By EVELYN CAIRNS
The Wyandotte-Downriver branch of the American Association of University Women will name its Woman of the Year March 11 at a ceremony honoring the five nominees vying for the title.
The event, which is open to the public without charge, will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Ray Mix Room of Wayne County Community College District Downriver Campus, 21000 Northline, Taylor.
The honorees include Sherri Sutherby-Fricke of Wyandotte, real estate agant, city council member and founder of the Women of Wyandotte organization, and Lori Stevenson of Wyandotte, special-projects coordinator for The information Center, who serves as a Navy and Salvation Army volunteer.
Others are Chris Mathews of Grosse Ile, a retired school administrator and volunteer hospital minister; Anita Twardesky of Flat Rock, an environmental activist and public-relations coordinator for Riverside Kayak Connections; and Dina Vanesse of Monroe, who owns a public relations firm and serves as a volunteer worker for the needy.
The keynote speaker will be Michigan AAUW President Janet Watkins, whose subject will be “Pay Equity: 2018.” AAUW branch president Deb Kennedy of Brownstown, said paycheck fairness is one of the organization’s top priorities.
The 2013 Woman of the Year, Karen Ogden of Trenton, will introduce the 2014 winner. Jan Huang of Riverview is chairwoman of the program.
The goal of the AAUW, which was founded in 1881, is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, research and philanthropy. The organization awarded more than $4.3 million in scholarships and fellowships in 2012, a club spokesman said.
For information on membership, call Carol Steiner at 734-675-4158 or e-mail [email protected]
‘Same Time’ to be staged
The romantic comedy “Same Time, Next Year” will be staged by the Wyandotte Community Theater at 7:30 p.m. March 7, 8, 14 and 15 at the James R. DeSana Center for Arts & Culture.
The play, which ran on Broadway for four years, starred Ellen Burstyn, who later recreated her role for the movie which co-starred Alan Alda. The plot revolves around two lovers who rendezvous once a year for 25 years while married to others.
Burstyn won a Tony Award for her portrayal in the play, which received the 1975 Drama Desk Award as the Outstanding New American Play and was a nominee for the 1975 Tony Award for Best Play.
The Wyandotte production will feature Kevin Bencik and Jessica Gutowski in the roles of lovers George and Doris.
Nick Mullins is the director, and Ricky Naida, assistant director. Co-producers are Tammy and Jeremy Trudelle.
Tickets, $12 adults, and $11 students, are avail-able by calling the Wyandotte Community Theatre ticket hotline at 734-775-9635 or going to www.wyandottecommunitytheatre.com
The DeSana Center is located at 81 Chestnut, Wyandotte.
Revue slated at WCCCD
The Official Blues Brothers Revue, featuring Jake, Elwood and the band, with hits from the original movie, is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday at the Heinz C. Prechter Education and Performing Arts Center of the Wayne County Community College District Downriver Campus.
Humor, music and mayhem will be combined in performances by Wayne Catania as Jake, and Kieron Lafferty as Elwood.
Tickets, $35, are available by calling 734-374-3200. The college is at 21000 Northline Road in Taylor.
Coming up . . .
March 5 — Lecture by Michael Farrell on the Beaux Arts architectural-style Library of Congress; 7 p.m. at the James R. DeSana Center for Arts & Culture, 81 Chestnut, Wyandotte; tickets $15 ($10, Downriver Council for the Arts members; $5, students); registrations are being accepted at the DCA office, 734-720-0671, or [email protected]; the lecture is the first in a series of three on American Monuments, significant structures with unique architectural styles.
March 8 — Trenton Rotary Club children’s reading program, “Reading With the Characters,” featuring favorite characters in costume, provided by the Downriver Youth Performing Arts Center; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Westfield Center, 1700 Westfield Road; children also will participate in book-related crafts; ad-mission will cost $5 per family or the donation of a used book; for more information, call 734-673-9507.