APRIL 7 AUDITION PREP WORKSHOPS 

This workshop focuses on every element of a performance from walking into the room, introductions, song delivery, and more! This program will focus on performance delivery not only from the vocal perspective, but as a musical theater triple threat. Registration available online. 

2 p.m.–3:30 p.m. 

OFC Creations Theatre Center 

3450 Winton Place, Rochester 

667-0954 

ofccreations.com

APRIL 15 PJ STORYTIME 

Wear some pajamas and bring a stuffed animal to the Children’s Room for some bedtime stories. This event will provide an evening of stories, songs, and dance. The program designed for toddlers and preschoolers but all ages are welcome. 

6:30 p.m.–7 p.m. 

Fairport Public Library Children’s Room 

1 Fairport Village Landing, Fairport 

223-9091 

fairportlibrary.org 

APRIL 21 OUR PLANET, OUR HOME 

Celebrate Earth Day with Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra: OrKIDStra series. Enjoy free preconcert activities and experience the musical majesty of Earth. Learn about the beauty of the planet and how to appreciate the responsibilities of caring for Earth. Activities begin an hour before the performance. 

2 p.m.–3:30 p.m. 

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Hochstein Performance Hall 

454-2100 

rpo.org

MAY 1 SESAME STREET LIVE! SAY HELLO 

Say hello to Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and other residents of Sesame Street. This program will have sing-alongs, dancing, and a photo experience with all Sesame Street characters. Tickets available online. 

6 p.m. 

Kodak Center 

200 West Ridge Road, Rochester 

254-0181

kodakcenter.com 

MAY 4 HIDDEN VALLEY ANIMAL ADVENTURE OPENING DAY 

Visitors can enjoy a self-guided drive-through adventure or a guided bus tour. This one-of-a-kind safari park boasts more than 350 animals of thirty-five different species. There is also a small animal walkthrough adventure. 

Hidden Valley Animal Adventure 

2887 Royce Rd., Varysburg 

535-4100 

hiddenvalleyadventure.com 

CLEAN SWEEP SATURDAY 

Volunteers will gather for a light breakfast before heading out to project sites in Rochester neighborhoods to clean up winter debris and litter. Hidden Valley Animal Adventure 

9 a.m. 

Innovative Field 

One Morrie Silver Way 

428-5990 

cityofrochester.gov/cleansweep 

MAY 9 LEGO CLUB 

Enjoy a night of creating Lego creations with other fellow builders. All ages are welcome. Registration opens April 11. 

6:30 p.m.–7:15 p.m.

Ogden Farmers’ Library 

269 Ogden Center Rd., Spencerport 

617-6181 

ogdenlibrary.com 

MAY 10 ROCHESTER LILAC FESTIVAL 

It’s year 126 of Rochester’s famous Lilac Festival. May 10 will kick off ten days of fun with back-to-back events. Admire the incredible gardens, indulge in festival food, and get involved in some of the many events of the largest free festival of its kind in North America. 

Through May 19 

Highland Park 

180 Reservoir Ave. 

473-4482 

roclilacfest.com 

MAY 11 MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH TRAIN RIDE Celebrate Mom with a relaxing ride on the railroad. Enjoy a delicious brunch by Catered Creations at Currier’s Station. 

Also May 12 

Departure at 11 a.m. 

Arcade & Attica Railroad 

278 Main St., Arcade 

492-3100 

aaraildroad.com 

MAY 12 MOTHER’S DAY AT GENESEE COUNTRY VILLAGE & MUSEUM Celebrate Mother’s Day in the historic village and learn about a day in the life of a nineteenth-century mother. Enjoy brunch with meals made in the museum Meeting Center dining room. Mother’s Day admission and brunch are separate tickets. 

10 a.m.–4 p.m. 

Genesee Country Village & Museum 

1410 Flint Hill Road, Mumford 

538-6822 

gvc.org

The sandhill cranes at the Seneca Park Zoo; photos courtesy Seneca Park Zoo

Standing between three and five feet tall with a wingspan of almost seven feet wide is the sandhill crane. Sandhill cranes are a grayish-brown color except for their foreheads and around their bright red eyes. These cranes, found all over North America, are just one of fifteen species of crane in the world. 

A fun fact about cranes is that they mate for life, meaning Seneca Park Zoo’s sandhill cranes, Niles and Rizzo, will be together for the rest of their days. 

