Is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” your thing?

The Arizona Theatre Company is accepting applications for its Teen Critic Program. Selected students will learn how to write a professional-caliber theater review. They are invited to free opening night performances, where they will receive a press packet and get preferred press seating. They can participate in workshops and have their work professionally reviewed.

Students will write reviews to be published either in a school newspaper or online. Students who apply must be available to attend:

• “The Kite Runner,” Sept. 17

• “George is Dead,” Oct. 23

• “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” Dec. 4

• “[title of show]” (yes, this really is the title), Jan. 29

• “The Glass Menagerie,” March 5

• “The Second City Does Arizona, or Close But No Saguaro,” April 9

Applications received by May 30 will receive priority consideration. Applications are accepted through Aug. 24. To apply, go to www.aztheatreco.org/index.html? education_teencritic.html&1 or call 884-8210.

Margaret Conway, a senior at Catalina Magnet High School, is this year’s winner of the Gary P. Durrenberger Memorial Scholarship.

The four-year scholarship is worth $2,000 per year.

An honor roll recipient, Conway competed at the 2008 Arizona Interscholastic Association’s state swimming and diving championships. She has been active in basketball and water polo, and was a student athletic trainer. A National Honor Society member, Conway is also active in her church, teaching Sunday school.

The Fifth Annual Gary P. Durrenberger Memorial Golf Tournament is set for May 15 at El Conquistador Golf & Tennis Club. Proceeds benefit the scholarship fund, which was founded by Charles and Laura Durrenberger after their son died in a car accident in 2004 at age 18, two weeks after graduating from Canyon del Oro High School.

Five scholarships have been awarded.

For more information, go to www.GolfForGary.org.

Kick off Tucson Youth Week on Saturday at the Community Youth Recognition event.

At last year’s event, more than 3,200 youths were recognized for positive contributions to the community.

Among those recognized this year will be youths participating in Global Service Day. Through that effort, Tucson youths will work in group service projects throughout the city this weekend.

What: Tucson Youth Week Community Youth Recognition event

When: noon to 3 p.m. Saturday

Where: Himmel Park, 1000 N. Tucson Blvd., on the north side of the park

Price: free

Info: 624-7225 Ext.203

http://tucsonyouthweek.event interface.com/tucsonyouthweek/ index.cfm

April 24 is Sudden Infant Death Awareness Day, and parents are reminded to know the facts when it comes to keeping babies safe.

Sudden infant death syndrome is the leading cause of baby deaths, claiming the lives of more than 2,000 in their sleep each year.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents and caregivers:

• Place infants on their backs to sleep.

• Do not place your infant to sleep in your bed. Instead, bring the crib into your room until your baby is at least 6 months old.

• Make sure the crib has a firm mattress and avoid soft surfaces that could suffocate a baby. Remove blankets, bumpers, toys or pillows.

• Clothe your infant to keep him warm, but avoid too many layers or warm room temperatures.

• Offer your infant a pacifier. Studies have shown a lower rate of SIDS among infants who use them.

• Breast-feed your infant whenever possible: It decreases the likelihood of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections known to contribute to SIDS risk.

Young people can make an extraordinary impact at home, in their schools and in the community.

You can recognize a young person for acts of kindness and good work during Tucson Youth Week.

Ages 11-22 can be recognized for anything from baby-sitting siblings to helping a classmate with homework to volunteerism or activism.

Parents can recognize their children, and youths can submit the names of friends or themselves.

All youths will be acknowledged, and there is no limit to the number of names a person can submit. Last year, 3,200 youths were honored.

They will be recognized April 25 at Himmel Park, 1000 N. Tucson Blvd.

To recognize a youth, go online to tucsonyouthweek.eventinterface.com. For information, call 624-7225 Ext. 203.

Some of Tucson’s best fiction writers are winners in the Pima County Public Library’s Young Writers Competition.

The library received 568 entries.

Winners in Pre-K- grade 2:

• Tiffani Akers, “Family Fun”

• Paris Garcia, “The Boy Who Loved Math”

• Dylan Herrera, “The Magic Mask and Gloves”

• Alexis Ramer, “Little Witch’s Adventures”

• Margaret Gaetana Wright, “The Mysterious Mermaid”

Winners in grades 3-5:

• Amber Buster, “All About My Life”

• Raquel Escobar, “Noblequest”

• Daniel Espeleta, “Fly Away”

• Connie Guan, “The Howling Winds”

• Kolbe Riney, “Jharda”

Winners in grades 6-8:

• Adrianna Berring, “Mirage”

• Jessica Chamberlain, “The Life of Stephan McCall”

• Kaitlyn Gonzalez, “Escape”

• Amelia Marsh, “Spirit Fingers”

• Eli Veilleux, “The Day the Muffin Verse Stood Still”

Winners in the grades 9-12:

• Aria Bronte, untitled

• Meghan Kenworthy, “The Grulla Paint”

• Tatum Rochin, “Six String Beast”

• Antonia Ruiz, “But At Least I Can Blame My Parents”

• Jason Stone, “A Different Way to Win”

Shannon Lanning, a Tucson mom who is a detention officer at Pima County Juvenile Court, has received a national award for outstanding service.

