Things to Do: April 2010 Archives

Smithsonian Week in Riverside is back for a second year. Smithsonian Institution Scholars will join the Riverside Metropolitan Museum in celebrating its exhibition, "Adornment" by bringing their special expertise to local elementary schools, high schools and universities May 19-21.

Two special guest scholars, Dr. Frank Hailer and Emil Her Many Horses, will offer presentations to students. In addition, the public can see both guest scholars at a free, one-night presentation at the museum May 20 from 5-8 p.m.

For more information call 951-826-5273 or visit www.riversideca.gov/museum

My kids are active AK Smiley Public Library card holders and we've spent many happy hours wandering the children's section (and fiction for me). In response to recent budget cuts, the library is holding a fundraiser.

Pam Karr, youth services librarian, teamed up with some Inland baseball celebrities and Barnes & Noble Booksellers to host a baseball/book-themed fundraiser to raise money for the library to purchase new books.

On Saturday, May 15, families are invited to the festivities, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Barnes & Noble in the Redlands Citrus Plaza. Events include a book signing by Todd Anton, author of "When Baseball Went to War," story time with Bernie the SB 66ers team mascot, photo opportunities and baseball signing by a player from the 66ers. There will also be appearances by WWII veterans. The jazz group "Four on the Floor" will also be performing.

Here's the schedule:

11:00 am-1:00 pm
Jazz music performed by "Four on the Floor"

11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Children's story time and baseball-themed activities in the Children's Department
Story time with Bernie, SB 66ers Mascot. He'll be acting out Casey at the Bat!
Bring your own baseball to be signed by a SB 66ers player!

Noon-1:00 p.m.
Meet WWII Veterans Alma Newsom-Fornal (WASP), recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal and Hank Wochholz (US Navy), longtime Yucaipa resident who served aboard an LST - ships that could transport battle tanks and heavy rolling equipment over the sea to forward battle areas, delivering the load directly to beachhead.

Noon-2:00 p.m.
Meet Todd Anton, author of "When Baseball Went to War" and "No Greater Love: Life Stories from the Men who Saved Baseball." Anton serves on the Board of Trustees of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, LA. He was born and raised in Oak Glen/Yucaipa, is a YHS graduate, and currently teaches history in Victorville.

The community outreach program Family Fun Day on First Sundays in downtown Riverside is wrapping up its 2009-2010 season. Free family activities will take place at several Riverside organizations Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The new season will start again Oct. 3.

Here are some highlights of this Sunday's activities:

Captain Carl and His Mobile Tidepool will bring marine life for show and tell, and discuss how climate change is affecting the ecosystem. Children will have the opportunity to hold a starfish, squeeze a squirt and touch an urchin.

Science teacher Peggy Walton will teach fish facts and lead a fish print craft activity that uses the ancient Japanese technique, gyotaku, at the Riverside Art Museum. From 1-3 p.m. the Gluck Ballet Folklorico will perform traditional folk dances from many regions of Mexico.

Riverside Public Library will host "How and Why Stories: All Bugged Out" where Karen Rae Kraut will tell bug stories and children can make a slime craft.
At the Mission Inn, children can make an ocean-treasure craft out of gems, shells and a variety of other ocean-themed items.

The Fox Foundation is also hosting a Beatles Sing-A-Long competition at the Fox Performing Arts Center in honor of the upcoming production, "Rain." Singers will be posted on the foundation's Facebook page. Children can also make a "Star Dream Catcher" craft.

UC Riverside's California Museum of Photography (CMP) will provide the paper, newspapers, magazines and fabric for visitors who wish to make a photo collage piece. UCR graduate student Cameron Crone will share a brief overview of artists who have worked in photo collage, from Picasso to Jon Baldessari.

Lastly, UCR's Sweeney Art Gallery will host Gluckfest 2010 on the Main St. pedestrian mall in front of CMP and Culver Center. Performers will include an Andean Ensemble with "Music From the Andes," flamenco dancers with "Music Without Borders," Rondalla with "Music from the Philippines" and the Gluck contemporary dance ensemble, "Motion Capture."

FAMILY FUN DAY
Where: Downtown Riverside
When: 1-4 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Free
Information: www.riversidefirstsundays.org

First 5 Riverside is partnering with Riverside City College and other early childhood agencies for the Prenatal to 5 Family Expo on the Riverside City College campus May 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Parents-to-be, new parents and parents of toddlers or preschoolers will be able to get information on services, family activities, safety, health, education, child care, child development and more.

"Where the current economy has increased the needs of our youngest children, we want to ensure parents are aware of support for them and their families," said Harry Freedman, executive director of First 5 Riverside.

More than 40 exhibitors throughout Riverside County will attend the Expo, which will also include dental and developmental screenings, car safety inspections, parent workshops, and activities for families with young children, such as the diaper derby crawling races and sensory exploration games.

Expo workshops, services and admission are free. Pre-registration is encouraged for the workshops on behavior, school readiness and fatherhood, and for the car seat safety inspections. Visit www.rccfc.org or call 800-774-7237 for more information.

