Today’s entertainment picks:

July 8, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

vRockin’ the River, 5 p.m.: Five bands will perform at the Riverwalk Amphitheater in downtown New Castle, Pa.; 724-654-8408.

v Greek Summerfest, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Greek food and music at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 220 N. Walnut St., Youngstown.

vSt. Christine parish festival, 6 to 11 p.m.: This large carnival is on the parish grounds at 3165 S. Schenley Ave., on Youngstown’s West Side; 330-792-3829.

vDurang-ed summer series, 8 p.m.: Rust Belt Theater presents two short plays by Christopher Durang at Calvin Center, 755 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown; 330-507-2358.

v Don Burns Orchestra, 7 p.m.: Concert at the Maag Amphitheater in Boardman Park; 330-726-8105.

“Torchwood: MIRACLE DAY” (10 P.M., STARZ): “Torchwood: Miracle Day,” an adaptation of the creepy British sci-fi series, envisions a world where no one dies. It’s not as alluring as it sounds. John Barrowman, Mekhi Phifer and Bill Pullman head the cast.

tv listings, B6

entertainment news

Silent film star’s home to be razed

CINCINNATI

A Cincinnati mansion once owned by a major star of silent movies is being torn down by the university that owns it.

The white stucco Spanish villa was built by Cincinnati native Theda Bara in the 1920s, after she starred in 40 silent films. She was known for playing a sultry “vamp.”

Xavier University will put landscaping on the property for the time being. Xavier acquired the house in 1979, used it first as a residence for nuns, later for honors students.

A newspaper reports stucco had been peeling off the 12-room home. Files show Bara lived there a few years. She died of cancer in 1955.

Hand portraits, poems in exhibit

NEWTON FALLS

An exhibit titled “Hand Portraits 2011” is on display in the Palmer meeting room of Newton Falls Public Library, 204 S. Canal St.

It is a collaborative project between Newton Falls High School visual and language arts students and Allan Dell Assisted Living Center.

The students interviewed residents and then posed them for hand portrait photographs based on notes of special significance.

Students then wrote poems that were joined with the photographs to create unique glimpses into the subjects’ lives.

Library hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

For more information, call 330-872-1282.

Swimwear contest

LIBERTY

A swimwear contest will be part of the evening when Youngstown’s Total Package Band and Bill Beck present Old School Summer Jam at 9:30 p.m. July 16 at Choices Night Club, at the Metroplex Hotel on Belmont Avenue.

The contest is seeking both men and women to show off their bodies. The winner will receive a one-night hotel room reservation and a bottle of champagne.

To register, call Greg Johnson at 330-720-2485.