Often called a “space opera," one aspect of the Star Wars films that helped make them such a pop culture phenomenon was composer John Williams’ iconic music. This 60- minute multimedia presentation by Aaron Krerowicz showcases music from all seven movies. This event is for teens and adults. No registration necessary. Open to ages 12 and up. This program will take place at Central’s first-floor Community Room.

Syracuse United Neighbors, Inc. will hold its 40th anniversary gala from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown Hotel's Persian Terrace. Tickets for the gala are on sale at eventbrite.com or by contacting SUN’s office at (315) 476-7475.

To celebrate the accomplishment of making beautiful and funky music for the past 10 years, Brownskin Band asks listeners to join the former and present members for a great concert. Jamel Lorick, Lawd Dweez, Jonathon Dale, Tamar Juntia, Ekwan Brooks, Don Martin, Richie Melito, Stephen Bender, Danielle Mitchell, Thomas Carter, Travis Reed, Gary Carter, Sam Kininger and many more will be in attendance.

Trick or treat yourself to this frightfully awesome afternoon at the library. Attendees will be watching a monster movie, playing a riveting game of Clue, making a creepy glove monster craft and having ghoulishly good snacks. For ages 13 – 19.

This tribute is presented by the Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company (PRPAC) in observation of its 35th anniversary of community theater, which gives voice to the African-American tradition. The event is an evening of “edu-tainment” in celebration of Robeson, a powerful international performer and courageous champion of civil rights. Featured performance partners include PRPAC alum, Syracuse Community Choir and Dance Theater of Syracuse. Children under 18 are free; general admission is $25; and seniors and college students with ID are $15. For more information, email info@theprpac.org or call (315) 313-5203.

Hall of Fame Quarterback and former Buffalo Bills Legend Jim Kelly will serve as the guest speakers for The Salvation Army's 46th Annual Civic Luncheon set for noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, at The OnCenter. The luncheon will honor Eric Devendorf of Syracuse University’s Men’s Basketball Coaching staff with the Community Impact award. Laura Hand of CNY Central will be presented with the Media Award, and C&S Companies will be presented with a Corporate Excellence award. The Salvation Army’s Civic Celebration brings together nearly 700 participants each year, with all proceeds benefiting its programs and services. For ticket information, visit sasyr.org/civiccelebration or call (315) 434-1395.

Make your own decorative lanterns using mason jars and the Cricut machine to create eerie, silhouetted landscapes that glow. Register in the Makerspace or online at www.onlib.org/events/calendar. This program will take place at Central’s first-floor MakerSpace.

The Syracuse Fire Department will hold an Open House in honor of Fire Prevention Week from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at Fire Station 8, 2412 S. Salina St. The open house will offer health information, resources, workshops and fire and life-safety presentation for area residents of all ages.

Join Pirate Dave (aka magician David Moreland) for his family-friendly, not-at-all-spooky 45-minute Halloween magic show. Audience members, young and old, will shiver their timbers laughing at the magic, balloons, puppets and audience participation. For all ages.

Cozy-up and enjoy not-too-scary stories and a Halloween craft. Children may wear their Halloween costumes or pajamas and join in the creepy fun. Ms. Laura will have her Halloween PJ’s on too. For all ages.

The second annual Minority Business & Economic Empowerment Summit will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 21. Speakers will include Jorge Villar, Jennifer Parker, Dennis Kimbro and Calvin Corriders. To learn more, call (315) 469-1106 or (315) 470-1875.

Working on your college applications? Putting off those dreaded college essays? This workshop on the college essay process will help, whether you’ve already written drafts of your college essays or are just beginning to think about them. Molly Voorheis, an instructor in the Syracuse University Writing Program since 1983, has led college essay workshops at several high schools in Syracuse. Open to all interested students. Registration required. Call the library at (315) 435-3636.

Lanika Mabrey, PrEP coordinator at the Onondaga County Health Department, will join a group of community health educators addressing AIDS, HIV and STDs during a public health lecture hosted at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 by 100 Black Men of Syracuse and Black Nurses Rock of Syracuse. Also speaking are Karen Loftin and Joshua King of the “HIV Stops With Me” campaign. The 90-minute event, the first in a new round of monthly public health discussions sponsored by the two organizations, will be held at the South Side Innovation Center, 2610 S. Salina St. in Syracuse. Previously, the 100 and Black Nurses Rock hosted a series of seven public health lectures through the first half of 2017. Admission is free, and no advance registration is required for all lectures. The current series, which will cover a variety of health topics, is held the fourth Monday of each month through May 2018 at the South Side Innovation Center. For more information about the series, email Charles Anderson, chairman of the 100’s health and wellness committee at charlesanderson5@mac.com or call him at (315) 200-7847.

