Fairfield-Echo.com

For Fun

Riverbank Poetry Project, Live music and refreshments, 6:30 p.m.; special performances from dynamic local poets, 7:15 p.m. and open mic poetry featuring you, 8 p.m. Students Poetry Competition Award winners reading and reception, Friday, April 25. Free. Fairfield Community Arts Center, (513) 867-5348, www.riverbankpoetry.com.

Dancing with the Senior Stars, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 25, at Fairfield Intermediate School, 255 Donald Drive. Sponsored by Fairfield School District this "senior prom" is for the community's senior citizens. Event will feature a live big band, the After Hours Big Band, dancing and light snacks. Admission is $2. There will be door prizes and other small gift items. Partners in Prime (formerly Senior Citizens Inc.) will be taking complimentary prom pictures of the guests. Reservations requested at (513) 874-9933.

Freundschaft Abend-Tex Mex Style, 6 to 11:30 p.m. May 10 at Cincinnati Donauschwaben Society Halle, 4290 Dry Ridge Road, Colerain Twp. Dinner served at 6 p.m. Dancing follows. Dinner includes stuffed cabbage and sausage, sauerkraut, potatoes, roll and butter, homemade dessert and coffee. Full cash bar and snacks available. Admission is $8. Dance only, $8. Reservations by May 8 at (513) 385-2098 or www.donauschwaben.com. Entertainment by Alpen Echos and dance performance by the Donauschwaben Youth Group.

Support groups

Autism Parent Support Group, 7 p.m. May 8 at Fairfield Wesleyan Church, 4685 Anthony Wayne Ave. Group offers compassion and education to parents/guardians of a child with Autism spectrum related diagnosis.

MS Support Group offers education and compassion in an upbeat and warm atmosphere. The National MS Society sponsored support group meets monthly at 11 a.m. in the Mason Community Center's Bridge area, 6050 Mason-Montgomery Road. May 12 and June 16. To register, call (513) 573-9583, or e-mail mgt6835@embarqmail.com

Aphasia Support Group, 5:30 p.m. first Thursday of each month in the wellness classroom in the Center for Health and Wellness on the Fairfield campus of Mercy Hospital. Helps people who suffer from aphasia and their loved ones cope with their speaking difficulties and the life changes associated with this disorder. Wes Grimes, (513) 682-1269.

Clubs

Deaf Teen Leadership Club, 7 to 9 p.m. the second Friday of every month at the Powel Crosley YMCA, 9601 Winton Road. Parent information group meets at the same time. Learn how to avoid drugs and alcohol with topics and discussion. The group is open to all teenagers, regardless of communication mode. For more information, call Carole Donnellon at (513) 221-0527, ext. 182, or visit cincinnatideaf.blogspot.com for more information.

Butler-Warren Chapter of the Entrepreneur's Club of America is a new business club tailored to meet the educational and business needs of local entrepreneurs. Monthly luncheon meetings with guest speakers, entrepreneur workshops and a roundtable discussion group. Keith Center, (513) 459-7309.

Fairfield Kiwanis meets at noon every Tuesday at Symmes Tavern on the Green, 500 Wessel Drive. (513) 714-0161.

Volunteers

Butler County Community Health Consortium seeks volunteers for its nonprofit agency providing Butler County residents with access to quality, primary healthcare regardless of income or insurance. (513) 705-4116 or e-mail awladysh@bcchc.org.

Partners in Prime, formerly Senior Citizens Inc., seeks volunteers to fill a variety of positions. Visit www.partnersinprime.org to view current volunteer opportunities or call Jenny at (513) 867-1998.

Foster homes for dogs are desperately needed. (513) 755-7778 or e-mail shelteredpaws@yahoo.com.

One Way Farm seeks office volunteers to search for grants, help with sewing on Wednesday afternoons, and create an ongoing craft class. Call (513) 829-5683, or visit www.onewayfarm.org for more information. Also seeks volunteers to sort donations, teach children life skills and assist with homework. (513) 829-3276.

