Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine April 2014 by RocParent

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent â&#x20AC;˘ April 2014

www.RocParent.com

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent â&#x20AC;˘ April 2014

www.RocParent.com

Inside april Vol.21 Number 4

our nature & environment issue

Go Fish

exploring upstate new york's fish hatcheries

Flower City Kids Cultivate Rochester

in this issue

more features

6|R ocParent.com On the Web in April

18 Making Prayer Flags //

8 | Editor’s Note

gratitude, blessings, and teaching peace

22 | Book Nook Best Books for Kids and Teens, Part 2 24 | Parenting Teens & Tweens How Parents Can Help Teens While They Grapple With Divorce 30 | Calendar of Events • Family-Friendly Events • Go Green Events • Library Events • Ongoing Events & Exhibits

this month's contributors Susan Henninger is a contributing writer to Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine and the mother of three teenage boys. She lives in upstate NY. [Page 10]

john boccacino is monthly contributor to Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine. He reported on sports and local news for more than 6 1/2 years with the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. He is currently the Director of Sports Information for

on the cover OUR ECO ISSUE 145 Things to do this April 30 Visiting Upstate NY Fish Hatcheries 10 Flower City Kids Cultivate Rochester 14 Go Green Events & Activities 32

Keuka College. Boccacino is a Brighton native who currently resides in Webster. [Page 14] angela cannon-crothers is a contributing writer to Rochester Area & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine.

She lives in the Finger Lakes Region. [Page 18] Deena Viviani is a Rochester-based Young Adult Services Librarian who writes reviews for VOYA and the RACWI Newsletter. [Page 22]

Myrna Beth Haskell is a monthly contributor to Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine who lives in Salt Point, NY. She is the author of LIONS and TIGERS and TEENS: Expert advice and support for the conscientious parent just like you. [Page 24]

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

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april // what you can find

this month at www.RocParent.com online content + editorial SITES LIKE OURS.. FOR FAMILY FUN With a focus on springtime...

Realsimple.com Tagline is “Life Made Easy.” Check out the “50 Fun Spring Activities” checklist! Categories include “Nostalgic,” “The Great Outdoors,” and “Just Because.” Stayathomemoms. about.com The about.com sites are easy to navigate and this one is tailor-made for parents. Check out “Spring Break Fun” for a list of 12 fab and fun activities. Activityvillage.co.uk/ spring From growing a “Grass Head Monster” to making crafts from recycled products in honor of Earth Day, the spring-related activities are seemingly countless. Spoonful.com/spring Spring recipes to match the season … the site says, ”Celebrate with everything from great grilling ideas to games you and the kids can play in the backyard or driveway.” Have a site you love to read? Tell us at Comunity@gvparent.com

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Hangin' with Rocparent.com on pinterest Join rocparent.com on Pinterest as we celebrate Earth Day in April. There are 55 pins for DIY Crafts & Activities, and among them are natural alternatives to store-bought products, which may contain nonearth-friendly ingredients. Here are some natural crafts you’ll find: •N atural Face Paint from Vegetables •B ath Paints Using 2 Ingredients atural Homemade •N Glue Recipe •2 0 + Homemade Play Dough Recipes. Find us at www.pinterest. com/gvparentmag

EaSTER Fun

Easter Sunday is April 20. Make it a fun event with our recipes, crafts and instructions for making natural dyed Easter eggs. We even have a calendar section with a grreat list of Easter events.

Giveaways

Get Outdoors

Spring is finally here and we have some great ideas to share from birding with your kids to starting your own garden. Don't forget Earth Day is April 22 so look for our list of special events.

Spring into family fun with giveaways from Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent. Museum passes, concert tickets, stage shows …. oh my!

 Enter to win at www.RocParent.com/giveaways

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent â&#x20AC;˘ April 2014

[ editor’s note ]

By Jillian Melnyk

natural connections

what’s on your mind? I would love to hear from you! send me an email to editor@GVParent.com

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ach year I aim to take another step toward being green and helping the environment. Last month I began a "40 bags in 40 days challenge." If you're unfamiliar with the project, the goal is to tidy up and de-clutter one area of your home each day for 40 days. By the end of the project you will have purged unnecessary items from your home and life. Projects like this sometimes scare me because I can't help but think about what will happen to those items once they leave my home… where will they go? The answer I don't want to hear is the landfill.

While doing this project I aimed to put less in the trash and more toward donations. I also sought out uncommon recycling methods, for example, Terracycle.net has a program for recycling old writing utensils. (I can't believe how many non-working pens I had in my home!) It's important to learn about our environment, how to cherish it, and care for it. In this issue we focus on the connections we make with the world around us through growing gardens in the city, sustainability in our waterways, and taking quiet moments to send blessings out into nature. Our calendar also features some area

events that will help you "go green." As I complete my 40 bags challenge this month, I'll be aware of what I expel from my life but also how someone else may be able to use what I no longer need. Here's to doing good for ourselves, others, and our planet.

Happy April!

Jillian

Staff

publisher Barbara Melnyk mail@GVParent.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jillian Melnyk editor@GVParent.com Account Executives Cynthia Goldberg Ken Stevens Magazine layout & design Jillian Melnyk graphics@GVParent.com CALENDAR EDITOR calendar@GVParent.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Sandy Citarella Basic subscription rate: $25/year. Send subscription inquiries and changes to address below. Copyright 2014, by GVP, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. Distribution of this magazine does not necessarily constitute an endorsement or necessarily reflect the opinions of this publication.

HOW TO CONTACT US:

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine P.O. Box 25750 Rochester, NY 14625 p: 585-348-9712 f: 585-348-9714 www.RocParent.com

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Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent â&#x20AC;˘ April 2014

go fish! exploring upstate new york's fish hatcheries

By Sue Henninger

isiting a local fish hatchery may not be on top of every family’s “to-do” list, but New York State hatcheries provide an invaluable service to all of us by ensuring that there are plenty of native species of fish in the state’s abundant rivers, streams, and lakes. If your family is interested 10

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in conservation, sustainability, and stewardship of natural resources, then a trip to a hatchery this year is a great way to learn more about our finned friends and those who care for them.

In Your Own Backyard

The Fish Hatchery at Powder Mills Park (PMFH) in Pittsford is a great place for families with young children to begin learning about fish hatcheries and I often took my three boys there when they were small. The fish swimming to and fro in the outdoor runs are fascinating to watch and even more fun to feed. Put a quarter in the machine, get a handful of special pellets, and drop them into the water one by one, or throw them by the handful until the kids get tired or you run out of change! This hatchery was founded in the early 1930’s and run by the County Parks Department until it was temporarily closed in 2002 due to budgetary constraints. In 2003, the Reidman Foundation partnered with the county, turning the hatchery into a nonprofit. PMFH is the only independently-owned operating hatchery in the state. The fish who temporarily reside there, rainbow (steelhead) and brown trout, arrive in fingerling form, which means they’re 2-3 inches in length and less than a year old. The fish are housed in twelve “raceways” (outdoor tanks that look like swimming lanes in a pool). There are also two holding ponds on both sides of the main park road that are home to over 10,000 brown trout. About nine months after they arrive, the fish have grown large enough to be released into Irondequoit Creek. The Powder Mills Hatchery expects to release nearly 17,500 trout during the 2014 fishing season – quite an accomplishment! Hatchery staff members are always busy and their daily activities include breeding, stocking, and harvesting fish. However, they’re always willing to take a minute to answer visitors’ questions or to lead field trips for school and nonprofit groups. April 1st is the start of the fishing season in Powder Mills Park and it is marked by the annual Reidman Foundation Opening Day Trout Derby. Another activity families may enjoy is the free Annual Kids Trout Fishing Derby, scheduled for Saturday, May 17th this year, and sponsored by the Pittsford Rotary Club (www.pittsfordrotary. org). Registration begins at 8 am and prizes are awarded by age category. Refreshments and a tour of the fish hatchery are available, and kids have the choice of keeping their fish or practicing catch-and-release. Basically the only thing that isn’t provided that morning, says event chair, Kevin O’Grady, is a fishing pole!

Further Downstream

The Bath Fish Hatchery in Steuben County, founded in 1893, is one of the oldest hatcheries in the state. Ken Osika has worked there as a “fish culturist” for over twenty-one years. He explains that hatcheries came into being when it became obvious that humans were destroying wild creatures’ habitats, through practices like de-forestation. Ken says that the Bath Hatchery is ideal for young fish like trout because they need a regular supply of cold, clean water to grow. Three water sources, all gravity-fed, provide the Bath fish with a fresh supply of flowing water. Since the water is moving constantly, it never freezes so the fish are able to remain outdoors no matter what the season. The hatchery supports approximately 900,000 fingerling fish and over 300,000 yearling fish each year. There are two kinds of fish at the Bath Hatchery. Domestic fish evolve from eggs called broodstock that come from other state hatcheries like the one in Randolph. Wild fish come from eggs taken from fish that are caught with nets when they’re spawning in Taughannock continued >>> Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

// visiting // The Fish Hatchery at Powder Mills Park 115 Park Road, Rochester (585) 586-1670 www.fishpowdermill.org Bath Fish Hatchery 7169 Fish Hatchery Road, Bath (607) 776-7087 www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7742.html

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Creek in Trumansburg. Ken explains that the process is very humane because, once the eggs have been removed, the fish are released back into the water. The Bath Hatchery is open year round and there is almost always something going on for families to see. According to Ken, a staff member has to be there every day to clean the fish waste so it doesn’t accumulate, to monitor the water flow, to feed the small fish between 10 and 12 times a day, and to check the food supply levels of the fish who are able to feed themselves (by pushing a lever that releases their food). One of the most common questions visitors have is whether eating these man-made pellets will keep the fish from knowing how to fend for themselves once they’re released in the wild. Ken reassures families that the fishes’ feeding instinct is very strong. “If we put a minnow in their tank they go right after him,” he notes. Spring and fall are when hatchery employees usually fill up the large trucks, equipped with between three and six water tanks, with fish they’ve been raising and stock the creeks in nine surrounding counties. "Families might come across a hatchery fish in Seneca, Keuka, or Canandaigua Lakes, even in Hemlock or Canadice," Ken says. In his opinion, one of the best areas to fish is the Cohocton River, which is easy to access and

full of brown trout. Families are always welcome at the Bath Hatchery, and can even stay for lunch as they have a picnic area with grills. There is a display pond with larger fish, interpretive signs, a self-guided tour brochure, and food pellet dispensers so everyone can feed the fish. Inside the hatchery you’ll find an aquarium and a glass case filled with items like pickled aquatic specimens and an old fish ledger (similar to a farmer’s diary). Kids and adults can also watch the staff go about their daily routines, doing things like counting and weighing the fish, feeding them, or loading the trucks to take on stocking missions. In addition to this, there’s a “clipping shed” on the premises, where fish get one of their fins clipped. Ken assures us that it doesn’t hurt them at all; it’s merely a tool to track how the fish population is doing in different areas. Many visitors to the hatchery are groups such as school, Scouts, or 4-H, but a large percentage is also grandparents and their grandchildren. “We get a lot of positive feedback from the public,” Ken notes. “Coming here allows them to feel like they’re part of the process.”

