Trigger Gospel to perform at Monument Square

Trigger Gospel will perform on Saturday, Sept. 12, during this year’s final Summer Nights at the Square concert, in Monument Square from 7-9 p.m.

With a country rock sound, Trigger Gospel was named after an old Western novel. Their music reflects a spirited soundmixing hometown country and rock & roll with “a strong melodic-pop appeal.”

The Philippine-born Anna Fermin immigrated to the U.S. with her family at a young age and found herself growing up in Wisconsin where she was trained in piano, voice and violin. Moving to Chicago in 1989, Fermin added the acoustic guitar to her repertoire and wrote her first song in 1994. Her band mates include Paul Bivans on drums and percussion and Michael Krayniak on stand-up bass.

The concert is the same day as the Chair Today; Gone Tomorrow public art auction which will also be held at Monument Square. All of the Adirondack chairs, rockers and benches will be on display at 2 p.m. with the voice auction starting at 3 p.m. The silent auction will follow at approximately 4 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, both the concert and auction will move indoors to Memorial Hall.

Mayor slates another Renew Racine work day

Stage two of Mayor John Dickert's Renew Racine effort will take place on Saturday, Sept. 12, with a volunteer work crew clearing out invasive plants along the Root River.

The effort will begin at Riverside Park on Horlick Avenue, just south of the Sixth Street bridge. Workers will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and volunteers may help for as many hours as they can.

The Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network is urging volunteers to bring work gloves, goggles, long pants, sunscreen, sturdy shoes. If you would like to bring equipment, please bring loppers, bow saws and/or tree trimming tools. Experts will be on hand to assist in identifying and removing the unwanted plants.

Food and refreshments will be provided throughout the day. To RSVP or for more information, call 262-636-9111.

HERE's our story from the first Renew Racine work day, back in June.

First Presbyterian Church sets 'Rally Day' welcome

Sunday, Sept. 13, is Rally Day at the First Presbyterian Church of Racine. Visitors are welcome as the church kicks off another year of Sunday school classes for children and adults.

Children and youth will meet their Sunday school teachers and see what’s in store for the semester.

Rally Day festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. immediately following worship and will be followed by a pot-luck luncheon. Visitors and members are welcome.

Beginning Sunday, Sept. 20, Pastor Ben Johnston-Krase will lead a four-week class entitled “Christianity 101,” and will address the questions that tend to either draw people toward church or push them away: “Why does evil exist?” “Why do bad things happen to good people?” “What is predestination?”

First Presbyterian Church Racine is located at 716 College Avenue, Racine.

Three KRM hearings set in September

Three public hearings on KRM commuter rail will be held in September by SEWRPC, as part of the environmental impact statement and project development phase of the project.

The hearings will be conducted in “open house” format, with a presentation at 5:45 p.m. Exhibits will be on display and project staff will be available to answer questions.

The three are:

Racine: Monday, Sept. 14, 5 - 7 p.m. Great Lakes Room, Racine Building, Gateway Technical College, 901 Pershing Dr.
Kenosha: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 5 - 7 p.m. Reuther High School, Gymnasium, 913 57th St.
Milwaukee: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 5 -7 p.m. Harbor Lights Room, Milwaukee Downtown Transit Center, 909 E. Michigan St.

TransitNOW reports that KRM has reached another milestone: The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been approved by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Now, the final step is the round of public hearings. Written comments may be provided through Oct. 5 on the KRM website, by email, by mail to KRM Commuter Link, P.O. Box 1607, Waukesha, WI 53187, or by fax to (262) 547-1103.

More information here.

Adirondack Chair auction in Monument Square

Peacock Chair, by Sherri Shaver, the First Prize winner

The auction of Racine's Adirondack chairs will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, at Monument Square, the traditional end of Downtown Racine's summer public art project.

The chairs will be on display at Monument Square beginning at 2 p.m. The voice auction begins at 3 p.m. with the silent auction at 4 p.m. Eighteen chairs will be in the voice auction including the three prize-winning chairs and the giant chair that has been on display at Monument Square all summer. There will be 37 chairs in the silent auction.

Advance bid numbers for the voice auction are available starting Sept. 1 at the Downtown Racine Corporation office, 425 Main St., open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For anyone unable to attend the auction but interested in bidding, a proxy bidding service is available. For more information, call DRC at 262-634-6002.

Following the auction, the country rock music of Trigger Gospel will performing on the square in the final concert of this year’s Summer Nights at the Square concert. Named after an old Western novel, Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel intertwines country and rock 'n roll with melodic-pop. This free outdoor concert will be held from 7-9 p.m.

Admission to both the auction and concert is free. In the event of inclement weather, both the auction and concert will be held at Memorial Hall.

American Society for Quality sets speaker

The American Society for Quality will meet at the Charcoal Grill, 8300 Washington Ave., on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 6 p.m. Speaker will be James Spindler, president of Spindler Consulting Associates, which has provided services in quality management and engineering, quality program development, and statistics since 1978.

There is no cost to attend. For reservations, email Jay Warner.

Spindler will discuss the basic process of problem-solving: What are the key elements of the process? Can we flow chart it to make it easier? Why can’t everyone in the organization understand and use the process? The macro process is simple but the micro process can become very complex if one lets it happen.

He has taught courses in management, quality engineering and statistics and is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality; a Certified Quality Engineer, Auditor and Manager; and a Senior Member of the American Chemical Society.

3 leadership awards to be presented at LaborFest

Racine Area Labor Festivals, Inc., a local private corporation seeking non-profit status which was formed in early 2009 to assume the leadership for LaborFest, announces the recipients of three leadership awards – Labor Person of the Year, Mr. & Mrs. Solidarity, and Retiree of the Year Awards.

The awards will be presented at LaborFest 2009 to be held at Caledonia—Mount Pleasant Memorial Park (a k a Franksville Park, at the intersections of Hwys K and H) on Sept. 7, at 3 p.m.

The award recipients are:

• Labor person of the year: Lenny Hand.
• Mr. and Mrs. Solidarity: State Rep. Cory Mason and his wife, Rebecca.
• Retiree of the year: Pat McManaway.

Lenny Hand’s first venture into union labor was when he joined UAW Local 553 after his high school graduation in 1967 as he began working his first job at Racine Steel/Belle City Malleable. Later worked for the City of Racine and organized AFSCME Local 2239, where he served as the charter President from 1971-75. In the mid-70’s, Lenny became a member of AFSCME Local 67, where he held numerous positions including president. Lenny is also a past president of Racine’s AFL-CIO and of the Racine Labor Paper. In 2009, Lenny received the Racine County Democratic Party’s Jimmy Arena Award and with his wife, Janice, he received the 2008 Racine County Mr. & Mrs. Solidarity Award.

Over the past year, Lenny has been equally busy, serving in a variety of roles. Lenny and his wife, Janice, live in Mount Pleasant.

Cory Mason was born in Racine, and was elected to the state legislature in 2006. He has consistently been a passionate and articulate champion of organized labor, working across Wisconsin as a labor advocate, including as the political director for the state American Federation of Teachers (AFT-Wisconsin). The first bill Cory introduced in the legislature was to raise the state’s minimum wage and index it to inflation, which would increase wages for more than 225,000 workers statewide. In the recent state budget debate, he was one of the lead sponsors of the successful effort to expand collective bargaining rights to UW System faculty and academic staff, as well as championing provisions to require prevailing wages be paid on certain local government construction projects. He is the co-chair of the Racine/Kenosha I-94 Labor Development Committee.

Rebecca Mason is an attorney at Godfrey & Kahn in Milwaukee. She provides legal advice to labor unions and coalitions, regarding their political activities at the local, state and federal levels. Since 2004, Rebecca has worked with the national nonpartisan Election Protection Coalition to organize volunteers to monitor election day activities. She has been an advocate for equal coverage for prescription contraceptives.

