May 2009 Happenings

Ongoing Wednesdays Tai Chi for Adults, 3-4 p.m. at the Chicopee Council on Aging. Tai Chi improves balance, helps lower blood pressure, increased blood flow to organs and extremities, and promotes a calm mind. Appropriate for people of all fitness levels. No experience necessary. Fee: elders, $4/class; residents, $8/class; non-residents, $10/class. Sign up in person at the Chicopee Senior Center, 7 Valley View Ct. or call 534-3698 for more info. May 1, "Uno de Mayo" Night of Comedy at the Bushnell, Hartford. Join host, 96.5 TIC's Damon Scott in Belding Theater on May 1 along with featured comedians Rich Ramirez, Andres Fernandez, and Bill Santiago. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by visiting the Bushnell box office at 166 Capitol Ave. in Hartford or by calling 860-987-5900. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.bushnell.org. Ticket prices are $18-$25. This show is not recommended for children under the ages of 17 due to some content intended for mature audiences. May 1-3, Melha Shrine Circus at the Eastern States Coliseum, Fri., 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m., 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sun., 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. May 1-3, "Falsetto" the Musical presented by P.A.C.E./Pioneer Arts Center of Easthampton. May 1 and 2 at 8 p.m.; May 3 at 2 p.m. Also May 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. and May 10 at 2 p.m. at the Academy of Music, 274 Main St., Northampton. "Falsettos' is two one-act musicals from "The Marvin Trilogy" by William Finn with James Lapine. The first one-act, "March of the The Falsettos," opened Off-Broadway in the 1980-81 season. The second, "Falsettoland" (where Lapine collaborated), opened Off-Broadway a decade later. Both musicals deal with the same characters: Marvin, a gay Jewish man, his ex-wife, their son, the family shrink, Marvin's male lover and the lesbians next door. Tickets prices: general admission by section. Patron seating $40 (first two rows of loge); orchestra $30, balcony and loge $20; Students, seniors, and PACE members $2 off above prices. Groups of 10+ are $5 off above prices with advance reservation. Telephone orders: 800-595-4TIX. Tickets also on sale at Pride and Joy, Crafts Avenue, Northampton and PACE, 41 Union St., Easthampton. May 1, 15, Writing Group. A group of friendly people gather informally in the Chicopee Senior Center, 7 Valley View Court on the first and third Fridays of each month at 1 p.m. Bring a paper, a pen or pencil, your ideas, imagination, life experiences or dream. No extraordinary writing skills are required. Info: 534-3698, Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. May 2, Pasta Supper at Florence Congregational Church, 6 p.m. Pasta dishes, salad bar, bread, dessert and beverages. Free-will offering; reservations requested. Florence Congregational Church, 130 Pine St., Florence. Info: call 584-1325, fax 584-0760; or www.fccnorthampton.org; email, florencechurch@comcast.net May 3 and 8, Free Bocce Lessons and Games at Forest Park, Springfield. May 3 from 2-4 p.m. and May 8 from 6-8 p.m. with bocce masters Rico Daniele, Laurie Coughlin and Rosemary Daniele. For "kids," parents, grandparents, schools, colleges. Come all. Free. May 6, Joanne Koenig Coste presents "Living with Alzheimer's: Reordering Priorities," 4 p.m. at Rockridge Retirement Community, Northampton. Coste is an internationally renowned expert on Alzheimer's and its effects on families. Free and open to the public. Reservations required. Call 586-2903 to RSVP. May 7, The Best Spring-Blooming Perennials for Sun" Pernell Gerver's Gardening Workshop, 7 p.m., at Kiley Middle School auditorium, 180 Cooley St., Springfield. May 7, World Champion Public Speaker at Toastmasters. The Springfield Toastmasters Club will host Robert Garton, World Champion 1962, at a free, public talk on May 7 from 7-8 p.m. at the Glass House, 1380 Springfield. This is the first time that a Toastmaster World Champion has come to Springfield. Garton will talk about his experiences as a public speaker, how Toastmasters has motivated him, his award winning speech, and his three decades as a senator from the state of Indiana. Springfield Toastmasters regularly meets at Northwestern Mutual Finance, 1351 Main St., Springfield on the first and third Wednesday of each month from noon-1 p.m. The Glass House, located near City Hall, is handicap accessible, with ample off-street parking as well as adjacent parking lots. Info: http://springfield.freetoasthost.biz. May 9, 65th Anniversary Concert of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, 8 p.m. R. Strauss Also sprach Zarathustra and Orff's Carmina Burana. The evening begins at 7 p.m. with a 30 minute concert by the Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestras. At 8 p.m. Maestro Rhodes conducts the SSO and Chorus, Pioneer Valley Symphony Chorus and the South Hadley Children's Chorus in Carl Orff's fantastical Carmina Burana. The concert opens with Strauss's. Also sprach Zarathustra (perhaps better known as The Theme from 1001 A Space Odyssey). Following the concert celebrate with Maestro Rhodes, SSO musicians and chorus' with signature desserts provided by local bakeries and restaurants in the Mahongany Room. Tickets: call 733-2291 or buy online at SpringfieldSymphony.org. May 13, Beginning Tap Dancing at Northampton Council on Aging. Mon., 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The fee for three weeks is $15 for Northampton seniors and $20 for ages 55-59 and non-Northampton seniors. Instructor Diane Shields has been teaching for 25 years. The registration deadline is May 6. For info contact the Senior Center at 587-1228 or stop by at 67 Conz St. weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. May 14, Lucky Guy, a new musical comedy, will be the spring production at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn. through June 14. Set in the colorful world of Nashville, Lucky Guy is a laugh-filled look at the country music scene. This original musical comedy is packed with plenty of action and toe-tapping songs the whole family will enjoy. Tickets are on sale now. For more info call the box office at 860-873-8668 or online at www.goodspeed.org. May 14, The Best Spring-Blooming Perennials for Shade" Pernell Gerver's Gardening Workshop, 7 p.m., at Kiley Middle School auditorium, 180 Cooley St., Springfield. May 17, Talk-The Healing Power of Our Past, 5 p.m. Norton Berkowitz, PhD, will speak on the "Healing Power of Our Past" at Northern Connecticut Vegetarian Society's vegan potluck at the Carniglia Senior Center, 41 Oak St. Windsor Locks, Conn. Berkowitz is a past life therapist with an office in Tolland. Attendees should bring a healthy vegan dish along with a note card listing its ingredients and the attendee's name. Bring your place setting (plate, cup, and utensils). A donation of $7 per adult is requested. Children are free. Info: Harry at 860-623-8082 or see www.northctveg.org. May 21, Tips for Successful Container Gardening" Pernell Gerver's Gardening Workshop, 7 p.m., at Kiley Middle School auditorium, 180 Cooley St., Springfield. May 30-31, Military Gun and Knife Show, on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield in the Young Building. Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sun., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. UPCOMING EVENTS: June 4, "On Golden Pond." The Chicopee Senior Travel Club offers a trip to "On Golden Pond" on June 4 at Squam Lake, N.H. Includes two-hour narrated cruise, lunch at Hart's Turkey Farm, bus and driver tips. Call 534-3598, Non.-Fri., noon-3 p.m.