The California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside will host the special educational event, Grafting 101 Sunday, May 2 from 2-3 p.m. Participants will learn what grows citrus well and how things can be changed to meet individual needs. Learn how to change the scion of trees as well. There will also be activities for children.

The program will be hosted by Docents of CCSHP. The event is free and open to the public. Parking, however, does cost $8. Call 951-780-6222 for more information.

March Field's AirFest is on Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2 at the March Air Reserve Base, and youth ages 13 and over who attend can learn how it feels to complete a mission as a soldier in the US Army.

The Virtual Army Experience, which is making its third west coast stop in four years, takes users on a virtual mission. It will be at AirFest both days. During the 25-minute experience, participants get a comprehensive mission briefing that prepares them for entering the simulator. There are HMMWV simulators, modeled after vehicles employed by Army Special Forces, and a UH-60 Black Hawk helicoptor, where participants employ light arms and provide air coverage support. When the mission is completed, there's a debriefing on the performance. Participants are also trained by drill sergeants who teach basic training.

Admission to AirFest is free, parking is also free. No coolers, pets, bicycles, glass containers, alcoholic beverages, skateboards, or roller blades are allowed. Blankets and folding chairs are recommended so you can be comfortable watching demonstrations.

Look for sky diving and flight demonstrations, as well as lots to do on the ground.

Where: March Air Reserve Base, 2145 Graeber Street, Riverside
When: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 1; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 2

On Saturday and Monday San Bernardino's Got Talent Auditions took place at the Norman F. Feldheym Library in San Bernardino. There were a total of 98 entries in age groups ranging from 5-25. There were singers, some bands, a piano player, unicyclist, drummer, opera singer and rappers.

Of the 98 entries, 14 will be selected to perform at the San Bernardino's Got Talent Show, which will be held on Saturday, June 19 at the Sturges Center of Performing Arts. Finalists will be announced shortly. The top prize is $1,000.

Paul Jacques, one of the judges said, "I'm impressed at the talent at all different levels. There were first time act entries as well as very polished talent, which is very encouraging.

Jacques teaches theater and film at Valley College.

For additional information on the competition visit www.sb200.org.

Eric Scott, curator of paleontology at the San Bernardino County Museum will discuss Ice Age fossils from caves in the deserts of the American Southwest in his upcoming presentation, "Ice Age Caves: Cradles of Discovery." The lecture is free with paid museum admission.

The Mojave Desert of Southern Calif. and Nevada holds a great deal of recorded ancient life. The desert holds numerous mountain ranges made up of marine rocks deposited on ancient seafloors. These rocks contain fossils of small ocean creatures that lived and died, long before dinosaurs walked the earth. But they can also contain fossils of much more recent animals, those that lived and died during the Pleistocene Epoch, the "Ice Ages."

Because predators often brought smaller animals back to caves, the remains of both can be found there.

"Caves are amazing resources for paleontologists," Scott said. "They can be some of the richest fossil troves one can imagine. Some caves can yield tens of thousands of fossils."

The museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for military or seniors, $5 for students and $4 for children ages 5 to 12. Children under age 5 and Museum Association members get in free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org.

Riverside's 8th annual Chili Cook Off and Car/Motorcycle Show, hosted by the Arlington Business Partnership is coming up on Saturday, May 29. The event will take place over about a half a mile of Magnolia Ave. from Van Buren Blvd to Jackson St. in Riverside. Festivities will run from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Two stages will hold local band acts, including CUBO on the main stage and Factory Tuned Band on the community stage.

In addition to the classic car show, there will be a motorcycle competition. Last year, more than 150 cars and motorcycles participated.

There will be a Kids Zone, which will include inflatables, water wars, an exotic petting zoo, a coloring contest, train rides, rock climbing and more. Kids are also invited to participate in the "Little Mr. Hot Sauce" and "Little Miss Chili Pepper" contests. Children ages 12 and older are welcome. There are prizes for the winners and gifts for all participants. Parents can sign up children at the Main Stage on the day of the event.

The event will also feature handcrafted arts and crafts, business booths, food booths, beer gardens, a wine bar and chili prepared by the International Chili Society cooks who compete for international prizes. Visitors can taste and judge entries from local chili cooks for the title of "Best Community Cook."

To participate in the chili competition call the ABP office at 951-509-1100 for an application and further details.

The Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern California will hold its 22nd annual Golf Tournament to raise funds April 29 at the Sierra Lakes Golf Club at 16600 Clubhouse Dr. in Fontana.

Money raised will go to provide family events and emergency services to families who have a child with cancer. CCFSC provides services to more than 700 families throughout Southern Calif.

The entry fee is $150 per person. That fee includes green fees, continental breakfast, lunch and a cart. All donations are tax deductible.

For more information call Stephanie Avila at 909-558-3419 or www.ccfsocal.org.

Check-in time is 6:30-7:30 a.m., with a start time of 8 a.m.

The education division of the San Bernardino County Museum will hold a basket-making family workshop on Saturday, May 8 from 9 a.m. to noon, and repeated from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Registration deadline is Saturday, May 1. The workshop is sponsored in part by the James Irvine Foundation.

