Hot Stuff

        Happy new year: The Sikh holy day Vaisakhi will be celebrated with a dinner and program 5:30-10 p.m. next Saturday at Lakota East High School in Bethany. Sponsored by the Punjabi Cultural Society of Greater Cincinnati, the event marks the Indian new year and the harvest festival of Punjab. Activities include bhangra, giddha, dances, skits and songs. $10 in advance, $15 at door. 821-0304, (937) 439-4090. or www.geocities.com/cincipunjabi.

        For the children: April is the Month of the Young Child. The Cincinnati Association for the Education of Young Children sponsors a festival 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at Forest Fair Mall in Fairfield. This year's special guests are Steve Hayes, Michael Benton, Penny Mairn and the Cincinnati Area Puppetry Guild. Free. 791-7281 or caeyc.homestead.com. Shelf Help

        Taking care: Members of the sandwich generation, those adults who are caretakers both for their children and an elder, need all the help they can get. John Paul Marosy's book, Elder Care: A Six-Step Guide to Balancing Work and Family (Bringing Elder Care Home, $14.95) offers an easy-to-read solution. Using a step-by-step approach, Mr. Marosy gives useful checklists, tips and forms to help navigate the complicated maze of the legal rights of caregivers. Available at www.bringingeldercarehome.com or (508) 854-0431.

Family Fun

        Tale weavers: National Library Week (April 14-20) will be celebrated on both sides of the river. The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County presents two well-known storytellers.

        Michael Parent, a musician, singer and storyteller will perform stories and songs for children 2 p.m. Sunday at Main Library, 10 a.m. Monday at Mariemont and 4 p.m. Monday at Northside, 10 a.m. Tuesday at Loveland and 3 p.m. Tuesday at Avondale. Mr. Parent gives two performances for teens 7 p.m. Monday at Harrison and 7 p.m. Tuesdayat Green Township.

        Angela Lloyd, who uses a kazoo, autoharp, spoons and other unusual instruments to tell her stories, will appear 10 a.m. Tuesday at Madisonville, 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Norwood, 10 a.m. Wednesday at Elmwood Place and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Groesbeck. 369-6945 or www.cincinnatilibrary.org.

        The Kenton Public Library's version of National Library Week features free performances of classic fairy tales for the whole family. Theatre IV presents The Pied Piper at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mary Ann Mongan Library in Covington. The Frog Prince will be performed by Madcap Puppet Theatre 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Erlanger branch. The show will be repeated at 2 p.m. April 20 at the Independence branch.

        Contact Shauna Scott Rhone by phone at 768-8511; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: srhone@enquirer.com.

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