Mid-Winter Recess activities planned

Libraries and other organizations throughout the area have Mid-Winter Recess activities planned.

Closings for Presidents’ Day

Madison County Office for the Aging and all SNACK sites will be closed on Monday, Feb. 19 in observance of Presidents’ Day. The Canastota Public Library will be closed, along with the offices of the Village of Canastota and Town of Lenox, Madison County offices, all banks and post offices. Canastota schools will be on Winter Recess for the week.

Sherrill-Kenwood Library

The following schedule will be held during the February Winter Recess of schools.

The library will be closed Monday, Feb. 19 for Presidents’ Day.

Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. Wanderers’ Rest Humane Association will present “Kitty Sitty — Be Kind to Animals,” a reading and craft activity for children. Please consider bringing a donation of cat or dog food, treats or toys.

Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 1-8 p.m. the library’s six-hole mini

golf course will be open in the downstairs area.

Thursday, Feb. 22, 1-3 p.m. the library will host “Messy Art.” We will make slime. Please call and register at (315) 363-5980 as space is limited.

Friday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. Snow Sculpturing. Weather permitting, we will fill our front lawn with snow sculptures. Inside we will have crafts and Yahtzee.

Wednesday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. John Taibi will present “A Soldier’s Journey Through the Heart of the Park.” This is the story of Sgt. John Salvatore Taibi’s return from World War II as a prisoner of war and his journey to Lake Placid.

Friday, March 16 at 1 p.m. “Everything Green,” a story time and crafts will be held. Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and the arrival of spring!

Afternoon Book Club

The Cazenovia Public Library’s Open Afternoon Book Club will hold its next meeting in the Story Garden Room on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. The group will discuss Christina Baker Kline’s “A Piece of the World: A Novel.” Kline is the New York Times bestselling author of “Orphan Train.” Her latest novel weaves together fact and fiction to bring to light a little-known part of American history.

Christina Olson knew little of the world beyond her family’s remote farm in Cushing, Maine. Incapacitated by illness, she seemed destined for a small, unremarkable life. Instead, for more than 20 years, Christina served as host and inspiration for the artist Andrew Wyeth, and became the subject of one of the best-known American paintings of the twentieth century. Books are available at the circulation desk.

Free movie

Sullivan Free Library in Chittenango will show “Last Flag Flying” on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. The movie, starring Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston and Laurence Fishburne, is rated PG-13 and runs 134 minutes. The comedy-drama tells the story of three Vietnam veterans reunited in a crisis.

Winter break activities

Cazenovia Public Library will present Winter Break Explorer Days.

Looking for kid-friendly activities over the school break? Join Children’s Programming Coordina- tor Jenna Wright Martin at the Cazenovia Public Library for three fun and educational events. Winter break Explorer Days will be held in the Community Room.

Marble Runs on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m. Children ages 5 and older will spend the morning investigating the science behind marble runs. Participants will work together to design and create a marble run out of found and recyclable objects.

Cupcake Wars on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m. Young decorators (ages 8-14) will frost and embellish cupcakes in the style of their favorite book characters. Registration is requested. Call or stop by the library to reserve a spot.

Kitchen Chemistry: The Science of Butter on Friday, Feb. 23 at 10:30 a.m. The library will partner with Monica Cody of Cody Farm to present this hands-on program. Designed for children ages 5 and older, the workshop provides a glimpse into the science and method of butter making. Participants will have the chance to make and taste homemade butter. Registration is requested. Call or stop by the library to reserve a spot.

All events at the Caze- novia Public Library are free and open to the public. For more information, call (315) 655-9322 or visit www.cazenoviapubliclibrary.org.

Christian Women’s luncheon

The Oneida-Canastota Christian Women’s Club will hold its February meeting at Theodore’s (formerly the Rusty Rail), Route 5, Canastota on Feb. 22 at 11:15 a.m. The theme for the luncheon is “The Wonders of Life.”

The feature will be “What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet?” by Cindy Phillips of Canastota. Guest speaker Eileen Banks of Rome will talk about “The Wonders of Life.” Music will be provided by vocalist Carol Rothwell of Manlius.

Tickets are $14. Reservations must be made by calling Jackie at (315) 3631224.

Ice skating with Comets

On Monday, Feb. 26 in Reilly-Mumford Park on the outdoor ice rink in Sherrill you can skate with the Utica Comets from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Ice skates are available for use at no charge. There will be free hot chocolate available. If temperatures do not allow for ice, the event will be cancelled.

Chef Jet book signing

Join us at the Colgate Bookstore for a book signing with Chef Jet on Wednesday, Feb. 28 from 4:30-5:30 p.m., sponsored by the Colgate Dining Services. Copies of his latest cookbook, “101 Asian Dishes You Need to Cook Before You Die” will be available for purchase. Our sponsor Chartwells will also have samplings from his cookbook available.

From the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Normandie Avenue in the heart of Los Angeles to the Las Vegas Strip; from backyard cooking classes to battling legends on “Iron Chef America” — Jet Tila has carved a singular niche as a culinary storyteller.

Thanks to his diverse background and education, Tila is as comfortable as chef and consultant as he is teacher and student in the art of food. His numerous accomplishments in the culinary world continue to grow. In 2013 alone, Tila has partnered with the Compass Group, the world’s largest food-service company, to launch Modern Asian Kitchen, a new fast-casual PanAsian concept with locations nationwide. He is also set to separately open Kuma Snow Cream, a shaved-ice concept launching in Las Vegas this spring, all while continuing to build on his extensive national TV and radio appearances as a guest judge on “Chopped,” as well as hosting his own radio show on KLAA in Los Angeles. Tila grew up in his family’s restaurant kitchens and markets in Los Angeles, home to the world’s largest Thai population outside of Thailand.

Tila currently lives in Los Angeles with wife, Allison, their two children, as well as two dogs.