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Art-Farm Camp updates on the dates and fees….

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This lovely swallowtail kept me company while planting a bed of cabbage and dill in the Art-Farm teaching garden….

Little Artshram’s Fourth Annual
Summer Art-Farm Beehive Camp
at the Community Gardens in Traverse City!

THANKS TO the ART-OFF event, hosted at Right Brain Brewery,

and sponsored by many, on June 14th

we are able to reduce our camp fees to $99.00 and offer scholarships to kids in need!

Please note also, that registration is now open for the following weeks:

July 21-25
August 4-8
August 11-15

Girls OUTLOUD! Art-Farm Camp
August 18-22

(Download the registration form here–2 pages):

summer-art-farm-beehive-page-1.pdf

saf-beehive-page-2-1.pdf

Children and youth, ages 6 and older have the opportunity to experience the magical blend of gardening, art, music and learning a deeper appreciation for the natural world. The Art-Farm Camps take place at the Community Gardens near the historic barns. This year we are partnering with the Michigan Land Use Institute (MLUI) to begin developing an Art-Farm Youth Entrepreneurial Market Garden, and also, with the TC Primitive Skills Core Group to expand our Wandering in the Woods Nature Awareness program. It’s going to be a great summer!


The Art-Farm programs follow the Permaculture practice of carefully studying natural patterns, cycles and diversities. The focus areas are: food, water, shelter and community. The curriculum is a blend of art and music-making, organic gardening, natural building projects, nature awareness and primitive skills.

At the Community Gardens, Art-Farm Campers will tend and help grow a variety of vegetables, flowers and herbs in a teaching garden plot and assist the interns and mentor in the Youth Entrepreneurial Market Gardens as they work towards growing food to take to various markets. Each week we will create puppets or masks, story-tell, sing and perform a puppet teach-in at a special family-picnic at the Community Gardens. We will learn about “forest gardening”, play wilderness awareness games, learn about trees and wild plants that grow in the Munson Woods, and practice primitive skills like fox-walking and learning bird language. Other projects include, painting, cartooning and nature sketching, and garbage art and natural-found instrument making.

Each weekly camp accommodates 25 children/youth, ages 6 and older with a staff of two-three adult leaders and two Art-Farm Apprentices.

The Art-Farm Day Camps are offered, Monday through Friday, 10-3 PM
Beehive Camps (1st-6th grade, 6 years and older)


July 21-25
August 4-8
August 11-15

Girls OUTLOUD! Art-Farm Camp
August 18-22
Art-Farm Apprentice(13 years and older) and Teacher Training:
This week! June 16-20th, 2008 (M-F 10-3PM)

Mark your calendars for our end of summer and second annual

Art-Farm and Traverse City Harvest Festival, Saturday, Sept. 20th!

For more information about the Beehive Camp, Art-Farm Apprentice or Art-Farm Intern Program contact: 231-510-3491 or penny@littleartshram.org
visit us at: www.littleartshram.org

We are a registered 501.c3 organization, and you are invited to “sponsor” a camper!

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Art-Farm Camp Registration OPEN…Community Gardens Food GROWING!

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Summer-time in TC is a time for kids, teens and young people to come together making art and music, learning about growing food, and wandering in the woods! Register now for our Summer Art Farm Camps and Apprentice Program…HOW? You can download information here….and you may also call us at 231-510-3491:

The Beehive Art-Farm Camps are for kids 6 years and older, Monday through Friday, from 10-3PM, beginning the week of June 23rd through the end of August (7 Weeks to choose from)….

summer-art-farm-beehive-page-1.pdf

saf-beehive-page-2-1.pdf

Even though the registration deadline has passed, we are still accepting applications for the Apprentice Program, for teens 13 years old to young adults, with a week of training coming up—June 16th-20th…

apprentice-registration-1.pdf

AND, what’s happening at the Traverse City Community Gardens? There are still 3 garden plots available–it’s not too late to get some seeds and plants in the ground! Stop by the gardens or give us a call: 231-510-3491.