The Masons live with their infant daughter, Eleanor, in Racine,

Pat McManaway started his union affiliation when he began working at Rainfair and then with Modine Manufacturing. In 1962, he joined J.I. Case, where he was a member of UAW Local 180 for over 36 years. In his first year of employment, Pat was elected as steward and served on the safety committee for three different plants. In 1968, he was elected to the bargaining committee, where two years later, he was elected as chairman; his duties included grievances and contract negotiations. Pat held this position for 27 years.

Retiring in 1999, Pat started working with and for UAW Local 180 retirees. Pat was chosen UAW Council 64 Trustee and is political election coordinator of the Racine county UAW Region 4. Pat and his wife, Ellen, live in Racine.

Spicy farce Hotbed Hotel opens RTG season

Randy Rehberg and Anne Mollerskov in Hotbed Hotel

The Racine Theatre Guild opens its fall season with a spicy farce by Michael Parker, “Hotbed Hotel,” playing weekends from Sept. 11 to 27.

In the play, Terri and Brian Cody (Mary Kveton, Brian Schalk) are trying to sell their one-star, and often one-guest, hotel in the Florida Keys. A prospective buyer, Sam Lewis (Randy Rehberg), alerts them that he is en route from New York to look at the property. To make the hotel appear more busy and prosperous, they devise a plan to have Terri and the staff masquerade as paying guests.

Unfortunately, the staff consists of just two employees: a drunken maintenance man (Andrew Wallace) and a beautiful but bubble-headed maid (Laura Bambrick). The one paying guest they do have, Major Posenby (Mike Shelby), wants to help drive the price up by posing as another potential buyer. Add a wealthy Arab sheik who closely resembles Posenby, a predatory female guest dubbed “The Barracuda” (Stacey Duchrow), Mr. Lewis’s attractive girlfriend (Anne Mollerskov), plus the matronly Mrs. Lewis (Sam Shelby), and you have the makings for hilarious bedlam.

Playwright Michael Parker is dedicated to writing comedies that integrate all of the best loved and most familiar devices of the traditional British farce into an American setting. Born and raised in England and now residing in Florida, he directed two of his plays at the Racine Theatre Guild: “The Sensuous Senator” in 2000 and “The Amorous Ambassador” in 2002. While Mr. Parker is not directing “Hotbed Hotel,” he and his wife Susan, formerly of Racine, plan to attend a performance opening weekend.

Directing will be Herschel Kruger, department chair and associate professor of theatre at Carthage College. Kelli Kauzlarich is production stage manager. Maureen Kruger designed the set.

Performances of “Hotbed Hotel” are scheduled on the three weekends between Sept. 11 and 27. Show times have changed this season. Each weekend there are performances at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. There are also performances at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19; at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20; at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24; and at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26.

In conjunction with their sponsorship, radio stations WRJN and Lite Rock 92.1 will be giving away prizes. At the Sept. 26 evening show, hotel keys will be distributed for a contest at intermission with prizes, including an overnight hotel stay. At the end of the run, winners will be drawn from participants who have filled out entries at the Theatre Guild throughout September.

Tickets cost $16 for the 7:30 p.m. shows and $14 for all others. Discounts are available for seniors, season subscribers, groups and students (not recommended for young children). Season tickets, both flex passes and five-play packages, starting at $50, are still available. Box office hours are 12 to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 90 minutes prior to curtain through intermission at performances. For further information and reservations, call 262-633-4218 or the RTG on the web.

Larger venues for remaining Ryan sessions

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan has moved the remainder of this month's listening sessions to larger venues, to handle the larger-than-anticipated crowds he's been seeing because of interest in the health care issue.

The three sessions scheduled next Monday, Aug. 31, have been moved as follows:

• Big Bend – 12:45-1:45 p.m., Big Bend Elementary School, Gymnasium, W230S8695 Big Bend Drive, Big Bend
• New Berlin – 2 - 3 p.m., Whitnall High School, Auditorium, 5000 S 116th Street, Greenfield
• Greendale – 3:30-4:30 p.m., Greendale High School, Auditorium, 5900 S. 51st Street, Greendale

Playoff implications in Saturday's Raiders game

The Racine Raiders (7-1) will meet the Traverse City (MI) Wolves (5-0) Saturday, Aug. 29, at 7 p.m. at Horlick Field, in a North American Football League game with major playoff implications. The Raiders have the league's second-rated scoring offense and 14th best defense in the NAFL: Racine is outscoring their opponents by an average of 47-11.

The Wolves, a first-year team, have been outscoring opponents by an average of 39-5.

Both teams have similar strengths on offense. The Raiders feature a running attack that is averaging 220 yards per game; the Wolves like to keep the ball on the ground as well, averaging 207.8 yards per game.

Bryan Jennings, Jr., leads the Raiders and is third in the NAFL, with 102 rushes for 744 yards, a 7.3 average. He's tied for the league lead with ten touchdowns. Eric Ervin ranks ninth in the league with 47 carries for 393 yards, an 8.4 average, and four touchdowns.

The Wolves have two rushers in the top 20: D.J. Szymoniak leads with 45 rushes for 395 yards, an 8.8 average, and eight touchdowns. Casey Conklin has carried the ball 49 times for 261 yards, a 5.3 average, and three touchdowns.

One advantage for Racine might come in the passing game. With the addition of Brett Hall a few weeks ago, the Raiders passing attack has improved. Hall has completed nearly 60% of his passes for 433 yards and four touchdowns in just two games as a starter.

The Raiders' receivers have stepped up their game lately as well. Sam D'Alie leads the team with 308 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Dorian Palmer is tied with D'Alie for the lead in receptions with 14, three of which have gone for touchdowns. Tight end Tyler Vogds, who was in Minnesota Vikings camp in May, has also had solid back-to-back games and eight receptions for 107 yards.

The Wolves, meanwhile, are averaging just 71 yards through the air. Will Moran has completed 41% of his pass attempts for 306 yards. Seven of Moran's 23 completions have gone for touchdowns. Will Conklin is his favorite target with eight receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns.

The Raiders feature one of the best defensive backfields in the NAFL with four players among the leaders in pass deflections and two in interceptions. Will Norwood has picked off four passes and deflected seven. Torie Ruffin is tied with Norwood for the team lead with four interceptions and has eight passes defensed. Veteran cornerback Eric Feest leads the Raiders with ten pass deflections to go with two interceptions.

Ryan Brown leads Wolves with 28 tackles, including eight for loss. Joe Bagley also has 28 tackles, five of them for loss. The Wolves are averaging nearly four sacks per game, led by Darnell Wilson with four and Mike Hansen with 3-1/2. Tim Ohlert leads the team with three interceptions, all of which have gone for touchdowns.

The difference in the game may come down to special teams where the Raiders feature the best punt returner in the NAFL. Charles Owens, the 2007 NAFL Championship game most valuable player, is averaging 34 yards per punt return and leads the NAFL with four return touchdowns. Raiders punter Mike Morrison is third in the NAFL, averaging 41 yards per punt.

Saturday is also Alumni Night. Former player and board president Leonard Ziolkowski will be inducted into the Racine Raiders Hall of Fame at halftime.

The Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps will perform prior to the game, their last field show performance before leaving for DCA World Championships in Rochester, NY, over Labor Day weekend. Fans are encouraged to bring signs to show support for the Kilties and the Raiders.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $4 for students. Gates open at 5 p.m.

Players of the week honors

Four Raiders earned Player of the Week honors from the NAFL for the week of August 22.

• Bryan Jennings, Jr. was offensive player of the week; he carried the ball 11 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders' 47-12 victory over the Dubuque Bruisers.
• Wide receiver and returner Charles Owens received the Ironman Award. Owens had 227 combined yards (123 punt return, 57 kick return, and 47 receiving) and returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown. It's the third time Owens earned player of the week honors this season.
• Kicker Ben Aguilar was kicker of the week for his 7/7 performance on extra points.
• The entire Raiders offensive line received offensive line of the week honors.

