Breaking News & Children's Museum Calendar Events:

December 2004 News: Monday, Dec. 20th, RigAll once again donated their services to pick up and hoist into the museum, a restored Portland Cutter and a restored Piano Box Buggy, a permanent donation by retired Marine Colonel Kurt L. Hoch & his wife Pauline, both former Uticans. The buggy, a four-wheeled, single seat, light buggy, known as a 'box' buggy, was produced by every carriage maker and was in general use throughout the country. Dating from the 1850's, the piano box buggy became the most popular style of buggy in the USA. This particular buggy was manufactured in Sydney, NY. The cutter, a style was originally developed in Portland, Maine, in the early 1900's. Once the hazards and dangers of mechanized road traffic became a safety factor, 'offset' sleighs, such as this, were designed to safeguard passengers by placing the horse closer to the roadway traffic stream by using a rigid entended singletree 'offset' toward the roadway. This particular cutterwas manufactured by the Excelior Carriage Co. of Watertown NY on commission by W. A. Nichols of Lowville, NY. Another neat exhibit on our fourth floor!

Saturday, Dec. 18th, musician & storyteller SR Wheel performed at the Children's Museum during our annual Holiday Dinosaur/Space/Science fun day. Their sing-along was enjoyed by all!

Saturday, Dec. 4th, the Children's Museum held its 2nd Annual Great Friends to Kids Award Ceremony & our Annual 5th Day Gala celebrating our 41st Anniversary! View more here.

November 2004 News: Fri., Nov. 19th, saw the Grand Opening of our Hot Wheels exhibit. Sat., Nov. 27th was our annual Holiday on Main Street. We're installing new energy efficient windows on all five floors of our children's museum while keeping the historic look of the building, thanks to a $50,000 grant secured by NYS Senator Ray Meier, and $25,000 grants secured from both The Community Foundation & the Nimo Foundation! View pictures

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October 2004: Saturday, October 30th: Kids of all ages had a great time at our Halloween Boo Bash featuring: trick & treat stations; goodies; costume party, holiday arts & crafts; our haunted house! View pictures. Read Utica OD article.

October 15th, the Children's Museum hosted representatives of the Oneida Indian Nation's Foundation at the museum and received a donation of $10,000 to renovate and upgrade our Longhouse exhibit area, plus the creation of a $5,000 interactive kiosk! Read OD article here.

October 4th, 16th & 23rd, students from Hamilton College's Habitat & HAVOC groups spent the day volunteering at the Children's Museum. View more here.

September 2004 News: September 4, 2002, forty-two students from Hamilton College's HAVOC spent the afternoon volunteering at the Children's Museum. View more here. September 11 , 2004 Utica Fire Chief Russell Brooks opened a special ceremony to formally announce the “CNY 9-11 Memorial Park and Children’s Safety Complex” at Proctor Park, Utica, NY. View more here.

August 2004 News: Friday, August 6, 2004 - 11:00am to 1:00pm, the Children's Museum's 2nd Annual Induction Ceremony for International Halls of Fame: Bicycling, Rowing, Canoeing and Kayaking, sponsored by Ed Waszkiewicz. $4. per person admission. View more information about the 2004 inductees here, who included a member of the U.S. Postal Service Bicycling Team and a Gold Medal Olympian!

Monday, August 9, 2004 from 10:30am to 11:30am, the Children's Museum held an "Out of This World" NASA event! Children, families, and museum visitors viewed an interactive NASA exhibit with presentations by Congressman Sherry Boehlert, Chairman of the House Science Committee, and Astronaut Mike McCulley. Kids of all ages received autographed pictures and NASA pins and interacted with our space exhibits! From 12:00pm to 1:30pm, we celebrated at the Children's Museum our "Cyber eClub NY1 Rotary Charter Party" 1 of only 27 in the world! The luncheon event featured the 9 Charter members being presented their Charter and Rotary pins by District 7150 Past Dist Governor Andrea Ives & Governor Jim Austin. Introduced by Congressman Boehlert, the keynote, "The Vision for Space Exploration," was delivered by former astronaut Mike McCulley, CEO of United Space Alliance. He also presented special exhibits and gifts to Museum Director and Cyber Club President Marlene Brown. Attendees were able to view and intereact with the exhibits and network with the guests. View OD picture. Download Invitation. / Agenda. To pictures * To top * To text

August 27th, 2004 Folks enjoyed our adult Vino, Ale, Art & Antiques in Baggs Square Park featuring wine & beer tasting - provided by Bremer's Wine & Liquor and F. X. Matt Brewing Co.; catered food - provided by Seneca Inn; live music - by Blue Star Jazz Duo; and neat assorted art in a silent auction. It's always a great summer evening event where guests enjoy each other's company, the beauty of the park, and the museum. Plus they get to purchase really neat art items in a silent auction that benefits the Children's Museum. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Tickets were available in the Children's Museum, by calling 315-724-6120, by credit card on our secure shopping cart or emailing us. This year, we moved the event inside because of thunderstorms and had a great time! View pictures.

July 16th, 2004 At 11:00am on Friday, July 16th, the Children's Museum officially unveiled our new Weather Room. Visitors can interact with our Weather Station website and view DVD's with Meteorologist Rich Lupia, along with other neat weather & science educational information. The Weather Station at The Children’s Museum is sponsored by: the GE Elfuns, WKTV NewsChannel 2, Advanced Technical Solutions, and Quadsimia Internet Presence Professionals.

July 23rd & 24th, 2004 From 5pm to 8pm Friday, July 23rd, there was an adult, invitation only, reception at the museum for the media, our corporate sponsors, board of directors, and our Erie Canal Folk Festival presenters, sponsored by Garro Pharmacy, Bleecker Street in Utica, NY & WUTR/WFXV/WPNY. Then from 9:45am to 3:45pm Saturday, July 24th, the Children's Museum will host its 1st Annual "Erie Canal Folk Festival". It featured crafts, artifacts, and music from various ethnic and cultural groups who are either long-time natives of our area or who are newcomers to our area - enriching the culture for all of us in the Mohawk Valley. Admission was $4.00 Our visitors joined in the fun and saw what makes our region so diversely special! View pictures of the fun festival here.

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June, 2004 News: June 28th, 2004, our 1st Annual Children's Museum Golf Tournament was held at Valley View Golf Club. Shotgun start at 1:00pm. Chair John Snyder was assisted by Co-Chairs Bruce Davis & Alex Carbone. Registration started at 12:00pm. $75 per person included cart, lunch, dinner, and great prizes. $95 pre-registration included the above & a raffle ticket! Hole sponsorships: $75. Corporate Package: Golf for 4 plus hole sponsorship $350. Tournament Sponsorhip: Above plus featured in TV ads: $1,000. Purchase raffle ticket online. Download golf tournament flyer. Call museum at 315-724-6129 to sign up your team or become a sponsor, or email us. To benefit the Children's Museum new Planetarium.

