No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency at Middfest International

by Christina Papakirk

Middfest International's Literature and Language Exhibit is sure to be a show-stopper this year. Under the direction of Middletown actor and director Christine Brunner, this exhibit will literally bring the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency to life during Middfest weekend. Four area actors will portray the well-known characters of the HBO series--Mma Precious Ramotswe, her assistant Mma Grace Makutsi, her companion and owner of Speedy Motors, Mr. JLB Matekoni and the Orphanage Matron Mma Sylvia Potokwane--in a set designed especially for the event.

The exhibit is located next to the Manchester Inn, and the lot has been turned into the Kgali Shopping Center from the HBO series. Visitors can purchase books by Alexander McCall Smith and others, DVDs, and register for prize drawings for the Books of Botswana Reading Challenge. The HBO series will be shown in the Speedy Motors Garage, and there will also be an area for book discussion and a fan meeting area. Best of all, visitors can interact with the characters! They will be there 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Ms. Burgess Byrd (Cincinnati) as Mma Precious Ramotswe (Detective)
Ms. Edina Ndebele (Cincinnati via Zimbabwe) as Mma Grace Makutsi (Assistant)
Mr. Alan Bomar Jones (Dayton) as Mr. JLB Matekoni (Mechanic)
Ms. Marlene' Johnson (Indianapolis) as Mma Sylvia Potokwane (Orphanage Matron)
Project staff:
Christine Brunner...Producer
Helen Raymond...Scenic Designer
Angela Banks...Production Assistant
Joan Boring...Literature Committee Chair
Denise Bieleki...Literature Committee Member

Middfest's weekend celebration of Botswana will include an array of exhibits featuring many cultural, art, literary, science, history, and business aspects of the country. Live entertainment will be provided by groups from Botswana and local and regional acts, International Bazaar, Food Court, Youth Park and much more.

Friday, Oct. 1 - 6pm-10pm
Saturday, Oct. 2 10 am-10pm
Sunday, Oct. 3 12 noon-6pm

Admission is $5 per person and good for the entire weekend. Children 12 and under are admitted free.

For additional information, please visit Middfest's website, www.middfest.com or Facebook page www.facebook.com/middfest or call Executive Director Virginia Ritan at 513-425-7707, email middfest@siscom.net.

For media inquiries, please contact Christina Papakirk at 513-460-6647 or christina.papakirk@gmail.com.

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Middfest to Honor James "Choppy" Saunders

Middfest International will be Honoring James “Choppy” Saunders on Saturday, April 26, 2008. Sanders, one of Middletown’s most respected citizens, will recognized on the occasion of his retirement from his position as President of the Middfest Board of Trustees.

The “Tribute to Saunders Dinner” will begin at 6:30 pm with a social hour on Saturday April 26, 2008 at The Manchester Inn, 1027 Manchester Avenue, Middletown Ohio 45042.

Those interested in attending should make reservations on or before April 21 by calling 513-425-7707 or sending an e-mail to middfest@siscom.net

To read more visit the full article on James “Choppy” Saunders by Christina Papakirk.

Rumford Productions Covers Mayor Race

Rumford Productions has been working together with MiddletownUSA.com for nearly half a year now to bring professionally captured and produced video about Middletown, Ohio to the web. Using locally captured footage with music from local artists, Don Rumford has provided us with a level of quality and professionalism that sets the standard by which we judge our video.

Rumford Productions is a downtown Middletown-based business owned and operated by Don and Deborah Rumford. In their work they strive to promote the positive things about Middletown and showcase the work of their fellow Middletown artists and professionals.

The recent efforts of Don and Deborah have brought us hours of video covering Middfest International 2007 featuring The Netherlands, with footage from the stage and craft exhibits, as well as interviews from event patrons. Video is currently featured on MiddletownUSA from the event and and you can expect much more in the coming weeks.

Even more recently they have been covering the race for Middletown's first directly-elected mayor. Don Rumford has secured interviews from all participating candidates in the race, and will be forwarding them to us for distribution on MiddletownUSA.com. Already available for viewing are interviews from retired Police Chief and City Manager Bill Becker, as well as Councilman Lawrence Mulligan.

MiddletownUSA.com is your source for intelligent candidate debate and research. Check back daily for updates on the Mayor race, city council elections and school board elections.