What's on Tap 01/31/13
Today
Senior Dance, doors open at 6 p.m. every Thursday at the Veterans Hall, 1900 W. Olive Ave. Dancing starts at 7 p.m., with music by Jerry Hall and Trick Shot. Admission $5, includes entry into a drawing. For more information, call 791-7695.
The Porterville High School Drama Department presents “A Night of Improvs” at 7 p.m. Thursday in the PHS cafeteria, 465 W. Olive St.
The evening’s entertainment features two teams of PHS drama students performing a number of improvisational skits.
Admission is $10, and provides the ticket-holder with the opportunity to enjoy the comic efforts of some of the city’s finest young actors as they compete against each other in activities such as “Freeze Tag,” “Party Quirks,” “Questions” and “Triggers” — all reminiscent of the 1990s TV program “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
Students receive points for each individual performance, and in the end the team with the most points wins. Audience participation is expected and appreciated, and the evening’s entertainment is family-friendly.
For more information, contact PHS drama director Craig Caven at 782-7279 or ccraven@portervilleschools.org.
Friday
The Barn Theatre’s production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” begins its run at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25 and continues through Feb. 9.
The play continues at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1,2, 8 and 9.
A Sunday brunch matinee will be at 2:15 p.m. with brunch at 12:30 p.m. Reservations for the brunch must be made by Wednesday, Jan. 30. Cost is $14.
Cost for Friday and Saturday showings are $10, adults, $8 seniors and students and $5 for children younger than 12.
For more information or to make a reservation, call 310-7046 or online at www.barntheater.porterville.com.
The Central California Blood Center has scheduled a blood drive in Porterville for Jan. 31.
Donors must be in good general health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old, or 16 years of age with written parental consent. Senior citizens are also encouraged to donate. Donors should eat a good meal and drink plenty of water within four hours prior to their donation. Donors can give blood every eight weeks. Photo ID and Social Security number are required at donor registration. Blood donation takes less than one hour to complete.
All donors also receive a variety of discounts from Valley businesses for dining, recreation, entertainment and services. In addition, donors at the PC site will receive a free T-shirt.
The Central California Blood Center is the sole provider of blood and blood products for the 31 hospitals in Fresno, Tulare, Madera, Kings and Mariposa Counties and must collect between 5,000 to 6,000 pints of blood a month to meet the needs of our Valley community.
Community members are encouraged to donate blood at the following blood drive:
Porterville Developmental Center, 1 to 4:30 p.m., Jan. 31, at a bloodmobile in the PDC parking lot, 26501 Avenue 140.
The Porterville Chamber of Commerce’s First Friday Coffee get together of the year will be held Friday at Porterville’s Galaxy 9 Theatre at Indiana and Henderson.
The sponsor is Goodwill Industries of South Central California. The morning kicks off at 7 a.m. with registration, a complimentary continental breakfast and networking. The program begins promptly at 7:30 a.m., with legislative and business operation updates, presentations about chamber and community activities, and the sponsor showcase. The door prize drawing will wrap up the morning with adjournment by 8:15 a.m.
First Friday Coffee is open to members and the business public. Attendees are encouraged to bring business cards in order to take advantage of the opportunity to make contacts to assist in maintaining and expanding their businesses. Members are also invited to bring promotional business materials to display on the member information table and door prizes to receive marketing during the drawings.
Goodwill Industries of South Central California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to provide work opportunities and skills development to people with barriers to employment. Currently, Goodwill Industries of South Central California has 11 retail stores and 17 donation centers to serve its territory which includes all of Kern, Kings and the southern half of Tulare counties.
For more information, call the chamber at 784-7502.
The National Park Service will conduct a series of free lectures entitled “Sequoia Speaks,” briefing the public about the latest on water conditions in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
The series will take place every Friday throughout February from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Visalia’s College of the Sequoias’ Ponderosa Lecture Hall. Parking, at $2 per vehicle, is located on the corner of Noble Street and Mooney Boulevard.
Following is a list of planned lectures:
- Friday, Feb. 1 — “Protecting Serene Mountain Lakes”
The vision of mountain lakes conjures up crisp clean air and pristine water. Just as dirty air affects the Central Valley, these air pollutants are finding their way to those ideal mountain lakes. The public will hear from environmental scientist and wilderness enthusiast Andi Heard about the challenges of protecting more than 1,200 alpine lakes in Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite National Parks.
- Friday, Feb. 8 — “If Turtles Could Talk”
A virtual tour of local streams in search of the elusive western pond turtle. Aquatic biologist Erik Meyer will explain how potentially dangerous concentrations of pesticides and mercury in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks may be harming turtles. The public will learn why this is happening and explore what the western pond turtle can teach about the disappearance of the Sierra Nevada foothill yellow-legged frog.
- Friday, Feb. 15 — “Uncovering Hidden Mountain Reservoirs”
Hydrologist Ben Tobin spends his time discovering hidden mountain reservoirs because when snows dwindle, other types of water storage becomes increasingly important. The public will listen to stories of adventure while exploring how caves help maintain the flow of the Kaweah River to the San Joaquin Valley.