June 11th, 2004, Sculpture Space artist in residence Jeff de Castro installed a bamboo “Spaceship” in the Children’s Museum as part of a new collaboration between the two organizations. It will be on display at the museum indefinitely. de Castro was on hand to oversee the move and setup in the museum. His project involves the plaster hand castings of children from the Municipal Housing Authority Safe Passage after-school program. “We’re pleased to have this unique exhibit and talented artist find a home for his Spaceship exhibit in our museum,” noted Brown, “we’re confident the youngsters who will be working on a project with artist de Castro at the museum this fall are in for a wonderful learning experience.”

Artist Alba Scott has been busy working on a new Puppet Theatre Stage at the Children's Museum. Built by the GE Elfun's, Alba has been hand painting her original dinosaur design.

May, 2004 News:Our 2nd Annual Spring Fling was held Saturday, May 8th, 2004, at the Children’s Museum. We once again had neat musical entertainment, mingling and networking with community leaders in a spring setting with scrumptious food & beverages & the opportunity to do fun shopping at our silent auction and view our newest NASA and Office of Science exhibits on our 4th floor. Co-Chairs Betsey Snyder & Patrick Quinn announced donation for all this was only $55. per person / $95. couple, to benefit the Children's Museum new Planetarium.

April, 2004 News: Saturday, April 10th kids enjoyed our Egg Hunt and Kids Fashion Show which took place at the Children’s Museum. Easter Egg Hunt times were: 10:30-10:45am for children ages 1-3; 10:45-11:00am for ages 4-6;11:00–11:15am for ages 7-9. Children stayed on the 1st floor while the other age groups hunted on the 2nd floor. When each group came down, the next age group went up! Our Easter Bunny was kept might busy! 12pm-1pm, Joanne Donaruma commentated our 1st Annual Kids Fashion Show. Joanne coordinated the show with several area stores, including Limited Too, Children's Place, Kids 'R Us, J.C. Penny, Sears, Bev's. Kids ages 4-12 years of age modeled beatifully down our oak staircase! View pictures of both events. Also, on April 10th, we unveiled our newest exhibit, a WWII target drone airplane, 1 of a kind, and 1 of only 3 left in the world. Donated by Bob Malara, his father Patsy Malara, Jr. - along with Gordon Newell and Gloria Santucci - started Riverside School of Aeronautics. The drone plane hangs on our 4th floor near our other airplane. View pictures here.

April 12-17, we were open every day for Special Spring School Break & Earth Week Programs. Weekly schedule included: Weather w/WKTV Meteorologist Rich Lupia; Native American Storytelling; Animals & Insect World; Make a Wrist Sundial; Bicycle Safety w/Oneida County Sheriff's Bike Patrol; Build Model Planetarium; Interact with Oneida Nation Revolutionary War Re-enactors; Kindermusik for Munchkins by Piano Lab; Build a Children's Museum Mars Rover Lego exhibit; Learn about water sports of kayaking/ rowing/ canoeing; Dinosaur & Fossil Science; Rocket Building & Planetary Fun; Make a butterfly and its cocoon; View NASA DVD’s on Red Planet Mars; Learn importance of Utica Marsh & animals that inhabit it; Hands-on science w/Microscopes; Fun with Animals and Footprints; Pictorial Postal Commemorative Cancellation of Earth Day from U.S. Postal Service. We wrapped up the week on Saturday April 17th (Saturday schedule) with a celebration of festivities honoring our earth. Featured was a "Recycle Rama." Folks dropped off unwanted batteries, computers (not monitors), cell phones, old clothes, ink cartridges, motor oil, paint to be re-claimed &/or recycled. Congressman Boehlert, Chairman of House Science Committee, spoke to visitors on “Green Chemistry" and "Acid Rain". Our Earth Day Gala was filled with fun activities for the whole family. Visitors nteracted w/our 1,000’s of exhibits, including new Mars Rover & science stuff, let kids take a ride in our airplane, saw our new drone plane, built bird houses, planted seeds & trees!

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March, 2004 News: In addition to the neat programs we run every day for families & kids of all ages, school & scout groups, visitors & tourists, we had two special events this month. One was a Space Science Event to be held at the museum on Saturday, March 27, 2004. Special events included: 11:00am-1:00pm –children in grades 4th-6th submitted projects for our 1st Annual CM Science Fair (view pictures & winners on our Science Fair page); 1:00pm-3:00pm, children joined Lutheran Care Active Day participants in building a Mars Rover Lego exhibit; 2:00-2:30pm, Congressman Sherry Boehlert, NASA Mars Lead Scientist Dr. James Garvin, Astronaut Ken Cockrell unveiled our new NASA exhibit (Mars Rover). March events flyer.

The other is a "Wine Tasting Extravaganza" to be held at Seneca Inn Wednesday, March 31st from 6:00-9:30pm to benefit the Children's Museum. Included in the $55 ticket (or two tickets for $100 pre-paid) are various wines to accompany the 5 course sit-down dinner (tips & tax included in the donation). Tickets are available at the Children's Museum or Seneca Inn (only 100 reservations can be taken). Print our special March 2004 event listings.

March 9, 2004, the brother of Connie Williams Grube brought her Clown Collection to the Children's Museum. Connie had left her collection in her estate to the museum. Among the amazing collection are over 100 clowns of all sizes and shapes and textures, clown paintings, and other clown paraphenalia. The clown collection exhibit will be displayed on the 2nd floor of the museum near our doll collection and Toys B.C. (before computers). Read Utica OD article. Come view them and take part in helping us continue our exciting growth! Download our Yearly Calendar of Events so you don't miss any upcoming events!

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February, 2004 News: We had a terrific week of fantastic programs at The Children's Museum the week of winter school break, Feb. 16th - 22nd. Included were a visit from a scientist at Princeton Plasma Lab with a new interactive "Jacob's Ladder" exhibit and program for our children's museum - one more addition to the marvelous value we're receiving from the help of Congressman Sherry Boehlert in our being adopted by both NASA and the Office of Science! In this week alone, over 1,000 people came in to interact with these and other of our 1,000's of exhibits designed for an educationally enjoyable experience for kids of all ages. View Winter Break programs.

