Community calendar for Eastside Messenger
Church events
•Reformation Lutheran Church, 1355 S. Hamilton Road, will host a free Easter Egg Hunt Saturday March 22 at 1. Please come at least 10 minutes early to register for the larger prizes. There will be candy-filled eggs, and also eggs containing prize tags for smaller prizes. Children will be grouped by age: 0-2 year olds, 3-4 year olds, 5-7 year olds, and 8-10 year olds. Open to the community. For information, call 235-4995.
Bexley Junior Thespians to stage "Bye Bye Birdie"
Rosie (Jacqueline Morgan) and Albert (Isaac Hecker) are in love, but now they have to deal with his possessive mother (Meredith Margulies) and a rebellious rock and roll singer on his way to the Army in The Bexley Junior Thespians production of the classic musical "Bye, Bye, Birdie" Feb. 28 through March 2, on the stage of the Cassingham Theatre at 250 South Cassingham Road.
The Bexley Junior Thespians will present the classic musical "Bye, Bye, Birdie" Feb. 28 through March 2, on the stage of the Cassingham Theatre at 250 South Cassingham Road in Bexley.
The Tony Award-winning musical satire about 1950's pop culture features a book by Michael Stewart, with lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse.
Musical numbers include "The Telephone Song" and "Put on a Happy Face."
Evening shows at 7:30 p.m. February 28 and 29, with a 2 p.m. matinee March 1.
Tickets are $6 for students and $8 for adults, and are on sale at the ticket booth located at main entrance of the Cassingham Complex. They can also be purchased at the door on performance nights. For ticket information, call the ticket hotline at 231-7611 ext. 4157.
Composer Eric Whitacre to perform with Capital's Chapel Choir
Composer Eric Whitacre will conduct a concert of his works, with performances by more than 300 singers, including Capital University's chorale ensemble, The Chapel Choir, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. in Capital's Mees Hall.
Whitacre, who has composed selections such as Water Night, Sleep, Five Hebrew Love Songs, and the new, humorous Animal Crackers, will be joined by poet Charles Anthony Silvestri.
Tickets are $24 for general admission, and 419 for students and senior citizens, and can be purchased by calling 236-6938.
St. Catharine's St. Patrick's Day diner/dance
St. Catharine Church's St. Patrick's Day dinner/dance will be held March 15 at the school gym, 2865 Fair Ave., sponsored by Special People in Catholic Education. Proceeds benefit the Catolic education of St. Catharine Parish children.
The evening begins at 6 and includes an Irish dinner and music by Pauken-Farley and the General Guinness Band and performances by local Irish step dancers.
Cost is $25 per person or $175 for a table of eight.
Raffle donations and volunteers are needed. For information, call 235-1396 or 231-4509.
Informational meetings on new Whitehall schools
The public is invited to attend an informational coffee to learn more about the possibility of new schools in Whitehall through the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission, March 4 at Kae Avenue Elementary, 4738 Kae Avenue and at Whitehall Yearling High School, 675 S. Yearling Road; March 10 at the Whitehall School Administration Building, 625 S. Yearling Road (next door to the high school).
All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.
Rotary Club pancake breakfast includes music, mayors' contest
The annual Whitehall-Bexley Rotary Club pancake breakfast will be held March 16 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Whitehall Community Park Activities Building, 402 North Hamilton Roadl. You can purchase tickets from any Whitehall-Bexley Rotary Club member or at the door. Tickets are $6 each; children age 5 and under will be admitted free. The price entitles you to all you can eat.
A $100 certificate of deposit, donated by First Bexley Bank, will be raffled off to one lucky winner. Other prizes will also be raffled.
The mayors of Whitehall and Bexley will compete in a challenge event during the breakfast. The Maennerchor Thursday Nite Jammers will provide music.
The club supports a variety of local, national, and international charitable projects. Proceeds of the pancake breakfast will benefit the Whitehall Youth Athletic Association.
Whitehall-Yearling thespians to perform for historical society
The Whitehall Yearling High School theatre students will be performing an excerpt from the upcoming musical, 'Footloose" at the Whitehall Historical Society meeting March 12 at 7 p.m. following the 6:30 business meeting.
