Follow the Yellow Brick Road, revisit Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, make a mural or learn to keep bees
“The older I get, the more I think every problem is just fear.”
– Pema Chodron
New Baby/New Paltz Grand Opening
What if you could park once and shop at both your local baby boutique and the grocery store? Now you can! Check out the Grand Opening of the newest New Baby/New Paltz, sister shop to New Baby/New World in the Water Street Market in New Paltz. The celebration takes place on Saturday, January 16 from 1 to 4 p.m. In addition to gear for infants, babies and toddlers, there is an adorable selection of clothing, carriers, toys and some excellent, empowering maternity and nursing wear, including BG Birthing Gowns.
This place isn’t just for people with babies; there are lots of great gifts, and I actually picked up a birthing gown for myself, to keep on hand the next time I’m admitted to the hospital for cancer stuff. Stop by to congratulate owner and lactation consultant Donna Bruschi on her newest addition to the New Baby/New Paltz store family, try your luck at winning a door prize, enjoy some food and take home a goody bag.
New Baby/New Paltz is located at 266 Main Street at the Shop Rite Plaza in New Paltz. For more information, call (845) 255-9200 or visit https://newbabynewpaltz.com.
The Wizard of Oz live at Poughkeepsie’s Cunneen-Hackett
“Lions, and tigers and bears, oh my!” Give your family the gift of this iconic quote through live theater by attending this weekend’s The Wizard of Oz by the youth at the From Stage to Screen Studio. On Saturday, January 16 at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, January 17 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. at the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center, watch Dorothy, her new friends and her new enemies bring this classic story to life. Tickets cost $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and children under 11 years of age.
The Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center is located at 12 Vassar Street in Poughkeepsie. For tickets or more information, call (845) 476-2455 or visit www.fromstagetoscreen.net.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9
Beekeeping seminar at Olive Free Library
My farming and gardening friends like to peruse seed catalogues during the winter months. But January is also a great time to make plans for raising bees! Beekeeping can be a terrific hands-on opportunity for kids to learn about the natural world while practicing responsibility.
Interested in learning more? Veteran beekeeper Rob Overton is teaching a free two-part beekeeping seminar at the Olive Free Library from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, January 9 and 16. No prior experience is necessary, but preregistration is required.
The Olive Free Library is located at 4033 Route 28A in West Shokan. For more information or to register, call (845) 657-2482 or visit https://olivefreelibrary.org. To learn more about the instructor, visit https://hvhives.com.
Collage mural workshops at Poughkeepsie’s Boardman Road Library
How many times have you scolded your kids for drawing on the walls? Well, they’ll get a kick out of your sudden encouragement to participate in a mural-making project! The Boardman Road Branch Library is hosting three art workshops to create a collage that may be used as a mural in the library. Saturday, January 9 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. is for ages 5 to 11; Saturday, January 16 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. is for adults; and Wednesday, January 20 from 3 to 5 p.m. is for ages 12 to 18.
Workshops are led by local graphic designer and artist Yvonne Laube. Seating and materials are limited, so preregistration for each workshop is required. Oh, and if you get hooked on the idea of this adult art time, check out “The Color of Calm,” Boardman’s series for adult coloring on the second Wednesday of each month from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.: January 13, February 10 and March 9.
The Boardman Road Branch Library is located at 141 Boardman Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie. For more information or to register, call (845) 485-3445, extension 3702, or visit www.poklib.org and click on Programs.
Gardiner Library hosts Star Wars LEGO workshop
“Never tell me the odds,” Han Solo is quoted as saying in The Empire Strikes Back. Got your own adventurer at home who loves a challenge? Specifically a LEGO challenge? Then register your crew for a special Snapology session this Saturday, January 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Gardiner Library. Youth ages 5 to 12 can design their own Star Wars spaceship, or work on architectural designs like a LEGO city that can withstand an earthquake. The fee is $10, space is limited and preregistration is required. Each participant should bring a snack.
Then, later this week for the younger set, it’s a special storytime at the Gardiner Library! Does your 4- or 5-year-old ask “Why?” a lot? Then how about taking an hour off from questions directed at you, and let the kids go wild talking winter with someone else for a change? On Thursday, January 14 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Nick Martin, park educator at Minnewaska State Park Preserve, teams up with children’s librarian Amy Laber for “What Happens in Winter?” Children will hear stories and learn about how animals stay warm this time of year.
The Gardiner Library is located at 133 Farmers’ Turnpike. For more information or to register, call (845) 255-1255 or visit www.gardinerlibrary.org.