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January, 2004 News: Executive Director Marlene Brown received a phone call from the Washington D.C. headquarters of Congressman Sherry Boehlert's office, and NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe's office, informing her of two new NASA exhibits coming soon to the Children's Museum! One is a new Mars display featuring the Spirit Rover model now roaming across the planet Mars, and the other is an exhibit on the Centennial of Flight, recently on display at Kitty Hawk. In conjunction with these exhibits, the museum staff is introducing new Mars programs, and new interactive exhibits in our Science Room, including: Star Theatre, 3-D Space Projector, a Talking Telescope, and Planetary Sounds! Available during Science Saturday, school holidays, and as field trips.

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December, 2003 News: Be sure to bring the kids down over the holiday season so they and you can enjoy our beautifully decorated museum, with all the sparkling holiday lights on the building and in the park next door. Saturday, December 6th: Over 100 people joined Honorary Co-Chairs Congressman Sherry Boehlert & District Attorney Mike Arcuri, along with other area movers & shakers as we celebrated our 40th anniversary in style at a neat fun gala event, 5th Day 2003. Download Flyer for additional information. Friday, December 5th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, the Children's Museum held its 1st Annual "Great Friends to Kids Award" Ceremony. We honored the founders - Melva Max, Mackie Kernan, Alice Pender O'Shea - whose vision 40 years ago made our children's museum a reality and started us on the road of being one of the oldest children's museum's in the country. During the ceremony, we also recognized our corporate sponsors and honored three men - Bill Steppe, Frank Gruenewald, Ted Kibiuk - who have given of themselves in outstanding ways over the years to provide the Mohawk Valley and Central New York with a "Community Treasure." Download flyer.

November, 2003 News: We keep adding to our 100's of interactive exhibits. The latest is some fun and educational science and weather programs & exhibits, seen on our 3rd floor's new science room. Download Flyer. And we have a new NASA exhibit on our 4th floor.

Saturday, November 29th The Children's Museum was once again part of the Holiday on Main Street event. Reduced admission of only $3. a person covered a fantastic lineup of holiday events all day long in the Children's Museum. The kids saw Santa arrive by train, enjoyed goodies, took part in various programs, listened to music, had a great fun time! View last year's pictures. Download Flyer.

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October, 2003 News: Saturday, Oct. 26th, we hosted a Halloween "Boo Bash" with a Scavenger Hunt, Costume Party, Arts & Crafts, Goodies from New Hartford Hannaford's, and Balloon making by Smiley the Clown! Also on Oct. 26th, the Hamilton College Habitat for Humanity club worked with Rotary e-Club NY 1 officers on renovations at the Children's Museum for Make A Difference Day. Download Flyer.

Oct. 4th-13th, 2003: the United Nations declared International Space Week "To celebrate each year at the international level the contributions of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition". The CM space projects included: designing a game that can only be played in Zero-G; designing an animal to live on the imaginary planet of Betelgoose; designing pop star Lance Bass’ Int’l Space Lab module; viewing 3-D slides of Mars & helping create an Imagine Mars Community mural. Download Flyer.

September, 2003 News: We greeted visitors and groups with exciting Fall program lineup.

August, 2003 News: Local residents, daycare providers, & tourists enjoyed our August Program Schedule & family fun in our air conditioned building. New NASA exhibit went up on our 4th floor as we move forward on our "Space Science Education Center."

August 1st, The Children's Museum is proud to be the new home of the International Halls of Fame for Bicycling, Canoeing, Rowing, and Kayaking, sponsored by Utica native Ed Waszkiewicz. View pictures of exhibits, event, and names of those inducted.

August 22nd, Friday Nite in Baggs Square Park featured wine & beer tasting, catered food, & neat art in a silent auction. Tickets can be purchased in the Children's Museum, or by calling 315-724-6129 & purchasing by credit card or email us to do so. Download flyer. View pictures.

August 23 & 24th, Gus Macker's 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament came to the streets of Utica, sponsored by Genesis II to benefit the Children's Museum! The 30th year for this family festival that has been held in over 65 cities throughout the United States. Gus Macker made its debut in Utica this year. The limit of 150 TEAMS was met! Teams came from as far as California. Downtown Utica was abuzz with excitement. Chairs John Snyder and Betsey Snyder made it a reality. Download flyer.

July 2003 News: Summer programs in full swing. Check our Program Schedule & join the fun!

Observer-Dispatch GO! Friday, July 11, 2003 AREA'S BEST 10 - Before the Boilermaker, explore the Mohawk Valley, by Linda Murphy, Observer-Dispatch. UTICA - Maybe you've come to Utica to run the Boilermaker Road Race on Sunday. Or you live here and a houseful of relatives look to you for entertainment. What fun things can you do? ... the Mohawk Valley offers an assortment of pleasant things to do. Among these are the Children's Museum at 311 Main Street, in Utica, NY.

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June 2003 News: June 20-22 & 27-29, 2003: The last two weekends in June, the Adirondack Scenic Railroad hosted two 3-day weekend events called "A Day with Thomas the Train". They collaborated with The Children's Museum, with several of the Thomas events held at the Museum (which was open from 9:30am to 4:30pm).

May 2003 News: Saturday, May 3rd: 7pm to 11pm, Honorary Chairs Congressman Sherry Boehlert and Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito sponsored an evening's Spring Fling at the Children's Museum to help celebrate our 40th Anniversary as a museum. Proceeds benefited the Museum - $50. donation: beverages, hot & cold hors d'oeuveres, musical entertainment by Classified, Mirage & Carleton Boone Trio, neat auction items, networking with the area's finest, & enjoying our new 4th floor exhibits! Download flyer, or E-mail Museum Director Marlene Brown. To pictures * top * text

Saturday, May 10th at 11am & 1:00pm: May is Space Month and in keeping with their spirit of exploring the future to make a better tomorrow, Museum Director Marlene Brown has been nominated to become a NASA Educator Astronaut and is forming a NASA Earth Crew Club and a Rocket Club at the Children's Museum. The Club will meet once a month at our museum. May 10th we're offering a Special Saturday Program as part of our activities - A Rocket Building Session for children ages 7 to 12. Participating youngsters will purchase a Rocket Kit ($7.00) at the Museum's Gift Shop. The kit features extra-strong body tubes, plastic nose cones, precut hard balsa fines & streamer recovery. 10 yr old Nicholas Rotundo, Rocket Club President, & his parents, will conduct the workshop session.

May was Fleet Museum's On Us program: The Children's Museum is honored to have been choosen as one of the nationwide museum's Fleet is sponsoring for the month of May, and one they called "one of the best children's museums in the northeast". Read more here .

