities, 4-H projects on display, and poultry, rabbit and dog shows, among others. Across from Emerson Park, 6880 E. Lake Road, Auburn. Free admission. Emerson Park parking fee: $2. 515-9602. www.RememberThe Big6.com.

Couples Yoga for Birth. 3-5 p.m. Pregnant women and partners can practice yoga with Sara Oakley and experience breathing, relaxation and postures that can help with labor. Lotus Life Yoga Center, 4467 E. Genesee St., DeWitt. $60/couple. Registration required: (406) 570-3549. www. mamabirthyoga.com.

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Vs. Gwinnett Braves. Fireworks follow the game. See June 27 listing.

Braves. See June 27 listing.

Saturday, July 26

Syracuse New Times and Family Times Street Painting. 8 a.m. (registration). 9 a.m.-4

p.m. (drawing and judging). Rain date: July 27. Artists young and old decorate squares of sidewalk with chalk and compete for prizes on Montgomery Street near City Hall in Syracuse. Free: spectators. Participants: $10/age 17 and younger; $20/adults; $25/masters. Plus $5 after July 12. Preregistration recommended: 422-7011. http://www.syracusenew times.com/street-painting/

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 7 p.m. Vs. Gwinnett

Sunday, July 27

Arts and Crafts Festival. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. See July 25 listing.

Cazenovia Library Book Sale. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

See July 26 listing.

4-H Youth Country Fair. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. See

Cazenovia Library Book Sale. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; also July 27. Thousands of books for kids and adults for sale. Cazenovia Public Library, 100 Albany St., Cazenovia. 655-9322. www.cazenoviapubliclibrary. org. Think Red, White & Blue. 10 a.m.-noon. Kids

in grades 1-6 can craft a journal and use words, pictures and colors to create rhymes, riddles and tongue twisters with poet Sara Tomerlin-Hedger.

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. 5 p.m. Vs. Gwinnett

Vacation Bible School. 9 a.m.-noon; daily

through Aug. 1. Kids from kindergarten through grade 6 can participate in the school, which has a spy academy theme. Grace Covenant Church, 5300 Route 31, Clay. Free. Registration required by July 20: 699-1551. www.gracechurch.org.

Parenting Children Course. 9 a.m.-noon;

daily through Aug. 1. Course for parents with children from infants to age 10. Child care, course manual and refreshments included. Grace Covenant Church, 5300 Route 31, Clay. $10/5 sessions. Registration required by July 20: 699-1551. www. gracechurch.org.

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Children’s Consignment Sale

August 8

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August 9

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August 10

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Consignor registration now open! Earn up to 70% of your sales!

Fax to 422-1721; or email to editorial@familytimes.biz. Include date and time of event, location with numbered street address and town, price, and phone number for publication. We give priority to low- or no-cost events nied by kids. For consideration, listings are

27. See July 23 listing.

Monday, July 28

Cycle 12 or 25 miles, or just take in the festival fun in a benefit for Arise at the Farm, 1972 New Boston Road, Chittenango. $25 per cyclist/advance; $30/day of; $5/farm festival only. 671-2909. www. ariseinc.org.

1415 W. Genesee St., Syracuse;

Oswego Harborfest. Noon-5 p.m.; through July

Wild Berry Ice Cream Hike. 11 a.m.; also July Arise and Ride at the Farm. 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.

Send information about your family-friendly event to: Family Times calendar,

aimed at parents, kids, or parents accompa-

Braves. See June 27 listing.

30. See July 2 listing.

Calendar listings are free!

July 25 listing.

4-H Youth Country Fair. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; through July 27. See July 25 listing.

www.polkatotsale.com

due by July 3 for the August issue.

Syracuse Chiefs Baseball. Noon. Vs. Gwinnett

Braves. See June 27 listing.

Upward Cheerleading Clinic. 6-9 p.m.; also July 29. For kindergarten through grade 8. Each cheerleader receives a pair of poms and a water bottle. Northside Baptist Church, 7965 Oswego Road, Liverpool. $15. Register: 437-3705 or veronicam711@verizon.net.

