An evening of live music, poetry, food and fun. Followed by a full day of lectures by distinguished speakers (including keynote address by Bro. Guy Consolmagno, the Vatican astronomer and best-selling author; Dava Sobel, internationally best-selling author & Pulitzer finalist; Dr. Michael Faison, astronomy professor and observatory director, Yale University) and astronomy science fair presentations by Long Island students (grades 8-12).

For complete details or to register, see the pdf flyer.

Schedule of events:

Friday Evening at Custer Observatory
Refreshments and observing (weather permitting) throughout the evening
6:00pm Registration
8:00pm Johnny Zarrow Band in concert (classic rock, jazz, blues)
9:30pm The Universe in Verse: Poetry with Bob and Steve Chapin

Saturday at Southold High School
(South off Rte. 25 to 420 Oaklawn Avenue; it’s East of Main Bayview Road/Custer)
All Day in Gym: Astronomy Science Fair presentations (G8-12) and Vendors
9:30am Registration
10:00am Portable Planetarium Shows (for kids & adults) by David Cohn
11:00am “How Many Ways Can Black Holes Kill You?” Dr. Mike Inglis
Noon LUNCH BREAK
2:00pm “Promise them the Stars: Using Astronomy to Inspire an Appreciation for Science,” Dr. Michael Faison
3:00pm “How Galileo and the Telescope Changed Everything,” Dava Sobel
4:00pm BREAK (a good time to buy speakers’ books and get them signed)
4:30pm “Twenty Years of Turning Left: Are We Dizzy Yet?” Dr. Dan Davis
5:30pm Keynote: “Latest News from the Asteroid Belt: Fluffy Asteroids in Sculpted Orbits,” Bro. Guy Consolmagno, Vatican Astronomer
7:00pm DINNER BREAK (join us at Pepi’s Cucina Di Casa in Southold)

Saturday Night at Custer Observatory
9:00pm Observing and refreshments (until midnight)
10:00pm Raffle drawing (winners not present at drawing will be notified)

photo is Astronomy Jamboree Keynote Speaker, Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J., Ph.D., at Castel Gandolfo Vatican Observatory (courtesy of Custer Observatory)

Tags: Custer Observatory, events, excursions & activities, math & science, teens by Nancy
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Long Island Farm Bureau invites all Nassau and Suffolk County High School seniors to apply for a $1000 scholarship from Long Island Farm Bureau.

Criteria:
°    Students who will continue their education to prepare for a career in some way connected to the diverse agricultural industry.
°    Students who live or work on a farm or are involved with agriculture
°    Students who are active member of the community

In addition, the Long Island scholarship winner will have an opportunity to compete for additional scholarship funds — $1,500, $1,200, $1,000 — at the 2008 New York Farm Bureau “Spring Break” Conference.

Deadline for application is November 21, 2008.

For more information, please contact Natasha Beccaria at Long Island Farm Bureau  at 727-3777 or visit the LIFB website at www.lifb.com.

Tags: family finance, farming by Nancy
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East End Arts Council School of the Arts will hold an Open House on Sunday, September 7, from 12noon – 3:00pm. All are welcome to enjoy a day of free music and art activities and learn about the School of the Arts’ programs and faculty. Singer-songwriter Nancy Lee Baxter will host a Family Sing-a-Long with lots of kid-friendly instruments. The day will include art projects, dancing, singing and acting.

In addition, the East End Arts Council School of the Arts announces the development of a brand new early childhood music program, created with EEAC educator and acclaimed singer-songwriter Nancy Lee Baxter. This program will offer developmentally appropriate music and movement classes to children aged 18 months–3 years and 3–4 years. The fun classes will utilize original songs by Ms. Baxter as well as traditional rhymes and songs, and will target specific musical skills such as pitch, rhythm, timbre and singing using developmentally appropriate practice. Developmental goals (speech/language, spatial awareness, coordination, creativity, social skills) will be addressed in conjunction with the musical play.

Nancy Lee Baxter has an extensive background in early childhood education. She is certified in Orff-Schulwerk and trained in Kindermusik and Musikgarten, is a member of the Ross Lower School music and theatre faculty, and has been a vital part of the EEAC School of the Arts faculty since 2001. Ms. Baxter’s musical studies focused on classical piano and cello training; she has performed throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. Her studio singing led to her first contract with Vanguard Records, after which she earned a gold record. She is a staff writer at BMG Music in Nashville, and her hit song I Will Survive was featured in the Disney movie Holes

The new classes will be held on Tuesday mornings beginning in October at the Community School of the Arts on East Main Street in downtown Riverhead.

For more information, call the School of the Arts at 369-2171.

Tags: East End Arts Council, Riverhead, art & culture, events, schools by Nancy
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The Human Development Department of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County offers parents some great tips for getting our kids back to school.

Better Nutrition for a Smart Start to School

Back to School Tips

Home Alone Safety

Raising Responsible Children

About Parenting 631 on NorthForkParents.com

We’ve all seen the “911″ television shows, the nightmarish children, the clueless parents, and the know-it-all nannies! How many of us have said, “Yikes, that’s a bit like our family!

Well, forget Good-Gollywood, real help is here. In our Parenting 631 series, regional experts give us the real scoop on how to get our families humming like fine machinery at home, thriving out in the world, and giving us cause for great hope.

The Parenting 631 series includes many articles and interviews about a variety of parenting topics.

Go to Parenting 631 page

Tags: Cornell Cooperative Extension, elementary, parenting, schools, teens, toddler & preschool by Nancy
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Message from East End Student Film Project:

Greetings Parents, Students, Friends and Mentors,

With the rapidly approaching 3rd Annual Film Fest, the ‘organizational helper bees’ are looking for some additional ‘worker bees’.  Applying the familiar litany of ‘many hands make little work’, we are hoping that some of you may have some time to spare, or know of someone who might be willing to pitch in an hour or two to help pull together this event.

As a recap:  The 3rd Annual EESFP Student Film Festival will take place on Monday, Aug. 18 at 7pm. Films will be shown in the upstairs theater at Greenport Movie Theatre, Front St., Greenport. Prizes and awards will be announced at the end of the screening, followed by a gathering with refreshments in the lobby.

Students from all over the East End (including summer residents) have submitted short films, and we encourage family, friends and the general public to support their efforts and attend this free event.

In particular, we are in need of bodies the day or the festival  to:
Help usher & pass out programs
Collect, set-up and clean-up refreshments
Donate finger foods or baked goods
Help set up the wiring and equipment in the theater

Please reply or call immediately if you are willing to pitch in.  I can promise, you will meet great people, have a good time, & you won’t regret it!!

Gratefully,
Sue Kreiling
477-1226

Tags: art & culture, community bulletin, events, greenport, teens by Nancy
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If you haven’t already heard, Riverhead’s High School principal, David Zimbler, was arrested and charged with DWI. Newsday story here.

NorthForkParents comment:

It’s very sad when a teen role model such as a high school principal is accused and is perhaps guilty of doing something like this at a time when so many voices in our community are urging people, especially young drivers, not to drink and drive. There have been too many tragedies. Teens, whose relationship with authority figures is especially difficult, have been disappointed, and parents need and deserve more.

Unfortunately, Mr. Zimbler’s career would seem to be over, despite the district’s reported non-action and comments to the contrary. There is simply no way to turn this into a positive. The district’s response has been puzzling and disappointing.

Tags: In Memory, Riverhead, community bulletin, parenting, politics, schools, teens by Nancy
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