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April, 2003 News: Friday April 18th: Once again, children enjoyed our annual Easter Egg Hunt. We had three different hunts: ages 1-3; ages 4-6; ages 7-9. We celebrated Earth Day with an Indoor Urban Garden by KAP Director Christine Wood and the KAP kids. Saturday, April 12th: 11:00am, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, three-time Grammy nominees, performed fok music, traditional and contemporary, at a Kid's Concert at the Children's Museum.

March, 2003 News: March 27th through 30th, NASA (National Aeronautics & Space Administration) returned with their exciting Starship 2040, plus some phenomenal new exhibits & programs on our 4th floor. And a return visit by Science Committee Chairman Congressman Sherry Boehlert & NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. Six yr old Trevor Caron led the pledge, 9 yr old Rachel Caron read her original poem on Space, 10 yr old Nick Rotundo read his essay on Space, with presenters Columbia Captain Willy McCool's brother Sean, Museum Executive Director Marlene Brown, Congressman Sherry Boehlert, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe, NASA Office of Educ. Assoc Admin. Dr. Adena Williams Loston, & Astronaut Leland Melvin. NASA's Starship 2040 landed at CM March 28-31st. Large crowd turned out to share in the ceremony, the NASA presentations & exhibits & tour Starship - View pictures.

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January 2003: The GE Elfun Society's local chapter (a volunteer organization of GE leaders), in their continuing role as a Major Sponsor of the Children's Museum, invite GE employees and retirees to contribute to the "More Gifts ... More Givers Program." As an organization, the Elfun Society is committed to performing service to America's youth each year, with a record of over 1,000,000 hrs per year. Not all Elfuns are able to donate their time. However, through the GE Fund's "More Gifts...More Givers Program", contributions to qualifying public charitable organizations can be matched with contributions from GE employees and retirees. If you're interested in contributing, Chapter President Bill Rudge requests that you e-mail Museum Director Marlene, who will pass that information along to him.

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February, 2003: As part of the NASA extended team, we set up a new exhibit on our 4th floor, with a Book of Condolences, to honor the lost crew of Columbia. Congressman Sherry Boehlert, Chairman of the House Science Committee, participated in our Ceremony. The week of Feb. 17th, school break, two U. S. Dept. of Energy Labs (Princeton & Fermi) were here presenting Hands-on Minds-on Science: Winter '03 programs and exhibits plus educational in-service programs teachers could register for. In addition to exciting programs & exhibits going on all week long, we also had several other cool workshops for kids of all ages presented by local talented volunteers!

December, 2002: At our 11th annual 5th Day held Saturday, Dec 7th, Honorary Chairs U. S. Congressman Sherry Boehlert & NYS Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito greeted attendees, along with County Exec Ralph Eannace, and the Children’s Museum Board of Directors and Staff. Musical entertainment was provided by Classified, Mirage and Carlton Boone. Attendees enjoyed mingling with the community's leaders in an enjoyable holiday setting with scrumptious food & beverages, and had the opportunity to do their holiday shopping at our neat Silent Auction. Plus attendees got to view our 4th floor! Tickets were able to be purchased in the Museum, from Board members, or on our website.

The Grand Opening of our 4th floor took place on Dec. 6, 2002 with dignitaries, guests, corporate sponsors, the media, elected officials, and the board of directors, along with all those who made the opening a reality. Included were Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, Director of the Dept. of Energy's Office of Science Dr. Ray Orbach, Scientists from the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in California, Fermi National Accelerator Lab in Illinois, and the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab in New Jersey. New science exhibits joined new NASA exhibits. The Congressman and the Director announced that NASA & DOE's Office of Science have adopted the Children's Museum in Utica, NY!

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November, 2002: HOLIDAY ON MAIN STREET: We had a fantastic lineup of terrific holiday events, all day long in the Children's Museum, to go along with the 16th annual Christmas On Main Street, Saturday, Nov. 30th. Download flyer. Admission only $2. a person. Bring the kids to see Santa arrive by train, enjoy goodies, take part in various programs, listen to music, let the kids have a great fun time in a real neat educationally entertaining environment! View the programs and events here.

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October, 2002: HALLOWEEN PARTY: From 4:00 to 6:00pm on Halloween, Oct. 31st, the Children's Museum hosted a Halloween Party / Costume Contest! Admission of $3. for trick or treaters & $2. for their adult chaperones gave them a fun event on all three floors of our Museum, with a costume contest, a scavenger hunt for treat stations, & our haunted hall! View pictures. On October 29th, the Children's Museum was proud to host the Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours. View pictures.

On Sunday, October 27th at 2pm in the Munson Williams auditorium, the Piano Lab presented a splendid Quartet Piano Recital to benefit CM. Read more here. On Saturday, October 19th, from 11am to 2pm, the New York Power Authority presented Wildlife Festival 2002, where Board member Sharon Lis-Hieber manned a CM booth. Read more here . To text

September, 2002: The weekend of October 4th - 6th the Children's Museum held a Fall Fest on Main Street with Honorary Chairs County Exec Ralph Eannace and Utica Mayor Tim Julian, featuring: Rides & Games, Bands & Beverages, Food & Fun. The first weekend in October: 6-9pm Friday night Oct 4th; 11am to 9pm Saturday Oct 5th; and 1-5pm Sunday Oct 6th, Main Street, Utica was the place to be! County Executive Ralph Eannace opened the event with the following poem: "We're here to celebrate the Children's Museum - with so many great exhibits, you've just gotta see'em. People come from near and far and flip their lids, 'cause Marlene Brown is just so good for kids!" To pictures * To top * To text

We kicked off the Fall with a great Hannaford Hank Party to celebrate the grand opening of our newly renovated Exploration Space Grocery Store and Tea Room. Thanks to Gail Scalise and her team at the New Hartford Hannaford's for all the time and work they put into the beautifully redesigned store they now sponsor. View pictures.

We also had an incredibly exciting day when Ted Kubiak's airplane arrived at the Children's Museum, thanks to help from Mauro's Glass and RigAll. Ted, a retired Air Force pilot, donated the airplane he built to the Children's Museum after health problems prevented him from flying it anymore. It's been placed on our 4th floor and will be unveiled to the public after we get the floor open. View pictures here. To pictures * To top * To text

The KAP group (Kids Against Pollution) just back from the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, held their press conference at the Museum to unveil their "Tree of Life". A fun and interesting day!