Volunteer coordinator needed for congressional art contest
Congressman Dave Hobson (Ohio 7th District) is seeking a Franklin County volunteer coordinator for the 25th Annual Congressional Art Competition in the 7th Congressional District. Hobson sponsors the art contest as part of the annual nationwide Congressional High School Art Competition, known as "An Artistic Discovery."
Local students compete for a $1,000 art scholarship, a trip to Washington, D.C., and to have their artwork placed on exhibit in the U. S. Capitol.
The volunteer coordinator would work with local teachers and school officials in making students aware of the contest throughout the high schools located in the 7th District, as well as with Hobson's staff to arrange the first round of the competition, which is held at the county level.
The competition has afforded over 650,000 high school students from across the country the opportunity to express their artistic talent, and to compete for locally sponsored art scholarships. An estimated 5,000 contests at the district level have been conducted since the competition was launched in 1982.
If interested, contact Rachel Elsea at 740-654-5149 by March 7.
Seminar for parents on handling angry youth
"Anger Management 101 for Parents of Angry Youth" is the topic of a parent seminar at Brookwood Presbyterian Church, 2685 E. Livingston Ave. on March 2nd from 2:30 to 5:00 pm. The seminar is designed to help parents deal with youth exhibiting anger in the home, community and school.
Those attending the seminar will learn about reasons for youth anger; ways parents can cope; school academic and behavioral interventions; alternatives to suspensions/expulsions and mental health treatment options.
Presenters are Glenn Byers, LISW, and Ellen Wristen, attorney at law. Byers will present information about behavioral issues and interventions. Wristen is an attorney experienced in disciplinary and special education issues.
To register for the seminar call the church office at 235-3451. The cost of the seminar is $5 per person. Scholarship assistance is available. No child care is available.
Bishop Hartley reschedules open house
Bishop Hartley High School, at 1285 Zettler Road, has rescheduled its winter open house for March 5 from 7-8:30 pm. The original date was postponed due to inclement weather.
Eighth-graders and their parents are invited to tour the school and visit with the principal, academic department chairs, guidance counselors, and the athletic director.
If you are interested in attending or would like information, contact Kathy Acklin at 237-5421 ext. 227.
Screening, discussion on documentary "Sicko"
The National Council of Jewish Women, Columbus Section, will screen Michael Moore's recent documentary, "Sicko" Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. in the adult lounge of the Jewish Community Center, 1125 College Avenue.
Released nationwide last year and nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary, "Sicko" confronts the realities of an anemic health care system in the United States where, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 50 million Americans were uninsured in 2006.
The documentary compares the United States' for-profit health care system, which accounts for 15 percent of the Gross Domestic Product, with universal health care systems such as Canada and France which spend less while covering more people.
Following the film, a discussion will be led by Allard Dembe, Sc.D., chair of the Division of Health Care Services Management and Policy and director of the Center for Health Outcomes, Policy and Evaluation Studies at The Ohio State University College of Public Health.
The event is open to the public and free to NCJW members. There will be a $2 fee for non-members and guests. The fee will be waived for anyone who joins NCJW at the event.
BRAVO celebrates Bexley Education Foundation's 25th
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the Bexley Education Foundation will hold BRAVO!, a casual evening of fun, food and camaraderie featuring a silent auction, raffle and artwork created by Bexley students on Feb. 23, from 7:30-11 p.m., at Germain Cadillac and Germain Mercedes-Benz at Easton, 4200 Morse Crossing.
Now in its eighteenth year, BRAVO! supports the Bexley Education Foundation's mission of providing support for classroom and district-wide programs that encourage Bexley students to "reach for the stars," according to BRAVO! Co-chair Karen Shore Meyer.
BRAVO! offers an evening of casual conversation and tasty treats from some of Columbus's finest restaurants. A cash bar will also be available. There will also be a wide array of interesting offerings at a silent auction.
Students at Bexley Public Schools will be creating useful artworks to be auctioned at BRAVO!. The students are making the items from materials salvaged from Bexley school buildings during recent renovations.
