CIRCO COMEDIA AT THE REG

Highlighting the weekend is the final Reg Presents Series for the 2017-18 Season at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts.

The unique circus-style performance of Quebec-based comedy duo Circo Comedia takes place Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Reg Lenna. Following in the tradition of the Quebec Circus, the duo will perform amazing stunts and hilarious antics for the audience.

Tickets start at $5 for children aged 18 and under and $10 for adults and may be purchased at the Reg box office, over the phone at 716.484.7070 or online at RegLenna.com.

In addition to the show, Len Barry from the Reg Lenna will also announce the 2018-19 season lineup.

WEEKEND AT THE MUSEUM

The owner and developer of two historic downtown buildings will be displaying several pieces of artwork that had previously been owned by the Prendergast Library.

Developer Arnold Duke recently purchased the Old Marine Midland Bank  (most recently known as The Forum)at the northwest corner of Main and Second Streets. To celebrate the purchase and raise awareness about future plans for the building, Duke will be showcasing items he purchased at auction from the Prendergast Art Collection both tonight and tomorrow at the former bank location.

The “Weekend at the Museum” theme will also feature various memorabilia, including items that belonged to first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor, and Pat Garrett – the lawman who shot and killed Billy the Kid. On Saturday, free fossils will also be given out to children.

The “Weekend at the Museum” is taking place at 201 N. Main St. (northwest corner of Main and Second Streets) from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday for adults only and then from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday for people of all ages.

The event is free and open to the public.

In addition to the Marine Midland Bank purchase, Duke also purchased the former Key Bank building directly across the street in 2017.

‘IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE’ AT WILLOW BAY THEATER

The Winged Ox Players will present the thought-provoking play “It Can’t Happen Here” starting Friday as well as two shows on Saturday at the Willow Bay Theater.

The play is based on the novel by American author Sinclair Lewis and has been described as a “cautionary dark satire about the fragility of democracy and how fascism can take hold even in the land of liberty.”

• RELATED: LISTEN TO WRFA’S INTERVIEW WITH WINGED OX PLAYERS

Friday and Saturday evening performances will begin at 7 p.m. and there will also be a matinee performance Saturday at 1 p.m., followed by a panel discussion with several community members, high school and college teachers and members of the cast.

Admission to the show is free, but free will donations are encouraged.

The show will also be shown next Friday and Saturday, May 18 an 19 at 7 p.m.

SPRING GRAPES AND HOPS FEST AT NORTHWEST ARENA

Also on Saturday The 4th Annual Spring Grapes & Hops Festival will take place at the Northwest Arena from 3 to 7 p.m.

The event will feature beer samplings and wine tasting from local breweries and wineries, as well as business vendors from around the area.

Visit NorthwestArena.com for more information.

PRENDERGAST RUN FOR LITERACY

Also on Saturday morning, Prendergast Library continues its fundraising efforts with the 12th annual Run for Literacy.

The 5K race starts at the library with registration running from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. The race starts at 9 a.m. with walkers starting shortly after. Free T-shirts are guaranteed for the first 100 registrants.

Registration costs $20, and can be completed online, at the library, or on the day of the race.

To learn more or to register online, visit PrendergastLibrary.org.

ANGELA CALEY’S ‘MEET THE ARTIST RECEPTION’ AT DYKEMAN YOUNG

A Meet the Artist Reception for the new exhibit “Free: New works by Angela Caley” will be taking place Saturday night at the Dykeman Young Gallery on 2^nd St. in Jamestown. The event is free and open to the public.

LIVE MUSIC

In addition to the events listed above, there’s also a variety of live music events to choose from both Saturday and Sunday in the Jamestown area. For a complete listing, visit our Rock and Roll Rundown for this weekend.

Running for a Cause Participants start off in front of the library during the 2012 Cummins Run for Literacy.

JAMESTOWN – Cummins Inc., Jamestown Engine Plant, will sponsor its seventh
annual 5K run/walk on Saturday, May 11, to benefit the Prendergast Library Literacy Center.

