As the weather turns cold, audiences will warm their hearts this holiday season with A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Co-produced with the Syracuse University Department of Drama, Syracuse Stage is pleased to welcome back director Melissa Rain Anderson, along with Ben Franklin and Joshua Dean from 2 Ring Circus, who sit down with Associate Artistic Director Melissa Crespo and talk about this unique adaptation by Richard Hellesen and David DeBerry.

In this edition of Central Current Radio, host Rick Wright brings us a conversation with his son Rubin Wright, WCNY Project Manager. In their conversation, the two discuss WCNY's Jobs Explained program, which uses TikTok and Instagram Reels to educate high school and college students about the growing advanced manufacturing sector in Central New York and the United States.

Marine Corps veteran Matthew Enders grew up in Central New York and served nine years of active duty as a military linguist. Since leaving the military, he’s dedicated his career to helping other veterans transition to college and civilian life. For the past year, Enders has been a Peer Support Mentor at Clear Path for Veterans in Chittenango. In this edition of CNY Heroes, host Dan Cummings talks with Enders about his military career, earning a degree in Social Psychology, helping his college in California develop programs to assist student veterans, and how he and others at Clear Path provide "unconditional direct support" to veterans in this region.

Girls Going Tech is a unique model that blends STEM activities with mentorship to inspire middle school students to pursue tech careers. Activities for Girls Going Tech are designed to enhance creativity and improve the world through STEM. Students experience how to use STEM principles to solve real world problems and make a difference in their communities. In this Innovate to Educate, host Jody Manning speaks with Amy Henecke, who is in charge of Micron Technology's Regional STEM Education Partnerships; and with Elisa Morales, Executive Director of the Spanish Action League of Onondaga County. They discussed a unique Girls Going Tech program held on October 18th at Onondaga Community College, delivered in Spanish in partnership with La Liga, and designed to give Hispanic girls the opportunity to feel comfortable in a new learning environment.

After the Funkies save Morris Meany from being marooned in the pond, he learns how valuable the vacant lot is by seeing first-hand how many Moretown citizens, including himself, appreciate nature. At the end of the episode, Morris Meany agrees to pay for the new nature center and community garden (yay!) – so everyone celebrates with a cake. Kid-friendly recipe: Texas Sheet Cake.

Funky Foodies is a podcast for kids, and it’s produced right here in Central New York. Tween foodies Frankie, Fern, and Zara share a passion for food and its impacts on the environment. Adventures follow after they form an alliance called Funky Foodies, Inc., pledging to, “Save the Planet, One Veggie Burger at a Time.” Kid-friendly recipes reflecting the theme of each episode are included.

Grab a book before you get on your holiday flights at Reading Runway at SYR, courtesy of Onondaga County Public Libraries.

This edition of Science Today is all about genetics. From the worldwide science journals, Dr. Rich Kopecky brings us an article about gene therapy. For all its promise, there hasn’t been a great deal of progress in using it to treat major illnesses. Why is that? Also this month, geneticists have now learned much more about the Y chromosome. Find out where that research has led them.

The Funky Foodies brainstorm with Dr. Beaker about plans for a nature center and they decide to approach Morris Meany, the richest and meanest man in Moretown, to ask him to sponsor their ambitious idea. Kid-friendly recipe: Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta

Funky Foodies is a podcast for kids, and it’s produced right here in Central New York. Tween foodies Frankie, Fern, and Zara share a passion for food and its impacts on the environment. Adventures follow after they form an alliance called Funky Foodies, Inc., pledging to, “Save the Planet, One Veggie Burger at a Time.” Kid-friendly recipes reflecting the theme of each episode are included.

Since 1963, Syracuse University's Newhouse School has hosted members of the U.S. military for a 10-month training program. The Military Visual Journalism Program takes mass communications specialists from all branches and helps them take their craft and talent to the next level. In this edition of Central Current Radio, host Rick Wright welcomes U.S. Navy Petty Officer Theo Stewart, a member of this year's Newhouse class. Stewart talks about his experiences aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, and how he made his way to the Newhouse military program.

Syracuse Opera and Tri-Cities Opera are making connections, with the arts and with the community. This season, in cooperation with WCNY, they are hosting a series of panel discussions related to each of their productions. Starting the season is the opera “I Am A Dreamer Who No Longer Dreams.” To discuss immigration in the community and how art shines a light on this issue, they assembled a panel discussion including experts in immigration from Binghamton University, and the music and stage directors of the opening production. Look for a new discussion before each production throughout the season, here on WCNY Community FM.