'A Christmas Carol' will be performed once again this December at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – Auditions for the second annual, onstage radio drama, “A Christmas Carol” will be held at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, and Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The show will be preformed live on the stage and broadcast on public radio station KPFZ on Dec. 19.

Everyone interested in providing voices for the characters of this well-known story of universal redemption should come to the theater prepared to read from the script provided.

There are openings for eight to 10 people, male and female.

The roles are primarily vocal and memorization of the script is not essential. A good speaking voice and diction is what is needed. Please come be a part of this gift to the community from the Soper-Reese, your community theater.

For more information, please call Bert Hutt at 707-263-6016.

Off to Plymouth Rock by Dandi Daley Mackall. Illustrations by Gene Barretta.

(Nashville TN: Tommy Nelson Inc, 2003. 32 pp. $12.99, ISBN 1-4003-0473-3)

Ages 4-8

A perfect book to read to the family as you gather for Thanksgiving, “Off to Plymouth Rock” will appeal to ages 4 to 8 as well as the young at heart.

Shared in rhyme to engage young minds, Mackall tells the story of the first Thanksgiving without talking down to her young audience.

The story begins with the pilgrims’ flight from their European homeland:

Pilgrims flee!

Sail the sea,

Knowing there’s no guarantee.

Leaving, grieving,

Still believing …

Off to Plymouth Rock!

The story continues by telling the tale of their perilous voyage, the terrifying winter after their first arrival, and the compassion of Massasoit, the Indian chief, who moved by their suffering helped the pilgrims to survive.

“Off to Plymouth Rock” describes Squanto teaching the pilgrims about native crops such as corn and the joy of the first harvest. As it concludes with the first Thanksgiving we are reminded how different the first Thanksgiving was from our gatherings and yet we can see the seed with which they began.

Humble living,

First Thanksgiving –

Here at Plymouth Rock.

The illustrations are also particularly worth noting.

Gene Barretta engages the reader with his drawings of two young girls throughout the story. Fear, hope and wonder can be seen in their faces as their lives begin to intertwine.

The final illustration of the book shows the girls playing together under the table near the feet of immigrant pilgrims and native Americans.

One sees it is not only a look back but also a prayer for our future – that one day we may all get along and welcome one another to the table.

The edition I reviewed included a read-a-long “Activity” CD which was a disappointment, but the book is charming and will be a welcome addition to any Thanksgiving gathering.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s be on our way,

Off to Plymouth Rock!

Geri Williams is a local book fancier.

The movie will be shown at Clearlake United Methodist Church at 14521 Pearl Ave. near Mullen in Clearlake.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for snacks and socializing; the film starts at 6 p.m.

This is a a Pacifica documentary produced and written by Geoff Brady of Pacifica's outstanding station, WBAI.

The footage in this film is a video and photographic document of high atmospheric aircraft activity and related weather control programs conducted over New York City from 2008 to 2009.

The film describes how our weather has been silently stolen without permission for the purposes of scientific experimentation and use by the military as a weapon of war.

Audio of NASA, U.C. Berkeley and Stanford scientists reveals the disconnect in their thinking as they casually discuss manipulating the climate to solve "Climate Change" and for use as a weapon, while ignoring the effects that dumping massive quantities of metal aerosols into the atmosphere will have Earth's life systems.

This serious and fascinating documentary does not indulge in conspiracy theories, but sticks to known facts, and speculations on what is happening.

Lake County resident and researcher Tom Slaight will introduce the film and will share about 10 minutes of his own video of similar if not identical emissions over Lake County. Slaight also will be available for discussion and a question and answer session following the film.

For more information call 707-279-2957.

Pictured from left to right: Reid Carpenter (drums), Landon Bracisco (vocals/guitar), Rafael Roy-Labelle (bass) and Jacob Gill (vocals/guitar). Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE – Local teen rock band String Theory will be the opening band for The Lost Boys on Friday, Nov. 6, during the Grand Finale Weekend at Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa.

String Theory band members live in the Cobb/Middletown area and are freshmen at Middletown High School.

Doors open at 8 p.m. with a $5 cover charge.

String Theory will kick off the show at 9 p.m., and the Lost Boys will perform at 10:15 p.m.

For more information about String Theory, visit www.myspace.com/stringtheory27 . Come and support your local teens!

On Saturday, Nov. 7, Raul Gilbert, Lourdes Thuesen and Mary McMillan will explore the issue of “Writing as Expression.”

Look for lively debates and thought-provoking discussion.

During the hour, Thuesen and McMillan also will discuss their experience as editors of the Lake County Record-Bee column, “Creative Expressions.”