Environmental Impact

What value do hatcheries add to the environment today? “We are keeping some of these fish populations going,” Ken explains. “We take fish that could have died, revive them, and return them to their natural habitat.” Early Mortality Syndrome, caused by Alewives, an invasive species that has appeared in some local lakes, is one specific danger to the fish population that hatcheries can combat. Alewives have high levels of thiaminase and, when other fish eat them, the thiaminase weakens their eggs. Ken explains that they have to take these eggs from some fish, particularly those from Cayuga Lake, and treat them with the B vitamin to ensure their long-term health. Certain fish habitats are also affected by physical obstacles like dams or siltation that keeps them from reproducing and hatcheries can help compensate for this. Additionally, some state hatcheries are currently working to bring back species that have disappeared from New York’s waterways, like the paddlefish and the sturgeon, something Ken is very enthusiastic about. A day trip to the Bath Hatchery is not only a different way to connect with nature; it’s also a great way to expose kids to a career option they might not be aware of. The employees at Bath have jobs which are meaningful and rarely dull and Ken is proud of his work there. “It’s very satisfying to see the growth process from an egg to a full grown fish,” he concludes.  Sue Henninger is a contributing writer to Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine and the mother of three teenage boys. She lives in upstate NY.

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

fl ower city kids

cultivate rochester

By John Boccacino

ach June, more than 3,500 school-aged children gather along the shores of Lake Ontario at Ontario Beach Park, eager to soak up some fun in the sun at a year-ending picnic. But this is no ordinary picnic. These children — who are usually in pre-kindergarten through second grade — are being rewarded for months of hard work and dedication towards an important and life-long goal: becoming environmentally conscientious members of society. 14

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The picnic is the culmination of a project between the city of Rochester and area schools to bolster area gardens and parks. Called Flower City Kids, this coordinated outreach program provides free seeds and educational materials to help school teachers instill the importance of planting and gardening as a source of not only sustainability, but community pride. Since the program was formed in 1986, these aspiring gardeners have planted nearly 200,000 tomatoes, beans, flowers and herbs in school and community gardens, as well as the Flower City Kids Garden at Ontario Beach Park.

Sara Scott, coordinator of horticultural and environmental programming with the city of Rochester, has overseen Flower City Kids for the past two years. She says the collaboration has had a positive impact, as each year more than 7,000 area youths receive a proper education in taking care of the environment. “This is such a positive, great classroom activity. Kids learn about science, math, literacy and their environment, and they learn how to take care of their seeds from their teacher,” Scott says. “A garden is the perfect classroom, especially for schools that don’t have enough space or for children who live in

an apartment. At the end of the project, they take a trip down to the garden and can either plant their seed in the community garden, or bring the seeds home to plant at their house." She adds that the program is empowering and allows children to feel connected to their community. "Ideally, these children will come back with their family, see their plant growing and feel not only ownership of that space, but pride that they were able to plant something and see it flourish.” The program started as a partnership between the Rochester Telephone Pioneers (a collection of active and retired communications workers) and the John James Audubon School 33. It is currently organized by Frontier Pioneers, GreenWorks Employment Training, AmeriCorps, Foodlink and the City of Rochester’s Department of Recreation and Youth Services. Utilizing classroom time, teachers work with the students to educate the children on how seeds best grow and flourish. While the end of year picnic is only for children in grades pre-K through second grade, the seeds are distributed to area classrooms for children in pre-K through eighth grade. Beginning this month, the enrolled schools/classrooms will receive their seeds, soils and also instructions for helping the children plant their seeds. Most schools will then plant their seeds together as part of a classroom planting project. Teachers address the issues of environmental sustainability, and try to continued >>> Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

For more information on the Flower City Kids program, including making donations of seeds and money or getting your school included in the program, email Sara Scott at scotts@cityofrochester.gov

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get their students to think critically about the impact their actions will have on the environment. Many of the students bring in their own recycled containers for their seeds, anything from milk or egg cartons to yogurt and Cool Whip containers. While their seeds are growing on windowsills and under fluorescent lights, the children are being taught not only about the environment, but also about the importance of planting fruits, vegetables, flowers and trees in their neighborhoods. “We have literature and books we provide to connect science to planting, so children understand how their actions will improve their community,” Scott says. “We also provide basic tips for growing the seeds in the classroom. Instead of buying things to plant the seeds in, the children learn to use the recycled materials they have at home like toilet paper rolls and milk and egg cartons. If the seed stays in the recycled tray, a child can plant the seedling in the garden, where it becomes part of the garden soil without any waste.” Many children keep detailed journals of their seeds, including when they planted the seed and how fast the seed is growing. Scott says these steps help convince the children that this is an activity that reach-

es beyond the classroom and is something they can do at home with their parents. After the picnic is completed, Scott says many of the teachers will challenge their students to maintain their own garden, whether at home, at the school or at one of the area’s many recreation centers. This year’s picnic is Friday, June 6 at Ontario Beach Park. Scott says it’s not too late for area teachers to get their hands on seeds for planting at their school. Additionally, Scott adds that seeds have been provided to the Monroe Branch of the Monroe County Library system on Monroe Avenue in the city of Rochester. At the library, youths can pick up their own seeds and either raise them and plant them in the community garden, or start their own garden at home.  John Boccacino is monthly contributor to Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine. He reported on sports and local news for more than 6 1/2 years with the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. He is currently the Director of Sports Information for Keuka College. Boccacino is a Brighton native who currently resides in Webster.

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent â&#x20AC;˘ April 2014

making prayer fl ags Gratitude, Blessings & Teaching Peace By Angela Cannon-Crothers

hildren seem more spiritually connected to the natural world, to the elements, and to the magical unseen presence some of us recognize as God or a higher power. When we encourage this innate sense of wonder in our children, while instilling in them the concepts of giving blessings and heartfelt love out to the 18

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greater world, we teach belonging, giving, compassion, and gratitude. Creating Prayer Flags together can be a lovely visual reminder of the importance of sending blessings of loving kindness into the world and recognizing gratitude for what we have.

Most religious practices have some aspect of sending positive thoughts and prayers to the winds to be carried upward to the heavens. Prayer Flags originated with the early Tibetan Bon religion where each different colored flag represented the five elements: air, earth, water, fire, and spirit. When Buddhism arrived to Tibet, the Prayer Flags evolved to include sacred mantras and iconographs. The flags were designed from wood block prints that were carved by

monks and lamas and included images of Buddha, practices of Bodhisattvas, animals, teachers, and important symbols like the fish and lotus blossom. Although you can purchase traditional Prayer Flags to hang, and probably support a good cause by doing so, making Prayer Flags for your family’s own celebrations – or simply to add to your own holiday events – gives each blessing special meaning to your family. At my home we have created Prayer Flags with friends and family at housewarmings, weddings, during the establishment of a new community garden, and as a way to create a new Easter tradition when my kids seemed to be outgrowing egg dyeing and I just wanted to do something a little more meaningful. We used tie dyes to create colorful squares of cloth for our Prayer Flags in honor of our colorful Easter tradition.

Materials and Supplies:

• Several squares of light colored cloth (you can dye them if you like) • Permanent colored markers or acrylic paints and small brushes • Ribbons, buttons, bells, or shells (optional for hanging on bottoms of flags) • Long string, twine or thin rope to hang

flags from •S ewing materials Or glue Or safety pins

Directions:

Your family may want to pick a theme for your Prayer Flags such as New Growth, World Peace, Blessings for Family and Friends, or Gratitude. With older children and friends, you might pick a theme and gift a community organization with special

messages for those who need prayers for Wellness, Encouragement, or Safety. The flags can be simple squares of light colored cloth cut from sheets or rags. Created with thoughtfulness and heart, they take on a sacred manner all their own. Decorate flags with choices of words, poems, scriptures, mantras, and images leaving 2 inches at the top of each square for folding over to hold string. If using acrylic paints you can throw them in a hot dryer for several minutes after they are dry to help the paint hold longer. Remember that all inks and paints will fade in the sun and rain – as they are suppose to! You may also want to stagger Prayer Flags with triangle cut pieces of pretty fabrics to add some color and length. Ribbons adorned with bells, small shells, and feathers to dance in the breeze can be glued or sewed onto the bottoms of the flags if you are feeling especially creative! To thread your flags, stitch along the top leaving a 1 inch opening to thread the string through, or you can also carefully glue a top hem or even use safety pins if sewing isn’t your thing. When flags are complete and dry, thread a length of string or twine through the tops of the flags, allowing them to blow continued >>>

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

in the wind. Hang them outdoors along a front porch, between two trees, or somewhere you and your family can enjoy them.

Making Creative Sacred Space

Encourage your children to take their time while making their flags. They may want to peruse favorite scriptures, poems, quotes, blessings, and mantras or write some of their own words. Try setting up a quiet area with soft music, candles, and art supplies. Ask your children to focus on each blessing they are working on, to imagine a light from their heart filling the flag, or simply to hold a place of peace in their own hearts while creating their flag. And while one family may have a truly quiet and focused event, another family may create an artistic mess and quite a bit of chatter. It’s all good when the intentions are well meaning! When talking to your children about making Prayer Flags you may want to remind them that Prayer Flags are meant to carry wishes of peace, healing, and compassion out to the larger world. Because their messages are meant to be carried aloft by the wind, it’s nice to consider that each message should be to “the benefit of all beings.” This notion can help deter ideas of drawing requests for new toys or other objects of desire.

Hanging Your Flags

Prayer Flags made by hand and imbued with personal messages left to be carried by the wind foster in our children a sense of wonder and love for others while helping parents and caregivers stay connected to a greater mystery as well. Teaching about the diversity of beliefs and customs from other traditions around the world builds on a child’s understanding of other cultures and religions. Most of all, the opportunity to build compassion for the greater world contributes ultimately, to world peace.  Angela Cannon-Crothers is a contributing writer to Rochester Area & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine. She lives in the Finger Lakes Region.

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Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent â&#x20AC;˘ April 2014

[ book nook]

By Deena Viviani

Twenty Years of Best Books for Kids and Teens part 2 - 2004-2013

he past decade has brought a huge selection of children’s literature to bookstore and library shelves. Check out these not-to-be-missed titles, authors, and illustrators, selected by the children’s librarians at Brighton Memorial Library for your family’s reading pleasure!

expressive characters equals a hit in this Theodore Seuss Geisel Honor winning picture book.

2006 Rules

By Cynthia Lord, Scholastic, paperback, $6.99, Ages 8-12

Catherine both loves and resents her younger brother with autism, but a new friendship with a paraplegic boy helps her to understand how they all fit into each other’s lives. This Newbery Honor winning middle-grade novel is full of humor and heart.

2007 2004

The Truth About Forever

By Sarah Dessen, Viking, paperback, $9.99, Ages 14-18

After her father’s death, Macy spends the summer working at a catering company where she meets cool people, experiences new things, and changes her ideas about herself. Dessen consistently creates realistic characters and settings that teen readers can depend on book after book.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

By Brian Selznick, Scholastic, hardcover, $24.99, Ages 8-12

Hugo lives inside the walls of a Paris train station, searching for a way to bring a secret-keeping automaton to life. Selznick’s blend of pencil drawings and prose creates a uniquely styled novel deserving of its Caldecott Medal.