In this workshop, participants will learn about the natural materials used to make baskets, weave a traditional-style doll with palm leaves, and construct round reed baskets. The cost of $30 for a family or $15 for an individual includes all materials and admission to the museum. Workshop projects are appropriate for families with children ages 8 and older.

For more information or registration forms, call 909-307-2669, ext. 256 or visit www.sbcountymuseum.org. The museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands.

Performance Riverside is offering Riverside families living within the zip codes 92501 through 92509 a discount on the tickets for the Saturday, April 24 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. showings of "The Pirates of Penzance." Adults who purchase a $30 ticket (reduced from $37 and $43) may purchase tickets for up to four children ages 4-16 for $8 per ticket, thanks to a donation from the City of Riverside.

The Gilbert and Sullivan swashbuckling adventure will run April 23 through May 2 at the Landis Performing Arts Center on the Riverside City College campus. Call the Landis Box Office at 951-222-8100 or purchase online at www.performanceriverside.org.

The Getty Center has a great lineup of family activities scheduled for the summer. It kicks off with a Family Festival celebrating Leonardo DaVinci on Saturday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enter the world of Leonardo DaVinci and Renaissance Italy in this full-day celebration with music, dance, storytelling and interactive workshops.

Throughout the summer, join Family Art Stops and get up close and personal with a single work of art in a half-hour gallery experience geared for families with children ages 5 and up. All summer, Family Art Stops will be offered Tuesday-Sunday at 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sign up at the museum information desk 30 minutes before the program begins.

Art Adventures for Families is a one-hour, fun and activity filled gallery experience geared for families with children ages 5 and up, offered Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Sign up at the museum information desk at 1:30 p.m. The center also has Family Art Lab every weekend from 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., a drop in art workshop designed to exercise the imagination.

There's also the Family Room, which is open daily for drop in, hands on activities highlighting the Getty Center's collection.

In August, the Getty Center's Central Gardens have live family music on the weekends from 4-5 p.m. with the Garden Concerts for Kids. Also, at the Getty Villa families can embark on an Art Odyssey for Families Thursdays and Fridays at noon and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. The Art Odyssey is a 45-minute activity-filled journey through the galleries for families with children ages 5 and older. Sign on at the tour meeting place 15 minutes before the tour begins. The tour is also offered in Spanish.

The Villa also has ArtQuest!, a family drop-in program that goes on weekends from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Parents and children can play the Mysteries of Ancient Art game in the galleries and do fun art-making activities in the Outer Peristyle, such as mosaic-making and painting in the style of fresco. The Family Forum is also open all day for drop in, hands on play.

Admission to the Getty Center and Getty Villa is always free. Parking costs $15. Advanced, timed tickets are required for the Villa. For tickets and more information call 310-440-7300 or visit www.getty.edu.

The Getty Center is located at 1200 Getty Center Dr., Los Angeles. The Getty Villa is located at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades.

Kathleen Horning, director of the Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin, will deliver the 2010 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture on Thursday, May 13, at 7 p.m. in the UCR Extension Center at 1200 University Ave.

This is only the fourth time since the national lecture was established in 1969 that it has been located in Southern Calif.

The Arbuthnot Lecture series honors educator and librarian May Hill Arbuthnot. Horning was selected by a committee of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association.

The UC Riverside Libraries are collaborating with the Riverside County Library System to host the lecture, titled "Can Children's Books Save the World?" The event is free, but registration is required at www.rivlib.net/Arbuthnot.

California Riverside Ballet, Performance Riverside and the Art Institute, Inland Empire collaborated in the Michael Jackson-themed luncheon/fashion show event, "King of Pop, King of Style" Wednesday at the Riverside Convention Center.

David Bauman/The Press-Enterprise

Proceeds from the event went to all three organizations. Students with the Art Institute created Jackson-inspired attire for the fashion show and CRB members performed a "Thriller" number in full-zombie makeup and costume.

See a video of the event here and a photo gallery here.

Ready for a little friendly competition? The Art Department at Cal State San Bernardino will host its 10th annual Clay Day Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nine high schools and nearly 100 students will engage in a ceramics competition, showing off their best pottery and sculpting skills.

Some of the program highlights include: The Most Creative Tea Pot; Blind Fold Throwing; Sculpting Animated Creatures (students work as a team to recreate their favorite scene from an animated film); and Wheel Buddies (student potters choose a member from the audience and teach them how to throw on the pottery wheel).

Christy Johnson, director of the American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) will serve as guest judge for the event, which will take place at the CSUSB Visual Arts Center, VA 123.

The 9th annual Spring Inland Empire Show Extravaganza will be at the Ontario Convention Center Friday, Saturday and Sunday (April 23-25). The show will include hundreds of exhibitors specializing in home decorating, event planning, remodeling, entertaining, landscaping, and eco-friendly and water conservation products.

Home Depot will host how-to clinics on everything from framing a new window to laying tile. There will also be Kid's clinics with "make and take" projects.

Look for discount coupons in The PE, at The Home Depot and online at L.A. Spas, Barbeques Galore, Renewal by Andersen, The Frontier Project and at www.inlandempireshow.com.

