“Didn’t we do this yesterday?”
– Groundhog Day, the movie
Superbowl for soup kitchens
Inviting anyone over for the Big Game this Sunday? While you’re munching snacks and cheering for the cats or horses to score big with the pigskin, why not help a local food bank or soup kitchen at the same time? This weekend, ask football guests to bring nonperishable food items or toiletries to donate to the Caring Hands food pantry at 122 Clinton Avenue in Kingston; People’s Place food pantry at 17 St. James Street in Kingston; or food, metal forks or coffee mugs to give to Dutchess Outreach at 29 North Hamilton Street in Poughkeepsie for its food pantry or soup kitchen. Your donations are essential, especially this time of year after the holidays, and every bit helps.
Visit www.facebook.com/caringhands.soupkitchen.3, www.peoplesplacekingston.org or www.dutchessoutreach.org to learn more about these organizations.
Register now for Summer Youth Workshop at Byrdcliffe Theater
Seasoned parents know that it’s not only winter right now, but also summer camp registration time! And if you have a budding thespian in the family, you will want to check out the Voice Theatre Summer Youth Workshop at the Byrdcliffe Theater. Youth spend the day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. playing theater games, practicing the speaking voice, exploring movement, doing improv and more, concluding with an open presentation at the end of the week.
The camps run in an air-conditioned space from Monday to Friday, July 11 to 15, with a rehearsal on Saturday, July 16 and a presentation on Sunday, July 17; and Monday to Friday, July 18 to 22, with a rehearsal on Saturday, July 23 and a presentation on Sunday, July 24. Students may enroll in one or both weeks, and participants work in one of two groups based on age: 9 to 12 years or 13 to 17 years.
Tuition costs $290 for one week or $580 for both weeks. Discounts are available for registered siblings and early-bird registration, before May 1. Full scholarships are available for Ulster County residents!
The Byrdcliffe Theater is located at 380 Upper Byrdcliffe Road in Woodstock. For more information or to register, call (845) 679-0154 or visit https://voicetheatre.org/summer-youth-workshops.
Local youths make good!
You cheered on Chad from Poughkeepsie on MasterChef Junior this fall, and now I have two more opportunities for you to root for area youth in the spotlight! Good luck to Tyrell Simon, age 8, and Eric Reyes, age 11, from the Hook Elite Boxing Club in Newburgh, as they head to the Silver Glove Nationals in Missouri this week. This afterschool boxing program is just one example of the amazing opportunities happening for kids in Newburgh. Tax-deductible donations for the boys’ travel are welcomed, and may be sent to the Ebenezer Baptist Church at 80 First Street in Newburgh or by calling (845) 857-0162.
And congratulations to Lee Reh, age 15, and Rah-mene McDuffie, age 13, a/k/a the Young Noble Gentlemen, for winning first place in Above the Influence’s Teens Make Music songwriting competition with their song, “Fight,” about resisting substance abuse. You can see the duo this Wednesday, February 3 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the John A. Howe Library, located at 105 Schuyler Street in Albany. To check out their great song, or to donate toward their travel expenses to attend this year’s Grammy Awards, which was part of their winning prize package, visit www.facebook.com/youngnoblegentlemen.
Make glassware or paintings together for Valentine’s Day at Tuthilltown Spirits
Looking for a fun and romantic outing for Valentine’s Day? How about making art together? You could join Be Studios for a Creative Couples session on Saturday, February 6 from 3 to 5 p.m. creating his-and-hers glassware, along with enjoying a glass of beer or wine and touring Tuthilltown’s distillery. The cost is $50 per couple. Tuthilltown Spirits is located at 14 Gristmill Lane in Gardiner. For reservations, more information or additional events such as Creative Family, call (845) 218-0014 or visit www.bestudios.community.
Or you could attend Vine Van Gogh’s GOGH Together Sip and Paint at Novella’s on Sunday, February 14 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., including a buffet dinner, supplies for painting two canvases, a rose and chocolates. The cost is $175 per couple. Novella’s is located at 2 Terwilliger Lane in New Paltz. For reservations, more information or additional events, call (845) 675-1217 or visit https://vinevangogh.com.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Science Olympiad regional competition at SUNY-Ulster
Wonder where our future Shirley Ann Jacksons, Bill Nyes and Neil deGrasse Tysons will come from? Science Olympiads! On Saturday, February 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at SUNY-Ulster, 28 teams of students from 21 schools will compete in 25 events in the New York Mid-Hudson Regional Division C Competition, with the top four teams moving up to the state Science Olympiad. The hands-on, interactive competitions include Air Trajectory, Disease Detectives, Protein Modeling, my favorite: Game-On Computer Science and more, including a return of the Robot Arm and Optics categories! Most of the events take place in the Senate Gymnasium, and all are open to the public, including the awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m. in the Quimby Theater.
SUNY-Ulster is located at 491 Cottekill Road in Stone Ridge. For more information, call (845) 687-5181 or e-mail goodellk@sunyulster.edu.
Upstate Films Woodstock screens Jack of the Red Hearts
Actor Will Smith says, “Diversity is the American superpower. That’s why we’re great.” But our movies can leave people feeling marginalized when they don’t feel represented or seen onscreen. So when I hear about a movie like Jack of the Red Hearts, which features a character with autism, I want to spread the word!
Jack of the Red Hearts shows at Upstate Films Woodstock on Saturday, February 6 at 2 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session with the director, Janet Grillo, who has a son with autism. Tickets cost $10.