Tuesday, July 29

Party at the Pond. 1 p.m. Kids and adults

can look at the wildlife pond with a naturalist. Beaver Lake Nature Center, East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $4/vehicle. Registration required: 638-2519.

Proudly serving CNY since 1975 FREE estimates www.JandBseamlessgutter.com 315-487-8993

• Gutters and Downspouts • 5-Year warranty on workmanship • .032 Gauge Aluminum Gutters • 20 Custom Colors Available • 20-year warranty on Manufacture Finish Family Times July 2014

FTJuly_Calendar.indd 31

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Friday, July 25

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Summer Movie Express, see Ongoing Events

Wednesday, July 30

ONGOING EVENTS

Wild Berry Ice Cream Hike. 1:30 p.m. See July

Summer Movie Express. Tuesdays & Wednes-

2 listing.

Thursday, July 31 Babysitter’s Training. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Young

people ages 11-15 receive training that enables them to care for infants and school-age children. Bring a bag lunch. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. $75. Registration required: 492-1727.

MOST Traveling Science Program. 11

a.m. An educator from the Museum of Science & Technology demonstrates experiments that go fizz, boom and pop. Betts Branch Library, 4862 S. Salina St., Syracuse. Free. 435-1940.

Nature Maker Space. 2:30 p.m. Using recyclable materials, kids ages 5-12 will make their own bird feeders and bug boxes and go on a nature scavenger hunt. Hazard Branch Library, 1620 W. Genesee St., Syracuse. Free. 435-5326.

Top Chef Challenge. 7 p.m. Teens entering

grades 6-12 can form teams to compete in a nocook food-preparation competition. The winning team receives a prize. Onondaga Free Library, 4840 W. Seneca Turnpike, Syracuse. Free. Registration required: 492-1727.

days, 10 a.m.; July 1-Aug. 27. Regal Entertainment Group offers G- and PG-rated flicks at three area cinemas for $1 admission. Selections include Hotel Transylvania, The Lego Movie, Mr. Peabody and Sherman, Arthur Christmas and more, changing each week. Shoppingtown Mall 14, 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt; 449-2001; Destiny USA 19, Destiny USA Drive, Syracuse; 466-5680. Regal Great Northern Mall 10, 4155 Route 31, Clay; 622-8928. www. regmovies.com.

Sterling Renaissance Festival. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; July 5-Aug. 17. Visit the recreated Elizabethan village and enjoy the minstrels, jousts, japes and other entertainment provided by actors in costume, on stage and strolling about the 35-acre site. 15385 Farden Road, Sterling. $25.95/adults; $15.95/ages 5-11; free/age 4 and under. (800) 879-4446. www.sterlingfestival. com. Canoeing & Kayaking. Saturdays and Sundays,

9 a.m.-4 p.m.; May 30-June 22. Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; June 22-Sept. 1. Paddle around Beaver Lake searching for beaver lodges, turtles and herons. Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. $10/first hour of rental. $4 per vehicle. Call for current conditions: 638-2519.

Tune in Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at 9:15 a.m., for columnist Maggie Simone’s preview of what’s in the next edition of Family Times!

on the air with

Ted & Amy in the Morning on 32

Onondaga Lake Skate Park. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; daily (weather permitting); through Sept. 2. (Shorter hours after Sept. 2.) The 16,900 square foot skate park is open for BMX, skateboards and inline skates. Helmets and signed waivers are required. Onondaga Lake Skate Park, Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway. $3/session. 453-6712. Onondaga County Beaches. Fridays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Mondays-Thursdays, noon-6 p.m.; June 16-Aug. 17. Jamesville Beach Park, 4110 West Shore Manor, Jamesville (closed June 27-29 for special event). Oneida Shores Park, 9400 Bartell Road, Brewerton. $7/vehicle. 435-5252 (Jamesville) or 676-7366 (Oneida). www.onondagacountyparks. com. Horseback Riding. Daily, except Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; June 22-Sept. 1. Hour-long guided ride on the trails of Highland Forest, Route 80, 3 miles east of Fabius. $30/hour. Reservations required: 289-3775.

