Around Town - December 19, 2014

Compiled by Janice Llanes Fabry

Save the Date

Make History

Enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and music before the momentous live auction at 6:15. Proceeds to benefit Rye Arts Center. Admission: $50. For tickets and information about sealed bid submissions and more, call 967-0700 or email noahopitz@ryearts center.org.

A Trio of Jazz Brunches
Wainwright House’s jazz series will rid us all of winter blues on January 18, February 22, and March 22 from 11:30-2. Guests will enjoy a scrumptious Corner Stone brunch to the cool sound of jazz. First up is Joe Corsello in January. The accomplished artist has worked with Peggy Lee and Benny Goodman. In February, Jazz Forum with Mark Morganelli will perform, and Peter Hand is scheduled for March.
Tickets are $40 for members, $45 for non-members, and $15 for children under 12. Reserve early at www.wainwright.org or call 967-6080.

This Weekend

Winter Walk
How do plants, trees, insects, mammals, and birds survive the freezing months? Take a walk at the Read Wildlife Sanctuary at 1 on Saturday and find out all about the ecology of nature in winter.

Hansel and Gretel Fun
Children are invited to the Rye Free Reading Room on Saturday from 2-3:30 to make their own gingerbread houses like those in the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Rockland artist B. Smith will lead the workshop for kids 4 and up. The afternoon will also include a reading of the story that made the storybook cottages come alive.

Longest Night of the Year
Join Wainwright House’s celebration of the Winter Solstice on Sunday from 5:30-7:30. Participants may forge connections to nature in this very special astronomical phenomenon. The evening consists of a fire ceremony and drumming with Susan Wright, teacher of Shamanic practices.

The December solstice marks the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day in the Southern Hemisphere. No matter where we live, everyone shares the orbit around the sun. Solstice rituals honor ancestors, and offer prayer and gratitude.

Talks and Workshops

Year of the Goat

The Rye Storytellers’ Guild meets monthly at the Rye Free Reading Room to share traditional and personal tales and trade tips on storytelling techniques. At their next meeting, January 6 at 6, they’ll share Asian stories to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Listeners, as well as tellers, are always welcome to join the guild members at their meetings. For more information, go to www.ryelibrary.org or call 231-3161.

Thyroid Theory
Do you have thyroid symptoms like fatigue, weight issues, brain fog, anxiety, headaches, and dry skin even though your blood work looks normal? Dr. John Thomas Giudice of Larchmont Wellness will be at the Rye library January 8 at 10 to discuss thyroid problems and to identify those that can be handled using only natural solutions.

Giudice has specialized in treating chronic patients for 16 years using a unique methodology of Functional Medicine. Attendees can bring their lab reports to learn even more.
For more information, go to www.ryelibrary.org or call 231-3161.

Talk to the Animals
Rye Nature Center is offering animal care training for those who would like to volunteer on January 7 from 4-5:30. No experience is necessary, but you must be 14 and older to participate. Pre-registration is required. Email jenicasinelli@ryenaturecenter.org for more information and to sign up. The cost is $20 for members, $22 non-members.

iPad and eBook Tips
“Your New iPad”, a two-part workshop will be held at the Rye Free Reading Room January 8 and 15 from 10-12. Participants should bring their fully charged iPads and plan to attend both classes. The first session will focus on basic setup and control functions, along with other features such as using email and the Internet. The second will explore iPad features, including using the App Store, downloading, reading books via iBooks and the Amazon Kindle Reader, and ways to listen to music and watch TV and movies.

Open sessions are also available, eBook help will be offered January 8 and February 5 from 4:30 to 5:25. Learn how to download eBooks to your tablet or phone. Bring your fully charged tablet and your eBook passwords (if you already have them), and a librarian will walk you through the process. Assistance is available on a first-come basis.

To the Beat
Wainwright House is offering Drumming for Wellness on January 9 from 7-9. Learn how to use different timbal instruments — drums, shakers, and bells — in a circle of rhythm with Damon Jackson. Group drumming is a powerful tool to reduce stress, boost the immune system, gain intellectual stimulation, and increase joy.

Book on Over to the Library
The Rye Free Reading Room book groups have announced their upcoming reading selections. Thursday’s group will read “Mother Tongue” by Bill Bryson for its next meeting, January 8 at 1:15. The Friday Book Café will discuss “Delicious” by Ruth Reichl January 9 at 9:30. Call the library for the offsite location. The Current Events group will read “The News: A User’s Manual” by Alain de Botton for its meeting on January 27 at 6:30.
Copies of the books are available at the Circulation Desk, and everyone is welcome.

Family Ties

Daddy Time
What a way to start the year! Fathers, on January 3 at 9:15, take your kids to Rye Nature Center, where an animal adventure awaits. The fee is $10 for members, $15 non-members.

Get Down & Dirty
Rye Nature Center’s Dorodango Workshop on January 10 at 3 is slated for ages 4 and up. Indeed, anyone can learn how to make a shiny dirt ball and other traditional Japanese crafts using nothing but dirt dug up from your own backyard. The fee is $5 for members, $8 non-members.

