POTSDAM – Musical Theatre Organization, a SUNY Potsdam student-run theater group, present performances of "Rent" from Oct. 15 to Oct. 17 in Dunn Dance Theatre in Satterlee Hall.

Performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 15 and 16, with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Oct. 17.

"Rent," with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson, is a rock opera that tells the story of a group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and create in New York City under the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

MADRID – Angel Food Ministries orders are due by Tuesday, Oct. 19 with distribution from the Madrid Hepburn Library Saturday, Oct. 23 from noon to 2 p.m.

This month, there are special offers on both Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner packages that can be pre-ordered and will be delivered during the November and December distributions.

In addition, there are special packages for seniors, those coping with diabetes or even food allergies.

POTSDAM -- Clarkson University will host the North Country Science and Engineering Festival from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20 in Cheel Campus Center. It is free and open to the public.

POTSDAM – SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor of Percussion James Petercsak has been honored with an award from his alma mater, the Manhattan School of Music in New York City.

The accomplished musician will be presented with the 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees, this fall.

POTSDAM – U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jay C. Sorensen has been appointed professor of aerospace studies at Clarkson University. Sorensen is also commander of Clarkson's Air Force ROTC detachment.

Sorensen received his bachelor of science degree in range science from Utah State University and his master's degree in information resources management from the Air Force Institute of Technology.

To the Editor:

The Norwood-Norfolk-Raymondville Outreach would like to thank the Honor Society of the Norwood-Norfolk Central School for the placement boxes for non-perishable food at our local polling sites on Tuesday, Sept. 14. These boxes were delivered to our food pantry to be distributed to families during our Christmas program in December. Many thanks to all the students and Marcia Eggleston for the time they put into this. These food boxes will be placed again at our polling sites at our next election. Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated.

To the Editor:

Helping Hands of Potsdam would like to thank St. Lawrence Health Initiative and the Eat Well/Play Hard program for the grant given enabling Helping Hands to establish a community garden.

This grant allowed us to engage clients in the gardening process and offer fresh produce to people needing emergency food.

Further thanks to the Eat Well/Play Hard program for the supplies to prepare us for our upcoming cooking and nutrition classes, in conjunction with Cornell Cooperative Extension, which will include canning and freezing fresh garden vegetables.

To the Editor:

Most civic-minded organizations, groups and churches work hard at their missions, and thankfully so. Our town, our country and our world would be worse for the wear if not for such groups.

Every once in a while, however, you come across a group with eyes to see out beyond their own borders. When this happens, not only is need met, but bonds of goodwill are built that otherwise would not have existed there before.