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August, 2002: Earle Reed became another of the many Children's Museum Heroes when he donated an award-winning Watter$aver hot water heater to the Children's Museum, and had it installed! The last week of August, 10 Hamilton College students spent an afternoon fixing up & cleaning up the 3 floors of the Children's Museum. More wonderful CM Heroes! During the summer, we were honored to have 7 great college interns, who made a significant difference in the programs we were able to offer.

August 19th, another CM Hero, Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, Chairman of the Committee on Science and NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe toured the Children's Museum with President Marlene Brown. After the tour, they made a major announcement at a press conference, that NASA was committed to an ongoing relationship with the Children's Museum to provide exhibits and educational materials, to enable programs for children in science and space. Cornell University scientists were on hand to demonstrate their model of the Mars Rover - on loan for a brief period of time at the Children's Museum. An exciting day to be a part of history past and future! View Event Welcome, the Day's Activities, and pictures.

The New York Power Authority became yet another Children's Museum corporate hero when they presented a $5,000 check to CM to continue with our energy efficient renovations. The grant money will be used to purchase two new furnaces. In August, the Children's Museum hosted a Folk Festival! Food, Music, Carnival Fun & Games, Dinosaurs & Fossils, Smiley the Clown, Face Painting & more, plus a 6:00pm performance of the play "Little Women & the Erie Canal" View pix. Other CM heroes: Ted Kubiak & Hannaford's. To pictures * To top * To text

View our August Programs, and read our August newsletter. The Children's Museum hosts numerous summer rec groups, including celebrating National Kids Day. This was possible, thanks in part with the help of a grant from Met Life Foundation. We had the Boys & Girls Club of Utica visit us on a day set aside to celebrate and honor children through the gift of meaningful time and several special programs we made available to them. View pictures.

Our 5th Annual Wine & Art Celelebration, August 7th, 2002 in Baggs Square Park, was an enjoyable evening of fine beverages, food, music by Mirage, and a silent auction. Thanks to these fine area businesses who donated to the event. View pictures.

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July, 2002: Mark your calendars for the 5th Annual Wine & Art Celebration being held Wednesday night, August 7th, 2002. Artist's Wanted! View our invitation and purchase your tickets either in the Museum, or by calling us at 724-6129. View July Programs and read July Newsletter. We've got an array of programs lined up, all summer long.

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June, 2002: The Children's Museum Board of Directors announces that they have chosen former board president Marlene Brown as the new President of the Children's Museum. She will be in charge of running the operations. We're continuing to increase the number of educational field trip programs we're conducting at the Children's Museum as well as the number of birthday parties we're hosting. And we've got some really neat programs lined up for June, along with some great Summer programs - including Baby Brach's Groovy Garden & our Children's Theatre Workshop, and our Weather Exploration programs!

We were involved with Utica Monday Nite and the opening of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. Plus we're honored that we were visited by Genesis II, who is going to partner with us on some growth items. We're going to get together a float for the Mohawk Valley 4th of July Parade in Utica. Come help us build it and ride on it with us! AND we were chosen by the American Red Cross as the site for their Monday, June 17th Blood Drive, sponsored by the Observer Dispatch. Registration is from 8am to 1pm.

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May, 2002: Check out the interesting programs we've lined up for the month of June. Read our May newsletter, Fingerprints. View our educational program pictures and birthday party pictures. We're working on the Grand Opening of our 4th floor Transportion Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow exhibits. Keep checking the website, pick up flyers in the Museum, and enjoy our fun and educational events in a safe learning environment!

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April, 2002: We've lined up more really interesting programs for Spring School Break the week of April 15th, & have scheduled some very special Earth Day events, (check OD article) and created a new Brochure outlining what we have to offer you. Keep checking the website, pick up flyers in the Museum, and continue to enjoy fun and educational events in a safe learning environment!

NetTest, a local company who donated the Musical Exhibit to the Children's Museum, installs a Fun with Gravity exhibit. We thank them for their support of the children. Our annual Easter Egg Hunt saw scores of children enjoying searching for eggs and meeting the Easter Bunny! Our renovation continues as we get ready to open the 4th floor of the Children's Museum for "Transportation Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow."

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March, 2002: We offered another month of special programs and events for members and visitors - during the week and on weekends - check our calendar. On Good Friday, March 29th, three neat events: a Cooking for Kids workshop, a Train Tour, and an Easter Egg hunt! Plus the Easter Bunny visits the Children's Museum on Friday, March 29th!

Our 1st Annual Mohawk Valley Trivia fundraiser was an educational and thoroughly enjoyable event, as the team captained by County Executive Ralph Eannace (with Kevin Markham & Frank Tomaino) went up against the team of Sheriff Dan Middaugh (with Peter Paravati and Bob Cardillo), competing to correctly answer questions posed to them about Mohawk Valley Trivia. We learned and we laughed! View flyer.

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February, 2002: We had another successful month as we offered 24 different programs for Museum visitors, in addition to the regular programs. During the week school was closed, we broke all previous attendance records, and vastly increased the numbers of memberships purchased and the numbers of birthday parties booked. This couldn't have been accomplished without the great local celebrities who donated their time and talents.

We sanded and restained the hardwood floors on the 3rd floor of the Museum, refinished our kitchen and bathroom floors, and did some additional painting and other renovations. The list of our "Children's Museum Community Heroes" program continues to grow. Check the flyers posted in the Museum listing the founding members of our Heroes program, and ask how you can join them!

Join the many who are holding their birthday parties and special event company parties at the Children's Museum. Our museum offers three floors of a safe, fun, interactive learning environment, enjoyed by all who visit it. Be among the educators who take advantage of the many educational field trip programs available at the Children's Museum. Kids love them and learn from them. Volunteer your talents to help us continue to grow the offerings of the only Children's Museum in Central New York.

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January, 2002: We just finished sanding and redoing all the hardwood floors on the 1st floor of the Museum, plus painting and other renovations. Our birthday room is newly painted with a neat design by Sarah Kilian. In addition to our popular new musical exhibit, the GE Elfun's have installed a neat Echo Tube exhibit on the 1st floor. The 2nd floor has the new dinosaur bird, and the 3rd floor has the new art exhibit and arts & crafts area. Martin Luther King Jr. day featured the following programs: Storytime; Train Tour; Munchkin Music; and Feeding our Animals.

