Hometown Capsules BUDDHIST ENVIRONMENTAL PERSPECTIVES: Rita Gross will speak about "Buddhist Perspectives on Reproduction, Consumption and the Environment" at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28, at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The talk in Room 303 Collins Classroom Center is part of a month-long series of events focusing on the theme of "Women and the Environment," sponsored by the Women's Resource Center, the Women's Studies Program and the Department of Philosophy. The programs are open to the public without charge. Gross is emeritus professor of religious studies at UW-Eau Claire and a leading authority in the areas of women and religion and Buddhist ethics. She is perhaps best known for her groundbreaking work, "Buddhism After Patriarchy: A Feminist History, Analysis, and Reconstruction of Buddhism." Her current research and writing have focused on the practical applications of Buddhist teaching to contemporary social problems such as ecological devastation, sexism, poverty and social injustice. Further information is available through Alice Keefe, coordinator of Women's Studies, 346-3807 or akeefe@uwsp.edu. * * * CLONING PRESENTATION AT UW-SP: Cloning and its applications to medicine will be discussed by pathologist Dr. Lloyd Arnold at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 26, at UW-SP. The presentation in Room D102 Science Building is open to the public without charge. It is co-sponsored by Sigma Mu Tau, Society for Allied Health Professions, Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Pre-Medical Society and the Department of Biology. * * * CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS CHRISTMAS DINNER: Court Jerem 1031, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, will hold its Christmas dinner at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, at Spiedini's Italiano Ristorante. All members should bring an unwrapped gift for Operation Bootstrap. Prepaid reservations are needed by Monday, Nov. 26. Call 344-3385 or 341-4247. There will be no meeting in January. * * * DAY OF HEALING: St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Waupaca will hold a Day of Healing on Saturday, Dec. 1. The Rev. Paul Feider, nationally known for his work in the healing ministry and spiritual direction, will be the featured presenter. Registration will begin at 8:45 a.m., followed by music and the opening talk, "Resting in the Heart of Abba." At 10:30 a.m., the talk will be "Healing - What Did Jesus Do?" After lunch at noon, the talk will be on "Inner Healing," followed by the healing service at 2:30 p.m. All denominations are welcome. Because lunch will be served, pre-registration is requested. Call the church at (715) 258-5125 to register or for more information. * * * PEACHTREE COMPANIES, EMPLOYEES HELP RELIEF EFFORTS: Stevens Point and Mosinee employees of The Peachtree Companies Inc. are donating money and time to support the relief efforts in the wake of the recent crashes at the World Trade Center and Pentagon, according to Chief Executive Officer Robert Schoofs. Immediately after the terrorist attacks, employees (more than 1,000 at the two plants) began collecting funds for the Disaster Relief Fund set up by the American Red Cross - they've raised $8,300 so far. The company and the local Carpenters and Joiners Union 1594 donated $1,000 each. An employee at the Mosinee plant, Deborah Haupt, crocheted a wall-sized American flag that was raffled off for additional funds. A blood drive was held Tuesday, Nov. 6. The Peachtree Companies Inc. is the corporate identity for the Crestline, Vetter and Peachtree brands of windows and doors, which are sold through building material suppliers nationwide. * * * FRENCH CAFÉ FUND-RAISER: Tomorrow River Lutheran Parish youth are sponsoring a French Café food booth on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1-2, at the Bailiwick "Tomorrow River Christmas." This quality craft show has been held at the Jensen Center in Amherst for several years. The youth group will serve soup, quiches, cheesecake, croissants, muffins, gourmet coffee and herbal tea. Matching funds have been applied for with Aid Association for Lutherans Branch 1769. All proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to fund parish youth activities. * * * FRAME MEMORIAL ACTIVITIES: Frame Memorial Presbyterian Church will hold activities during the week of Nov. 25. Those activities include: Sunday, Nov. 25, 9:30 a.m., worship (no nursery supervision); 10:45 a.m., fellowship (no Sunday school). Monday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m., Monteverdi Chorale. Tuesday, Nov. 27, 6:30 p.m., deacons meeting. Wednesday, Nov. 28, 3:30 p.m., youth group; 4:30 p.m., women's book study; 7 p.m., Frame Choir. Thursday, Nov. 29, noon, men's study group; 4:30 p.m., Children's