Arts & Entertainment

It’s All About the Peacock
Join SPRYE on January 8 at 2 for a tour of the Hudson River Museum’s “Strut: The Peacock and Beauty in Art”. The exhibit explores our fascination with this glamorous bird, a symbol of vainglory and a darling of designers and painters. Strutting in its sapphire blue and emerald green feathers, the peacock is prominent in centuries of painting, sculpture, books, myths, and fashion.

Highlights include Robert Henri’s portrait “Ruth St. Denis in the Peacock Dance” and Aubrey Beardsley’s “The Peacock Skirt” created for Oscar Wilde’s “Salome.” Fee: $10. Call 481-5706 or director@sprye.org to rsvp.

Vacation Camp Roundup

Rye YMCA
All camps are held December 22, 23, 26, 29, 30, 31, and January 2.

Basketball Camp is available for ages 5-11. Instructors will cover all the fundamentals of basketball including dribbling, passing, shooting and defense. Children will be grouped according to age and skill level. One-hour of free swim is available most days. Bring swim caps, snack and lunch for full-day camp. Registration is on-going until week prior to start date.

Gymnastics Camp is open to ages 5 and up. Join the Y for gymnastics skills, drills, tumbling, and open workouts plus one hour of free swim in the pool most days. Full-day campers will also participate in arts & crafts, group games and fitness. Bring a swim cap, snack, and lunch for full-day camps. Registration is ongoing until week prior to start date.

At Fun Club Camp, grades K-6 will participate in sports, games, swimming, arts & crafts, nature, science, special events, and field trips from 9-4. Bring swim cap, snack, and lunch. Registration is on-going until week prior to start date. Additional registrations will be accepted on a space- available basis and will be charged a $20 late fee. No walk-ins. Extended care available.

Teen Fitness Vacation Clinic and Mini Clinic for ages 12-17 are available on December 29, 30, and 31. Two options include: Fun and fitness from 9:30-1, whereby 14 and 15-year-olds are eligible for a Teen Passport Card to use the Wellness Center, and a mini clinic from 2-4.

Rye Recreation

> One-Day Mad Science Workshops
Rye Recreation is offering the Wright Stuff on December 29 from 9:30-12:30 for grades K-4. Kids will be introduced to aerodynamics and will try defying gravity. They’ll explore the forces that affect flight with their own stunt-flying plane.

>The same age group may investigate space flight, engineering, and aerodynamics with Junior Rocket Academy December 30 from 9:30-12:30. Kids will build their own model rocket and take part in a NASA-style launching. Stay after for the free “Up, Up, & Away” show and ice cream social at 1:30.

>Improve your swing at Golf Camp on December 29 and 30 from 9:30-12:30 at the Osborn Gym. Kindergarteners through fifth graders will enjoy teeing it up with the TGA.
Register at www.ryeny.gov/rec reation.cfm or call 967-5521.

Rye Free Reading Room

> Cocoa and Crafts
Join children’s librarian Lisa for hot cocoa and seasonal crafts December 22 from 2-3. The program is appropriate for those in kindergarten and up, along with their grown-ups.

>Holiday Cookie Decorating
Ring in the holidays by decorating festive cookies on December 23 from 2-3. Kindergarteners and older may come with their grown-ups. The library provides all the supplies to unleash kids’ baking creativity.

>On the Screen
Enjoy winter break movies that bring out joy, wonder and adventure. “The Polar Express” on December 26, “Disneynature: Bears” on December 29; “How to Train Your Dragon 2” on December 31. Both movies start at 2.

>Book Swap
On December 30, from 2-4, everyone will have the opportunity to recycle their gently used books and trade them in for others. Pre-registration is not necessary.

Register for all activities by emailing childrensservices@ryelibrary.org. Include child’s name, grade, and telephone number, along with program title and date.

Rye Nature Center

Workshops, geared for pre-school through fifth grade, will be held from 10-2. Bring lunch and dress warmly.

>Measuring Up the Animal Kingdom
Kids will learn by getting their hands on the animals on December 22. Using rulers, scales, and balances, they’ll measure the lengths and weights of a few critters from the Friends of Rye Nature Center animal collection. They’ll draw outlines of their shapes to compare tails, feet, and faces, and will try an experiment investigating how suction cup feet work, too. Pre-registration required.

>Bringing Nature In
Learn to decorate wreaths with evergreens and dried seed heads on December 23. Discover how to bloom flower bulbs indoors during the winter and help make natural bird feeders to help our feathered friends through the cold days ahead.

>Science of Sound
On December 29, children will experiment with various natural and manufactured objects to create musical sounds. Learn how sound travels in water and air, allowing frogs, birds, and other animals to communicate with sound.

>Nocturnal Living
Now that the days are shorter, it’s time to discover the world at night, especially owls, bats, and coyotes on December 30. Also learn how animals stay warm and find enough to eat.

>Migration and Hibernation
Children will learn which animals leave Rye for faraway places, while others like groundhogs and turtles stay and sleep for the winter. Meet a few from the Center’s animal collection and discover what they need for survival.