Red Day with Keller Williams is a “one day expression of what happens 24/7 in the Keller Williams culture. It is seeing a need, discovering who can meet that need and then getting it done.”

Locally, our Keller Williams Realty Syracuse office is supporting on-going projects at Clear Path for Vets located at 1223 Salt Springs Rd. Chittenango, 13037.  Clear Path strives to “empower military members, veterans, and their families through traditional and non-traditional, wellness-enhancing programming delivered in a safe and family-centered environment, while integrating community-based programs and services into a holistic network of supportive resources spanning central and upstate New York.”

What a great opportunity to give back to those who gave so much — our Vets.  KW will be working to improve the existing picnic area at Clear Path with new grills, picnic tables, chairs and yard supplies to help maintain the area.  We will be requesting, collecting and organizing donations. We will be assembling, constructing and installing picnic area items.

With the goal of creating a relaxing environment for soldiers and their families, we’re reaching out to our own friends and family, current and past clients, and community businesses to ask your help with products, services, time or money.

To find ways to help and volunteer at Clear Path or to make a donation through Keller Williams Red Day, please contact our Team at 315-474-1899 or email PeiLinTeam@YourCNYHome.com.  

May 9th, 2013 RED DAY — are you ready to Renew – Energize – Donate?  Items needed: picnic tables, charcoal grills, outdoor seating, charcoal, bird houses, yard tools, cash

Every day should be considered Earth Day and groups like SU’s Green Universecity are working on just that – creating a daily habit of living greener lives in big ways and small. From encouraging the use of Energy Star appliances, to taking the bus instead of a car, from using green cleaning products, to basic recycling practices.  Every little bit does count when multiplied by the millions of people on this planet.

A great way to find more green opportunities and to get involved is Syracuse’s Greentowns Network .  If you are passionate about our earth and the environment, please share your top green practices.  We’d also love to see some of your photos of Earth Day activities around Central New York.  In Syracuse, we’re all accustomed to the familiar Go Orange – well how about this weekend we GO GREEN!

The Syracuse Chiefs are a minor league baseball team in the International League  and the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.  Syracuse has fielded a team since 1877, originally as the Syracuse Stars, and over time served as the Triple-A affiliate for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Toronto Blue Jays.  Playing at one time in what was formerly Municipal Stadium in 1937, and renamed MacArthur Stadium in 1942, the old stadium was known  for “having one of the deepest center field fences in minor league baseball, 434 feet, and no ball cleared that fence until 1971, with Richie Zisk being the first player to accomplish that feat.”

MacArthur Stadium was razed in 1997 to provide a parking lot for the newly-built P&C Stadium, which became Alliance Bank Stadium and now, as of March 2013, NBT Bank Stadium.  Long time fans recalled the flavor of MacArthur Stadium, not seen in today’s modern parks.  And for fans of minor league baseball, it’s not just about the pennant races and steroid busting salaries of major league baseball  – it’s about the being there, skipping a day of work or school, watching the young talent, shivering with both opening day excitement and cold.  It’s about the pure game, and the pure love of it.

Spoiler alert:  the Chiefs stuck the Iron Pigs with a 11-2 loss on Lehigh’s opening day, last night.  Go Chiefs!  Send us your pictures or memories of your favorite Opening Day.

Like Stephanie, my mother was a birder too, mostly of the beach variety though – sand pipers and plovers, and the always satisfying sighting of egrets or herons.  Central New York is a wonderful place to discover the world of birding or just to enjoy the sudden glimpse of a circling hawk, or frenzied flight of a hummingbird.  If signs of spring are on your mind then check the spring arrival dates of Central New York birds.  Before the trees leaf out you might consider exploring some of the bird watching trails in Central New York.  Tomorrow, March 23rd,  the 2013 Howland’s Island Backcountry  Hike will be offered at the Montezuma Audubon Center.  Call the center for more information 315 365-3588.

If you decide to strike out on your own, consider reading Birding in Central and Western New York , the essential guide to when, where and how to bird watch successfully. Or following the 10 tips for new bird watchers  might be just enough to get you going – putting winter and that couch behind you. Send us photos of your birding expeditions, or locations for good bird watching.

Though the snow on the ground today belies that it’s time to spring forward this weekend – we have indeed reached the magic hour to save more daylight!  Sunday, March 10 at 2:00 AM, be sure to set your clocks ahead one hour.

If you plan on attending the Syracuse St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 9th, and partake in the green stuff after, you may want to set your clock ahead before you go out.

Plenty of time to still sign up for Irish Road Bowling!  This “part golf, part bocce, part bowling” sport, requiring the players to “hurl a small 28 oz. cannonball along a two mile country road,” sounds like more fun than any green clad, smiling eyed, and “kitter paw” girl like myself deserves. Held  March 17th, 11: 00 AM, at the Shoreline Walking Trails at Onondaga Lake Park, be sure to register your team soon.  Proceeds go towards educational programs at the park.

For those who plan ahead and actually train to hurl themselves down a 13.1 mile road, get registered now for the inaugural Syracuse Half Marathon, Sunday, March 24th. Beginning and ending at the On-Center, help launch another great road race in Syracuse.

March 16-17, and 23-24 are sweetly known as Maple Weekend!  New York state’s reputation for exceptional maple sugar puts us in the center of maple syrup production. Enjoy learning about, smelling and sampling some of the finest maple sugar products in the country.  Support our local producers.

As the first day of spring draws closer we can tease ourselves with thoughts of warmer, sunnier days, and get a jump on our vegetable garden planting. Nothing looks, smells and feels more like spring than freshly turned soil and cool crop seeds below.  Just ask Peter!

