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The Allentown Branch of the NAACP will be having its 62nd Annual Freedom Fund Banquet on Saturday July 31, 2004, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located at 904 Hamilton Street in Allentown, PA.

We invite you, your associates and friends to join us, and support the efforts of the NAACP. The organization is run by volunteers and the annual Freedom Fund banquet is our primary fund raising effort. All funds raised will go toward financing the banquet and NAACP operations.

The theme for this year's banquet is "Equal Access: Myth or Reality". Our keynote speaker will be Ms. Kimberly Chandler, who serves as the Economic Development Coordinator at the National Office of the NAACP.

Returning after a popular run last season, Neil Goldberg's Cirque will present DREAMS at the State Theatre in Easton from Tuesday, July 20 through Sunday, July 25. Performances are Tuesday through Thursday, 8 PM; Friday and Saturday 2 PM & 8 PM and Sunday 2 PM.

Tickets for Neil Goldberg's CIRQUE DREAMS are Tues- Thurs $31.50/$26.50 and Fri-Sun $36.50/$31.50 and can be obtained by visiting the State Theatre Box Office, 453 Northampton Street, Easton, by calling 1- 800-999-STATE (610-252-3132) or 24-hour charge (610) 991-STATE or via the internet at www. statetheatre. org.

A special summer weekday matinee will be presented on Friday, July 23 at 2 PM. Local performance sponsors include Enter.Net, The Express-Times, The Morning Call, WFMZ Channel 69 and Soft Rock 100.7.

It'll be one, big jammin' party when Musikfest - America's Music Festival - takes place in downtown Bethlehem Aug. 6-15. The festival, presented by ArtsQuest, showcases more than 300 performers on 13 indoor and outdoor stages throughout the city's plazas, parks and streets. This year's lineup includes Clay Aiken, Chingy with Twista, Peter Frampton, The Temptations Review with Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Huey Lewis and the News, The Persuasions, Chris Botti, Lucinda Williams, Crosby, Stills and Nash and many other great acts.

The Temptations, perhaps the finest male vocal group of the '60s, have produced some of the most classic songs of all time. Among their most well known are "My Girl," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "I Can't Get Next to You," "Ball of Confusion," "Just My Imagination" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone."

As a member of the world-famous Supremes, Mary Wilson was part of the female vocal trio that mesmerized the musical world while producing 33 Top 40 songs and 12 No. 1 hits. Members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Supremes will long be remembered for their enduring music, including "Where Did Our Love Go?," "Stop! In the Name of Love," "You Can't Hurry Love," "Someday We'll Be Together" and "Baby Love."

Other Suggested concerts @ MusikFest:

• Frankie Bey & the Swing City Blues Band 8/11/ 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM Wachovia Americaplatz

• Father Funk 8/7/ 9:00 PM - 10:45 PM Keystone Nazareth Bank & Trust Banana Island

• Lucky 7 8/12/ 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM Keystone Nazareth Bank & Trust Banana Island

• The Persuasions 8/11/ 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM PNC Bank Candlelight Concert Series

• Chris Botti 8/14/2004 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Fleet Bank Performing Arts Series

• 5:00 p.m. Dinner- Picnic style including sandwiches, chips, pretzels, cookies, soda

• 5:45 p.m. Opening Session

Discussion to be video taped and transcribed for use by the Lehigh County Historical Society.

• 7:00 p.m. Repeat of above sessions

• 8:00 p.m. Closing session to plan for next event

Rendell Administration Announces More Than $15 Million for Recreation, Conservation. Philadelphia African American Museum In Philadelphia, $50,000, to develop the Philadelphia Stars Negro League Memorial Park.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST In "African-American Museums Struggle for Funds" Joel Rose of National Public Radio member station WHYY reports on the difficult that several of the nation's African-American museums are having in raising funds and attracting a broader audience. Many rely heavily on public funding at a time when state governments are facing budget shortfalls.

Stars of CIRQUE, DREAMS, the European circus show playing through Sunday (July 25) at the State Theatre in Easton will perform a demonstration and meet with over 60 students, Grades 3-12, who are participating in this summer's State Theatre Acting Camp tomorrow, Thursday, July 22nd at 10:15 AM in the main Theatre.

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