Community digest 3/28/02

Group to observe National Day of Silence

The Rainbow Alliance, sponsored by the Southeast Missouri State University Student Government and What's on Weekends, or WOW, will participate in the National Day of Silence Project.

Participants will take a vow of silence from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 10. Others may show support by wearing black ribbons, arm bands or black clothing in honor of victims who have been forever silenced by hate.

The Rainbow Alliance has also arranged a candlelight vigil for 8 p.m. on April 10 at the Kala M. Stroup Fountain on campus. The alliance is observing April 10-12 as Coming Out of Silence days. Films will be shown at 7 p.m. at the University Center Indian Room April 11-12 to mark the event.

The films will be "Paragraph 175," a documentary about the fate of gay men and lesbians imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps, and "Those Who Love Me Can Take the Train," a French celebration of new life blossoming from tragedy.

The National Day of Silence was organized by University of Virginia students in 1996 to increase awareness of the effects of hate crimes on society and to honor those silenced by hate.

River Heritage Museum open this weekend

The Cape River Heritage Museum will feature new displays this week.

New displays include a Girl Scout exhibition in observance of the group's 90th anniversary and a vintage hat and accessory exhibit.

The museum at 538 Independence is open Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

AARP meeting planned for Monday

The Cape Girardeau County Chapter of AARP, No. 4041, will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Grace United Methodist Chruch at Broadway and Caruthers.

"The Red House" and the Lewis and Clark expedition will be discussed.

Time running out for Old Town Cape contest

Time is running out on the "50 Fabulous Features" of Old Town Cape contest.

Contest boxes will be collected Saturday, and prize winners will be announced April 19.

The response has been good, said Marsha Toll, chairwoman of the Old Town Cape Promotions Committee, which is coordinating the contest.

Fifty people will receive posters and commemorative T-shirts.

The best entry will merit a private dinner party at the River Campus for 12 guests on May 18.

Masonic rites ceremony set for Saturday

Masons from Harold O. Grauel Lodge AF & AM will hold initiation services to present two third degrees for Masons, starting at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Area Masons from the 38th District will assist in the ceremony, to be held at the Masonic Temple at 2307 Broadway.

All Master Masons are invited to the initiation.

Agency offers income tax assistance

The East Missouri Action Agency's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is available to help low-income citizens with filing federal and state tax returns before the April 15 deadline.

The VITA program is staffed by IRS-trained volunteers at the East Missouri Action Agency outreach offices.

Additional information is available by calling the agency at 334-5533.

Time for farmers market in Cape grows near

Vegetable growing is big business throughout Southeast Missouri, and one of the area's most popular venues for it will make its seasonal return soon.

The Cape Girardeau Farmers Market is scheduled to open in late April or early May.

About 20 growers are members of the Cape Girardeau group, which holds markets from 3 to 7 p.m. every Thursday from May through October at the Plaza Galleria parking lot at 2001 Independence St.

The local market is designed for vendors who produce fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers. Producers who sell jelly, jams and baked goods at the Cape Girardeau market have produced the principal ingredient included in the product.

--From staff reports