Library hosts reverse mortgage seminars

Homeowners 62 years or older can learn how to convert the equity in their homes into tax-free proceeds.

The Racine Public Library will host two free seminars on Tuesdays, Sept 8 and Sept. 14, at 10:30 am in the Library's Lee room. The programs will be facilitated by Ron Goforth a Reverse Mortgage Consultant for Wells Fargo. Space is limited; registration is recommended. Contact the Library at 262.636.9245 or Ron Goforth at 262.631.1398 to reserve a spot.

Reverse mortgage proceeds can be used for eliminating your existing mortgage, meeting daily or monthly expenses, covering healthcare expenses, remodeling or home repairs, reducing credit card debt, and many other ways.

Gallery features potter John Bollow in September

Photographic Design Studio and Gallery, 411 Sixth St., will feature Milwaukee potter John Bollow on First Friday, Sept. 4. An artist’s reception will be held from 6–9 p.m. The title of the exhibit is “Over the Hill Pottery.”

John began his pursuit into pottery after retiring as an elementary school teacher in Wauwatosa. After opening a studio at The Arts Building in Milwaukee, he developed his own distinct style. His work is varied including stoneware bowls, crystalline platters and pieces with majolica decoration.

His pottery will be on display at Photographic Design through September. For more information, call 262-633-9899.

Junior League's first meeting of year Sept. 2

The Junior League of Racine will meet on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 6:30 p.m. at The Prairie School Athletic Center. There will be a 6 p.m. Social.

The organization is welcoming new members and interested women are invited to attend.

In keeping with the "Let's get physical" theme of this year's president, Amy Haertel, the meeting will feature Linda Messerschmidt from "Your Yoga Lifestyle," who will lead exercises to stretch the body and calm the mind.

Junior League has a 93-year tradition of promoting voluntarism and improving the community, with a focus on projects that impact children in Racine. Recent projects have benefited Cops and Kids, River Bend, The Racine Heritage Museum, Kids Cafe, Cribs for Kids, Bethany Apartments, HALO, and Racine Family Literacy.

Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month September through June at 6:30 p.m. at various community locations. Membership is open to all women with an interest in and commitment to voluntarism. Contact Debbie Weyers by email or at 262-515-2115 to attend or for membership information.

Family-fun lineup for Sept. 4 First Friday

First Fridays continues with fun for the whole family from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4.

Here are a few of the scheduled events:

• Mean Jake will perform on Monument Square
• Singer / songwriter Mark Paffrath will perform at Crosswalk Park in the 300 block of Main St.
• Paul Kaye will perform olde time stomping blues on Sixth Street
• Jeff Ward singing inside Molly MaGruder's, 330 Main St.
• Macyn Taylor will perform at Northern Lights Gallery, 423 Main St.
• American Restless will play outside Moxie Child, 304 Sixth St.
• Cuddles the clown will be face-painting near JoJo’s Toys on Main Street and pal Billy Boy will create balloon animals the Racine Heritage Museum
• And there will be horse-drawn carriage rides
• Free admission to the Racine Art Museum from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and a free hands-on art project from 4 to 8 p.m. Be the first to see The Donna Schneier Collection: Art Jewelry of the 1980s and 1990s. This exhibition introduces American and European artists working in precious and non-precious recycled materials. Many of the works included are by ceramists and fiber artists already in RAM's collection
  

This will be almost the last opportunity to check out this summer's public art project, “Sunny and Chair,” with artists’-designed chairs at many locations downtown. The chairs will be on display until Labor Day, and then auctioned off at Monument Square on Sept. 12.

Visit the First Fridays website for more information about the latest happenings, in-store specials and links to your favorite spots downtown.

United Way campaign kick-off set at Food Bank

The kick-off of the 2009 United Way fund-raising campaign will be Wednesday, Sept. 2, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Racine County Food Bank.

Campaign Chair Chris Antonneau and United Way of Racine County friends and neighbors will talk about the campaign, tour the HALO homeless shelter, the Food Bank and its new community garden,

A light lunch will be provided at noon, with the program beginning at 12:30 p.m. The Food Bank is located at 2000 DeKoven Ave.

OOHP offers comedy, drama and dinner theatre

Over Our Head Players announces the 2009-2010 Sixth Street Theatre season, featuring the sixth annual Snowdance original comedy competition, traditional comedy, drama, an evening of sketch comedy, and an all-new dinner theatre.

The regular season includes Rabbit Hole in September, followed by Leaving Iowa in November, the “2010 Snowdance 10 Minute Comedy Festival” opening in January, The Beauty Queen of Leenane in spring, and Theatre/Schmeatre in May.

Rabbit Hole is a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by David Lindsay-Abaire. A successful suburban couple must pick up the pieces after devastating tragedy tests their marriage: the Corbetts have everything a family could want, until a life-shattering accident leaves them drifting perilously apart. Rabbit Hole charts their bittersweet search for comfort, exploring life after tragedy. Playwright Lindsay-Abaire wrote previous OOHPs’ hits Fuddy Meers and Wonder of the World. OOHPs veteran Patti Fitchett directs Rabbit Hole, which runs Sept. 18-Oct. 4.

In November, OOHPs brings dinner theatre to Downtown Racine, performing the comedy Leaving Iowa at Festival Hall. Warm, nostalgic, family vacation laughs by Tim Clue and Spike Manton, Leaving Iowa offers a toast to parents from the “Greatest Generation” and a roast of their dedication to the road trip. Driving across Iowa, Don relives the vacations he spent as a boy trapped in the family station wagon en route to uninteresting sites. Shifting smoothly from the present to the annual, torturous vacations of his childhood, it will keep you laughing, remembering the childhood vacations you tried to forget. Simultaneously hilarious and touching, Leaving Iowa plays Nov. 6-22. While dinner packages will be a unique feature of the production, regular, non-dining tickets are also available.

The new year opens with the “2010 Snowdance 10 Minute Comedy Festival,” the sixth anniversary production of the 10-minute original comedy competition. Entrants are invited to submit original 10-minute plays. In prior years, hundreds of entries from coast-to-coast have been received, and international entrants have made it to production. Judges will choose the best of the entrants, and the audience can vote on who should win the cash prize. OOHP presents Snowdance from Jan. 29-Feb. 28. Artistic Director Rich Smith leads the ensemble.

The players present drama in spring with The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Playwright Martin McDonough concocts an alarming blend of comedy, melodrama, violence and tragedy. Lonely spinster Maureen is trapped taking care of her elderly, cantankerous mother, Mag. The two are locked in a duel of wills, bound in patterns of attack and counterattack. When Maureen finally discovers romance, things get horribly out of hand. This modern classic is full of clever twists and bitter tragedy leading up to its stunning conclusion. Upstart Theatre Company member Doug Despin directs.

Sketch comedy closes the season. Theatre/Schmeatre, an evening of all-new sketches written by OOHP, is back for a third round. These short, unrelated, original scripted comedies follow in the tradition of Second City and promise lots of silliness and satire. All the sketches will be written by Over Our Head Players. Once again, we’ll also feature live music from area musicians. Mark your calendars now for May 14-June 5, and please note there are no Sunday performances of Theatre/Schmeatre.

Season ticket brochures are available through the box office, (262) 632-6802. Most shows are at the Sixth Street Theater, 318 Sixth St. This fall, however, Leaving Iowa will offer a dinner theatre option, and all performances will be at Festival Hall, 5 Fifth St. Rabbit Hole, “Snowdance”, and The Beauty Queen of Leenane run Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 5:30 and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Leaving Iowa runs Fridays at 8, Saturdays at 5 and 8, and Sundays at 2:30. Theatre/Schmeatre runs Fridays at 8 and Saturdays at 5:30 and 8 p.m.

