Opening reception set for visiting artist

IRONTON — Elizabeth Payne, a South Point native and faculty member in the Theatre Arts Department at California State University at Fresno, will have an opening reception for her watercolors and costumes entitled “You Can Get There” this Thursday, Dec. 17, from 6-7 p.m. in the Dingus Center Art Gallery on the Ohio University Southern campus.

Her works will be on exhibit through January 15. Admission is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

PAC launches children’s website

ASHLAND, Ky. — Kids can now log on to the Paramount Arts Center website and hang out in the KidZone.

A bright-colored tab on the home page of the website will take kids to their own special area where there are video clips of upcoming movies and performances.

There are also a few online games. More than 30,000 children visit the theater every year to see great performances offered by our Youth Education Series.

The new year kicks off with “Harry the Dirty Dog” in January, “The Rhythm of the Drum” in February and “A Year with Frog and Toad” in March. Our Youth Education Series provides fun, exciting and educational performances to coordinate with school curriculum. Events are open to school groups and to the public.

For a complete list of events and to see the new kid’s site, visit our website at www.paramountartscenter.com and click on KIDZONE.

Hot dog festival benefits hospital

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — A lot of hot dogs were eaten during the West Virginia Hot Dog Festival, and Cabell Huntington Hospital’s Children’s Hospital project is reaping the benefits of that big appetite.

The organizers of the annual festival presented a check for $25,000 on Tuesday to the hospital’s foundation.

The Children’s Hospital project includes a $12 million reconstruction of the hospital’s fifth floor. More than $5.5 million in donations and pledges have been received to date.

The 2010 edition of the hot dog feast is aiming to raise $30,000 for the project.

School orchestras to perform Dec. 18

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The Cabell-Midland and Huntington High Orchestras will combine to perform their annual Christmas Concert on Friday Dec. 18, in the Huntington High Auditorium.

The orchestra will be performing festive Holiday music. The concert is at 7 p.m. the doors open at 6:30 and is free and open to the public.

Huntington restricts dog tethering

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Huntington City Council has restricted the tethering of dogs following months of public debate and a protest by animal lovers who chained themselves to trees.

The ordinance approved Monday night prohibits tethering only when a dog’s owner or guardian isn’t present. The original proposal contained several restrictions, including limiting tethering of a dog to no more than 10 hours a day.

Penalties for violators will range from $50 for the first offense to $500 for four or more offenses.