Spirit of road trips yet to come
Need a fresh idea for a kid-friendly summer road trip? One
that doesn’t involve killer whales with killer admission fees? Consider Lily
Dale, an hour south of Buffalo.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Sure, we
got charming Victorian villages that aren’t two hours away. But none of them
are home to the world’s largest center for the religion of Spiritualism.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Learn about
Spiritualism by attending a public message service in Leolyn Woods, a rare old
growth forest. My 12-year-old son watched with fascination as mediums received
messages from visitors’ deceased loved ones. He was visibly relieved when
grandma didn’t weigh in on the issue of whether he’d passed his math final.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Take it
from my husband, you don’t have to be a believer to enjoy Lily Dale. Everyone
loves nature trails, right? They have one upgraded with a fairy village. Can’t
see that at Mendon Ponds. There’s also a swimming beach that stays open all
summer.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย My son
commented, “I liked how there wasn’t much industrial stuff. And I liked the
souvenirs, too.” He bought Scrooge’s spirit-cotton fluff in a jar — complete
with death certificate — for $3. He really wanted Richard Nixon’s spirit, but
I had to throw down on that one.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Lily Dale’s
2005 season runs through September 4 with daily events scheduled from 8:30 a.m.
to 7 p.m. Gate fee, including daily events and parking, is $10 for adults, ages
17 and under free. For info, including a list of registered mediums, events and
workshops, go to www.lilydaleassembly.com or call 716-595-8721.
— Linda Kostin (www.junkstorecowgirl.com)
This week for
families
Aladdin Wed, July 13. Emerson Park, Owasco, 2 p.m. Free.
www.merry-go-round.com
American Red Cross
Babysitters Training Mon, July 11. Henrietta Public Library, 445 Calkins
Rd, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $30. 359-7092
Brighton Memorial
Library story times: Mondays 10 a.m. (ages 3-4), 10:30 a.m. (ages 1-2.5);
Thursdays 7 p.m. (families) | Thurs, July 7, Airplay, juggling, 10:30 a.m. |
2300 Elmwood Avenue. 784-5300, www.brightonlibrary.org
Family Summer Concert
Series Sun, July 10. Joe Caruso Band, Total Sports Experience, 880 Elmgrove
Rd, Gates, 6:30 p.m. Free. 247-6100 ext. 235
Freestyle Battle
Auditions Thurs-Fri, July 14-15. ages 14-18, for Main Game Blazing Free Style
Battle, Thurs: Humboldt Rec Center, 1045 Atlantic Ave, 6-8 p.m.; Fri:
In-Control Center, 470 W Main St, 6-8 p.m. 428-6755, blazinmc2005@hotmail.com
Henrietta Public
Library Airplay Wed, July 6, family bingo, 7-8 p.m. | Wednesdays, toddler
storytimes, 10:30 a.m. | Mondays, family pajama storytime, 7-7:30 p.m. |
Tuesdays, jumbles, grades 1-3, 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Fridays, movies, 2 p.m. |
Wed, July 13, juggling workshop, ages 10 and up, 2-3 p.m. | 455 Calkins Rd.
359-7092
Magic Show Wed,
July 6. Arnett Branch Library, 310 Arnett Blvd, 2 p.m. 428-8214
Seneca Park Zoo Fri-Sat,
July 9-10, family bunk with the beasts, 5:30
p.m.-9 a.m. $15-$25. Pre-register. | Wed, July 13, family fun night, Native
America, 6-8 p.m. $8.75. Pre-register. | 2222 St Paul St, 336-7213, www.senecazoo.org
Sonnenberg Mansion
& Gardens Story Time Sundays. 151 Charlotte St, Canandaigua, 2 p.m.
Free with admission. 394-4922
Summer Food Program through Aug 26. Breakfast and lunch served to people 18 years and younger, at
sites throughout Rochester. Free. 428-6896, 325-1440
Summer Fun for Kids
Open House Sat, July 9. 630 Crowley Rd, Farmington, 4 p.m. 398-0220
Summer History Read Wednesdays.
Grades 4-5, Ontario County Historical Museum, 55 N Main St, Canandaigua, 11
a.m.-12 p.m. 394-4975S
Not just a pretty faith
Faith is the assurance
of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen. — Hebrews 11:1
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย I once took
a group to a ropes course. My co-leader, a woman deathly afraid of heights,
made her way step-by-agonizing-step along narrow cables and swinging ropes 30
feet above the ground until she found herself on a small platform looking out
over a vast expanse to a trapeze bar well out of her reach. Our goal that day
was to find our personal limit… and then take just one more step. But Karen’s
finish line required so much more than she had already given of herself. We all
stopped wherever we were on the course and focused on her, with her toes
dangling out into space and her eyes locked reluctantly on that goal, so far
beyond her…
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Our whole
group saw and believed when Karen suddenly threw herself into the air toward
things hoped for but previously unseen. That day, fear was betrayed as nothing
more than a temporary nuisance.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Our
imperfect religions often seem intent on stoking fear, while genuine faith
liberates us from our own shortsighted self-limitations. Even as faith
comforts, at its best it calls us out of our comfort zone. A healthy,
challenging faith is one of the most powerful and lasting gifts you can give
your children, carrying them to the very limit of all they can do, believe and
become — a blessed point where one more step shatters barriers and opens new
possibilities.
— Rev. Corey Keyes
This article appears in Jul 6-12, 2005.
