No blarney here

STRATFORD - The Stratford Library Children's Department will present "The Irish Magic Show," featuring Magician Debbie O'Carroll, at 2:30 p.m. March 21.

Library officials said the performance includes the culture, language and lore of the Emerald Isle. It is free and open to the public.

O'Carroll studied theater and magic in the United States and Ireland and performs "The Irish Magic Show" nationally, "captivating youngsters" at festivals, schools and libraries, library officials said.

She has appeared on the Irish television program "Siar is Aniar" and was a featured performer at the Magic and Music Expo 1997 in Limerick, Ireland. In her program, O'Carroll blends favorite Irish tales of the last century with contemporary stage magic to create a truly enchanting program, library officials said.

Limited seating available, reservations are required by calling the Stratford Library Children's Department at (203) 385-4165.

The program is made possible through the generosity of the Carol Pieper Memorial Fund.

But super duper grades are not the key - community sevice is

MILFORD - The Junior Woman’s Club of Milford, Inc. this year will offer two $1,000 college scholarships to Milford youths who have shown outstanding civic participation in their community and in school.
The Junior Woman’s Club of Milford, Inc. has dedicated itself to many worthwhile charities, causes, and community events throughout Milford, club officials said. Some of its charities include; Beth-El Shelter for the homeless, Rape Crisis Center of Milford, Literacy Awards, fifth and the sixth grade spelling bee, Adopt-A-Grandparent and The Mercy Learning Center. It is the club's goal to select students who promote itsideals.
Requirements for the award are active civic and community involvement. High academic achievement is not a requirement for the scholarship. Applicants must be Milford residents in their senior year of high school who plan to further their education in the fall.
Applications are available at the guidance offices of Jonathan Law High School, Joseph A. Foran High School, Academy of Our Lady of Mercy Lauralton Hall and the reference desk at the Milford Public Library. The deadline to submit the application is April 15. For an application or information, call Diane Mitchell at 878-4102 or visit the Junior Woman’s Club of Milford Web site at www.milfordjuniors.tripod.com.

MILFORD — Fitness and wellness expert Linda Gottlieb will conduct a seminar, "Avoid the Invisible Woman Syndrome," beginning at 10 a.m.Saturday, Feb. 28 at Pilgrim Furniture City, 1755 Boston Post Road.
Admission to the seminar is a new children’s book for Read to Grow, a statewide nonprofit early literacy organization. A continental breakfast will be served.
Gottlieb is owner of FIT Training in Milford and is an active living and fitness coach, organizers said. She is founder and leader of FIT Chicks, a monthly social and support sisterhood that meets in Shelton. Gottlieb has degrees in psychology and training and development, and numerous national certifications in fitness. She recently was certified as one of the first cancer exercise specialists in Connecticut.
Books collected at the seminar will be donated to Read to Grow’s Books for Kids program, which provides free books for Connecticut children in need from birth through middle school. Last year, Read to Grow reached 50 percent of Connecticut newborns and distributed more than 110,000 books to children across the state.
For a seminar reservations, call 860-276-0030, ex. 106; email ideagroup@aol.com or sign up at the Pilgrim Furniture customer service desk. Space is limited.

WEST HAVEN - Milford Author Elliott Storm will speak on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and civilians at a book signing event at 6:30 p.m. March 18 at the West Shore Lodge #2832, Order of the Sons & Daughters of Italy in Amerca, 37 Orlando St. West Haven.
Joining Storm will be: John Labarca, Jack Mordente, Timothy Kelly, the State Judge Advocate, Denise McDonald, former Miss Connecticut Heidi Voight, and others.

Dinner tickets are $15 for members of the Lodge; $20 for non-members. Cash bar. Reserve tickets now with checks payable to: West Shore Lodge #2832 OSDIA, c/o Phyllis Siclari, President, 75 E. Brown St., W. Haven, CT 06516. For more info, call (203) 605-6482.
Storm has travelled across the country to share his story and the book.

The book will be available for sale after dinner for $24.95 (MasterCard and Visa accepted). A portion of the proceeds will benefit the order's Scholarship Fund.

ORANGE — The Fuel Assistance Fundraising Team of the Orange Senior Leadership Class of 2009 will hold a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11:30 a.m. March 21 at High Plains Community Center, 525 Orange Center Road. Tickets are $5 for adults, $3.50 for children $3.50 and $15 for a family. There is a $1 discount on each ticket purchased in advance. The event will include a raffle of items donated by local businesses, and face painting and balloon sculpturing for children.
Tickets are available through the Community Services Office at the community center. For those unable to attend, donations can be made through checks, made out to treasurer, town of Orange and marked for the Emergency Fuel Fund, sent to OCS, 525 Orange Center Road, Orange, 06477.

MILFORD — Applications are available for the third annual Open Doors of Downtown Milford, an open-air public arts festival designed to recognize state artists.
Competition is open to all types of media, two- or three-dimensional work.
A door will be available to each artist, including wooden interior and exterior, refrigerator, cabinet and car.
Completed pieces will be on display downtown from Aug. 22 through Sept. 27 ending with a live auction.
Selected artists receive $100 stipend and 45 percent of their doors’ selling price; 45 percent of the doors’ selling price benefits charity. There will also be a $500 first prize for the best door, as judged by the committee.
Acceptance is based on originality, and mastery of design and concept of past works.
To apply, submit photos of current work along with biographical information to the submissions committee at info@downtownmilfordct.com or by mail to Rosemary Celon-Gordon c/o Gilded Lily Gallery, 101 River St., Milford 06460 by April 15.
For more information, visit www.downtownmilfordct.com , or contact Rosemary Celon-Gordon at 878-7007.
The event is sponsored by the Downtown Milford Business Association.