The senior juvenile detention officer has worked with children in detention for seven years.

“It really is her positive engagement with kids that helps build the kids’ motivation toward improving their behavior,” division director for detention Dodie Ledbetter said referring to Lanning.

Ledbetter said Lanning also serves as a role model for other detention officers and staff.

Lanning was selected as line staff worker of the year through the Bob Rader Awards, presented each year by the National Juvenile Detention Association in Richmond, Ky., to recognize outstanding juvenile detention workers.

Sizzling choreography and sweet treats from some of Tucson’s top restaurants are on the program at Ballet Tucson’s 12th annual Dance & Dessert event this weekend.

The program includes performances of classical and contemporary dance, followed by a dessert tasting. Last season, more than 60 local eateries participated, including Acacia, Feast, Le Rendez-Vous, Mona’s Danish Bakery, Pastiche Modern Eatery, Vin Tabla, Vivace and others.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday

Where: Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, University of Arizona

Price: $30 general; $22 for groups of 10 or more; $15 for children 12 and younger for the 2 p.m. Saturday performance only

Info: 903-1445

When illness or death invades a family, children can become overwhelmed by grief and fear.

Tu Nidito Children and Family Services, which provides support to seriously ill children and their families in Tucson, is seeking volunteers to help the growing number of children in its program.

Trained volunteers serve as friends, playmates, mentors and tutors to sick kids and their siblings.

The nonprofit organization, which helps more than 800 children whose lives have been impacted by serious illness and death each year, is in urgent need of mentors to avoid turning children away, according to Tu Nidito’s Ciara Meyer. Programs support ill children, as well as those experiencing the illness or death of a family member.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old and complete a training program before working with children and families. Volunteers serve as facilitators in support groups, work one-on-one with children and provide support to caregivers.

Applications are available at www.tunidito.org or by calling 322-9155.

Discuss effective parenting strategies Jan. 26 with psychologist Kevin Leman.

The seminar will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Sahuaro High School, 545 N. Camino Seco.

Tickets are $10 per person.

The Tucson Citizen columnist is the author of more than 30 best-selling parenting and relationship books.

His latest – “Have a New Kid by Friday,” published in March – provides “a proven plan guaranteed to help parents win the battle of wills,” according to Leman, whose parenting column runs Fridays in the Citizen’s Family Plus.

The seminar is sponsored by Eastside Covenant Church, Cornerstone Bible Church and Saguaro Canyon Evangelical Free Church.

Call 885-3192 for tickets and information.

Discuss effective parenting strategies Jan. 26 with psychologist Kevin Leman.

The seminar will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at Sahuaro High School, 545 N. Camino Seco.

Tickets are $10 per person.

The Tucson Citizen columnist is the author of more than 30 best-selling parenting and relationship books.

His latest – “Have a New Kid by Friday,” published in March – provides “a proven plan guaranteed to help parents win the battle of wills,” according to Leman, whose parenting column runs Fridays in the Citizen’s Family Plus.

The seminar is sponsored by Eastside Covenant Church, Cornerstone Bible Church and Saguaro Canyon Evangelical Free Church.

Call 885-3192 for tickets and information.

Carrillo Elementary Magnet School student Nicolas Smith catches water in his mouth from a Pascua Yaqui Fire Department truck during the school's Field Day on May 19.

Children made the news regularly in 2008, during such major Tucson annual events as the Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo in February, fun school activities and not-so-fun activities, as during several vaccination clinics prompted by the spring measles outbreak.

As 2009 begins, we look back in photos at some of those kids being kids.

Lulu Maldonado is delighted to receive her diploma during Carrillo Elementary Magnet School's Kinder Promotion on May 14.

Rolando Hernandez, 10, enjoyed the new turtle shell that children can play in at Reid Park Zoo as his family took advantage of a free admission day.

Sydney Petty, then 15 months old, lets dad Jack know she is not happy getting her measles vaccination during an April 13 clinic at the Abrams Public Health Center, 3950 S. Country Club Road. The clinic was held due to a measles outbreak.

Isaac Encinas and Nuria Gomez hold their babies (from left) Samuel, Jade, Isaac and Safiro as they pose for family photos during the quadruplets' birthday party at Mission Manor Park recently.

Say hello to 2009 with safe, family-oriented fun

Downtown Tucson Partnership is offering a family-oriented New Year’s Eve celebration.

This is the first year for the event, at seven venues in the heart of the city.

Paid admission allows entry to all venues. Buttons are on sale at all Bookmans and Food City stores, The Fox Tucson Theatre, and the partnership’s Web site.

Here are the details.

