Announcements

• GIRL SCOUTS CRAFT FAIR - Join more than 700 area Girl Scouts from more than 140 troops as they sell their unique crafts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 8 at the Walden Galleria Mall, Walden Ave., Cheektowaga; free admission. Call Hilary at 837-6400, Ext. 261, or visit www.bflogirlscouts.org for more information.

• AUTHOR AWARDED - WNY author Heather Violanti has been awarded The Brinly-Hardy Fellowship in the area of playwriting from the Mary Anderson Center in Mount St. Francis, Ind. Violanti is currently at work on writing the libretto to the upcoming production of "Victory: The Father Baker Story" at MusicalFare Theatre (March 5- April 6).

• BAND FINALS - The Adam Zadok band has advanced to the national finals in FUSE TV's BODOG Battle of the Bands. The band survived three semi-final rounds, showcasing in front of BODOG record label representatives. After a performance at Cleveland's House of Blues in January, the band moves on to the national finals on March 10 at Atlanta's Center Stage Theater. The BODOG Battle of the Bands is an international competition narrowing thousands of participants down to 10 unsigned bands vying for a $1 million recording contract. For more information, visit www.adamzadokmusic.com.

• WOMEN OF DISTINCTION NOMINATIONS - The Girl Scout Council of Buffalo & Erie County Inc. is now accepting nominations for the fifth annual Women of Distinction awards program, recognizing the achievements of professional and working women residing in their local communities. The program provides special mentoring opportunities for older Girl Scouts and helps fund programs that serve the nearly 15,000 adult and girl members committed to Girl Scouting. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 29. For moreinformationandtodownloadanomination form, visit www.bflogirlscouts.org or call Laurie at 837-6400, Ext. 247.

• ARTWORK SELECTED -

Local teenager, Laura Schmitz of Tonawanda, is among 30 students worldwide whose work was selected for display as part of the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) Studio Art exhibit at the Savannah College of Art and Design's Atlanta galler y. This collection is some of the finest artwork created by high school students who submitted portfolios for the AP Studio Art Exam in May 2007. The artwork was on display at the Savannah College of Art and Design's Atlanta, and will be show in Chicago and Newport Beach, Calif.

• RE TREAT - Blessed Sacrament Church in Kenmore will be hosting a retreat with visitors from Ireland, including Sister Briege McKenna, Rev. Kevin Scallon and music by Dana Scallon from March 31 to April 3. A CD will be made from the retreat for world release. For more information, call 834-4282.

• NIAGARA HISTORIC TRAIL - In celebration of the 200th anniversary of Niagara County, the North Tonawanda History Museum is collaborating with a number of Niagara County historical organizations and municipal historians in a project to create an update of the Niagara Historic Trail, which was created in 1975 as part of the 1776 Bicentennial. Museum programs this spring all reflect the Niagar a Historic Trail. The self-guided Niagara Historic Trail guidebooks are to be released for purchase early in the fall. The guidebook is intended to be used in conjunction with the cream and brown markers placed around the county as part of the original 1975 Niagara Historical Trail project and the 1991 revision. Originally created as a celebration of the 1976 Bicentennial of our nation, the museum plans to release it as a joint project celebrating the Bicentennial of Niagara County. For more infor mation, visit www.nthistorymuseum.org or call 213-0554.