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QUEENSFamilyWhere Every Child MattersSmarter holidaygiving withapps!PARENTINGMEDIAASSOCIATION2013 GoldAward WinnerEditorial and DesignAwards CompetitionDecember 2013FREE10tips for notovereatingthis seasonKeepingmeaning inthe holidaysFind us online at www.NYParenting.com

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QueensFamilyDecember 20132826Features6 Simplify your gift givingwith appsBy Susan French8 12 ways to keep the meaningin your holiday seasonBy Denise Yearian10 My son, the actorA 7-year-old boy gets his first film roleBy Robert Trotta14 Families who survivedHurricane SandyA year after the storm, three families sharetheir firsthand accountsBy Tammy Scileppi16 Home aloneHow to know if your child is readyBy Jamie Lober22 Outwit your appetiteYou can control the urge to overeat withthese simple methodsBy Sandra Gordoncolumns12 Just Write Momby Danielle Sullivan24 Divorce & SeparationBy Lee Chabin, Esq.26 Ask an AttorneyBy Alison Arden Besunder, Esq.27 The Book WormBy Terri Schlichenmeyercalendar28 December Events8special sections18 Education Directory33 Party Planners34 The Marketplace22December 2013 • QUEENS Family 3

Letter from the publisherHappy Holidays!Time is a crazything. It seemslike a few shortyears ago that I was anew mom with the tiniesthuman being I’d everseen or held laying onmy belly. I can recall it asclearly as if it were yesterday;how exhausted Iwas and yet how elatedand aware I was of the responsibilityof being someone’s parent.Parenting is the most excitingthing I’ve ever done and the mostrewarding. I have worked most ofmy life at one thing or another, andI have always enjoyed both my studiesand my work, but being a Momis the best. It also happily led me tothis wonderful work.Parenting also brought me to thegreat partners I have in this work adventure.Sharon Noble,who has become morethan a partner is definitelyfamily. It was parentingher oldest soneight years ago that ledher here to us, as shewas reading QueensFamily and called with aquestion. That questionled to a much longerconversation, and here we are.Cliff Luster, who as the head ofour larger company and the fatherof little ones at the time, gave me theopportunity to put this thing in motionand so we began in 1999 to publishwhat would go on to become thefirst of the guides, Brooklyn Family.We have a super staff of mostlyMoms and some Dads, and I appreciateall of them. They are bright, dedicatedand lots of fun to be around.I want to thank them all and specificallymention the name of mypersonal assistant Tina Felicetti. Shehas a wonderful sense of humor andis fabulous to work with. I appreciateher more than I can say.A few names I want to mentionout loud are the sales team of LoriFalco (Brooklyn), Sharon Leverett(Brooklyn), Shanika Stewart (Riverdale)and Alexis Benson (Manhattan).They keep me on my toes andare a formidable group of sales professionals.Vinny DiMiceli (Staten Island),Lisa, Courtney, Joanna, Jessecaand Shavana make up the editorialgang we rely on for great headlines,copyediting, social media, and more.Leah Mitch (the art director), OnMan, Arthur, Earl, Charlotte, Mauro,Mariel, Raymond and Cheryl makeup our design and production teams,and Sylvan is our web guru, and Imean guru.We have a great group of staff andcontributing writers at New York Parentingand I thank them all as well.And thank you for the success youhave given us. We now have guidesin all five boroughs which makesperfect sense, because our team actuallylives in all five boroughs!It’s been a great year and I havelittle doubt that 2014 will be the same.Wishing all of you a Happy Season anda good beginning to the New Year.Thanks for reading.Susan Weiss-Voskidis,Publisher/Excutive EditorFamily@cnglocal.comSTAFFPUBLISHER / EXECUTIVE EDITOR:Susan WeissPUBLISHER / BUSINESS MANAGER:Clifford LusterSALES MANAGER / ADVERTISING:Sharon NobleOPERATIONS ASSOCIATE:Tina FelicettiSALES REPS: Alexis Benson, Lori Falco,Sharon Leverett, Shanika StewartART DIRECTOR: Leah MitchPRODUCTION DIRECTOR: On Man TseLAYOUT MANAGER: Yvonne FarleyWEB DESIGNER: Sylvan MigdalGRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Arthur Arutyunov,Mauro Deluca, Earl FerrerMANAGING EDITOR: Vince DiMiceliASSISTANT EDITOR: Courtney DonahueCOPY EDITOR: Lisa J. CurtisCALENDAR EDITORS: Joanna Del Buono,Jesseca StensonCONTACT INFORMATIONADVERTISING: WEB OR PRINT(718) 260-4554Family@cnglocal.com orSWeiss@cnglocal.comCIRCULATION(718) 260-8336TFelicetti@cnglocal.comEDITORIAL(718) 260-4554Family@cnglocal.comCALENDAR(718) 260-2523The acceptance of advertising by New York ParentingMedia does not constitute an endorsement ofthe products, services or information being advertised.We do not knowingly present any products orservices that are fraudu lent or misleading in nature.Editorial inquiries, calendar information, advertisingrates and schedules and subscription requests may beaddressed to New York Parenting Media, One MetrotechCenter North, 10 th Floor, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201.New York Parenting Media can also be reached bycalling (718) 260-4554, emailing family@cnglocal.com or by visiting our website, NYParenting.com.Join the conversation on Facebook.ADDRESSNew York Parenting Media/CNG1 Metrotech Center North10th FloorBrooklyn, NY 11201www.NYParenting.comNew York Parenting Media has been recognizedfor editorial and design excellence by PMA.New York Parenting Media is published monthlyby New York Parenting Media/CNG. Subscriptionrate is $35 annually. Reproduction of New YorkParenting Media in whole or part without writtenpermission from the publisher is prohibited.All rights reserved. Copyright©2013 Readership:220,000. 2012 circulation audits by CAC & CVC.4 QUEENS Family • December 2013

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Simplifying yourgift giving withAPPS6 QUEENS Family • December 2013BY SUSAN FRENCHWith the holiday season infull swing, the pressure’son to find that perfect gift.Gift-giving is a skill, especiallywhen findingpresents for kids.There are traditionalgifts like toys and clothes,which can be costly, and notalways what children are wishingfor. Practical items like sweaters,gloves, and scarves are not funfor the youngest recipients to open.When children are the target audience,keep in mind a few essentialgift-giving goals: find items that areentertaining, educational, interactive,and cost-effective.This may sound like a tall order,but it’s a cinch with apps!Children’s mobile apps fulfill allthe key elements of perfect gift giving.Apps turn learning into a game.Children’s apps use fun, colorfulgraphics to engage short attentionspans. Task- and level-based appshelp young children develop importantskills, such as vocabulary, math,reading, and organization. Greatchildren’s apps allow the child tointeract not only with the app itself,but also with the parent or teacher.For instance, if we want to teachchildren organizational and timemanagementskills, voice-activatedcalendar apps are great gifts (especiallyfor a new calendar year).They allow kids to hone organizationalskills through play with colorfulsticker graphics as they learn thedays of the week and schedule theiractivities. Look for interactive featuresthat encourage self-awarenessand build self-confidence, such asrecording reminder audio memosand sharing activities through socialnetworking.Not sure how to find the perfectapp? Lucky for you, there are entirewebsites devoted to reviewingeducational apps that can help guideyou through the process in just minutes.For a quick review, check outfuneducationalapps.comand bestappsforkids.org.It is the goal of thesesites to provide our kids with enticing,educational apps, and they providea place for parents and caregiversto see the app in action.And the great thing about appsis that you can give in bulk. Theymake great presents for teachersto give their students, and they area one-stop shop for grandparents’gift-giving needs. To top it all off,apps only cost a few dollars, as comparedto expensive toys and planners.They also cut-down on clutterand help the environment! Plus, appgivingallows you to shop from homeand avoid the holiday season’s long,stressful lines.So do yourself and your little onesa favor this holiday season — givethe gift of an app!Susan French is a kindergarten teacher,mentor, and math coach, working for thecity’s Department of Education for morethan 20 years. She is the co-creator of the4KidCal brand of mobile calendar appsdesigned specifically for children. Formore information on 4KidCal, visit 4Kid-Cal.com or write to 4kidcal@gmail.com.

MYRTLE AVEHOLIDAY SAVINGS EVERY DAY of the WEEKon MYRTLE AVENUEShop Myrtle Avenue (between Wyckoff Avenue, & Fresh Pond Road)& Enjoy Our Holiday Lights & Music Throughout DecemberMany storeswill be open lateduring theholiday season.Check individualstores forhoursWHERESANTA SHOPS!!FREE CANDYCANESShop Small BusinessSaturday, November 30 thwww.smallbusinesssaturday.comVisit our websitewww.ridgewood-ny.comSantaPicturesBring Your Own CameraSunday, Dec. 8 th , 12pm–2pmMyrtle Ave. & 71 st Ave. Triangle(Just off Forest Ave.)Sunday, Dec. 15 th , 12pm–2pmVenditti Square(Myrtle Ave., & Nicholas Ave.) Baseball Academy5 Tool is a baseball developmentprogram for players of all agesand skill levels. We focus onhelping kids develop their skillswith unique professional training.5 Tools is also able to get highschool players exposure withcolleges and professional scouts.100-02 Rockaway Blvd.Ozone Park, NY 11417917-373-2286Services offered by 5 Tools: Professional Hitting & PitchingLessons Summer Camps (All Ages) Winter Clinics (All Ages) Travel Teams(8u, 9u, 10u, 11u, 12u, 14 & 16u) Cage Rentals, Team Clinics & More5ToolG2@gmail.com www.5toolg2.comfacebook.com/5ToolG2Kimmy MaARTStudioThank you for your yearlong supportas we launch creative minds in making art!Enjoy the holidays and have a happy& healthy new year!Visitors welcome!Hours during open studio week: 12/16-12/20after schools, & Sat. 12/21 11am-2pmSpring 17-week fine art instruction (Feb. - June 2014)Pre-enrollment during Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014Bridge to fine arts (age 5.5-8) Mon. 4:30-6pm & Sun. 1-2:30pmFine arts instructions for paintings & drawings(age 8-MS/HS) Tue. - Thur. 3:30-5:30pm & Fri. 3-5pm & 5-7pmSat. 9am, 11am, 2pm, & Sun. 11am-1pmSerious Young Artists & Portfolio: 3-hr. available for Fri. & Sat.Private lessons (1:1) to meet individual’s artistic developmentsneeds are available during studio recess.Mid-Winter Break:(M-W) February 17, 18, 19, 9:45am - 12:30pmSpring Break:(M-W) April 14, 15, 16, 9:45am - 12:30pmComic Art Camp for age 8+ (entering 3rd grade - MS/HS)beginners - intermediate beginnersWell qualified art instructors for various medium basedprograms with ability level instructionsfor Mondays & Sundays. Mrs. Ma is the leadArt Educator for Tuesday-Saturday fine arts programswith portfolios development, Master of Artin the school of education, NYU.Download class schedule/tuition &visit student art gallerywww.kimmyma-artstudio.comDecember 2013 • QUEENS Family 7

12ways to keep themeaning in yourholiday seasonLooking for more ways to makethe holiday season more meaningful? a nursing home and create a comfortcare package with tissues,sox, stuffed animal, potpourri,etc. hospital and take balloons,gifts, or othergoodwill cheer to thepatients. sourcesto a homelessshelter, soup kitchen, orfood bank. shelter. Call and ask what theyneed first. someone who has helped you oryour family this year. Wrap up an i.o.u. or tickets to a livetheater presentation, aquarium,zoo, or other venue, along withthe date you plan go in the nextfew months.BY DENISE YEARIANIn the midst of holiday hooplas,children often lose sight of thesignificance of the season. Takinga spin off the “Twelve Days ofChristmas” song, the following is alist of a dozen ways to create a moremeaningful holiday celebration.1. Grassroots giving. One of thebest ways to make your holidaymore meaningful is to adopt a familyfrom a local charity. When youcall, ask for a family with childrenyour own kids’ ages. Then, if younormally give your child five gifts,suggest giving three and let himpick out two for each needy child.2. Aspiring ornaments. Have cost little or nothing for family,friends, and pets. using everyday household materials. tificatesthat can be redeemedat a later time — help withhousework, an hour ofquality time, etc. ingsand symbols ofthe holiday season. represents what theholidays mean to you andyour family. what Christmas was like when session and make it a keepsake. - Christmas” or write your own holidaypoem. everyone gets a new pair and staysin their pjs all day.each family member secretly writeone non-monetary thing they wantto work for, wish for, and pray forin the coming year. Then, put itin a decorative envelope or ornamentand attach it to the tree. OnChristmas morning share it withthe other family members and discussways everyone can help thatperson fulfill his goal.3. Go green. Reuse holiday wrappingpaper to cover another gift,line a drawer, or draw on the reverseside. Christmas cards canbe recycled, too. Cut them in halfand use the blank side to jot downreminder notes or let your kids cutthem up and make new cards fornext year. Christmas trees can beMore ways to a meaningful holidayTopTips such as computers for the elderlyor knitting for a child. each child creating a special holidaytradition. resentevents that have happenedthroughout the year. Seal and buryit for 20 or more years. that links 12 pieces (3-by-4) ofconstruction paper with scenesdepicting each month of the year.Punch holes around the sides thatconnect and sew it together withyarn. an organization such as OperationWarm (www.operationwarm.org). chapter of one) every night leadingup to Christmas. gramwhere each person presentsa song, poem, reading or artistic view in years to come.recycled as well. Take them to stateparks rather than sending them tothe curb for trash pick up.4. Multicultural merriment.Every year, pick one country andfind out how it celebrates the holidayseason. Make mock passportsthat can be used year after year.Find out what the culture and traditionsare like, learn a few words,and try their foods. If you haveextended family members fromother parts of the country, havethem share insights and tell storiesabout their holiday celebrations.5. Advent virtues. Make an adventcalendar with character traitsyou want to instill in your family.Pick one virtue each day, discusswhat it means, and talk aboutsomeone in history who displayedthat character. Then, decide howyou and your children can put thatvirtue into action. For example,extend kindness by raking an elderlyneighbor’s leaves or shovelingsnow from her driveway.6. Family photo tree. Decorateyour tree with individual photosof family members taken throughoutthe year. Mount images onconstruction paper, felt, or foam,write the date on the back, attacha ribbon, and hang it on thetree. Keep photos year after yearand add more as you go to remindkids of how blessed they havebeen throughout their childhood.When your children are grown,pass along the pictures so they cancarry on the tradition.7. Inter-generational experiences.If grandparents have personalitems they want to passalong to their grandchildren, theholidays are an opportune time.Suggest they give something thatis special to them, along with thestory behind it. It could be oneof grandma’s old dolls, a piece ofjewelry, a book, or even a photograph.If the kids are old enough,they can video record the story8 QUEENS Family • December 2013

