Fish, Science, Galas, Gardening & ARTS

Tomorrow I'll be up early teaching kids the finer points of mystery writing and may not be able to post a Diary entry. But SO much is happening in Norristown this coming week, I wanted to make sure I posted it now. I may have more events by tomorrow, and if so I'll post them later that day.

Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 7 am to 4 pm will be the Annual Stony Creek Trout Derby at the Norristown Farm Park and State Hospital Grounds. Enter at Gate 5 on Stanbridge St. Adults $20, Teens $10, Kids 12 and under $5. Food vendors on site. Baits, lures and tackle, fishing poles for kids. Trophies for longest fish. Proceeds go to the Montco Co-op Trout Nursery and children's programs. Call Mike Sherman at 610-751-1854 or go to www.stonycreekanglers.org. See the flyer at http://norristown.org/userfiles/file/events/1219.pdf

Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm, The Dragon Boat Club presents "What's in Your River" at Riverfront Park (Haws Avenue and the river). Join their resident biologist as he takes kids on an ecological tour of the Schuylkill River. The event will include paddling in a dragon boat and collecting samples from the water. After multiple samples have been collected, they will be analyzed under a microscope to identify what is in the Schuykill. To ensure your spot in the Dragon Boat, registration is recommended. Payment of $10.00 can be made online, all participants must have a waiver signed by a parent. Go to dragonboatclub.org for information and payment, or show up Saturday morning.

Also Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm, The Pathway School (162 Egypt Road, Jeffersonville) will host "Discovering a Career at Pathway". The event will showcase Educational and Clinical Employment Opportunities: Full-Time, Part-Time, Sub, Volunteer Opportunities. ES & Life Skill Teachers, Instructional Coordinators, Teacher Assistants/1:1s, Behavior Specialists, Clinicians, Psychologist, Therapists, Administrative Positions. The event is in the gym off the parking lot. Call 610-277-0660 for information. or go to www.pathwayschool.org or email at get.hired@pathwayschool.org

Same day from 11 am to 3 pm at Elmwood Park Zoo, come to "Party for the Planet" -a nationwide Earth Day celebration. The event will feature an Earth Expo, where local "green" vendors will be highlighting their environmentally friendly products. Visit elmwoodparkzoo.org/event/105 for a list of participating vendors. Party for the Planet provides a great opportunity to showcase environmentally-friendly products. If you have a "green" product or service that you'd like to display, contact mreale@elmwoodparkzoo.org or call 610-277-3825 x275.

Saturday night from 6:30 to 10 pm. at the ACCPA Community Art Center (506 Haws Avenue), come to their Beach Ball Spring Gala. $35 per person. (includes dinner and adult beverages). Live steel drum music by the Joe DeVito Band, 3-course meal with a "Dip Bar", Picnic Dinner, & Beachy Cookies & Candies, members only area with complimentary chair massages and Tiki Bar shooters, and a silent auction featuring original artwork, jewelry, vacation get-aways, spa days, sports packages, and more. Proceeds go to fund ACPPA's great arts programs for our kids. Go to http://www.acppa.net/#!the-beach-ball/c4vd to RSVP. Call 610-277-2270 for info.

Sunday evening at 6:30 pm, Coffee Talk (507 W. Marshall) will host Tom McGlynn of Feed The 'Burbs, our local expert on edible landscaping. Tom will lead a discussion on permaculture gardening--strategies to maximize taste, yields and nutritional value of food plants. This is recommended to gardeners of all experience levels. Contribution, $5. Call Coffee Talk for info, 610-272-4811. (I'm definitely going to this. I may even bring some basil seeds to share.)

Thursday, May 1st is the Arts Hill Reception from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at August Moon Restaurant (300 E. Main St). Light buffet, cash bar, live entertainment, raffle/silent auction. $40 per person / $75 per couple (in advance. Add $5 at door.) $500 table sponsorship (10 persons). RSVP and pay online at www.norristownartshill.org/reception or mail checks payable to "Norristown Arts Council" to 208 DeKalb Street, Norristown, PA 19401. Kindly reply by April 30. Proceeds go to fund our Annual Arts Hill Festival.

AND don't forget the Arts Hill Festival Saturday a week (May 3) from 10 am to 5 pm, on Dekalb between Lafayette and Airy. Dance, drama, poetry, film and LOTS of music this year. Food vendors, artists, crafts people. (Vendor opportunities still available). For info, email info@norristownartshill.org, or call 484-961-0884.