2008

Rapunzel’s Revenge

A Splendid Friend, Indeed

Written by Shannon and Dean Hale & Illustrated by Nathan Hale, Bloomsbury, paperback, $15.99, Ages 10-14

Bear wants to read, and write, and think. Goose wants to talk, and talk, and talk. Can the two ever be friends? Sparse prose plus

In this fractured fairy tale, Rapunzel uses her long locks not only to escape her prison tower but to battle villains and beasts as she searches for her mother. This graphic novel by the acclaimed author of Princess Academy

2005

By Suzanne Bloom, Boyds Mill Press, paperback, $8.99, Ages birth-3

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more reads

Some beloved household names got their starts in the last ten years. How many has your family read? Picture Books Fancy Nancy Written by Jane O’Connor & Illustrated by Robin PreissGlasser 2006-present Scaredy Squirrel By Mélanie Watts 2006-present Pete the Cat Written by Eric Litwin & Illustrated by James Dean 2008-present early reader Fly Guy By Tedd Arnold 2005-present Babymouse By Jennifer and Matthew Holm 2005-present Elephant & Piggie By Mo Willems 2007-present

Middle Grade Percy Jackson By Rick Riordan 2005-2009 Ivy & Bean Written by Annie Barrows & Illustrated by Sophie Blackall 2006-present Diary of a Wimpy Kid By Jeff Kinney 2007-present Young Adult The Twilight saga By Stephenie Meyer 2005-2008 Maximum Ride By James Patterson 2005-2012 The Mortal Instruments By Cassandra Clare 2007-2012 The Hunger Games Trilogy By Suzanne Collins 2008-2010

whips up a winner with her co-author and husband, as well as the unrelated illustrator.

2009

The Day-Glo Brothers: The True Story of Bob and Joe Switzer’s Bright Ideas and Brand-New Colors Written by Chris Barton & Illustrated by Tony Persiani, Charlesbridge, hardcover, $19.95, Ages 7-10

In 1934, brothers Bob and Joe became fascinated with glow-in-the-dark substances while playing around with a black light, and eventually created the world changing DayGlo products. Non-fiction for kids comes alive in this neon-colored volume by the picture book author of Shark vs. Train.

the Soviet secret police where she fights daily to survive. Based on her own family research, Sepetys weaves a heartbreaking novel of a lesser known annihilation during World War II.

2012

Creepy Carrots

Written by Aaron Reynolds & Illustrated by Peter Brown, Simon & Schuster, hardcover, $16.99, Ages 4-8

Jasper Rabbit sure loves chomping on the fat, juicy carrots in Crackenhopper Field…until he’s sure they want to bite back. This Caldecott Honor book is a little bit funny, a little bit scary, and a lot fun.

2010

2013

Disappearing Desmond

The Tortoise and the Hare

By Anna Alter, Knopf, hardcover, $17.99, Ages 3-6

By Jerry Pinkney, Little, Brown, hardcover, $18.00, Ages 2-6

Desmond does not want to be noticed… until Gloria says hello. Maybe making friends is not so bad after all. Shyness is compassionately addressed in these pages where readers will enjoy searching for Desmond in the colorful illustrations.

Hare challenges Tortoise to a race that he knows he will win – until a crop of lettuce lures Hare off track. Pinkney produces award-winning work time and time again, and this fable adaptation is a solid addition to his body of work. 

2011

Deena Viviani is a Rochester-based Young Adult Services Librarian who writes reviews for VOYA and the RACWI Newsletter. Read more reviews on her blog www.deenaml.livejournal.com or send her a note at DeenaViviani@hotmail.com – she loves to hear from readers!

Between Shades of Gray

By Ruta Sepetys, Philomel, paperback, $8.99, Ages 12-16

Lina, her mother, and her brother are banished from Lithuania to Siberia by

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

[ parenting teens & tweens ]

By Myrna Beth Haskell

Teens Grapple with Divorce

how their parents can help with this life change

dolescence is often a tumultuous time as teens slowly prepare for the adult world, coming to terms with their changing bodies and increasing responsibilities. When you add the upheaval that divorce inevitably brings to the family dynamic, a teen’s world – already filled with extremes – is quickly thrown into a tailspin. Even though teens are more independent than younger children, divorce can lead to devastating consequences because their parents are the glue holding everything together for them, and that glue seems to be disintegrating.

Depending on the circumstances, teens may have to adjust to additional life changes, such as a new school, new neighborhood, or varied living arrangements. Therefore, parents must try to focus on upholding a normal routine during a time when chaos and heartbreak can easily take over.

Easing the Transition Teens will likely experience a myriad of emotions after being told about an impend-

ing divorce, such as shock, anger, fear, loneliness, anxiety, despair, or a combination of feelings. Parents should answer their teens’ questions and address their teens’ rapidly changing feelings about the situation. This can be quite difficult since Mom and Dad are also experiencing anguish and an uncertainty about what the future holds. Debbie Pincus, LMHC, a marriage and family therapist and creator of The Calm Par-

ent: AM & PM program (www. empoweringparents.com), advises, “Parents can ease their teens into this lifestyle change by committing themselves to behaving well with each other and being conscious to not pull their kids between them.” She says that parents should not criticize their spouse or ask teens to choose sides. “Teens need to feel good about both parents.” She also says that teens shouldn’t be made to feel as if they have to take care of their parents emotionally. Amy Morin, LCSW, a psychotherapist and parenting teens expert, explains, “It’s important to have ongoing conversations with a teen about what changes to expect. She adds that sometimes just acknowledging that you understand your teen’s feelings can be a big help. “Try not to change everything at once. Instead, take the changes one step at a time,” she suggests.

Dealing with Major Changes Pincus counsels, “Teens should have flexibility and choice when it comes to visitation. Sometimes when the going gets tough at one home with one parent, the teen might want to live at the other parent’s home for a while.” She says that as long as there is no concern about neglect or abuse, parents should allow their teens some flexibility. Morin recommends that parents keep their teens in the loop. “Giving teens advanced notice about major changes, such as moving or changing schools, is important. A teen who is grieving the divorce may struggle even more if she has to move away from friends or change schools all at the same time,” she warns.

Feelings of Guilt Be cognizant that a teen might feel he had something to do with the breakup of the family. According to KidsHealth. org (sponsored by Nemours

Want to share your ideas? Upcoming topic: High school graduation celebration ideas. Send your full

name, address, & brief comments to: myrnahaskell@gmail.com or visit: www.myrnahaskell.com

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Foundation), “Some kids feel guilty about what happened, or wish they had prevented arguments by cooperating more within the family, doing better with their behavior, or getting better grades.” Therefore, parents should be sure to regularly let their teens know that the divorce has nothing to do with anything their teens did. Instead, it has to do with the breakdown of the marital relationship.

Signs a Teen Can’t Handle the Change Morin advises, “Look for changes in behavior, such as increased social isolation or increased defiance.” Parents should also look for changes in mood. “When a normally happy teen becomes sad and irritable, it could be a sign that she’s really struggling.” Morin says that if the divorce is interfering with your child’s education or social life, it should be considered a red flag. Other warning signs: • Skipping school/sudden decrease in grades • Harming self • Isolation – no longer spends time with friends

• Drug/alcohol abuse • Over eating/not eating •S huts down and refuses to communicate

Seek Help Early On Morin points out that parents should seek help if concern over a teen’s behavioral or mood changes last more than a few weeks. She says that a teen’s depression or anxiety over a recent divorce is easier to treat in the early stages. “Parents should err on the side of caution and speak to their teen’s pediatrician or another mental health professional if they grow concerned about their child’s adjustment to the divorce.” In order to be sure they can be there emotionally for their teens, parents should seek help and support for themselves as well.  Myrna Beth Haskell is a freelance writer and monthly contributor to Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine who lives in Salt Point, NY. She is the author of LIONS and TIGERS and TEENS: Expert advice and support for the conscientious parent just like you (Unlimited Publishing LLC). Visit www.myrnahaskell.com.

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

Summer Camps & Activities

Thinking Summer?

2014 summer camp & activity guide

Generations Child Care • 13 Genesee Country Village & Museum • 13 RIT - Girls Engineering & RoboCamp • 24

Camp Stella Maris • 2 Genesee Waterways Center • 14

Time to think about camps and summer programs for the kids as they transition for the summer. No way that kids will say “I’m bored!” when they view our annual Camp Guide and online list of programs.

RIT - Margaret's House • 24

4-H Camp Bristol Hills • 3 Girl Scouts of Western NY • 14

RIT - Kids on Campus Academy • 25

A Magical Journey Thru Stages • 3 Greece Community Education • 15

www.RocParent.com/camp

Rochester Fencing Club • 26

Alfred University Summer Programs • 4 Harley School • 15 Allendale Columbia School • 4 Hidden Valley 4-H Camp • 16

Rochester Museum & Science Center • 26

Banners Childcare • 5 Hochstein School of Music & Dance • 16

Rock Ventures • 27

JCC Camps • 17

Ruckus Dance Alliance • 27

Bears Outdoor Play Products • 5 Best Foot Forward • 6 Lollypop Farm • 17

Seneca Park Zoo • 28

Camp Hickory Hill • 7

Making Friends through American Sign Language (ASL) • 18

Seneca Waterways Council Boy Scouts of America • 29

Camp Haccamo • 6

Camp Invention • 7

Mary Therese Friel Modeling Camp • 18

Summer Write @ Writers & Books • 29

Centauri Summer Arts Camp •8

Master Kim's Taekwondo • 19

Swing Kingdom Playsets • 30

Child Care Council, Inc • 8

Mathnasium of Penfield • 19

Trinity Montessori School • 30

City of Rochester • 9

MCC - Summer College for Kids • 20

Cornell University Sports School •9

Midtown Athletic Club • 21

Timothy Draper Center for Dance Education • 31 Turin Swim and Sports Club • 32

Created By Us • 10

Nazareth College Science Camp • 20

Doodle Bugs! Children's Centers • 10

Patty Flowerday School of Fitness & Dance • 22

Twelve Corners School Age Program • 32 U of R - Summer Sports Camps • 33

Drama Kids International • 11 Pittsford Dance Studio • 22

VistaTeach Instructional Services • 34

Eastman Community Music School • 11 Fitzsimmons Dance Factory • 12

Railroad Junction Summer Day Camp • 23

Wegmans Teen Culinary Camp • 34

Friendship Children's Center, Inc • 12

RBTL - Summer Stars • 23

YMCA of Greater Rochester • 35

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent• Summer Camp & Activity Guide 2014

www.RocParent.com

• • • • • • •

Academics/Enrichment Animal/Riding Art/Photography Camping Dance/Movement Day Programs Gymnastics

• • • • • • •

International Music/Theatre Overnight Adventures Products & Services Special Needs Specialty Sports/Athletics

Summer Camps & Activities

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent â&#x20AC;˘ April 2014

Summer Camps & Activities

www.RocParent.com

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent â&#x20AC;˘ April 2014

Calendar

april events

Activities • Exhibits • Theater • Storytelling • Shows • Family Fun • Outdoor Adventures Parenting Programs • and lots more for families to do in & around Rochester!