NAMI Bike 'n Hike fundraiser is Sept. 13

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Racine) Bike ‘n Hike will be Sunday, Sept. 13. It's more than a fundraiser; it’s a day for the community to join with individuals and family members whose lives are touched, briefly for some and a lifetime for others, by mental illness.

Since 2002, participants have raised over $70,000 to help those in Racine County whose lives are affected by mental illness. Walkers can enjoy a 4k (2.5 mile) hike/walk through Waterford High School’s wooded Ecology Center and Cross Country course.

Bicycle riders will be able to travel the beautiful rolling hills of Southeastern Wisconsin, a choice of 10, 35 or 60-mile routes. Families will especially enjoy the 10-mile route along a protected bike trail through historic Col. Heg Park. The 35 and 60-mile tours run along paved country roads with rest stops along the way.

Bike and hike options start and finish at Waterford High School, where lunch and entertainment are provided. Pre-registration discounts are available at the event's website, or call NAMI Racine at (262) 637-0582. Online registration is available.

Peg & Lou's holds pig roast for customers

Peg & Lou's Bar and Grill, one of our favorite neighborhood watering holes, will hold its 13th Annual Pig Roast marking customer appreciation day this Saturday, Aug. 29. Doors open at 11 a.m., with live music from 2 to 5 p.m. The food will be ready about 2 p.m.

Peg and Lou's -- owned by an actual Peg and Lou Larson-- is at 3113 Douglas Ave.If you still don't know what kind of place this is, check out our story about their toga party from six months ago.

Dickert to speak at Hispanic Heritage Month lunch

Mayor John Dickert will be the speaker at the Hispanic Heritage Month annual luncheon.

The lunch and fundraiser of the Hispanic Roundtable will be held Friday, Sept. 11, from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m., at 3001 Carpenter Ave.

We cordially request your presence at our Hispanic Heritage Month Luncheon fundraiser.
Come enjoy some fantastic Mexican Cuisine and meet many of our Latino professionals and business owners who support this annual event.

Funds raised are used to offer food baskets for needy families during the holiday season.
Tickets are $15 in advance; $20 at the door. To register online, email Mark Schultz.

Checks should be sent to: Hispanic Roundtable, P.O. Box 081644, Racine, WI. 53408

Raiders game Saturday moved to Dubuque

The Racine Raiders game against the Dubuque Bruisers has been moved from Cascade High School in Cascade, Iowa, to Mcales City Field in Dubuque. The game will still begin at 5 p.m.

Cascade High School notified the Bruisers that the Cascade High School field couldn't be utilized to heavy rains this week.

Fans can listen to the game on WRJN 1400 AM or via the Internet through the Raiders' website. Driving directions are available on the website..

The Raiders will return home Saturday, Aug. 29, to play the Traverse City Wolves (6-0). Aug. 29 is Alumni Night and will feature alumni from the past 56 years of Raiders football, a ceremony to commemorate the 1989 National Championship team, and Hall of Fame inductions.

Healing professionals at HOPES Center open house

The HOPES Center, 506 Seventh St., is celebrating the start of its Healing Arts program with an open house on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Local practitioners -- of Chiropractics, body work and Chinese Medicine including acupuncture, Qi Gong, and Yoga -- are volunteering their services, and will discuss their therapies.

The volunteers believe that they are able to assist participants in achieving greater quality of life and assuming greater responsibility for themselves. Anyone interested in learning more about the Healing Arts program at the HOPES Center may attend.

Volunteer Professionals include Chiropractors, Drs. Scott Sheriff and Nancy Stoewe; Reiki Master Todd Larson and Reiki Practitioner Michael Sorenson; Acupuncturist Drs. Arthur Shattuck and Dan Callahan; Registered Art Therapist Barbara Kukla, OP; Massage Therapists Jody Jarrett, Carrie Tucker-Johnson and Ella Kubica; Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, Linda Messerschmidt and Qi Gong , Tai Chi and Yoga professional Joe Mayer. They all believe everyone should have access to holistic healing and should not be denied access due to culture barriers or a lack of funds.

HOPES Center counselors provide mental health and substance abuse counseling to participants who are homeless, at risk of being homeless or who live at 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and do not have insurance.

The first schedule of therapies will be available from September through December. Participants can register by calling the HOPES Center at 262 898 2940. If you would like to volunteer your services or would like to help with the provision of these services, please ask for Ann Pratt, OP.

Here's the Fall 2009 healing schedule:

• Yoga: Linda Messerschmidt, Wed 3-3:45 p.m.; Sept 23 - Oct. 28, (6 classes)
• Art Workshop: Barbara Kukla, ATR , Thursday 2 – 3:30 p.m., Starting Sept. 24
• Qi Gong: Joe Mayer Monday 10-11:15 a.m., Starting Monday, Sept. 21.
• Massage: Jody Jarrett Monday 2 – 4 p.m., Starting Monday, Sept. 21; Carrie Tucker Johnson, Saturday, Sept 12 & October 24 9 a.m. - noon; Ella Kubica, Wed 9 a.m. - noon, 1st of each month, starting in October
• Chiropractics: Scott Sheriff, Tues 9 a.m. - noon, Starting Tuesday, Sept. 22; Nancy Stoewe, Wed 2 -5 p.m., Starting Wednesday, Sept. 23
• Acupuncture: Arthur Shattuck, Thurs 9 a.m. - noon, Starting Thursday, Sept. 24; Dan Calahan, Fri. 9 a.m. - noon, Starting Friday, Sept. 25
• Reiki: Todd Larsen, Mondays 9 a.m. - noon, Starting September 21; Michael Sorenson, Fri 3 -5 p.m., Starting Friday, Sept. 25

Ryan to hold a Hispanic listening session in Delavan

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, 1st District, will holding a listening session in Delavan on Wednesday, Sept. 2, for the Hispanic community to share their concerns and ask questions about health care reform and other important federal government issues.

The session will be from 11 a.m. to noon at the Hernandez/Serape Restaurant, 212 S. 7th St., and will be conducted in both English and Spanish.

Taste of Racine fund-raiser at the Zoo Labor Day

Taste of Racine will be held at the Racine Zoo on Monday, Sept. 7 -- that's Labor Day -- from 11 a.m to 6 p.m. The event is a fund-raiser for Family Service of Racine, which offers family counseling and mental wellness counseling to over 2,000 Racine area residents, 80% of whom are below the poverty level

A family-friendly line-up of entertainment and attractions has been scheduled, along with the main attraction: food!

The food will be supplied by 13 restaurants:

• Captain’s Galley
• The Chancery
• The Deli Station
• Top Dog Hot Dogs
• Taste of Soul
• Wilbur’s
• Ridgewood Care Center
• Sugar Shack
• Mrs. Fields Cookies
• Whey Chai
• Famous Dave’s BBQ
• Pita Brothers
• Little Europe

Each vendor will provide his own treats, at prices ranging from 50 cents to $10.

Some of the family fun -- including a kids' ice cream eating contest, Zumba, a Moonwalk bouncer, face painting, racing sausages, a mascot race and CNH pedal tractors -- will be provided by:

• Spectrum Art Gallery
• YMCA
• Quota International of Kenosha and Racine
• Racine Fire Dept’s Sparky
• Local jewelry artists
• Tastefully Simple
• Fisher Chiropractic
• Pampered Chef
• Women’s Resource Council
• Creative Outlets

In addition, there will be music and other entertainment provided by:

• MIT
• YMCA Tae Kwon Do
• Creative Outlets Children’s Theatre
• Spring City Winds
• Mike DeRose
• Group Therapy
• Decibully
• Contriband

Regular Monday Zoo admission of $1 applies to Racine County residents for the event; all food is a la carte, with a portion of all proceeds going to Family Service. Taste of Racine is one of the organization's larger fundraisers and helps it continue to offer services to the community. For more information about Family Service of Racine, or information about donating to Family Service of Racine, please visit its website or call 262-634-2391.