for keepsake.8. Mindful of military. Have yourchild write a letter of appreciationto someone in the military. Includea picture of your child and an e-mail address, and ask the serviceperson to send a reply e-mail alongwith pictures if he has them. Thereseveral websites that provide officers’names and care packagesuggestions. If your children loveanimals, check out Operation MilitaryPride’s Kindness for K9’s link(www.operationmilitarypride.org),where you can send dog biscuits,chew toys, and other pet items toservice dogs.9. Warm fuzzies. Families sooften forget to share positive andencouraging words with one another.Have your family sit in acircle and pass a fuzzy teddy beararound. As you do so, have theperson holding the bear say somethinghe appreciates about one sittingto his right or left. This will setthe tone for an uplifting celebrationand teach your kids how togive strokes of encouragement toothers.10. Critter Christmas. Decoratean outdoor tree with pineconesrolled in peanut butter and birdseed,popcorn and cranberry garland,and orange and apple slicesthat have been attached to pipecleaners or opened paperclips andhung on the tree’s boughs. This isa way to take care of neighboringwildlife and wish them a happyholiday.11. Family fitness. Incorporatethe “Twelve Days” theme into a familyfitness routine. Decide on oneactivity you can do together eachday to stay fit — walk around theneighborhood and look at lights,jump rope to a favorite holidaysong, or play a round of basketballwhile the pie is baking.Then make it a family New Year’sresolution.12. Family video newsletter.Each child can take turns being theanchorperson while you record,but make it more than just readingoff news. Take footage fromthe kids’ bedrooms where they areshowing a favorite stuffed animalor in the yard performinga newly acquired skill. Sendcopies of the DVD with yourholiday cards, or attach it toa holiday greeting e-mail anddonate the money you save onstamps to charity.Denise Yearian is the former editorof two parenting magazines and themother of three children.December 2013 • QUEENS Family 9

My son, the actorA 7-year-oldboy gets hisfirst film roleMatthew gets advice from a castmate.BY ROBERT TROTTAThis year was definitely a yearto remember for my Astoria,Queens, family.It marked the 10-year weddinganniversary for my wife, Giovanna,and me. I began my 15th year as anEnglish teacher at John Adams HighSchool in Ozone Park. And our son,Matthew, not only started secondgrade in September, but also wascast in an independent film shot inour borough.Matthew turned 7 in June and, likethe past six years, he has been thebest and brightest part of the year.Watching him learn and grow, breakout of his “shy shell,” and hearing hisexcited voice shout “Papa’s home!”as I’m walking up the stairs, are giftsthat I truly treasure.During the summer, a new chapterand a unique adventure began whenMatthew received a contractfrom a talent andmodeling agency. As hisparents, we have alwaysfelt that Matthew is a beautiful littleboy with a heart of gold and a warmsmile. Many friends have told us thathe is very photogenic — and we havealways agreed. My wife and I envisionedthe possibility that Matthewmight one day be able to land a gigposing in a print ad. But this Octoberwas surreal, magical, and unforgettablefor our family.PERSONAL ESSAYAt Fort Totten in Bayside, Queens,a film crew, led by writer and directorMichael Weinstein, was shooting anindependent film set during the Holocaust,titled, “If the Trees Could Talk.”And on one beautiful, warm Fridayafternoon in early October, Matthewwas in one of the scenes, portrayinga young Jewish boy who was beingtaken away from his onscreen mother(Anna Myrha) by a Nazi officer.Fort Totten used to be a U.S. militarybase, and it was an amazing sitethat worked remarkably well for thefilm. There were concrete structurescontaining small rooms with rustybars in front of small windows, varioustunnels and staircases, and plentyof greenery. We could not fathom howauthentic and eerie things were in aplace that was right in the borough wecall home (Matthew and I even spentpart of the morning playing hide andseek, and it was not easy for either ofus to find the other).Dressed in brown corduroyshorts, boots, a white, buttoned shirtwith a beige sweater vest over it, anda grey wool cap, Matthew earnedhis first movie credit. Emotionally,it wasn’t an easy task for him. Afterall, the scene took place in a darkroom. There were actors portrayingNazi soldiers, equipped with riflesand yelling loudly in German. Oneof the soldiers, portrayed by actorStephan Goldbach, was pulling Matthewaway from his “mother,” whoserole demanded that she scream forhim to not be taken away from her.Following the scene, one of theactors, Ben Heyman, said somethingvery soothing to me: “If this scenewould have been easy for Matthew,then, as a parent, you would havethought, ‘Why is he not upset duringsuch a difficult and intense scene?’ ”I thanked Stephan via e-mail forhis support and compassion towardsMatthew on the set. The same day,he replied, “This scene was one thatgot very real, thanks to Matthew. Hewas a great little trooper.”I don’t know what will happen orpossibly unfold in 2014, but my familyis enjoying the ride so far. And nomatter what, Matthew has made usincredibly proud, and he has givenus something to remember for therest of our lives — a spectacular dayin Queens.Robert Trotta is a New York City publichigh-school teacher and a freelancewriter. He lives with his wife Giovanna,their son Matthew, and a family catnamed Ralphie.10 QUEENS Family • December 2013

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PARENTING10 holiday refusalsJUST WRITEMOMDANIELLE SULLIVANAre you the kind of person wholooks forward to the holidaysall year long, but sometimessecretly wishes they were alreadyover? I admit I have both opposingfeelings swishing about inside of meevery single holiday season. Most ofthe angst comes from doing a lot ofthings we don’t want to do or worse,don’t have any time to do. (Why isit still so hard for so many of us tosimply say “no”?)In an effort to retain my sanity,and actually enjoy the holiday asopposed to just get through it, I’vecompiled a list of a few things I justwill not do this holiday season: don’t want to attend. We all haveobligations, but shouldn’t our ownhappiness fall somewhere into ourpriorities? There are often too many ents,we have trouble just gettingto all the holiday shows, Christmastree lightings, and plays that our party invites and long shopping listmight require pulling all nightersjust to keep up, because the house,homework, kids, grocery shopping,cooking, work projects, etc. just donot go away in December — as muchas we might wish they did. does not equate with a better holiday,because material things neverequal happiness — ever. junk, because it’s this year’s biggestfad. When I’ve done this in the past, Ihave always regretted it. makes the holiday annoying andstressful — the polar opposite offun. happens, happens, and I will find away to go with the flow.” That will bemy mantra. on sale. Deals can, unfortunately, besynonymous with junk. I will do myhomework way before I buy anythingand know exactly what I want to buyand why. ment,because that is the only way toenjoy anything. (If I can accomplishthis, then that will be a gift to myselfthis holiday season.) cooking, cleaning, or decorating,than time with my family. deer.”Homework be damned (or atleast finished earlier). When thosemovies are on, we’re watching themtogether as a family. short and the holidays are too preciousto not savor. Kids grow up,family members pass on. The time toenjoy each other is right now!Wishing you and yours a veryhealthy, happy, and memorable holidayseason!Danielle Sullivan, a mom of three,has worked as a writer and editor inthe parenting world for more than 10years. Sullivan also writes about petsand parenting for Disney’s Babble.com.Find Danielle on her blog, Some PuppyTo Love.12 QUEENS Family • December 2013

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Families who survivedHurricane SandyA year afterthe storm,three familiesshare theirfirsthandaccountsCaroline Enz and her two sons’basement apartment in her parents’house was hit hard by Sandy.BY TAMMY SCILEPPIhath no fury like awoman scorned” took“Hellon a whole new meaningepic storm Sandy roared into townon Oct. 29 last year — her wrath and“Don’t mess with me” fury sparkingfear in the hearts of otherwise braveNew Yorkers.Many were bystanders and watchedwith utter disbelief images of homelessvictims struggling to carry on,despite their horrible circumstances— thousands of them in our very ownbackyards. Parents across the citywondered how to protect and providefor their families and children— some of them without access tofood, heat, transportation, or power.Each survivor has his personalstory to tell.As they still struggle gettingtheir lives back on track, threefamilies from New York Cityshare their firsthand accountswith NY Parenting readers.Moore familyMany New Yorkers seem toforget that Manhattan is surroundedby water.When the storm hit, the normallyplacid Hudson turnedstrangely dark and menacing,with high ocean-like waves.Nobody could have imaginedthat the river would breach itsbanks and overflow into BatteryPark and beyond — floodingstreets, buildings, and thetunnel — like something out ofa doomsday scenario.Battery Park City residentRon Moore and his family livedin one of those posh riverfront buildings.The vibrant community and scenicviews drew them to this area acouple of years ago, until a raging riverand flood waters forced them to evacuateafter the storm.“When the water came into ourlobby, I knew it was time to pack up theSUV and get the heck out of Dodge,”recalled the father of three. “Suddenly,nothing mattered — only that my familywas safe and warm, and out ofharm’s way.”Luckily, they had a place to go —their home in Connecticut. But oncethere, they were shocked to discoverthey’d have to make do with a similarsituation. After a month or so they returnedto their city dwelling, but neverfelt safe there again. Now they’re backin Connecticut for good.Brookins familyRockaway Beach is home to thecity’s only legal surfing. Sandy ravagedthe area, destroying its boardwalk andcovering its streets with sand.Film director and surfer ThomasBrookins, 41, was fighting anotherbattle — the scariest one of his life —as the storm hit his community.“We had just purchased our homein July, at the same time I was in anongoing battle with cancer, so movingin was very hard. We had a 1-year-oldson,” he recalled.In his condition everything was achore, and between his film work, raisingthe child, and working on the newhouse, life was tedious and exhaustingfor him and his wife Jess.When he and his wife bought thehouse, Thomas said they were assuredtheir block would never flood— neighbors told them they neverhad any problems. So, the coupleturned down flood insurance, optinginstead to invest their money inrenovations.Little did they know that the oceanthey loved so much would suddenlyturn on them, fueled by an angrysuperstorm — and that they’d loseeverything.“I saw water rushing in from the Bayand we decided, for [my son] Takoda’ssafety, to leave and go live in Brooklyn,”Thomas recalled. So, they stayed in atiny apartment with a friend, his wife,two babies, and two dogs.Thomas said a guest had beenstaying with them in their RockawayBeach house, and decided to remainin the home, since he had work in themorning.“A few hours later, we got texts fromhim saying the street was rushing likerapids over the tops of cars. He hearda noise downstairs in the extra bedroomand my office and editing bay. Heobserved what he called, ocean wavesspewing out of the floor and hittingthe ceiling. From there the basementflooded in three minutes to the top ofthe stairs. As it reached the front door,he texted, ‘I just saw what looked likesomeone’s house float down the street;your basement so far is a total loss.’ ”Thomas and his wife were horrified.He recalled rushing home thenext morning to find something froma movie scene.“I walked through debris and filthto the house, ran inside and stood atthe top of the cold dark staircase lookingat swirling water about head high,as everything was banging around. Itfinally went down to about a foot highthat night. I stayed overnight, put onboots, and started shoveling almostthree feet of sand out of the basement.Everything we had raised up off thefloor was now gone — every memory,every keepsake; my office, gone. Thewalls were smashed and it smelled likeraw sewage. It became an obsession toclean this mess.“After that, the world slowed to ahalt,” Thomas recalled.There was no heat, and winterwas destroying the house almost instantly.Takoda and Jess stayed in Brooklyn,while for two weeks Thomasshoveled sand and carried belongingsout of the house. He said theirliving room was soiled with drippingfilth and boot prints.Not one organization, including theRed Cross, came to his community’said, he says.“No info ever came from the city,the government, or any media outlets.We kept Googling or using socialmedia to find info on what to do.“Gas shortages forced me to leavemy wife and little guy in Brooklyn, sowe could preserve gas. It was harderand harder and getting colder.”Maybe a month or so later, foodand cleaning products from churchgroups, the Red Cross, and citizensstarted flowing in, Thomas recalls.14 QUEENS Family • December 2013

