Announcements

• KIDDIE RIDE PHOTOS SOUGHT - The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum is searching for photos of children and families enjoying kiddie rides for an upcoming exhibit called "KiddieLand." The museum is particularly interested in photos from Dealing's or Fun-n-Games, but welcome images of kiddie rides anywhere in the world. Digital or hard copies can be dropped off at the museum, located at 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, mailed to PO Box 672, North Tonawanda, N.Y. 14120 or e-mailed to curator@carrouselmuseum.org. Photos will not be returned. Those who donate will receive a certificate to the gift shop for 10 percent off. If your photo is used in the exhibit, you will receive a free one-year membership to the museum. Photos must be received by Saturday, March 15. Call 693-1885 for more information.

• CONCERT POSTPONED - The mZuri & Power to End Stroke program scheduled for Saturday, March 8, has been postponed. The event will be held at 11:30 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza in Niagara Falls, and 5:30 p.m. at the Hearthstone Manor in Depew on Saturday, April 26. Tickets will be honored at that time, and are $30 for the afternoon show and $40 for the evening performance. For more information, call 380-2513.

• CONCERT POSTPONED - The Buffalo Blues Festival scheduled for Sunday, March 9 at HSBC Arena has been postponed due to weather interfering with the performers' travel to Buffalo. A reschedule date will be announced next week. Tickets for the original date will be honored for the rescheduled date or refunds are available at point of purchase.

• CHANGE IN HOURS - For five Thursdays in March and April, students from the library science program at the University at Buffalo will occupy the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society's research library to digitize drawings and records of the Green & Wicks architectural firm. To accommodate the students, the research library will temporarily adjust its public hours, which are usually from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. From March 18 to April 17, the Historical Society's research library will be closed the following Thursdays: March 20 and 27, April 3, 10 and 17. During that same time period, the research library will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. the following Tuesdays: March 18, 25, April 1, 8 and 15. Normal research library public hours will continue through March 15 and resume on April 18. The Historical Society's regular museum hours will not be affected. For more information, call 873-9644, Ext. 306.

• 10th WILDLIFE FOREVER STATE-FISH ART CONTEST - The 10th annual Wildlife Forever State-Fish Art Contest is open to all students in grades 4 through 12. To enter, young artists must create an illustration of their chosen state fish. A written composition on its behavior, habitat and conservation is also required. Entries must be postmarked by March 31. Winners will be announced May 1 and will be recognized within each grade category for each state. One "gallery-quality" winning entry will be used as the design for the 2008 Art of Conservation Stamp. All winners will be included on the State-Fish Art Contest Web site. For more information, contact Pat Conzemius at Wildlife Forever, 2700 Freeway Blvd., No. 1000, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430, by e-mail at pconzemius@wild lifeforever.org or by calling 763-253-0222.

• DYNGUS DAY PARADE - Applications to participate in the 2008 Dyngus Day Parade are now available online at DyngusDayBuffalo.com. The parade will take place at 5 p.m. Monday, March 24 and make its way through the streets of the historic Polonia District. Businesses, organizations, churches, bands, schools and social clubs are encouraged to apply.

• ART LOTTERY - Local artists are invited to participate in the third annual MS Art Exhibition & Lottery to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upstate New York Chapter. The event will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 30 at the Buffalo Museum of Science. The MS Art Lottery & Exhibition enables artists to showcase their work through various avenues (exhibit space, art catalogue, Web site, etc.). The National MS Society is seeking submissions in a wide range of mediums, including painting, sculpture and photography. Artists interested in donating a piece of work can contact Jennifer Newman at 634-2573, Ext. 15, or e-mail jennifer.ne wman@ny r.nmss.org.

• WATERCOLOR PAINTING COURSE - For beginners and intermediates, 7-9 p.m. Thursday, March 13 at the St. Columban Center, 6892 Lakeshore Road, Derby. A second session will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, April 3, 10 and 17. Cost is $72 per session. Participants will need to being their art materials to class. A list of supplies can be viewed at www.stcolumbancenter.org. To register, call 947-4708.