Zoo gears up for classic car and bike show

The Racine Zoo will host the 14th Annual Classic Car and Bike Show on Sunday, Aug. 23. Annually, The show opens at 9 a.m. and winds down with its awards ceremony at 3 p.m. It typically features 350 vehicles spanning decades and draws more visitors to the Zoo than any other day of the year. The Zoo will remain open until its regular closing at 7 p.m.

Live music is provided by the Root River Band from noon to 2 p.m. and other music and entertainment is offered by DJ Spoons from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Food and beverages will be available. The event is open to the public and regular Zoo admission fees apply.

Car show participants stage on Michigan Blvd. south of the Zoo for admission beginning at 8 a.m. To register a vehicle, participants pay a $15 donation to the Racine Zoo, on the day of the event or $10 in advance. For more information on participation in the Racine Zoo Classic Car and Bike Show or a registration form, go here or call 262.636.9189.

Road Less Traveled final Monument Square concert

Road Less Traveled will perform the 2009 season’s final Music on the Monument concert, on Friday, Aug. 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Monument Square.

Road Less Traveled is an acoustic-electric trio from Southeastern Wisconsin that blends folk, rock and jazz with vocal harmonies. Members of the band are Randy Schneider, lead guitar and vocals; Laura Kassel, keyboard and vocals; and Mike Goff, drums.

During this final concert of the season, the Downtown Racine Corporation will also recognize those local individuals and companies whose donations supported the concert series. Those sponsors are: The Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation, Sign Pro, Donna DeFatte, the Racine Board of Realtors, the Red Onion Café, and Marty DeFatte and Jon Ryder from Century 21 Savaglio and Cape.

In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be moved indoors to the Red Onion Cafe inside The Johnson Building.

RUSD elementary, middle schools set open houses

Open house dates and times for the Racine Unified School District's elementary and middle schools have been announced. All elementary schools with the exception of Janes Year-Round, which held theirs in July, will hold open house on Monday, Aug. 31 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. Middle schools will hold open house from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Aug. 31. The staggered times have been set to better serve parents and families whose student(s) are in both elementary and middle school so they are able to attend both.

Perennial plant sale fundraiser

Hostas, daisies, irises, lilies, sedum, and lots more, straight from Racine gardens, will be sold at reasonable prices at the St. Patrick Plant Sale Fundraiser: Saturday, Sept. 12, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at St. Patrick's McCarthy Hall, 1111 Douglas Ave.

Proceeds from the plant sale will be used to start the John XXIII Educational Center, which is a mission of St. Patrick Parish, 1100 Erie St. For more information, call the St. Patrick Parish office (632-8808) or Kathy Heinen (835-4657).

Zoovies returns on a new night with Muppet Movie

The Racine Zoo will host its second Zoovies this summer on Thursday, Aug. 20, with The Muppet Movie, which was rescheduled due to rain. This 1979 movie featuring Jim Henson’s Muppets will be shown on a theater-sized inflatable movie screen at the Kiwanis Memorial Amphitheatre located on the Racine Zoo campus. The showing of the family film begins at dusk.

The Muppet Movie is the second of three Zoo movies this summer. The final film will be High School Musical 3 on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Admission is $1 for Racine Zoo members and Educators Credit Union members. All other admissions are $3; children under 3 are free.

During the movie, popcorn, beverages, and candy will be available for purchase. Zoovie-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating.

More information on Zoo events is on its website.

Free practice ACT tests offered

Connect with Kids has partnered with Sylvan Learning Centers to offer free practice ACT tests.

The Racine Sylvan Learning Center, 5735 Durand Ave., is offering a free practice ACT test on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To reserve a seat, call 888-598-5437 ext 112 or email.

Unique musical mix at Aug. 22 BONK!

This month’s BONK! on Saturday, Aug. 22, is the series' first all-music event in the series. A unique mix of musicians will feature the percussive acoustic sounds of The Wandering Endorphin; underground hip hop artists W.A.S.T.E.L.A.N.D.S.; and local saxophonist James Lacy.

Created by the Racine Public Library, BONK! is sponsored by Blueberries Café and held at 515 Sixth St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with seating available on a first come/first served basis. Each BONK! event features a short question and answer session with the artists. Food and drink are available from Blueberries directly across the street.

The Wandering Endorphin is the musical alter ego of Chicago native singer/ songwriter/ guitarist Jim Green. Green creates percussive rhythms, harmonics, and double pull-offs with a piano-like approach that often sounds like one more guitar than is actually playing.

The Chicago/Milwaukee-based group, W.A.S.T.E.L.A.N.D.S. (Wisdom Activates Serenity Throughout Entities Living Allah's Nurturing Divine Science) consists of three hip hop emcees: Short Fuze, Augury and Taiyamo Denku.

James Lacy started playing the saxophone when he was 13. He was a member the Harlem Jazz Mobile for over six years.

For more information and videos of past performances, visit BONK!'s website or contact the Racine Public Library at 262.619.2571, Becky Spika or Nick Demske.

Quota Club raffle offers restaurant gift certificates

The Quota Club of Kenosha/Racine is holding a raffle for restaurant gift certificates, to raise money to support the speech- and hearing-impaired, and disadvantaged women and children.

Five raffle winners will win gift certificates from at least four restaurants; the first place winner will receive $300 in gift certificates. Participating restaurants Ashling on the Lough; Bartley House; Bombay Louie’s; The Coffee Pot; Corner House; Kaiser’s Pizza; Mangia Trattoria; Oh! Dennis; Olde Madrid; Out of the Pan; Red Onion; Salute; Sebastian’s; Twisted Cuisine; and Waves Grill and Pub.

Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and may be purchased from Quota members or at the Kenosha Harbor Market, 55th St. and 2nd Ave. in Kenosha on Aug. 15 and Sept. 12, or at the “Taste of Racine” at the Racine Zoo on Sept. 7. Tickets are also available in Racine at The Eco-Justice Center, 7133 Michna Rd., 262-681-8527; and Endless Summer Tanning Salon, 3921 N. Main St., 262-639-5252.

Quota International of Kenosha/Racine is a non-profit service organization; projects have included purchasing sound amplification systems for classrooms, scholarships, Cops N Kids book giveaways and vision and hearing screenings. All proceeds will be used in Kenosha and Racine.

The final drawing will be held at the Kenosha Harbor Market on Sept. 12 at 2 p.m. You do not need to be present to win.

For more information email the Quota Club or call 619-1952.

Apple Holler hosts bluegrass festival for food bank

Apple Holler is hosting an all-day Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, Aug. 22, to benefit the Racine County Food Bank.

The event features five regional bluegrass bands including one from Nashville, hay rides, food and children's activities.

Dave Flannery, owner and CEO of Apple Holler, hopes to collect enough non-perishable food to fill a truck for the Racine County Food Bank. The food bank serves an average of 1,800 families and 60,000 meals a month. "I was looking for a way to help local people in these hard economic times," Flannery said. "With so many great bluegrass bands, this seemed like a great fit."

The Bluegrass for Hunger Festival will be held, rain or shine, and it features six bluegrass bands. Admission is $12 on the day of the event. Children under 10 are half price. Each person attending must also bring two or more non-perishable food items for the Food Bank.

The entertainment schedule is:

Noon - Open jam session
1:00 - Above the Town
2:00 – Front Porch Boys
3:00 - KR Bluegrass Band
4:00 - Band Scramble
5:00 – Liberty Bluegrass Band
6:00 - Hand Picked Bluegrass
7:00 - Lawrence Family Band

Straw bale seating is available, but those who attend may also bring lawn chairs or blankets. During the eight-hour festival there will be free hay rides and free family activities, including barnyard animals and the Golden Goat Bridge. The Applewood Grill will be open, serving hamburgers, brats and hot dogs, along with roasted corn and other food. Indoors, the ice cream parlor will be open.

"This will be a day of fun entertainment, but it has a serious purpose," Flannery said. "Hunger is 100 percent curable, and we hope to collect a truckload of food to benefit this very good cause. We felt that with a reasonable ticket price people would bring in even more food than the two items we are asking."