having a normal way of living.”The family just recently movedback and has to start over, but Carolinesays she’s grateful that at leastthey have their own beds, blankets,and pillows, and aren’t sleepingapart, on other people’s couches.(Above) Far Rockaway residents and surfers Thomas Brookins withwife Jessica and son Takoda. (Right) Thomas took this shot a dayafter Sandy, when his block was flooded.“We had my good friends with theFDNY come and rewire my boilerand heater; we were excited to bewarm while working, but it was arace against mold now.”Then they learned about the FederalEmergency Management Agency.Thomas said the agency came in withsix workers, looked at the heating, andtold him he couldn’t keep the repairedheater because it was unsafe, sinceunlicensed work was done on it. So,workers yanked it out and said they’dreplace it. It took months.Thomas and his wife couldn’t staywith their friends any longer, so theyheaded to a local airport hotel.“Takoda was sent away to mysister’s house in Maryland; it was sohard to be apart from him, but it wasjust too cold and unsafe.”Eventually, with help from friends,neighbors, and folks from all over NewYork and beyond, Thomas and Jessfinally cleaned out everything “to araw shell.” Finally, clothing was beingdonated and they had heat, nearlyfour months later. “It’s passed the oneyearanniversary of Sandy and we’restill rebuilding,” said Thomas. “All ofmy friends and neighbors had theexact same things happen. The neighborhoodis still not rebuilt; roads aretemporary blobs of black tar, curbsare still chunky, and there’s no sign ofthe boardwalk in site. I still don’t thinkpeople understand how bad it was.”Looking back, Thomas said hefound out how “humbling” MotherNature’s power really was.And he and his wife discoveredsomething else: it turned out thetraumatic circumstances, coupledwith Sandy’s impact, had affectedtheir son, a sweet, bright child. Infact, Thomas said he believes hisneighbors’ kids were impacted insimilar ways.Thomas says sometimes his sonhas nightmares and has some issuesin school, since he was so isolatedduring the last couple of years. Hetends to play independently ratherthan with groups.“Takoda is now 3; he was a trooperthrough it all. We’re just now hearinghim say things he couldn’t say beforelike, ‘The big storm came andtrashed the street.’ Quite often wehear him playing and using the ‘bigscary storm’ as the distress, whichhis ‘heroes’ have to remedy. His languageskills are amazing; with a vocabularythat shocks us daily.”“He’ll be fine, but we hope he pullsthrough it all, and the storm fadesinto a little corner somewhere in hismemory,” Thomas adds.Enz familyAs Sandy continued its campaignof destruction — unleashing fiercewinds and dislodging homes, shops,cars and boats as if they were toys —a single mom with two boys living inthe basement of her parents’ home inHoward Beach was praying that theentire house wouldn’t be totaled.Flood waters turned CarolineEnz’s backyard into a small lakeand entered her apartment, risingto eight feet. She recalls how sheand her sons, Justin and Matthew,scrambled to find their valuablesand salvage whatever they could.“On the night Sandy came, myoldest son Justin and I were in ourrooms when we heard the water startcoming in through the AC unit in hisroom, and then through the windows.We moved as fast as we could to getas much stuff out of the rooms, beforethe water would consume the placewe once called home.”They went without heat, hotwater, and electricity for more thanthree weeks.The day after Sandy, Caroline saidit looked like a bomb exploded in theneighborhood.“There were boats and cars everywhere.People’s homes were goneand their stuff lined up on the streetto be thrown away; whole lives gonein one night,” she remembered. “Atthat time neighbors became familyand we all banded together tomake sure no one went without ameal, or a warm blanket and coat,clothes and shoes, or just a simplehug to say, ‘Together, we areall gonna get through this!’ Therewasn’t one person in my neighborhoodthat wasn’t affected by thisstorm. People drowned that night inbasement apartments or trapped onrooftops — it was so unreal!”But they helped each other getthrough.Caroline said their lives were reallytough that following year.“Not easy when you’re used tohaving your own and have to impose,and live with other people.”They received some money fromFEMA, but not much.“Enough to start to fix but notenough to finish, which makes buildingback harder,” she said, frustrated.“As for my neighbors, they’re no longermy neighbors — they’re now myfamily; adopted during a very hardtime in all our lives. A family thatbonded together.”She added, “There are some whoare still fixing and some that are noteven back yet, but each day, morepeople are back and we get closer toLocal volunteersThe Howard Beach and BreezyPoint communities struggled tomake it after Sandy’s devastation,and a Middle Village, Queens, songwriterand filmmaker was sitting infront of her TV, like millions of fellowNew Yorkers, watching the unbelievableimages before her. Lori Martinifelt lucky to have heat, power, anda bit of food in her fridge, but shealso had an overwhelming sense ofguilt: so many people were suddenlyhomeless, cold, and hungry. Compelledto give back and help thosein need, she decided to get out thereand take action.As luck would have it, her friend,Forest Hills resident Frank Kenna— the chief deputy at the QueensCounty Clerk’s Office — reached outto Lori during the relief efforts, andthey teamed up to volunteer.“After Sandy struck, I noticed Lorikept posting about it on Facebook,and could tell that she wanted tohelp. So I informed her about one particularvolunteer effort being headedup by the Woodhaven Residents’Block Association, whose presidentis my friend, Ed Wendell. I picked herup in my minivan, along with itemswe both donated, and then drove toWoodhaven, where we packed thecar as much as we could.“We then drove to Howard Beachand delivered everything to stateSen. Joseph Addabbo’s office, wherehe had set up a distribution center,”Frank recalls. Life will never be the same forthese families, but thanks to thehelp of big-hearted volunteers andneighbors banding together, communitiesare coming back. They sayevery cloud has a silver lining. Well,a year after Sandy wreaked havocon Thomas Brookins’s beloved RockawayBeach community, it seemsthat new businesses, eateries, andshops have been popping up hereand there. Thomas reports that surprisingly,the area has been graduallytransforming into a popular vacationspot for city folk and evensome celebs, who are buying waterfronthomes.Apparently they fell in love withit when they came to volunteer afterSandy.December 2013 • QUEENS Family 15

Home aloneHow to know if yourchild is ready16 QUEENS Family • December 2013BY JAMIE LOBERWhen it comes to stayinghome alone, parentsare often unsure abouthow to judge whether their child isready. It is important that you donot rush into things, even if yourchild appears confident in his abilityto take care of himself while youare away.“A lot of states do not have alegal age limit or cut-off pointfor when children can stayhome alone, so it is aboutmaking sure that youknow if your child is comfortable,”said Dr. KirstenCullen Sharma, clinicalassistant professorin the departmentof child and adolescentpsychiatry,child studycenter at NewYork UniversityLangone.Accordingto the NewYork StateOffice of Childrenand FamilyServices website,“Some children are responsible, intelligent,and independent enoughto be left alone at 12 or 13 years ofage. Likewise, there are some teenagerswho are too irresponsible orhave special needs that limit theirability to be safe if they are leftalone.Parents and guardians need tomake intelligent, reasoned decisionsregarding these matters,asking, ‘What has the child donein the past to show you he is ableto take on this kind of responsibility?’”Sharma says that one of theways to help your child feel comfortableis by “progressively lettinghim stay home for longer and longerperiods of time.”Each child has different emotionsregarding the potential responsibility.“I work with a mom who is goingthrough this with her 13-year-olddaughter who is nervous to stayhome, and the mom is working aplan with her where the first day shewent to the gym in her apartmentbuilding for 15 minutes, the nextday to the store across the streetfor 20 minutes,” said Sharma.Every couple of days, you canattempt to do something and letyour child stay home alone to buildup his belief that he can do it.Knowing how to respond in varioussituations can help get him tothat point.“A big part is planning ahead,so you need to have a safety oremergency plan and make sure youknow a neighbor who is home nextdoor,” said Sharma. Be sure yourchild knows how to contact you,even if it just sending a text messageevery half hour, so they have acheck-in plan.Practice can make all the difference.Your child may feel betterprepared if he has a chance to roleplayan emergency situation or planbefore he is allowed to stay homefor a short period of time.“Practice calling an emergencycontact person if the child gets injuredor a fire starts in the house,”said Sharma. You should also practicethe scenario of someone knockingat the door.“Let your child know to neveropen the door to strangers andalways check before opening thedoor to anyone by looking througha peephole or window first,” saidMelanie Pipkin Kozel, media relationslead at the American Red

Practice can make all the difference. Yourchild may feel better prepared ifhe has a chance to role-play anemergency situation or planbefore he is allowed to stayhome for a short period of time.“No Matter how many timesyou’ve experienced A Christmas Carolthis version is one not to miss.”Stage MagazineCross. He should inform you oran emergency contact person ifsomeone comes to the door.“Make sure he knows not togo outside to check an unusualnoise,” said Kozel. Knowing howto turn the security alarm on andoff can be helpful as well.Some kids are able to cope withsituations easier than others.“Talk about whether your childis mature enough and whether heis nervous or scared, since thatis a huge part of the picture —even if he is mature,” said Sharma.Discussing fear and anxieties isbeneficial.“Have your child keep a journalof thoughts or feelings that he hadwhile you were away and then atnight, sit down and review whatcame up,” said Sharma.Some kids are more expressivethan others.“Some write down nothingand they are fine, and others saythey were scared, because it wasstarting to get dark outside,” saidSharma.Depending on age, your childmay be reassured knowing thatyou have a first aid kit that is accessibleshould he need it.“He should know where to findworking flashlights, a battery-operatedradio, and extra batteries,”said Kozel.Set expectations. Some childrenare excited to stay home alone,because it builds confidence andself-esteem while others take advantageand have parties at theirhouse or call people that they arenot supposed to call.“Your child should know exactlywhat he is allowed to doand that if he does something heis not supposed to do, that thereis a consequence,” said Sharma.“Most kids are okay, but somewill push the limits, so parentshave to be ready for that andhave a plan in place in case thathappens.”Keep safety in mind and considerchild-proofing your homebefore you leave.“Knives, hand tools, powertools, razor blades, scissors,guns, ammunition and other objectsthat can cause injury shouldbe stored in locked cabinets orlocked storage areas,” said Kozel.Potential poisons like detergents,pesticides, car-care fluids and polishesshould also be out of reach.The same applies to medicines.Give your child a run-down ofwhat you will be doing. Let himknow if he can have friends overor watch certain movies.“He wants to know where youwill be, how long you will be gone,and what time you are cominghome,” said Sharma.It is hard to give a recommendedage of when a child isready to stay home alone, andmental health professionals setsome loose boundaries.“Most guidelines say that youshould not leave a child who isyounger than 12 home alone, butthere are a couple of states thatallow a child to stay home aloneeven at the age of 8,” said Sharma.For kids who are babysitting orstaying home with a younger sibling,the recommended age tendsto be higher, around 15.Offer feedback.“Parents can review the nightwith their child, not just by askinghow it went and saying the childdid a great job, but actually sittingdown and talking about what wentreally well, when they felt uncomfortable,and giving the child anopportunity to express any worriesthey have,” said Sharma.Try not to compare your childto his friends or neighbors’ children.Accept him for who he is,and he will let you know when heis ready to stay home unsupervised.Jamie Lober, author of Pink Power(www.getpinkpower.com), is dedicatedto providing information on women’sand pediatric health topics. She can bereached at jamie@getpinkpower.com.© 2013 Jamie LoberbyCharles DickensA New Adaptation Bypatrick BarlowDirected byJoe CalarcoLimited Engagementnow thru January 4!TicketsTelecharge.com or (212) 239-6200Theatre at St. Clement’s423 West 46th St. (btwn 9th & 10th Aves.)AChristmasCarolOnStage.comDESIGN: FRAVERDecember 2013 • QUEENS Family 17