9th Annual Children’s Film Festival

April 1 - 30

n honor of the “Month of the Young Child,” this year’s festival includes over 14 award-winning films from around the world, from countries such as Russia, Taiwan, the U.K. & Canada. The shorts focus on non-violence and deliver gentle and artistic messages. Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent is a proud supporter of this year's festival.

Where: Throughout the month, the Festival will tour to various Rochester libraries. For a complete list of public locations see the list on page 29, go to the RAEYC website or RocParent.com When: April 1-30 Cost: Free For More Info: Visit www.raeyc.org.

fri

sat

4&5

A Year With Frog and TOad Kids

See Stages Kids (2nd – 5th graders) perform this enchanting musical. Arnold Lobel’s wellloved characters hop from the page to the stage in this shortened version of Robert and Willie Reale’s Tony-nominated play. This whimsical show follows cheerful Frog and grumpy Toad, two best friends, as they learn to celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special. This show tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons. 7pm Friday; 2pm Saturday. Tickets $6. Stages Theatre, Auditorium Center, Third Floor, 875 East Main St., Rochester 14605. 935-7173. www.mjtstages.com

www.RocParent.com

sat

sun

12 & 13 Bunny Hunt

Hop on by! This annual event has become so popular that it is now on two days! At this Bunny Hunt, you won’t be hunting for eggs – you’ll be on a scavenger hunt for bunnies! The hunt is at your own pace and no registration is required. There are lots of real bunnies to see and, of course, meet the Easter Bunny. Every child receives a bunny sundae or cookie. 11am-4pm. $5 per child. Wickham Farms, 1821 Fairport Nine Mile Line Rd., Penfield 14526. 3773276. www.wickhamfarms.com

sat

Earth Day Celebration

Great earth-friendly giveaways & prizes, fresh gourmet local food, Consignment Shop Fashion show, The "Science of Being Green" Scavenger Hunt, & so much more. Electronics collection going on now at Victor Schools & Victor Free Library: phones, ebooks, gaming, GPS, printer cartridges, cameras, cords, batteries & accessories for all devices (NO computers, printers, monitors or TVs). Shoe Drive all April at Changing Closets Consignment Shop (7353 Rt. 96): bring your gently used shoes. Free. 6-8pm. Victor Junior High School, 953 High St., Victor 14564. 924-3252. victorschools.org

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities calendar guide: Go Green ��32 Library ��38 May ��43

01 * Tuesday Riedman Foundation Opening Day Trout Derby 11th annual derby to benefit the Fish Hatchery at Powder Mills Park. Prizes for largest catch in 10 categories - adult and youth - including the prestigious $500 Bank of America Angler Award for largest brown trout. A morning of fun for all ages! $5/person age 8 & older. 7am-12pm. Powder Mills Park, 115 Park Rd., Pittsford 14534. 586-1670. www.fishpowdermill.org

03 * Thursday FREE * Spring Arts Festival 2014 Numerous workshops demonstrating creative endeavors such as drawing, painting, photography, origami, printmaking and much more. 10am-2pm. Genesee Community College, One College Rd., Batavia 14020. 343-0055. www.genesee.edu

04 * Friday A Year With Frog & Toad Kids Come and see STAGE’s 2nd - 5th graders perform this enchanting musical that tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons. Bring your kids and enjoy the “KIDS” version of this show. $6. 7pm. Stages Theatre, Auditorium Center, 875 East Main St., Rochester 14605. 935-7173. mjtstages.com FREE * Storytime with Special Guest Curious George Join beloved storybook character Curious George for a fun storytime. 7pm. Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Pittsford Plaza, 3349 Monroe Ave., Rochester 14618. 5866020. store-locator.barnesandnoble. com/store/2790 FREE * Voices of Spring Choral ensembles and soloists from the Hochstein Voice Department perform. 6:30pm. Hochstein School of Music & Dance, 50 N Plymouth Ave., Rochester, 14614. 454-4596. www.hochstein.org

05 * Saturday FREE * 44th Central New York Maple Festival It is all things maple in Marathon New York! Pancake Eating Contest, new Lumberjack Contest, Quilt Show, Shadows of the Old West...take a ride on a helicopter, a merry-go-round or horse drawn wagon...visit the village sugar shack & lots more! 9am-5pm. , Marathon, NY 13803. 607-745-7710. www.maplefest.org A Year With Frog & Toad Kids See April 4. $6. 2pm.

FREE * Autism Spectrum Connection Fair A community event to connect parents and caregivers who have children with Autism Spectrum Disorder with the agencies, businesses and organizations in the area that provide support. 9am-1pm. Unity Health System Total Sports Experience, 880 Elmgrove Rd., Rochester, 14624. www.managingautism.org FREE * Red Wings Home Opener Red Wings kick off their 12th season as top affiliate for the Minnesota Twins. Opening Day at Frontier Field is against Buffalo. Gates open at 12:30pm. Free magnetic schedule; Free Cowbell to 1st 5,000 fans. Visit Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Price varies by seat. 2:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534 Rochester Knighthawks Give Back For this game against Minnesota Swarm, 200 tickets available for $10 each, with $5 benefiting Golisano Children’s Hospital. The local organization that raises the most money through ticket sales has the amount matched by the Knighthawks Charitable Fdn. $10. 7:30pm. Blue Cross Arena, 1 War Memorial Square, Rochester. 454-HAWK (4295). www.knighthawks.com FREE * Spring Eggstravaganza Get free photos of your kids with the Easter Bunny (10am-2pm), crafts, face painting, scavenger hunt, free rides on the Niagara Scenic Trolley between Niagara Power Vista and the Gorge Discovery Center. Spectacular views from the observation deck. 10am-4pm. New York Power Authority, Niagara Power Vista, 5777 Lewiston Road, Lewiston. 716-286-6661. www.nypa.gov FREE * Storytime with Special Guest Curious George See April 4. 11am. Superheroes Weekend Do-gooders unite for a hero-filled weekend that includes a meet and greet with Thor, superhero training, and a variety of other superhero-themed activities. Budding cartoon artists are invited to a how-to-draw session with comic book artists. Included with admission. 11am-4pm. The Strong National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Sq., Rochester, 14607. 263-2700. www.museumofplay.org TYKE’S Theatre: Disney’s My Son Pinocchio A light-hearted spin on the classic Pinocchio story, this family-friendly musical is appropriate for all audiences with its magical mix of heartwarming fairytale and actionpacked adventure. $16. 2pm. Hart Theater at the JCC, 1200 Edgewood Ave., Rochester. 723-6080. www.tykestheatre.org Wildlife Defenders- Animal Adaptations See live native and exotic species and learn about wildlife conservation. Presented by members of Bridges for Brain Injury Inc. who share their personal injury and rehabilitation stories and discuss the importance of safety and prevention practices.

Red Wings Home Opener:

APRIL 4: Take me out to the ball game....Pre-game ceremonies and introduction of the 2014 Red Wings. Gates open early at 12:30pm. Free 2014 Magnetic Schedules. Also free cowbells to the first 5,000 fans. Pre-Game Autograph Booth presented by Hillside Family of Agencies. Game starts at 2:05pm vs. Buffalo. Ticket prices vary by seat. Frontier Field. One Morrie Silver Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534 Included with admission. 11am & 1pm. Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester 14607. 271-4320. www.rmsc.org

06 * Sunday FREE * 44th Central New York Maple Festival See April 5. 9am-4pm. Breakfast with WordGirl and Wonder Red WordGirl and Wonder Red from the hit PBS Kids series WORDGIRL and SUPER WHY are coming to Rochester to have breakfast with you! Join them at the studio for a fun-filled morning! $25/family of 4; Free/WXXI Kids Club member. 9am. WXXI Studios, 280 State Street, Rochester, 14603. 258-0253. interactive.wxxi.org Orienteering at Genesee Country Village Nature Center A sport that combines racing/walking with navigation! It’s a timed race where participants use a map to navigate through the terrain & visit control points in order. $10/non-member; $6/ member (more info and $1 discount online). 12-2pm. Genesee Country Village Nature Center, 1410 Flint Hill Rd., Mumford, 14511. 377-5650. roc.us.orienteering.org/news.shtml Picardy Penguin: Let’s Build the Tower of Music In this multimedia interactive RPO concert, Picardy Penguin shows you how music is built from the ground up, with popular classics by Beethoven, Strauss, and Bizet. Price varies by seat. 2pm. Hochstein School of Music & Dance, 50 N Plymouth Ave., Rochester, 14614. 454-4596. www.rpo.org

Red Wings vs Buffalo Kids can Run The Bases with Spikes & Mittsy after the game. Family Bulletin Day (Fans receive $1 off any ticket by presenting a publication from any church, house of worship, civic, or nonprofit group). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Prices Vary. 1:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www. milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534 Superheroes Weekend See April 5. Included with admission. 1-4pm. The Strong National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Sq., Rochester, 14607. 263-2700. www.museumofplay.org TYKE’S Theatre: Disney’s My Son Pinocchio See April 5. $16. 11am & 2pm. Hart Theater at the JCC, 1200 Edgewood Ave., Rochester. 723-6080. www.tykestheatre.org

07 * Monday Monday Kicks: Animal Pals Playful, learning activities designed especially for 2-6 year olds, one Monday each month. This month’s theme is Animal Pals. Included with admission. 10am-2pm. The Strong National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Sq., Rochester, 14607. 263-2700. www.museumofplay.org Red Wings vs Scranton Kids Eat Free (The first 500 kids 12 & under receive a hot dog, soda & snack item). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 7:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534

Continued on page 34>>

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities

Greening Up

for Some Guaranteed Fun!

ermit the Frog may think that it isn't easy being green, but you can have fun being green when you check out some of these ecology-minded events. With Earth Day and Arbor Day both in April, it is only natural that we turn our attention to our environment this month. It has been 44 years since the first Earth Day and now more than 192 countries recognize this day as a catalyst for on-going education, action and change to promote ways to protect our environment. Whether at home, at school, or at work, there are plenty of things we can do to make our community and our world a safer, greener place. Learn more about our precious natural world and plan on giving mother earth a little extra tender loving care this year. Here are some activities to get you thinking green: image courtesy of Rmsc

Cool Kids! ECOFEST at GCC 9th year of Big Green Family Fun! When: Saturday, April 12, 10am-2pm. Where: Genesee Community College The Forum, One College Road, Batavia, 14020. More info: www.generationcool.biz Got stuff to recycle? Bring all of your old sneakers, eyeglasses, American flags, paperbacks, old bikes & bike parts, used inkjet or laser cartridges, old cellphones, non-fabric (wood/metal only) furniture to the festival and it will be repurposed, reused or recycled! For every item you turn in, you get a raffle ticket for cool prizes and the chance to win a mountain bike. In addition, over 60 eco venders present “green” games, activities and demonstrations including alternative energy cars, solar and wind power displays, kites, tree

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seedling giveaway, mining for minerals, geocaching, Earth Day Bag Project, Movie Greenhouse, recycled art contest, free pizza party, and a wildlife stage show. Check out the website for updates on vendors and schedule.