Show hours are 1-7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

The Taco Bell Discovery Science Center is hosting the free event, "Launch 2010" at The Boeing Company's Huntington Beach site on Saturday, May 1.

Visitors can design, build and launch rockets made of two-liter plastic soda bottles. Using a combination of pressurized air and water for propulsion, the rockets launch and deploy a parachute.

The parachute with the longest hang time in the air wins. The grand prize is the opportunity to view a real rocket launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Co-hosting the event are Boeing executives Rick Baily and Steve Oswald, a former NASA astronaut.

"We're always looking for exciting ways to engage students in hands-on math and science learning," Baily, also a Discovery Science Center board member, said. "Launch 2010 is a great partnership that connects Boeing employees with our future engineers and scientists."

Kids will have the chance to meet some of the scientists and engineers who have made a career of building rockets, spacecraft and airplanes.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and preregistration is available online here. The competition begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at 2 p.m. There will be multiple categories. Bring your own 2-liter bottle. All other supplies are provided.

For more information visit www.discoverycube.org.

The downtown Riverside Public Library will host Teen Creative Writing workshops with Alison Minami on Tuesdays, April 20-May 25 from 4-5:30 p.m. The program is free, but students should sign up at the Teen Desk on the second floor of the library. Or register by e-mailing inlandiainstitute@gmail.com.

Over the six workshops, Minami will look at various written works as a starting point for creative writing of the self. Participants will consider the many identities and masks people carry within their communities. The course will culminate in a public reading for friends and family on Tuesday, May 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Alison Minami, holds a B.A. in English from UC Berkeley and a Master's in Secondary English Education from Pace University. A New York State certified public school teacher, Alison has taught literature and writing at the secondary and community college level. Currently she is an MFA candidate for Creative Writing in Fiction at the University of California Riverside, where she also serves as a Teaching Assistant and a Gluck Fellow. She is working on a collection of short stories.

The library is located at 3581 Mission Inn Ave. in Riverside.

LifeHouse Theater in Redlands is holding open auditions for "The Little Mermaid," written by LifeHouse founder Wayne Scott. Auditions will be held Thursday, May 6, from 6-9 p.m.

Children and adults age 10 and older should bring a theatrical resume and a recent photo to leave with the audition panel. Those without a photo may have a picture taken at the auditions for a $2 fee.

Auditioners should also bring their own sheet music in the preferred key, and be prepared to sing a short selection of about 16 measures. A pianist will be provided but will not be able to transpose any sheet music. Auditions with CDs will not be accepted. Those without sheet music will be asked to sing "Happy Birthday" with the accompanist.

"The Little Mermaid" opens Saturday, July 10 at 7:30 p.m. and will continue on weekends through August 8. Performanced are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2:15 p.m. (except opening night) and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:15 p.m. In addition to the weekend performances, there will be a special weekday performance at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 5.

For more information call 909-335-3037 or visit www.lifehousetheater.com.

Yucaipa Little Theatre is hosting a casting call for Disney's "Aladdin" on Monday, April 26 and Tuesday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at the theater.

Boys and girls ages 5-18 who audition should bring a CD and wear comfortable shoes. Some choreography will be done during auditions.

Directed by Hilary Peters, the show dates are from June 24-July 11. The musical is based on the animated movie that premiered in 1992 and includes songs such as, "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me."

For more information call 909-790-1884. Yucaipa Little Theatre is located at 12135 California St., Yucaipa.

Professional theater group Performance Riverside will host two morning shows of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance" for elementary school kids April 23 and 30.

"About 2,100 kids from Riverside and San Bernardino will be there over the two days," said Chuck Abernathy of Performance Riverside. "It's pretty cool to see. I am so glad there are educators who know theatre as the power to reach students."

The City of Riverside and Bank of America contributed funds to pay for the schools' travel costs.

"The Pirates of Penzance" tells the story of Frederick, the son of a wealthy 19th century man who was to be apprenticed to a pilot but due to a hard-of-hearing nursery maid, was instead apprenticed to a pirate. His love for sweet, innocent Mabel and his devotion to his pirate family puts this "slave of duty" between a rock and a hard place.

For more information and tickets for the Discovery Theater, located at Landis Performing Arts Center on the campus of Riverside City College, visit www.performanceriverside.org/discovery.

On Sunday, May 2, the San Bernardino County Museum will celebrate International Museums Day with games, art, and music. In collaboration with the Kiwanis Club of Redlands Noon, the museum will present "Spring in for Art, Music, and Fun" from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sponsored by the James Irvine Foundation, admission to the museum will be free that day.

Children and families can participate in artistic activities such as making sock puppets, chalk art, face painting, balloon sculptures, and musical performances. Visitors will also see assemblage art, and silk screening art by the Redlands High School teachers and students. Various organizations will also be onsite to provide information and activities to visitors, including Heavenly Healing Paws and their therapy dogs, Redlands Fire Department with their fire truck, and Redlands Citizen Volunteer Patrol.

