Art, Dance, Film, Music, Crafts, Discussions, Small Business, Education

Spring officially begins this Tuesday, though temperatures have been 10 degrees below average all month. You can warm up at any of these events this week. Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Saturday, March 17, 1:30-4 pm, Montgomery County OIC, 2nd Floor, 1101 Arch St. Educate to Advocate: A Drug and Alcohol Prevention Project. FREE event, open to all ages. Panel discussion, focus group, and presentation by Philly Young Playwrights. Lunch and light refreshments will be served. For more information, call (610) 279-9700.

Saturday, 2 pm at Norristown Library Community Room (Powell and Swede, 1st floor). Due to bad weather 2 weeks ago, the FREE screening and Q&A of the documentary film BLACK BALLERINA was rescheduled. Black Ballerina tells the story of black women from different generations who fell in love with ballet, and stimulates a fresh discussion about race, inclusion and opportunity across all sectors of American society. Producer/Director Frances McElroy will be on-hand for a Q& A discussion after the viewing of the 57 minute film. BLACK BALLERINA is produced by Shirley Road Productions and distributed by American Public Television. Door prizes, too, and the Friends of the Library will provide refreshments. (Note from Elena: I've seen this film and it's amazing. Definitely worth seeing. Bring your teens, especially girls.)

Saturday, 7-11 pm, Five Saints Distilling (Green and Main). Pat's Run performs.

Sunday, 10 am-4 pm, Selma Mansion (1301 W Airy). Norristown Preservation Society hosts their Spring Craft Fair. Crafty gifts and decorations for Easter and Mother's Day will be available, such as jewelry, candles, homemade items, candy, bath items, baked goods, and more. Besides items for sale, they’ll have raffle baskets. The event is FREE and open to the public. All profits from the sale of vendor spaces go towards the restoration and maintenance of Selma Mansion.

Tuesday, 5:30-7:30 pm, Norristown Library (Powell and Swede). Free small business workshop. Ready to start a business in Norristown? Call the small business center at 610-277-1085 for info.

Tuesday, 6-7:30 pm, Norristown Library, NASD Art Gallery Night. Norristown area students display their fabulous art creations in the Children’s Department. Musical entertainment provided by a combined middle school/high school jazz band. Light refreshments will be served. All ages. For info, contact 610-278-5100 x 205

Tuesday, 6:30 pm, Municipal Hall. Council meeting.

Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm. Montco Intermediate Unit, 2 West Lafayette. Diversity Fair. Teacher and administrator recruitment.

Wednesday, 6-8 pm, Corbett Inc (56 Buttonwood). Financing workshop for small businesses offered by the Norristown Chamber of Commerce.

Wednesday, 6-8 pm, Historical Society of Montco (1654 Dekalb). The Art & History of Letter Writing Workshop. The workshop will examine some of the letters from the collections of the Historical Society of Montgomery County and other examples of early handwritten texts. We’ll also give attendees a chance to try their own hand at creating the penmanship styles and language that would have been used in America throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. $10 Members/$15 Nonmembers. For info, contact Barry Rauhauser, 610-272-0297 or contact@hsmcpa.org.

Next Friday, March 23, 11 am-1 pm, Municipal Hall (235 E Airy). Art Show at Municipal Hall. Join Expressive Paths as they unveil work done by local school district children.

Next Saturday, 10 am-2 pm, Norristown Farm Park. March For Our Lives Norristown. Come out and support the students from Parkland Florida and help them make their voices loud and clear across the nation. If you have any questions or want to help call Helen Riley, 484-620-5345 or email bruhel1428@gmail.com.