• BASIC ADOBE ILLUSTRATOR - With Wendy Lasker, 6-9 p.m. Mondays, March 31, April 7, 14 and 21, CEPA Gallery, 617 Main St., Buffalo; $150 member, $175 nonmember. 856-2717, e-mail: info@cepagallery.com. Registration closes March 24.

• BASIC ADOBE FLASH - With Wendy Lasker, 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, April 3, 10, 17 and 24, CEPA Gallery, 617 Main St., Buffalo; $150 member, $175 nonmember. 856-2717, e-mail: info@cepagallery.com. Registration closes March 27.

• INTRO TO MAC - Steven Ansell will familiarize you with the operating system and organization of Macs, Thursday, March 27, Squeaky Wheel, 712 Main St., Buffalo. Class is $35 nonmembers/$20 members. Call 884-7172 or visit www.squeaky.org for more information.

• CARNEGIE'S CHILDREN'S CLASS SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED - The Carnegie Art Center is accepting registrations for its children's visual arts classes and workshops for spring 2008. The classes, taught by Chris Truesdell, are scheduled on Saturdays in two four-week sessions starting March 15 and continuing through May 17. All classes are for students 6 to 11 years old and will consist of "Introduction to Drawing and Painting," "Creative Constructions," "Playing with Plaster and Paper," "FUNdamentals of Painting," "Pop-up Animal Pictures," "Printing," "Creative Collage," "Let's Draw!," "3-D Wall Hanging," "Portrait Drawing," "Blast Off!" and "Explore Mixed Media." All classes will be at the Carnegie Arts Center, 240 Goundry St., North Tonawanda. For more information and registration forms, call 694-4400, Ext. 304, or visit www.carnegiear tcenter.org/children.html

• WICKED - Tickets for "Wicked" go on sale to the public on Saturday, April 5. Tickets will be exclusively available during a special on-sale event from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, April 5 at the Shea's ticket office, 650 Main St., Buffalo. Beginning at 10 a.m., any remaining tickets will be available for purchase by calling Ticketmaster at 852-5000, online at www.ticketmaster.com and www.sheas.org. There is an eight-ticket limit per patron. Tickets are $34.50-$72.50 with premium seats for $127.50, available for most performances. Due to pre-existing sales to subscribers and groups, there is a limited inventory of "Wicked" tickets to start with. If you purchase tickets utilizing a different method from those mentioned above and/or are paying more than the designated ticket price, you do not have a guaranteed seat to "Wicked." The only way that patrons can be sure that they are purchasing legitimate tickets at the original ticket price is to use only the sources listed above. Patrons are urged to purchase their tickets early. "Wicked" is at Shea's from June 18-July 13.

• HAIRSPRAY - Tickets are now on sale for the Broadway musical "Hairspray," April 11-13 at Shea's Performing Arts Center, Buffalo. Tickets are $22.50-$52.50 and are available at the box office, 650 Main St., through Ticketmaster at 852-5000 or at www.sheas.org.

• ROMEO & JULIET - Tickets are now on sale for Neglia Ballet's production of "Romeo & Juliet," 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, Shea's Performing Arts Center, Buffalo. Tickets are $18-$32 and $62 (VIP) and are available at the Shea's ticket office, 650 Main St., and through Ticketmaster at 852-5000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

• AVRIL LAVIGNE - Tickets are now on sale for Avril Lavigne's "Best Damn Tour," with Boys Like Girls, 7 p.m. Saturday, March 29 at HSBC Arena. Tickets are $25, $35 and $49.50 (prices include $1.50 facility fee) and are available through the HSBC box office and all tickets.com outlets (888-223-6000). Random handbill policy in effect. Handbills are now available.

