From 69 degrees last week to the 20’s this week doesn’t sit right with this summer baby. Oh, well, Winter is here; we have to grin and make the best of it!
What did you do this week—shovel snow, make batches of hot, healthy soup, bake cookies? Try your hand at Adult Canvas Painting at the Dongan Hills Library, Adult Painting Class at the Beacon Community Center at IS49, attended Prompted: A Creative Writing Session at the Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library, learned about Winter Survival Skills from the Greenbelt educators or joined Matt Falber as he presented “Frederick Law Olmsted—From Pear Trees to Parks” at the St. George Library.
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On Staten Island, women over 40 will have nine opportunities this year to receive free mammograms and breast cancer screenings sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Lanza in partnership with city nonprofit Project Renewal’s scan van program. The first appointment will be at Lanza’s office, 3845 Richmond Ave. beginning at 9 a.m. Call 800-564-6868 for an appointment beginning today, Wednesday, 1/22.
Participate in Adult Afternoon Hikes on Wednesday from 1:30-3 at the Greenbelt Nature Center in Blood Root Valley, 700 Rockland Ave. at Brielle Ave. Enjoy the crisp winter weather as we stroll through different Staten Island Greenbelt trails with Greenbelt educators and a naturalist. Designed for adults ages 18+ who want to spend time in nature and socialize. For more info and to register, please call 718-351-3450.
Bring kids ages 1 ½ -4 to the Sensory Café on Thursday 1/23 at 11 at the Great Kills Library, 56 Giffords Ln. for a menu of sensory experiences you and your tyke can feast on together.
Explore new technology like 3D printing, 3D pens, Hummingbird Robotics, Osmo Genius Kits, Google Chromebooks and more at Youth Tech Club on Thursday at 3:30 at Great Kills Library, 56 Giffords Ln.For ages 8 and up.
Take home a creation of your own at Origami Club: Snowflakes on Thursday from 4-5 at the Mariners Harbor Library, 206 South Ave. Learn about the amazing art of paper folding. Beginners and advanced learners welcomed!
Come to the library as we watch two episodes of a popular anime series together every Friday at Tween & Teen Anime on Friday 1/24 at 4 at St. George Library, 5 Central Ave. At the end of the season, we’ll do a group discussion and activity relating to the series. Everyone aged 9-19 is welcome in the teen room during this program.
The Zimmer Club Free Youth Winter Program begins on Saturday 1/25 at 9 at Zimmer Club, 4411 Arthur Kill Rd. The Zimmer Club youth program uses the great outdoors as a classroom to teach youngsters about outdoor activities, conservation and embracing nature. The program blends learning with recreation in the belief that this approach heightens the participant’s environmental awareness. Youngsters are introduced to activities that bring conservation topics to life such as environmental conservation, estuary systems, Blue and Greenbelt management, hunting, fishing (both salt and fresh-water), boating, first aid, camping, gun safety, archery, marksmanship, compass and map reading and more. Please pre-register by email to info@aezyouth.com. All classes are FREE to girls and boys under 18.
Bring the family to Con Edison STEM Family Day: Automata on Saturday from 10:30-12 at Staten Island MakerSpace, 450 Front St, Unit B. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Families are encouraged to learn together. Tell a story by creating a contraption out of wood and wires. With your family, learn about mechanical movements and linkages! Families have creative control over their projects. You will have room to experiment with materials and tools in our project space. Learn how to use a drill press and make your stories move with linkages out of wire, brads and other adhesives. Caregiver involvement required. Please arrive within the first hour to ensure your seat. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coned-stem-family-day-automata-tickets-88737697843
The kiddies will enjoy Storytime and Activities Featuring "How to Catch a Dragon" on Saturday at 11 at Barnes & Noble, 2655 Richmond Ave. Celebrate Lunar New Year with this fun Storytime! The wily dragon will have to avoid trap after trap as the kids run through paper lanterns, red envelopes, fireworks, and more! Join us and color your own paper lantern to take home.
Come welcome the Year of the Rat with Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday from 11-2 at Snug Harbor Cultural Center, 1000 Richmond Terr., Bldg. P Lobby. Children will enjoy treats, tales, and traditional crafts as part of one of the biggest cultural celebrations in the world. Admission: Adults: $10, Children: $7, Children under 3: Free. To purchase tickets, visit: https://snug-harbor.org/event/lunarnewyear2020/
Your family will love:
- Storytelling: Listen to the legend of Nien, hear about the Chinese zodiac, learn the many ways we celebrate the 15 days of the Lunar New Year, and discover the traits of 2020’s Rat.
- Crafts: Kids can make a lion’s head to ward off evil spirits, create a hong bao envelope to give and receive special treats, and practice writing chun lian and fu dao with Chinese characters.
- Parade: Families can join the parade to the NY Chinese Scholar’s Garden (weather permitting) and hear cymbals, drums, and pop-it firecrackers scare off evil spirits.