We are working with a great group of folks and wonderful families TRANSFORMING this growing space into beautiful, blooming glowing space….working together, waiting for the frost to pass (It’s only the end of May….aarrrggghhh) AND looking forward to sharing some fun times with the Little A Art-Farm families with potlucks and puppet shows this summer….

Here’s a series of photos taken of Community Gardner Alex doing some necessary work on our cistern which we use to collect water from the rooftop of our Art-Farm Workshop space, Bldg. #221….

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You can see from the looks of the gooky algae from the previous year what a job this was. Thanks Alex–and Charlene and Elsie too! The cistern is clean and we’re back to catching water off the roof!

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TC Community Gardens–Potluck and Plots!

Spring Greetings at long last!

For those of you who have gardened in previous years at the TC Community Gardens and wish to get back into the soil on these sunny days, go ahead and re-claim your garden space and get started. Some of us took advantage of last weekends’ warm weather and planted peas!

We are happy to welcome new gardeners into the Community Garden space and would like to encourage you to visit the gardens and check out the layout. The Community Gardens are located nearby the big Barns on the old State Mental Hospital, near the Village of the Grand Traverse Commons and Bldg. #50 area.

For general information sharing, join us for a Community Garden Potluck next weekend (see info below), where we will welcome new gardeners and get organized to have more plots plowed, discuss the water-plans/solutions we’ve been working on this winter, and fine-tune our Community Garden guidelines and organizational collective.

There will be a garden plot-map and we will have contracts for you to fill out. The garden plot rental fee is again $25.00, with an additional work-trade agreement to accomplish new fence installation, general garden upkeep, and organize more potlucks and picnics throughout the gardening season.

We will also share information about an upcoming Skill-share and Training sponsored by Little Artshram, titled From Community Gardening to Wandering in the Woods, on May 17th. This day-long skill-share and training will focus on organic and sustainable gardening practices, herb-gardening, a plant and seed swap, and building nature awareness skills. We welcome both families and individuals, with activities and workshops for all ages! Cost is $5.00 donation per workshop.

AND FINALLY, Because we are still encountering some chilly spring weather, we’ll hold this potluck at the Artcenter of TC–which is just around the corner from the Community Gardens.


APRIL Community Garden Potluck
Sunday, April 20th
6:30-8:30 PM
Artcenter of TC, corner of 11th and Elmwood
bring a dish to share and your own tableware

Let’s make this ZERO-Trash please!
(….we leave nothing behind or in the trash cans…
Pack it in…Pack it out…)

Hope to see you there!

Community Garden news and updates posted on:
www.littleartshram.org

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Earth Day Fundraiser and Volunteer Opportunities….

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This weekend, on Saturday March 15th, from 6-9 PM is our “Bring in the Spring” annual kick-off fundraiser (featuring a Puppet Fashion and Garbage Art Show)for the Grand Traverse Earth Day Parade preparations which officially begin at the ArtCenter of Traverse City the following week.

Please download our fundraiser poster and share the news: earth-day-news2.pdf

We would also like to share with you, and ask that you help spread the word about the volunteer opportunities that are available with your friends, families, neighbors and business associates.

This annual spring event has become a much loved tradition in the Traverse City area and we are making a BIG effort to get more of the Grand Traverse Community in on the fun!

Mari von Walthausen from the United Way Volunteer Center will help us with coordinating volunteer opportunities this year, and her contact info is listed below.

Thanks!

~Penny Krebiehl

Little Artshram, Earth Day Parade Directress
231-510-3491
www.littleartshram.org

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR EARTH DAY 2008!


The Earth Day Parade and Community Picnic, is set for Saturday, April 26th,
and it couldn’t happen without community involvement and volunteer help. Both Little Artshram, a non-profit arts organization, and, Rhythmic Adventures (who are part of the Grand Traverse Earth Day Council) produces the event with a small core staff and about 12 volunteers. Please consider joining us in our efforts to present this annual spring community event!