The focus on historic artifacts from Bexley schools complements the theme for this year's BRAVO! event, "Reach for the Stars!" Guests at BRAVO! are invited to "honor 25 years of giving and turn our sights toward a brightly shining future."
This year, 23 local restaurants and caterers will be serving up an array of foods, from appetizers all the way through to coffee and desserts. Newcomers to the list this year include include McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant, Smith & Wollensky, and Raising Cane's, which is owned by Bexley resident Roy Getz. Two new and/or soon-to-arrive Main Street eateries will be providing tasty desserts this year: Mozart's Bakery, and Jeni's Ice Cream.
This year's silent auction will offer over 150 items including weekend getaways, Buckeye and professional sports tickets, an American Girl doll, Muirfield Memorial Tournament tickets, jewelry and a tempting array of other goods and services.
The 2008 raffle prize will be a week in sunny Costa Rica in a two-bedroom penthouse condominium on the ocean, to be redeemed between March 1 and December 31, 2008, subject to availability. The prize will include $1000 cash to help defray travel expenses.
Raffle tickets are $50 each or 3 for $100, and may be purchased in advance by calling 338-2093, or at BRAVO!. The drawing will be on February 23, but the winner need not be present at the time of the drawing.
Tickets for BRAVO! can be purchased in advance for $50 per person or at the door, subject to availability, for $60. Patron donations, which includes mentions in BRAVO! publicity, are $75 a person. A portion of the admission fee is tax deductible.
Whitehall Easter egg hunt
The Whitehall Community Celebration Association will be hosting the annual Easter egg hunt March 15 at John Bishop Park at 10 a.m. Volunteers are needed to stuff eggs March 3 at Whitehall Community Park. If you can help, please be at the park's activity building at 6:30 p.m. It will take about three hours to complete.
Drexel's "Red Carpet Bash" to benefit theater restoration
Jeff and Kathy Frank will welcome movie lovers to their annual Oscar bash at the Drexel East theater in Bexley, with food, contests and a live broadacat of the Academy Awards ceremony. Proceeds will benefit the restoration of the landmark theater.
The Drexel Theatres will hold its 11th annual Red Carpet Bash at the Drexel East Theatre, 2254 E. Main St. on Feb. 24.
The Drexel will role out the red carpet for an evening of food, prizes and the entire Academy Awards broadcast live and hosted by comedian Jon Stewart on the theatre's biggest screen.
The evening will get under way starting at 6 p.m.with the Oscar pre-show, with the actual awards telecast starting at 8 p.m.
The audience will be part of the show and are invited to dress up in their 'Oscar Best' and walk the 'Red Carpet' where "paparazzi" and fashion commentators will greet them en route to their entrance to the theatre.
Party- goers will have a chance to mingle with other movie fans while they enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres and desserts from some of Bexley's finest restaurants including Guiseppe's Retrovo, Bexley's Monk, The Rusty Bucket and Radio Café.
The theatre will feature two cash bars serving special Oscar themed drinks for the gala evening and unique Oscar decorations.
The bash will feature the annual Pick-the-Winner's- Contest with the person who correctly predicts the most awards winning a special Grand Prize including a year's worth of free movies to the Drexel Theatres. Attendees are invited to come dressed-up as their favorite nominated actor, actress or film to compete for hundreds of special movie prizes donated by all the major film studios.
A new contest this year will encourage movie fans to put on a brief scene from any nominated movie which will be held during the broadcast's commercial breaks. The night will also feature special 'Oscar trivia', door prizes, and everyone attending will receive a Red Carpet Goodie Bag.
Proceeds from the Drexel Red Carpet Bash will go towards the restoration of the historic Drexel Theatre. The Drexel Theatre, has been a Columbus landmark since 1937.
Tickets to the Drexel Red Carpet Bash are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and are on sale at the Drexel Theatre, 2254 E. Main St., Drexel Grandview Theatre, 1247 Grandview Ave., and the Drexel Gateway Theatre, 1550 N. High St. Tickets can also be ordered by phone by calling the Drexel office at 222-0947 ext. 6 or visiting www.drexel.net.