IF YOU GO

What: First Night Tucson

When: 4 p.m.-midnight Wednesday

Where: Seven downtown locations: • Leo Rich Theater at Tucson Convention Center, Scottish Rite Cathedral and Beowulf Alley Theatre. The ticketed sites feature varied entertainment including Hispanic roots music and dance, bluegrass, jazz, blues and world music, comedy and more. • The Fox Tucson Theatre. Movies will be screened, including a children’s feature from 4-6 p.m. • La Placita Village and Leo Rich Theater Plaza. Continuous free entertainment is featured during the festival. • Tucson Children’s Museum. Free entertainment outdoors from 4-8 p.m. A festival badge will allow attendees inside the museum for hands-on activities.

Price: $12 adults, $6 ages 6-12, free for 5 and younger

Details: 991-7926, downtowntucson.org This family-friendly, alcohol-free festival offers multicultural music, dance, comedy, magic, children’s activities and more. Activities and entertainment lead up to a grand finale at midnight.

COMPLETE SCHEDULE

LEO RICH THEATER at Tucson Convention Center 260 S. Church Ave. (Hispanic roots entertainment) • 4 p.m. Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s String Quartet – “Josefina the Javelina” (a musical adventure) • 5 Mariachi Aguilitas de Davis • 6 Nelly y Javier • 7 Ballet Folklorico Tapatio (traditional Mexican dance) • 8 Los Quatros Vientos (mariachi quartet) • 9 La Mezcla • 10 and 11 Santa Cruz River Band (Southwestern folk music)

SCOTTISH RITE CATHEDRAL 160 S. Scott Ave. • 4 & 5 p.m.: Rodney Housley Children’s Magic Show • 6: Mirror Image (jazz duo) • 7: DeGrazia Spanish Guitar • 8: Silver Thread Trio (folk/jazz/world music) • 9 Leila Lopez (folk fusion) • 10 and 11 Tim Weed (bluegrass)

TUCSON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 200 S. Sixth Ave. (All outside entertainment is free; festival badge gets you inside for hands-on activities) • 4 p.m. Thorton Willoughby, the Southwestern Wizard (magic) • 5 Human Project New Era (hip-ho

dance) • 6 Sticks and Fingers (percussion) • 7 Puppet Muzik (puppet show)

BEOWULF ALLEY THEATRE 11 S. Sixth Ave. • 4 p.m. Stories that Soar! • 5 Lisa Otey and Diane Van Deurzen (singalong) • 6 Stories that Soar! • 7 Lisa Otey and Diane Van Deurzen (blues) • 8 LaughingStock Comedy Co. (improv) • 9 Angel and the Blues Disciples • 10 LaughingStock Comedy Co. • 11 Angels and the Blues Disciples

FOX TUCSON THEATRE 17 W. Congress St. • 4 and 6 p.m. Free “Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie”

LA PLACITA VILLAGE COURTYARD 110 S. Church Ave. (Free children’s and family-friendly programming) • 4-6 p.m. Face painting • 4 The Dusty Buskers (children’s set) • 5 The Rosano Brothers • 6 Beatnik Dream Vacation • 7 Kate Becker Project • 8 Stefan George • 9 The Tryst • 10 The Evolution • 11 The Dusty Buskers

LEO RICH PLAZA (in front of Leo Rich Theater) 260 S. Church Ave. • Ongoing Art installation by Mat Bevel • 3:30-6 p.m. The Physics Factory • 3:30 Amber Norgaard • 5:30 Mission Creeps • 7:30 Beatnik Dream Vacation • 8:30 Namoli Brennet • 9:30-11:30 El Camino Royales • Midnight grand finale with music and dance by Batucaxé and a countdown laser show.

What do “home” and “family” mean to you?

That is the theme of an essay contest for Tucson middle and high school students, sponsored by the Arizona Theatre Co., in conjunction with its January production of “A Raisin in the Sun.”

Entry deadline is Jan. 5.

The play tells the story of a family living on the south side of Chicago in the 1950s. The drama follows their journey as they try to grab a piece of the American dream by leaving their cramped apartment for a home of their own.

Students in sixth through eighth grades may write 100- to 250-word essays; high school students 250- to 500-word essays. Winners will receive tickets to the show, an opportunity to meet the cast and other prizes.

Include your name, grade, school and contact information and mail it to Arizona Theatre Co., Attn.: Jennifer Bazzell, P.O. Box 1631, Tucson, AZ 85702.

Or send an e-mail it to jbazzell@arizonatheatre.org.

For information, call 884-8210.

Young Tucson filmmaker Samantha Visbal, 15, is the winner of Pima County Public Library’s Summer Video Shootout for her entry, “Something Wicked”.

The library announced Visbal’s win last week. Twenty Pima County youths received training and mentoring during the summer to create short films as a part the program, which encourages youth voices, creativity, participation in the arts and literacy, according to the library.

Through workshops and mentoring, each participant wrote, directed and edited a short video about books or the library. The videos premiered at The Loft Cinema, where each teen spoke about the program and answered questions from the audience.

Participating were The Friends of the Pima County Public Library, Pan Left Productions, Kino Weed and Seed and The Loft.

To see this year’s videos, go to www.library.pima.gov/teenzone/ trailers/.