Irish dancers to try for world championships
Irish dancers to try for world championships
Meghan McCarthy of McDonald and Lauren Kepley of Canfield will travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland, to compete in the 38th Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne (world championships), March 23-30.  Both girls are students of Theresa Burke at the Burke School of Irish Dance in Youngstown. 
To qualify for the world championships, a dancer must place among the top 10 dancers at the regional championship level. Both girls earned their berth at the 2007 Mid-American Oireachtas, beating out more than 150 other dancers in their age groups.
Meghan, 14, has been dancing for 11 years. This will be her second trip to the world championship. She is an eighth-grade honor roll pupil at McDonald High School where she is also a long jumper and sprinter on the track team. She is the daughter of Patrick and Therese McCarthy.
Lauren, 15, has been dancing for 12 years. She is a sophomore at Canfield High School where she is a member of the Interact Club. Lauren has participated in the Boardman Relay for Life for the past six years. She is the daughter of Locke and Maureen Kepley.
Competition information and results can be found at www.worldirishdancing.com. 
Dinner-theater returns
GENEVA ON THE LAKE — Noble Art Entertainment’s “The Wildest West Show” dinner-theater will be every Friday and Saturday night April 4 through May 3 at the Oak Room, 5477 Lake Road. It will be the first of five original dinner-theater productions this year.
“The Wildest West Show” is an old-time comedy spoof of the Wild West. Themed cocktails and appetizers begin at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40, and include a six-course meal with nonalcoholic beverages. To make reservations, call toll-free (800) 518-8650, or go to www.GenevaLanding.com
Animal baby shower
CANFIELD — Mill Creek MetroParks, Route 46 across from Canfield Fairgrounds, will host its annual Baby Shower from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6 to celebrate the arrival of young farm animals at the MetroParks Farm. Youngsters can watch chicks hatch and visit with ducklings, piglets, calves, kids and lambs in this popular free event. For more information or to schedule group spring tours of the farm, call (330) 533-7572.
Rock music festival seeks sponsors, vendors
YOUNGSTOWN — JonesFest, a free outdoor rock music festival, will begin at 4 p.m. May 31 on West Federal Street, downtown. Several area bands have committed to play, including The Zou, 5 Elements, Captain Braskey, The Devotees and Jones For Revival. The festival is sponsored by Youngstown Local Music, which also sponsors VexFest. For information regarding sponsorships and/or vendor locations, contact Dan Crump at (330) 550-5996 or go to www.myspace.com/youngstownlocalmusic. An item in Thursday’s Entertainment Extra magazine contained an incorrect phone number.
Art for clean water
AUSTINTOWN — Casal Aveda Institute in Austintown Plaza will hold Creativity for a Cause, its second annual benefit art show, from noon to 5 p.m. March 30. Local artists will sell their artwork at the show, which will also include a Chinese auction. The show will benefit clean water environmental efforts.
Youngstown Connection
YOUNGSTOWN — The final concert in Stambaugh Auditorium’s Sunday series will begin with lunch at 12:30 p.m. March 30 in the banquet room. It will be followed by a performance by The Youngstown Connection titled “American Salute.” Tickets are $23, and reservations are required by March 27. Call (330) 747-5175.
Show to raise money to fix vandalized church
LEETONIA — A program of show tunes by a group of young entertainers will benefit St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, which was vandalized recently. The program will start at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with a church service after each performance at 7. A free-will offering will be taken during the program. St. Paul’s is at the corner of Spruce and Somer streets. The performers are Tyler Stouffer, Cassie Utt, Nicole Slaven, Matthew Schomer, Kedron Taylor, Ryan Newell, Carly Ellis, Conner Bezeredi, Sara Saverko and Sarah Crabtree. Brett Cowden will be accompanist. For more information, call the church at (330) 427-6585.