One of our partners is the ArtCenter of Traverse City, where we “house” our Community Art Studio and parade building workshop for the months of March and April each year. The ArtCenter is located at the corner of 11th and Elmwood Streets in Traverse City and we are grateful for this central location where folks can easily meet and participate in the building of the Earth Day Parade.


We invite you to take a look at the list of opportunities for you or your organization, classroom or work-partners to consider, and then to contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Mari von Walthausen’s (her info is listed below).


IMMEDIATE EARTH DAY VOLUNTEER NEEDS for this week, and next week:

  • SET-up Crew for the Puppet Fashion Show on Saturday, March 15th. Time: 2:00 PM Place: The ArtCenter of TC, corner of Elmwood and 11th St.
  • Workshop Studio Coordinator, works with Project Directresses (Penny & Dede) and assisstants. Begins weekend of March 20-through Parade Day weekend.
  • Workshop Studio Assistants, works with Coordinator. Begins weekend of March 21-through Parade Day weekend.

Are you an artist?

Work with the Project Directresses and Parade Section Leaders designing and teaching workshop, take a workshop shift and mentor a younger or older person in maskmaking and puppeteering, come to the Community Art Studio and share what you know.

Are you a student?
Become an Artist Apprentice on the Parade Design Team and work on Friday afternoons (12-5 PM) designing the Parade Sections and creating the closing puppet ceremony story. We will communicate with your instructor/administration and help set up system where you can receive “credit” for participating. Intern opportunities are available from March 20th through Parade Day weekend. This is open to all curious learners including: environmental ed. and science students, as well as, those interested in the arts and music.

Are you a musician or dancer?
Teach or play at a workshop, recruit other drummers and dancers, form your own music or dance group. Help us make can-jos and percussion instruments and shakers to give out to onlookers on parade day.

Other things volunteers can do:

  • Staff the Community Art Studio and help with the weekly puppet building workshops.
  • Become a Parade Section Leader or join the Ceremony Troupe and help act out our “STOMPIN’, CHOMPIN” Eco-Game Show story.
  • Join in on the Parade Block Host team and help make our parade route a welcome, festive atmosphere.
  • Help organize the Green Fair and Community Picnic at Hannah Park, by contacting: Ronda Whaley, 357-0538, idaloise@yahoo.com
  • Locate and transport supplies and materials.
  • Make phone calls and prepare email and snail mailings.
  • Distribute flyers and posters.
  • Serve as a school liaison with your child’s school.
  • Become an Earth Day Parade Sponsor, by contacting: Elizabeth, 590-5299, empine@hotmail.com
  • Become a Parade Block Host and participate in the Eco-Game Show, by contacting: Vicki Kinney, 929-4228, vicki@unityfairtrade.com

To sign up for a volunteer position:
Contact:
mari@unitedway.tcnet.org,
231-947-3200 X 14


or learn more about the Earth Day Parade:
Contact: penny@littleartshram.org
or go to www.littleartshram.org

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EARTH DAY FASHION SHOW Swanky-fundraiser: Are you a Northern MIchigan Fashion Designer Wannabee in need a Trendy Spring venue?

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….Calling all interested folks to participate in this years

Grand Traverse Earth Day Parade Fundraiser….

A PUPPET FASHION and GARBAGE ART SHOW,

Saturday, March 15, 2008, 6-9 PM:

We plan to have a wonderful evening of family-friendly fun at our 2008 Earth Day Fundraiser and kick-off event, to begin our annual parade building workshops at the Artcenter of TC!

Would you like to get involved with the planning and designing of this crazy-fun and worthy earth-loving community project? There are many creative ways for you to jump on this puppet fashion bandwagon, some ideas are: recycled or reused objects turned into a new look using an existing Earth Day animal/ plant hat, or ,use our 2008 Earth Day parade theme which is: Ecological Footprint and Zero-Waste…..Create hair & makeup (if any) to go with the look….Find your model(s) all body types allowed….This is not a competition, but we would like to auction off some of your puppet fashion trends after the show takes place, with plans for them “reappearing” at the Earth Day Parade (April 26th). So please consider donating your finished Puppet or Garbage Art creation.
If you are inspired to create and ready, join us for these workshops:

March 1 and 8th, 3-5 PM, Puppet Fashion and Garbage Art Workshops—Get inspired by checking out some of our puppets and masks created from past Earth Day events and go at it, designing a trendy new costume that will be brought to life in our Puppet-Run-Away, accompanied by live music.

