Published: May 14, 2009 10:59 am      

Events | Iron rule

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

The Iron Will Fighting Championship will bring Mixed Martial Arts to Johnstown at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St., downtown Johnstown.

Carlton Haselrig, six-time NCAA-wrestling champion and ex-All Pro lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers, will headline the event.

Mixed Martial Arts is the combination of the combat disciplines of jujitsu, judo, wrestling, kickboxing, boxing and karate.

In honor of Armed Forces Day, five soldiers who have been wounded in Iraq, along with their families, will attend the event.

They are Spec. Keith Maul, Sgt. Matt Gibbons, Staff Sgt. John Sloan, Sgt. 1st Class Rod Jones and Pvt. 1st Class Benjamin Lightner.

Maul will escort Charlie Brenneman, one of the headline fighters, into the ring.

Tickets are $75 for ringside, $45 for reserved and $30 for general admission.

Information: 536-5156.

Classic cruise

The fourth annual Cruisin’ for Courtney benefit car show will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday on Conemaugh Township Area High School grounds, 300 W. Campus Ave., Davidsville.

Street rods, classic cars and motorcycles will be on display, and the classic rock sounds of The Characters will be heard from 1 to 4.

Proceeds from concession sales, a Chinese auction, autograph session and T-shirt sales will benefit the Courtney Lynn Rummell Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Heather Miller Cancer Relief Fund and Birthright Inc.

Admission is free.

Rockin’ benefit

A Motown, Soul and Rock ’n’ Roll concert sponsored by the Young Professionals of the Alleghenies and radio station Cool 101.7 will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center, Richland Township.

Johnstown Classic Rockers and Flood City Brass will perform.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Young Professionals.

Tickets are $10, with a $2 handling fee per order.

Information: 269-7200.

Hats off

The 10th annual Hat Show will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday in the ballroom at Holiday Inn Downtown, 250 Market St., downtown Johnstown.

The show, which is organized by Marsha McDowell and Pat Holifield, has outgrown its previous site at Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center.

In addition to a hat fashion show, there will be entertainment, refreshments and vendors.

Tickets are $10 each, and a table of eight is $60.

Reservations are required.

Information: 536-5399.

Song celebration

Members of Song Works, a community of regional songwriters, will perform beginning at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at City View Bar & Grill, 711 Edgehill Drive, Westmont.

Performers are Rachel Allen, Ann Bourine, Denise Baldwin, Walt Churchey, Sam Coco, Jack Duvall and Ernie Peterson.

Doors open at 6:30, and tickets are $5 at the door.

Nurturing plants

“Container Garden Workshop at the Nursery” will be taught by Penn State master gardener volunteer Sue Konvolinka at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. today at Stuver’s Riverside Nursery, 162 Neil St., Johnstown.

These hands-on workshops, which are limited to 15 per class, will allow participants to design and assemble a container garden on-site.

Participants will need to purchase a bag of potting soil for $3.50 and should expect to spend $15 to $25 for plants, depending on their selections.

The rain date for the outdoor workshop is Monday.

Information: 255-6515.

Spring flings

Johnstown Symphony Youth Orchestra will hold its spring concert at 1 p.m. Saturday at Richland High School Performing Arts Center, One Academic Ave., Richland Township.

The program will include standard orchestral works as well as popular movie-theme medleys such as “Scenes From the Old West,” “Theme from ET,” “Capriccio Italien” and “The Lord of the Dance.”

Johnstown Symphony Chorus will present its spring concert at 3 p.m. Sunday at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, 1000 Scalp Ave., Richland Township.

The concert will feature a variety of vocal music, including spirituals, patriotic songs, Baroque, classics and contemporary music.

Tickets for both concerts are $5 at the door.

Children younger than age 6 will be admitted free.

Information: 535-6738.

Teaching reading

“Metacognition Reading Strategies,” Act 48 workshop for teachers and students in grades three through 12, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Heritage Discovery Center, 201 Sixth Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

The presenter will be Mark Weakland, early literacy reading-inclusive practice specialist for Intermediate Unit 28.

Participants will explore their concerns about student reading and comprehension in the classroom and discuss the topic of metacognition as it relates to student learning.

The workshop will emphasize information in “Strategies That Work” by Harvey and Goudvis and the Reading Apprenticeship Program and give three hours of Act 48 credit.

Information: 539-1889.

Author action

Local pediatrician Dr. Beth Lambert will be the featured author at 6 p.m. Tuesday as part of the Hot Coffee and Conversation series at Windber Public Library, 1909 Graham Ave.

Ten years ago, Lambert wrote “Into Africa: Adventures of a Missionary Kid – Monkey Hunting” as part of a children’s chapter book series.

The story of the fictional Rager family heading to Sierra Leone in West Africa for their first term as missionaries in the late 1980s is based on Lambert’s true-life experiences on a short-term medical mission trip in 1985.

Information: 467-4950.

Annie antics

Auditions for children – ages 5 to 14 – for Cresson Lake Playhouse’s production of the musical “Annie Warbucks” will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at the barn theater, 279 Shapiro Road, Loretto.

Adult auditions will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the theater’s rehearsal hall at 526 W. Ogle St., Ebensburg.

Call backs will be held at 7 p.m Wednesday at the rehearsal hall.

Those who audition should bring music that is clearly marked in a binder and should not sing songs from the show. Come prepared with more than one option.

Audition forms will be available upon arrival. If possible, bring a photo and resume.

Performance dates for the show are July 30 through Aug. 15.

Information: 472-4333.

Musical transformation

“Jeykll & Hyde” will be presented by Greater Johnstown High School at 7:30 tonight and Saturday at the school’s auditorium at 222 Central Ave., Johns-town.

Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students.

Jazz benefit

A spring concert and benefit will be presented by Westmont Hilltop High School Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the school’s auditorium, 200 Fair Oaks Drive.

The concert will feature selections including “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Take Five” and “Godzilla Eats Las Vegas.”

A preconcert benefit at 6:30 includes a VH1 Save the Music fundraiser in the form of a basket party. Music will be provided by the high school orchestra.

Slovenian story

An opening reception for an exhibit of Idrija lace by Alexandria Marguccio and others will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, 411 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johns-town.

The exhibit is part of a Celebration of Slovenian Heritage at the arts center, which will include a video of Slovenia and a gallery tour at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Information: 536-5399.

Acting 101

“An Introduction to Theatre,” a workshop for students in grades three through six, will be presented by Amanda Lindberg from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Discovery Center, 201 Sixth Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

Participants will learn about the world of live theater through readings, interactive stage games and hands-on activities.

Acting games, such as learning stage directions, mime and charades, will be a part of the afternoon, and students will have the chance to create their own mini-play and story.

Information: 539-1889.

Winning wines

An evening to benefit the United Way of the Laurel Highlands will begin with a wine tasting accompanied by a variety of tapas at 6:30 tonight at Holiday Inn Downtown, 250, Market St., downtown Johnstown.

A live auction featuring rare wines not commonly found locally as well as items from inns, resorts and hotels will begin at 7:45.

River fundraiser

A Canoe and Kayak to Conquer Cancer sponsored by the Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority at St. Francis University, Loretto, and Cyper Beach Kayak Club will be held Saturday on the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River just north of Everett.

“A Cookout to Conquer Cancer” featuring a pig roast and musical entertainment will begin around 5 p.m.

Checks or money orders should be made payable to The American Cancer Society or the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center.

The storm date is May 23. The event will be held with a mild rain or drizzle.

Information: 766-2802, 652-6563 or www.newDDAY.org.