Dan's Papers - February 15, 2008

NORTH FORK BAND FEST- From 7-11 p.m. check out the second annual North Fork Band Fest for grades 9-12 at Southold Town Recreation Center; bands entertain their peers and compete for cash prizes. Tickets: $5 at door. To register a band, call Penny at Southold Library: 631-765-2077.

HAMLET AT THE HIGHSCHOOL- At 7:30 p.m. Mattituck High School presents 'Hamlet' in auditorium; abridged version. Produced by student Catherine Seyfried, directed by drama teacher Tom Brennan. Tickets: general, $7; seniors/students, $5. 631-298-8460.

HAVE-A-HEART DINNER- From 4 and 6 p.m. attend the 'Have-A-Heart' Valentine's dinner to benefit Community Action of Southold Town (CAST) at Peconic Landing, Greenport. Meal includes caesar salad, lasagna, Italian bread, coffee and dessert. Adults, $20; children ages 6-10, $10; under 5, free. Two seatings, 4 and 6 p.m. Reservations call 631-477-1717.

GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT- From 8:30-11 a.m. check out the eleventh annual Great Backyard Bird Count where they call on birders to "count for fun, count for the future." Count birds and enter tallies online at www.birdcount.org. Free; no registration required. All participants will be entered in drawing to win bird-related prizes. www.northforkaudubon.org.

PLANETS LECTURE- At the Custer Institute from 5-6:30 p.m., Dr. Sean McCorkle presents 'The Planets.' Learn about extra-solar planets, near-earth objects, asteroids, comets, meteors and more; observing and refreshments follow. Suggested donation: $13; members, $10; full-time students with ID, $5. Also, on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 8 p.m.-Total Lunar Eclipse party (weather permitting); bring blanket and lawn chair. Eclipse ends at 12:09 a.m. Refreshments available. Free. Call 631-765-2626, custerdonna@yahoo.com.

WASHINGTON'S PARADE- At 1 p.m. Greenport Fire Department will host the 163rd annual Washington's Birthday parade; begins north end of Main Street, south to Front Street, west to Third Street and north to Fire Station #1. Be there.

CINEMATIC SERIES- At 7:30 p.m. the North Fork Reform Synagogue's Cinematic Series features 'Anne Frank Remembered,' Academy Award-winning documentary narrated by Kenneth Branagh, Glenn Close, Miep Gies and Joely Richardson. Main Road, Cutchogue, opposite Village Green. Light refreshments served. Suggested donation: $5. 631-722-5712.

LIVE PIANO- At 3 p.m. pianist Elena Baksht performs music by Schubert, Chopin, Bach and Mussorgsky at Shelter Island Presbyterian Church; reception follows. 631-749-1488.

COOL JAZZ AND HOT CHOCOLATE- From 11 a.m.-4 p.m. check out Cool Jazz & Hot Chocolate at Long Island Science Center, 11 West Main St., Riverhead; learn how to make music, create sounds, make waves, use a tuning fork and make instrument to take home. Celebrate "chocolate frenzy," learn how chocolate is made, sample hot chocolate and make chocolate clay. Children, $5; adults, $2. 631-208-8000, www.lisciencecenter.org.

THE AUTOMOTIVE SWAP MEET- From 9 a.m.-5 p.m. check out the eighth annual indoor automotive swap meet, car corral and flea market sponsored by Antique Automobile Club of America Peconic Bay Region, at Southold Town Recreation Center, Peconic. Tables, $20; car corral, $20; spectators, $2. 631-589-4779, 631-981-9375.

MARCH 1, BOOK PARTY AT LENZ- Pierson, a native of Southold, NY, will be holding a book launch party at Lenz Winery on Route 25 - Main Road in Peconic, New York on March 1st from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. A former employee of Lenz Winery, Pierson has directed many a Manhattanite to visit their tasting room and still visits often herself. She remains a huge fan of their Gold Label Chardonnay and Cuvée. Call 631-734-6010.

THE NORTH FORK AUDUBON SOCIETY- At 8 a.m. on Tuesdays with Tom; visit various local birding "hot spots" including Dune Road on South Fork, with Tom Damiani, in search of wintering birds; dress appropriately for weather. Meet for carpooling at Red House, Inlet Pond County Park, Greenport. Nonmembers, $5. 631-275-3202, birdspeak@aol.com.

FEBRUARY 23, FRENCH CONDUCTOR AND PIANIST- At 7 p.m. the Arts in Southold Town presents internationally renowned French conductor and pianist Phillippe Entremont who performs on 9-foot Steinway concert grand piano at Southold High School Auditorium. WSHU classical music muse and commentator David Bouchier offers introduction. Tickets: $30; students under 18, free. Reservations/information: 631-734-6320; also available for cash or check at Cecily's Love Lane Gallery, Mattituck; Peconic Liquors, Cutchogue; Old Country Charm, Southold; JET'S Dream, Greenport.

WEIGHT LOSS - The second Tuesday of every month, Dr. RussL'HommeDieu, a physical therapist holds a free weight management lecture & discussion session for people fighting similar weight loss problems. The discussion is moderated by Dr. Russ, who has upheld a 200-pound weight loss himself. Space is limited. For more information contact New Life at 888-446-7764.

REIKI CIRCLES- Reiki Circles Monday Nights @ Grace Episcopal Church Last Monday of the month, meetings are held at Peconic Bay Medical Center. For more Information, contact Ellen J. McCabe at (631) 727-2072

SKATEBOARDING - Great skate park in Greenport offering ramps and a half pipe. Call 631-477-2385 for hours.

INDIAN MUSEUM - In Southold, open Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 631-765-5577.

CAROUSEL - The Greenport Village carousel in Mitchell Park is open Saturdays, Sundays and school holidays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Info for all facilities at the park including the ice rink and camera obsura can be found by calling 631-477-2200.

CUSTER OBSERVATORY- Weather permitting Custer staff will be on hand to assist visitors in observing the night sky using their telescopes. From sunset until midnight in Southold. Call 631-765-2626.

MEDITATION - Buddhist meditations on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Southold. Call 631-949-13-77.