Friday Facebook Live with Curator Bob

Onondaga Historical Association's Downtown Syracuse location is a lot bigger than what you may have seen. So much of its downtown building is collections and storage. Tour the exhibits, offices, collections and special storage with OHA's Curator of History Bob Searing virtually at 1:30 p.m. every Friday. Searing will go live to take you through different parts of the museum while telling the stories and history of our county.

2020 Photo Walk Contest

This summer The Stand's annual Photo Walk will be held as a citywide photo contest. The community won’t gather in person due to the pandemic, but photographers can still document the city during this unique moment in time. The contest is open for the entire month of July. Images will be accepted on a rolling basis until July 31. Participants may enter up to two photos in each of the five categories and a panel of local judges will pick top winners – plus there will be prizes.

Contest Categories Include:

   •  #CuseSummer2020 — A shot that best captures this new normal — new now — for the city of Syracuse.

   •  #CuseCOVIDchildhood — A shot showing our city’s youth — from coping with our current crisis to enjoying childhood innocence.

   •  #CuseSocialDistancing — A shot displaying creative ways the city and its residents continue on safely.

   •  #CuseMinorityImpact — Studies show this virus impacts Blacks and minorities disproportionately, how can this reality be visualized?

   •  #CuseBLM — Nationwide racism is being called out. How is Syracuse pushing for progress?

Photographers are encouraged to share images throughout the month on social media by tagging @MySouthSide and posting their favorite shots with each contest category hashtag. Final images will be shared with the community online, featured in The Stand’s September print issue and exhibited downtown, projected onto the Everson Museum of Art, thanks to a partnership with the Urban Video Project (UVP).

To enter and be considered for prizes, photographers must follow recommended health guidelines, submit photos taken only in the city of Syracuse during the month of July and enter images online using The Stand’s entry form.

VeganCNY Community Food Share: 1st Sundays

Cafe Sankofa 2323 S. Salina St., Syracuse, NY, United States

Vegan CNY Community Food Share provides healthy, vegan food to people who need it. Typically available  is an assortment of homemade and packaged food like hot soup, bread, along with fruit, coffee and clothing and other items.

While the mission of the program is to share with the most vulnerable, it is not all about “charity.” Food Share is an opportunity to be in solidarity with those who are most often overlooked, who fall through the cracks in our system. The group provides food; in return, they get the opportunity to know their neighbors better, to hear music, engage in conversation and share stories.

On The Ground With OG’s Against Violence Walk

Skiddy Park 300 Tioga St., Syracuse, NY, United States

Attendees asked to walk to honor victims of violence and to show outrage for gun violence in the community.

Online: Bluebird Music Together

Interested in how young children learn music? Looking for new songs to sing in the bathtub and at the diaper table? Come sing, play, dance and make music with your child and with new friends. Music Together is a research-based, developmentally appropriate music class for children ages 0 to 5 with a parent or caregiver. Each child participates at his or her own developmental level in singing, moving, chanting, listening, observing or exploring musical instruments. The whole family may join in this music experience. Learn how to nurture the musical growth of your child, regardless of your own musical ability. Register by visiting bit.ly/MusicTogetherJuly7. Participants will be sent a Zoom meeting link. This session is supported by funds from the M&T Charitable Foundation.

Rally for Independent Redistricting and to end Gerrymandering

Columbus Circle 259 E. Onondaga St., Syracuse, NY, United States

The Onondaga County Legislature's public hearing and vote on Local Law C to establish an Independent Redistricting Commission will be held Tuesday, July 7. A rally and press conference outside of the courthouse begins at noon. A public hearing and vote inside begins at 1 p.m. People will be allowed to speak and should arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign up. The community is asked to join in person at the Onondaga County Legislative Session, if they feel comfortable. There will be a limit of 50 people allowed in the room at a time, masks required, and people can cycle through so more than 50 people can join throughout the meeting. 

Online: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall with The MOST

You might remember when the Evil Queen asks the Magic Mirror: "Who is the fairest of them all?" But do you know how mirrors really work? Explore the magic of mirrors, lenses and light in this live, virtual science demonstration from The MOST. Learn about refraction and reflection to light-bending and more. Register by visiting bit.ly/TheMOSTJuly8. Participants will be sent a Zoom meeting link. For ages 5 to 12. This session is supported by funds from the M&T Charitable Foundation.

Online: An Evening with Mark Zane

Local musician Mark Zane, joined by his 7-year-old daughter, Janiya, will perform an acoustic show via Zoom, playing original songs from Mark's three CDs, plus songs from artists such Johnny Cash, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac and many others. Zane was born and raised in the small rust belt city of Utica and now calls its larger neighbor to the west, Syracuse, home. The struggle of life in old industrial cities can be heard in some of the songs that appear on Zane's debut 2008 CD, "American Hunger," which features an exciting blend of folk, rock and country in each of his 12 original songs. "American Hunger" was nominated for a 2009 SAMMY award in the Americana category. Along with writing and performing music, Zane, whose songs often incorporate sociological themes and concepts, is a professor of sociology at Onondaga Community College. Register by visiting bit.ly/MarkZaneJuly9. Participants will be sent a Zoom meeting link.

Free

Community Giveaway

Kirk Park 1101 South Ave., Syracuse, NY, United States

Syracuse Community Connections and Help Me Grow will hold a community giveaway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, July 10, at Kirk Park. Free food bundles, children's books, sanitary products and STD prevention materials will be handed out, first come, first served; while supplies last.

Virtual Yoga for Kids

This session is for children ages 0 to 5. Join Yoga for Kids of CNY for a healthy, fun-filled way for children to enjoy a noncompetitive fitness activity. Kids will learn various breathing and visualization techniques to enhance their focus and concentration. They will also learn fun and challenging yoga poses to improve strength, flexibility, body awareness and confidence. The class will include yoga games, music and a final relaxation for the mind and body. Register by visiting bit.ly/YogaForKidsJuly14. Participants will be sent a Zoom meeting link. This session is supported by funds from the M&T Charitable Foundation.