Choir; 6:30 p.m., ARCW. * * * COMPOSER TO PERFORM RECITAL AT UW-SP: Composer Leo Van Asten, Hortonville, will be joined by colleagues in a performance of his works on Thursday, Nov. 29, at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The concert of works written by Van Asten , a student at UW-SP, will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Michelsen Hall of the Fine Arts Center. It is free and open to the public. Van Asten's piano students, Breanna Burns, daughter of Joe and Marie Burns of Plover, and Nicole Ciulla, daughter of Johnny and Brenda Ciulla of Plover, will perform "Dancing Ducks in D Double Flat." Other works on the program include "Little Red Riding Hood," "The Accidental Waltz," "Impromptu No. 1 in E Major, The Winds of Fall," "Impromptu No. 2 in F Major, The Winds of Change," and "Impromptu No. 3 in C Minor." The ensemble of musicians for the concert will be Robert Metcalf, Stevens Point, trombone; and Johanna Beversdorf, Stevens Point, violin. Van Asten, the son of Victoria Van Asten, Hortonville, and Robert Van Asten, Neenah, is majoring in music at UW-SP. He is a 1997 graduate of St. Lawrence Seminary, a Catholic college preparatory school in Mt. Calvary. He teaches piano to 16 students at the UW-SP Conservatory for Creative Expression and performs stand-up comedy, which he combines with piano pieces. He served as accompanist for a Central Wisconsin Area Community Theater production last summer and is writing a musical for the group. He also has a small business, The Victoria Collection of Hortonville, a supplier of stained glass. * * * GARDNER TO READ POETRY: Poet Joann Gardner, director of Runaway with Words, will read her work Wednesday, Nov. 28, at UW-SP. The reading at 7 p.m. in the Carlsten Gallery of the Fine Arts Center will be followed by a reception. Both are free and open to the public. Gardner will read her poetry and discuss it with UW-SP students, community members and high school students who will attend the UW-SP Writers Workshop on Thursday, Nov. 29. Gardner founded Runaway with Words, a program that offers workshops for at-risk children and teenagers at homeless shelters and alternative high schools throughout Florida, Oregon and Utah. Teachers for the workshops are creative writers and artists. The program offers abandoned, abused and hard to manage teenagers a context for creativity and emotional healing. The sessions provide troubled young people an opportunity to write, share and discuss their work and build self-esteem. The workshops end with a presentation, performance or publication by participants. The students are exposed to a positive educational experience and Gardner says, "While teaching poetry cannot solve every social ill, it does open up avenues of communication." Gardner has been director of the Runaway with Words program since 1994 and its poet-in-residence since 1991. She received her master's degree and doctorate from Johns Hopkins University and works as an associate professor of English at Florida State University. She has published numerous critical articles and a book of modern poetry. Her creative work has appeared in Madison Review, Seneca Review, Tampa Review and Small Press Magazine. * * * MADRIGAL SINGERS PERFORM AT UW-SP: The Madrigal Singers at UW-SP will perform at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 28. Directed by Robert Peavler, assistant professor of music, the performance will be in Michelsen Hall of the Fine Arts Center. Admission is $5 for the public, $3 for senior citizens, $2 for youth and free to students with a UW-SP ID. Tickets are available at the Arts and Athletics Ticket Office in Quandt Fieldhouse, by phone at 346-4100 or 1-800-838-3378 or at the door. Part of the Music Scholarship Series, concert proceeds support students in the Department of Music. The evening's program will include "My Bonny Lass She Smileth," "Sing We and Chant It" and "Though Philmela Lost Her Love" by Thomas Morley, "Deo gracias, Anglia" and "Yawning Catch" by anonymous composers. Also on the program are "Adieu, Sweet Amaryllis" by John Wilbye, "Though Amaryllis Dance" by William Byrd, "Since Robin Hood" by Thomas Weelkes, "Now We Are Met" and "Sir Walter Enjoying his Damsel" by Henry Purcell. Other selections include "The Maid" by Thomas Arne, "Il biano e dolce cigno" by Jacques Arcadelt, "Si Ch'io vorrei Morire" by Claudio Monteverdi, "Nicolette" from "Trois Chansons" by Maurice Ravel, "Monday's Child" and "Sing A Song of Sixpence" from "Five Childhood Lyrics" by John Rutter. The singers also will perform several selections from "Native Circles" by James McCray including four Choctaw songs. Marlin McKay, Amarillo, Texas, will be speaker for "They Tell Me I Am Lost." Accompanists for the "Native Circles" selections include William Louis Brux, 2941 Bea Jay Lane, Plover, on synthesizer.