Things to Do

Arbor Day tree planting at Old Falls Village

Menomonee Falls - Celebrate Arbor Day at Old Falls Village, W15791 County Line Road, at 2 p.m. April 29.

There will be a reading of the Arbor Day Proclamation and planting of a Red Oak Tree. The tree will be planted as a memorial to John Silbar, a 17-year employee with the Department of Public Works who lost his battle with cancer in January.

Rec department offering African cooking class

Germantown - Learn about life in the small village of Seela (in Tanzania, Africa), while helping to prepare a traditional Tanzanian meal. The class features vivid photos of Tanzanian food and cooking, plus captivating stories of daily life in this small village on the slopes of Mt. Meru.

Children/teens (ingoing grades three to 12) meet May 7; adults (18+) meet May 14. Both classes are from 10 a.m. to noon at the Germantown Survive Alive House.

The cost is $16 for residents and school district residents and $18 for nonresidents.

Register by April 29. Registration is accepted online www.village.germantown.wi.us, in person or by mail/drop box/fax on a first come, first serve basis.

Registration continues during normal office hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday) until classes are full.

Walk to support MS research coming back to Falls

Menomonee Falls - The second annual Menomonee Falls Walk MS Event will be held April 30. Last year, 400 walkers participated and raised almost $40,000.

The Falls event starts from Good Shepherd Catholic Church, W17658 Christman Road. Registration begins at 9 a.m.; the walk begins at 10 a.m.

Walk MS brings together more than 10,000 walkers and volunteers from communities throughout Wisconsin, all walking to create a world free of multiple sclerosis.

Walk MS and other fundraising initiatives allow the National MS Society - Wisconsin Chapter to continue to drive research for a cure and to address the challenges of those affected by MS.

You can help make a difference in the lives of Wisconsin residents touched by MS. Visit walkmswisconsin.org to register for the walk, form a team or to pledge online.

Kiwanis Club hosts pancake breakfast

Menomonee Falls - The Kiwanis Club of Menomonee Falls hosts its annual Pancake Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 1 at Trysting Place Pub, W12980 Appleton Ave., Menomonee Falls.

The cost is $6 per person, children younger than 6 eat free.

All Proceeds benefit Special Olympics, Kiwanis Scholarship Fund, Little League and other area Youth Services. Tickets are available at the door or from any Menomonee Falls Kiwanis member.

For questions, call Jerry Gillich at (252) 262-4548.

Fundraiser benefits Special Olympian's family

Menomonee Falls - Help Becca Stelpflung make it to the Special Olympics in Athens, Greece.

On April 30, Bi-County Special Olympics is holding a dinner, silent auction, door prizes, and more with all proceeds going to help send the family of Special Olympian Becca Stelpflug to Athens to see Becca compete on the U.S. swim team at the World Games.

The fundraiser is from noon to 6:30 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall No. 4240, N9161 Water Street, Menomonee Falls.

Tickets can be purchased at the door. Advanced tickets can be purchased through Christ The King Lutheran Church by calling (262) 781-7600.

Donations can be made directly to any US Bank for "Becca's Family Greece Trip."

Learn to garden with native plans

Menomonee Falls - The Menomonee Falls Public Library presents Horticulturist and Landscape Designer Carrie Hennessy teaching how to garden with native plants at 7 p.m. May 3.

The program is geared toward informing people about native plants for their yards and gardens before the planting season is in full swing.

The program is free and is held in the meeting/community room of the library, N8436 Pilgrim Road.

For questions, call Karen at (262) 532-8912.

Community band holds open rehearsals

Germantown - The Germantown Community Band invites area musicians to attend two open rehearsals, May 2 and May 16, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the Germantown High School band room, room 158.

Any instrumentalist, eighth grade and older, is welcome to play along at the rehearsals. If you currently play an instrument or used to play, the Germantown Community Band provides an outlet to perform a fun variety of music. Information on joining the band is available at the rehearsals.

The band rehearses on Monday evenings from June 20 to July 25 and performs three concerts at Firemen's Park in Germantown in July.

More information about the Germantown Community Band is available at web. me.com/gtownbands/Site/Welcome.html or by emailing James Barnes at gtownbands@ gmail.com.

Falls library hosts spring book sale

Menomonee Falls - The Menomonee Falls Public Library will hold its spring book sale May 5 to 7 in the library's meeting room. Doors open at 9 a.m. each day and close at 8:30 p.m. on the May 5 and 3 p.m. on the other days.

Hardcover and paperback books, videos, DVDs, books on cassette, and CDs for children and adults are offered for sale. Most items cost 25 cents each or five for $1.

On May 7, a "baker's dozen (13)" will cost $1. The library is located at N8436 Pilgrim Road in Menomonee Falls.

For information, call (262) 532-8927 or (262) 532-8930.

Historical society holds family day

West Bend - Gather the family and your curiosity for a journey back in time from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7 as the Washington County Historical Society hosts the annual Living History Encampment Family Day, Old Courthouse Square located at 320 S. 5th Ave in West Bend.

