ARTifacts 6/29/12

Local author's book launch set for today

The book launch for "Killerfind," the second novel written by Sharon Hopkins of Marble Hill, Mo., will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Painted Wren Gallery in the Bilderbach Plaza, 5 N. Main St. in Cape Girardeau. "Killerfind" is the second in a mystery series written by Hopkins and set in and around the Cape Girardeau area. Hopkins is the wife of retired Judge Bill Hopkins, who also writes mystery novels. His first book, "Courting Murder," is set for an October release.

Final Rock Garden concert tonight

This season's final Rock in the Rock Garden concert will be held this evening at the Rock Garden in Jackson City Park. The performers of the free concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will be Doug and Mark Rees. For more information, call Jackson Parks and Recreation at 204-8848.

Bluegrass Music Festival held at Frohna

FROHNA, Mo. -- Seven bands will play at the second annual Bluegrass Music Festival Saturday at the Saxon Lutheran Memorial at Frohna. The one-day festival starts at 9:30 a.m., with performances by Janie Brown and the Chestnut Mountain Gang of Jackson, Matt Strong and the Bluegrass Travelers of Scopus, Mo., Cabin Fever of Marble Hill, Mo., Mississippi Sawyers of St. Louis, George Portz and the Friends of Bluegrass of Shiloh, Ill., The Bankester Family of Carbondale, Ill., and the New Kentucky Colonels with Eric Lewis of Springfield, Mo. Admission is $15 for adults. Children 15 and under get in free with a paying adult. Food will be available for purchase. Lawn chairs, blankets, cameras, flashlights and umbrellas are allowed at the event, but coolers, alcohol and smoking are not. The festival will end with a fireworks display sponsored by Hoffman Fireworks.

Theater scholarship available this fall

The Judith Farris Musical Theatre Scholarship has been endowed through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation. Dr. and Mrs. Ray Ritter Jr. of Cape Girardeau made a $10,000 gift to establish the scholarship. The talent-based, renewable scholarship will be awarded for the first time this fall to a theater and dance major. Farris, renowned contralto artist and voice instructor, became a full-time faculty member at Southeast Missouri State University in August 2005 as an artist in residence and instructor. The Cape Girardeau native teaches theater and musical theater courses. She also collaborates with dance, music and theater faculty on musical theater productions and recitals, and has performed with the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra. In addition to faculty responsibilities, Farris teaches master classes for university students and coaches both voice majors and non-singers for theatrical singing roles. To assist with student recruitment and retention, Farris gives master classes in regional high schools and assists the chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance to establish internships in New York City and other locations where she has professional contacts.

KRCU to broadcast two marketplace shows

KRCU Public Radio plans to air "Marketplace Tech Report" and "Marketplace Morning Report." Both programs will air during National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" beginning Monday. "Marketplace Tech Report" explores how technology is reshaping the world through a daily four-minute program, podcast, blog and Twitter feed. The program can be heard weekday mornings at 8:35. "Marketplace Morning Report" offers listeners morning business news weekday at 6:51 a.m.

-- From staff reports