Runners will begin at 9 a.m. with walkers following five minutes later. The event begins
and ends at the library at 509 Cherry St., Jamestown. Athletes will run on city streets, through Lake View Cemetery, and back.

The event supports efforts by the Library Literacy Center to train and match volunteer tutors with adult learners who need help with basic reading, writing, math, and English as a Second Language. Many students are working toward their GED.

Registration and packet pickup will take place between 8 and 8:45 a.m. the morning of
the race on the Cherry Street side of the library. T-shirts will be provided to the first 200 people who register. The non-refundable registration fee is $17, and people must be present to receive their shirt.

Registration forms are available at the library or online. Forms and checks, made payable to James Prendergast Library, are to be sent to Cummins Run for Literacy, Prendergast Library, 509 Cherry St., Jamestown, N.Y., 14701.

There will be awards for overall top male and female runner, and male and female first and second place in five-year age groups from 14 to 64-plus. For walkers, there will be overall men’s, women’s, boys’ and girls’ awards and first, second and third places.

The library will serve refreshments and present awards on the lawn at the corner of Cherry and Fifth streets. In case of rain, participants will use the Fifth Street entrance into the library.

Timing is provided by Smiley Miles. Race results will be posted on www.prendergastlibrary.org and www.SmileyMiles.com.

For more information about the Cummins Run for Literacy, contact Bobbie Caswell, acting assistant director, at 484-7135, Ext. 236.

The James Prendergast Library in Jamestown

JAMESTOWN – The James Prendergast Library Association board of directors will hold its monthly meeting this afternoon in the library.

Among the items to be discussed is the creation of an Executive Director position that will be exclusive to the local library. Currently, a single executive director oversees the operation of both the Prendergast Library and the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library system. However, in March, both the system board and the Prendergast board voted to split that position into two separate positions.

The meeting will also give an update on the effort to remove parking meters from the library parking lot and the cost associated with paying for its upkeep. Currently the city of Jamestown charges parking in the lot. In exchange the city provides for its upkeep. However, the city is now asking the library if it would wants the city to continue metering the lot, or if the library wants to take sole responsibility for its upkeep.

The board will also get an update on two fundraising activities scheduled for next month, including the 5K Run for Literacy and an inaugural Scrabble tournament.

Today’s meeting begins at 12:15 p.m. in the library’s fireplace room. It is open to the public.

The James Prendergast Library in Jamestown

JAMESTOWN – Officials at the James Prendergast Library in Jamestown say fundraising for this year is significantly lower compared to last year. During the October board meeting of the library’s board of trustees, board treasurer Tom Rankin told board members that fundraising for 2012 through Oct. 18 was at just over $81,600. That’s about 30 percent lower than where the library was at the same date for 2011 and also just over half of the $155,000 in total fundraising the library had budgeted for this year.

The largest decrease in fundraising comes from individual donors, which is down about $22,000 compared to last year. In 2011, the library had received nearly $65,000 in donations by October 18. This year, that amount is just under $43,000 over the same time period.

The library’s annual Run for Literacy fundraiser also saw a significant decrease in participation. The event raised $958 this year. Last year it brought in eight ties that amount – for a total of $7,713.

A contributing factor for the decrease in fundraising includes a number of concerned residents who have gone on record saying they would not give to the library this year. The primary reason given was their concern with the direction the library was heading in under library Executive Director Linda Mielke – who served in that position from November 2011 to August 2012. She was let go at the beginning of September by the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System.  Former Assistant Director Tina Scott is now serving as acting executive director for both the Prendergast and the library system.

The Run for Literacy – which had previously taken place in the late spring – was held this year in early October. That change in date may have also played a role in why participation for that event was down.

Library officials are asking the public to step up and help it reach its fundraising goal for 2012. Anyone wishing to donate can do so by stopping by the library or going online to Prendergastlibrary.org.