Apple Holler is a restaurant, gift shop, dinner theatre and apple orchard located off of I-94, between Hwy KR & Hwy 11 on the west frontage road.

Music & More ends season with 'grand finale'

“Music & More” concludes its summer season with a grand finale concert on Friday, Aug. 21, at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 710 College Ave.

Contralto and double bassist Laura Snyder is one of three featured acts. Ms. Snyder is a frequent soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and has been their double bassist since 1970. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported: “It was Laura Snyder who brought down the house – not as an instrumentalist, but as a singer. Her sonorous, majestic contralto voice brought fire and moral magnificence to two traditional spirituals.” Snyder will be performing with her family – husband Fred will accompany her on piano; their daughter will play the viola; and their son will play cello.

The second act will feature the ensemble vocal group, “Caritas” with Kate Potter-Barrow, soprano; Kathy Berg, alto; and Greg Berg, baritone. Specializing in contemporary Christian music, familiar hymns and original songs, much of the music “Caritas” performs has been written or arranged by Greg Berg, assistant professor of music at Carthage College and a soloist for the Racine Symphony. His wife, Kathy, is an elementary music teacher for Racine Unified. Kate Potter-Barrow is a singer and teacher. She has had roles in productions at Racine Theatre Guild, including “Always Patsy Cline” and recently starred in “Honky Tonk Angels.”

Ward, Johnson, Paffrath, l-r

Singers/songwriters Mark Paffrath, Zachary Scot Johnson and Jeff Ward will perform for the second half of the concert. All three sing and play guitar and are known for their improvisation. Johnson and Paffrath also play mandolin, banjo, harmonica, violin, piano and percussion instruments.

Johnson, a native of Racine, Zach, has appeared in more than a dozen shows at Racine Theatre Guild. Pop/folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Paffrath has been performing for over 25 years. Ward, on the local scene since the early 1980s, learned to play the guitar and sing the songs of his Irish heritage from counties Cork and Donegal; since settling in Racine, he has performed at major Irish music festivals.

Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door. Proceeds from the weekly concert freewill offerings will be presented to representatives from Health Care Network, HALO and Racine Arts Council.First Presbyterian Church is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. For more information, contact the church office at (262) 632-1686.

River Bend Nature Center: 50th Anniversary party

River Bend Nature Center will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a celebration on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 3 to 9 p.m.

On the agenda are a corn roast, roasted pig, beer, live music, nature crafts, bird walks, monarch tagging, frog catching, and free canoe and kayak rentals. Admission is $10, children 5 and under are free.

For more information or to RSVP, call 262-639-0930.

Kilties' Sound Explosion at Hammes Field Saturday

The Kiltie Classic, Sound Explosion '09 drum corps show will be held Saturday, Aug. 15, at Hammes Field, Case High School, starting at 7 p.m.

The all-age drum and bugle corps line-up includes Minnesota Brass of Minneapolis MN, Govenaires of St. Peter MN, Prairie Brass Band of Arlington Heights IL, South Shore Color Guard Drill Team of Chicago IL, a special highland piper, and, of course, The Kilties with their 2009 field production, a stand-still concert and a variety of individual and ensemble performances.

Tickets are $10, and free kids admission passes are available online. Just print them out. More information is available at the Kilties website.

Auditions for regional youth orchestras set

The Lakeshore Youth Philharmonic and Sinfonia Orchestras will hold competitive auditions on Sunday, Aug. 23, starting at 1 p.m. at Carthage College, Johnson Center for the Fine Arts, Kenosha.

Advanced string, woodwind, brass and percussion middle and high school musicians from southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois are invited to audition, by appointment only; schedule by calling (262) 654-1512.

Both ensembles provide orchestral training with a challenging repertoire and professional conductors. Membership includes youth from schools with and without orchestra programs as well as those who are home-schooled,

Alexander ‘Sascha’ Mandl, Brazilian violinist and conductor, is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Philharmonic, Conductor and Artist Faculty at the Luci Toscane Music & Cultural Arts Festival in Siena, Italy. He is a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, and Elm City Chamberfest.

Diana M. Iorio is Musical Director/Conductor of the Sinfonia, B.M. She has performed in master class for Vermeer String Quartet, Madame Raya Garbousova, Hiroko Yajima, Sergiu Luca and Pinchas Zukerman. Ms. Iorio’s private studio is L’archet String Studio, and she manages the Solaia Ensemble. She is also the violin, viola, and orchestral clinician at the Christian Life School, Kenosha.

For more information: lyp@lypmusic.org and www.lypmusic.org

Wine tasting benefits Racine Literacy Council

A wine tasting to benefit the Racine Literacy Council will be held Saturday, Aug. 22, at UnCorkt.

Tickets for the 5 to 8 p.m. event are $25, or two for $40, available from UnCorkt, 240 Main St., or the Racine Literacy Council, 734 Lake Ave. Tickets are also available at the door, beginning at 4 p.m.

There will be six wines to be sampled. Fifteen percent of all wine purchases the night of the tasting will go to the Literacy Council.

Walden III holds all-school reunion

Walden III alumni, staff, family and friends are celebrating the school's 37-year history on Aug. 21 and 22 with a series of events that will culminate with an all-school reunion at the North Beach Oasis.

Walden III School, 1012 Center St., was founded in 1972 around the belief that students should be a part of the decisions that affect them at school. Dr. Jackson Parker, the school's founder, said, “Walden III has become a source of pride and reputation in the community. The Green School is a wonderful example of what is possible.” Events include:

Friday, Aug. 21:

• Tour of Walden III School, led by teacher Alex Mandli and the Green School Student committee. The tour will include the rooftop solar panels and the new outdoor classroom; 3 p.m.
• Mixers (cocktails & appetizers), for staff, former staff and alumni; 7 p.m. at the downtown Chancery and 9 p.m. at various Racine locations

Saturday, Aug. 22:

• Reunion and Beach Party, 2 – 9 p.m. at the North Beach Oasis, 100 Kewaunee St. Pre-registration is requested here.
  
• Reunion After-Party Celebrations continue, 9 p.m. at various Racine locations

For more information or to register for the reunion, visit this website or call Patrick Flynn at (262) 620 2018.

Radio Theater transports submarine back to WWII

A modern-day 2009 Virginia Class stealth submarine, while out on its shakedown cruise, ends up in the North Atlantic – but, as its crew soon discovers, in the middle of World War II.

How could that happen? Could it change the course of history – and can they return to 2009?

These questions, and others, will be probed in the WGTD Radio Theater broadcast of “Deep Stealth II” at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, live before a studio audience in the Center for Bioscience & Information Technology on the Kenosha Campus of Gateway Technical College, Room 120, 3520-30th Ave.

The original script, written by WGTD Radio Theater’s Steve Brown and Michael Ullstrup, captures the drama, intrigue and the sounds of history as it transports the listener back to 1942.

Mark Paffrath concert on Monument Square

Pop/folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Paffrath will perform a free outdoor concert at Music on the Monument on Friday, Aug. 21, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Paffrath has been charming audiences for over 25 years, from the concert and festival stage to the local bar and grill or coffeehouse. He performs as a solo act, singing and playing guitar and mandolin.

Music on the Monument is celebrating its sixth anniversary of concerts at Monument Square every Friday through August. Chairs and umbrellas are provided. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be moved to the Red Onion Cafe, at 555 Main St.

Healing journey, healthy lives open house

Non-traditional psychotherapy, yoga, massage, Reiki, chiropractic care and other health modalities will take the spotlight at Lake House Heath & Learning Center’s free open house and program, “Healing Journey, Healthy Lives,” from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, at 932 Lake Ave.

