Cruising the World with Soroptimist and "The Love Boat's" Captain Stubing
Gavin MacLeod of "Love Boat" fame will be the celebrity host of this year's Soroptimist International of Santa Clarita Valley's 33rd annual fund raising auction on Saturday, March 8 at the Hyatt.

The club promises an amazing evening of fun and entertainment, not withstanding the chance to dine with the Captain at the Captain's Table. There will also be an opportunity for VIP guests to participate in a bridge visit and photo session with the captain.
The hosted Captain's Reception will begin at 5 p.m. for boarding guests. They will have the opportunity to tour the "ship," visit various destinations and ports of call while participating in an opportunity drawing... then it's bon voyage.

The ship is scheduled to "depart" at 7 p.m. on its cruise around the world featuring entertainment brought by the SCV Theatre Project. The evening will have a round-the-world travel theme with dinner and a live auction.

The annual fundraising event is a significant source of funds for Soroptimist International of Santa Clarita Valley as it represents at least 70 percent of the annual budget for donations to the community. Funds raised at this year's auction will benefit the Women's Outreach Program and the local agencies receiving assistance will include Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Foundation, Child and Family Center, College of the Canyons Foundations, Senior Center, Sam Dixon Center, Domestic Violence Center and the Betty Ferguson Foundation.
Sponsorship packages for the event start at $1,500. Individual tickets for Promenade seating are available for $125 each. For more information call 254-6380.

REP to Focus Awareness on Cancer with Pulitzer Prize Winning Play
The Repertory East Playhouse will continue its 2008 Main Stage Season with the 1999 Pulitzer Prize winning drama "Wit," written by Margaret Edson and sponsored by Serve Pro. In her extraordinary first play, Margaret Edson has created a work that is as intellectually challenging as it is emotionally immediate.

"Wit" opens on Friday, March 7 with an Opening Night Gala at 7 p.m. and curtain at 8 p.m. The gala is sponsored by Travel Center Santa Clarita with wine and food sponsored by Loose Goose Wine Festival and RSVP Catering.

"Wit" will run through April 5. Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $17; $15 for students and seniors. Group rates are available. Advanced reservations are highly recommended.

The REP will host two post-show discussions on Sunday, March 9 and Sunday, March 16 immediately following the show. Join the cast and crew for an intimate discussion about the process of creating live theatre.

The main character in Edson's play has ovarian cancer, a type of cancer that, if it is not caught in the initial stages, few women survive. In order for research doctors to find a cure, they must experiment with different kinds of drug treatments. Edson's play looks at the ethics behind this need and the consequences of this need upon the patient.
The REP is located at 24266 San Fernando Road Newhall, CA 91321. Purchase tickets online at www.repeastplayhouse.org or call 288-0000.

Domestic Violence Center Uses Art to Reach Youth
Now in its 25th year of service to the Santa Clarita Valley, the area's premier Domestic Violence Center agency has a new tool in the recovery toolbox for kids: art. Three new "teaching tools" are actually a set of new custom murals that now adorn the walls of the center's back office area. The new and colorful murals will be well utilized in therapy groups that the center conducts for children ages 7 to 17.

"The expected outcome of the murals for the group is to provide a safe and welcoming place for children dealing with violence in the home, school, or community to explore their feelings and learn healthy strategies of coping," explains Jean Albrent, executive director of the Domestic Violence Center of the Santa Clarita Valley.

The first panel depicts the suffering of a child who is tormented by anger and violence. The child is crying and the colors are rather dark. The second panel portrays the child deciding whether or not to hold onto the anger and violence or to release it. The anger is represented by a child holding "hot coal" in their hands, then releasing it. Sometimes the release of anger is very hard to get to and takes some work on the part of the child and the therapist. The third panel depicts the child moving away from the anger and violence by climbing a staircase that leads towards non-violence. These murals were created as a collaboration between the Domestic Violence Center of the Santa Clarita Valley and an artist named MIG.
Jorja Harris is the president of the SCV Domestic Violence Center.