Calling all drama queens!

Do you have a drama queen (or king!) between the ages of 4 and 14? Do they need a healthy outlet for all of that drama? If so, I can relate! Good news, though...Star Community Theatre is holding auditions for their summer children's production. This summer they'll be presenting Pirates! The Musical.

Auditions are June 15, with performances on July 14, 15, and 16. Additional details are available here. Your child will need to be prepared to audition with a short poem, monologue or song, so start practicing now. Break a leg!

Lee County Links Up

We asked for it, and Lee County Government listened. As of today, the county government has launched a multi-faceted social media initiative that includes Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and a regularly updated blog.

"The goal of this initiative is to enhance communication and keep the citizens of Lee County informed as to the happenings of their government," explains county tax director Dwayne Brinson. Brinson's department is piloting a new program called Live Chat, a communication medium that is like "AOL or MSN messenger times 100" and allows citizens to directly communicate with county representatives.

Use it: You can use this tool to query tax office representatives via Internet chat immediately rather than by telephone or email (where you must wait for a response). Right now the program is for tax-related issues only, but more departments will soon join the initiative. The best part is the technology allows reps to add others to the chat rather than hand you off to someone else -- which means you don't have to keep explaining your problem or wait for others to become available, Brinson says.

Since going live, the county has gotten "4 or 5 chats a day," according to Brinson. "Things are progressing in Lee County, and I think the citizens will enjoy the new direction we are going," he says.

Next step: Go check out Live Chat and let the county know what you think of its use of emerging technologies. And don't forget to "like" its Facebook page and subscribe to its Twitter feed!

Don't Miss a Minute of Fun This Weekend!

There are so many fun things going on this weekend that only a blog entry can contain it all. Get ready for a jam-packed weekend!

For Kids

Tonight, like every Friday night in May, Downtown Sanford is hosting Screen on the Green. Tonight's movie is Space Jam.

The Central Carolina Jaycees are throwing a Spring Fling Children's Festival starting at 12 pm in Depot Park. The event will feature crafts, games, entertainment, and information exhibits. Kids of all ages are welcome.

For Adults
The Temple Theatre is presenting Roger & Hammerstein's South Pacific all this month. This weekend's shows are Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.

Carolina Animal Rescue & Adoption's 1st annual Ride for Their Lives kicks off in Deep River tomorrow morning at 8:30 am. Online registration ends today, but procrastinators can show up at 7:15 am to sign up. The event offers three courses (13 mile, Half Century, or Century Ride) and costs $35.

See? Something for everyone. Go out and have a great weekend in Sanford!

2 Ways to Help Stamp Out Hunger in Lee County

This Saturday (May 8) is national "Stamp Out Hunger" day, which is when Campbell Soup Company, the National Association of Letter Carriers, and the U.S. Postal Service join forces to collect food for local shelters and food pantries.

In our area, food collected will be donated to the Christian United Outreach Center (CUOC). Here are two ways you can get involved:

#1: Leave a sturdy bag or box of non-perishable foods next to your mailbox prior to your regular delivery time. Examples of non-perishable items include canned soups, canned meats, canned vegetables, pasta, rice, cereal, and baby formula. Make sure your non-perishable foods are in non-breakable containers.

#2: Donate a few hours to the CUOC between 10 am and 4 pm to help them sort and process all the food postal workers will be bringing in. Coordinators anticipate more than 12,000 lbs of food will be brought in that day and will likely need at least 60 volunteers to help handle it.

Bonus: The CUOC is especially in need of these items: toilet paper, paper towels, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, and canned tomatoes. You can donate them directly to the center or include them in the donation you leave for postal workers.

For more information or to volunteer your time, contact the CUOC at (919) 774-8485.

Lend Your Hand to Special Olympics

Tomorrow athletes from across the county will compete against each other in one of our community's most rewarding events: the Special Olympics.

But the Lee County Parks & Recreation is still in need of any and all volunteer help the community can provide. In exchange for helping out, volunteers will receive a tee shirt and a hot dog lunch at the end of the event.

If you are able to pitch in, or know someone else who can, coordinators ask that you report to Southern Lee High School tomorrow (May 7) at 9 am so they can put you to work. The event ends at 1 pm.

Grab Supplies To Support Our Schools

Lee County Schools' Teacher Resource Room is moving this week -- and that's good news for those of us in need of educational and office supplies.

"Anyone is welcome to take items while we clear out our trailer at Lee County High School," announced Communities in Schools of Lee County program director Laura Biediger earlier today.

The trailer is the first one facing Nash Street near the front/teacher parking lot. You can go select the items you'd like from 1 pm to 5 pm today and 9 am to 5 pm tomorrow and Friday. Rather than purchasing the items you'd like, CIS asks that you make a donation to their program. Bring your own bag/box to carry your items.

Available supplies include: Subject dividers, page protectors, assorted desk and computer supplies, binders, file folders, computer paper, foam scraps with sticky binding, multipurpose craft paint, wall paper sample books, fabric scraps, textbooks, encyclopedias, language readers and workbooks, LCHS yearbooks, glass and plastic scienceware, plastic containers, and more!

If you have any questions, contact Laura at 353-1885 or via email.