Wegmans Tram. Daily, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; May 24-Sept. 1. Schedule subject to change. Onondaga Lake Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Liverpool. $1/ person. 453-6712. Downtown Syracuse Farmers’ Market.

Tuesdays, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; June 10-Oct. 7. Farmers and produce dealers offer vegetables, fruit, nuts, flowers, baked goods and more for sale. Clinton Square, Syracuse. 422-8284. www.downtownsyracuse.com.

Families Needed! Wanderers' Rest Humane Association 7138 Sutherland Drive PO Box 535 Canastota, NY 13032 315-697-2796 www.wanderersrest.org

•Adopt

•Foster •Donate •Volunteer

Family Times July 2014

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Fayetteville Farmers Market. Thursdays, 3-7 p.m.; June 5-Oct. 30. Twenty-five vendors selling items such as artisan cheeses, eggs, baked goods, fruits, vegetables and more. Parking lot, Towne Center, Fayetteville. 691-2327. Yoga for Parents, Action for Kids. 4:45-5:30 p.m.; every Thurs-

day. Kids ages 4-10 can take Samurai Action Class while parents take a yoga class on an adjoining mat space. Aikido of Central New York, 2550 Erie Blvd. E., Syracuse. Free/first three classes (thereafter: $99/ child for 8 classes, Tuesdays & Thursdays; $20/adult for 4 yoga classes, Thursdays only). Registration required: 449-2332.

Great Swamp Conservancy Nature Trails. Daily, dawn to dusk. Visitors can grab their walking shoes and explore 4.5 miles of wellgroomed, flat trails. Trails feature a 900-foot boardwalk, osprey nesting platform, and wetland and grassland restoration areas. The area is a stop for many migratory waterfowl and songbirds; other wildlife include muskrats and beavers. Great Swamp Conservancy, 3.5 miles off I-90, Exit 34, 8375 N. Main St. Canastota. Free. 697-2950. Baltimore Woods Nature Center. Hiking trails and parking are free and open every day from dawn to dusk. Interpretive Center open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Sundays. 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. 673-1350. Barnes & Noble Storytimes. Thursdays, 10 a.m. Join a storytime

Quick. Convenient. Exceptional Care. From broken bones to bronchitis, Five Star Urgent Care can treat all of your non-life threatening ailments and injuries.

Open 7 days a week

Most insurances accepted

X-rays on-site

No appointment needed

for toddlers and preschoolers thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s features a book, songs and coloring. Barnes & Noble, 3454 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. Free. 449-2948.

Maxwell Library Storytimes. Storytimes and book groups for all ages. Call for dates and times. Maxwell Memorial Library, 14 Genesee St., Camillus. Free. 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. 4726343, Ext. 208. DeWitt Community Library. Library offers hundreds of free programs for parents and children. DeWitt Community Library, Shoppingtown Mall (below food court), 3649 Erie Blvd. E., DeWitt. 446-3578.

Locations Cicero Location Route 11 across from Wegmans (315) 288-4006

Now open: Fairmount Location West Genesee Street across from Marshalls (315) 401-0754

FiveStarUC.com

Fayetteville Free Library Storytimes. (Excluding holidays.) First Steps: (Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.) for children who are good walkers. Science Storytime: (Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.) for ages infants to age 5, featuring science stories and activities. Cuddletime: (Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.) for babies not yet walking and an adult. Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville. Free. 637-6374. Petit Branch Library Storytimes. Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. Toddler and preschooler storytime for children ages 18 months-5 years and caregivers. Includes stories, rhymes, finger plays and songs. Petit Branch Library, 105 Victoria Place, Syracuse. 435-3636.

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

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 per vehicle. 638-2519.