There will be demonstrations and interactive mini-sessions on:

• Experiential therapy introduction with Karen Carnabucci, psychotherapist and psychodramatist
• Massage and Reiki with Judy Warner, certified massage therapist and Reiki master
• Massage and Reiki with Helene Hellesen, certified massage therapist and Reiki master
• Yoga with Marie Boyum, certified yoga instructor
• Back care with Dr. Scott Sheriff, chiropractor
  

There will be a sale of used books, CDs, videos and magazines on health, wellness, spirituality, parenting, yoga, recovery, nutrition and other topics. Also, free informational material on health topics, including health care, substance abuse, eating disorders, Seasonal Affective Disorder and more. Healthy refreshments and door prizes will be available.

For more information about Lake House, or directions, see the website or call (262) 633-2645.

Ryan sets African American issues forum

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-WI, 1st District, will host an African American Community Issues Forum and listening session, with Ken Lumpkin at the Flatiron Mall on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The mall is at 1661 Douglas Ave.

The forum will provide a venue for discussing matters of federal concern to constituents, including those that have an impact on the area’s African American community. This gathering will also offer an opportunity to First District residents to share their views on the health care reform and other important issues facing Congress.

“This forum offers a great chance for area residents and community leaders to gather together to voice concerns, share ideas, and get information on issues that affect the day-to-day lives of African Americans in southeastern Wisconsin,” Ryan said.

For more information, call Ryan’s office at 1-888-909-7926, or Lumpkin at 262-632-9370.

McKinley Middle School sets registration dates

McKinley Middle Charter School, 2340 Mohr Ave., has announced registration dates and times for McKinley families to obtain their students' schedules.

8th Grade Class of 2014: On Wednesday, August 19, last names beginning with A-L will pick up their schedule from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Last names beginning with M-Z will pick up their schedules from 10 a.m. until noon.

7th Grade Class of 2015: On Thursday, Aug. 20, last names beginning with A-L will pick up their schedules from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Last names beginning with M-Z will pick up their schedules from 10 a.m. until noon.

6th Grade Class of 2016: On Thursday, Aug. 20, all students are to report at 7 p.m. for an hour long meet and greet with staff and other students. Students who attend can begin picking up their schedules at 6 p.m. Students will meet by teams in designated areas of the school at 7 p.m. so families are encouraged to arrive early to obtain their students' schedules.

Open Registration for All Students: McKinley Middle Charter School will also have open registration for all grade levels on Monday, Aug. 24, from 8 a.m. until noon and Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Due to the open registration to all additional McKinley students, please plan for a longer than usual wait time to obtain a schedule

Dairy Statesmen head final Music & More concert

The Dairy Statesmen Barbershop Chorus is one of three featured acts performing on Thursday, Aug. 13, at the last noontime concert of the 2009 series of “Music & More.”

The Dairy Statesmen formed in 1943 as a nonprofit organization and chapter of The Barbershop Harmony Society in Nashville, TN. Their repertoire includes many contemporary songs performed in the barbershop-style including music by the Beatles, Elvis Presley and the Beach Boys as well as more traditional songs.

The chorus has been featured in pops concerts with the Racine, Kenosha and Milwaukee symphonies and the Racine Municipal Band, and has performed at many choral festivals. Meeting and rehearsals are held every Tuesday evening and new members are always welcome. Contact Mark Geisler at (262) 639-0547.

Pianist Linda Seeley will also perform. She has performed at the Racine Theater Guild's Jean’s Jazz Series, Carthage College and UW-Parkside, and teaches more than 50 students at her home in Union Grove and at Lakeshore Conservatory in Racine. CDs of her original piano compositions and Christmas music are available at her website.



Trio du Monde will also perform on Aug. 13. The group was formed several years ago to keep great folk melodies alive. Their repertoire comes predominately from the European cultures and is reminiscent of music that is played at outdoor sidewalk cafes throughout Europe. The trio features Jim Sambeau playing accordion, flute and tamburitza; Laura Giese on Spanish-style guitar; and Tom Schwark on mandolin.

The hour-long concert begins at noon in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 716 College Ave. The church is air-conditioned and handicapped-accessible. There is no charge to attend, however a freewill offering is accepted and will be divided equally between Health Care Network, Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization (HALO) and Racine Arts Council.

For more information about “Music & More” contact the church office at (262) 632-1686.

Seventh Street reconstruction plan discussion set

An open house / public information meeting will be held Wednesday, Aug. 12, to review and comment on plans developed for the Seventh Street reconstruction project.

The meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Saphire East room in Memorial Hall, 72 Seventh St.

The project includes the area of Washington Avenue from 9th Street, along Seventh to Main Street.

Streetscaping plans, including sidewalk design, street and pedestrian lighting, tree planting, greenwalls and more will be discussed. Alternatives for the intersection of Washington and Grand Avenues, and 6th and 7th Streets, including a roundabout, will be presented.

Representatives from the city, WisDOT and AECOM, the engineering firm leading the design effort, will be present. This is the final public meeting to review and comment on alternatives.

Master gardeners will lead zoo stroll

Master gardeners Corrine Merry and Sharon Shouldice will lead a walk around the Racine Zoo on Saturday, Aug. 8, starting at 10 a.m.

Guests will learn about the zoo's landscaped campus and enjoy a continental breakfast. Free with zoo admission, tourgoers should meet at the gazebo near the main entrance on Main and Goold Streets.

Future Safari Saturday events include bird watching activities with the Hoy Audubon Group on Aug. 15, , Safety Day with Sparky the Dog Robot on Aug. 22, and Animal Enrichment Day on Aug. 29. All events are free with zoo admission.

Eight Racine photogs selected for Wustum exhibit

Rust on the Root River, by Jason Madson

Oriental by James Charnon

Two Robots, by Thomas Aviles

Update, Aug. 9: Purchase award winners named, see below.

Eight Racine photographers -- including three whose work has appeared on RacinePost -- are included in RAM's Wustum Museum of Fine Arts Wisconsin Photography 2009 exhibit, opening this Sunday, and running through Nov. 28.

The exhibit features 90 pieces by 45 Wisconsin photographers and video artists.

This is the first year that RAM has accepted digital entries for the juried show, contributing to a large number of entries received from all over the state. Of the 761 pieces submitted by 78 artists, less than a quarter were selected by Rod Slemmons, executive director at The Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago.. Nine works from this year's competition will be purchased for the Racine Art Museum's permanent collection.

The Racine photographers represented in the show are: Melissa Alexander, Thomas J. Aviles, Slawomir Bala, Eileen Black, James Charnon, Don Nels Johnson, James A. Kipfer, Jason W. Madson, Leonard Peterson, Lewis E. Schultz, Kim Smith, Marc Wollman. Charnon, Madson and Aviles have contributed photographs to RacinePost. (Congratulations, guys!)

Aviles, by the way, is just 17, and entering his senior year at Walden III. He tells us he was "always fascinated by cameras; I thought they were the most magical thing... a device that can stop time itself." It wasn't until he joined the Main Gallery summer youth program that he was able to put his fascination to work, learning the techniques of photography from Denise Zingg. "She gave me the knowledge on how to use the darkroom and tips on composition. Later I converted the old bathroom in my basement into a functional darkroom. I never made much money with photography until I opened my portfolio to weddings and portraits. I did my first wedding when I was 16."

An awards ceremony and reception will be held Sunday, Aug. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m., hosted by Bruce W. Pepich, executive director of Wustum and curator of collections. The awards presentation will begin at 3 p.m.

Winners: Bruce Pepich named the eight Arthur P. Haas Memorial Photography Purchase Award winners Sunday afternoon, named after, and funded by, a gift from the former Journal Times photographer. Those whose photos were added to the museum's collection are: Robert W. Baron, Mark Brautigam, Janice Mahlberg, Linda Schwam Merkel, Lawrence W. Oliverson, Anna Ross, Erv Schroeder and Christine Sobczak.

Adventure sailing for girls from YWCA

On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Girls Inc. at the YWCA of Racine, the Racine Yacht Club and the National Women’s Sailing Association will host a day of sailing for girls, on Lake Michigan.