• CELINE DION - Tickets are now on sale for Celine Dion's 2008-09 North American Tour, Wednesday, Sept. 3 at HSBC Arena. Tickets are $45, $66.50, $96.50 and $136.50 and are available at the HSBC Arena box office and all tickets.com outlets (888-223-6000, www.tickets.com). Random handbill policy in effect. Handbills are now available.

• BOX OFFICE OPEN - The Shaw Festival box office is now open to accept telephone and in-person orders for the general public for the 2008 season. Fax, online and mail orders are also being accepted. The Festival Theatre Box Office is located at 10 Queen's Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The 2008 season includes "An Inspector Calls," "Wonderful Town," "Mrs. Warren's Profession," "The Stepmother," "A Little Night Music," "Belle Moral," "Getting Married," "The Little Foxes," "After the Dance" and "The President and Follies: In Concert" (limited engagement). For tickets and more information, call 1-800-511-SHAW (7429), or visit www.shawfest.com.

• 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.

• VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT - The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum is seeking volunteers for its largest fundraiser of the year, The Renaissance Festival. Volunteers are sought for 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. or 2:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 7, to help with children's games, arts and crafts, admissions, food booth and silent auction. Volunteers are also needed for setup the day before on Friday, June 6 at 180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda. For more information, call 693-1885, e-mail info@carrouselmuseum.org or visit carrouselmuseum.org.

• 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. 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. For more information, visit www.nthistorymuseum.org or call 213-0554.

• SPECIAL LENTEN DISPLAY - The Lancaster New York Historical Society will display artifacts relating to the history of local churches. Items on display include Bibles, baptismal and confirmation certificates, souvenir books, photos and family items. The museum will be open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays during Lent in addition to the regular 2-5 p.m. Sunday hours at 40 Clark St., Lancaster.

• THEATER INVITATION - The Kavinoky Theatre is inviting current Studio Arena Theatre subscribers to attend the final two productions of the Kavinoky current season at no charge. The invitation is in response to the closing of Studio Arena Theatre. For more information, call 829-7668.

• ARTS AWARENESS MONTH - The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is once again promoting arts and cultural awareness in Genesee and Orleans counties during Arts Awareness Month in March. GO ART! highlights the many cultural events taking place in its two-county service area and also sponsors special programs and events in an effort to raise awareness of the vital arts scene in their communities. A listing of activities will be published in a brochure that will be available on GO ART!'s Web site at www.goart.org. If you are sponsoring or presenting an event, share the information with GO ART! To download an entry form, visit the Web site or offices in both Medina and Albion. For more information, call 585-345-9313.

• BUS TOUR - The National Preservation Month Bus Tour will take place Saturday, May 17. The tour will depart from various sites, including Sanborn Fire Hall, Wheatfield Senior Center and North Tonawanda History Museum. Destinations include Erie Canal Discovery Center, First Presbyterian Church, Basket Factory Restaurant, the Winery at Marjim Manor, Van Horn Mansion and Hrvol Mansion. Reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $45. For more information, call the North Tonawanda History Museum at 213-0054 or visit www.nthistor ymuseum.org.

• ALLENTOWN ART FESTIVAL POSTER CONTEST - Design the poster for the 51st Annual Allentown Art Festival with the following four items included in your design: 51st Annual Allentown Art Festival, Saturday, June 14-Sunday, June 15, 2008, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Produced and presented by the Allentown Village Society, Inc. (cultural not-for-profit organization) and Buffalo, New York. The poster size must be 14" x 22" and up to four colors (black is a color, white is not). Design must be entirely original. Deliver your design, camera-ready with your name, address and two telephone numbers mounted on the back, to the Allentown Village Society, located at 435 Delaware Ave., Buffalo. Deadline is 1 p.m. March 22. The winning design becomes the "exclusive" property of the Allentown Village Society. Call 877-4670 or visit www.allentownartfestival.com for more information.