We've kicked off our new "Children's Museum Community Heroes" program. Check the flyers posted in the Museum listing founding members of our Heroes program, and ask how you can join them! To pix* To top * To text

10th Annual 5th Day - December 8th, 2001: The Children’s Museum Board of Directors and Staff, along with Honorary Chairs County Executive Ralph Eannace, Utica Mayor Tim Julian, and Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito greeted over 100 attendees at our annual 5th Day event! Congressman Sherry Boehlert also attended, and donated dinner for 2 and a flag that flew over the capital as raffle items. From 6:30-9:00pm, attendees browsed through 100's of Silent Auction Items available, while enjoying the numerous food stations and beverages, and the music of Vinny Esposito.

From 9:00pm to midnight, attendees enjoyed dessert and more beverages while dancing and enjoying the music of Holidaye. An annual gala dressy event in the Mohawk Valley. The best of the community's best supported Central New York's only Children's Museum while enjoying a fun evening! Dozens of local companies placed their Ads in our 5th Ad book, and 100's donated gifts for the silent auction. Thanks to all who made the evening such an enjoyable success.

Our Evening Sponsors were: Oxford Medical Imaging, Dunkin' Doughnuts, ConMed, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, JobReady, Fountainhead Group, Kids Teeth Only, Kernan & Kernan, TechnoTouch, WKTV, WUTR, Regent Broadcasting, KwikKopy Printing, GE Elfuns. The community served by the Children's Museum appreciates them and all who supported the event. Our 11th annual 5th Day is scheduled for Saturday, December 7th! The Children’s Museum Board of Directors and Staff, along with Honorary Chairs Congressman Sherry Boehlert and Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito will greet attendees. And we'll dance to the music of Classified! To pictures * To top * To text

December 7th, 2001: We have a new hands-on Musical Exhibit in the Children's Museum, donated by NetTest. This completely interactive exhibit, called "Fun with Percussion", encourages both young and old to explore the unique sounds of percussion instruments designed from various materials ranging from bolts and wrenches to wood 2x4s. Created by well known Children's Museum music designer, Maine's Jim Doble, the exhibit is fun for both the musically challenged and inclined.

"This is the start of the Museum becoming even more of a hands-on museum" stated Marlene Brown, Chairman of the Board, "We are excited with the reaction that we have received so far from the public with this exhibit". Among others, the exhibit features such instruments as a boltaphone, a wrenchaphone, and an Amadinda! All exhibits have been designed to be accessible for all ages. The exhibit will be a permanent part of the musuem. Come on in and enjoy!

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August 8th, 2001: The Children’s Museum presented our 4th Annual Wine and Art Celebration to benefit the Museum. Slotted from 7:00pm to 10:00 pm, we invited you to come sample a large variety of beverages from all over the world, foods from local area restaurants, and bid on artwork from New York artists. Each adult over 21 was given a special glass upon entering Bagg's Square Park to use to sample the beverages offered. While sampling, they took time to enjoy the variety of foods served up from some of the finest area restaurants, and enjoy the sounds of the band "Mirage."

A variety of artwork donated by local New York Artists was displayed in the Stone Tavern Gallery. A Silent Auction ran through the night. Hand painted wine bottles and other art object, plus celebrity autographs also were up for bid. Donations for entrance for this summer evening event were available at the Museum, or from any of our Board members, or via our website shopping cart, for $20.00 before August 1, and $25.00 afterwards. People were encouraged to call the museum at 315-724-6129 for more information, or if they would like to volunteer your time or artwork to this unique annual fundraising event. To pictures * To top * To text

August 2nd & 3rd, 2001: The MetLife Foundation has once again given a generous grant of $5000 to support the Children's Museum's Erie Canal Education Programs. Taking part in the check presentation were Vic Scalise of MetLife, Everett Smith of Betsy the Barge volunteers, Frank Gruenwald of Adelphia and Betsy the Barge, Captain Mike of the Erie Canal SchoolBoat, Mario La Pollas - VP of Metlife, and Karen Pellitier of Herkimer BOCES. For the 15th year, Metlife will again be the principal sponsor of the Betsy the Barge Free Concert Series at Marcy Lock 20. They will also sponsor two Intergenerational SchoolBoat Educational tours on August 3rd, and all summer MetLife will support free admission to the Museum for Utica Monday Nite.

Six times during the summer, an Erie Canal Children's Play produced by UticaArts will be presented at Bagg's Square Park (next performances are August 20 and Aug 27). Fri, August 3, Vic Scalise of Metlife presented the check to The Children's Museum. MetLife VP, Mario La Pollas, was also in attendence. The event was covered by WKTV Channel 2 and by WUTR Channel 20 who awarded MetLife the honor of Home Town Heroes of the week. Both stations had featured stories on the nightly news.

On August 2, the Erie Canal SchoolBoat cruised into Lock 20 at Marcy for two days of programs in Oneida County. On Thursday, two Oneida County Youth Bureau trips were scheduled and the Utica Symphony League chartered the boat for a program, a picnic dinner and an evening of great entertainment featuring Joe Agerosa's Elvis Tribute. Despite the hot weather (over 95 degrees on the Canal) and the threat of rain, everyone enjoyed the educational tours and the concert which drew more than 1,000 people to Lock 20 Park. On Friday, the Children's Museum collaborated with ElderLife and Remsen Develpment Volunteers to present two Inter-generational programs on the SchoolBoat in which senior citizens joined children to learn about the canal and navigate the lock.

Then in the late afternoon, the Oneida Historical Society took their annual SchoolBoat Tour, after which they were treated to the sounds of jazz great Sal Aberico and his Band. The Erie Canal School Boat is owned and operated by Herkimer BOCES. The Children’s Museum is presently the only Oneida County site for the School Boat program. The boat has thus far taken more than 3000 passengers through locks in Herkimer and Oneida Counties and to the General Herkimer Home near Little Falls at the Children’s Museum.

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July 31, 2001: The Children’s Museum Director and John Stephensen, representing the GE Elfun's of the Utica Area, traveled to the Paleontological Research Institution (PRI), soon to be the Museum of the Earth in Ithaca, for the annual review of 2001 programs and and an update on the new 2002-2004 programs in Syracuse and Utica. Over the last two years, PRI has done 106 earth science programs in the Utica Area and several Teacher Workshops. Plans are underway for more new and exciting PRI programs for the next two years, thanks to a generous grant from the GE Fund.