The 10th Annual, Adventure Sail program offers sailing activities for girls ages 8-17. The program is offered at the Racine Yacht Club, 1 Barker St., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no cost to attend and a free T-shirt is provided.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, accepting only 50 participants. To register, complete an enrollment form at the YWCA River Bend Nature Center, 3600 North Green Bay Road, or email Jeanette Brown; for additional information call 262-989-9693.

Groove Factor to perform at Monument Square

Groove Factor will perform a free outdoor concert at Music on the Monument on Friday, Aug. 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

With a mix of songs from the '70s, '80s, '90s and today, Groove Factor rips through decades of rock and pop favorites. The trio sounds larger than the sum of its parts with three-part harmony and a rhythmic approach that provides a common thread through each genre of music they play.

Band members are Dan Damaschke on guitar and vocals; Greg Holmes, bass and vocals and Scott Scheuber, drums and vocals.

Music on the Monument is celebrating its sixth anniversary of summer concerts at Monument Square every Friday through August. Chairs and umbrellas are provided.

In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be moved indoors to the Red Onion Cafe inside The Johnson Building.

Next Green Drinks meeting in Kenosha on Aug 18

The second Green Drinks Kenosha/Racine meeting will be held Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Wine Knot in Kenosha, at 5611 6th Ave., from 5 to 7 p.m.

Green Drinks is an informal, social-gathering where environmentalists and conservationists can get together and share and learn about ways to protect our precious natural resources. There are no dues, no board of directors and no formal agenda. It's an opportunity for people to come together and discuss what they (and the environmental groups they're involved with) are working on, share upcoming events or just socialize with like-minded people.

This "conservation-conversation" takes place every month, on the third Tuesday, alternating between Shillings Pub in Racine and Wine Knot in Kenosha. Future meetings will be at Shillings in September and November and the Wine Knot in August, October and December.

Organist heads lineup at Music & More

Organist Gerald Buck is one of three featured acts performing Thursday, Aug. 6, at the “Music & More” summer concert series. The hour-long concert begins at noon in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church, 716 College Ave.

Buck is in his 40th year as organist at First Presbyterian Church. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Marquette University with degrees in physics, he taught physics, musical acoustics and chemistry for 45 years, the last 23 at The Prairie School, where he was science department chair, retiring in 2002. Buck also plays piano, oboe and saxophone/woodwinds with jazz groups, and he also maintains and plays the calliope in Racine's July 4 parade.

Racine Symphony Orchestra members Darlene Rivest, Ann LeMar Heide (violins) and Frank Suetholz (flute) will also perform. Pianist Snjezana (Anna) Kojovic-Frodl will accompany Suetholz.

There is no charge to attend Music & More, but a freewill offering is accepted and will be divided equally between Health Care Network, Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization (HALO) and Racine Arts Council. First Presbyterian Church is air-conditioned and handicapped accessible. For more information, contact the church office at (262) 632-1686.

Shemekia Copeland at Animal Crackers

Shemekia Copeland will perform Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Racine Zoo's Animal Crackers.

Although young, she is considered a force to be reckoned with in the blues arena. Her style melds the urban landscape: street performers, gospel singers, blasting radios, bands in local parks and so much more, while her passion and voice give her music a timeless power and a heart pounding urgency. While still in her 20s, the Grammy nominee opened for the Rolling Stones, headlined at the Chicago Blues Festival, as well as festivals around the world.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. For Animal Crackers concerts, zoo gates open at 5:30 p.m. with the concert’s two 45-minute sets kicking off at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the zoo, by phone at 262-636-9189 or on its website or from all Johnson Bank locations.

The concert will go on rain or shine. Food and beverages are available.

Theatre Guild holds costume shop rummage sale

The Racine Theatre Guild will hold rummage sale on Saturday, Aug. 22, both to clean out its wardrobe room and to raise funds for the RTG's costume shop.

The sale will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 1801 Quincy Ave.

Donations are being accepted from the public; "nothing is too big or too small." Drop off at the sale site -- not at the Theatre Guild -- on Thursday, Aug. 6, from 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Aug. 12, from noon to 4 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14, from 8 a.m. to noon or Saturday, Aug. 15, from 8 a.m. to noon. Anyone with questions, or items to be picked up may call Sharon Molina at 554-1942 or 930-6258, or Joedy Simonsen at 498-1522.

First Friday offers special events Downtown

Another month, another First Friday with special activities scheduled Downtown.

Outdoor entertainment Downtown this Friday, Aug. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m., includes:

• Mean Jake will perform at Monument Square from 6-9 p.m.
• Titus, Rench and Wheary will perform at Crosswalk Park
• The Smith-Nelson Project jazz combo will be on Sixth Street.
• Cuddles & Billy Boy will entertain: Cuddles will do face painting near JoJo’s Toys and Billy Boy will make balloon animals outside the Racine Heritage Museum from 7:30 – 9 p.m.
• DJ from Kenosha Magic will be roving Main and 6th Streets with his tricks from 6-8 p.m.
  

Other attractions include:

• Night Wing will perform at Evelyn’s Club Main from 8 – 11 p.m.
• The Mad Man Band will perform at Henry and Wanda’s.
• Northern Lights Gallery features Macyn Taylor on guitar and vocals.

Artists Gallery will host an artist’s reception from 5-8 p.m. for Joyce Ottum in celebration of her 11 years as a founding member of the gallery. There will also be a silent auction featuring works by member artists no bigger than 10” x 10”.

A reception for Sue Horton will be held at Photographic Design Studio and Gallery from 6 to 9 p.m. Horton's European paintings will be displayed.

Horse drawn carriage rides leave from Monument Square and 54 artistically designed Adirondack chairs are on Main and 6th Streets as part of Racine’s annual public art project. There is free admission at RAM during First Friday -- all day, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Fired Up! will present a special workshop for kids 7 and up, who can paint a special piece from 6-8:30 p.m.

Concert will benefit Cops 'n Kids reading center

A benefit concert for the Cops 'n Kids Reading Center will be held Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Racine Theatre Guild.

The concert will feature the Greater Mount Eagle and Greater Grace Temple Choirs, and Raised 2 Praise, left. Special guest will be Miss Racine, Sha'Nita Rhea.

The concert will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will go to the Cops 'n Kids Reading Center. The Racine Theatre Guild is at 2519 Northwestern Ave.

Racine author signing 'Peace Vigil' at Sheepish

Racine author and Zen teacher Anton Somlai will give a talk at Sheepish in Downtown Racine at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 23 about his new book, "Peace Vigil – Living Without Hesitation."

Somlai, a peace teacher and student for 40 years, teaches how to quiet thinking so our natural peace energy can appear. "Peace Vigil" lays out a 108-day peace practice that uses concrete insights, teachings and homework assignments to help the reader on the peace path.

Somlai's appearance at Sheepish will include a brief talk, an exercise from the book and a chance to ask questions. Linda Somlai, also a master teacher at the Original Root Zen Center in Racine, will give a reading from "Peace Vigil." Copies of the book will be for sale at a special, discounted price.

Somlai's talk comes at an important time. Many people are facing stress and difficulties in their lives due to the struggling economy. Lost jobs, lack of access to health care and changes in society are placing stressors on our everyday lives. "Peace Vigil" offers a path out of this suffering.

"The greatest logic is to create a peaceful life that helps others," Somlai writes in Day 20 of "Peace Vigil."

"It is time to fearlessly wake up to the mind that insists peace is hopeless."

Dragon Mountain Press recently published "Peace Vigil" in 2009. DMP is a small press in Racine, Wis. dedicated to publishing books on peace, healing and helping.

Sheepish is a wonderful healing and wellness store located at 326 Main St. in Racine, Wis. They carry a huge variety of natural herbs, teas and medicines, contemplative supplies, stones, music and books, including all of Dragon Mountain Press's offerings.