EducationDirectory Classrooms Teachers Options Dance, & Discovery Call for more info & registration(718) 838-9243213-54 35th Avenue, Bayside(Off of Bell Blvd.)www.littleapplepreschool.comFREERegistrationplus20% OFFwith this ad82nd Street Academics81-10 35th Avenue Jackson Heights, NY718-457-0429 or www.82ndst.comThe mission of 82nd Street Academics is to compliment public education so thatstudents, regardless of home language, will have access to quality higher education.82nd Street Academics has grown to serve more than 900 families annually.During this time, we have developed a year-round, comprehensive and effectiverange of holistic services that address a child’s educational, social and emotionalneeds.Currently, 82nd Street Academics offers both half day and full day 3 and 4 yearoldpre-school programs. These options include tuition-based programs suchas Full Day Pre-School, Half Day Pre-School, Dual Language Pre-School (English/Spanish) for our 3 year-olds, and Kindergarten Readiness and Dual LanguagePrograms for our 4 year-olds. Additionally, we also offer a free Universal Pre-Kindergarten program for our 4 year-old students.Crayon Box Preschool44-10 192nd Street, Flushing718-888-9341 or www.crayonboxpreschool.comWe give children a foundation of education they can take with them throughouttheir student years. Crayon Box sets up a program that is both welcoming andfun, while stressing the fundamentals of preschool learners. The preschool hasbeen educating the youngest members of our community since 1998 and is runby a dedicated and professional staff. They always work with their families to givethem the support and flexibility that is needed in today’s fast paced and changingworld. The daily routine is set up to make the children feel secure because whenchildren feel safe, they are free to accept new ideas and concepts.Immanuel Genius163-15 Oak Ave. Flushing / 718-460-9991213-01 Northern Blvd. 3Fl. Bayside / 718-819-0190www.Immanuelgenius.comImmanuel Genius offers FREE Full day and Half day UPK program for children bornin 2008. Also, Immanuel offers FREE extended Service for those who enrolled FreeHalf day UPK program & Free Bus Service for paid Private pre-Kindergarten; forFlushing residents to our Flushing Center, and for Bayside residents, to our Baysidecenter (boundary restrictions apply). Preschool (ages 2 to 6) children are introducedto beginning reading and writing, math and science, arts and crafts, music,dance (ballet), and sports (Taekwondo). The goal is to find each child’s talentsand abilities and help them discover their individuality. The ample playground of4000 square feet and easy access to Kissena Park directly across the street fromour Flushing center is the place for the children to observe and explore many differentelements of nature. Teachers communicate with the parents on a daily basisthrough the student’s home-school journal. Also, Immanuel Geniius has a full dayand after school program year round, including an exciting Summer Programs.Bus Service is available to Flushing, Bayside, Whitestone, Douglaston, and LittleNeck.The Kew Forest School119-17 Union Turnpike in Forest Hills718-268-4667 extension 125 or www.kewforest.orgIs one of Queen’s oldest and finest independent day schools. Since 1918, thisco-ed, college preparatory institution has provided students from Kindergartenthrough grade 12 with an academically challenging curriculum in a small, caringenvironment. Among its hallmarks are a diverse student body, small classes, a lowstudent/teacher ratio and an outstanding record with college placements. Thereis a Lower (K-4), Middle (5-8) and Upper School (9-12). Kew Forest also offers abreakfast program beginning at 7:30 a.m., and an After-School program.Little Apple Preschool213-54 35th Ave., Bayside718-838-9243 or www.littleapplepreschool.comAt Little Apple Preschool, we promote learning through play and discovery. We18 QUEENS Family • December 2013Continued on page 20Special Advertising Section

Children Are Our MostPrecious Treasures...Entrust Yours to the Professionals with the Most Experience.Enroll now in our all-inclusive,language-based pre-schoolCall us for a tour :516.295.1340 Ext.195321 Woodmere Blvd.Woodmere, NY 1159882 nd StreetAcademics81-10 35th Ave.Jackson Heights, NYOpen House DatesFull Day Pre-School – Tues., Dec. 3 rd @ 7pmHalf Day Pre-School – Thurs., Dec. 5 th @ 7pmDual Language Pre-School (3 & 4 year-olds)– Thurs., Dec. 12 th @ 7pmKindergarten Readiness (Half & Full Day)– Thurs., Jan. 9 th @ 7pmUPK Registration Day – 1 st week of MarchWWW.82NDST.COM 718.457.042981-10 35TH AVE. JACKSON HEIGHTS, NYOUR WORLD NEIGHBORHOOD CHARTER SCHOOLAdmissions 2014-2015 Open House Kindergarten to Grade 5 Open House, Held at 36-12 35th AvenueGrade 6-8 Open House, Held at 31-20 37th Street Special Advertising SectionDecember 2013 • QUEENS Family 19

DISCOVER THEPERFECT BALANCE OFFUN AND ENRICHMENTat Immanuel Genius!FOR CHILDREN AGES 2-5 YEARSPRESCHOOL REGISTERNOW INLITTLE NECK! 2-5 YEARS FREE 2013-2014SCHOOL YEAR FREE EducationDirectoryContinued from page 18find that stimulating curiosity further builds our natural need to explore andunderstand using our primal senses-- an intricate part of development at anystage.We pride ourselves in providing teacher-directed/child-selected learning environmentsthat enrich the process of knowledge retention and expansion. It is importantto actively encourage developmentally appropriate activities and lessons thatyour child will equally enjoy and benefit from.In addition, we believe that indulging in methods that not only evoke the mindbut the body as well explores boundaries that would not be reached any otherway. For this reason we include dance, music, yoga, and art classes to every agegroup-- from newborns to our 5year old leaders, in our daily plans. Its anotherway to simultaneously learn, laugh, and explore.We hope to extend our family to yours at Little Apple Preschool.Our World Neighborhood Charter School36-12 35th Avenue, Astoria718-392-3405 ext 258 www.owncs.orgOur World Neighborhood Charter School (“OWN”) is a K-8 public charter schoolthat is located in the Astoria, Queens, New York. Our mission is “to educate ourstudents to become independent thinkers and lifelong learners” OWN was charteredin 2002 and has a current enrollment of 692 students. Our students comefrom 4 of the 5 NYC boroughs. Our students reflect the diversity of Queens, oneof the most diverse borough in the U.S. Our school’s ethnic background is as follows:37% Hispanic, 31% White, 17% Black/African American, and 15% Asianand Middle Eastern. We are committed to an educational philosophy based oninquiry, active and experiential learning, and social justice. OWN ranked #11 in NYObserver’s Best Public Middle Schools for 2012.Like us o nor follow us onUnlock the full potentialof your child withImmanuel Genius!253 Northern Blvd Little Neck (718) 877-3001163-15 Oak Ave., Flushing, NY 11358 | (718) 460-9991213-01 Northern Blvd., 3 Fl., Bayside, NY (718) 819-0190Visit our website: www.ImmanuelGenius.comBus service to Flushing, Fresh Meadows, Bayside,Whitestone and Douglaston20 QUEENS Family • December 2013Facebook Search: NYParentingSpecial Advertising Section

FINAL WEEKS!GET TICKETS NOW!“BEST NEW ACT IN AMERICA!”A Mesmerizing Story Told ThroughMusic, Dance & TechnologyA Grownup’s Prequel to Peter PanTELECHARGE.COM • 212-239-6200New World Stages • 340 West 50th StreetPETERandtheSTARCATCHER.comNOW LIVE in the heart of BROADWAY!FAMILY 4-PACKS AVAILABLE FOR $150!*BroadwayOffers.com or call 212-947-8844Use Code ILMETFAM4PiLuminate.comNew World Stages, 340 West 50th St.*Select performances only. Subject to availability. 4 tickets or more at $ 37 50 each (reg. $ 69 95 ).December 2013 • QUEENS Family 21

Outwit yourappetiteYou can controlthe urge toovereat withthese simplemethodsStudies show thatdimmed lights atmeals can also makeyou eat more. In restaurantswith softlighting, for example,consumers tend to staylonger and maybe enjoyan unplanned dessert or anextra drink.Low lighting can also make22 QUEENS Family • December 2013BY SANDRA GORDONTo control the urge to eat —and eat and eat — duringthe holidays and beyond, trythese simple mealtime tricks, andsee how easy it really is to lose theweight for good.If you’ve ever polished off an entirebowl of potato chips while chitchattingat a party, or ploughed througha basket of tortilla chips before yourentrée arrives, you might think youhave little control over your appetite.Yet, research shows that thedrive to eat often doesn’t have muchto do with actual hunger.“Your appetite can be influencedby the mere sight of food, the portionsizes, and what the peoplearound you are eating or ordering,”says Dr. Gerard J. Musante, author of“The Structure House Weight LossPlan.” Those are just a few of thefactors that cue you to eat when youdidn’t plan to, or overindulge whenyou only wanted a taste. Awarenessis key to controlling your appetite.Lighten up, literallyyou feel less inhibited andself-conscious; you’re moreapt to eat more, especiallywhen you’re with others.You can’t control a restaurant’slighting level, butyou can have a skim latte asdessert. At home, keep thelights bright at meals andreserve candlelight dinners forspecial occasions.And our temptation-taming tacticscan help.Temptation trigger: Generousplates and serving spoons; widedrinking glasses.The bigger the plate and servingutensil, the more you’ll dish out. Onestudy had people eat at an ice creamsocial, and those who were given alarge bowl and a three-ounce scooperate 53 percent more ice creamthan those given a smaller bowl anda two-ounce scooper. With beverages,research shows that peoplepour 28 percent more in short, wideglasses than into tall, skinny ones,says Dr. Brian Wansink, director ofthe food and brand lab at CornellUniversity.Slimming solution: Downsizeplates and utensils. If your dinnerdishes are larger than the standard10.5 inches, use a salad plate foryour main dish. Try a tip from Asiancultures and artfully arrange what’son your plate. A small serving of sirloin,for example, will be less likely toleave you hungering for more whensliced and fanned on a pretty plate.Also, use smaller serving utensils,such as soup spoons for doling outportions. Replace any squat tumblerswith tall, slender drinking glasses.Temptation trigger: Too manychoices.If you always try to have somethingnew for lunch and dinner, yourmeals are probably more of a caloriesplurge than you realize.“A varied diet stimulates your appetite,”says Dr. Hollie A. Raynor,a registered nurse and adjunct assistantprofessor of psychiatry andhuman behavior research at BrownMedical School in Providence, RhodeIsland. The more flavors, textures,and color a particular meal offersand the less often you eat something,the more you’ll be tempted toload up your plate, because the foodlooks good or you’re curious abouthow it will taste.Slimming solution: Downplay diversity.Come up with a standard repertoireof meals. It’s easy to get intothe habit of having the same healthybreakfast (whole-grain cereal, skimmilk, and fruit) five days a week, sowhy not do the same with dinner?Raynor suggests rotating among fiveor six of your favorite healthy core entrees.You can branch out one night aweek, if you feel you need to. To beatboredom and boost your diet’s overallnutrient content, vary the fruit andveggies you use in the repeat meals.Dessert can be the same small dish oflow-fat yogurt every night, jazzed upwith almonds, walnuts, strawberries,kiwi, fresh pineapple, or whatever’sin season.At holiday parties and other eventswith an appetizer or buffet spread,“Follow the rule of two,” suggestsWansink. That is, don’t put more thantwo foods on your plate at any giventime. By doing so, “you intuitivelylimit your choices, while focusing onyour favorite foods, so you don’t feeldeprived,” he says. In one study, Wansinkconducted, participants who followedthat guideline ended up eating36 percent less than those who didn’tover the course of an evening.Another trick: When buying foodthat comes in flavors, such as yogurtand salad dressing, buy only one flavorat a time. One study found that

At holiday parties witha buffet spread, followthe “rule of two.” Thatis, don’t put more thantwo foods on your plateat any given time.those who were offered three yogurtflavors ate 23 percent more thanthose who were offered only one.Temptation trigger: Eating whiledoing anything else.Most people are guilty of driving,watching TV, or reading while noshingon something.“When we multitask with food,we consume more without realizingit and sacrifice a feeling of satisfaction,”says Dr. Susan Albers, apsychologist at the Cleveland ClinicFamily Health Center in Wooster,Ohio, and author of “Eat Q: Unlockthe Weight-loss Power of EmotionalIntelligence.”It’s an easy way to consume morewithout even realizing it and sacrificinga feeling of satisfaction. Albersrelates the story of a client who hada habit of eating lunch while drivingfrom one job to another.“One day, she was so distractedwith driving and thinking about herjob that she actually had to open herlunch bag at a stoplight to see if hersandwich was gone,” Albers says. (Itwas.) Sound familiar?Slimming solution: Make mealsimportant.“No matter how busy you are, finda distraction-free spot to sit and eat,”suggests Albers. Make a habit of takingone mindful bite at the beginningof each meal and then putting yourutensil down. This serves as a speedbump and slows the pace of the entiremeal. For a similar effect, ditchyour fork and knife for chopsticks,no matter what type of cuisine you’rehaving. And if you can’t avoid eatingwhile doing something else, preportionyour food and tell yourself,“No seconds.”Temptation trigger: The food onthe counter.If you frequently cross paths withthe office candy bowl, you probablyrealize that the mere sight of food cancause unplanned eating. In a study inwhich office workers kept Hersheykisses in either see-through dishesor in opaque, lidded jars, those withthe see-through dishes ate two morechocolates daily. That translates to 50calories a day, which adds up to anextra five pounds per year.Slimming solution: Stash foodout of sight. At home, keep cereal,crackers, and holiday treats hiddenin a top cabinet, and store extras inthe basement or pantry. Researchshows that people tend to store theirinventory in visible areas consumeit quickly until it’s depleted to manageablelevels. Also, “wrap leftoversin aluminum foil, not plastic wrap,”adds Musante, so you won’t constantlybe tempted when openingthe refrigerator.At work, place treats in dark containers,preferably in a distant officerefrigerator, not in your desk drawer.You’ll eat even less if it takes effort,such as having to reach or take awalk to access food. If the communalgoodie jar resides on the desk ofsomeone who sits nearby, offer to fillit — and then do so with treats youdon’t like.Temptation trigger: Entrée envy.“Research shows that you can beinfluenced by other people’s fooddecisions,” says Musante. When outto eat, if everyone orders cocktails,appetizers and dessert, you’re apt togo with the flow.Slimming solution: Be the first toorder. Speak up quickly and order asalad and grilled salmon.“You’ll have a positive effect onwhat others choose — and will beless likely to see lots of temptingfoods,” says Musante. If everyonewants dessert, order one and split it.December 2013 • QUEENS Family 23