Evening Wildlife Walks. Fridays, 7 p.m.; through July. On guided walks, look for signs of wildlife such as the barred owl, fox or whitetailed deer. Beaver Lake Nature Center, Route 370, Baldwinsville. Admission: $4 per vehicle. 638-2519. Syracuse Go Club. Every Monday, 7-10 p.m. Wegmans sit-down dining area, 6789 E. Genesee St., Fayetteville. Club devoted to the ancient Chinese game of Go; players of all ages. Free. 479-9073. Regional Market Farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Market. Saturdays, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. (year-round); Thursdays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (May through November only). Shop seasonal produce, meat, fish, poultry, eggs, specialty foods and more on display throughout covered sheds; heated shops of Regional Market Commons feature gift and unique items including jewelry, paintings and home decor. Also, flea market, Sundays, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 2100 Park St., Syracuse. 422-8647.

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BACK PACK CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY To advertise call 472-4669 and press 2. August Issue Deadline: July 18, 2014

ActivitieS

educAtionAl ServiceS

ServiceS

Attend College online

rom home: *Medical, *Business, *Criminal Justice, *Hospitality. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial aid if qualified. SHEV Authorized. 800-494-3586 www.CenturaOnline.com

Samurai Action Class

Focus, fitness and fun for ages 4-10! Taught by Jonathan Reid, MS Pediatric OT 2550 Erie Blvd.,449-2332, aikidoofcny.com

emPloyment

Protect Your Family Against Dryer Fires Dryer Vent: Cleaning, Repairs, New Installation, Free-Estimates, Fully Insured! A Plus+ Property Services **** 430-1121

NOW HIRING!!! $28/HR. Undercover Shoppers Needed To Judge Retail & Dining Establishments. PT/FT. No Experience. If You Can Shop - You Are Qualified!! www.AmericanShopperJobs.com

eventS Flag Football, Soccer, Basketball & T-Ball Leagues for Kids 3-14 years old i9sports.com 315-766-2006

Wee Ones Fun Fair

August 17, 1pm-5pm family friendly vendors, snow cones & snacks, visits from Princesses and Super heroes N. Syracuse Community Center, S.Bay Road

Be a part of the world’s most played sport in a non-competitive outdoor league. Saturday games at Barry Park or nearby. 1st-8th Grade, *1st child $95/ Addt’l child $90 *Rates increase July 1! Kindergarten $60 Includes fall & spring with full uniform www.eastsidesoccer.org

Automotive

FoSter cAre

Change a Child’s Life

Become a Foster and/or Adoptive Parent For Information, Call Glove House 315.539.3724

heAlth & WellneSS

Insurance - Instant Quote - Any Credit Type Accepted Get the Best Rates In Your Area. Call (800) 869-8573 Now

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CANADA DRUG CENTER. Safe and affordable medications. Save up to 90% on your medication needs. Call 1-800-734-5139 ($25.00 off your first prescription and free shipping.)

BirthdAy PArtieS

leSSonS

What’s in our Back Pack Giveaway? Gail’s Lil Dancin’ Pals Music & Movement Class For ages 10 mos.-4 Years ($50 value)

LEGO® Birthday Parties

Have a LEGO® enthusiast? Now scheduling LEGO® Birthday Parties featuring motorized model builds, race car factory, minifigure factory, games and more! 315-632-8592 www.bricks4kidz.com/cny

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Horseback Riding Lessons Bylund Hill Stables Jen Bylund 315-391-7559 www.CazenoviaHorses.com Jen@bylundstables.com

To enter: Send all contact information to promotions@familytimes.biz with “Dancin’ Pals” in the subject line. Entry deadline July 18, 2014

6/19/14 12:06 PM

35-Inside Back

350-5093

UPSTATE GOLISANO AFTER-HOURS CARE JUST FOR KIDS THROUGH AGE 21

The region’s only dedicated pediatric urgent care. upstate.edu/afterhours Family Times July 2014

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