Pianist to perform Mussorgsky at Bexley Library
There will be a free piano performance by Merry Pruit on Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. in the Auditorium of Bexley Public Library, 2411 E. Main St. as part of the fourth in the library's 2007-2008 Tea at Three music series. The program will include Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition." Auditorium doors will open at 2:30 p.m., when tea will be served.
Program on CSG founder at Green Lawn Cemetery
The history of the Columbus School for girls highlights the March 1 program for First Saturday at Green Lawn.
Betsy Argo, associate director of development for the girls school in Bexley, will speak at the 11 a.m. program. Included in her presentation will be a style show with CSG students modeling uniforms the girls have worn throughout the school's history.
Argo will also speak about Florence Whitridge, one of the founders of CSG, who is buried at Green Lawn. A visit to Whitridge's grave will follow the program.
First Saturday at Green Lawn takes a historical look at people interred at the cemetery who had an impact on life in central Ohio. It is offered the first Saturday of every month at 11 a.m. in the Huntington Chapel, 1000 Greenlawn Ave.
Information about Green Lawn is available on its web site at www.greenlawncolumbus.org or by calling 444-1123.
Jewish Film Festival runs March 8-13
The Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus will present six days of gripping drama, thought-provoking documentaries, and heartwarming comedies during its 4th Annual Columbus Jewish Film Festival from March 8 to 13.
This year's festival offers 11 features and documentaries from Argentina, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico and the United States, to be shown at six venues throughout the city - including the Drexel Theater in Bexley and the Drexel Gateway.
"One of the highlights of this year's film festival will be an entire day of documentaries at the Drexel Gateway on Sunday, March 9," said Emily Schuss, film festival director. "In addition, Block's Bagels will be serving complimentary bagels during the event, which we are calling 'Block's and Docs.' The documentaries range from a father-son road trip to boxing, and from female comics to the eviction of Jewish settlers from their Gaza homes."
Additional special events taking place during the film festival include an Opening Night Party on Saturday, March 8, at the Columbus Museum of Art, during which the Distinguished Arts Award will be given; a pre-screening reception at Bexley's Michael Garcia salon on Monday, March 10; an Educational Symposium, "Can Confronting the Past Heal a Community?," in tribute to the late Benson A. Wolman, on Tuesday, March 11, at the Wexner Center for the Arts, and a special appearance by Oded Gur Arie, son of "The Champagne Spy," on Wednesday, March 12.
Films to be shown, venues, and event details during the Columbus Jewish Film Festival include:
Opening night - Saturday, March 8, at the Columbus Museum of Art, 480 E. Broad St., downtown:
•My Mexican Shiva - a dramatic comedy about how the death of a man results in the celebration of his life. The 102-minute film is in Spanish, Hebrew and Yiddish, with English subtitles. Rating equivalency is PG-13. Film starts at 7:30 p.m.
The Opening Nigh Party, complete with Mexican food and drinks, will begin after the first film ends at around 9 p.m. During the party, this year's Distinguished Arts Award will be given to Dr. Wayne Lawson, Director Emeritus of the Ohio Arts Council.
•The Bubble - a drama about three young Israelis who share an apartment in Tel Aviv's hippest neighborhood; when one of the men falls in love with a Palestinian man, he and his roommates conspire to help his lover stay on in Tel Aviv illegally. The 117-minute film - most recently selected for both New York's Tribeca and Berlin International film festivals - is in Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles. Rating equivalency is R for graphic sexuality. Film starts at 10 p.m.
•"Blocks and Docs" - Sunday, March 9, at the Gateway Drexel Theater, 1550 N. High St., on the OSU campus:
•Souvenirs - A documentary about a father and son who take a road trip to retrace the father's trail with the Jewish Brigade, with which he served during World War II and the "souvenirs" he may have left behind with the local girls. The 75-minute film is in Hebrew with English subtitles. Rating equivalency is PG-13. Film starts at 11 a.m.
