Community Calendar

The Kirkland Bird Club will welcome Jean and Len Soprano of Kindred Kingdoms Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. for a special presentation entitled “Feathers.”

Through a PowerPoint presentation—and with the help of live birds of prey—Jean and Len will explore the remarkable world of feathers. Their program will highlight both the beauty and extraordinary functionality of feathers and provide an opportunity to see some impressive raptors at close range.

Jean and Len founded Kindred Kingdoms Wildlife Rehabilitation, Inc. in 1997. Based in Pennellville, New York, the nonprofit wildlife rehabilitation organization receives injured and orphaned wildlife from throughout New York State and today specializes in the care and rehabilitation of birds of prey. Its facilities include a variety of habitats designed to meet the specialized needs of the species in its care.

Jean is a retired teacher from the Baldwinsville Central School District, while Len is a retired supervisor from B.G. Sulzle Needle Company in Syracuse. Together, they have devoted many years to wildlife rehabilitation and public education.

The program and meeting begin at 2:30 p.m. We hope you’ll join us for an up-close look at birds of prey and the remarkable feathers that make their lives possible.

Tuesday, September 22, at 5 p.m., held online

Finding reliable health information on the internet can be a challenge. Artificial intelligence, unproven social media advice and scammer websites can overwhelm the good information available. Join an expert clinical librarian to learn what to look for when searching for health information online and avoid the pitfalls.

Speaker: Sarah Lawler, MSLIS, Clinical Outreach Librarian, Health Sciences Library, Upstate Medical University

Wade Catts: The Historic Battlefield Presented a Very Peaceful and Prosperous Appearance: The Role of Archaeology in Interpreting and Preserving Revolutionary War Battlefields.

Wade Catts, President of South River Heritage Consulting in Delaware, adjunct professor of history at Rowan University, and co-director of the award-winning Red Bank Battlefield Archaeology Project, will offer his personal insights and experiences from a variety of Revolutionary War military sites. Using examples from battlefields throughout the Middle Atlantic and Northeast, he will look at what the field of archaeology brings to the investigation, interpretation, and preservation of these places. He will discuss new research and how it informs our current understanding of 18th-century warfare and reflect on the role of material culture and landscape in the public’s renewed interest in our Revolutionary War as we commemorate America’s semiquincentennial. Catts is a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) with 45 years of experience as an historical archaeologist specializing in history, archaeology, and historic preservation. Admission is free.

Join FOCUS Greater Syracuse for a hybrid public forum exploring the structural and historical roots of financial hardship in Onondaga County and what current data reveals about regional economic conditions. This session is the first in a three-part fall series on economic instability; attendance at all three is not required.

Event Details

• Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m.
• Format: Hybrid (In-person and via Zoom)
• Registration: Advance registration is required at FOCUS Greater Syracuse.

Featured Speakers

• Frank M. Ridzi: Vice president of community investment, Central New York Community Foundation
• Robert J. Searing: Curator of history, Onondaga Historical Association

Program Highlights

• Historical Arc & Regional Data: Panelists will examine the institutions, policies, and economic forces that have shaped Central New York over time.
• Moderated Q&A: Attendees can submit questions, discuss emerging priorities, and discover ways to engage with local civic initiatives.
• Community Engagement: A welcoming space for residents to build shared knowledge and explore active involvement in shaping local civic life.

Dr. David Gellman, the 2026-27 A. Lindsay O’Connor Chair of American Institutions in the history department at Colgate University, will discuss that as America’s 250th gives way to the 2027 bicentennial of the final abolition of slavery in New York, the moment is ideal to contemplate the relationship between independence and emancipation in the Empire State.

John Jay, diplomat, US Supreme Court Chief Justice, governor, slaveholder, and antislavery society president, provides a powerful prism for making sense of an uneven but profound transformation. The relationship between Caesar, Clarinda, Zilpah, and members of the Jay family who enslaved and later freed them entwines with the ways that this influential political family navigated the fulfillment of their antislavery beliefs. The talk thus merges public and private lives to contemplate the limits and the potential of the American Revolution. Gellman is the author of "Liberty’s Chain: Slavery, Abolition, and the Jay Family of New York," winner of the Herbert H. Lehman Prize.

Join FOCUS Greater Syracuse for a hybrid public forum exploring the lived realities of financial hardship in Onondaga County, the systemic barriers residents navigate, and the community initiatives building paths forward. This session is the second in a three-part fall series on economic instability; attendance at prior sessions is not required.

Event Details

• Date & Time: Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m.
• Format: Hybrid (In-person and via Zoom)
• Registration: Advance registration is required at FOCUS Greater Syracuse.

Featured Speakers

• Carolyn Brown, executive director, PEACE Inc.
• Gregory W. Dewan, executive director, Hiscock Legal Aid Society
• Qiana Williams, senior program officer of community investment, Central New York Community Foundation

Program Highlights

• Lived Experience & Community Solutions: Panelists will share insights from community research, frontline advocacy, and direct support work across Onondaga County.
• Moderated Q&A: Attendees can ask questions, discuss emerging local priorities, and learn how to connect with regional initiatives.
• Community Engagement: A welcoming, respectful space designed to foster shared knowledge and civic involvement in Central New York.

Join FOCUS Greater Syracuse for a hybrid public forum connecting residents with local programs, resources, and actionable steps to drive community economic change in Onondaga County. This session is the third in a three-part fall series on economic instability; attendance at prior sessions is not required.

Event Details

• Date & Time: Friday, Dec. 18, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m.
• Format: Hybrid (In-person and via Zoom)
• Registration: Advance registration is required at FOCUS Greater Syracuse.

Featured Speakers

• Bill Brower, director of public policy and community impact, MACNY – The Manufacturers Association
• Kenda Carfagno, financial wellness officer, Visions Federal Credit Union
• Representative, Syracuse Financial Empowerment Center (City of Syracuse)

Program Highlights

• Practical Resources & Pathways: Panelists share tools, programs, and strategies focused on financial empowerment, workforce development, and building local economic capability.
• Moderated Q&A: Attendees can ask questions, discuss emerging local priorities, and discover tangible ways to get involved in community solutions.
• Community Engagement: A welcoming, respectful space designed to build shared knowledge and foster civic participation across Central New York.