Niles, the male crane, is nine years old and has been living at the zoo for almost five years. Although Rizzo has only been at the zoo for two years, she is a lot older than Niles. In fact, Rizzo is nineteen years old, which is pretty amazing because the average age for sandhill cranes is between fifteen and twenty years old. Seneca Park zoologist Brian Sheets says that Rizzo shows no signs of slowing down and will live for another ten years. 

Though these two birds are a couple, they have completely opposite personalities. 

“Rizzo is very outgoing and trusting compared to Niles. With almost all wild animals, you can’t quite get that complete trust factor, it’s just their survival instinct,” Sheets says. “Niles has been pretty standoffish since we’ve got him. Miles never really trusted us, but he has improved. He comes closer to us now because [Rizzo] showed him the way.” 

Sheets says they don’t know where Rizzo came from before arriving at the zoo. He thinks she must have been injured at a very young age, allowing her to imprint on humans earlier. Imprint is just another word for forming a close bond or connection with someone. Regardless of where Rizzo came from, Sheets says she was great in a summer program hosted by the zoo where families could get up close to Rizzo and watch her eat bugs out of piles of straw. 

Generally, cranes can be found all over North America in marshy areas where they can walk along shallow water to hunt fish, snails, and other small creatures. Cranes are omnivores meaning they eat plants and animals. Rizzo and Niles eat small frogs, grain, berries, and whatever insects they can find. 

Sheets says cranes typically stop in Platte River, Nebraska when they migrate and sometimes there are almost half a million of them on one stretch of river. The Platte River is covered in sand hills, which is where these cranes get their name from. Sadly, Rizzo and Niles cannot migrate or fly like other sandhill cranes because they could hurt themselves. 

Birds have hollow bones, so once they break a bone that bone will never heal. When a wild bird breaks a bone, life in the wild becomes extremely hard—that’s why rescue centers like Seneca Park Zoo are so important. Rescue centers and zoos give injured birds and other animals a second chance at life. 

“We don’t know what their injuries are, but we do trim their feathers; at least we trim Niles's, who can fly a short distance. He’s flown over into the sea lions pool a few times, we had to go and retrieve him,” Sheets says. As a substitute for migration, when it gets cold, the zoo keeps the pair in a heated indoor space with a couple of windows. After a few of days of being indoors, Sheets says they will turn down the heat so the birds can start to adjust to colder temperatures. Once they’ve adjusted, the birds can return to their outdoor enclosure to stretch their legs.

“They’re fairly easy to deal with because we can go in [their cages]. It’s easier to influence them to move around or give them something to do or talk about them to the public because they are right there with us and can’t really hurt us,” Sheets says. 

For the crane enclosure, the zoo created a smaller version of where cranes would usually be found in the wild. It’s a big stretch of land surrounded by a moat of water to keep the cranes from visiting the sea lions. The zoo also built wallows of mud for the cranes to have that marshy area but then the island also gives them the option of dry land surrounded by trees. 

“Sometimes we give them live fish, but they usually just kill them,” Sheets says. “They have a nice space though it’s more than enough for the two of them.” 

As the weather starts to get warmer, you’ll be able to get a better view of all the animals who enjoy warmer weather. So plan a day in the spring time to go see Rizzo and Niles in their little home at Seneca Park Zoo. 

Photos provided

STUDENTS GALLOP INTO SUMMER 

Painted Bar Stables and Osmote Wine will collaborate on an event to celebrate the end of the school year and get kids outside, interacting with animals. 

End of School Pony Rides will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 28 at Osmote Wine in Burdett—a scenic property overlooking Seneca Lake. This event will be open to children of all ages, although those too young to balance on the ponies will spend the time meeting, sitting on, and taking photos with the animals instead of riding. 

At least one full-size horse will also be onsite for older children and adults to ride. Rides will take place in a temporary ropefence arena on the grass, and there will be live music and a food truck. 

“While the little ones are off enjoying activities like horseback riding and live music, parents can kick back with a nice glass of wine and take in the beautiful lake view. It’s a win-win—everyone gets to have a great time in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere,” says Osmote owner and head winemaker Ben Riccardi. 

Erika Eckstrom, owner of Painted Bar Stables, is excited to use the horses to help kids develop a connection with the natural beauty of the vineyards and an active, outdoors environment.