Visit with a blacksmith and see how metal was sculpted into useful objects. Learn about the daily activities of women on the frontier and compare it with life today. Enter a plains traders' tee-pee to see the many fascinating trade goods that were necessary for frontier living. Re-enactors will also demonstrate music and flint knapping.

This special event will be held rain or shine and is free and open to the public.

For information, contact Jessica Sawinski-Couch at (262) 335-4678.

St. Agnes presents 'Alice' adaptation

Butler - St. Agnes Drama Company presents, "Agnes in Butlerland," a musical adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" on May 5 and 6.

Call (262) 783-4188 for tickets and more information.

St. Agnes Parish is located at 12801 West Fairmount Ave., Butler.

Falls library hosting best-selling author

Menomonee Falls - Menomonee Falls Public Library, N8436 Pilgrim Road, presents Brian Freeman, an international, best-selling psychological suspense author, at 7 p.m. May 10.

Freeman will speak about his new book, "The Bone House," answer questions and sign books in the library's meeting Room.

The program is free and open to the public. The author's books will be available for purchase.

For information, call Karen at (262) 532-8912.

Germantown Recreation holding gardening class

Germantown - Join the Germantown Recreation Department for a workshop on ways to dress up your yard or put in a new landscape. These workshops cover vegetable and flower gardening, container gardening, different types of soil and mulches, spring pruning techniques, and how to do general lawn and plant maintenance.

Class will be taught by Russell Wendland, landscape architect of Wendland Nursery, N10415 Division Road.

The workshop is from 9 to 11 a.m. May 14 at Wendland Nursery.

The cost for residents is $10 per person, and for nonresidents and school district residents $15. Register by May 6. Registration is accepted online www.village.germantown.wi.us, in person or by mail/drop box/fax on a first come, first serve basis. Registrations continue during normal office hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday thorugh Friday, until classes are full.

For information, call the Germantown Recreation Department at (262) 250-4710.

Women's club presents spring fashion show, brunch

Menomonee Falls - The Milwaukee West Suburban Christian Women's Club invites you for bunch from 9:30 to 11 a.m. May 16. The group meets at Davians Banquet and Conference Center, 16300 Silver Spring Drive. There will also be a spring fashion show by Margo's Village Boutique of Greendale.

The guest speaker, Linda Duffon, talks about Tall, but Still Growing.

Enjoy it all for $14, tax and tip included.

Call Lois at (262) 251-3841 no later than May 9 for your reservation. Free child care is provided if we are notified at the time of your reservation.

Wild Ones bringing local expert for nature walk

Richfield - Walk with local expert Jacqui Branchford in a woodland walk through the Richfield Nature Park at 6:30 p.m. May 10.

The park is north of Highway 167 on Highway 164 in the village of Richfield.

For information, go to for-wild.org/chapters/menomonee or call Carolyn Larkin at (414) 881-4017.

Imagination Theatre holding auditions for 'Music Man'

Germantown - Imagination Theatre of Germantown is seeking a large cast of adults, teens and children ages 8 and older for "The Music Man." Auditions are at 6 p.m. May 16 and 17 at CrossWay Church at N10041 Pilgrim Road, Germantown.

Prepare 16 bars of a song of your choice and be prepared to learn a short dance combination. Orchestra auditions will be May 24 at 6:30 p.m. also at CrossWay Church.

Performances are Aug. 12 to 14 and Aug. 19 to 21.

For more information, contact (262) 957-0399.

Symphony ensembles present spring concert

Germantown - The Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, directed by James Barnes, perform music by Frank Ticheli and Malcolm Arnold on May 19. The Symphonic Band adds pieces by Frank Erickson and Eric Osterling, and the Wind Symphony also performs works by Leonard Bernstein and Richard Wagner.

In addition, a chamber ensemble performs "Gollum" from the Lord of the Rings Symphony by Johann deMeij.

Admission is $2 per person or $5 per family. The concert is performed at Germantown High School, N11501 River Lane.

For information, call Jonathan Bell at (262) 502-7158.

Pilgrim Lutheran Church hosts soccer camp

Menomonee Falls - Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Menomonee Falls invites kids to join them for its 2011 Soccer Camp held from 9 a.m. to noon June 20 to 23.

Under the theme Win the Prize, children ages 4 to 13 spend four days learning valuable soccer skills from an experienced coaching staff.

The registration fee is $35 and includes four days of quality soccer instruction from an experienced and energetic coaching staff. All camp participants receive a soccer shirt, water bottle, and snacks and drinks

To ensure your spot, register online at pilgrimcares.org/soccercamp with either your credit or debit card (via PayPal). You can also call (262) 781-3520 to register with cash or check.

Club offers support, activities for moms

Menomonee Falls - The MOMS Club of Menomonee Falls, a support group and support organization for mothers, has activities including monthly meetings, weekly playgroups, fun outings with the kids, and monthly Mom's Night Out.

Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m. at United Church of Christ, N4915 Townline Road, Sussex.

For information, call (414) 299-9825.

Club gives support to mothers

Germantown - The MOMS Club, a support group and service organization for mothers, is active in the Germantown area.

Activities include meetings, playgroups, and fun activities.

Meetings are the second Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Living Christ, N10660 Pilgrim Road, Germantown.

For information, call (414) 571-2239.