KidSpace will have spooky storytelling just in time for Halloween. All ages welcome, no registration required. This program will meet at Central’s second-floor KidSpace.

Join the Dunbar Association Board as they usher in a new century of service to the community with the presentation of its new executive director along with a celebration honoring the legacy of the Dunbar Association into its centennial year and beyond. Proceeds will benefit the community center.

The Coffee & Conversation group will gather at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Southside Interfaith CDC, 500 W. Newell St. The group brings the hot coffee and attendees bring the hot topics.

This is fun-filled night of games, crafts, food and activities for the entire family held at Beauchamp Branch Library. Come in costume if you’d like. For all ages.

The NAACP Syracuse/ Onondaga County Chapter will host its October General Membership meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at the Marriott/Syracuse Hotel located at 100 E. Onondaga St.
Join others for a discussion with Ms. Barrier Gewanter, executive director of the Onondaga County/Syracuse Commission on Human Rights, and Ms. Raynette Releford, the new administrator of Syracuse’s Citizen’s Review Board, as both present information from their respective offices. For more information about the Human Rights Commission, call (315) 435-3565, and for the Citizen Review Board, call (315) 448-8750.

The public is invited to attend a candlelight vigil at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26,  at Franklin Square Park, 101 Solar St. The vigil is in remembrance of those who died of drug overdoses in 2016.  Many of these accidental deaths were the result of mixing prescription pills with alcohol, heroin or other drugs. The Syracuse vigil, sponsored by ACR Health, is one of hundreds being held across the country with the assistance of the national NOPE Task Force, Narcotics Overdose Prevention & Education. The candlelight vigils strive to raise awareness and open the doors to recovery by eliminating prejudice toward injection drug users.  

Salt of the Earth Ministries will host a family movie night Friday, Oct. 27. The movie screened will be "The Boss Baby" and it will start at 6:30 p.m. Food and drinks will be provided for free for all ages.

Join Save the Rain in the Brighton Neighborhood during a volunteer tree-planting event from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 28. Volunteers will plant more than 80 trees along streets throughout the community. This tree-planting event is an important component of the Save the Rain program, a comprehensive stormwater management plan intended to reduce pollution moving to Onondaga Lake and its tributaries. Each tree intercepts over 1,000 gallons of storm water annually, resulting in this planting filtering 80,000 gallons of storm water annually. For more information, call (315) 424-9485.ext 227

Pirate Dave (aka David Moreland the Magician) will present a 45-minute show filled with spellbinding magic, vaudeville slapstick, audience participation and several routines starring children from the audience.

Visit the library to get in the Halloween mood with a movie marathon (kid-friendly movies) and Halloween crafts. For all ages.

What is the only thing better than tricks and treats or ghouls and ghosts? Scarrrry books. Children will be able to safely visit the library in their costumes, get their faces painted with their favorite creepy character, enjoy cider and donuts – and the first 25 children will receive a FREE spooky book for All Hallows Read. All ages welcome.

Celebrate Halloween with us and Moreland the Magician as “Pirate Dave.” Following the performance, a Halloween party with crafts, games and candy will be held. For ages 5 – 12.

Hosted by We Rise Above the Streets Recovery Outreach, this fundraiser will help provide financial support necessary to run this organization's outreach efforts. They rely on donations to provide services in the homeless community that are greatly needed. Guest Speakers at this dinner will include: Howard “Klass” Jones, Heidi Baldwin, Joshua Williams, George J. Lynch and Alamin Muhammad the founder of We Rise Above The Streets Recovery Outreach. For more information, call (315) 491-7164 or email weriseabovethestreets@gmail.com

Syracuse Healthy Start's Annual Report to the Community, the "State of our Babies' Health in Syracuse" will be held from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Nov. 1, at Syracuse Community Connections/ Southwest Community Center, 401 South Ave., and will feature the latest data trends and community stories on issues impacting Maternal and Child Health in Syracuse.

During this session -- "Is "Bus Rapid Transit" Coming to Syracuse?" attendees may find out answers to this and related questions at the roll-out of the final feasible study for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Sky Armory, 351 South Clinton Street downtown. Open House is hosted by the Syracuse Metropolitan Transportation Council, which has been engaged in a multi-year enhanced transit feasibility review called SMART1 . Formal presentations on the alternatives and next steps will take place at 5 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m.