April Break Week - Mission: Green When: Saturday, April 12 through Saturday, April 19, 12-4pm. Where: Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester 14607. More info: www.rmsc.org or 2714320 Go green with the RMSC. From home gardening to new sustainable materials, discover all the cool ways you can get

involved! Explore the world of emerging environmentally friendly technologies. A different focus each day! Included with museum admission. • "Green-up" your home and/or business • Energy conservation (long-lasting LED bulbs / zero-carbon footprint) • Sustainable communities • Build your own rain barrel (Call 6971942 to register for a workshop) • Be an H2O Hero! Visit the website for more details including the specific daily schedule and presenters.

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities Party for the Planet! & Go Green! Recycle Rallies When: Saturday, April 19, 10am-4pm. Where: Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul St., Rochester 14621.

household hazardous wastes such as paints, solvents and cleaners. Check the website for more information about the community recycling program at the zoo.

More info:

www.senecaparkzoo.org This is the signature Earth Day celebration for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Enjoy family-friendly activities, touch table stations and animal experiences. Local conservation organizations share how they are working to help the environment. Also large items including televisions, computers, monitors, DVD players, microwaves, video game systems, as well as clothing, shoes, bicycles and other recyclables can be dropped off in the zoo parking lot free of charge to be properly disposed of. Please note: All batteries must be in sealed plastic bags. The Zoo does NOT accept air conditioners or

5th Annual Pick Up the Parks Event When: Saturday, April 26, 9am-12pm. Where: All Monroe County Parks. More info: www2.monroecounty.gov/parks/pickuptheparks, www.facebook.com/PickUpTheParks or 753-7281. This stewardship event covers all 21 parks in Monroe County including Abraham Lincoln, Black Creek, Churchville, Devil’s Cove, Durand Eastman, Ellison, Genesee Valley, Greece Canal, Highland, Irondequoit Bay Marine, Irondequoit Bay West, Lehigh Valley Trail, Lucien Morin, Mendon Ponds,

party for the planet at seneca park zoo

Northampton, Oatka Creek, Ontario Beach, Powder Mills, Seneca, Tryon, & Webster Parks - a total of 12,000 acres! Sign up for yourself, your family, a group of friends, club, organization, business, scout troop, or class to help keep our parks, our waterways, and our watersheds clean and green. Site-Host organiza-

tions will meet, greet, direct and orient the volunteers that participate. All supplies are provided by the Parks Department and its partners. You'll even get a free lunch for your service. "Thank You Picnic" at the Olmsted Lodge in Highland Park starts at noon. Registration materials are found online.

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities

Sheep Shearing Festival

April 26, 10am-3pm: Come celebrate spring at the farm! It's time for the sheep to shed their wooly coats! Activities include sheep shearing, spinning, weaving & dyeing demos, petting zoo, kids crafts, free children's haircuts, tours of the robotic milking center and more! New this year grand opening of the Wagon Wheel Market at Springdale Farm, featuring local craft & produce vendors. Springdale Farm, 700 Colby St., Spencerport 14559. 349-2090. www.springdalefarm.org

08 * Tuesday Family Science Workshop: Eyes, Brains, and Vision Get your family on the fast track to a future in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) with hands-on inquiry-driven science learning. Geared to parents and children in the 10-13 year old age group working together. $64/ family. 6-8:30pm. Rochester Institute of Technology, 1 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester 14623. 472-2411. familiyscience2014.eventbrite.com Red Wings vs Scranton Fan 4-Pack (Get four reserved seat tickets, four hot dogs, four 12-oz. drinks, and a yearbook for only $32 - save $15 off regular prices). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534

09 * Wednesday Red Wings vs Scranton Wings Wednesday (Look for the discount coupon in preceding Tuesday’s Democrat &Chronicle). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 7:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534

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Rock Solid Mom, Rock Solid Daughter As mothers, we are our children’s greatest role models. This workshop will help you cultivate greater awareness about yourself in order to understand how to parent your daughter(s) more confidently and authentically. Facilitated by Jennifer Hess. $18 ($15/members). 12-1:30pm. Jewish Community Center of Greater Rochester, 1200 Edgewood Ave., Rochester 14618. 461-2000. www.jccrochester.org

10 * Thursday FREE * Mike O’Brian, The Getaway Guy Mike will share his latest getaways and a look at what went into his latest travel book “50 MORE Day Trips in New York State - Volume 2.” He will sign books and offer them at a special discount! Registration required. 7-8:30pm. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org

12 * Saturday April Break Week - Mission: Green Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to go green with the RMSC. From home gardening to new sustainable materials, discover all the cool ways you can get involved! A different focus each day! Check website for

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities details. Included with admission. 12-4pm. Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester 14607. 271-4320. www.rmsc.org Bunny Hunt at Wickham Farms You won’t be hunting for eggs -you’ll be on a scavenger hunt for bunnies! See real bunnies plus the Easter bunny! Every child receives a special treat at the end. Create a craft, while supplies last. Hunt at your own pace. $5/child. 11am -4pm. Wickham Farms, 1821 Fairport Nine Mile Line Rd., Penfield 14526. 3773276. www.wickhamfarms.com Challenger Learning Center of Greater Rochester Embark on a virtual voyage of discovery to the planet Mars at the Challenger Center, a high-tech, hands-on facility for space flight simulations. Children ages 7 to 10 must be teamed oneto-one with an adult. Reservations required. $16/adult; $13/child ($2 discount RMSC members).. Ages: 7 & up. 10:30am-12:30pm. Strasenburgh Planetarium, 657 East Ave., Rochester 14607. 697-1942. www.rmsc.org FREE * Children’s Poems for National Poetry Month Come celebrate National Poetry Month with poems from your favorite children’s authors! Bring a poem to share or just come to listen. Enjoy hot chocolate and write your own poem with the help of prompts after the reading. Ages: 5-12. 10-11am. Writers and

Books, 740 University Ave., Rochester 14607. 473-2590 x107. www.wab.org FREE * Chili Easter Egg Hunt Children can hunt for candy-filled eggs as well as special prizes. Children are divided into three age groups. Get your picture with the Easter Bunny! Please bring your own bags or baskets to collect the eggs! Ages: 2-12. 10am. Chili Recreation, 3235 Chili Ave., Rochester 14624. 889-4680. townofchili.org FREE * Cool Kids! ECOFEST at GCC Bring all of your old sneakers, eyeglasses, American flags, paperbacks, old bikes & bike parts, wood/metal furniture and more to recycle! Event includes 60+ vendors, wildlife stage shows, giveaways, and tons of green fun! In its 9th year! 10am-2pm. Genesee Community College, The Forum, One College Rd., Batavia, 14020. 637-3984. www.generationcool.biz FREE * Genesee Valley Woodcarvers Show & Competition Bird, fish, caricature, carousel animals, and youth carvings as well as demonstrations, a champagne glass competition, “Magic in Wood” competition, and more. Free soap carving class for youth at 2pm. 10am-5pm. Rochester Museum & Science Center, Eisenhart Auditorium, 657 East Ave., Rochester. www.gvwoodcarvers.com

FREE * GGH Kids: Natural Egg Dyeing This week’s fun, free event for youngsters is just in time for Easter. Suggested for ages 4-12, but “kids” of all ages are welcome! Ages: 4-12. 11am. Grossmans Garden & Home, 1801 Route 250 (1 mile north of Route 441), Penfield, 14526. 3771982. www.grossmans.com Juggle-In Public Performance Jugglers from around the world come to join in the fun at one of the longest running juggling festivals in North America - now in its 37th year! Presented by the RIT Juggling Club. Featured guests Patrik and Wes performing “Between Somenesons.” $16/adult; $12/senior, valid RIT ID; $10/youth 10 & under.. 7:30pm. RIT - Ingle Auditorium, Campus Center, Building 3, 127 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester 14623.. 748-2433. www. rit.edu/sg/jugglingclub/jugglein/ FREE * Juggle-In Saturday Morning Matinee Just like your favorite Saturday morning cartoons, this juggling show is free, and perfect to bring those early rising young children to. Followed by a learn to juggle workshop. 10:30am. RIT Clark Gym, Andrews Memorial Drive (the loop around campus) - park in D-Lot.. 748-2433. www.rit.edu/sg/ jugglingclub/jugglein/ FREE * Perinton Egg Hunt Come on down to Center Park and hunt for some eggs! Eggs filled with trinkets or candy! Some are filled with tickets

for special prizes! Separate egg hunts for 5 & 6 and 7 & 8 year olds. Ages: 5-8. 10am. Perinton Community/ Aquatic Center, 1350 Turk Hill Rd., Fairport 14450. 223-5050. www. perinton.com Rain Barrel Workshops 2014 Create your own rain barrel and bring it home. Everything supplied but the rain! Learn how to conserve water at home and protect our watershed. Be an H2O Hero! Registration required. $25. 11am-12:30pm. Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester 14607. 697-1942. www.rmsc.org

13 * Sunday 3rd Annual Color Vibe 5K Proceeds benefit YMCA of Greater Rochester’s Urban Branches for its Annual Campaign. Runners turned into human canvases as they are blasted with colors throughout their journey. $43 (by 3/31); $46 (by 4/12); $50 (4/13); Free/7 & under. 9am. Monroe Community College, 1000 East Henrietta Rd., Brighton Campus, Entrance B. 271-5323. rochesterymca.org/colorvibe April Break Week - Mission: Green See April 12. Included with admission. 12-4pm. Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester 14607. 271-4320. www.rmsc.org

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities Breakfast with the Easter Bunny Enjoy a tasty homestyle breakfast with pancakes, sausage, and juice (two seatings -reservations preferred). Easter Egg Hunt will be held outdoor following breakfast; be sure to dress appropriately. Proceeds Benefit the Annual Campaign. $9/adult; $6/child 12 & under. 9:30-10:30 OR 10:3011:30am. Bay View YMCA, 1209 Bay Rd., Webster 14604. 341-3221. www.southeastfamilyymca.org Bunny Hunt at Wickham Farms See April 12. FREE * Easter Festival & Egg Hunt Come to this annual spring family festival. Visit with the Easter Bunny and see Magic Guy starting at 11am. Egg Hunt at 1pm sharp!. 11am-1pm. Flowers by Stella, 1880 Rochester Rd. (Rt. 332), Canandaigua 14424. 394-1830. www. FlowersByStella.com FREE * FunDay Sunday! This month’s free Sunday promotion features the new exhibition, “On Fire! The Nancy & Alan Cameros Collection of Southwestern Pottery.” Design your own pot with ancient symbols and geometric shapes. 12-3pm. Rockwell Museum of Western Art, 111 Cedar St., Corning 14830. (607) 974-4707. www.rockwellmuseum.org Second Sunday Family Tour Young friends and families can enjoy a short story and special tour of the

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gallery. Included with admission. 2pm. Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave.. 276-8900. mag.rochester.edu

14 * Monday April Break Week - Mission: Green See April 12. Red Wings vs Pawtucket Kids Eat Free (The first 500 kids 12 & under receive a hot dog, soda & snack item). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 7:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/ index.jsp?sid=t534

15 * Tuesday April Break Week - Mission: Green See April 12. Red Wings vs Pawtucket Fan 4-Pack (Get four reserved seat tickets, four hot dogs, four 12-oz. drinks, and a yearbook for only $32/$36 day of game - save $15 off regular prices). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 7:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/ index.jsp?sid=t534

16 * Wednesday April Break Week - Mission: Green See April 12.