- Food: Enjoy a tasting of traditional foods like dumplings, spring rolls, and chrysanthemum tea.
Adults without kids can also participate in this immersive cultural celebration. With our educator in Chinese calligraphy, you’ll enjoy more grown-up artistic activities like ink wash painting, chun lian writing, plus entry to the NY Chinese Scholar’s Garden and warm refreshments. Wear red and gold when you come to Snug Harbor to celebrate Lunar New Year with us! Gung hay fat choy! Following are photos from the New Year celebration last year.
Children ages 1-5 can participate in Music and Movement on Saturday from 11:15-12:15 at the Mariners Harbor Library, 206 South Ave. Let’s boogie! Enjoy stories, songs, rhymes, and dancing in this interactive program. Little ones will sharpen their early literacy skills and explore basic musical concepts and instruments through song and dance!
On Saturday at 12:30 at the Everything Goes Café, 208 Bay St. attend an open discussion of Eckankar, Spiritual Philosophy Meet-up. What is Karma and how does it work in our lives? "The Law of Karma, yet another facet of the Law of Love, purifies people by holding them responsible for their thoughts and deeds, both to themselves and others." Harold Klemp, Wisdom of the Heart.
On the first day of the Chinese New Year, Staten Island OutLOUD & our friends at the Greenbelt Nature Center will celebrate the lunar new year season with global poetry and a little prose at The Year of the Rat: Chinese New Year on Saturday from 2-4 at the Greenbelt Nature Center, 700 Rockland Ave. We will explore fun and intriguing readings for the Year of the Rat: In Chinese culture, rats represent diligence and thrift, so people born in a Rat year are thought to be wealthy and prosperous. Free, fun & family friendly. Good for all ages. Details on our website: www.statenislandoutloud.org
On Saturday from 3-4:30, Life:Vest:Poetry & Cookies, at the St. George Library, 5 Central Ave., join us for an afternoon of open mic and poetry slam hosted by Lisa C. All ages are welcomed to perform! Children and their parents are welcome to come and share as a family. Refreshments will be served while supplies last.
Do you want to become a NYC lifeguard and earn up to $800 a week keeping New Yorkers safe at NYC Parks’ beaches and pools? Qualifying tests for summer 2020 take place on Saturday from 5-7 p.m. at The College of Staten Island, 2800 Victory Blvd. For more info, visit nyc.gov/parks/lifeguards
Our Urban Park Rangers will be your guide to the solar system, discussing the science, history and folklore of the universe during Astronomy: Night Sky on Saturday from 7-8:30 at Potter Ave. and Royal Oak Rd. in Clove Lakes Park. Night Sky programs highlight the history and folklore of the solar system, using the naked eye to locate stars and planets.
On Saturday at 7:30 at Everything Goes Café, 208 Bay St. attend Open Mic: Share your Music, Words, Movies, More! Music: 2 songs, 8 min max. Open sign up poetry, songs, video, comedy, improvisational story telling, etc. in a supporting attentive environment. Seasoned pros, beginners, and everybody in-between can enjoy sharing their gifts on our welcoming stage. We have microphones, PA, amps, projector, screen, and an interested MC.
Participate in Upcycling: Terrarium Building on Sunday, 1/26 from 1–2:30 at Greenbelt Nature Center in Blood Root Valley, 700 Rockland Ave. at Brielle Ave. Bring an old glass jar and create it into a home for a succulent plant to grow. Good for children.
Attend a presentation on Voorlezer: A New Place in History on Sunday from 1-3:30 at historic Third County Courthouse at Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave. New details have come to light about Historic Richmond Town's famed Voorlezer House led by Architectural Designer Kurt Hirschberg. For more information, please visit historicrichmondtown.org
Attend Direct Connect with Borough Hall on Sunday from 1-4 at Tottenville High School, 100 Luten Ave., enter at rear via Eylandt St. Direct Connect is a great opportunity to meet and greet, and see first-hand the projects Borough President James Oddo and his staff have been working on at Borough Hall this past year. City agencies, cultural organizations and other local groups will be in attendance to talk about their services and answer questions.
Participate in Reading & Tasting: Stories of Strength, Courage & Perseverance on Sunday from 2-5 at Honor Wines, 104 Beach St. Our friends and neighbors will share their original work during a wine tasting. The following writers will be reading: Brandon Herman - photographer, filmmaker, nice guy; Star Wars enthusiast. Stephanie Woodard - journalist reporting on human rights and culture; she recently wrote a book on contemporary Native American issues. Maggie Buford - writes poetry; makes zines & rugs. The organizer of the Staten Island Zine League (SIZL), Kit Soleil - attended NYU & Bread Loaf School of English. Her short stories recently won a Zoetrope Award. Phoebe Blue - sometimes writes words.
I welcome comments and photos at events you have attended. If you want to share events for me to post, email, text or call.
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