"This is a true collaboration that provides excellent opportunities for community members to enjoy a special day together," said Curator of Education Jolene Redvale. "Our sponsor, the James Irvine Foundation, promotes working together to bring arts opportunities to our community. By partnering with Redlands Noon Kiwanis, we pool resources from many other organizations to provide this event. It's great to work together in this way."

From noon to 2 p.m., the Beadazzled Beaders will demonstrate beading techniques. Classical guitarist Ana Gonzáles will perform folk and rancho-era ballads at the Hall of Geological Wonders amphitheatre from 2 to 4 p.m. Ana González was born in México into a family of musicians. Her father, the violinist Efraín González, and mother, Professor Ana María Ruano, encouraged her love of traditional forms. She started more serious voice training at the age of 16 with Mexican tenor Flavio Becerra and continued her musical education at the school of music of the University of Guadalajara and the School of Sacred Music in Toluca, Mexico. She first came to the United States in 2000. She is a member and a soloist for the Community Chorus of Redlands.

"When nurtured, imagination and creativity flourish," said Terrill Levinson-Wickham, PhD, Kiwanis member and co-organizer for the event. "Art begins at birth. It is an essential component of being human--permitting self-expression and connection with our inner selves, with others and our world."

Written by guest author Debbie Yocum:

Caring for a child with autism over their lifetime can be a huge financial cost to the families that look to cover their costs for insurance, for non-covered expenses and for educational programs and other expenses.

Debbie Yocum
Guest Author

Island's Restaurant, located at 3645 Central Avenue in Riverside, is helping these families by offering to donate 20 percent of the food and beverage purchases on Monday, April 19 from 11 a.m. until close. The fundraiser is sponsored by the Riverside Medical Clinic Foundation and will be directed to the Speech and Fun Camp that is celebrating their 4th year. The camp is designed for Children with Autism and their siblings. It is a local camp held at the Grove Community Church and will be held July 26 through August 6.

According to the Autism Society of American, Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.

The Carolyn E. Wylie Center's 7th annual Stroll 'n Roll fundraiser will be at Shamel Park in Riverside Saturday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to noon. There's no minimum donation for the walk, which begins at 10 a.m. and everyone will receive a medallion at the finish line.

Ticketed activities will include face painting, games and a bounce house. The Kiwani's Club will sell hot dogs, nachos, drinks and snacks. There will be live music and other entertainment.

Visitors can also meet 'Glee' star and Wylie Center alumna Lauren Potter. Read about Lauren's "Glee" debut here.

The Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley is inviting pets and their owners to the 14th annual Walk for the Animals Saturday, April 24.

Bring your leash-trained pet to Arrowhead Credit Union Park, home of the Inland Empire 66ers baseball team, for a day of fun. In addition to the walk, activities will include a SBPD K-9 Unit demonstration, a free canine agility course, funny pet contests, raffle prizes, a kids' fun zone, pet psychic, music and more than 40 vendors.

Walk participants are invite to have friends and family sponsor and to collect pledge donations. Event proceeds to toward the Humane Society' of San Bernardino Valley's Cruelty Investigations and Humane Education, along with the low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinic.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and festivities will go on until 1 p.m. Register and learn more at www.hssbv.org or 909-386-1400 ext. 224.

About 125 Southern California kids and teens competed at the Inland ICON semifinals Saturday, and now there are 31 left. The final concert event will be held Sunday, May 2 at The Irvine Barclay Theater at 6:30 p.m.

Inland ICON is an annual solo vocal competition open to Southern Calif. youth ages 7-18. Produced by WBZB Entertainment, the contest will award a prize package to one winner in each of the three age categories.

The prize package includes:
· A professional headshot package from Jim Dorsey Photography of Corona, CA
· Vocal Coaching Session provided by ICON Performing Arts Academy of Southern CA
· 2 Songs Professionally Recorded at Patrona Recording Studios in Riverside, CA
· 1 Original Song written/produced for or with the artist
· 1 Music Video Produced for their original song

"A package of professionally prepared headshots, demo CD and music video can provide them with a serious presence when they approach promoters, record labels and future performance opportunities," said Rick Henninger, Business Manager for WBZB Entertainment.

Do you Zumba?

Riverside Zumba Fitness is presenting a 2-hour Zumbathon benefiting Olive Crest (Inland Empire) in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month on April 17 from 9:30-11:30 a.m.

The studio is located at the Riverside Tennis Center at 5695 Glenhaven Avenue. The cost is $15, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Olive Crest. Please RSVP by April 10.

Register online at RiversideZumba.com or call 951-789-0059 or e-mail zumba@RiversideZumba.com.

For more information on Olive Crest visit Olivecrest.org.

Get in touch with your inner gospel singer at the second annual Gospel Workshop, led by Rev. Dr. Raymond Wise, a nationally-known gospel composer and arranger, at the University of Redlands Thursday.

The workshop, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Memorial Chapel from 11 a.m. to 12:50 p.m.

The Press-Enterprise/2009

"After last year's response, we knew we had to do it again this year," said Nicolle Andrews, director of choral studies at the university.

The workshop will consist of learning gospel songs, spirituals and anthems, as well as a presentation on the historical development of African American sacred music, including its purposes and functions.