The collaboration between scientists and educators at PRI and the Children's Museum and the MOST in Syracuse is entering a new and exciting phase. For the next two years, students, teachers in Central New York will be working with scientists from PRI doing real science, collecting, recording an analysing rocks for plant, insect and animal life. Students and teachers will be helping scientist discover the changes that have happened to life on Earth over the last 380 million years! The Davonian Seas Scientist-Student Partnership will be offered to schools in the greater Utica area through the Children's Museum. Plans are also being made for Field Trips in local fossil rich areas and a Fossil research area at the Children's Museum in 2001-2002

At PRI, they were given a tour of two new exciting PRI projects: The display of the bones of a giant Right Whale that PRI staff and volunteers have been reconstructing, and giant Mastodon Bones that PRI has uncovered and been reconstructing in the PRI Labs. Both these new skeletal reconstrctions will be part of the new Museum of the Earth that is being planned for the near future. For more information about PRI ed programs call the Children's Museum or check out the website at www.museumoftheearth.org

On Friday, July 26 and continuing until it's complete, Artist-In- Residence Elizabeth Leyh and a dedicated group of volunteers began the installation of the Third phase of the Bagg's Square Children's Sculpture Garden. During February and March, working inside, the Art team created the group of sculptures including a life sized doe, a fawn, a racoon and a pond with rocks and a turtle. On Friday the Doe was installed in its new home in the "Meadows" area of Bagg's Square Park. The fawn was installed on Monday July 30 and a second fawn will be completed on site. Mario Colon, who created the fawn this winter, will also sculpt the second fawn. The Racoon and the other sculptures will be slowly added as the cement drys and the surrounding environment is created.

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June 2nd, 2001: The Children’s Museum presented "Out of the Midst ... a Dragon", a Wood & Strings Theatre production that performs for audiences nationwide. This spectacular show is produced by the Wood Strings Puppet Theatre, is a journey around the world of traditional folk puppetry. The show used reproductions of carved masks of Native Americans on the Northwest Coast, Punch and Judy from Europe, and rarely seen shadow puppets from Indonesia. However, the main characters of the show are reproductions of the classical and exquisite Japanese style of puppetry known as Bunraku.

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May 24th, 2001 - At the Annual United Community Action Incorporated Banquet held at the Radisson Hotel in Utica, NY, the Children's Museum was honored for promoting excellence in education by developing intern programs at the Children's Museum after school and in the summer. The Children's Museum has developed Museum Intern and docent education program for students enrolled in two of UCAI's programs PAVE (Progressive Adolescent Voctional Education) and the new Advantage After School Program. For the past two years several young people have participated in these programs at the Children's Museum.

May 2nd, 2001: The Children's Museum has made Geology, Fossil and Earth Science Workshops available to local teachers through a collaboration between PRI, The Museum of the Earth of Ithaca, and the Utica Teachers Center. This year more than twenty teachers from Utica Schools participated and received certificates after attending several workshops at the Children's Museum and at local schools. This program is funded by a GE Fund grant through the local Elfun Society.

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April 20th & 21st, 2001: The Children’s Folklore Festival - A great way to celebrate our diversity here in greater Utica. This year’s Children’s Folk Festival at the Children’s Museum will provide two days of continuous folk arts demonstrations that represent the rich diversity in our region. This year we are proud to include a sampling of the diverse ethnic population living here today in greater Utica. We have Haudenosaunee (Native American) folk artists who are indigenous to central New York, a Polish-American artist descendent of the turn of the century European immigrants, and Burmese artists who are the most recent arrivals to Utica. Each will share and demonstrate an unique part of their heritage through various folk arts, storytelling and foodways.

Family Fun Night Friday, April 20th, 5:00-7:00 PM: The Children's Folklore Festival began with a 5-7pm Family Fun Night with Seneca Turtle Clan Storyteller Karen Crow and her husband Indio. Our Annual Festival began with a program by Karen Crow who was joined by her husband Indio. Traditional Haudensosaunee stories included How Bear Lost his Tail, Why Trees Lose their Leaves, and The Grandfather Story. Karen also brought along skoons and Strawberry drink, Native -American treats for her audience to sample. Indio explained Haudensosaunee traditions and talked about the important relationship between Native-Americans and the other living things on earth. Karen Crow [Seneca Turtle Clan] is a fifth generation Tonawanda Seneca storyteller and the Native American Interpreter for Onondaga County Parks. Some of the stories that Karen learned as a child include Why Rabbit Looks the Way He Does; How Bear Lost His Tail; How Bear Became the Medicine Clan; Why the Trees Lose their Leaves; The Dogs and Their Tails; and The Grandfather Story. These are the stories that Karen plans to tell us but adds, "As a traditional native storyteller, you can never tell what may occur!"

Saturday, April 21 11:00AM-1:00 PM & 2:00 - 4:00 PM: On Saturday three Haudenosaunee Folk Artists were joined by representatives of Utica's old and new immigrant communities. Alf Jacques of the Onondaga Turtle Clan demonstrated the art of lacrosse stick making; Juanita Willson of the Mohawk Wolf Clan created beaded jewelery and clothing; Zenja Hyde of the Onondage Beaver Clan demonstrated the art of making apple head dolls. They were joined by young Tiffany Jankiewicz, a Polish American artist descendant of Poles who came to Utica after the turn of the twentieth century. Tiffany demonstrated the art of Pysanky, the Polish art of egg decorating. The Wins, an extended Burmese family, demonstrated the arts of the Karens of Burma, including foodways, song, dance. They also exhibited traditional textile weaving. The Burmese are among Utica's newest immigrants. On Wednesday, May 9th, Tony Clementi and Felica McMahon presented a program at the Annual Folk Arts Conference of NYSCA at hotel Syracuse.

Alf Jacques [Onondaga Turtle Clan] is both lacrosse stick carver and lacrosse player. Alf learned the traditional art of lacrosse stick making from his father, the late master lacrosse carver, Lou Jacques, who taught Alf at age twelve to carve and web the lacrosse sticks. Alf himself is a professional box lacrosse player who is the only player to have held every position in field and box lacrosse. Alf carves his sticks from shagbark, shell or smooth hickory wood. The complicated procedure of cutting, seasoning, steaming, bending and carving from hickory wood is a time-consuming process and the netting involves a webbing technique with either leather or "gut." Alf explains that for Native Americans, lacrosse is both play and religious tradition because as a medicine game, it "keeps the people alert."

Juanita Willson [Mohawk Wolf Clan] learned the traditional arts of the Haudenosaunee from her mother and grandmother who lived on the Akwesasne Reservation. Today she continues to create beaded jewelry with traditional Mohawk designs including Wolf who has special significance for her clan. Juanita integrates her beaded work into ribbon dresses and shirts that she hand sews for her family members and native friends. Zenja Hyde [Onondaga Beaver Clan] lives on the Onondaga Nation where she learned to make apple head dolls from her Great-Aunt Virginia Skenadore Jones who lived at the Cattaruagus Reservation. To make her hand-made dolls, she first cores and peels Granny Smith apples and then shrinks the apples behind her woodstove. The bodies are made from dried maple sticks that are very hard and then all of the intricately designed traditional clothes are hand sewn and beaded.