Rides start at $15, and packages will likely be available for multiple rides. osmotewine.com/events/event-threezdcmp

YOUNG STARS SHINE 

For the past ten years, OFC Creations Theatre Center has been offering summer theater camps for local kids as young as four years old. 

This summer, camps will take place at two locations: the OFC campus in Brighton and at Kodak Center in Rochester. Campers will perform a total of twenty-two musicals/plays during the season—everything from The Frog and the Princess for ages four to seven in July to The Wedding Singer for ages thirteen to eighteen in July and August. 

“Theatre is so important for development at any age. Being onstage and portraying another character allows you to escape reality for a moment and discover more about yourself,” says Kaitlyn Baldwin, marketing manager at OFC. “It brings the community together and makes our next generation stronger.” 

Kids also build important skills like public speaking, confidence, and teamwork, she adds.

Parents can take advantage of before and after-care opportunities for campers between eight and eighteen years old who need to be dropped off early or stay late, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Activities will include arts and crafts, watching movies, and playing games. ofccreations.com

DINOSAURS ROAR INTO TOWN 

Kids are often be reminded of their size and limitations within their environments, which could be why so many are fascinated by dinosaurs— majestic, powerful, and immense creatures that easily inspire awe. 

Dinosaur World Live will bring the wonder and power of a long-ago era to the Kodak Center stage on April 23 at 6 p.m. with a family-friendly, interactive show. The audience will follow brave explorers through the Jurassic period as they encounter incredibly lifelike dinosaurs— brought to the stage using skilled puppetry—like the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Giraffatitan, Microraptor, and Segnosaurus. 

The show is recommended for kids at least three years old, and there will be a chance to meet the explorers and dinosaurs after the show. kodakcenter.com/events/2024/dinosaur-world-live

OGRE THE MOON 

Everyone’s favorite green ogre will visit the West Herr Auditorium Theatre on May 11 and 12 with Shrek the Musical, the Tony Award–winning adaptation of the popular film franchise. 

The musical introduces the ogre, at peace in his quiet swamp, as his home is suddenly overrun with exiled fairytale creatures. Upset with the interruption and persuaded to assist them in regaining their homes, Shrek embarks on a journey with a chatty donkey to find Lord Farquaad, responsible for the exile, and demand their removal. The musical incorporates elements of the first Shrek film, as well as Shrek 2, Shrek Forever After and William Steig’s 1990 book Shrek! rbtl.org/events/shrek

Global warming. Air pollution. Microplastics. 

These are some of the issues thrown around about the environmental problems the earth is facing. While it is educational to learn about these issues, what can be done about them? 

Ask the Rochester Youth Climate Leaders (RYCL)! 

“Anytime there is an opportunity for action involved in climate change, it can feel so forced,” says Dorothy Leasure, a sophomore at the Walden Project in Naples. But RYCL off ers reachable actions to “empower people to create connections and a positive outward rippling effect for our environment.” 

After the first Youth Climate Summit was hosted at the Harley School in 2015, teens from schools throughout Monroe County wanted to continue their discussions about climate action with like-minded students. Hence, RYCL was born. 

“Something I love about RYCL is how truly youth-driven it is,” says Lizzie Stewart, a senior at Brighton High School. “RYCL provides us with a safe and supportive space to practice our leadership skills and experience the gratification that comes from seeing our efforts make an impact, no matter how big or small.” 

And RYCL is very action-driven. Kids participate in educational summits, climate rallies, and tabling events. In September 2023, they marched through Rochester to remind city leaders and corporations like RG&E that changes need to happen. 

“The youth of today have been repeatedly shown that our leaders and those we are supposed to trust are not going to fix this crisis,” says Juliet Besch-Turner, a freshman at the Walden Project. “We will have to suffer more of the consequences of our successors’ actions and inaction.” 

“We won’t get anywhere if we keep assuming our individual carbon footprints are negligible,” adds Jayden Vogler, a senior at Brighton High School who plans to study atmospheric science at Cornell University in the fall. 

Ivy Bergin, a senior at Brighton High School, agrees. “I believe that RYCL’s efforts towards spreading awareness and endorsing climate-optimal legislation has expanded our community’s knowledge of the climate crisis and planted the seeds for greater change.” 

One of RYCL’s recent focuses has been to pass the New York Home Energy Affordable Transition Act (NY HEAT Act). This would ensure that state regulation of gas utilities follows the emission reduction mandates in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. On January 23, group members attended a rally and lobby event in Albany to push this agenda.