Rev. Wise is an assistant professor of music at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. He is also a music lecturer at Ohio State University and an affiliated faculty member at Trinity Lutheran Seminary, both in Columbus, Ohio.

He has penned more than 500 compositions that have been performed and recorded by national and international recording artists. Wise's musical score for the children's opera "Barefoot" was performed at Winston-Salem State University with Maya Angelou in the role of narrator.

The public is invited to participate in the workshop, or just watch. But don't expect to sit passively. Last year's students -- and audience members -- learned to weave music, movement and passion in a high-energy session full of praise. This year is sure to be the same.

GOSPEL WORKSHOP
Participation is free and open to the public.
Where: Memorial Chapel, University of Redlands, 1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands
When: 11 a.m.-12:50 p.m. Thursday
Information: Redlands.edu

The University of Redlands will host the 20th annual Living on Common Ground Multicultural Festival today, April 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the University Quad. Admission is free and open to the public.

The festival will feature music, food, arts, crafts, activities and, new this year, a green corner. The festival will also have a children's corner with crafts from around the world.

The GreenSpot, sponsored by one of the university's undergraduate business classes, will highlight sustainability and how to be more environmentally friendly through various crafts and activities. Facilities management representatives will be offering a tree tour of campus trees and information on the 18 species around the Quad and Administration Building.

Performers will include Ceili House Band, Eagle and Buffalo Dancers, St. Mary's Ballet Folklorico, Redlands African Drumming Ensemble, Rangashree Folk Dances of India, Scimitar Dance Company, Thokoza African Gospel Choir, Freedom Sounds Korean Drumming, Arpana South Asian Dancers, Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea, Venice Koshin Taiko, Cuauhtemoc Aztec Dancers, Michael Heralda, Aztec Stories.

"The Magic Flute," presented by Crafton Hills College and University of Redlands theater programs will be showing at CHC's Finkelstein Performing Arts Center through April 11. This year's production is the third annual fine arts opera collaboration between the two schools.

"This collaborative production will be very innovative with original videos in each production that create theatrical illusions for stage and set design," said Snezana Petrovic, Fine Arts Department Chair and Professor of Arts at CHC.

The production features more than 100 students and 11 staff/faculty members from both schools. Singers, make-up artists and live orchestra performers are mostly from the University of Redlands, while CHC students fill many of the dance, choreography, design and stage/technical positions.

The production is directed by Marco Schindelmann, Artist in Residence from the University of Redlands.

'The Magic Flute'
Where: Finkelstein Performing Arts Center, Crafton Hills College, 1171 Sand Canyon Rd. Redlands
When: 8 p.m. April 9, 10; 2 p.m. April 11
Cost: $20 general admission; $10 students, seniors
Tickets: 909-389-3292 or 909-748-8881

It's tea time with the Riverside Metropolitan Museum.

The Afternoon Garden Tea at Heritage House will take place April 18 and May 16 from 2-4 p.m. The cost is $30 per person. House tours are available from 12:15-1:45 p.m. New to this year's event are onsite plein air artists who will be painting scenes inspired by Heritage House.

On Saturday, April 17, a Children's Tea Party and Etiquette Presentation will take place from 2-4 p.m. Tickets cost $15 per child and must be purchased in advance. Children must be accompanied by an adult (accompanying parents are free). The children's tea is for boys and girls ages 5-10. Tea, juice and cookies will be provided.

The Heritage House is located at 8193 Magnolia Ave. in Riverside. For more information visit www.riversideca.gov/museum.

The third annual Inland ICON semifinals competition, produced by WBZB Entertainment, will take place at the Corona Civic Center Theater Saturday, April 10 at starting at 8 a.m. Qualifying auditions have taken place throughout Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange Counties for several months.

The semifinals will be conducted as three ticketed events, including:
Ages 7-10 8 a.m.-noon
Ages 11-14 1-5 p.m.
Ages 15-18 6-10 p.m.

The semifinals qualifying round will reduce the roughly 50-75 competitors in each bracket down to 10 finalists in each age division. The finalists will compete during a final concert event Sunday, May 2 at The Irvine Barclay Theater. Celebrity judges will attend the concert and give contestants feedback as they perform.

Winners will be determined by a combination of votes from the panel of judges and the attending theater audience that night.

For tickets or more information visit http://inlandicon.com or http://wbzb.net or call 951-371-5239.

Children will use more than just their ears at the annual Family Concert and Instrument Petting Zoo planned for April 18 at the University of Redlands.
The free event will feature an instrument "petting zoo" after the Redlands Symphony concert that will allow young people to touch and feel the instruments and talk with the musicians.
"It's a great way to introduce kids to instruments," said Nicholle Andrews, the university's director of choral studies. "They can hold the instruments and play with them."

The concert begins at 3 p.m., an hour after the doors open. Co Nguyen will conduct.
The program begins with Mozart's opera, "The Magic Flute," with vocalists Laurel Hughes, Manuel Heredia, Mario Rios and Chris Caples.