Tiffany Jankiewicz is a 22-year old self-taught traditional artist of Polish heritage. When she was 12 years old, Tiffany became interested in learning to decorate Easter eggs, know as "pysanky" in the Polish language. Today Tiffany has created hundreds of eggs and has taught pysanky at the Utica Polish Community Center for six years.

Kaw Soe Win and his wife, Win May represent the Karens, an ethnic minority in Burma [Myanmar]. Because there is political oppression of the Karens in Burma, the Wins, who are Christian, emigrated with their seven children in 1999 from Burma to Utica where there is a new and growing Burmese community. They brought their Karen traditions such as folk dress and foodways which have been carried on by other family members and friends in Utica. All of their daughters learned to make special sweets such as Htamane [Festival Sticky Rice] and Monpetok [Sweet Rice Coconut Pyramids.] Htamane is a festival sweet, prepared and served in villages . It’s preparation is an arduous bit of work when it is made in huge potsbecause it must be stirred until it is reduced to a pureé of rice, peanuts, sesame seeds and coconut. Burmese sweets are not dessert; they are sweets that are served with green tea as a gesture of hospitality or on holidays. The Karens of Burma are known for their hospitality and friendliness as well as their colorful traditional clothes and energetic festival dances.

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April 16th, 2001: Easter Break Week began on Monday, when Smokey the Bear made his annual visit to the Museum and spoke to kids about Fire safety and other interesting topics. Kids watched a special video prepared by the DEC, then enjoyed a puppet show, plus fun and interactive stories. On Tuesday, Celia Domser made a return visit to the Museum with another "Science of Toys" program. Kids learned about silly putty, sticky men and other toys that began as scientific experiments. Sally Sommers made elephant puppets with kids, and there were neat events including a "bubble off" and "Magnet Fishing".

April 18th, 2001: Easter Break Week continues -- The day started with a special Music for Munchkins with Joanne Yacovella and continued with a Bike Rodeo Bike Safety Course with the Oneida County Sherriffs Department outside behind the caboose. Kids brought their bikes and helmets and ran the course with the experts; they also received a free bike safety check and tune-up. Participating kids made sidewalk art, learned about Hank the Snake, and made ice cream. Two days of great programs for kids and families at the Children's Museum. To pix * To top * To text

March 24th: A full house of visitors were in attendence at the Children's Museum for the Dental Health Fair sponsored by the Oneida-Herkimer Counties Dental Society. Dr. John Hamlin, for the OHDS and a sponsor of the Furino and Hamlin dental Exhibit in Exploration Station, was host to winners of the Dental Health Poster Contest. Friends and Family were there to show support for the winners and learn about the importance of taking care of one's teeth. After Awards were presented, everyone enjoyed a magic show and received free toothbrushes provided by the OHDS. The OHDS also donated more than 500 toothbrushes to Columbus Elementary School in Utica to promote dental health.The Children's Museum is proud to co-sponsor this annual event that involves children to creates posters that help in spreading the word to their peers about the importance of dental health and regular check-ups.

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March 17th: Saint Patrick's Day in Utica is always a family affair and this year the Children's Museum family participated in every aspect of the day's events. The Baby Brac Float consisted of our baby dinosaur, along with leprechauns, shamrocks, and balloons, created by the children of Museum members. A full contingent of Munchkins with Moms and Dad's decked out in Kelly Green to mark the occasion joined the float. Up Genesee Street we rode, some marching alongside our float dispensing candy. A Great Day for Irish, the City of Utica, and the Children's Museum Family. To pix * To top * To text

March 14th: Krista Koziarz, a ninth grader from Whitesboro High School, needed some weather statistics to complete a school science project. She called WUTR TV 20 and was told that the information she needed was at the new Children's Museum Weather Station. Krista emailed Board Member Marlene Brown, our webmeister, who emailed her back inviting her to the Museum. On Wednesday, March 14, Krista and her dad visited the Museum to download temperature, THI, Barometric readings, etc. for a two week period from the Weather Station. To pictures * To top * To text

March 7th: On Wednesday, March 7, Niagara Mohawk Technicians and Children's Museum staff installed the new working model Wind Energy Model Exhibit on the First Floor of the Children's Museum. The Exhibit is an interactive working Model of Niagara Mohawk's Wethersfield Wind Energy Farm in Wyoming County, New York. This Wind "Farm" produces almost 22,500 megawatt hours of electricity by harnessing the energy of the wind. Turbines with 154 feet wide blades mounted on 154 foot towers on a 213 foot hill have sensors that detect and adjust to the speed and direction of the wind.

They are capable of producing enough annual electricity to power 1700 single family homes. Wind is a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The exhibit allows viewers to learn about one of the exciting new technologies our region is producing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide safe and sustainable sources of power. The Children's Museum thanks Nimo for this exciting exhibit which will educate children and families about one of the oldest sources of energy and cutting edge technology that in the near future will be harnessed to benefit our planet. About the Wethersfield Site Acres: 310 acres County Wyoming Peak Wind Season: Winter Average Wind Direction :West-Southwest Temperature Range: -30F degrees to 95 degrees. To pictures * To top * To text

March 3rd: Children's Museum held the 2nd Fleet Bank Boston Sponsored Music and Visual Art Program. For a group of area children from the Utica School District, the day started at the Stanley Performing Arts Center for the Utica Symphony Orchestra's Family Series Concert, "Musical Heritage". The children were treated to a program which featured the traditional music and dance of two of Utica's oldest ethnic communities. Irish dances in the "Riverdance" tradition were performed by dancers from the Munson Proctor Williams Institute with reels and jigs performed by Irish traditional dancers; then Polish dancers performed traditional dances including a "Polanaise" accompanied by the USO.

The children then came to the Children's Museum for lunch. Then working with Children's Museum staff where they created heraldic "letters" inspired by the rich tradition of calligraphy and art of the Irish and paper folding techniques of Polish and Ukranian traditions. Each student decorated and collaged their designs based on the first letter of their name which will hang in the Museum for upcoming "Children's Folk Festival" April 20 and 21. Each student brought the experience of the music, costumes and lighting of the USO program to their project and working with the artists created unique projects. After the program the children were able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at the Museum.

This program is the second of four programs combining music and visual arts which have been developed by the Children's Museum staff with the cooperation of the Utica Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Charles Schneider. This program is funded by a grant from Fleet Boston Bank Foundation.

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