KidsOutAndAbout.com newsletter

Sent June 13, 2008

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Dear KOA readers:

Interested in scoping out some summer reading for your mid-to-upper-elementary child? My kids and I just recently finished the audio book of Kate Jackson's reading of Deborah Wiles' book The Aurora County All-Stars, which was published last year. I highly recommend either the book (for 10-12-year-olds) or the audio (for about 7-12-year-olds). It is a fabulous “local color” book that revolves around baseball and is set in a town in southern Mississippi. We are a baseball family, so that really worked for us. The characters are gorgeously unique, and Wiles’ words painted the picture of the town beautifully. The plot translates upward seamlessly, and I was perhaps even more involved in the story than my girls were.

The Aurora County All-Stars is about perseverance, and honor, and the need to integrate new truths into one's existing framework even if they shake things up inside you. It also mentions the racism that pervaded baseball in the past, and at one point recounts the story of Jackie Robinson—so it’s important that your kids have a least a passing familiarity with this less-savory aspect of American history before they read the book. My computer is having some trouble loading the catalog right now for the Monroe County Library, but when I checked last week, several of our local libraries had this book on their shelves.

2) As I’m kind of on a summer book kick, we’re now reading Summer Reading is Killing Me, by Jon Scieszka. And speaking of Scieszka, Adrienne Furness, children’s librarian at Webster Public Library, has a new column out on the MCLS web site about Scieszka’s new series for younger kids: Trucktown. Adrienne says it’s terrific. Read that article at: http://www2.libraryweb.org/index.asp?storyID=5071&orgID=59&sid=

3) It’s that winding-down time of year, a season that Melissa Wiley, author of the “Charlotte years” prequels to the Laura Ingalls Wilder books calls “low tide.” Here’s a great way to promote family togetherness during low tide: with a board game. To help you out, we here at KOA are publishing a new games review column from writer Laura Davis: Great Board Games You’ve Never Heard Of. During the past decade, the cost-effectiveness of marketing on the internet has fostered a proliferation of, ironically, low-tech games. Laura, who has sons age 6 and 9, is something of a board game junkie, and she passes her love and analysis of some great games on to you. We have posted two game reviews to start off: Zooloretto (for ages 8 and up), and Rat-A-Tat Cat (for ages 6 and up). The Games section is at http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/main-columns/games/index.html

Check it out (at the very least, the photo of Raymond and Riley peeking behind a mountain of these games in their living room is priceless). And, the games make some terrific birthday presents that aren't necessarily the same old stuff from Target, so it's worth planning ahead.

4) Partly to counter the laziness that tends to descend on me in the summer and partly just to do something for myself, I recently started taking oil painting lessons with local artist Chris Kolupski. I’ve taken a smattering of adult art classes around here, but Chris is the best I’ve yet experienced in terms of the sheer amount of clear information about how to paint that he is able to pass along. Somehow, he demonstrates with the brush, he explains in detail, and that all passes through my ears and into my brain and out my right arm—and what I paint comes out looking passable! I’m a living testament to the fact that a computer geek can learn to do art, if it’s explained right. What is really gratifying, though, is that each Wednesday night, I have some special time carved out just for me, to use my brain in an entirely different way than I’m used to doing. I realize that this is a true luxury, but I encourage you to find something in your own life akin to this experience if at all possible—something regular, and gratifying, and has more to do with your own needs than your children’s. It definitely makes me a better, more understanding parent.

Chris’s classes are not for total beginners; you need to have had a bit of drawing or painting experience, at least a class or two. His courses are ongoing; they’re for adults and teens, and you can just jump right in at any time. The prices are reasonable, too. His web site is: http://www.kolupski.com/

For those who are true beginners and want to try it out, Chris suggests you check out Steve Carpenter’s classes:

http://www.stevecarpenterstudio.com

Steve is another reknowned local artist.

5) Giveaways!

The publicists for the new DreamWorks film Kung Fu Panda just sent me a couple of great giveaways:

The coolest: A Kung Fu Panda Wii Game worth $50!

A little strange, but still cool: Eight plush Kung Fu Panda toys.

I’m drawing the winners for these on Tuesday.

Marianne Riley is giving away one more week of dance camp, this one for 8-12-year-olds, at Ballet Theatre in Greece, for the week of July 7-11.

And photographer Rhoda Collins is giving away a senior portrait session and prints.

For instructions on how to enter these giveaways, see http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/city-articles/giveaways.html

6) Congratulations to Denise of Rochester, the winner of the Usborne Books gift certificate from Vicki Ossont. You can order some great books for summer reading by checking out Vicki's web site at http://www.booksandmoreusborne.com.

7) More camp information! There are still tuition scholarships available for eligible families for children from ages 4-12 to attend Arts in Action at Camp Hochstein in both Rochester and the Canandaigua locations. Arts in Action Camps start Monday, July 7 and run weekly through August 8. There are half-day sessions (9:00am – 12noon) and full-day sessions (9:00 am – 3:30 pm in Rochester only) where each day the children attend arts-related classes. During the full-day camps the children will have special guest artists and a gym and swim time at the Downtown Metro Center YMCA. The normal cost for half-day camps is $110 and for full-day sessions it’s $195. Students who are not eligible for the full scholarships but require tuition assistance may apply through the Dean’s Office. For more information on this or camps for Teens at Hochstein, please call 585-454-4596, 585-396-3778 (Canandaigua) or visit www.hochstein.org and download the registration form.

8) Homeschoolers! There is a new LEAH (Loving Education at Home) group forming in the Caledonia-Mumford area: Armor LEAH. This is a non-denominational support group, with co-op classes forming later when they have enough members. They will have a number of field trips for members, and a “get to know you” summer picnic is being planned. They will also be holding informational meetings for those thinking about homeschooling. For more information, please contact Matthew or Jennifer Brandes at 585-538-4933 or matthewbrandes@frontiernet.net.