"The Magic Flute" is a fairy tale about a young prince who tries to rescue and marry a princess who is the daughter of the Queen of the Night. The prince and his best friend set out to search for the princess using a magic flute.

The second part of the one-hour program features Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf," with the character of Peter portrayed by Marco Schindelmann. The musical story is about a young Russian boy who sets out to catch a wolf. The composer uses different instruments and melodies to represent each character, including a bird (flute), a duck (oboe) and a cat (clarinet). Andrews will narrate.

The petting zoo, beginning immediately after the concert, will take place on the grass outside the chapel. Refreshments will be offered, along with a prize drawing.

FAMILY CONCERT
An Instrument Petting Zoo will take place immediately after the Redlands Symphony's annual Family Concert at the University of Redlands
When: 3 p.m. April 18; doors open at 2 p.m.
Where: Memorial Chapel, University of Redlands, 1200 E. Colton Ave., Redlands
Cost: Free
Information: Redlandssymphony.com

Get ready for big hair and big fun as Broadway's musical comedy "Hairspray" makes its way through the Inland region, with stops at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula and the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside.

Special to The Press-Enterprise

The hit musical will be in Temecula on April 16 and 17 and at the Fox Performing Arts Center on April 22-25.

In "Hairspray," it's 1962 and change is in the air. Baltimore's Tracy Turnblad, played by Danielle Arci, is a big girl with big hair and a big heart who has one great passion -- dancing. She wins a spot on local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show," and overnight is transformed from outsider to teen celebrity.

The plus-size trendsetter then sets out to vanquish the program's reigning princess and win the heart of heartthrob Link Larken, played by Ryan Rubek.

"Hairspray" is based on the New Line Cinema film written and directed by John Waters, who served as creative consultant on the musical comedy.

'HAIRSPRAY'Where: Pechanga Resort Casino Showroom, 45000 Pechanga Parkway, Temecula
When: 8 p.m. April 16; 2 p.m., 8 p.m. April 17
Cost: $52.50-$67.50 or four for $100
Where: Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside
When: 7:30 p.m. April 22; 8 p.m. April 23; 2 p.m., 8 p.m. April 24; 1 p.m. April 25
Cost: $22-$76
Tickets: Ticketmaster.com

Harkins Theater will kick off its Summer Movie Fun series Monday, June 7 at Harkins Moreno Valley and Harkins Chino Hills locations. Season tickets for the 10 week Summer Movie Fun program go on sale Friday, April 16. Season tickets cost $5 for all 10 movies (50 cents per movie) or individual tickets can be purchased on the day of the show for $2 each. The program runs through Friday, August 13.

Movie titles for this summer's program include:
"Charlotte's Web," "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs," "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," "Planet 51," "The Tale of Despereaux," "Shrek the Third," "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," "Astro Boy," "Monsters vs. Aliens" and "Muppets from Space."

Visit www.harkinstheatres.com/SMF for more information.

Hawkins Chino Hills is located off Hwy 71 and Chino Avenue. Harkins Moreno Valley is located of Fwy 60 and Center Point Drive inside Moreno Valley Mall.

The public is invited to meet best-selling author Debbie Macomber on Thursday, May 6 at 6 p.m. at the UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center at 75-080 Frank Sinatra Drive in Palm Desert.

Known for her romance novels, Macomber has more than 140 million copies of her books in print worldwide and her novels have been translated into 23 languages.

Macomber will discuss her latest book, "Hannah's List," which traces a widower's journey from loss to hope and renewal. The book is inspired by real events. Following the discussion, the author will sign books.

Both the event and parking are free. Reservation are required. RSVP online at www.palmdesert.ucr.edu/programs/events.html and select the "click here" option for the event. For more information call 760-834-0590.

The 10th annual Green Faire will take place at the Jurupa Mountains Cultural Center May 14 and 15. Green Faire is the annual fund raising event for several Inland non-profit plant societies. Groups participating this year will include the California Rare Fruit Growers, the Iris Society, Riverside County Master Gardeners, Inland Empire Master Gardeners, Gates Cactus & Succulent Society, Granite Hill Gardens Nursery and others.

Visitors can purchase plants and get tips on care. In addition to several thousand rare plants, the event will feature the 35th annual Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale sponsored by the Gates Cactus and Succulent Society. More than 500 specimen plants will be on display in a judged show.

There will also be a kids table where youngsters can build their own succulent garden for $1. Visitors can also tour the 40-plus year old cactus and succulent gardens at the Cultural Center.

The sales area will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 14 and 15. The show will be open Saturday, May 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. The Cultural Center is located at 7621 Granite Hill Dr. in Riverside. For more information or directions call 951-685-5818.

Children will get a chance to make their own lip gloss, extract DNA from bananas and build bridges with Popsicle sticks from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10, during the eighth annual Bourns Space Science and Engineering Day at UC Riverside.

The event, which is free, will be in the courtyard of Engineering Building II. It is aimed at children 8 to 14.

About 100 UCR engineering student volunteers will be on hand to help youngsters interact with a model of the Mars Rover and learn about the phases of the moon by eating Oreos. Members of the Riverside Astronomical Society will return with their telescopes to share the joys of star gazing.