RELATIONSHIPSYou pick your lawyerDIVORCE &SEPARATIONLEE CHABIN, ESQ.Ireceived a call from a man interestedin mediation. Ultimately,his wife did not want to pursueit, and since mediation requires thatboth spouses agree to the process,we never met for a session. That’s asit should be. Mediation is a voluntaryprocess. The parties have freedomto reach their own agreements — ornot to agree, and not even to attenda first session.The man, who also has kids, calledme sometime later. He thanked mefor informing him about how mediationworks, even though he was unableto participate himself. He said heliked mediation’s forward-looking approachthat encourages parties to examineand understand their currentsituations, and to consider their respectiveneeds (and their children’s).With that foundation, spouses arehelped to develop options to meetthose needs, which often includemoney and a place to live, returningto school, or changing careers.The past is not ignored in mediation,but it is de-emphasized. Unlikethe courts, which weigh and assessblame for past actions, mediatorshelp the parties to deal with the hereand now, and with how to plan forand create the most positive futurefor each family member.The man shared with me that hehad hired an attorney, as his wifehad done earlier. Further, he saidthat he liked my approach (really theapproach of many mediators) muchbetter than his lawyer’s. His lawyerwas being antagonistic towards hisspouse and looking for what his clientcould get, seemingly without anyregard for the effects his aggressivetactics might have on the future parentingrelationship and the impacton the children — which were verymuch at the forefront of the client’smind.The client seemed to believe thathis divorce case would have a betteroutcome, for his wife and childrenas well as for himself, if his lawyerwere open to working cooperativelywith opposing counsel (whileof course safeguarding his client’srights) rather than behaving like asteamroller.Yet, the man was apparently reluctantto openly question his attorney— and this reluctance, to mymind, is a great problem that manyclients have.I did not advise the caller, anddo not know who was representinghim. But I did share the thought that,“your attorney works for you.”In mediation, the lawyers are acknowledgedto be experts — in thelaw, that is. But they are not the expertswhen it comes to their clients’lives. The clients themselves are theexperts in that realm.Think about it — who knows betterabout your wants and needs,you or your lawyer? Who knowsyour children better, you and yourspouse, or your attorney who hasprobably never met your kids?Your legal eagle can help you getwhere you want to go, but shouldn’tyou be the pilot, or perhaps moreappropriately, the co-pilot in yourown case?It is not uncommon (but it is mostunfortunate), that clients allow oreven look to their lawyers to make allof the important decisions about theclients’ lives. Whereas, in my view,the more preferable relationship forboth client and attorney is a partnershipbetween them, where clientscan easily ask questions, and theirexpertise in their own lives is fullyrespected.Your lawyer is there to advise andadvocate for you, and you shouldcarefully consider everything he hasto say. But you are the one writing thecheck, and ultimately many decisionscome down to you, including whetherthe attorney you have interviewed orhired is the right one for you.New York City- and Long Island-basedfamily and divorce mediator and collaborativedivorce lawyer Lee Chabin,Esq., helps clients resolve their disputesrespectfully and without going to court.He is also the director of Training andCourt Program Development at CommunityMediation Services, Inc. in Queens.Contact him at lee_chabin@lc-mediate.com or (718) 229–6149, or go to http://lcmediate.com/.Like him on Facebook.Disclaimer: All material in this columnis for informational purposes onlyand does not constitute legal advice.24 QUEENS Family • December 2013

THE RHYTHM OF NEW YORKSecond Avenue at 8th Street (800) 982-2787www.stomponline.com Connect with us:December 2013 • QUEENS Family 25

ADVICETill death do us partSafeguard your children’s future with a willASK ANATTORNEYALISON ARDEN BESUNDER,ESQ.All of my assets are held in joint accountswith my spouse. Do I still needa will? Also, my spouse refuses to goto an estate-planning attorney or toeven discuss doing his will. I am reallyconcerned about naming a guardianfor my kids and don’t want to leavethem unprotected. Do I have to waitfor him or can I do my documents onmy own?There are two types of assetswhen it comes to administeringan estate, in other words,transferring title to assets. There are“probate” and “non-probate” assets.Probate assets are transferred bya person appointed by the court asthe representative of the estate, whothen marshals the assets and distributesthem either pursuant to a LastWill and Testament, or, if there is nowill, by the law of descent.Non-probate assets are those thatare transferred by operation of law,by presentation of a death certificate.Joint bank accounts, most retirementaccounts, and life insuranceare non-probate assets if a beneficiaryis properly named.A will is still recommended evenif you think that all of your assetsare non-probate. First, for parentsof children under the age of 18,a will is necessary to nominate aguardian for your children and atrustee to oversee funds left to achild. Absent a will, any assets leftto a minor child must be held jointlyby any guardian (appointed by thecourt) and the Clerk of the Court,requiring permission to take anymoney out. The child also has legaltitle to the property when he becomes18, which is not always advisableor desired.Second, there is almost always anasset that materializes that requiressome form of proceeding, either aSocial Security check or paycheckissued just prior to death, a car, orjust personal property. Third, yourjoint or non-probate assets mightnot be distributed as you intended.Say you have three joint or “In TrustFor” accounts, one for each of yourchildren. You fund them with equalamounts, but as time goes on, youdraw on those accounts for your livingexpenses, not always proportionately.At your death, one child mighthave a balance that is higher thanthe other. The inequality can spurdisputes that can cost more than theproceeds in the accounts.Clients often avoid executing awill, because it forces them to makedifficult decisions they would rathernot, while considering their ownmortality. However, the failure tomake a decision is in itself a decisionto defer to the state laws dictatingwho gets your assets when you die.You might not want your spouseto inherit 50 percent of your assetsoutright, with your minor childrengetting the other half.A will allows you to put certainprotections in place, like a testamentarytrust, that would protect yourassets if your spouse remarries andensure that the assets pass to yourchildren. This is especially criticalin a second marriage. A will allowsyou to specify who will inherit and inwhat proportion.As for the second question, youare not obligated to wait for yourspouse to make a will. There are certainlaws about a minimum amountyou must leave to a spouse — calleda “right of election” — but you canmake a will without your spouse’sconsent or knowledge. If you havea pre-nuptial agreement that givescertain parameters about what youare promising to leave in a will, youshould be mindful of that, but it stilldoes not impact your ability to executea will on your own.Alison Arden Besunder is the foundingattorney of the law firm of ArdenBesunder P.C., where she assists newand not-so-new parents with their estateplanningneeds. Her firm assists clientsin Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau,and Suffolk Counties. You can findBesunder on Twitter @estatetrustplanand on her website at www.besunderlaw.com.Disclaimer: This column is provided by the Law Offices of Alison Arden Besunder P.C. and New York Parenting Media as a public service to inform readers of legal issues. It is not intended to advise. Since legal issues vary with an individual’ssituation and needs, one should consult with an attorney. It is impossible to cover all aspects of the law in an article. Please be advised that the laws are constantly changing. The content in this article reflects the current law. Nothing containedin this article is intended as advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and the firm. Individual consultation with an attorney is required to determine the specific facts and circumstances of any particular situation.A written retainer agreement between you and the firm is required before any attorney-client relationship may be created. Circular 230 Disclosure Notice: To ensure compliance with Treasury Department rules governing tax practice, weinform you that any advice contained herein (including in any attachment) (1) was not written and is not intended to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalty that may be imposed on the taxpayer, and(2) may not be used in connection with promoting, marketing or recommending to another person any transaction or matter addressed herein.26 QUEENS Family • December 2013

BOOKS booksTake a bite out of ‘Carnivores’THE BOOKWORMTERRI SCHLICHENMEYERYour child loves gettingpresents.You’re happyshe always says, “Thankyou,” but you’d like her tosee how good it feels togive as well.In the new book“Boris and Stella andthe Perfect Gift” by DaraGoldman, your childwill learn that giving issometimes better than receiving.The city was a perfect place tolive for Boris and Stella. Every day,Stella baked desserts at the bakerynext door, and every night Boris wentdownstairs and played the piano, fillingthe air with the songs he learnedgrowing up in Russia.They didn’t have a lot of money,but they had each other, and thatwas enough.Nearing Hanukkah, Stella shookher savings jar — and there wasn’tmuch in there. So she took her littlepine tree, the one that came from herfamily’s farm in Italy, and she sold it tothe owner of a local flower shop. Thatwould give her enough coins to buy adreidel for Boris.Back home, Boris was thinking.Christmas was coming, and he wantedto give Stella something beautiful. Butthere wasn’t much in his savings jar,so he got an idea. He would sell hisdreidel collection, the one that hisparents gave him for Hanukkah whenhe was little. That would give him justenough to buy something “dazzling”for Stella’s little pine tree.On the last night of Hanukkah,after lighting the candles of the menorah,Stella had a wonderful gift to giveBoris. But before she could hand himthe box Boris exclaimed — “BozheMoi!” — as he noticed somethingmissing. And just after he opened hergift — “Mamma Mia!” — Stella noticedsomething missing, too.So your Christmas tree is decoratedwith dreidels and gelt. Oryour Hanukkah celebration includescandy canes and wreaths. Whateverholiday your family holds dear,“Boris and Stella and the PerfectIs your son getting picked on byother kids? Does he need a littlereminder that differences arewhat make us special, and even thetoughest people were once teased?In the new book “Carnivores” byAaron Reynolds, illustrated by DanSantat, you’ll see that even the biggest,most ferocious animals can gettheir feelings hurt.Very few things in the world arescarier than lions, sharks, and wolves.The lion is king of the jungle, right?Everybody’s terrified of seeing a sharkunderwater. And the howl of a wolf?Your spine tingles when you hear it.So imagine how terrible thosefierce beasts felt when the other animalsgave them nasty looks, talkedbehind their backs, made up meanrumors about them, or sneered atthem. It didn’t feel good becausethey just couldn’t help having sharpclaws, big fangs, or “scary eyes.”That’s just the way they were.Because nobody else would makefriends with the lion, the wolf, orthe shark, the three carnivores befriendedone another. Pretty soon,they started discussing their problemand the wolf suggested that theybecome vegetarians. Maybe, if theydidn’t eat the other animals, the otheranimals might like them better.But salad has a way of gettinglodged in teeth. Seaweed tastes reallyyucky. And it’s simply impossible toavoid bunnies when you’re huntingfor berries. Being vegetarians wasabsolutely not going to work.Then the shark thought maybecamouflage was a great idea. But thelion got caught because he had “zebrabreath,” and the wolf drooled. Thatmade it hard to hide in plain sight, socamo wouldn’t work, either.Then the lion thought of an idea:the owl was a predator. Had beenfor years, and lots of animals likedhim. Maybe they could ask the owlhow he coped with rumors, nastylooks, and whispers. He’d know howto turn a bad reputation around. Thewise old owl would surely have a fewdelicious ideas.No doubt about it: kids love sharks,lions, wolves, gators — anythingfierce and with teeth. That makes“Carnivores” perfect to bite into.I absolutely loved the silliness insidethis story. AuthorAaron Reynolds lets the predators bethe victims here, which puts a sort ofWoody-Allen spin on the poor, beleagueredmeat-eaters. It’s hilarious tosee each carnivore as he tries not tohurt the feelings of the animals he’sabout to invite to dinner, so to speak.This story itself is perfectly pulledtogether by the illustrations fromDan Santat. Your child will probablypoint them out to you, but be sure topay close attention to the details inthis book. They are ferociously cute.Kids ages 5-to-8 are going to howlat this book and grown-ups who getto read it aloud will enjoy it, too. Ifyour child loves things that fight andbite, “Carnivores” will be a big hit.“Carnivores,” by Aaron Reynolds [40pages, 2013, $16.99].Teach your child about the gift of givingGift” lives up to its perfect title.Savvy adults may quickly noticesomething here, though: author-illustratorDara Goldman drew fromclassic literature to convert this “Giftof the Magi”-like tale of love andsacrifice into something easier forsmaller children to understand. Indeed,the adorable illustrations hereare very kid-friendly, so if your childis too young to know the O. Henrystory (or if you’re unfamiliar), that’sperfectly okay.If the “ it’s better to give than receive”message is something your4-to-8-year-old needs this holidayseason, here’s a good start for teachingthat lesson. For her, “Boris andStella and the Perfect Gift” is a bookshe’ll rrrrrrrrip into.“Boris and Stella and the PerfectGift,” by Dara Goldman [32 pages, 2013,$15.99].Terri Schlichenmeyer has been readingsince she was 3 years old, andshe never goes anywhere without abook. She lives on a hill with two dogsand 12,000 books.December 2013 • QUEENS Family 27