Animation School-Break Week

April 12–20: The Strong Museum offers all kinds of ways to keep children busy during school break. Celebrate the art of animation with daily activities. Get up close with animation sketches and movie cels, find out about thuamatropes and make your own, or test your cartoon IQ. Plenty of hands-on family fun. The Strong National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Sq., Rochester, 14607. 263-2700. www.museumofplay.org

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera The story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. *This production of ‘Phantom’ contains the use of strobe lights, pyro, gunshots, theatrical haze and fog. Ticket price varies by seat. 7:30pm. Auditorium Theatre, 885 E. Main St., Rochester, 14605. 4257164. www.rbtl.org Red Wings vs Pawtucket Wings Wednesday (Look for the discount coupon in preceding Tuesday’s Democrat &Chronicle). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 3:35pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534 Rochester Ballet Meet & Greet Meet performers from the Rochester City Ballet. Included with admission. 10am-5pm. The Strong National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Sq., Rochester, 14607. 263-2700. www.museumofplay.org

17 * Thursday April Break Week - Mission: Green See April 12. Included with admission. 12-4pm. Rochester Museum & Science Center, 657 East Ave., Rochester 14607. 271-4320. www.rmsc.org Art and Story Stroll Storyteller and Creative Workshop instructor Yvonne Koketso Ferreira reads “Zelda in the City” by Ken Wilson-Max. For ages 2-5 with adult. Registration required. $5/adult; children free. Ages: 2-5. 11am-12pm. Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave.. 276 8971. mag.rochester.edu Montezuma Birding Van Tour Ducks, geese and swans are on the move as the spring migration season is upon us. Hop in the van for an excursion to Montezuma’s birding hotspots where hundreds of thousands of waterfowl can be seen! Don’t forget your camera & binoculars. $13.50/adult; $8/child. 9am-12pm. Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Route 89, Savanna, 13146. 315-365-3580. ny.audubon.org/ montezuma RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera See April 16. Red Wings vs Pawtucket Knot Hole Kids’ Club Game (see website for details). Fan 4-Pack (Get four reserved seat tickets, four hot dogs, four 12-oz. drinks, and a yearbook for only $32/$36 day of game - save $15 off regular prices). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 1:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/ index.jsp?sid=t534

18 * Friday April Break Week - Mission: Green See April 12. FREE * Easter Egg Decoupage Create your own festive decoupaged egg. Learn the basic techniques from Handwork members using paint, decorative papers and more. Wooden eggs and materials provided - just bring your imagination! 5pm. Handwork Co-op, 102 West State Street, Ithaca NY. 607-273-9400. https://www.facebook.com/pages/ Handwork-Ithacas-Cooperative-CraftStore FREE * Family Features Movie at Lollypop Farm Come watch a fun family flick - “A Bug’s Life.” A brief humane education lesson begins at 1pm to kick off the movie. No registration is necessary. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. 12:45-3pm. Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Road; Fairport 14450. 223-1330 x173. www. lollypop.org RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera See April 16. Spring Breakout Day Camp Explore the forests and wetlands for signs of activity, and gather natural objects to construct a nature craft. Come for the entire day (bring your lunch) or just the morning or afternoon session. $35/full day; $20/ half day. Ages: 6-12. 10am-4pm. Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Route 89, Savanna, 13146. 315-365-3580. ny.audubon.org/ montezuma Spring Egg-Stravaganza! Annual celebration of animals that hatch from eggs. Egg dyeing (bring your own hard boiled eggs), crafts, nature walk, live animals, outdoor games and more! Entry will be timed at 10am, 12pm & 2pm. Pre-registration required. $7/person; Museum Members save 10%. 10am-4pm. Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Boulevard, Buffalo 14211. 716-8256397. www.sciencebuff.org

19 * Saturday “Egg-cellent” Easter Event Hop on down to the Carrousel Museum for some spring time fun - crafts, games, and musical performance by Nan Hoffman at 1pm, followed by an old-fashioned egg roll on the lawn. Ride the carrousel with the Easter Bunny! $6 per person ($5 Carousel Society members; sorry no other coupons or passes accepted).. 12-4pm. Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda, 14120. (716-693-1885. carrouselmuseum.org

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities

librarY programs & activities

05 * Saturday FREE * Teen Volunteer Program Do you have community service hours to complete? Register to help at the library and earn 2 hours of community service requirement. You must register in order to attend and receive credit for the volunteer hours. 12-2pm. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org

07 * Monday FREE * Music and Movement for Preschoolers An interactive program incorporating musical instruments (bells, shakers, rhythm sticks, boomwhackers...) and creative movement. Registration required. Ages: 2-5. 10:15-10:45am. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org FREE * Teen Writing Group Calling all teens in grades 7-12 -- do you like to write? Join them on the first and third Monday of every month to write, share, edit, laugh, and write. Registration required. Ages: 12-18. 6-7:30pm. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org

14 * Monday FREE * 19th-Century Games Kids can try jackstraws, cup-andball, the whimmy-diddle, buzz saw and much more. Presented by The Genesee Country Village and Museum Ages: 4-12. 3pm. Arnett Branch Library, 310 Arnett Blvd., Rochester 14619. 428-8214. www. libraryweb.org FREE * Omnipresent Puppet Theater: Anansi’s Rainbow Anansi the trickster has to save the village from a drought and then a flood, all caused by his troublemaking ways. An exciting story told with marionettes, shadow, hand, and rod puppets, this program will delight people of all ages. 10:30-11:30am. Central Library of Rochester, 115 South Ave., Rochester. 428-8150. www. libraryweb.org FREE * Scrap Art: Make It and Take It Drop in and let your creativity flow. Mary Jane Wenner

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will bring piles and piles (and piles!) of interesting recycled materials. You add the imagination to make cool creations. For all ages. No registration required. 9:30-11am. Pittsford Community Library, 24 State St., Pittsford 14534. 249-5478. www.townofpittsford.org/library FREE * Storybook Cooks Pancakes Listen to a pancake story, then mix up pancakes batter, pour it on the griddle, flip it, take it off and eat it. But not before you visit the Topping Bar to sweeten up your creation! Registration required. Ages: 4-8 with adult. 2pm. Chili Public Library, 3333 Chili Ave., Rochester 14420. 889-2200. www.chililibrary.org FREE * Storytime with Miss Anne at Wegmans Join Miss Anne at the Calkins Road Wegmans for a special storytime! This program will include stories, songs, rhymes, and simple sign language. Designed for children of all ages and their caregivers. No registration required. 10am. Calkins Road Wegmans, Calkins Road Wegmans,. 359-7092. www.hpl.org

15 * Tuesday FREE * Comic Artist Workshop Learn about the world of comics and comic art and create your own comic strip with Franzie Weldgen, Visual and Performing Arts professor at MCC. This program also fulfils the requirements for the Comic Artist badge for the Girl Scouts of America. Ages: 8 & up. 2:30-4pm. Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd., Webster 14580. 872-7075. www.websterlibrary.org FREE * Lego Club Love legos? Have fun building with Lego at the library! Bricks provided , you provide the creativity. Registration required. Ages: 6-12. 3-3:45 OR 4:15-5pm. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org

16 * Wednesday FREE * Rollicking with Raptors Raptors, or birds of prey, are birds that hunt and feed on other animals. In honor the their spring migration, Wild Wings is bringing many different live species of raptors for you to learn about. All ages welcome.

10:30-11:30am. Central Library of Rochester, 115 South Ave., Rochester. 428-8150. www.libraryweb.org FREE * Sci-Fi in YA Do you like to read Science Fiction? If you do, you’ll love this Sci-Fi in YA program. Have fun participating in a series of science-fiction centered activities using your favorite popular YA titles. Ages: 12-18. 12-1:30pm. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org

17 * Thursday FREE * Digital Light Painting When the lights go out, the fun begins! We will use flashlights, glow sticks, and iPads in the dark to create original pieces of art. Ages 8-12. Registration required. Ages: 8-12. 3-3:45pm. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org FREE * Omnipresent Puppet Theater: Anansi’s Rainbow Anansi the trickster has to save the village from a drought and then a flood, all caused by his troublemaking ways. An exciting story told with marionettes, shadow, hand, and rod puppets, this program will delight people of all ages. 7pm. Pittsford Community Library, 24 State St., Pittsford 14534. 2495478. www.townofpittsford.org/ library FREE * Wegmans ZooMobile Help preserve local wildlife in your own backyard! Through interactions with live animals, fauna, and activities, you will learn about some more helpful interconnections you can have with local animals. All ages, accompanied by an adult. 1:303:30pm. Webster Public Library, 980 Ridge Rd., Webster 14580. 872-7075. www.websterlibrary.org

18 * Friday FREE * Family Movie Matinee Crafts and a movie! We’ll be showing a Disney film about a powerful Snow Queen named Elsa and her sprightly sister Anna. Film is rated PG. Call the library for more details. 2-4pm. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org

19 * Saturday FREE * Let’s Sing About Spring Sing, play and dance about the spring season with Missy Reed. For children ages 4 and under with adult. Registration required. 10am. Chili Public Library, 3333 Chili Ave., Rochester 14420. 889-2200. www.chililibrary.org

21 * Monday FREE * Teen Writing Group Calling all teens in grades 7-12 -- do you like to write? On the first and third Monday of every month to write, share, edit, laugh, and write. Registration required. Ages: 12-18. 6-7:30pm. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org

23 * Wednesday FREE * Teen Game Night Hang out with your friends at HPL’s monthly Teen Game Night! Play games and enjoy refreshments. No registration required. 6:308pm. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org

24 * Thursday FREE * Dance Party The last class in the series. Eshter Brill presents dance lessons in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Join us with or without a partner. Families welcome. Refreshments served. Registration required. 7-8:30pm. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org

26 * Saturday FREE * Preschool SCIENCEtime Explore the world of science at a science-themed storytime. We’ll read stories and do exciting hands-on science activities! For preschoolers and their caregivers. Registration required. Ages: 3-6. 11-11:45am. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092. www.hpl.org FREE * Toddler Dance Party Bring your little ones and dance your sillies out to your favorite tunes! For toddlers and caregivers. No registration required. Ages: 18mos-4yrs. 10:15-10:45am. Henrietta Public Library, 455 Calkins Rd., Henrietta. 359-7092 www.hpl.org

27 * Sunday

FREE * Family Fun Craft: Paper Plate Fish Create a beautiful, colorful fish from a paper plate! Each week families are invited to enjoy a different activity. All materials are provided. Ages: 3 and up. 1:30-4pm. Central Library of Rochester, Children’s Center, 115 South Ave., Rochester 14604.. 428-8150. www.libraryweb.org

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities 11th Annual Easter Egg Hunt Annual age-appropriate egg hunt for kids 12 years and under on the golf courses. Thousands of eggs!!!! Each one of our hunts has a special Golden Egg worth a giant special prize. Terrific raffle prizes too. Proceeds benefit a local family in need. $3 donation/ child. Ages: 12 & under. 9-11am. Clubhouse Fun Center, 70 Jay Scutti Blvd., Henrietta 14623. 272-7888. www.clubhousefuncenter.com April Break Week - Mission: Green See April 12. Focus on Trees: Plantations Join Dave Gotham on a woodland walk highlighting trees. Once considered to be a revolutionary idea, plantations are now controversial. Hike to six plantations and discuss their potential economic benefits and drawbacks. $3/person; $10/family (Free for RMSC members).. 9:30am-12pm. Cumming Nature Center, 6472 Gulick Rd., Naples, 14512. 374-6160. www.rmsc.org FREE * Latinas Unidas ¡Soy Unica! ¡Soy Latina! Rally 2014 Theme: The Power of You - Excellence in the Making. Workshops for girls focus on self-Identity, empowerment and self-expression through art. Parent workshops, “Primero Tu” (You First). Breakfast & lunch, door prizes and more. Registration required. Ages: girls 7-18. 8:15am-2:30pm. Otto A.