Children can learn how to make lip gloss with olive oil, food coloring and shortening. They will also get the chance to extract DNA from bananas using distilled water, soap, salt and rubbing alcohol. Green-related activities include planting a sunflower or daisy and decorating the pot.

More information is available at www.engr.ucr.edu/~ssed

-Mark Muckenfuss
mmuckenfuss@PE.com

Corona Norco Schools Educational Foundation is hosting a Spring Break Carnival at the Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos Thursday, April 8 through Sunday, April 11.

There will be food, games, rides, vendors and a sidewalk sale. Carnival activities will go on from 6-11 p.m. Thursday, April 8; 5 p.m.-midnight Friday, April 9; 1 p.m.-midnight Saturday, April 10; and 1 p.m.-11 p.m. Sunday, April 11.

For more information call 951-736-5003 or visit www.cnsef.org.

Walk MS will take place at Town Square Park in Murrieta Saturday, April 10 with 1K or 5K walks to raise funds to benefit the National MS Society, Southern California Chapter. Activities will also include lunch and a festival with music and games.

Stacey Johnson, a stylist at Studio 700 in Corona, will walk with friends, family and co-workers with her Walk MS team, "HAIRS 2 the Cure." Stacey's mom was diagnosed with the chronic disease more than 20 years ago, her sister, Holly, was diagnosed in 2000 and she was diagnosed in 2007. Sadly, Holly passed away due to MS complications in 2008 at age 28.

Stacey's aunt, Karen Johnson, Director of the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, procured several Snoopy items for Stacey to auction and raffle off at the salon. Peanuts collectors can bid on two rare, scanned original Snoopy comic strips. The items are signed by Charles Schulz's wife Jeannie and son Craig. Snoopy-themed products, including jewelry and children's toys are being raffled off for $5 per ticket entry.

To bid on the Peanuts items or purchase raffle tickets, visit Studio 700 at 700 E. Grand Blvd. in Corona. The salon is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The auction closes at the end of May. All proceeds will benefit the National MS Society, Southern California Chapter.

Stacey was in sixth grade when her mom was diagnosed with MS.

"The disease is scary, but I'm hopeful," she said. "My mom is not giving up, even though her body is deteriorating. She taught me to be positive and I keep moving forward."

Register for Walk MS at www.walkMSsocal.org or call 800-344-4867.

Walk MS events takes place at several sites across Southern and Central California in April and October each year.

Lake Gregory Regional Park's annual Rubber Ducky Derby will be back Saturday, April 3 with a whole new flock of competitors.

The day's activities begin with a pancake breakfast with the Easter Bunny from 8 to 11 a.m. At breakfast kids can create duck masks for the Ducky Waddle - a walk to the south shore of Lake Gregory led by the Easter bunny.

The egg hunt will go on at 11:45 a.m. with more than 2,500 eggs full of goodies hidden for participants.

The Rubber Ducky Derby begins at 12:30 p.m. when all the ducks are released down the 320-foot water slide. The winning duck is the first to reach the shoreline.

There are $850 in cash prizes including $500 for first place, $250 for second and $100 for third. Other prizes will be announced at the festivities.

Lake Gregory Regional Park is located at 24171 Lake Drive, Crestline. Activities will go on from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3. Tickets for the pancake breakfast are $7 for adults, $5 for children under 10, or $20 for a family of four. Duck Derby entry costs $3. per duck or $10. for a family of four. For more information call 909-338-5230, 909-338-2718 or visit www.county-parks.com.

Riverside's Washington Elementary School will show off the artistic talent of its K-6 student body Thursday, April 1 at an exhibit in Riverside Art Museum's Taylor Family Gallery.

The more than 600 paintings, drawings and mixed media pieces were created with the museum's Art-to-Go program with the Youth Education Department. This is the third year Washington Elementary participated in the program.

Jennifer Dean/The Press-Enterprise

"I think a lot of families and kids are intimidated to come to a museum," said Lisa Quintero, a Washington Elementary mom. "I want to encourage them to come and see their art and remember that museums are fun."

The exhibit opens during ArtsWalk in downtown Riverside Thursday and will remain on display through the end of April.

The Art-to-Go program provides three lessons to a classroom for $175, which includes the instructor and all supplies. There are five curriculums to choose from, including drawing, painting, mixed media, explorations in art (K-2) and Art-to-Go Ancient Greece, which is combined with a social studies curriculum.

"We reached 5,313 last year with Art-to-Go," said Pamela Atkinson, youth education director with RAM.

Art-to-Go instructors teach the lessons at the school. The entire school participated at Washington Elementary School, including two classes with autistic students. The PTA raised the money to pay for the program.

For more information on the program visit www.riversideartmuseum.org and click the "Education" tab.

Reach Jennifer Dean at 951-368-9336, jdean@PE.com or http://blogs.inlandsocal.com/moms.

Washington Elementary Exhibit
Where: Riverside Art Museum, 3425 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside
When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 1
Cost: Free
Information: www.riversideartmuseum.org

See a photo gallery of student work at PE.com/multimedia/slideshow/2010/20100401_kidsart