Same day, March 1 and 8th, 4:30-5:30 PM, Fashion Show Planning meeting—To organize the various details and line-up of the fundraiser.

And, fyi—AND, despite the fact that Little Artshram does not have the budget to pay a $250.00 membership to the Fashion Trendsetter website..we were able to lift off some tips and inspiration for you to consider…
They say: “10 Trends for 2008 explores trends that we believe have real weight and momentum—shifts that are likely to be with us for a long time. What’s in store in the near future? Buy our 2008 forecast and see for yourself.

In this trendletter:

  • Rethinking Instant Gratification
  • Radical Transparency
  • Outwitting Disease
  • Blue is the New Green
  • The World is Local
  • The Personal CPM
  • Demography’s Dead
  • Queen Trumps King
  • Cooperative Consumption
  • Stretching the Bubble: Reality Checks for Two Giants
  • Whatever Happened To…?


Thanks for considering….any questions..or need more details?
Give Dede, the Milkpod Maiden a call at 231-276-2328
or Penny, the Tipping Point Pig at 231-510-3491
www.littleartshram.org
penny@littleartshram.org

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Parade MeRRYMaKING and MOBiLiZING 2008….

 Peace Snake–Earth Day Parade 2004
Greetings as the snow melts,
The Earth Day Parade date has been set to occur on Saturday, April 26th….you can check updates on our website at www.littleartshram.org.

This is the call to our community of parade building artists and mentors who would like to join our evolving and fun-loving Earth Day Artist roster list….If you are interested please contact me asap for an Eday Artist/Mentor application and the date of our first artist and mentor training!

We are also inviting local businesses and organizations to sponsor the 2008 Earth Day parade through our North Woods Family Concerts and Storytelling Series held at Horizon Bookstore. We do need additional support to present the final three concerts, held on the third Thursday of the next three months. Please contact Penny for more information about Earth Day sponsorship opportunities at 231-510-3491.

We are beginning our programming and organizing for the parade building which is annually held in TC beginning in mid February at the ArtCenter of TC. Little A is helping to organize a satellite Earth Dy Community Art Studio in Benzie Co, at Betsie Elementary School in Thompsonville.

A Parade Design Team residency program is scheduled to begin in February in TC at the Artcenter, where a group of 30 kids and a team of Eday Artist/Mentors will outline and frame in the design of the parade sections of our storytelling parade. The parade storyboard will be completed by March 15th, when our Eday Kick-off event happens and the public workshops begin at the Community Art Studio (CAS) held at the Artcenter for a month prior to the parade on April 26th.

This years’ parade theme continues with our past year themes in regards to issues surrounding our WATER home-place near the lovely Lake of Michigan, and the reality of effects we’ve created with GLOBAL WARMING–The storytelling parade focus will be on educating about ZERO-Trash and our crazy, carbon FOOTPRINT. We expect to get creative and have some fun with our FEET!

Opening a satellite Eday CAS will require a certain amount of management and a good deal of volunteerism, and also funding to pay for artist salaries and materials and supplies that we can’t dumpster-dive or grunge for. Please join us in any way that you’re able in the creation of this annual spring event!

Please share this information with others!

Contact info:
penny@littleartshram.org
www.littlearthsram.org

Peace Snake-Earth Day Parade 2004

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Year of Squirrel Calendar 2008 Fundraiser for our Art-Farm Camps

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To purchase this calendar locally in the Traverse City area go to Oryana Natural Foods Co-op, or to Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate in Empire—-or in Lansing, Michigan it is available at the BEST diner, The Golden Harvest.

