Ohio poultry growers will meet with workers and community leaders this Saturday, February 19, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Wooster, Ohio, to talk about some of the problems that affect their industry and their communities.

The livelihoods of Ohio poultry growers are being jeopardized by rising production costs and the refusal of some poultry companies to increase their payments to growers. This situation has aggravated the economic crisis for many communities in the state, putting many families in financial distress.

“Case Farms is a small poultry company that could lead the way in doing right by workers and growers, but isn’t,” says Kim Bobo, Executive Director of the national group Interfaith Worker Justice, who will speak at Saturday’s panel of local academics, community and religious leaders.

Mike Weaver, President of the Contract Poultry Growers Association of the Virginias, will travel to Wooster to offer his testimony at the forum. “The number one problem we growers face is compensation,” Weaver says, noting that growers were paid more per pound in the 1970s than they are now. The system now in place – a ranking system– “robs Peter to pay Paul,” Weaver says. But a new set of rules being considered would create a base pay system, which would give growers a fairer shake, he says.

The main purpose of Saturday’s town hall meeting is to establish direct dialogue between poultry growers, poultry workers and members of the community.

CLEVELAND, OH - The winter season in Northeastern Ohio is long, hard, and unpredictable, but venturing out into the snow may lead you to one of the most interesting outdoor events to occur in Cleveland all year round. A group known as BRITE WINTER joined with community organizations Ohio City Near West, Tremont West, Flats Oxbow, Downtown Cleveland Alliance and many more to invite the greater Cleveland community to celebrate winter with a free outdoor winter festival. The Ohio Canal Corridor’s Hart Crane Memorial Park and Cleveland Rowing Foundation?s Rivergate Park on the Cuyahoga River will be the site for the second annual BRITE WINTER festival on February 19th.

The 2011 festival will feature live music performed by nearly a dozen bands, including The Modern Electric, The Wheel, Living Stereo, and Sun Spots. On display will be artwork in a variety of mediums by local artists and members of the Cleveland Institute of Art?s industrial design education program, as well as light displays from Vertical Sound. Popular games such as “giant skeeball” will be returning, with new additions like “kinetic light drums”, “snow mini golf” and “ski-bike racing” made possible by support from the Cleveland Metroparks and the Ohio City Bike Co-op.

Most importantly, bonfires, tended by BRITE WINTER Volunteers, will keep friends and neighbors warm as they enjoy the winter festivities.

An abridged production of "Henry V" by William Shakespeare will be performed at the Kathleen Howland Theatre located in the lower level of Second April galleries on February 18, 19, 25, and 26 at 8 p.m.  Tickets are $10.00.

The cast is made up of local lawyers who performed the last two years in "Twelve Angry Men," high school and middle school students from the Student Shakespeare Players, who have performed in schools and assisted living centers, and actors from outdoor production in downtown Canton of "The Merry Wives of Windsor."

Live music from the period will be performed by Kris and Jeff Kiko-Cozy, with vocals by Mellissa Day.  High school and middle school students are researching art from the period and will be creating art work for display during the production under a grant provided by Arts in Stark.

Tickets can be purchased at 2nd April Galerie, by calling 330-451-0924 or online at www.secondapril.org/theater. The Kathleen Howland Theater is located at 324 Cleveland Ave. NW in Downtown Canton.