Upstate Films is located at 132 Tinker Street in Woodstock. For tickets or more information, visit ulsterpub.staging.wpenginefilmfestival.com/events/jack.php; to learn more about the film, visit www.jackoftheredhearts.com.
Ice Harvest Festival at Hanford Mills Museum
The Hanford Mills Museum Ice Harvest Festival, happening this Saturday, February 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is “a day of winter fun and hands-on history.” Whether your kids love ice man Kristoff and his reindeer Sven from the movie Frozen, or they want to try some hard physical labor, they’ll jump at the chance to participate in an actual ice harvest using historic tools. The Festival also includes ice-carving, ice fishing, horsedrawn sleighrides, blacksmithing, food and more.
Admission costs $9 for adults and teens, $7 for seniors and is free for children aged 12 and under. Those living in zip codes 13757, 13739, 13786, 13750 and 13806 neighboring Hanford Mills also receive free admission.
The Hanford Mills Museum is located at 51 County Highway 12 in East Meredith. For more information, call (607) 278-5744 or visit www.hanfordmills.org.
Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck presents Super Circus Stuff with Lisa Lou
Looking for something fun and engaging to do with the kids that you’ll get a kick out of, too? Come to Super Circus Stuff with Lisa Lou at the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck this Saturday, February 6 at 11 a.m. Lisa’s one-person show includes juggling, balancing, plate-spinning, magic and more, along with lots of audience participation. Tickets cost $7 for children and $9 for adults and seniors.
The Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck is located at 661 Route 308 in Rhinebeck. For tickets or more information, call (845) 876-3080 or visit https://centerforperformingarts.org. To learn more about the performer, visit www.lisalou.com.
Hudson River EagleFest at Croton Point Park
When was the last time you had the privilege of gazing upon a bald eagle majestically soaring through the sky? How about your kids? Well, you can immerse yourselves in all things eagle at Teatown’s Hudson River EagleFest this Saturday, February 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Croton Point Park. Admission to the EagleFest includes all activities at the park, such as the animal shows, children’s tent, live music and more. For additional eagle enjoyment, join the three-lookout-stop bus tour for an extra $25 for ages 14 and up. Tickets to EagleFest cost $15 for adults 12 and over, $10 for children ages 6 to 11 and are free for kids age 5 and under.
Croton Point Park is located at 1A Croton Point Avenue in Croton-on-Hudson. For tickets or more information, call (914) 762-2912, extension 110, or visit www.teatown.org/teatown-events/eaglefest.html.
Take Your Child to the Library Day activities around the region
Did you know that there’s a special term for “free or cheap and fun and engaging for kids right here in the community”? It’s called “Take Your Child to the Library.” And while it’s available to us year-round, this Saturday, February 6 is officially the fifth annual Take Your Child to the Library Day, and so many libraries in the US, Canada and beyond are celebrating with special activities and events for kids and families. Here are just a few around here:
The NorthEast-Millerton Library at 75 Main Street in Millerton invites you to come in your pajamas and enjoy some cocoa while watching a 2 p.m. screening of Pixar shorts.
The Marlboro Library at 1251 Route 9W in Marlboro will be showing a “popular icy-cold winter film,” and children are encouraged to come in costume.
The Plattekill Public Library at 2047 State Route 32 in Modena plans special storytimes with crafts, a reading therapy dog, activities, snacks and more, all between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Grinnell Public Library at 2642 East Main Street in Wappingers Falls will give each child a bookmark, pencil and coloring sheet between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., and a library cardholder for children ages 7 and up who register for a library card or bring theirs with them.
To learn more, visit www.takeyourchildtothelibrary.org, or simply head over to your local library.
Winterfest in Wurtsboro
Winterfest 2016 in Wurtsboro is a way to celebrate the season before the February doldrums creep in. The festivities take place on Saturday, February 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include an ice-carving demonstration at Veterans’ Park; ice-carving displays along Sullivan Street; a live bird show by Ravensbeard at the Community Church’s Fellowship Hall at 1 p.m.; a chili contest at the Wurtsboro Firehouse from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; a treasure hunt at area businesses and more. For more information, visit www.wurtsboro.org.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Free MUSET concert in Lake Katrine
Have you heard about MUSET? It’s a local, multigenerational ensemble of homeschooled children and their families, located in Ulster County. Treat yourself to their “Mozart, Mendelssohn and More” concert this Sunday, February 7 at 7:15 p.m. at 71 Old Kings Highway in Lake Katrine. The concert is free and open to the public of all ages, but donations to support MUSET and use of the building are welcomed. Refreshments and mingling will follow the performance. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/1105272942836774.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Kim & Reggie Harris perform at Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz
Clear your calendars and take your family out for “Songs of Joy, Hope and Freedom!” In honor of Black History Month, Historic Huguenot Street presents Kim & Reggie Harris for an evening of dynamic music and storytelling this Thursday, February 11 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Crispell Memorial French Church. And get this: Buy your tickets in advance and you’ll be able to attend the free meet-and-greet at 6:15 p.m. with Kim and Reggie before the concert!
Tickets cost $15 for general admission, $12 for seniors and military and $10 for Historic Huguenot Street members. The Crispell Memorial French Church is located at 60 Huguenot Street in New Paltz. For tickets or more information, call (845) 255-1660 or visit www.huguenotstreet.org. To learn more about the performers, visit www.kimandreggie.com.
Erica Chase-Salerno can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
