Preview of ‘The War,’ new PBS documentary, to be held at the Butler

Preview of ‘The War,’
new PBS documentary,
to be held at the Butler

YOUNGSTOWN — A preview of “The War,” the upcoming documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave. The event will begin with refreshments, with the preview at 7. At 8 p.m., videotaped oral histories that feature local residents’ recollections of World War II will be shown. Three Canfield men shared their stories for the project: Daryl Duffett, who was a Navy Seebee; Anthony Jacola, who was a radio operator in the Army; and Donald Kir, who was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne .

All of the events are free, but reservations are required; call (800) 554-4549.

“The War,” a 14-hour epic miniseries that was six years in the making, tells the story of World War II through the personal accounts of nearly 50 men and women from four American towns: Mobile, Ala.; Waterbury, Conn.; Sacramento, Calif.; and Luverne, Minn.

The documentary will air over two weeks on PBS 45/49, beginning at 8 p.m. Sept. 23. For more information, go to pbs4549.org/thewar.

‘Simpsons’ artist
at comic book shop

ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. — George Broderick, artist of The Simpsons comic books, will be signing autographs at New Dimension Comics, 516 Lawrence Ave., from 2-4 p.m. Saturday.

While Broderick is currently working on The Simpsons, his past works include Spider-man: Revenge of the Green Goblin, Speed Racer, The Munsters, Lost in Space, Quantum Leap, I Dream of Jeannie, Mister Magoo, Hercules (Marvel), Flash, and his other current work, Courageous Man Adventures.

Broderick’s visit will take place during the Hometown Fall Fest, an annual event showcasing crafts, food, music, and a car cruise in downtown Ellwood City.

Admission and autographs are free, and Simpsons movie posters will be given away while supplies last. For more information, call (412) 965-1487.

‘Romeo and Juliet’
at Stage Left Players

LISBON — Stage Left Players will present Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” directed by Craig Snay, on Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21 at the Outreach Center, 234 E Lincoln Way. Show times are 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. For reservations or information about season passes, call (330) 424-5093.

Young singer opens
for country star

COLUMBIANA —Sara Nicole, a 12-year-old singer from Columbiana, recently had the opportunity to open for country music star Danielle Peck at the Barbour County Fair in Phillippi, W.Va. Sara competed Colgate Country Showdown in Fairmont, W.Va., in June and won first place. She was the youngest in the competition. One of the Showdown judges was a board member of the Barbour County Fair, and offered Sara the opportunity to open for Peck. Winning the Fairmont competition also qualified Sara for the West Virginia Colgate Country Showdown in Parkersburg, where she was named runner-up.

Trucker’s book is part
of museum exhibit

GIRARD — A book written by a Girard woman is included in an exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Washington, D.C. The exhibit — titled Transportation: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow — contains paintings, photographs, sculptures and a collection of books relating to the transportation industry. It opened Friday and runs until Sept. 29.

Featured in the book display is “Me and You and a Truck Named Blue,” by Robin Stears. A native of McDonald and a longtime resident of Girard, Stears wrote the book as the first in a trilogy. The book narrates the adventures of a female trucker and her male partner, and was released in December 2005 by Write Up the Road Publishing.

Event to raise funds
for Angels for Animals

AUSTINTOWN — Angels For Animals, 4750 state Route 165, Canfield, presents Animal Rock ’07 at The Wedge, 1743 S. Raccoon Road, at 7 p.m. Friday. Four bands — Abbey Road, Fat Angus, Rock ‘n’ Roll Avenue and Tony Rio and Relentless will play, and raffles and a silent auction will be held. Tickets are $25 and are available at Tickets Unlimited, Always Yours Picture Gallery and at surfthevalley.com. All proceeds go to Angels for Animals.