AROUND THE COMMUNITY: ‘The Foreigner’ comes to Abrams theater

Being mistaken as a foreigner leads to funny, unpredictable outcomes in “The Foreigner.”

Tickets are on sale now for the Abrams Spotlight Productions show to be presented June 16-19 and June 23-26 at the Nancy Byng Community Theater, 5852 Maple St., Abrams. Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and children ages 5-17, and $8 for children ages 4 and under. All performances begin at 7 p.m. except for the Sunday shows, which begin at 1 p.m.

Mike Eserkaln, the artistic director of Comedy City in De Pere, directs the comedy written by American playwright Larry Shue. “The Foreigner” holds a special place in his heart, because it was the first play he was involved with.

“The themes of the play have always stuck with me. The beauty of communication. The comedy of language. The overcoming of stupid and bad people with wit and intelligence,” Eskerkaln said. “All of the characters are very relatable. The audience will see themselves in most of them and recognize ‘that guy’ in some of the others.”

The story takes place in a fishing lodge in rural Georgia where two Englishmen, Froggy and Charlie, arrive as guests. When people at the lodge try to talk to Charlie, however, he remains silent and claims to not understand English. Taking the explanation that he’s a non-English speaker as fact, the lodge’s guests begin revealing their secrets to Charlie. In addition to the laugh-out-loud plot, the show also has a surprise staging element that has never been done on the Abrams stage.

To order tickets, visit abramsspotlightproductions.com or call the box office, 920-826-5852.

HCE trip includes self-milking cows

The Oconto County Home and Community Education Association is planning a trip on July 12 to Cato to watch cows milk themselves and observe cheese being made.

The trip will include stopping for lunch and ice cream, too.

The bus will leave the A&W restaurant Stiles at 8 a.m. and return around 6 p.m. As a down payment on the cost of the bus trip, a check for $20 payable to Oconto Count HCE will need to be mailed to Joann Swanson, 3807 County Road J, Abrams, WI 54101.

For information, call Swanson at 920-826-7528.

Shawano Farmers Market to start again

The Shawano Farmers Market, managed by The FRESH Project, will open its 14th consecutive season June 18 and continue every Saturday through Oct. 1.

The market will be located on the 200 block of South Washington Street, Shawano. The market will be open from 8 a.m. until noon for shoppers to purchase healthy, locally produced vegetables, fruit and meats.

“The demand to purchase healthy foods from our local farmers is high, and we have a variety of vendors at the market this year,” said Executive Director Barb Mendoza. “Our vendors provide fruits and vegetables that are the freshest and tastiest available. The produce is brought directly to you, harvested the evening prior to the market. The produce is as fresh from the farm that you can get.”

The market will also host a variety of craft, bakery and food vendors. There will be weekly yoga, music by local musicians along with three open jam sessions and face painting.

The FRESH Project will be providing $5 tokens at the market every Saturday for people on Food Share, WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and the Senior Farmers Market Vouchers to purchase produce and fruits from select vendors.

In addition, The FRESH Project will be introducing a new program — Produce as a Prescription, a 15-week program that will be organized and managed through five local health clinics. Mendoza said the program is funded through a grant from the Lumberjack RC&D. The patients enrolled in the program will be able to use the weekly $10 vouchers at the Shawano Farmers Market, the FRESH Project’s mobile markets and the Menominee Farmers Market.

For information, contact Mendoza at 715-526-5206 or barbara@thefreshproject.org.

Shawano Pathways plans Paddle and Pedal

Shawano Pathways will hold its seventh Wolf River Paddle and Pedal on June 25. Participants will paddle down the Wolf River on a section of flat water for about 2½ hours through natural areas where eagles are frequently sighted. Bikers select a return route of 8, 12 or 22 miles through the countryside.

Participants for this event should drop their bikes off at Waukechon Riverside Park between 7:15 and 8:15 a.m. and then drive to Judd Park to unload their canoes. Registration will take place at Great Wolf Tubing Company, 1013 S. Water St., Shawano. Registrations for all runs will be open from 7:30-9 a.m. Special pricing for rental of kayaks and canoes is available.

Announcements will be made at 9:10 at Judd Park with the group launch at 9:15.

Registration fee is $25 per person ($5 discount if renting equipment) and includes security for bikes, sag wagon, and snacks en route. This also includes shuttle service back to Great Wolf Tubing for all participants. Brats, burgers, beer and soft drinks will be available for purchase at Great Wolf Tubing as participants return.

For more information, check out the Shawano Pathways Facebook page or visit http://www.shawanopathways.org.

Suring Legion post celebrates its 100th

Harold C. Anderson American Legion Post 283 will be celebrating its 100th anniversary June 18 at the Legion hall, 13430 Joppa Lane, Suring.

The ceremony will begin at noon with Wisconsin American Legion Department Commander Greg Eirich as the guest of honor. U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher’s commemoration in the Congressional Record will be delivered. Additional guests include Jeff Zwiers, ninth district commander, and Clarence Davister, Oconto County commander.

Following the ceremony, there will be food and refreshments available and live music by Ken and Kris Babicky.

For information, call Ron Christensen at 920-834-6817.