CalendarDecember28 QUEENS Family • December 2013Walk on thewild sideAlley Pond EnvironmentalCenter needs help caringfor its animals!Children ages 8–12 can participatein a fun workshop where theywill brush, clean, and feed someof the furry and four-legged residents.Snacks for the children will beprovided. They’ll even get an animalcare trainee certificate to takehome.Dec. 7 at 10 am. $21.Alley Pond Environmental Center[228–06 Northern Blvd. in Douglaston,(718) 229–4000, www.alleypond.com]

Our online calendar is updated daily at www.NYParenting.com/calendarCalendarSubmit a listingThis calendar is dedicated tobringing our readers the mostcomprehensive list of events inyour area. But to do so, we needyour help!Send your listing request toqueens calendar@cnglocal.com— and we’ll take care of the rest.Please e-mail requests morethan three weeks prior to theevent to ensure we have enoughtime to get it in. And best of all,it’s FREE!Sat, Nov. 30Further AfieldBari Koral Family Rock Band:Long Island Children’s Museum, 11Davis Ave. at West Road, Long Island;(516) 224–5800; www.licm.org;11:30 am and 2 pm; $5 with museumadmission.Children enjoy a rocking concert.Sun, Dec. 1In QueensHanukkah Oh Hanukkah: FlushingTown Hall, 137-35 Northern Boulevard;(718) 463–7700; www.flushingtownhall.org;1 and 3 pm; $10 ($5 membersand children).Celebrate the festival of lights withstoryteller Robin Bady and violinistDeni Bonet.Singing in the Christmas Season:St. Raphael Church, 35-20 GreenpointAve., at Borden Avenue; (718)729–8957; 3 pm; Free.The program will offer spoken lessons,a sing-along of familiar Christmashymns, choir and organ solos.Caribbean Splash: Central Library,89-11 Merrick Blvd.; (718) 990–0700;www.queenslibrary.org; 3 pm; Free.Caribbean Splash is a unique andeclectic band that combines thesounds of the steelpan and soulfulsinging with tropical rhythms.Mon, Dec. 2In QueensFlamenco Christmas: Far RockawayPublic Library, 1637 Central Ave.at Mott Avenue; (718) 327–2549;www.queenslibrary.org; 3:30 pm; Free.Teens will be introduced to therhythms and emotions of flamenco, itsorigins in Southern Spain and its multiculturalinfluences.Hanukkah Story and Craft: CentralLibrary, 89-11 Merrick Blvd.; (718)990–0700; www.queenslibrary.org; 4pm; Free.Louis Armstrong MuseumStep back in timeThe 26th Annual HistoricHoliday House Tour offersa rare opportunity to visitseveral historic houses and learntheir stories in just one day onDec. 8.A trolley will set the moodand take you to the KingslandHomestead, Voelker OrthHouse, Lewis. H. Latimer House,the Louis Armstrong House Museum,Friends Meeting House,Children ages 5-12 learn about Hanukkah,make a craft to take home,and play games.Winter Wonderland Art: SeasidePublic Library, 116-15 Rockaway Blvd.;(718) 634–1876; www.queenslibrary.org; 4 pm; Free.Teaching artist Sophia Skeans exploresa variety of seasonal art projectswith children ages 4-12.Korean Music: Flushing Public Library,41-17 Main St. at Parsons Boulevard;(718) 661–1200; www.queenslibrary.org;6:30 pm; Free.The Queens Library InternationalResource Center presents a journeyof world music based on traditionalsounds of Korea and extending to NewYork, Israel, India, Malaysia and thePhilippines.and Flushing Town Hall. Delicioustreats and fun activitiesround out this trip into yesteryear.Dec. 8 from 1–5 pm. $10 in advanceand $12 at the door. Children12 and under are free.Kingsland Homestead [143-3537th Ave., between 37th Avenue andNorthern Boulevard in Flushing,(718) 939–0647, www.queenshistoricalsociety.org.]Tues, Dec. 3In QueensLong Island City Walk: Long IslandCity Public Library, 37-44 21 St. at 43rdAvenue; www.queenslibrary.org; 9 am;Free.Queens Library is sponsoring a walkingcompetition. At the end of thecompetition, participants will be invitedto a final party and awarded certificatesof participation.Celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas,and Kwanzaa: East Elmhurst PublicLibrary, 95-06 Astoria Blvd. at 95thStreet; (718) 424–2619; www.queenslibrary.org;3:30 pm; Free.Local artist Geraldine Benfante willlead children and teens in grades kindergartenthrough 12th in a discussionabout the meaning of Hanukkah,Christmas, and Kwanzaa, and guidethem in creating art to celebrate theholiday of their choice.Magic Show with Seth Dale: SeasidePublic Library, 116-15 RockawayBlvd.; (718) 634–1876; www.queenslibrary.org;4 pm; Free.Internationally acclaimed magicianSeth Dale will shock and amaze in thismagical celebration!Wed, Dec. 4In QueensFranken Science: New York Hall ofScience, 47-01 111th St. at Avenue ofScience; (718) 699–0005 X 353; www.nyscience.org; 3:30–6 pm; Free withmuseum admission.Children in grades three to fourbecome mad scientists and learn allabout science.Decoupage Bracelets: CentralLibrary, 89-11 Merrick Blvd.; (718)990–0700; www.queenslibrary.org; 4pm; Free.Create beautiful and unique artdeco-styled bracelets using decoupagetechniques.Thurs, Dec. 5In QueensWeird Science: New York Hall ofScience, 47-01 111th St. at Avenue ofScience; (718) 699–0005 X 353; www.nyscience.org; 3:30–6 pm; Free withmuseum admission.Children in first and second gradecan explore the weird and fascinatingworld of science with fun hands-onactivities.Craft time: Howard Beach Library,92-06 156th Avenue; (718) 641–7086;www.queenslibrary.org; 3:30–5 pm;Free.Children 4 to 12 years old make funprojects.Project Fashion Mavens: CentralLibrary, 89-11 Merrick Blvd.; (718)990–0700; www.queenslibrary.org;4:30 pm; Free.If you’re interested in fashion, orwould like to work in the fashion marketingindustry, this program for teensages 13 to 18 is for you!“The Offenders”: Langston HughesPublic Library, 100-01 Northern Blvd.;(718) 651–1100; www.queenslibrary.org; 4:30 pm; Free.Professional artist and author JerryCraft discusses his newest novel, “TheOffenders,” and presents a cartooningand anti-bullying workshop foryoung people age 10 and up and theirfamilies.Japanese Anime CharacterDrawing: RESOBOX, 41-26 27th St.;(718) 784–3680; resobox.com/japa-Continued on page 30December 2013 • QUEENS Family 29

CalendarOur online calendar is updated daily at www.NYParenting.com/calendarContinued from page 29nese-anime-character-drawing-classkids;4:30 pm; $100 per month.In this class, students explore Japanesecontemporary drawing style tocreate kawaii characters of their ownvision and design.Fri, Dec. 6In QueensA Reptile “Edventure”: JacksonHeights Public Library, 35-51 81st St. atNorthern Boulevard; (718) 899–2500;www.queenslibrary.org; 4 pm; Free.An educational experience withErik Callender allows children ages 6and up the unique opportunity to see,touch, and learn about reptiles, amphibians,and even some large insectsfrom around the world.Celebrate a Polish Christmas:Ridgewood Public Library, 20-12Madison St. at Forest Avenue; (718)821–4770; www.queenslibrary.org; 5pm; Free.Piotr Rudzinski is an actor, guitarist,and singer from Poland who will beperforming Polish carols.Further AfieldA Night at the Museum Sleepovers:American Museum of NaturalHistory, Central Park West at 79thStreet, Manhattan; (212) 769–5200;www.amnh.org; 6 pm; $145 per person,$135 (members).Break out your sleeping bags andexperience the museum like never before.This unique after-hours programwill thrill kids ages 6 to 13 and theircaregivers.Sat, Dec. 7In QueensAnimal Care Trainee Workshop:Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd.; (718) 229–4000; 10am; $21 per child.This program teaches children aboutthe interesting job of an animal caretaker.Children will have hands-on experiencein feeding, brushing, cleaning,and learning all about the needs of thecenter’s animals.Wreath-Making Workshop:Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50Little Neck Pkwy.; (718) 347–3276;www.queensfarm.org; 10 am, Noon,and 2 pm; $20.Make a beautiful evergreen wreathat our enjoyable workshops. All materialsprovided, you only need to bring agarden shear.Farmers Market 2.0: New York Hallof Science, 47-01 111th St. at Avenueof Science; (718) 699–0005 X 353;www.nyscience.org; Noon–4 pm; Freewith museum admission.Learn about food and ways to30 QUEENS Family • December 2013preserve, prepare, and plant it withhands-on activities, demos, and chatswith local urban farmers, picklers, andbeekeepers.Drop-in Moving Image Studio:Museum of the Moving Image, 36-0135th Ave.; (718) 777–6888; www.movingimage.us; Noon; Free with museumadmission.Visitors engage in hands-on creativework, making projects ranging fromflipbooks to stop-motion and computeranimations, and video games.Holiday Season Concert: FlushingPublic Library, 41-17 Main St. at ParsonsBoulevard; (718) 661–1200; www.queenslibrary.org; 1:30 pm; Free.The New York Vocal Artists ResearchCenter will perform Christmas carols,Chinese and Russian folk songs, andItalian opera arias.Nature’s Snoozers: Alley Pond EnvironmentalCenter, 228-06 NorthernBlvd.; (718) 229–4000; 1:30 pm; $21per child.Children discover which animals hibernateand how they prepare for theirlong, winter sleep.Gingerbread House Workshop:New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111thSt. at Avenue of Science; (718) 699–0005 X 353; www.nyscience.org; 2–4pm; Free with museum admission.Participants will receive a kit withpieces, icing, and candy to make theirown gingerbread house.The Swingin’ Side of the Blues:Cambria Heights Public Library, 218-13Linden Blvd. between 218th and 219thstreets; (718) 528–3535; www.queenslibrary.org;3 pm; Free.Blues singer and guitarist Eddie LeeIsaacs mixes jazz with the blues in thisperformance.Sun, Dec. 8In QueensWreath-Making Workshop: 10am, Noon, and 2 pm. Queens CountyFarm Museum. See Saturday, Dec. 7.A festival of fairy talesFirebone Theatre presents “Long,Long, Ago,” a musical mash up ofthree popular fairy tales beginningon Dec. 5 at Space 38|39.This production combines Oscar Wilde’s“The Selfish Giant,” Charles Perrault’s“The Fairies,” and the GrimmBrothers’ “Hans Dumm” into a uniqueholiday festival series of performancesfor all ages. Families will enjoy music,laughter, and the ever-comforting milkMicroscope discoveries: AlleyPond Environmental Center, 228-06Northern Blvd.; (718) 229–4000; 10:30am–12:30 pm and 2–5:30 pm; $24.Children 8-12 years old learn howto use a microscope, who inventedit, and why we use it. Pre-registrationrequired.Winter Solstice Celebration andTree Lighting Ceremony: QueensBotanical Garden, 43-50 Main St.;(718) 539–5296; www.queensbotanical.org;Noon–5 pm; Free.Get into the holiday spirit with anafternoon of activities, including a wintergarden tour, crafts, and live musicalperformances, as well as a HolidayMarketplace. Tree lighting at 4:30 pmand photos with Santa from 1 to 2pm.Flushing Historic House Tour:Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 NorthernBlvd.; (718) 463–7700; www.flushingtownhall.org;1 pm; $12, $10 (in advance),Free (children under 12).Seven historic sites invite you to celebratethe holiday season and learnabout the houses and their unique histories.Each site will offer special activitiesand refreshments. A trolley will beavailable to take you from one houseto the next.Adventure Hour: Alley Pond EnvironmentalCenter, 228-06 NorthernBlvd.; (718) 229–4000; 1:30 pm; $16per child.This class will offer toddlers andtheir parents or caregivers an opportunityto socialize and learn about naturein a relaxed environment.“The Berenstain Bears Live!”:New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111thSt. at Avenue of Science; (718) 699–0005 X 353; www.nyscience.org; 3pm; Free with museum admission.The cast of “The Berenstain BearsLIVE!” performs “Fluff on yourTummy,” the energized dance numberfrom the off-Broadway show, with activitiesfollowing the performance.and cookies.“Long, Long, Ago” Dec. 5 throughDec. 20, at 7 pm, with special performanceson Dec. 7 at 2 pm, Dec. 10 at11 am, Dec. 14 at 2 pm, and Dec. 17 at11 am. Tickets are $20 for adults, and$15 for children 15 and under, whichincludes the cookies and milk.Space 38|39 (38 W. 39th St. between Fifthand Sixth avenues in the Garment District,www.firebonetheatre.com).Thurs, Dec. 12In QueensDecorate a Holiday Cupcake:Windsor Park Public Library, 79-50 BellBlvd. at 73rd Avenue; (718) 468–8300;www.queenslibrary.org; 4 pm; Free.Young people in grades four andup will decorate their own festive andyummy cupcake this holiday season.Japanese Anime CharacterDrawing: 4:30 pm. RESOBOX. SeeThursday, Dec. 5.Navidad Flamenca: Flushing PublicLibrary, 41-17 Main St. at Parsons Boulevard;(718) 661–1200; www.queenslibrary.org;6 pm; Free.This performance highlights the richholiday customs of the Spanish-speakingworld, from Argentina and Mexicoto Colombia, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.Fri, Dec. 13In QueensMusical Holiday Celebration:East Elmhurst Public Library, 95-06Astoria Blvd. at 95th Street; (718)424–2619; www.queenslibrary.org; 7pm; Free.Head to the library for a musical holidayevent the whole family will enjoy!Sat, Dec. 14In Queens29th Annual Langston HughesKwanzaa Celebration: LangstonHughes Public Library, 100-01Northern Blvd.; (718) 651–1100; www.queenslibrary.org; 10:30 am; Free.This all-day celebration for thewhole family includes a film screening,African folktales, drums, dancing, craftworkshops for children and teens, andcrafts on sale for holiday shopping.Snowy Evergreen Wreath Decoration:Alley Pond EnvironmentalCenter, 228-06 Northern Blvd.; (718)229–4000; 10:30 am; $24 per child.Children create snowy, evergreen