Shults Community Center at Nazareth College Nazareth College, 4245 East Ave., Rochester 14618. 204-7142. latinasunidas.org/susl Orienteering at Webster Park A sport that combines racing/walking with navigation! It’s a timed race where participants use a map to navigate through the terrain & visit control points in order. It’s up to you in what direction you’ll take to get to each control! $10/non-member; $6/ member (more info and $1 discount online).. 10am - 12pm. Webster Park, 255 Holt Rd., Webster. 377-5650. roc.us.orienteering.org/news.shtml Party for the Planet! Part of the combined Earth Day celebration in North America, the zoo presents docent touch table stations, familyfriendly activities & outside vendors, including local conservation organizations to share how they are working to help the environment. Included with admission. 10am-4pm. Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul St., Rochester 14621. 336-7123. www.senecaparkzoo.org RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera See April 16.

20 * Sunday RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera See April 16.

8th Annual Wildlife Festival

MAY 3: "Celebrating Important Bird Areas" - The festival will feature live animal presentations, food, music, kid's games & activities, guided canoe trips, bird watching and over 40 artisan vendors and conservation exhibitors. 10am-3pm. Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Route 89, Savanna, 13146. (315) 365-3580. ny.audubon.org/montezuma

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera See April 16.

21 * Monday Storytime Club: Celebrating Heroes Readings of classic children’s tales - two sittings. Have your Storytime Club passport stamped once during each visit. Collect five stamps and receive a free children’s book! This month: Celebrating Heroes. Included with admission. 10:30 & 11:30am. The Strong National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Sq., Rochester, 14607. 263-2700. www.museumofplay.org

22 * Tuesday An Evening With Delfeayo Marsalis Come see Delfeayo Marsalis, one of the top trombonists, composers and producers in jazz today, for one evening performance only! $5/general admission; Free/ child 5 & under.. 7pm. Honeoye Central School, 8528 Main St., Honeoye 14471. 229-5171. www. honeoye.org/webpages/bwilkins FREE * Earth Day Celebration 2014 Earth-friendly giveaways, Consignment Shop Fashion show, “Science of Being Green” Scavenger Hunt, crafts & activities for kids & more! Bring your recyclables and earn funds for Victor Schools PTSA: electronics collection and shoe drive. 6-8pm. Victor Junior High School, 953 High St., Victor 14564. 9243252. victorschools.org

23 * Wednesday RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera See April 16.

24 * Thursday Celebration of the Piano III: Music for 1 to 16 Hands Part of the Hochstein Spotlight on Faculty Concert Series, featuring music for 1-piano, 1- hand to 4-piano, 16-hands. Program highlights will include: solo works, duos, quartets. Artist reception following. $5/general admission; $10 family max.. 6:30pm. Hochstein School of Music & Dance, 50 N Plymouth Ave., Rochester, 14614. 454-4596. www.hochstein.org Derby Hill Hawk Watch Trip Visit Lake Ontario for the spring raptor migration and leave the driving to us. Witness thousands of broad-winged hawks, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles and many more! If weather conditions do not cooperate, program moved to April 25. Pack a lunch. $22.50/ adult; $17.50/child. 10am-4pm. Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Route 89, Savanna, 13146. 315-365-3580. ny.audubon.org/montezuma

FREE * Open Mic Night Family friendly atmosphere for musicians of all ages, all skill levels, and all kinds of musical interests to come out and show their stuff, or play and network with other music lovers. Held on the last Thursday of each month. 7-9pm. Arts Center of Yates County, 127 Main Street, Penn Yan, 14527. 315-536-8226. www.artscenteryatescounty.org RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera See April 16. FREE * Tales from Japan - For Homeschool Families The Forum Players Children’s Theatre presents a collection of traditional Japanese tales, where treasure is discovered in unexpected places, even the most unassuming characters are heroes, and beauty is found in all aspects of nature. 12:30pm. Genesee Community College, Stuart Steiner Theatre, One College Rd., Batavia 14020. 345-6814. www.genesee.edu FREE * The Orange Aardvark Story Time A story time featuring The Orange Aardvark, new this week from celebrated author Michael Hall. It is a funny and suspenseful story about colors, ants, aardvarks, and rainbows. Ages: 2-5. 11am. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Pittsford Plaza, 3349 Monroe Ave., Rochester 14618. 586-6020. bn.com

25 * Friday Jim Witter’s “Piano Men” A Musical Journey Through the ’70s Featuring the Music of Elton John and Billy Joel. Led by Jim Witter & his live band, this multimedia concert also brings back the memorable headlines, automobiles, people, events, & more that shaped a decade. $45-$60. 8pm. Nazareth College Arts Center, Callahan Theater, 4245 East Ave., Rochester, 14618. 389-2170. artscenter.naz.edu Montezuma Birding Hike Forested habitats are coming to life with dozens of neotropical songbirds like the cerulean warbler, wood thrush, and rose-breasted grosbeak. Enjoy a 2-mile hike at Howland’s Island area over uneven terrain to identify these songbirds. $6/adult; $4/child; $20/family. 9-11am. Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Route 89, Savanna, 13146. 315-365-3580. ny.audubon.org/ montezuma RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera See April 16. SOTA presents: Legally Blonde This fresh, fun and effervescent musical comedy teaches life-lessons that go beyond the color of our hair. $5-$9. 7pm. School of the Arts, 45 Prince St., Rochester, 14607. 2427682. www.sotarochester.org

FIND MORE! For more calendar events and places to go, check our website where you will find: Access to events by month and day Review events by selection of library, storytimes, free events, sports, outdoor fun and more... New events posted weekly

www.RocParent.com 40

www.RocParent.com

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities Tales from Japan - Children’s Theatre The Forum Players Children’s Theatre presents a collection of traditional Japanese tales, where treasure is discovered in unexpected places, even the most unassuming characters are heroes, and beauty is found in all aspects of nature. $8/adult; $5/seniors, GCC faculty & staff; $3/child & GCC student with ID; $2 discount GCC alum with ID.. 7-8:30pm. Genesee Community College, Stuart Steiner Theatre, One College Rd., Batavia 14020. 345-6814. www.genesee.edu

26 * Saturday Destination: Earth! Celebrate Earth Day with some rare animals! Enjoythe flying bird show, see wild cats, come face-to-face with bald eagles on the “Walk With the Eagles” tour. Children receive a WILD Passport and free souvenir. Hands-on activities, refreshments & more. $12/ adult; $10/veteran, senior; $8/child; $28/family pass; Free/child under 4.. 11am-4pm. Hawk Creek Wildlife Center, 655 Luther Road, East Aurora, 14052. (716) 652-8646. www.hawkcreek.org FREE * Earth Day Celebration Show that you care about the earth. Help spruce up DeWitt Recreation Area. Plant tress, take a bird walk, make a birdfeeder. Lots to do to get ready for spring time. Bring your lunch and have a picnic. 10am-2pm. DeWitt Recreation Area, 115 Cedar St., Batavia 14020. 3441122. FREE * Edgerton Model Railroad Club Layout Tour Historic preservation in miniature. The last Saturday of each month the P.A.L. Model Railroad Heaven is open for visitors. Since 1950 the four O Gauge train layouts, depicting each season in Rochester, have been meticulously updated & maintained. 11am-2pm. Edgerton Recreation Center, 41 Backus St., Rochester, 14608. 428-6769. edgertonmodelrailroadclub.com FREE * Festival of Nations The Geneva City School District invites you to celebrate diverse cultures in our community through: Art, Food, Performances, Music, Cultural Presentations, Games, and a Community Resource Fair. 1-3pm. Geneva Middle & High Schools, 101 Carter Rd., Geneva 14456. 315-781-0400. www.genevacsd.org FREE * GGH Kids: Recycled Trees You can’t miss with this week’s fun, free event . Suggested for ages 4-12, but “kids” of all ages are welcome! Ages: 4-12. 11am. Grossmans Garden & Home, 1801 Route 250 (1 mile north of Route 441), Penfield, 14526. 377-1982. www.grossmans.com

FREE * GREAT BIG Townwide Garage Sale Over 40 vendors will be spread throughout the community center with a wide variety of items. The sale is free to shoppers. Don’t miss out on the great deals! 9:00am-2:00pm. Ogden Community Center, 269 Ogden Center Rd. Spencerport, 14559. 617-6174. www.ogdenny.com Little Beard Encampment Group Find out what life was like for settlers and soldiers in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Visit the encampment near the Pioneer Homestead. $3/person; $10/ family (Free for RMSC members).. 10am-4pm. Cumming Nature Center, 6472 Gulick Rd., Naples, 14512. 374-6160. www.rmsc.org FREE * MARSH Volunteer Event Enhance forest habitat for birds and other wildlife by participating in a honeysuckle and garlic mustard removal project. We’ll provide the tools; you provide the elbow grease. Lunch provided. FREE! 9am-1pm. Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Route 89, Savanna, 13146. 315-365-3580. ny.audubon.org/ montezuma FREE * MOMS Club of Webster/ Ontario Annual Garage and Bake Sale. Bake Sale proceeds benefit the Hope House. 10am-1pm. Holy Trinity Church, 1460 Ridge Rd., Webster.

newsworthy

in our community Mobile Food Pantry Comes to Rushville

Foodlink’s Mobile Pantry Program will be coming to Rushville on the third Thursday of each month, beginning on April 17. The Mobile Pantry provides communities with access to essential, nutritious food free of charge. Everyone 18 years of age and older will be helped on a first come, first served basis—regardless of income or where you live. Volunteers from Rushville Community Health Center, Rushville United Methodist Church, other Community Agencies, and community members will be on hand to assist participants with an assortment of grocery items such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and bakery items like breads and pastries. 5pm – 7pm at Rushville United Methodist Church 26 N. Main St. Rushville, NY 14544.

momsclubofwebsterandontario.webs.com

FREE * Pick Up the Parks You and your group can do your part to keep the 21 Monroe County Parks clean and green. All supplies provided by the Parks Dept. & its partners. FREE Thank You Lunch from noon-2pm at Olmsted Lodge in Highland Park. Registration encouraged. 9am-12pm. All Monroe County Parks, Site-Host organizations will meet & greet, direct & orient the volunteers that participate.. 753-7281. www2.monroecounty.gov/parks/ pickuptheparks RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera See April 16. Red Wings vs Charlotte Free Red Wings Legends Card Strip Giveaway (1st 1,000 adults 21 & over); Knot Hole Kids’ Club Game (See website for details). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 4:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/index. jsp?sid=t534 Sheep Shearing Festival Grand opening of the Wagon Wheel Market at Springdale Farm, featuring local craft & produce vendors. Also sheep shearing, spinning, weaving & dyeing demos, petting zoo, kids crafts, free children’s haircuts, tours of the robotic milking center and more! $5/ adult; $4/youth & seniors; free/under 2. 10am-3pm. Springdale Farm, 700 Colby St., Spencerport 14559.. 3492090. www.springdalefarm.org

call for volunteers

Heritage Christian Stables, a therapeutic horsemanship program for children and adults with disabilities, is looking for volunteers to assist in its next session, which runs from April 28 – June 28. The Stables needs both horse leaders and side walkers. Horse leaders are responsible for the horse during the lessons and helping to lead the horse and rider around the ring. Side walkers work with the rider during the lesson, providing support as needed. Lessons are offered Monday through Friday at various times throughout each day and evening. Volunteers need to commit to a weekly schedule for the session and are required to attend an initial orientation followed by hands on training. •V olunteer orientation: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9 at the Stables, 1103 Salt Road in Webster. •V olunteer training: 2 – 4 p.m. Saturday, April 12 at the Stables, 1103 Salt Road in Webster. For more information or to register for orientation, contact Kim Kennedy at (585) 340-2016 or kkennedy@heritagechristianservices.org.

