The Greater Syracuse Land Bank, which owns over 90 residential vacant lots in the South Side area, will host a special meeting to seek feedback from the neighbors in order to turn one into a pocket park. The team will present three to four potential sites for the neighbors' consideration and brainstorm concepts for site design. ESF landscape architecture students will develop those designs and the team will return in April/May to obtain neighborhood input on selection of a final design. The park will be installed by June 30.

Meetings for this Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today task force are held the last Monday of every month. Topics of discussion include: Village of Danforth historic designation, vacant properties, neighborhood resource pamphlets, Neighborhood Watch and Syracuse Land Bank demolitions and pocket parks.

100 Black Men of Syracuse, Inc. in collaboration with Black Nurses Rock of Syracuse to host the 2017 Health and Wellness Lecture Series. The March lecture will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 27, at the South Side Innovation Center. The speaker will be Dr. David Albala, AMP Urology, speaking on the topic of "Prostate Cancer." No advance registration is required for the lecture series. For more information, call (315) 443-8749.

Interested in polishing your public speaking skills? Looking to strengthen yourself as a leader? You are invited to experience a Toastmasters meeting, learn more about Toastmasters and meet members of the AXA Talk of the Towers Toastmasters Club. Open to adults ages 18 and over.

Enjoy the newly released film “Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life." The movie features a budding young artist named Rafe who transfers to a new middle school, where the rules-obsessed principal quickly punishes him for his failure to conform by destroying a book of his drawings. Rafe then decides to fight back by playing pranks and breaking every rule in school. Based on the best-selling series by James Patterson. Enjoy free popcorn while you watch. All ages welcome.

Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today is beginning a strategic planning process to look at where we've been, where we are and to determine where we want the organization to go. All TNT facilitators, attendees and residents are invited to attend. The March 30th meeting will focus on defining TNT's mission and values. This is the first of three meetings being planned (the other meetings will take place on April 27 and June 1). Food will be provided. Please RSVP if you can attend by emailing tntstrategicplanning@gmail.com or calling (315) 448-8178 or (315) 308-1372.

Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today Southside monthly meetings are held the first Monday of every month from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Make a Tax Appointment today. AARP Tax Preparers are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, by appointment only, to help you prepare your tax return for free. Clients must bring last year’s tax return, a valid picture ID, social security cards or official documentation for all listed on return, all W-2 and 1099 forms, and check book if direct deposit is wanted. Call (315) 435-1940 to schedule an appointment.

Make a Tax Appointment today. AARP Tax Preparers are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, by appointment only, to help you prepare your tax return for free. Clients must bring last year’s tax return, a valid picture ID, social security cards or official documentation for all listed on return, all W-2 and 1099 forms, and check book if direct deposit is wanted. Call (315) 435-1940 to schedule an appointment.

Topics of discussion include McKinley-Brighton Elementary, Danforth Middle School and Light A Candle for Literacy Afterschool Program.

A panel discussion on the I-81 Impact on the South Side will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at the South Side Innovation Center. Discussion will center on the direct impact I-81 will have on the South Side. Attendees will hear the pros and the cons of all the remaining options and how each relates to this neighborhood’s present and future businesses, residents and overall quality of life. Presentation by Mark Frechette, New York State Department of Transportation, with panelists: Angela Wright (moderator), executive director Syracuse Model Neighborhood Corporation; Jim Bright, president and owner Dunk & Bright Furniture; Mark Nicotra, Save I-81 and town supervisor for Town of Salina; Peter Sarver, convener with Moving People Transportation Coalition; Bill Simmons, executive director Syracuse Housing Authority, and Lemir Teron, assistant professor at SUNY ESF focused on environmental justice.

Topics of discussion include the planning of the upcoming Taste of the Southside event, the Southside art mural project and the Pixels and Print design work. Meet on the second floor of Beauchamp Branch Library.

Distractibility interferes with our ability to listen, to focus, to respond, and to feel fully alive. The 45 minutes meditation workshop will include instruction in simple meditation techniques, including breath, posture and basic principles of awareness. Judy Fancher, a meditation practitioner for 16 years, is the instructor. This program is supported by the Zen Center of Syracuse.

Poems and black & white drawings will be created on site based on a theme. Poets and artists will be encouraged to talk about their creation and the theme. Final selection of winners will be selected by the general public at the Betts Branch Library on May 6th. Winning poems and drawings will appear inside Centro buses. Workshop providers: Martin Willitts (poetry) and Michael Sickler (drawings).

The Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today South Side Voter Education Task Force will meet to discuss the importance of residents' votes. All South Side neighbors are welcome. The meetings goal is to organize residents' voices and votes for the betterment of all people.

Make a Tax Appointment today. AARP Tax Preparers are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, by appointment only, to help you prepare your tax return for free. Clients must bring last year’s tax return, a valid picture ID, social security cards or official documentation for all listed on return, all W-2 and 1099 forms, and check book if direct deposit is wanted. Call (315) 435-1940 to schedule an appointment.

"Fever, 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson. An epidemic of fever sweeps through the streets of 1793 Philadelphia in this novel from local author, Laurie Halse Anderson. Sixteen-year-old Matilda Cook, separated from her sick mother, learns about perseverance and self-reliance when she is forced to cope with the horrors of a yellow fever epidemic.

