“I have only to break into the tightness of a strawberry, and I see summer –
its dust and lowering skies.”
– Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye
See Willy Wonka on Bannerman’s Island
How about a special movie outing this weekend? With kids and family who are all about staying up late? You’ve got it! This Saturday, June 23 at 8 p.m., not only can you treat your crew to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder version), but you can do it on Bannerman’s Island! $40 includes each guest’s boat ride over and back, a self-guided tour and the movie!
Whether you’re a regular or you want to go for your first visit, this is sure to be a crowdpleaser, and you can finally stop that nagging voice in your head reminding you to get over there every time you see it from the train or the road. Get your tickets online, and board the boat at 2 Red Flynn Road in Beacon, between the riverfront and the Beacon train station. For tickets or more information about this or Bannerman’s many other excellent events, call (855) 256-4007 or visit www.bannermancastle.org.
Boatbuilding Challenge and Brightwork Makers’ Festival on Rondout
Four reasons to go to Brightwork: A Makers’ Festival: 1. It’s free! 2. Watch the National Boatbuilding Challenge! 3. Stroll the scenic Rondout waterfront! 4. Celebrate our area’s tradition of being Makers!
This Saturday, June 23 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, June 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. you and your family can create, witness innovation and get inspired at the Hudson River Maritime Museum. On Saturday, you can watch teams of two compete to build a boat from scratch in just four hours, and then compete in a rowing race on the Rondout! Held only on Saturday, June 23, 2018, this thrilling competition draws national and local competitors alike and the 4:00 PM rowing race is the highlight of Saturday’s events.
Both days, engage in a variety of free children’s activities, enjoy lots of inventive vendors and special admission discounts at the Museum! For instance, you can take a tour of the Rondout Lighthouse; borrow a pole and catch fish with the Hudson River Fishermen’s Association; partake in the rowing machine races; touch a fish with educators from the Clearwater; build a miniature boat; decorate a sailor’s hat or mask; take part in an outdoor scavenger hunt and much more.
The Hudson River Maritime Museum is located at 50 Rondout Landing in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 338-0071 or visit www.hrmm.org/brightwork.html or www.facebook.com/brightworkfestival.
Rosendale Theatre presents Aesop Bops
Aesop Bops is coming to town! Think interactive storytime and music with a great beat! Aesop Bops performs this Saturday, June 25 at 5 p.m. at the Rosendale Theatre. This live show of musical and fable storytelling of The Lion and the Mouse and The Fisherman and His Wife lasts for one hour, is fun for all ages and makes for a great evening out for the whole family. Admission costs $10 for adults, $8 for kids and members.
The Rosendale Theatre is located at 408 Main Street in Rosendale. For more information, call (845) 658-8989 or visit www.rosendaletheatre.org/category/kids. To check out Aesop Bops for yourselves, visit www.davidgonzalez.com/shows/aesop-bops.
Free Fishing Day
Which fish can perform operations? A sturgeon!
I’ve been herring rumors around town that this is a New York State Free Fishing Day Weekend. Never caught a fish before? Well, any fin is possible if you don’t trout yourself! (Not bad, but cod do batter, right?) Get your hook, line and sinker ready for this Saturday and Sunday, June 23 and 24, and learn to fish, or teach someone you reely love to fish, no license required. Take advantage of the free weekend and free clinics while the opportuna-ty is available by checking www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/89821.html. Don’t be koi; bring along a few fish puns of your own – don’t leave it to salmon else!
BioBlitz in Ghent
You know the traditional guessing game that starts out with Animal, Vegetable or Mineral? Well, check out the Siegel/Kline Kill BioBlitz: It’s like an hourly nature scavenger hunt for Birds; Fish, Stream Invertebrates and Herbaceous Plants; Fungi, Reptiles and Amphibians; and Insects and Woody Plants. And it’s free! Catch a tour or two, or come to them all. Plus, kids’ activities take place from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
Register and join in on the experience at Siegel/Kline Kill Conservation Area, located at 1495 Church Street in Ghent. To register or for more information, call (518) 392-5252 or visit https://clctrust.org/event/siegel-kline-kill-bioblitz.
Family Fun Balancing Day in Beacon
Yes, Virginia, there is an Opposite Day! Because all of the things that families traditionally discourage doing at home are in fact happening, and even being taught to parents and children this weekend! On Sunday, June 24 from 1 to 4 p.m., the Howland Cultural Center presents Family Fun Balancing Day. We’re talking balancing each other, balancing objects, juggling, walking a tightwire and rolling a globe. Admission is so low that you can pay for whatever Ace bandage or icepack you’ll need afterwards: free for kids with adults, $5 for adults.
The Howland Cultural Center is located at 477 Main Street in Beacon, across the street from dedicated gluten-free bakery Ella’s Bellas and down the street from gluten-filled Glazed Over Donuts. For more information about this and other cool circus-themed events this season, call (845) 831-4988 or visit www.howlandculturalcenter.org.
Finding food when school’s out
With so many of our community’s children relying on school for food, the end of the academic year can be nutritionally devastating to young bodies. Here are two resources to share to help get the word out to area families:
Bag Summer Hunger is a weekly pickup of breakfast and lunch items for school-aged children from June 25 through August 31. Open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesdays 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Child’s proof of residency required. People’s Place at 17 St. James Street in Kingston; (845) 338-4030; www.peoplesplacekingston.org.
Tiny Food Pantry #3 joins a small group of local cupboards filled with nonperishables so that people who could use them can take what they like. Tiny Food Pantry #3 is established at the Wappingers Falls United Methodist Church at 9 South Mesier Avenue in Wappingers Falls; (212) 345-5437; www.fareground.org.
Erica Chase-Salerno is ecstatic that, after two years, she inhaled her first very own, homegrown beach-rose bloom in her backyard this week. She can be reached at kidsalmanac@ulsterpublishing.com.
Join the family! 
