Budding poets can celebrate Earth Day by entering a recycling-themed, illustrated haiku contest sponsored by the American Chemical Society. Entries will be judged for originality, recycling relevance, execution and adherence to haiku style. That’s no rhymes, three lines — five syllables in the first, seven in the second, five in the third. Best in show by adults and in four age categories for kids K-12 will receive $50 gift certificates to a local bookstore, and their work will go on to the nationals. Poems and pictures on 8.5-by-11-inch paper should be sent to Willem Leenstra, UVM, Cook Physical Science Building, 82 University Place, Burlington, VT 05405 by March 31.

The 230 members of the Green Mountain Section of ACS include teachers, chemists at companies such as OMYA and IBM, and retired chemists. Time will tell how many of them are also poets — or how many local poets might respond with a chemical reaction.

Ruth Horowitz

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April Werner and Ben Bergstein, cofounders of the Burlington-based Vermont Performing Arts League, have been making worldwide connections for nearly two decades with their Green Mountain Volunteers dance group, FolKids of Vermont and the Vermont International Festival — oh, and Volga River Trading Company, their Russian-import business. Now the couple has an offer for folks right here at home: an empty space. The 20-by-30-foot room at 294 North Winooski Avenue has “natural light, good heat and air conditioning . . . lots of parking, and is wheelchair accessible,” says a recent release. “We are looking for interested people who have a class or activity they would like to present.” Need studio or rehearsal space? Call 863-6598 or email april@volgarivertrading.com.

Pamela Polston



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