Syracuse United Neighbors will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. April 11 at the Brady Faith Center. Guests will be staff from Schumer, Katko and Gilibrand offices.

Make a Tax Appointment today. AARP Tax Preparers are available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, by appointment only, to help you prepare your tax return for free. Clients must bring last year’s tax return, a valid picture ID, social security cards or official documentation for all listed on return, all W-2 and 1099 forms, and check book if direct deposit is wanted. Call (315) 435-1940 to schedule an appointment.

A Human Library is a way for people to reach out and connect with individuals in their community with whom they might not normally interact. Visitors to the library have an opportunity during the event to borrow and engage in conversation with a Human Book. These events promote tolerance, celebrate differences and encourage understanding of people who come from varied cultural or lifestyle backgrounds. Books can be checked out at the event or you may sign up in advance at the front desk. Please call Beauchamp Library for a list of available books and to register at (315) 435-3395.

The Like Minded Launch Party will be a networking event held from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at The Event Center. Guest performances by Dashe Cleopatra, Red Lotus and Mic Tha Poet will begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $5.

Always wondered how engineers and architects make skyscrapers? Design your own building or structure using toothpicks and marshmallows. Open to ages 5 and up.

The BristleBot is a simple, tiny robot. The ingredients? One toothbrush, a battery and a pager motor. The result? Serious fun. Open to ages 5 and up.

Work together in small groups to complete four fun building challenges in a Tower Building Competition. Open to ages 5 and up.

Enjoy the newly released Disney film “Moana." Moana, a young teenage girl from Oceania, has a sense for navigation and an adventurous mind. She sets out on a journey in search of a mythical island with the hopes and intent of saving her people. Free popcorn provided while you watch. Open to all ages. Runtime 1hr 53m.

A celebration of Gospel music.

40 Below will be joined by Believe in Syracuse to cleanup the Syracuse Inner Harbor from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22. All are welcome. Volunteers will help beautify the city in partnership with OCRRA and dozens of other cleanup events happening across Central New York in honor of Earth Day. Volunteers will meet at 352 W. Kirkpatrick St. Email 40BelowFeedback@gmail.com with any questions.

The West Onondaga Street Alliance will host. Participants will be divided into two groups and should meet at Onondaga Commons, 484 W. Onondaga St. One will clean up West Onondaga Street, from the Marriott Syracuse Downtown hotel to the Leavenworth Circle Fountain. The other will distribute free LED lightbulb packs to residents on the West Side. Participants will receive a free event T-shirt (first 100 people) and a homemade lunch.

Help the South Side family resource center spread mulch on raised garden beds for its new Peace Garden in partnership with Syracuse Inner City Rotary Club. The garden will grow vegetables and other plants for the community. Volunteers will also plant flowers around the center. For more information, email Charles Rivers at charles.rivers@peace-caa.org.

Join New Covenant Baptist Church and Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today Southside group for a community cleanup. Volunteers will meet at the New Covenant Baptist Church, located at 107 E. Beard Ave. starting at 10 a.m.

Join in this community cleanup of the Sankofa District South, along South Salina Street. Volunteers should meet at the Rahma Edible Forest Snack Garden, 3100 S. Salina St.; parking available on side streets or in the clinic parking lot. Volunteers will help to clean the garden space and will work along South Salina Street, West Newell Street and West Pleasant Avenue. There also will be mulch and compost work, so volunteer shovelers are appreciated.

100 Black Men of Syracuse, Inc. in collaboration with Black Nurses Rock of Syracuse to host the 2017 Health and Wellness Lecture Series. The April lecture will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, April 24, at the South Side Innovation Center. The speaker will be Dr. Sharon Brangman, SUNY Upstate Medical University, speaking on the topic of "Alzheimer's Disease." No advance registration is required for the lecture series. For more information, call (315) 443-8749.

ACTing For A Just Community, the Alliance of Communities Transforming Syracuse's annual banquet, will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at Drumlins Country Club, 800 Nottingham Road. The keynote speaker is Kathryn Howe Ruscitto, who is the president and chief executive officer of St. Joseph’s Health. She also serves as a board member of several local and national health care and philanthropic organizations, including the Healthcare Association of New York and the Regional Economic Development Council for Central New York. She has dedicated herself to civic-minded and mission-driven roles throughout her career, including efforts to make St. Joseph’s a driving force in the revitalization of Syracuse’s North Side neighborhood. In addition, she oversaw St. Joseph’s in the creation of an innovative, integrated health care center on Syracuse’s Near West Side in collaboration with key community partners.

Tomorrow's Neighborhoods Today Strategic Planning Meeting #2 will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 27, in the school cafeteria at the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central (ITC). Attendees can enter the school parking lot from Adams Street.
The school cafeteria is on the first floor. After entering, turn right toward the office, go past the office; the cafeteria is at the end of the hall. Food will be served from 5 to 5:30 p.m. RSVP to TNTStrategicPlanning@gmail.com.

KJ's Angels will hold a silent auction starting at 4 p.m. April 29 at the Central New York Community Foundation. Art will be for sale and will even be painted during the event by featured artists including: Dakoro Edwards, Christine LeCates, David Seeley and Lydia Hill. For more information, call Linda Donalson at (315) 729-4423.