Join the Teen Story Time for a read-aloud of "A Long Walk to Water" by Linda Sue Park. Attendees are welcome to bring blankets and pillows and make themselves comfortable. Light refreshments will be served. Relax and enjoy a grown-up story time with the Central Library. For ages 12 to 18. No registration necessary.

Believe in Syracuse’s Fourth Birthday Party will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at the Museum of Science & Technology. Presented by AP Professionals of Syracuse and Bluerock Energy, the event will celebrate local arts, provide live entertainment and networking opportunities and free food and beverage samples. The third annual Believe in Syracuse Awards will be presented. Event is free for Believe in Syracuse members; $5 for nonmembers. Sign up to become a member at believeinsyracuse.org/membership. To learn more, email john@believeinsyracuse.org.

Presented by the Syracuse City School District Parent University in collaboration with Syracuse University featuring workshops, maker stations, performances, information and presentation of Youth Unsung Heroes. Free childcare and transportation.

The annual Martin Luther King Celebration will be held Sunday, Jan. 29, at Syracuse University’s Carrier Dome. Dinner precedes the program at 4:30 p.m., with doors opening at 4 p.m.; the program starts at 5:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Visit the Schine Box Office for tickets. Cost is $30 for individual tickets for the dinner. Blocks of 10 tickets are $300. All tickets are for general seating. Best-selling author, actor, U.S. Army veteran and motivational speaker J.R. Martinez will provide the keynote address. The evening will also include presentation of the 2017 Unsung Hero Awards, music by a community choir and entertainment by student performers. To learn more, call
Hendricks Chapel at (315) 443-5044.

Stop Motion Animation For Beginners will be offered at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, at Beauchamp Branch Library. Using foam core for a backdrop, objects to move around frame-by-frame, and an iPad Mini 4 on a tripod to photograph each movement, children can create stop motion animated movies. This STEAM program allows children to use their imaginations to
write stories, “act” them out using objects such as toy animals or LEGOS, and complete a short, finished animated movie in two hours or less. Open to ages 7 and up.

Join the Central Library for its monthly photography club. Projects are shaped by teens' interests. Weather permitting, the photography challenges will take participants outside in the downtown area. All equipment provided. Open to ages 12-18. Register online at here or call (315) 435-1900.

The Citizen Review Board will hold a public board meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers at City Hall. The board meeting will recess at 6:30 p.m. for public comment.

Scrabble Mania, the annual fundraiser for LiteracyCNY, will begin at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at the OnCenter, 800 S. State St. Teams will compete against one another to build the highest scoring board in three 20-minute rounds. Highest team score will win prizes. Individual tickets are $65. Table registration is $650, with a special rate of $500 to qualifying nonprofit agencies. All participants must register by Jan. 13. For a table or more than six tickets, call (315) 471-1300 ext. 172 or email info@LiteracyCNY.org. For individual tickets, visit literacycny.org and click on the Scrabble Mania logo.

Hear the tales told in the Story Quilts made by fiber artist and storyteller Vanessa Johnson. Travel with her on the Underground Railroad. Hear the stories of the cloth made for African Kings. Listen to the legend of Onondaga Creek. Help a turtle win a tug of war with a lion. Come help tell these stories and pass around touchable quilts in this interactive event for all ages. Free and open to the public. To learn more, call (315) 435-3395.

Hazard Branch Library will celebrate the life of Garrett Morgan – the man who invented the stop light and also read some great books, play a few games and make a special stop light-themed snack. For ages 2 – 5 with a guardian. Siblings welcome.