Community Events Calendar

Erica Brown & The Bluegrass Connection. Traditional Bluegrass and French Canadian music. Proceeds to the Community Presentations Fund for future concert series to benefit our community. Tickets available at Pat's Pizza of Augusta, Apple Valley Books in Winthrop, and at the door. $10/pp, $5/students 12 and under free. Subscribe to 7 or more concerts (by mail only): $8, $4 for students. Be a patron. Contribute a minmum of $100 to the Community Presentations Fund and attend the season's concerts free. Order tickets by mail: UMA Senior college, 46 University Drive, Augusta, ME 04330. (SNOW DATE Mar. 24)

Great theatre for children at The Public Theatre! Well known children's poems spring to life when The Crabgrass Puppet theatre brings their delightful show, Haiku, HipHop and Hotdogs to The Public Theatre on Sunday May 19th at 2pm, with additional school day morning matinees May 20-22. Perfect for families and children pre-K through fifth grade, this production is a fun way to introduce a child to the magic of theatre, at the affordable price of only $5 a ticket for children 18 and under, and just $10 for adults. Thrill to the adventures of Fearless Flying Hotdogs! Dance with the Funky Snowman! Watch as The Goblin overcomes his fear and makes friends with the terrifying boy on top of his bed! Crabgrass Puppet Theatre's exciting new fusion of poetry and puppetry includes poems by Jack Prelutsky, David McCord, Calef Brown, Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, and others. Haiku,HipHop and Hotdogs is a seamless tapestry of puppetry and poetry, performed by hot-dog vendors from a hot-dog cart that turns into a puppet stage. This isn't puppets reciting poetry! This show creates the world of the poem, the action of the poem, the emotion of the poem, blending the best of poetry and puppet theater. The poems in performance range from gentle strokes of the imagination - to wacky hilarity - to magical whimsy - to a rousing musical finale! Co-creator Bonny Hall says, "Puppetry is a terrific medium to arouse a child's interest in poetry. Bonny Hall also says, "The best poetry has the power to create pictures in our heads . . . to make us feel emotion . . . to make us laugh and cry. It's a small step from watching puppeteers bring a poem to life to wanting to read that poem . . . and then wanting to read more, and more and more." The Crabgrass Puppet Theatre has been delighting audiences across the nation with their whimsical humor and puppetry since 1982. Their popular productions of Jabberwocky and Anansi:Spiderman of Africa have also been previously performed at The Public Theatre. This acclaimed Puppet Theatre has been awarded two Citations of Excellence from UNIMA-USA, the highest puppetry award in the United States. Performances are Sunday May 19th at 2pm, Monday May 20th at 9:30am and 11:30 am, Tues, May 21 at 9:30am, 11:30am and 4:30pm, and Wed, May 22 at 9:30am. $10 Adults, $5 Children (18 and under). Advance reservations are required for weekday performances. Call 782-3200 for tickets and more information or visit www.thepublictheatre

PLEASE HELP MAINE S VETERANS! Have you always wanted to give back to Maine s veterans? HealthReach RSVP S Veterans and Military Families Program needs you! If you like to drive or have basic computer skills there are a couple of ways you can help. Veterans need volunteers to pick them up at their homes and transport them to medical appointments at Togus. You don t need your own vehicle, a van will be provided, but a license and good driving record are required. Volunteers are also needed to help veterans and military families learn about and take the necessary steps to apply for benefits and healthcare and help them enroll in the military s healthcare information website. This position requires basic computer skills. For more information or to sign-up to volunteer, call Ellen McGuire at 861-3476 or send an email to: ellen.mcguire@mainegeneral.org Thanks!