“RYCL engages at a local and state level to push for the change that needs to happen,” says Besch-Turner. “I do what I do with RYCL because I believe it benefits myself, my community, and the world at large.” 

One of the biggest threats these teens see for our earth is overconsumption. “Rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, and stronger storms are becoming more impactful,” says Vogler. “It is inexcusable to continue investing money and power into such unsustainable causes, whether it be fossil fuels or consumerism.” 

“I believe that we should all do our part to ethically-source our food, clothing, resources, and other goods,” adds Bergin. “Through understanding where our belongings come from, we gain greater compassion for our fellow humans and understanding of our power to influence the world.” 

Many RYCL members joined because of their concern for the earth or their affiliations with their schools’ climate clubs, but they have stayed for the camaraderie and connection to teens from outside their own neighborhoods. 

“I can connect with fellow [youth] leaders in the Rochester area to better understand local climate news as well as generate ideas for projects and interschool collaborations,” says Stewart. 

“RYCL has given me the opportunity to connect with smart and like-minded teenagers who are committed to making a difference,” says Bergin. “Being around such kind, fun, and admirable teenagers has been very empowering.” 

Besch-Turner adds, “Being a part of the change I so badly want to see brings me a further feeling of peace, purpose, and community in such an uncertain world.” 

If you would like to get involved with RYCL (585rycl.org), the group meets every other Saturday at Rochester’s Equal Grounds Coffee House (750 South Ave.) at 6:30 p.m. “It’s not the kind of thing you need to bring a friend to,” Bergin says. Veteran members warmly welcome any newcomers, so don’t be shy! 

You can also contact the group through Instagram (@rocyouthclimateleaders) or email [email protected] for more information. 

“I don’t think it’s fair that kids have to lead this movement,” says Besch-Turner, “but I do think that we have such a powerful voice right now, and that we need to use that voice to make change happen.”

>>>>>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PDF IMAGE

What a glorious time of year! Spring is here and the sunny days are abundant. This is when I spend my free time preparing my garden and taking long walks with my family. Like Terri Ercole suggests in this issue’s “Mindfulness moments” article (page 20), I take in my surroundings with every sense. I taste the fresh herbs that are sprouting, smell the flowers that are blooming, listen to the birds sing, watch the clouds drift across the sky, and feel the freshly turned earth in my hands.

In this issue we celebrate the season with a detailed listing of area summer camps and activities for children and teens. We also have crafts, book suggestions, summer safety tips, and much more. Happy spring! 

—Christine Green, Managing Editor

The Monroe County Library System is an official Rochester Museum and Science Center Community Eclipse Ambassador! Reach out to your local libraries or visit calendar.libraryweb.org to learn what space-related programs they’re offering this spring. In the meantime, check out some of these books for facts and stories about the space that surrounds us. 

PICTURE BOOKS & EARLY READERS 

Eclipse 

By Andy Rash 

Scholastic, 2023 

A boy and his dad travel to the path of totality to view the 2017 solar eclipse in Illinois.

Ellen Takes Flight: The Life of Astronaut Ellen Ochoa 

By Doreen Rappaport & Oliver Dominguez 

Little, Brown, 2023 

A biography about the first Latina astronaut to go into space.

How to Eat in Space 

By Helen Taylor & Stevie Lewis 

Little, Brown, 2023 

Humorous but true facts about eating in zero gravity with extra pics of real astronauts.

The Moon Tonight: Our Moon’s Journey Around the Earth 

By Jung Changhoon & Jang Ho 

Blue Dot, 2023 

A girl tracks the moon throughout the month and explains the lunar calendar.

Thank You, Moon: Celebrating Nature’s Nightlight 

By Melissa Stewart & Jessica Lanan 

Knopf, 2023 

Moon is thanked for many ways it helps life on Earth.

To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights 

By Angela Dalton & Lauren Semmer 

Harper, 2023 

A biography about the woman who played Lieutenant Uhura on the original Star Trek TV series.

MIDDLE GRADE 

Farther Than the Moon 

By Lindsay Lackey 

Roaring Brook, 2023 

Houston is accepted into astronaut camp and hopes to find a way to bring his brother with cerebral palsy into space. 

Grace Needs Space! 

By Benjamin A. Wilgus & Rii Abrego 

Random House, 2023 

A girl who lives on a space station is excited to travel to a moon.