9) Speaking of educational alternatives, the new Open School of Rochester that is in the process of forming will be holding another couple of information sessions in the upcoming few weeks, so set your calendar if you are interested. The next information sessions are: Sat., June 21, 2008, 11am - 12pm, in the Rundel Auditorium in the Rundel Memorial Building, 115 South Avenue, downtown. And Thurs., June 26, 2008, 4:30-5:30pm, at the Ogden Library in Spencerport. They will also be having one in Webster soon. More information on the school can be found at http://openschool.rocus.org/.

SUMMER STUFF

10) It’s berry picking time! Yes! In fact, Brown’s Berry Patch officially starts strawberry picking tomorrow, although they caution that at the beginning of the season like this, you should always call in advance to make sure.

We have a terrific page that details many places in the greater Rochester area where you can go yourself to pick delicious summer fruit:

http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/places/summerpick.html

Can I just say that I encourage you to pick a LOT and then freeze them if you have room? Hand-picked fresh-frozen strawberries taste worlds better in homemade smoothies and on ice cream than those plastic-ish strawberries you have to buy in midwinter.

11) If you’re still thinking about what to get your kids’ teachers and bus drivers as end-of-the-year gifts, check out that list I’ve compiled with your assistance:

http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/main-articles/TeacherGifts.html

A reader just sent me a new great idea for teachers, which I haven’t had time to post yet: She gives gift certificates to the Colonial Belle boat tour. Her reasoning: “With living expenses getting higher, I figure they might not spend $$ on leisure/entertainment. A 1 1/2 hour tour is only $9 per ticket. For $18 (tax included), they and their spouses can relax and enjoy an afternoon on the canal. Also, I feel good that it is a little boost for the Colonial Belle - I am sure they are feeling the pain of higher fuel prices and fewer customers...”

What a great idea!

12) Other KOA summer links:

Our big summer ideas page for where to go and what to do in Rochester’s summer, which I’m (mostly) done updating for 2008, is at:
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/places/summer.html

Our amusement parks page is at:
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/places/amusement.html

And our Summer Hikes page from Sue Freeman, author of Take A Hike!, is at:
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/main-articles/FootprintPressHikesSummer.html

13) We’re just at the beginning of the Rochester Jazz Festival! Have a great time, all you who are going!

14) Last week was Fairport’s Canal Days, and tomorrow is Positively Pittsford! It starts at noon on Saturday in the State Street municipal parking lots. The festival’s main stage will feature musical entertainment throughout the day; dance tunes will fill the air when party band, Atlas, performs from 6:00 to 9:00PM. Look for festival food and refreshments, dessert crepes, chicken barbecue, and more tasty treats. Wegmans will feature cooking demonstrations and samplings: Watch the experts prepare recipes from their summer Menu magazine.

15) I was looking at the weekly email I get from our “sister” web site of sorts, WhatsOn4Kids.com, in London, England (I helped them set up a few years ago). They send their email on Thursdays, and yesterday was the Father’s Day edition. I came across this little tidbit:

Dad's Dipping Day! At Greenwich Ecology Park FREE - Dads bring your children for a day of pond dipping fun. All Dads who turn up and dip get a free cup of tea and biscuit afterwards!

Now, how British is that? Can you just see us uncultured Americans bringing our husbands anywhere with the incentive of a free cup of tea and a biscuit as motivation? I don’t think so. But the real question is: What is “pond dipping”? Anyone from the U.K. out there who can enlighten me? I’m wondering whether you dip a net, or your whole self, in the pond. Inquiring minds want to know.

Update: Turns out it means using nets to bring up neat stuff from ponds, rivers, and oceans and examine them. Thanks to readers originally from the U.K. for enlightening me!

WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND

16) As usual, it seems, what’s going on this weekend is almost too numerous to pick out highlights, but I’ll try:

Wicked is still at the Auditorium Theatre

The Red Wings are playing tonight, Saturday night, and Sunday afternoon

There is a Rhinos soccer game tonight, and a Rhinos Womens soccer game on Sunday afternoon

Rochester Rattlers Lacrosse game at 7:30 on Saturday evening at PAETEC Park

There is a free Big Band concert in the Port of Pittsford Park at 7pm tonight

The 2008 Aviation Fly-In and Expo is today and Saturday at Rochester International Airport

Cool Kids! presents: Wild Wings! Free, tonight at 7pm at Sagawa Park in Brockport.

Tomorrow, Saturday, in Mendon Ponds Park, there is a free Outdoor Expo from the Adirondack Mountain Club (Genesee Valley Chapter) from 9am-4pm

Kids-N-Trucks 2008, to benefit the American Liver Foundation, is at the Dome Center in Henrietta on Saturday and Sunday

This weekend, the theme of the 2pm hike on Saturday and Sunday at Genesee Country Nature Center is “Bug Hunt.” Nets will be provided.

There are several concerts from the Hochstein School of Music & Dance

There will be a Trolley Follies celebration on Sunday at the New York Museum of Transportation in Rush

If you’re out east of Rochester near Montezuma, visit the Montezuma Winery for a special Father’s Day Wildflowers and Wine celebration

There is lots more on the calendar, of course, these are just some highlights...and you need the calendar to get all of the details. So please see the entire week’s calendar at
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/calendar-search-display.php?dr=tw&EventCity=1.

Happy Friday the 13th! Happy Father’s Day!

P.S. Thanks to everyone for all of the encouragement about Madison's glasses last week. I have posted some photos up on the archived newsletter from last week, at
http://rochester.kidsoutandabout.com/newsletter/KOAnewsletter20080606.html

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