•Orthodox Stance - A documentary about Dmitriy Salita, a champion boxer and an uncompromising Orthodox Jew. The 82-minute film is in English and rated PG-13. Film starts at 1 p.m.
•Making Trouble - A documentary that tells the story of six of the greatest female comic performers of the last century - Molly Picon, Fanny Brice, Sophie Tucker, Joan Rivers, Gilda Radner and Wendy Wasserstein. At 85-minutes, the film is in English and rated PG-13. Film starts at 3 p.m.
•5 Days - A gripping documentary that captured history being made when the Israeli Defense Force moved to evict the 8,000 remaining Jewish settlers from their Gaza homes. The 94-minute film is in Hebrew with English subtitles. Rating equivalency is PG-13. Film starts at 5 p.m.
On Monday, March 10, at the Drexel Theater, 2254 E. Main St., Bexley:
•Gorgeous! (Comme Ty Es Belle) - A romantic comedy set in Paris that celebrates the au courant Parisian woman, with tons of wit, smarts and not an insignificant amount of sexiness. The 84-minute film is in French with English subtitles. Rating equivalency is PG-13. Film starts at 7:30 p.m. A pre-film reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Michael Garcia's A Salon, 2440 E. Main St., Bexley.
On Tuesday, March 11, at the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St., on the OSU campus:
•Greensboro: Closer to the Truth - A documentary about the Nov. 3, 1979 murders of five Communist Workers Party members by the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazis in Greensboro, N.C., and how - 25 years later - the horrific event has changed the lives of witnesses, spouses, and the murderers themselves. Directed by Adam Zucker, the 83-minute film in English was produced in the United States in 2007. Rated PG-13. Film starts at 6 p.m.
Following the film, a light dinner will be served at 7 p.m., with discussion leaders facilitating small group conversations based upon the evening's theme "Can Confronting the Past Heal a Community?" At 7:45 p.m., Greensboro director Adam Zucker will give a keynote presentation, followed by a panel discussion and question-and-answer session at 8 p.m. Panel members include Prof. David Goldberger of the OSU Moritz College of Law, OSU Prof. Hasan Kwame Jeffries, and Jane Ramsey, executive director of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs.
On Wednesday, March 12, at the JCC of Greater Columbus, 1125 College Ave., Bexley:
•The Champagne Spy - A documentary about Major Ze'ev Gur Arie, a Mossad operative drafted in 1960 to penetrate the circle of German scientists developing weapons of mass destruction in Egypt. While his father was away, his son, Oded, was told that he must never speak about this secret because his father's life depended on it. He didn't - until now. The 90-minute film is in Hebrew with English subtitles. Rating equivalency is PG-13. Film starts at 7:30 p.m. Following the film, Oded Gur Arie will be on hand to greet filmgoers during a dessert reception.
On Thursday, March 13, at the Arena Grand, 175 W. Nationwide Blvd., downtown:
•Sweet Mud - A feature about a 12-year-old boy, Dvir Avni, who lives on a kibbutz in southern Israel in the 1970s with his mentally ill mother, Miri. In this closed, unique society, bound by rigid rules, Dvir navigates between the kibbutz motto of equality and the stinging reality that his mother has, in effect, been abandoned by their collective community. The 100-minute film is in Hebrew with English subtitles. Rating equivalency is PG-13. Film starts at 7 p.m.
•Only Human - A wonderfully twisted Spanish comedy about the unfolding comedy of errors that occurs when a hyperactive Jewish family's elder daughter brings home her Palestinian fiancé. The 85-minute film is in Spanish with English subtitles. Rating equivalency is R for some sexual content, nudity and language. Film starts at 7:30 p.m.
To see a complete film and event schedule, order tickets, or view film trailers, visit the film festival website at www.cjfilmfest.org.
JCC events
The Leo Yassenoff Jewish Community Center, at 1125 College Ave., has provided the following announcements. Information is available at www.columbusjcc.org.
Artist David Moss to hold residency, exhibit in April
Internationally renowned artist David Moss will be in Columbus this spring for a week-long residency that opens a month-long exhibition of his work at the JCC.