Our online calendar is updated daily at www.NYParenting.com/calendarCalendarwreath banners to take home. Programincludes a walk along the center’strails and a cup of hot cocoa withice cream snowballs.Storybook Discovery: VoelkerOrth Museum, 149-19 38th Ave.; (718)359–6227; www.vomuseum.org; 11am–noon; Free.Children listen to a story in a cozyliving room environment. Suggestedfor children 6 years and older.Hands-on History: King ManorMuseum, Jamaica Ave. between150th and 153rd streets; (718)206–0545; www.nycgovparks.org/events/2013/12/14/handson-historysnowflakes-are-falling;Noon–3 pm;Free.Learn about historic winter fun,read stories, and make snowflakes andother seasonal decorations.Drop-in Moving Image Studio:Noon. Museum of the Moving Image.See Saturday, Dec. 7.Poetic Fantasia: Flushing Public Library,41-17 Main St. at Parsons Boulevard;(718) 661–1200; www.queenslibrary.org;1:30 pm; Free.Uncle Yao’s Chorus will perform acollection of timeless masterpieces ofChinese folk songs conceived by theprolific composer Wang Luo Bin.Safari story time: Alley Pond EnvironmentalCenter, 228-06 NorthernBlvd.; (718) 229–4000; 1:30–3 pm;$18.Children 3 to 4 years old listen tonature-related stories, plus enjoy anactivity. Pre-registration required.Mestizo Music of Peru: RidgewoodPublic Library, 20-12 MadisonSt. at Forest Avenue; (718) 821–4770;www.queenslibrary.org; 2:30 pm; Free.Inkarayku uses Andean and Europeaninstruments to perform traditionalmusic from the northern coastand Andean highlands and valleys ofPeru.Folk Dances of Paraguay: FlushingPublic Library, 41-17 Main St. at ParsonsBoulevard; (718) 661–1200; www.queenslibrary.org; 5 pm; Free.Panambi Vera Ballet Folklórico Paraguayode Nueva York performs thebeautiful dances of Paraguay.Winter Solstice Star Celebration:Alley Pond Environmental Center,228-06 Northern Blvd.; (718) 229–4000; 7:30 pm; $18 per person.Join professor and astronomer MarkFreilich for an evening of star gazingand a party in celebration of the wintersolstice.Sun, Dec. 15Fun in ToylandLaGuardia PerformingArts Center’s annualshow, “Nutcracker andToyland,” is back on Dec. 14.Watch as Clara dances anddreams through this musicalmust-see. After the show, childrenwill get to meet SantaIn QueensBeeswax candle workshop: TheShops at SkyView Center, 40-24 CollegePoint Blvd.; (718) 460–2000; elagasse@quinnandco.com;www.shopskyviewcenter.com;2–4 pm; Free.Children make a handmade candle.QBG Craft Table: Sky View Center,40-24 College Point Blvd.; 2–4 pm;Free.Learn how to make beeswax candleswith staff from the Queens BotanicalGarden.An Irish Christmas: Flushing PublicLibrary, 41-17 Main St. at Parsons Boulevard;(718) 661–1200; www.queenslibrary.org;2 pm; Free.Enjoy a concert of timeless Christmasclassics and new holiday favorites,including traditional Irish songs, tunes,dances, and storytelling, too!“Holidays Around the World”:LeFrak Concert Hall, 65-30 KissenaBlvd.; (718) 544–2996; ninell.silberberg@qc.cuny.edu;www.kupferbergcenter.org;3 pm; $20 ($10 children andseniors).Family concert series presented bythe Queens Symphony Orchestra, featuringtraditional holiday music.Dominican Merengue: CentralLibrary, 89-11 Merrick Blvd.; (718)990–0700; www.queenslibrary.org; 3pm; Free.Enjoy a unique presentation of traditionalDominican merengue, or “merenguetípico,” and “merenhouse,” ablend of merengue with American hiphopand rap.Mon, Dec. 16In QueensHaitian Christmas in Song: SouthHollis Public Library, 204-01 HollisAve. at 204th Street; (718) 465–6779;www.queenslibrary.org; 4 pm; Free.Get into the spirit of the season withtraditional Haitian Christmas carolssung by Rol’hans Innocent.Christmas Celebratory Concert:Flushing Public Library, 41-17 Main St.at Parsons Boulevard; (718) 661–1200;www.queenslibrary.org; 6 pm; Free.Hannah Hsu Wang, concert pianist,will lead the Flushing Union BibleChurch Choir in Christmas carols.and receive a special gift.Dec. 14 at 3 pm. $15 in advanceand $20 at the door.LaGuardia Community College[31-10 Thompson Ave., atSkillman Avenue in Long IslandCity, (718) 482–5151, www.lagcc.cuny.edu.]Talent and Variety Show: LeffertsPublic Library, 103-34 Lefferts Blvd. at103rd Avenue; (718) 843–5950; www.queenslibrary.org; 6 pm; Free.Show off your talent and have ajolly good time at this talent and varietyshow.Tues, Dec. 17In QueensDrama Posse: Hillcrest Public Library,187-05 Union Tpke. at 188th Street;(718) 454–2786; www.queenslibrary.org; 4:30 pm; Free.Children and teens ages 8 to 14are invited to participate in the DramaPosse as actors, musicians, sceneryartists, sound effects techs andstagehands.Origami Christmas Decorations:Woodside Library, 54-22 Skillman Ave.;(718) 429–4700; www.queenslibrary.org; 5:30 pm; Free.Join origami artist Nesta Wu in ademonstration of how to make Christmastree decorations from recycledpaper.Thurs, Dec. 19In QueensWinter Holiday Arts and Crafts:Hillcrest Public Library, 187-05 UnionTpke. at 188th Street; (718) 454–2786;www.queenslibrary.org; 4:30 pm; Free.Children ages 6 to 14 will create anoriginal gift and special card for friendsand family members.Japanese Anime CharacterDrawing: 4:30 pm. RESOBOX. SeeThursday, Dec. 5.Christmas Piano Recital: FlushingPublic Library, 41-17 Main St. at ParsonsBoulevard; (718) 661–1200; www.queenslibrary.org; 6 pm; Free.Students of Vivian Fang Liu performclassical piano pieces, Broadway showtunes, and Christmas carols.Fri, Dec. 20In QueensWinter Wonderland HolidayParty: Briarwood Public Library, 85-12 Main St. at Village Road; (718)658–1680; www.queenslibrary.org; 4pm; Free.There’s holiday fun for school-agechildren at this Winter Wonderlandparty.Winter Solstice Celebration:Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd.;(718) 990–0700; www.queenslibrary.org; 4 pm; Free.Mark the shortest day of the yearand the beginning of winter with storiesand a craft.Sat, Dec. 21In QueensSafari time: Alley Pond EnvironmentalCenter, 228-06 Northern Blvd.;(718) 229–4000; 11 am– noon; $12.Children 6 to 11 years old take awalk on the wild side and have a safarion the grounds. Pre-registrationrequired.Drop-in Moving Image Studio:Noon. Museum of the Moving Image.See Saturday, Dec. 7.Christmas Workshop: FlushingTown Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd.; (718)463–7700; www.flushingtownhall.org;1 pm; Free.Create beautiful Christmas wreathswith up-cycled fabrics, beads, and ribbons,which will be donated to localsenior centers in Queens.Winter Snow Globes Workshop:Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd.; (718) 229–4000; 1pm; $24 per person.Learn the scientific concepts of densityand properties of liquid through“colorful” experimentation. You’ll alsolearn about the history of snow globesand create your own snow globe.Slavic Arts Ensemble ChristmasConcert: Flushing Public Library, 41-17 Main St. at Parsons Boulevard; (718)661–1200; www.queenslibrary.org;1:30 pm; Free.At this concert, the Ensemble willperform European and AmericanContinued on page 32December 2013 • QUEENS Family 31