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities SOTA presents: Legally Blonde See Apr. 25. Tales from Japan - Children’s Theatre See April 25. $8/adult; $5/seniors, GCC faculty & staff; $3/child & GCC student with ID; $2 discount GCC alum with ID.. 7-8:30pm. Genesee Community College, Stuart Steiner Theatre, One College Rd., Batavia 14020. 3456814. www.genesee.edu Victorian Tea One of the most popular events - traditional 3-course tea with scones, strawberries, finger sandwiches, elegant little desserts and, of course, tea! Dress up & wear your finest hat. Reservations & prepayment required. Seating is limited. $25 per person. 2-4pm. Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum, 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda, 14120. 716-693-1885. carrouselmuseum.org

27 * Sunday Little Beard Encampment Group See April 26. $3/person; $10/family (Free for RMSC members).. 10am-4pm. Cumming Nature Center, 6472 Gulick Rd., Naples, 14512. 374-6160. www.rmsc.org Making Tracks for Celiacs & Gluten-Free Food Fair Greater Rochester Celiac Support Group celebrates the 13th Anniversary of this fundraiser which includes 2-mile walk, Gluten-Free Food Fair featuring samples and hot/cold items for sale, raffle items, and activities for children. $15 ($20 after Apr 13)/adult; $10 ($15after Apr 13)/child 5-13; Free/ ages 5 & under.. 11am-3pm. Monroe Community College, 1000 East Henrietta Rd., Rochester 14623. 861-4065. www.rochesterceliacs.org RBTL Presents: The Phantom of the Opera See April 16. Red Wings vs Charlotte Meet the Wings pitching staff on the field after the game for a free autograph session. Kids can run the bases with Spikes & Mittsy after the game. Family Bulletin Day (See April 6). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 1:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www. milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534 Rochester Theater Organ Society Concert Scott Foppiano presents a concert on the mighty Wurlitzer theater organ. $15/adult (free for RTOS members);Free/12 & under and students with ID.. 2:30pm. Auditorium Theater, 885 E. Main St., Rochester, 14605. 234-2295. rtosonline.org SOTA presents: Legally Blonde See April 25. Tales from Japan - Children’s Theatre See April 25.

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28 * Monday Red Wings vs Charlotte Kids Eat Free (The first 500 kids 12 & under receive a hot dog, soda & snack item). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 7:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534 Storytime Club: Celebrating Heroes Readings of classic children’s tales - two sittings. Have your Storytime Club passport stamped once during each visit. Collect five stamps and receive a free children’s book! This month: Celebrating Heroes. Included with admission. 10:30 & 11:30am. The Strong National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Sq., Rochester, 14607. 263-2700. www.museumofplay.org

29 * Tuesday Family Science Workshop: The Chemistry of Color Get your family on the fast track to a future in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) with handson inquiry-driven science learning. Geared to parents and children in the 10-13 year old age group working together. $64/family. Ages: 10-13. 6-8:30pm. Rochester Institute of Technology, 1 Lomb Memorial Dr., Rochester 14623. 475-2411. familiyscience2014.eventbrite.com Red Wings vs Charlotte Careers in Sports Day (Pre-game info sessions for high school/middle school students). Fan 4-Pack (Discount package for only $32/$36 day of game - see April 17). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 11:35am. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb. com/index.jsp?sid=t534 Shen Yun Embark on an extraordinary journey across 5,000 years of Chinese civilization! From ancient dynasties to the modern day, witness inspiring stories and legends come alive on stage. Chinese dance, full orchestra, exquisite costumes & animated backdrops. $50-$100. 7:30pm. Auditorium Theatre, 885 E. Main St., Rochester, 14605. 222-5000. www.rbtl.org

30 * Wednesday Shen Yun See April 29.

calendar of events • local family-friendly activities

May 01 * Thursday Red Wings vs Louisville Fan 4-Pack (Get four reserved seat tickets, four hot dogs, four 12-oz. drinks, and a yearbook for only $32/$36 day of game - save $15 off regular prices). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 7:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534

02 * Friday Red Wings vs Louisville PreGame Autograph Booth, presented by Hillside Family of Agencies. Varies. 7:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/ index.jsp?sid=t534 SOTA presents: Legally Blonde See April 25. Weepeats Spring Event Children’s Consignment Event for you to buy and sell quality, name-brand, like-new children’s Items from over 1700 registered consignors. Find Baby Gear , clothing from preemie to preteen, books, toys, furniture and more. Every item is pre-screened. $5 admission entire weekend (kids free).. 9am-6pm. The Dome Fair & Expo Center, 2695 E. Henrietta Rd., Henrietta 14467. www.weepeats.net

Celebrate May Day Delight in a special family program to learn about the traditional maypole dance and make a May basket to give to someone you love. $3/person; $10/ family (Free for RMSC members).. 10am-12pm. Cumming Nature Center, 6472 Gulick Rd., Naples, 14512. 374-6160. www.rmsc.org FREE * Fiber Arts Festival Come celebrate 12 years of creativity! Demonstrations of floor loom, rigid heddle, inkle, table and tapestry loom weaving as well as spinning, tatting, and other techniques. Kids can try their hand at weaving. 1-4pm. Weaving and Fiber Arts Center, Studio 1940, Piano Works Mall, 349 West Commercial St., East Rochester 14445. 703-6253. www. weaversguildofrochester.org/courses Polar Bear Awareness Day Part of the zoo’s Animal Conservation Series, aimed at raising awareness about the plight of some of our planet’s most threatened species. Come learn about polar bears and act on their behalf and spread the word to others. Included with Admission. 10am.-4pm. Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul St., Rochester 14621. 336-7200. www.senecaparkzoo.org Red Wings vs Louisville PreGame Autograph Booth, presented by Hillside Family of Agencies. Varies. 1:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/ index.jsp?sid=t534

03 * Saturday

SOTA presents: Legally Blonde See April 25.

8th Annual Wildlife Festival Live animal presentations, food, music, kid’s games & activities, guided canoe trips, bird watching and over 40 vendors & exhibitors provide a special day for nature enthusiasts. The theme for this year’s event is “Celebrating Important Bird Areas.” $4/adult; $2/school-age child; free/kids 4 & under.. 10am-3pm. Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Route 89, Savanna, 13146. 315-3653580. ny.audubon.org/montezuma

Weepeats Spring Event Children’s Consignment Event for you to buy and sell quality, name-brand, like-new children’s Items from over 1700 registered consignors. Find Baby Gear , clothing from preemie to preteen, books, toys, furniture and more. Every item is pre-screened. $2 (kids free). 9am-4pm. The Dome Fair & Expo Center, 2695 E. Henrietta Rd., Henrietta 14467. www.weepeats.net

04 * Sunday Red Wings vs Louisville Knot Hole Kids’ Club Game. Kids can run the bases with Spikes & Mittsy after the game. Family Bulletin Day (Fans receive $1 off any ticket by presenting a publication from any church, house of worship, civic, or nonprofit group). Pre-Game Autograph Booth. Varies. 1:05pm. Frontier Field, 1 Morrie Way, Rochester. 454-1001. www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t534

10 * Saturday

SOTA presents: Legally Blonde See April 25.

Mother’s Day Birding and Natural Spa Spend some time with mom and Mother Nature! Make a luxurious body scrub from natural ingredients, then head out on the bird trail to see if you can spot the elusive Cerulean Warbler. $8/adult; $6/child; $25/family. 2:30-4pm. Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Route 89, Savanna, 13146. 315-365-3580. ny.audubon.org/ montezuma

Spring Fest: The BIG Event Culmination of a week-long celebration featuring a different food specialty daily- from Gluten Free to Vegan. Samplings, product demonstrations, information sessions, gift basket raffles, prizes, music, and much more! $1 donation to All4Pets of Western NY. 6:30-8:30pm. Lori’s Natural Foods Center, 900 Jefferson Rd., Rochester 14623. 424-2323. www.lorisnatural.com

Orangutan M.O.M. Day Part of the zoo’s Animal Conservation Series, aimed at raising awareness about the plight of some of our planet’s most threatened species. Come learn about the orangutans and act on their behalf and spread the word to others. Included with Admission. 10am.-4pm. Seneca Park Zoo, 2222 St. Paul St., Rochester 14621. 336-7200. www. senecaparkzoo.org

FREE * Weepeats Half Price Sale Children’s Consignment Event for you to buy and sell quality, namebrand, like-new children’s Items from over 1700 registered consignors. Find Baby Gear , clothing from preemie to preteen, books, toys, furniture and more. Every item is pre-screened. 9am-12pm. The Dome Fair & Expo Center, 2695 E. Henrietta Rd., Henrietta 14467. www.weepeats.net

05 * Monday

Monday Kicks: Spring Into Action Playful, learning activities designed especially for 2-6 year olds, one Monday each month. This month’s theme is Spring into Action! Included with admission. Ages: 2-6. 10am-2pm. The Strong National Museum of Play, One Manhattan Sq., Rochester, 14607. 263-2700. www. museumofplay.org

11 * Sunday RPYO Musical Friendships Music Director David Harman’s final concert with the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Performance will include concerto competition winners as well as works by Saint-Saens, Villa-Lobos and Elgar. $10/adult; $5/student & senior. 3pm. Hale Auditorium, Roberts Wesleyan College, 2301 Westside Dr., Rochester 14624. 454-2100. www.rpo.org

Please Note:

Dates and times for all calendar and ongoing events are subject to change. Please call the numbers provided or visit their website to confirm event information.

Want to See Your Event in Print & Online?

To submit an event to our calendar e-mail: calendar@GVParent.com NEW: Submit your calendar events online at www.RocParent.com/calendar/calendar-submit All entries must be received by the 10th of the month prior to publication in order to be considered. Events printed as space permits.

Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent • April 2014

2/15/13

www.RocParent.com

Are you planning a party? check our party & celebration guide and articles online for great party ideas!

www.RocParent.com Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent â&#x20AC;˘ April 2014

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Rochester & Genesee Valley Parent â&#x20AC;˘ April 2014