Lara Semetko and Douglas Henry, both of Grosse Ile, and Dino Valle of Dearborn will take the stage to sing arias from popular operas at the new Wyandotte Arts Center, formerly the Masonic Temple, June 17 during the Downriver Council for the Arts’ second Pasta & Puccini fund-raiser. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with wine and hors d’oeuvres in the mainfloor art gallery of the center, now the headquarters of the DCA, where the works of Wyandotte native artist Sam Karres will be on display. His art has been described as reminiscent of Toulouse-Lautrec and Goya.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill of Southgate will cater the dinner, to be served on the second-floor theater level of the center. The menu will include mezzaluna (half moon-shaped chicken-filled ravioli), linguini with fresh tomato sauce, Chicken Marsala, salad and dessert.
Tickets, $35, are available by calling (734) 720-0671 or e-mailing [email protected] Pro-ceeds are earmarked for the DCA’s programs for chil-dren and adults.
The center is at 81 Chestnut, just off Biddle.
4th River Days will offer fun
The fourth annual River Days festival will offer fun for the entire family beginning June 18 and culminat-ing on June 21 with the 52nd annual Target fireworks display produced by the Parade Company.
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. June 18 and 19, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. June 20 and 21.
Admission will cost $3, with the exception of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 18; 11 a.m. to noon June 19 and 20; and all day June 21, when there will be no charge.
The festival, to be held along the RiverWalk from the Renaissance Center to the newly opened section of the William G. Milliken State Park and Harbor, will feature returning and new activities, acts and attractions.
Among the returning events are a 5K run, the Parade of Lights, Diamond Jack’s River Tours, Pooch-a-Palooza Pet Walk, Cars on the Water and the Parade Company Kids’ Zone, along with carnival rides and games, live music on three stages and all types of food.
Kola’s Food Factory of Riverview and Trenton Ice Cream again will be found in the food court.
For the first time, two tall ships, the Appledore IV and Appledore V, will dock at Rivard Plaza for free tours, and Team Sandtastic of Sarasota, Fla., will create a 50-ton and two-10-ton river-themed sand sculptures.
The $3 fee, which is being required for the first time, will support the non-profit Detroit RiverFront Conservancy.
SWRC slates golf outing
June 9 is the reservations deadline for the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber’s annual golf outing and dinner at the Grosse Ile Golf & Coun-try Club.
Tickets, $175, include lunch, dinner at 6:30 p.m., refreshments throughout the day, greens fees, a golf cart, locker, use of the practice range with unlimited balls, and team and individual prizes.
The cost for dinner only is $40.
In addition, a hole-in-one-contest will offer a new car from Zubor Buick.
For reservations or additional information, call (734) 284-6000, Ext. 29.
Coming up . .
June 7 — Friends for the Dearborn animal Shelter’s 17th annual Critter Invitational golf outing, offer-ing the option to play at Dearborn Hills or the TPC of Michigan Golf Course; tickets are $150 for play at Dearborn Hills or $300 at the TPC; for more information, go to www.DearbornAnimals.org.
June 11 — Battle of the Bands, 8 p.m. at Rack & Roll, 13634 Sibley Road, Riverview; Wyandotte Station, Wisteria and Hidden Agenda Band will compete for the opportunity to perform July 24 at Elizabeth Park with Category 5 during the annual Trenton Roar on the River; tickets for the contest are $8 in advance or $10 at the door; they are being sold at Crystal Gardens, Rehab Connection, PKSA Karate, Slick Disc, Paragrafix, JDubs and Rack & Roll.
June 12 — Tour of Woodmere Cemetery, one of Detroit oldest and most historic cemeteries with ornate mausoleums, a Civil War monument and head-stones dating to the 1860s; 11 a.m.; for reservations, $30, call (313) 833-1801; for more information, go to www.detroithistorical.org.