To purchase it online go to etsy.com and check out our store at pennylittleartshram.etsy.com

A Message from Penny the Squirl Girl, artist: 

In creating this hand-made calendar, I take a few liberties with the traditional Chinese New Year method of designating the year to a specific creature. Since I live and work in Northern Michigan the creature must be of a mid-western, regional variety. This is actually the Year of the Rat, but the closest I could get to rat, in the sense that I need to actually observe what I’m drawing, was a squirrel.

I also met some folks who informed me that in Chinese, the word squirrel means “Pine-rat”. And, so, my good dog, Marley and I have been researching squirrels, hiking through woods, spending lots of time at Central Grade School (Which we’ve renamed “Squirrel Field”) and, at last we are ready to unveil the fifth annual Year of…Calendar. In previous years, I’ve also illustrated Monkey, Chicken, Dog and Pig.

This is a unique calendar that runs from February 2008 to February 2009. Why? Most calendars stick with the traditional, Jan-Dec idea of a year, so we decided to be creative and connect with the month of the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated in February, and, also decided that 13 months are better than 12.

The Year of Squirrel calendar, is 11 X 17″ in size and is actually printed on bright white paper; contains 13 original, Chinese-brush ink drawings of our dashing, skittish friend, Squirrel; a few Squirrel inspired predictions to guide us in the upcoming year along with a few Squirrel and Rat facts; an original, Northern Michigan New Year Story; with Squirrel Nut New Moon and Full Moon notations.

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Winter Art Classes AND another great Concert & Storytelling event!

We are continuing with a series of winter classes, held at both the ArtCenter of Traverse City on the corner of 11th and Elmwood and at the Little Artshram Studio. 311 1/2 Maple, both in Traverse City.If you are a member of the ArtCenter you will receive a class discount and, you can easily register for any of these classes by calling the ArtCenter at 231-941-9488:
Afternoon Art
Twice weekly, through March 15, 2008
Instructor: Penny Krebiehl and Little Artshram TeachersMonday and Wednesday, 3:30-5:30, for Ages: 6 and up Cost: $120 m/ $130 nm min 10/max 15
Afternoon Art program is designed to engage and inspire children through two and three dimensional visual art. This six week program will present a different theme and media each week, with emphasis on drawing, cartooning, illustration and watercolor. Supply list: 9 x 12 spiral bound sketch book, tracing paper, pencils (various leads: HB, 2B, 4B), kneaded eraser, Sharpee markers (fine, extra fine)

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Drawing and Cartooning for Kids
Instructor: Penny Krebiehl and Little Artshram Teachers

Saturday 10-12pm, Beginning Jan 17th through March 15th (then the Earth Day Parade building begins!)

Ages: 10 and up Cost: $80 m/$90 nm

From Cave Art to Animating the Inanimate, each week will be an exploration of a drawing and cartooning technique with a focus of moving further and further from the “real world” into La-La Land. Everyone will be invited to produce a finished cartoon drawing or comic strip for our Class Funny Pages. Supply list: 9 x 12 spiral bound sketch book, tracing paper, pencils (various leads: HB, 2B, 4B), kneaded eraser, Sharpee markers (fine, extra fine)

Puppet and Mask Making for Kids of ALL AGES…
Instructor: Penny Krebiehl and Little Artshram Teachers

Saturday 2-4pm, Beginning Jan 17th through March 15th (then the Earth Day Parade building begins!)

Ages:6 and up Cost: $80 m/$90 nm

Explore the old art of puppetry and mask making in the new world order. Learn the methods of creating the tiniest finger puppet to the mighty big 3-pole puppet AND the paper mache ways of mask making with cardboard and from a clay base. The supply fee will be included in your class fee, with an invitation to join in on the collection of recycled materials as we make amazing sculptural art out of discards and re-useables.