Community Multicare Center needs volunteers to help the activity department with room visits with residents. Ruth Rutherford, (513) 868-6500.

Butler County Red Cross needs volunteer drivers, ages 21 and older, to assist with transportation program. (513) 868-7616.

Butler County CASA needs adult volunteers. Time commitment averages eight to 10 hours a month. (513) 867-5010, www.butlercounty.org/PARACHUTE.

Reunions

Lakota Class of 1988, 20-year reunion 7:30 p.m. July 12 at The Savannah Center, 5533 Chappell Crossing Blvd. West Chester Twp. Cost is $42 person/$80 couple by April 30; $52 person/$100 couple May 1 to June 30; $72 person/$140 couple after June 30. Includes dinner, two drink tickets, music and venue fees. Cash bar, photographer available. Dress is corporate casual. A block of hotel rooms has been reserved at the Marriott Cincinnati North. Remit registration to Lakota Class of 1988 Reunion, c/o Marivi Tordil Magan, 7873 Devonwood Court, Dublin, OH 43017 or via PayPal to LakotaHS_88@yahoo.com. Companies interested in sponsoring the event may contact Melissa Crawford at lissa_crawford@hotmail.com or (513) 967-6847. Join the group "Lakota High School Class of 1988" at www.facebook.com.

Lakota High School Classes of 1967, 1968 and 1969 joint reunion July 26 at The Wingate Inn in West Chester Twp. Buffet dinner, cash bar and DJ/dancing. $60 each. Baker Photography available for photos. A block of rooms available at a discount of $89 per room at (513) 777-1101. If you have not received an invitation, contact (1967) Kathy (Collins) Tyson at (513) 777-7706 or jim.tyson@earthlink.net; or (1968) Karen (Lafferty) Siegmann at 777- 5447 or Siegmannkl@fuse.net; or (1969) Juanita (Collins) Wilson at 779-0256 or jmkatie2@aol.com. All reservations, payable to Lakota Class of '68 Treasurer, should be mailed by May 2 to Karen Siegmann, 7320 Princeton Road, Liberty Twp., Ohio 45044.www.lakotaonline.com/alumni.cfm.

Lebanon High School Class of 1988 20-year reunion, June 21 banquet at Great Wolf Lodge. $50 per person, adults only. June 22 is family picnic. Jim Byers, (513) 897-3740, Art Harper, artharper2@aol.com, Sarah (Cranmer) Waulk, osp1014@embarq

mail.com.

Classes

Teach Your Child to Sign Workshop, 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. May 13 at Bethesda North Hospital, 10500 Montgomery Road. SmallTalk parent workshop is taught by a Child Sign Language Specialist. $45 per couple, includes pictorial dictionary of signs and Signing Safari's "Teach Your Child to Sign" DVD. Register at (513) 475-4500.

"Happiest Baby on the Block," 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. May 5 at SmartyPants, 11920 Montgomery Road and May 13 at Bethesda North Hospital, 10500 Montgomery Road. Learn how to turn on your newborn's calming reflex — the extraordinary "off-switch" for crying all babies are born with. Workshop teaches step-by-step how to help your newborn sleep better and how to soothe even the fussiest baby in minutes. $50 includes parent kit, HBOB video and "Soothing Sounds" CD. Register for May 5 at (513) 289-5649 and May 13 at (513) 475-4500.

"Why Whine, When You Can Sign?" 10 a.m. beginning May 2 at Mason Community Center. A 5-week, 45-minute series for 6- to 35-month-olds. Join your child in singing, signing, playing and rhyming during weekly interactive, signing play classes. Cost is $89, $114 nonresidents and includes Teach Your Child to Sign DVD. Register at www.SigningSafari.com or (513) 229-8555.

"Your Baby's Amazing Journey — the First 12 Months," 7 to 9:30 p.m. May 15 at Good Samaritan Hospital, 375 Dixmyth Ave. Parenting workshop interactively explores expected first year developmental milestones and offers effective strategies for dealing with typical eating, sleeping and fussiness issues. Fee is $35 per parenting team. Register at (513) 475-4500.

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