- Friday, Feb. 22 — “Measuring Sierra Snow from Above”
California relies on Sierra Nevada snow for around 35 percent of its annual usable water. Everyone in California is vying for their share. Research scientist Peter Kirchner will explain how new airborne technologies have enhanced viewing the amount of snow across a broad landscape. With these new technologies, usable water and ecosystem health may be more accurately calculated.
For more information, call Sequoia National Park at 565-4212.
Saturday
The California Rare Fruit Growers, Sequoia Chapter, will present a grafting demonstration of deciduous fruit trees using bare root stock and desirable scion wood.
Participants will graft and bring home a bare-root tree ready to plant and bear fruit in three to five years.
The demonstration — lead by Walter Thoma, noted area arborist and expert on grafting of all types, as well as the propagation and cultivation of rare plants — is planned for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 2, at Walter Thoma’s gardens, 31497 Success Valley Dr.
The demo includes an opportunity to tour Thoma’s unique private gardens and extensive greenhouses, viewing rare and unusual plants from around the world, which was featured in California Rare Fruit Growers Magazine in 2011.
A donation of $5 for attendance and $1 for each scion wood and root stick is requested.
For information, call Ralph Osmon, 688-5793.
The Porterville Community Doll Club is holding its annual doll show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2.
The show will be held at the Santa Fe Depot, 280 N. Fourth St. Admission is $4, and proceeds benefit the Family Crisis Center.
Chantal Jeschien, from the Fresno Doll Hospital, will be available for one free doll appraisal for attendees.
For more information, contact Joan at 781-9129 or Alayne at 782-0205.
Farmers market at the Springville Ranch and the White Barn is every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first Saturday of the month will include artisans and collectables. The third Saturday includes a swap meet. For booth space and information, call 359-0713 or 539-1020.
The Porterville Friends of the Library book sale is from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month at the FOL Bookstore, Spencer House, 301 N. Hockett St., located behind the Gas Company. Sales are held the first and third Saturdays of the month.
Sunday
Porterville Friends of Music and the Porterville College Music Department are announcing the return of the Emerald Duo, known as Central California’s premiere violin and cello performers, in a recital at 3 p.m. Sunday at Porterville First Congregational Church, located on the corner of Fourth Street and Mill Avenue.
The concert is free and open to the public, however, a free-will offering will be collected to defray the performers’ expenses. The church has adequate handicapped access.
The concert is an opportunity to experience everything from a boogie beat to a jazz-rock bass supporting a classical tune, or to hear a totally new piece written by a long-lost, forgotten composer of the early Romantic era — one even more famous than Mozart, Haydn or Beethoven, Wulfhorst said.
For more information, call the Porterville College music office at 791-2255.
Tuesday
Calvin Taylor, pianist and recording artist, will appear in a free concert of sacred music at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening, Feb. 5, at the Porterville Seventh-day Adventist Church, corner of Highway 65 and Linda Vista.
Taylor has toured throughout the world, performing in North and South America, Europe, Ukraine and the Far East. Holding degrees in music from Oberlin Conservatory, the University of Michigan and the University of Kentucky, Calvin has authored several music books, including “Spirituals for Piano,” “The Patriotic Piano,” “Spiritual Suite for Organ,” Spirituals for Worship,” “Sacred Classics” and “Five Spirituals for Organ.” With 10 solo recordings to his credit, Taylor records for Master Disc Records. Movements from his “Sunrise Symphony” have been performed by several orchestras, including Nashville, Shreveport, South Arkansas and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.
Awarded a full scholarship to Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Taylor’s ability to improvise led him to become the first student in the school’s more than 150-year history to improvise a graduate concert encore.
With an unusually-large hand span of over one and a half octaves, Taylor presents sounds and colors at the keyboard which would normally require four hands. Playing piano by ear at 5 years of age, he began formal lessons on his seventh birthday. He also studied other instruments and was serving as a church organist at the age of 14. While in high school, Taylor was a member of both the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic and the Southwest Youth Symphony.
There is no charge for admission. A freewill offering will be received.
The public is enthusiastically invited to attend. For further information, call the church office at 784-6031.
The Lindsay Community Theater is holding tryouts for its spring musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Feb. 5 and 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the theater, 190 N. Elmwood Ave., in downtown Lindsay.
The show is a musical and singers are needed. Many teen and adult parts — 20 males and 20 females. There are no children’s parts in this play. For more information, call 562 3322.
Upcoming
Valley Oak Quilt Guild will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at Tulare Community Church, 820 N. Gem St. in Tulare. There will be a trunk show of quilts made by some of the members.
For more information, contact Leslie at 798-0208, or visit the club website at www.valleyoakqg.org.
LUNAFEST, a fundraising film festival dedicated to promoting awareness about women’s issues, highlighting women filmmakers, and bringing women together in their communities, is coming to Porterville.
The festival is hosted by Zonta Club of Porterville, supported by PC’s Phi Theta Kappa, and slated for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at Porterville College.
Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students, and benefit the Breast Cancer Fund and Zonta Club of Porterville.
Doors open at 6 p.m., with the films beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Porterville College Theater at Porterville College, 100 E. College Ave.