CalendarOur online calendar is updated daily at www.NYParenting.com/calendarContinued from page 31Christmas music.Nature workshop: Alley Pond EnvironmentalCenter, 228-06 NorthernBlvd.; (718) 229–4000; 1:30–3:30 pm;$21.Children 5 to 6 years old learn abouthow animals hibernate in the winter.Pre-registration required.Nature’s Snoozers: 1:30 pm. AlleyPond Environmental Center. See Saturday,Dec. 7.Kwanzaa Workshop: FlushingTown Hall, 137-35 Northern Boulevard;(718) 463–7700; www.flushingtownhall.org;3 pm; Free.Experts talk about the importanceof dress and personal style as manifestin the Kwanzaa principle of Kujichagulia,or Self-Determination.Thurs, Dec. 26In QueensJapanese Anime CharacterDrawing: 4:30 pm. RESOBOX. SeeThursday, Dec. 5.Fri, Dec. 27In QueensReMake the Holidays: New YorkHall of Science, 47-01 111th St. at Avenueof Science; (718) 699–0005 X 353;www.nyscience.org; 9:30 am–5 pm;Free with museum admission.Bend, twist, light, sculpt, and animatea new version of the holiday seasonwith workshops, demos, artist installations,and more.Mom’s Winter Break: Alley PondEnvironmental Center, 228-06 NorthernBlvd.; (718) 229–4000; 11 am; $24(Members), $30 (Non-members).Enjoy some well-deserved time foryourself while your children enjoy a funafternoon at the center, constructing agingerbread house and taking a winterwonderland scavenger hike.Holiday Open House: QueensCounty Farm Museum, 73-50 LittleNeck Pkwy.; (718) 347–3276; www.queensfarm.org; Noon–4 pm; Free.Enjoy tours of the decorated farmhouse,craft activity for children, andmulled cider.Sat, Dec. 28In QueensReMake the Holidays: 10 am–6pm. New York Hall of Science. See Friday,Dec. 27.Holiday Open House: Noon–4 pm.Queens County Farm Museum. See Friday,Dec. 27.Drop-in Moving Image Studio:Noon. Museum of the Moving Image.See Saturday, Dec. 7.Gingerbread House Workshop:2–4 pm. New York Hall of Science. SeeSaturday, Dec. 7.Sun, Dec. 29In QueensReMake the Holidays: 10 am–6pm. New York Hall of Science. See Friday,Dec. 27.Holiday Open House: Noon–4 pm.Queens County Farm Museum. See Friday,Dec. 27.Family Nature Crafts: Fort TottenVisitor’s Center, Ordinance Roadat Shore Road; (718) 352–1769; www.nycgovparks.org; 1 pm; Free.Learn about conservation througheco-crafts.Mon, Dec. 30In QueensReMake the Holidays: 9:30 am–5pm. New York Hall of Science. See Friday,Dec. 27.Animal Care Club: Alley Pond EnvironmentalCenter, 228-06 NorthernBlvd.; (718) 229–4000; 10 am; $21 perchild.Children will have hands-on experiencein feeding, brushing, cleaningand learning all about the needs of thecenter’s animals.Winter Wildlife: Alley Pond EnvironmentalCenter, 228-06 Northern Blvd.;(718) 229–4000; 10 am – noon; $21.Enjoy the birds, mammals, reptiles,and amphibians on the grounds, playgames, and do arts and crafts. For children3 through 7 years old. Pre-registrationrequired.Sounds of Science with Bashthe Trash: Sunnyside Library, 43-06Greenpoint Ave.; 3:30 pm; Free.Bash the Trash builds and performson musical instruments made from reusedand repurposed materials.The Music, the Rhythm, thePulse of Kwanzaa: Pomonok PublicLibrary, 158-21 Jewel Ave. at ParsonsBloulevard; (718) 591–4343; www.queenslibrary.org; 5 pm; Free.Musician, poet, and storyteller AtibaKwabena-Wilson brings forth thebeauty and joyousness of Kwanzaa inan uplifting program of music, dance,and celebration.Long-runningIn QueensGingerbread Lane: New York Hallof Science, 47-01 111th St., at Avenueof Science; (718) 699–0005 X 353;www.nyscience.org; Tuesdays – Fridays,9:30 am–5 pm, Saturdays andSundays, 10 am – 6 pm, Now – Thurs,Dec. 12; Free with museum admission.It’s a 300-square-foot village madeentirely of edible gingerbread, royalicing and candy, and is a contenderfor the Guinness World Record for thelargest gingerbread exhibit.Playground: New York Hall of Science,47-01 111th St., at Avenue ofScience; (718) 699–0005 X 353; www.nyscience.org; Weekdays, 10 am–5 pm,Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am–6 pm,Now – Tues, Dec. 31; $4 per personplus museum admission.Children explore, discover and havefun in this outdoor playground withslides, seesaws and pits as well as fogmachines. Each session lasts 45 minutes;weather permitting.Space Junk 3D: New York Hall ofScience, 47-01 111th St., at Avenue ofScience; (718) 699–0005 X 353; www.nyscience.org; Tuesdays – Sundays, 10am–5pm, Now – Tues, Dec. 31; $6 ($5children) plus museum admission.Children experience collisions, soar22,000 miles above the earth and explorethe challenges faced in protectingour planet.Rocket Park Mini Golf: New YorkHall of Science, 47-01 111th St., at Avenueof Science; (718) 699–0005 X 353;www.nyscience.org; Saturdays andSundays, 10 am–6 pm, Now – Tues,Dec. 31; $6 ($5 children, plus museumadmission).Putt your way through a nine-holeminiature course that teaches the scienceof spaceflight.Drop-In Moving Image Studio:Museum of the Moving Image, 36-0135th Ave.; (718) 777–6888; www.movingimage.us; Saturday, Nov. 23,12 pm; Saturday, Nov. 30, 12 pm; Saturday,Dec. 7, 12 pm; Saturday, Dec.14, 12 pm; Saturday, Dec. 21, 12 pm;Saturday, Dec. 28, 12 pm; Free withmuseum admission.Young visitors 7 years and older engagein hands-on creative work.Flight of the Butterflies in 3D:New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111thSt., at Avenue of Science; (718) 699–0005 X 353; www.nyscience.org; Tuesdays– Fridays, 11 am, Noon & 2 pm,Saturdays and Sundays, Noon, 1, 2 & 3pm,; $6 (adults,) $5 (children, students& seniors,) plus NYSCI admission.Join millions of real butterflies on anamazing journey to a remote and secrethideaway in this award-winningfilm.Holiday Puppet Party Workshop:Museum of the Moving Image,36-01 35th Ave.; (718) 777–6888;www.movingimage.us; Sunday, Dec.1, 1:15 pm; Saturday, Dec. 21, 1:15 pm;Sunday, Dec. 22, 1:15 pm; Monday,Dec. 23, 1:15 pm; Thursday, Dec. 26,1:15 pm; Friday, Dec. 27, 1:15 pm; Saturday,Dec. 28, 1:15 pm; Sunday, Dec.29, 1:15 pm; Monday, Dec. 30, 1:15pm; Tuesday, Dec. 31, 1:15 pm; $10.Children will design their ownunique characters, and then take turnsperforming with them in a short televisedpuppet show.Story time: Barnes & Noble, 70-11Austin St.; (718) 793–1395; www.barnesandnoble.com; Wednesdays,10:30 am, Sundays, 2:30 pm, Now –Sat, Dec. 7; Free.Children hear stories from staffmembers and do a fun craft.Story time: Barnes and Noble, 23-80 Bell Blvd.; (718) 224–1083; www.barnesandnoble.com; Mondays, 11 am,Now – Mon, Dec. 2; Free.Join in for an exciting adventure atevery turn of the page.Rehearsals and auditions: Queenof Angels Church, 4404 Skillman Ave.at 45th Street; (917) 548–1086; unitystagecompany@gmail.com;www.unitystage.org; Thursdays, 4–5:30pm, Now – Fri, March 7, 2014; call forprices.Unity Stage is offering children ingrades Kindergarten through sixth totake part in a production of “Oklahoma.The public performance is inMarch. Registration required.Celebrate with Crafts!: PomonokPublic Library, 158-21 Jewel Ave. atParsons Bloulevard; (718) 591–4343;www.queenslibrary.org; Thursday, Dec.5, 4:30 pm; Friday, Dec. 6, 4:30 pm;Thursday, Dec. 12, 4:30 pm; Friday,Dec. 13, 4:30 pm; Thursday, Dec. 19,4:30 pm; Friday, Dec. 20, 4:30 pm;Thursday, Dec. 26, 4:30 pm; Friday,Dec. 27, 4:30 pm; Thursday, Jan. 2,4:30 pm; Friday, Jan. 3, 4:30 pm; Free.Kids and teens are invited to makecrafts that celebrate the season andcan be made for holidays.Canned Goods Drive: Hillcrest PublicLibrary, 187-05 Union Tpke at 188thStreet; (718) 454–2786; www.queenslibrary.org;Weekdays, 2–6 pm, Fri, Dec.6 – Mon, Jan. 6, 2014; Free.The library will collect unexpiredcans and boxes of nonperishable foodto distribute to neighbors in need.Rehearsals and auditions: St.Mark’s Church, 33-50 82nd St. and34th Avenue; (917) 548–1086; unitystagecompany@gmail.com;www.unitystage.org;Fridays, 5–6:30 pm, Now –Sat, March 8, 2014; call for prices.Unity Stage is offering children ingrades Kindergarten through sixth totake part in a production of “Oklahoma.”The public performance is inMarch. Registration required.Further AfieldBroken? Fix It!: Long Island Children’sMuseum, 11 Davis Ave. at WestRoad, Long Island; (516) 224–5800;www.licm.org; Tuesdays – Sundays, 10am–5 pm, Now – Sun, Jan. 5, 2014;Free with museum admission.How do you fix it? It’s easy! Visi-32 QUEENS Family • December 2013

Our online calendar is updated daily at www.NYParenting.com/calendarCalendartors enter the family repair shop andtry their hand at a variety of fix-itactivities.Holiday train show: New YorkBotanical Garden, 200th St. andKazimiroff Blvd., The Bronx; (718)817–8700; www.nybg.org; Tuesdays– Sundays, 10 am–6 pm, Now – Sun,Jan. 12, 2014; $20 ($8 children).Large scale model trains cover awide variety of ground and featuresfavorites including The Statue of Liberty,Rockefeller Center, The BrooklynBridge, and many others.The Butterfly Conservatory:American Museum of Natural History,Central Park West at 79th Street, Manhattan;(212) 769–5200; www.amnh.org; Daily, 10 am–5:45 pm; $27, $16(children).This annual favorite features up to500 live, free-flying tropical butterfliesfrom Central, South, and North America,Africa, and Asia.Origami Holiday Tree: AmericanMuseum of Natural History, CentralPark West at 79th Street, Manhattan;(212) 769–5200; www.amnh.org; Daily, 10 am–5:45 pm; Now –Sun, Jan. 12, 2014; Free with museumadmission.The Origami Holiday Tree and two19-foot Holiday Barosaurs welcomevisitors throughout the holiday season.Train show: Grand Central Station,87 E. 42nd St., Manhattan; (718) 694–1600; Mondays – Thursdays, 8 am–8pm, Fridays, 8 am–8pm, Saturdays andSundays, 10 am–6 pm, Now – Sun,Feb. 23, 2014; Free.The annual show features Lionel’snew limited edition model of GrandCentral Terminal as well as illustrationsfrom Next Stop Grand Central.Frogs — a Chorus of Colors:American Museum of Natural History,Central Park West at 79th Street,Manhattan; (212) 769–5200; awang@amnh.org; www.amnh.org; Daily, 10am–5:45 pm; Now – Sun, Jan. 5, 2014;Suggested admission $19, $10.50 children,$14.50 seniors and students.See more than 150 live frogs, including10 species of colorful dart-poisonfrogs. Learn about their importance toecosystems and the threats they facein the wild.Family Sundays: Nassau CountyMuseum of Art, 1 Museum Dr. Route25A, Long Island; (516) 484–9338 X12; www.nassaumuseum.org; Sunday,Nov. 24, 1 pm; Sunday, Dec. 1, 1 pm;Sunday, Dec. 8, 1 pm; Sunday, Dec.15, 1 pm; Sunday, Dec. 22, 1 pm; Sunday,Dec. 29, 1 pm; Free with museumadmission.Docent led family walk throughs,and art activities.“a Christmas Story”: The Theaterat Madison Square Garden, 2 PennsylvaniaPlaza; (212) 465–6741; www.thegarden.com; Wednesday, Dec. 11,2 pm; Thursday, Dec. 12, 11 am; Friday,Dec. 13, 7:30 pm; Saturday, Dec. 14, 2pm; Sunday, Dec. 15, 1 pm; Wednesday,Dec. 18, 2 pm; Thursday, Dec. 19,11 am; Friday, Dec. 20, 7:30 pm; Saturday,Dec. 21, 2 pm; Sunday, Dec. 22, 1pm; Monday, Dec. 23, 2 pm; Thursday,Dec. 26, 2 pm; Friday, Dec. 27, 2 pm;Saturday, Dec. 28, 2 pm; Sunday, Dec.29, 1 pm; $49–$199.Celebrate the holidays with thischerished story.Party PlannersMagic andComedywith RicoBrand NewPARTY ROOMw/Soft Play Area ★ CUTE CLOWNS★ CARTOONCHARACTERS★ BALLOONSCULPTING718ALL AT A REASONABLE PRICE (718) 441-5764(718) 441-7796 www.allinoneentertainment.com Available ForAll OccasionsWKDY SCIL SRS $ 90 00434-9697 917 318-909295-25 Jamaica Ave, Woodhaven, NY 11421★ FACE PAINTING★ COTTON CANDY MACHINEWe Come to You and Bring Smiles to Your Children! VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT 3CPARTIES.COM!★ MUSICALGAMES★ PICTURETIME★ MAGICBest ClownsClowns Costume CharactersPrincess Parties MagiciansFace Painters Balloon ArtCaricaturists Toddler GamesCotton Candy & More1-800-75-CLOWN or 212-614-0988Bi-Lingual Performers AvailablePrivate & Corporate EventsAll Boros, L.I. & Westchesterwww.bestclownsnyc.comFind Familyonline atwww.NYParenting.comPARTY! PARTY! PARTY!Have Your Next Fabulous Party With UsIncludes:Hostesses Two Sports Pizza & SodaGift for Every Guest Special Gift for Birthday ChildTable for Adults Party Area For 2 1 /2 HoursWe give all our parties “personal touch” as we arecommitted to customer satisfaction!See inside ad for more information.ASTORIA SPORTS COMPLEX ClownsPrincessesSuperHeroesCostumeCharactersPopStarsMagiciansLet us bring theparty to you!www.party-time-express.com917-771-1259SillyMagicBalloonArtFacePaintingGlitterTattoosDanceGamesCottonCandyHAPPY HENRY“The Wizard/Magician Clown”Close Up MagicAT ITS VERY FINESTCORPORATE ACCOUNTS WELCOME917-617-3698www.HappyHenrytheWizard.comDecember 2013 • QUEENS Family 33

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NEW YORKSummer/Early Fall 2011FREESPECIAL CHILDwww.NYParenting.comRoutinesbringbenefits5 mythsaboutfitness& autismSummer/Early Fall 2011FREEFall/Winter 2010/2011LONG SPECIAL ISLAND CHILDSPECIAL CHILDFREEwww.webfamilyny.com5 mythsw w w.NYParenting.com8NEW YORKFall/Winter 2011–2012FREESPECIAL CHILDwww.NYParenting.comCelebratingFiveYearsin printPositivebehaviorsupportCultivatingOptimisticwinningparentingattitudesThe powerof musicLONG ISLANDRoutinesbringbenefitsTips toorganizeyour childTake chargeCreating an IEPCultivatingwinningattitudesaboutfitness& autismSchool bluesOvercoming anxietyNEW YORK SPECIAL CHILDLONG ISLAND SPECIAL CHILDTrusted since 2008Informing & Enriching“Special Needs”!Families throughoutNYC & Long IslandFor more information about distribution orhow to get your free copy, pleasee-mail us at family@cnglocal.com.Visit us online at To advertise your business and or services Family Publications New York/CNG