Another Sunny Day, Windsor Locks Fire Department Carnival, Auditions for Opera House Players

1. It’s Thursday and will be a mostly sunny day with a high temperature of 87 degrees, according to The Weather Channel. Tonight will have isolated thunderstorms with a low temperature of 62 degrees.

2. The annual Carnival starts at 6 p.m. .

3. Opera House Players Inc. is holding auditions for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical, Cinderella, a wonderful story of love, wishes and dreams coming true.

Auditions will be held from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the , 107 Main Street, Broad Brook, Ct. on the dates listed below. Directors are looking for a diverse ensemble (ages 16 and up) of actor/singers and dancers.

DATES: 
Sunday, July 10 - All actor/singers auditioning for lead and supporting roles Monday, July 11 - All dancers and actor/singers auditioning for chorus roles
Sunday, July 17 - Callbacks TBA
Sunday, July 10 - All actor/singers auditioning for lead and supporting roles Monday, July 11 - All dancers and actor/singers auditioning for chorus rolesSunday, July 17 - Callbacks TBA

Some actor/singers auditioning on Sunday may be asked to come back on Monday for a dance audition. Any actors interested in non-dancing parts not available on Sunday, please come on Monday to sing.

Bring a recent photo and resume if available. Everyone should dress to move. Prepare to sing 16-24 bars of a song that shows your best range (from any show except Cinderella). Bring sheet music. Accompanist provided. The audition will also include cold reading from the script and participation in some (movement/acting) improvisation. Some roles may involve simple mask and puppetry work.

The show will be directed by Barbara M. Washer with musical direction by Debbie Curylo. Rehearsals begin mid-September. Performances are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from November 11-27. For more specifics about the auditions, character breakdown, directions to the theater and contact information visit www.operahouseplayers.org.

4. For the second year in a row, the state Judicial Branch, in collaboration with the League of Women Voters and the Museum of Connecticut History, is sponsoring “Day Trips with Kids,” an opportunity for children to have fun while learning about state government at the same time.

Tours of the Connecticut Supreme Court, State Capitol and Museum of Connecticut History will occur on Tuesday, July 12, and Thursday, Aug. 11. Activities will include:

•    A scavenger hunt in the Museum of Connecticut History, where exhibits trace the growth of the state and its role in the development of the nation;
•    A visit to the State Capitol, a National Historic Landmark, where children will learn about the legislative process while viewing the House and Senate chambers and also visit the Hall of Flags, where flags carried into battle by Connecticut soldiers are displayed;
•    A visit to the historic Connecticut Supreme Court courtroom, where the state’s most important legal rulings have occurred over the past century.

The program is recommended for children ages 8 and over. Information, including a schedule for both days and tour times, is available through the Judicial Branch’s website, at www.jud.ct.gov, or by calling the External Affairs Division at 860-757-2270.

5. Taxpayers who may have difficulty getting to an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center during normal business hours Monday through Friday can visit an IRS office located at 135 High St., Hartford CT 06103 or 150 Court St., New Haven CT 06510, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 16.  

The IRS is hosting the Saturday Open House this summer to provide free assistance to taxpayers who need help getting information required to file their tax returns. Help with account questions, such as collection or examination issues, is also available during the Open House.  In some instances virtual assistance will be offered, connecting by telephone with IRS employees for help who are working in other offices open that day around the country.   

The IRS will be offering help and advice to people who want to get a fresh start with their tax liabilities. 

“We are making fundamental changes to our lien system and other collection tools that will help taxpayers and give them a fresh start,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. “These steps are good for people facing tough times, and they reflect a responsible approach for the tax system.”   On July 16 taxpayers will be able to learn about changes which include:

• Adjustments to IRS Lien Policies

• Significantly increasing the dollar threshold when liens are generally issued, resulting in fewer tax liens
• Making it easier for taxpayers to obtain lien withdrawals after paying a tax bill
• Withdrawing liens in most cases where a taxpayer enters into a Direct Debit Installment Agreement

• Creating easier access to Installment Agreements for struggling small businesses
• Expanding the streamlined Offer in Compromise program to cover more taxpayers

  In addition to the normal array of services, limited help preparing tax forms is available on a first-come, first-served basis in most locations.   Over 35,000 taxpayers attended similar Open House events last year.  A list of all the Open House locations is available on www.IRS.gov.