Share your green pride, your first half marathon photo finish, your maple syrup covered pancake breakfast, or newly sprouted lettuce with a photo or comment.  Ready, set – - you betcha!

With the February break just about over – what else can you squeeze in before heading back to school?  If you haven’t gone for a skate yet in Clinton Square , then it’s high time.  Bundle up, break out the skates or rent them – there’s nothing like outdoor skating on a clear winter night surrounded by city lights. Warm up with a hot chocolate at the rink or walk over to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que . Order up something smothered in Wango Tango sauce, and you are sure to be feeling the heat in no time.

All time favorite – winter time at The Rosamond Gifford Zoo and snow leopard days!  Enjoy greatly reduced admission prices through the end of February. Remember, 60 % of the zoo consists of INDOOR exhibits, so warm up with the Golden Lion Tamarins after your winter walk with the Gray Wolves.

Spring will be here before you know it -so better enjoy the white stuff as long as you can!  Take a drive to Highland Forest and finally learn to snowshoe.  Or don’t work so hard and let the horse drawn hay and sleigh rides transport you through the winter woods.  

A good book shared, a puzzle pieced together, a snowman built – what have you been up to this past week?  Share your favorite winter break activities and photos.  Springs coming – but that doesn’t mean we’re finished with wonderful winter just yet.

As a docent at the Everson Museum I am so happy to announce a wonderful new exhibit, opening this weekend, February 16th.  On tour from the Brooklyn Museum and titled American Moderns, 1910-1960; From O’Keefe to Rockwell, this exhibit covers a most fascinating era in art, and will be a delightful opportunity for you to appreciate the creative talents of this diverse group of artists.

During this time period the United States was gaining tremendous economic, industrial and military strength. Bearing witness to two world wars, the Great Depression, urbanization and life changing technologies, American lives were changing rapidly as was the diversity of it’s population, and all wanted to be a part of the American Dream.

This show will enlighten visitors to the many ways the artists engaged these changes through art. There are 53 paintings and four sculptures, with a wide range of subject matter including abstraction , precisionist, cubist experimentation and Americana.

Opening officially on February 16th with daily public tours starting at 2PM. There is also an opening night reception February 15th, 5:30-8 PM, where you can celebrate the arrival of American Moderns, 1910-1960: From O’Keeffe to Rockwell. Enjoy entertainment, light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar before previewing the exhibition. Reservations are required! Call the Museum:  474-6064.  Hope to see you there – Cookie Falcone.

As if the weather in Syracuse couldn’t be any crazier – is it really acceptable that we look to an overfed and over coddled groundhog to tell us when to expect spring?  Seems folks have been getting their hopes up from the little rodent since Feb. 2, 1887, when the first “official trek” was made to Gobbler’s Knob near Punxsutawney, PA,  to remove said groundhog from his burrow.  

Officially christened “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary,” Phil now has his own website and totally embraces social media.  When not “prognosticating,” Phil can be found participating in parades in his personal Philmobile!  Phew!

The party starts early on the eve of Groundhog’s Day in Punxsutawney, with a bonfire at 3 AM and fireworks as day breaks.  At 7:25 AM Phil is personally removed from the comfort of his heated burrow and held aloft to the thousands that have gathered.  

According to historians, German settlers arriving in the 1700’s brought the tradition of Candlemas Day, with it’s pagan origins, to mark the midpoint  between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.  If the sun came out on Feb. 2nd, it meant six more weeks of winter.  From there the lore evolved and today, you can catch Phil doing his thing on a live webcast!

With all eyes on Phil, those of us in Syracuse know that despite his predictions and prognostications, the arrival of spring in Syracuse is not for the faint of heart or the random observations of a pampered pet.  And to truly be a “Weather Prophet Extraordinary,” one only needs to live on Tug Hill, or just north of the thruway, or on the eastern side of a Great Lake to know, there’s snow place like Central New York.

Monday, January 21st is Martin Luther King Day, and over the entire weekend, throughout the nation, there’s a call to volunteer as part of a Day of Service.  Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?”  And with that in mind and in honor of the man who served so many, organizations like United We Serve and Corporation for National and Community Service encourage old and young, family and friends, to join in an activity to serve others.  You can search locally at Find a project for an opportunity to participate, or register your own project, and enlist the help of other volunteers.  There is no shortage of need and no offer of help too small.  From reading to seniors, to painting murals, from writing cards to vets or serving meals to the hungry, MLK  Day of Service is the impetus to consider doing for others all year long.  

Monday, Jan. 21st, there will be a Syracuse Clothing and Food Drive in conjunction with A Day of Service.  If you have a project you’d like announced, or photos of local volunteers in action, please share with us here. Working together, within our community, for our community is good for all of us.  Make Martin Luther King Day a “day on, not a day off!”

Behind every great city there are hidden gems and Light Work might be one of Syracuse’s brightest. Described as “an artist-run, non-profit photography and digital media center, “ Light Work provides not only a top notch facility to photographers in the business, but also encourages, instructs and inspires amateurs, wanna bee’s and the curious, to get their Ansel Adams on.

With beautiful exhibits, a popular publication known as Contact Sheet, artist in residence program, informative blog, really cool Urban Video Project and community darkrooms , Light Work seems to reflect what is best about communities that care about education, quality of life and a vibrant arts scene.

Light Work is now registering for some amazing Community Darkroom Workshops to be held this spring.  With the guidance of professionals, who knows what masterpieces are lurking on your camera’s memory card?  January is a wonderful time to start new projects, dust off old hobbies or to explore the artistic side of both ourselves, and the city we call home.

Send us your best photos – we’d love to see Syracuse from your point of view!