A native of Dayton, Moss now resides in Israel, where his art has progressed from two-dimensional calligraphy to three-dimensional objects and even buildings infused with Jewish content.
While in Columbus, from April 3 to 9, Moss will give lectures and conduct workshops at the Columbus Museum of Art, OSU Libraries, Columbus Jewish Day School, Columbus Torah Academy, and the JCC.
"David Moss' extraordinary calligraphy, papercuts, bookmaking, and designs infuse traditional Jewish rituals and texts with meaning for contemporary audiences. His stories, demonstrations, and workshops are sure to provide wonder and insights for those who are familiar with Jewish traditions and those who are not," said Dr. Carole Genshaft, Adjunct Curator of Education at the Columbus Museum of Art.
Parent-child basketball tournament & instructional clinic
On March 2, the JCC will hold a Parent-Child Basketball Tournament, a two-on-two tournament for children in grades 3 through 12. Each parent-child team will be matched up against other teams in their division and will end in a single elimination tournament.
All the games will be officiated and every team will be guaranteed three games.
Children in 7th through 12th grades will participate in the tournament with their parents beginning at 1 p.m.; children in 3rd through 6th grade will begin at 3 p.m. The cost is $30 for JCC members before the registration deadline of Friday, Feb. 22. ($40 after the deadline.)
Beginning March 5 and running each Wednesday through April 16, JCC Basketball Trainer Pat Noles will be conducting an Instructional Basketball Camp for children in the 1st through 4th grades. The camp will focus on the skills that are appropriate for each age division; the baskets will be lowered for the 1st and 2nd grade division.
Children in 1st and 2nd grades will play from 5 to 6 p.m., and 3rd and 4th grades from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Cost is $60 for JCC members and $90 for non-members before the registration deadline of Wednesday, Feb. 27. (Cost will raise $10 after the deadline.)
Gallery Players performs Sondheim's "Forum"
Pseudolus (Jared Saltman, front) and back, Lycus (Sam Vestey), Senex (Bill Allan) and Hysterium (Scott Underwood) all agree that "Everybody Ought to Have Maid" in Gallery Players' production of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." The Roman romp, with a score by Stephen Sondheim and book by Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove, runs through March 9 at the Roth/Resler Theater, 1125 College Ave. Tickets for individual shows are $12 for JCC members, $18 for nonmembers, $10 for senior members, $16 for senior non-members, $8 for students, and $10 per ticket for groups of 10 or more. For information, visit the Gallery Players website at jccgalleryplayers.org, or call 559-6248.
Gallery Players, the Jewish Community Center of Greater Columbus' theatre group, will present "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum."
The musical is a comedy in which a crafty slave (Pseudolus) struggles to win the hand of a beautiful, but slow-witted courtesan (Philia) for his young master (Hero), in exchange for freedom.
"Forum" has a score by Stephen Sondheim and a script co-written by Larry Gelbart, known for developing the television show "M*A*S*H" and writing the screenplay for "Oh, God!" and "Tootsie."
The show schedule will be Saturday, Feb. 23, March 1 and 8, at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 24, March 2 and 9, at 2:30 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 28 and March 6, at 7:30 p.m.
All season ticket holders' ticket purchases will be honored at the newly scheduled show.
The other show remaining in the schedule is "Brooklyn Boy," May 17-June 1, with auditions March 16-18.
"Brooklyn Boy," a drama written by Donald Margulies, is a story about what happens when the marginally successful writing career of middle-aged author Eric Weiss begins to take off with the publication of his novel.
Tickets for individual shows are $12 for JCC members, $18 for nonmembers, $10 for senior members, $16 for senior non-members, $8 for students, and $10 per ticket for groups of 10 or more.
Those interested in making contributions to support the theater may become a JCC Patron of the Arts. Patron levels are $100 (with the patron receiving two tickets to one show), $250 (four tickets to one show), $500 (two subscriptions) and $1,000 (four subscriptions).
For information on season subscriptions or becoming a JCC Patron of the Arts, visit the Gallery Players website at jccgalleryplayers.org, or call 559-6248.