The Most Exciting Book of Science, Inventions, & Space Ever 

By Claire Watts, Jilly MacLeod, Carole Stott, Richard Walker, Lisa Swerling, and Ralph Lazar 

DK, 2023 

This heavily illustrated nonfiction book has a large section called “Intergalactic Guide to Space.”

Oliver’s Great Big Universe 

By Jorge Cham 

Amulet, 2023 Oliver wants to be an astrophysicist, but first he must survive middle school.

Where are the Aliens? The Search for Life Beyond Earth 

By Stacy McAnulty & Nicole Miles 

Little, Brown, 2023 

A nonfiction chapter book with spot illustrations about the possibilities of extraterrestrial life.

YOUNG ADULT 

Meet Me in the Fourth Dimension 

By Rita Feinstein 

Page Street, 2024 

Crosby fears the passing of a rogue planet will kill everyone who doesn’t ascend to the fourth dimension.

A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the Stars 

By Hakeem Oluseyi & Joshua Horwitz 

Delacorte, 2023 

A memoir about a poor boy with a mega-high IQ who became a renowned astrophysicist.

Star Wars: The High Republic— Defy the Storm 

By Justina Ireland & Tessa Gratton 

Disney, March 2024 

A Jedi Knight and scientist team up to save innocent beings from an overtaken zone of space.

Stars, Hide Your Fires 

By Jessica Mary Best 

Quirk, 2023 

Cass sneaks onto an imperial palace space station to steal a fortune from an emperor who turns up dead.

Planning to feed your family when you’re out of town, working in the evening, or simply unavailable for dinnertime can add a layer to stress to already busy parents and caregivers. If you search on Pinterest or Google for ideas, there are plenty. However, many of them are crockpot meals. While I love a crockpot dinner, they typically require prep time four to six hours before, which not everyone has. They also don’t work if you’re going to be out of town for several days. Here, I offer several meal tips and tricks that work well for my family. 

One way to incorporate a crockpot meal is to plan it for the day you leave. Alternatively, you could plan it for the day you return—freeze and have your caregiver throw it in the slow cooker before they leave. Dinner is ready when you arrive home! 

Plan for food that can work for more than one meal. A rotisserie chicken can be served with salad, roasted veggies, or a pasta salad one night. The leftover chicken can then be used in quesadillas, chicken salad sandwiches, or atop a green salad another night or in lunches. 

Plan for takeout one night or buy a frozen pizza and a bagged salad kit for a more cost-effective option. This is a great way for older kids to help prepare dinner. It’s also a simple meal for a caregiver to make while carting kids to and from activities. 

Don’t forget about breakfast for dinner. Frozen waffles and scrambled eggs are always a hit. A quiche can be made and frozen before you leave. Serve it with a simple green salad or a fruit salad. 

Make your kids part of the process; they can do more than you think! Challenge them to prepare dinner one night. My boys learned to make the macaroni and cheese recipe here while on a family trip to visit my aunt and uncle. It’s simple, and they now prepare it by themselves. 

Finally, try not to stress about it. If your kids don’t eat the way they you would typically like them to, it’s ok. Eating some less healthy choices four or five days out of 365 is not going to make or break their healthy habits. 

If you are lucky enough to have family members caring for your kids while you are away, remember that your parents and/ or in-laws (likely) successfully raised two fairly normal humans. So, the way they feed your kids is fine (despite what you think!). 

A few days or a week away to recharge and spend time with yourself, your friends, or your partner is more important than the kids eating perfectly healthy 100 percent of the time while you are gone. This is an example of when the saying “what you don’t know won’t hurt you” is especially true. Your kids and caregivers are creating wonderful memories together as well. There’s nothing better than the kids thinking that they and Grandma are pulling a fast one on Mom and Dad.

Uncle Benny’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese 

Makes 8 servings 

Prep time: 5 minutes 

Cook time: 12 minutes 

INGREDIENTS 

1 box (16 oz.) elbow macaroni or shells 

1 cup milk 

8 oz. sliced American cheese, cut up 

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

Salt and pepper to taste 

INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Heat large pot of water to boiling. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain. 

2. Add milk to pasta pot and heat over medium heat. Sprinkle in cheeses, salt, and pepper, and whisk until melted. 

3. Add macaroni back to the pot and stir to combine.