By Evelyn Cairns
The Trenton Rotary Club and PNC promise a roaring good time at the 61st annual “Roar on the River,” a weekend of boat races, food, entertainment and children’s activities July 20 through 22 at Elizabeth Park on the waterfront.
The fun part will start at 6 p.m. with a Pirate Party, complete with a contest for the best costumed pirate and wench, and continue with “A Taste of the Races,” featuring the specialties of more than 30 local restaurants at 6:30.
There is no charge for the party, but tickets for the all-you-can-eat tasting are $35 in advance or $40 at the door. The ticket price, which includes two drink tickets, is not refundable in the event of inclement weather.
Among the participating restaurants are Café West, Famous Dave’s, Fratello’s, Parthenon Coney Island, The Rhapsody, Savannah’s, Sharkey’s Riverfront Tavern, Sibley Gardens and TV’s Grand Event.
Other July 20 highlights will include Typhoon Tommy Jet Ski shows, a free concert by the Marleyritaville Band and a fireworks show (the fireworks rain date is July 21).
In addition to a schedule of testing and races all day July 21, Boy Scout Troop 1721 will serve a pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m., the Children’s Fun Fair will open, a motorcycle show will take place, and Remedy Detroit will present a free concert.
On July 22, the Boy Scouts again will offer breakfast, the Piston Automation Dancers will perform from 2 to 4 p.m., and an awards ceremony will take place at 5 p.m.
For additional information, go to www.trentonroarontheriver.com.
SandCastles event slated
The historic Madison Building, formerly the Madison Theatre Building, will be the setting at 6 p.m. July 19 for a get-to-know-us volunteer recruitment reception and fundraiser for the SandCastles bereavement program of Henry Ford Hospice, a part of the Henry Ford Health system.
There is no charge to attend the event, which will offer complementary appetizers, beer and wine, ac-cording to Jill Nestman of Trenton, committee member and SandCastles volunteer. Donations will be accepted, however, she said.
SandCastles is a grief-support program for children 3 to 18 years old and their families who have lost loved ones. Younger participants share stories and participate in age-appropriate activities while family members meet separately.
The program is conducted at eight centers throughout metropolitan Detroit. In the Downriver area, meetings are held twice a month on Tuesdays at the Guidance Center Aquinas Building, 15601 Northline, Southgate.
There is no charge for neither the program nor for a children’s bereavement camp held annually in August. Both are funded entirely by donations from the public and grants, according to a SandCastles spokesman. More than 450 children and adults are served by the program, the spokesman said.
For additional information about SandCastles or the reception, go to www.aboutsandcastles.org or call 313-874-6881. The [email protected] Building is at 1555 Broadway in Detroit.
Independence to be marked
An extraordinary thematic dance production July 28 at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn will celebrate the 65th anniversary of India’s independence from British rule in 1947.
The production, to be presented by Nadanta at 7 p.m. in the center’s Michael Guido Theater, will feature the history of India in a song and dance concert created and choreographed by Chaula Thacker.
Sixty-five performers, including Angali Alangaden of Dearborn, all resplendent in traditional Indian attire, will present eight classical Indian dance segments, as well as folk dances, while a narrator explains the dances’ relationship to India’s culture and history.
Thacker is internationally known for her choreography and as the founder and director of Nadanta, a nonprofit artistic and cultural organization dedicated to the promotion of Indian culture.
Tickets, $20, $30 and $50, are available by calling 248-661-3580 or going to www.nadantami.org.
The Ford Center is at 15801 Michigan Ave.