Friday, February 19, 2010

Saturday is a Volunteer Workday at the UW Arboretum. Volunteers are needed for restoration activities and to learn about prairies and savannas. Tools and training are provided, and groups are welcome with advance notice. Meet at 9 AM at the Grady Tract parking lot, SE corner of the Beltline and Seminole Hwy. More info at uwarboretum.org or 265-5214

One of the biggest needs in Haiti right now is shelter and with the rainy season fast approaching, most people do not have waterproof shelters. Your tent and tarp donations will bring hope to Haitian families struggling to stay dry. Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin will collect new and used clean tarps and tents Saturday from 9 to noon in the Administration Building parking lot, 1265 John Q. Hammons Dr. More info at 251-3356.

Sunday from 2 to 4, the Health Sciences Learning Center, 750 Highland Ave, will present a Black History Art Exhibit and artist reception. Viewers can meet artist Stanley Sallay, a graduate of the UW-Madison Odyssey project, a free humanities credit course for adults facing economic barriers to higher education. For more info visit odyssey.wisc.edu or call 262-3733

Saturday at 1:30 pm, at Mills Concert Hall in the UW Humanities Building, 455 N. Park Street, the Percussion Ensemble of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra will host a PERCUSSION EXTRAVAGANZA benefiting Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. A food or cash donation is suggested. The concert will feature a variety of music, dance and martial arts groups. More info at 263-3320 or 236-0535.

The 2nd annual Wisconsin River Grass Roots Festival will take place Saturday at the Wisconsin Heights High School, on Hwy. 14 between Black Earth and Mazomanie. The theme of the conference is “Making Change Happen” and festival hours will be from 8:30 until 4. To register or for more info call Nate Timm at 220-0139 or visit www.WRVGFest.com

Without coats, boots, hats and gloves to keep them warm, how do Wisconsin mammals get through winter? The naturalist at the UW Arboretum will answer that question and point out other discoveries during the 1 PM walk offered on Sunday at 1207 Seminole Highway. More info at 263-7888.