Winter Wildlife Walk in New Lebanon
Whether it was to spend more quality time with your kids or to exercise more, joining this weekend’s Winter Wildlife Walk probably helps you keep your promise on at least one New Year’s resolution. On Saturday, January 9 at 9 a.m. at the Hand Hollow Conservation Area, explore with naturalist Bonner McAllester to spot signs of wildlife and how different species cope with cold weather without the luxury of Gore-Tex or wool socks. This program is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
The Hand Hollow Conservation Area is located at 4079 County Route 9 in New Lebanon. For more information or to register, call (518) 392-5252 or visit https://clctrust.org.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 10
Winter Wings walk at Mohonk Preserve
It’s not my fault that I got interested in birding; I just happened to attend a bird walk. The fascination just happens, from the leader’s explanation of bird patterns or behavior, or even other attendees on the walk, who point out neat details or ask great questions. To me, bird walks transform an ordinary landscape into the extraordinary by tuning my eye into things that I was missing, in plain sight.
This Sunday, January 10 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center, Mohonk Preserve director of education Kathy Ambrosini leads “Winter Wings: Birding for Children,” free for ages 5 and up. Learn how birds adapt to winter, how to use your binoculars, noticing field marks or flight patterns to identify birds and more. By the end of the walk, your family will feel reignited about your birdfeeders at home, noticing the species that come to visit. You may bring your own binoculars, or borrow some during the walk.
Also this week, homeschoolers may wish to make a note of “All About Owls,” a class for ages 9 to 11 taking place on Thursday, January 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at a cost of $10 per person, or $8 per person for Mohonk Preserve members. Both of these events are open to the public, but registration is required.
The Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center is located at 3197 Route 44/55 in Gardiner. For more information or to register, call (845) 255-0919 or visit https://mohonkpreserve.org/events.
MONDAY, JANUARY 11
“Teen Visions ‘16” opens at Vassar’s Palmer Gallery
What’s in the hearts and minds of today’s youth? You can get a taste of the talents of the next generation at “Teen Visions ‘16” at the James W. Palmer III Gallery at Vassar College. Not just any exhibition, this is a juried show of more than 60 paintings, photographs and drawings from youth at over 30 regional high schools. This selection was drawn from over 1,750 submitted pieces, and chosen based on artistic statement, vision and visual acuity as well as individual accomplishment. All of the students participated in the Art Institute of Mill Street Loft’s summer Art Intensive Program.
The works are displayed from Monday, January 11 through Tuesday, January 26, with an opening reception scheduled for Thursday, January 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the gallery. The Palmer Gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., but calling ahead is recommended. Vassar College is located at 124 Raymond Avenue in Poughkeepsie. For more information, call (845) 437-5370 or visit www.vassar.edu. To learn more about the youth art program, visit https://millstreetloft.org.
Nurturing techniques for early grades at Rhinebeck’s Primrose Hill School
Do you have a 6-to-10-year-old? Do you wish you could learn more ways to support him or her in school? On Monday, January 11 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., the Primrose Hill School presents “Nurturing Your Child through the Early Grades,” a presentation by Elizabeth Frishkoff, MSW and certified HANDLE specialist. Parents will learn tools for simple nurturing techniques that they can use immediately in the home through demonstrations and interactive elements during the session. This program is open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.
The Primrose Hill School is located at 6571 Spring Brook Avenue in Rhinebeck. For more information, call (845) 876-1226 or visit https://primrosehillschool.com.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13
Learn “story medicine” at Rhinebeck’s Izlind Wellness Center
It’s a dark time of year. How about some master storytelling to enrich your family’s spirits? On Wednesday, January 13 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Izlind Integrative Wellness Center, join story-weaver Phoenix Rising Kawamoto for a dose of story medicine. It’s early enough that you can make it work on a weeknight. Admission costs $20, and children get in free. You may register, but drop-ins are welcome.
The Izlind Integrative Wellness Center is located at 6369 Mill Street (Route 9), Suite 101, in Rhinebeck. For reservations or more information, call (845) 516-4713 or visit www.izlind.com/events.
Author Chris Grabenstein reads at Oblong Books in Rhinebeck
“A library doesn’t need windows, Andrew. We have books, which are windows into worlds we never even dreamed possible,” writes Chris Grabenstein in Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. Been waiting for the sequel? It’s here! On Wednesday, January 13 at 4:30 p.m. at Oblong Books & Music, you and your kids can hang out with Grabenstein as he talks about his puzzle-packed book, Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics. This event is free and open to the public, and it’s likely of most interest to middle-grade readers, ages 8 to 12 years.
Oblong Books & Music is located at 6422 Montgomery Street in Rhinebeck. For more information, call (845) 876-0500 or visit www.oblongbooks.com/event/chris-grabenstein-mr-lemoncellos-library-olympics. To learn more about the author, visit www.chrisgrabenstein.com.
Erica Chase-Salerno is currently obsessing about dark chocolate mint hot cocoa. She and her husband, Mike, live in New Paltz with their two children: the inspirations behind hudsonvalleyparents.com. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