OUTLOUD! Girls Creative Group
Every Thursday, skipping Holiday weeks and school breaks

Instructor: Penny Krebiehl and Little Artshram Teachers, Thursday 6:00-8:00 pm

Ages: 7 and up Cost: $80 m/$90 nm

We believe that art is a mighty power! And OUTLOUD! Is a way to engage that artistic power through a “coming-of-age” program for girls, sharing girl-centered issues and experiences through journal and book-making and creative writing, puppet and mask making, and learning drawing and painting techniques. Our first 6-week session will focus on Drawing Techniques and Beginning Watercolor. Supply list: 9 x 12 spiral bound sketch book, tracing paper, pencils (various leads: HB, 2B, 4B), kneaded eraser, Sharpee markers (fine, extra fine)

Please bring a “sack-supper” and beverage as well to your first meeting. We’ll make plans for a shared supper the following weeks. PLEASE NOTE: This program will be held at the Little Artshram Studio, 311 1⁄2 Maple St., Traverse City.

And, for more information about the classes, you can contact Penny at: penny@littleartshram.org or 231-510-3491. Partial Scholarships are available for all classes. Please inquire.

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North Woods Family Concert & Storytelling Series
to benefit Grand Traverse Earth Day Parade 2008

We are Water! Somos Agua!
Storytelling and Sing-along
Hosted by The OUTLOUD! GirlsPerformances by
BREATHE OWL BREATHE, with
Andrea Moreno-Beals and Micah Middaugh
Jan 17th, 6-8 PM
at Horizon Shine Cafe
Front St., Traverse City, MI

This is a free concert, thanks to our generous community
and sponsors: TBAISD Early Childhood Services,
Yoga For Health Ed, Artcenter of TC, and, Horizon Bookstore

If you would like to become a sponsor, please contact us at: penny@littleartshram.org

We will pass a donation bucket if you wish to donate the night of the concert. Please help us spread the word and share this info!

Other dates to save for the North Woods series:
(Always the third Thursday of the month)
February 21 , March 20 and April 17, 2008

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2008 YEAR OF SQUIRREL Calendar….

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….our annual winter, holiday fundraiser is hot off the press! Order yours today and feel good about helping a worthy organization keep their fires burning with their winter work of planning and preparing for the Summer Art-Farm and Community Garden programs. Peace, and love, and nuts to you and yours during the Holidays!

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Year of Squirrel

~13 Month Calendar~

from February 2008 to February 2009, with a few Squirrel inspired predictions to guide us in the upcoming year, a smidgen of rodent facts, a schedule of Little Artshram’s Earth Day Parade and Art-Farm Programs, and, 13 original, Chinese-brush ink drawings of our dashing and skittish friend, Squirrel! Also, Squirrel Nut New Moon and Full Moon notations.

Illustrated by Penny Krebiehl, the sales will benefit our Art-Farm and Community Garden Programs.

$20.00 donation for each or 6/$100.00

available on-line at http://www.littleartshram.org, or by calling 231-510-3491,

also sold locally, at our friendly Oryana Natural Foods Cooperative,

in Traverse City, Michigan,

or at the divine and delicious, Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate shop

in Empire, Michigan.

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Letter to the Grand Traverse Community….

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We need your help in discussing the possibility of changing the date of the GT Earth Day Parade. We are examining the possibilities of the dates of our Earth Day Parade for a later time (as proposed by Dede Alderman of Rhythmic Adventures and Little Artshram last year).
We suggest that a kick-off event happen on Earth Day weekend (April 18-19th) and that the parade become a Earth Day-Green Day Parade– the weekend of May 17th….

A second idea to connect with the first is a possible collaboration with downtown TC & Village businesses for a combo event of a Parade, Community Picnic and Green Street Fair–over the weekend of May 17th.

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Would you care to comment, feedback your ideas and check your calendars to see if it’s possible for you and your family and/or your business or organization to be involved?
Thank you! Since there is SO much involved in the planning, organizing and fundraising for this community event, we are working to get the final dates of our GT Earth Day Parade and parade building workshops(held at the Artcenter of TC) scheduled by December 15th.
Please, share this with others…and respond back by Dec. 15th, to: penny@littleartshram.org.

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