Zoo to You is back for the 2017 summer reading program. The world of reading will come alive with this fun and educational program that will bring you face-to-face with exciting zoo animals. Get hands-on with the zoo’s one-of-a-kind animal artifacts, ask a professional zoo educator your animal questions, and learn how you can make a difference to wildlife. Zoo to You is made possible in part by a state grant secured by Senator John A. DeFrancisco.

Official launch workshop for the City of Syracuse's Salt City Mapping will be held July 8. Salt City Mapping is one of many strategies that the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development is pursuing with grant funds awarded by the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) under their Zombie and Vacant Properties Initiative. The Salt City Mapping project will use a mobile surveying app to ask residents for feedback on blighted structures in their neighborhoods and will help prioritize city efforts to reduce and remediate blight. Register for the event online at www.saltcitymapping.eventbrite.com on on the Facebook page under the initiative title Salt City Mapping. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Syracuse Alumnae chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. will host its Inaugural Golden Alert. The goal of this session is to allow Syracuse Youth (between the ages of 11 to 17) to discuss solutions to make the Syracuse Community safer. Participants will discuss solutions with local leaders in the Onondaga County Justice System. The Golden Alert will provide a safe place to ask questions, build relationships, educate about juvenile justice and make partnerships with community leaders. This community event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 8, at the Southwest Community Center. To register, contact Soror Staci Dennis Taylor at thetaomicronsigma1922@gmail.com.

Join a local group created by teens as they bring engineering fun to kids. Attendees will have fun creating, inventing and learning about engineering. Intended for ages 8 and up.

Free one hour class of gentle yoga with Mr. Jay.

Spend a fun afternoon at Betts Branch Library building towers, bridges and buildings out of mini marshmallows and toothpicks. Recommended for children 5 years and up; younger if accompanied by an adult.

The Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse will offer Alternatives to Violence Training for free from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July, 14, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 15, and conclude from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 16, followed by a celebration dinner. The sessions will be held at the Dunbar Center, located at 1453 S. State St.  Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) is a life-changing training program which teaches participants to transform conflict through methods of non-violence. The training program is for both youth and adults. There is no cost to attend, and meals will be provided during each day of the training. Participants in this initial training session will be instrumental in shaping the future of AVP in Syracuse. Registration is already underway and is limited to no more than 20 to 25 persons. To make a reservation, call the ACTS office at (315) 416-6363 or by calling Craig French at  (315) 657-5869. Participants must attend all three sessions to receive the AVP certification, as they build on each other. 

Free one hour class of gentle yoga with Mr. Jay.

The Syracuse Parks & Rec ALL STAR BAND will perform for the community. The band is composed of local students who spend time during the summer entertaining at a variety of locations. Please come out and support these hard working and talented students.