Rendered in various media, her subjects include landscapes, skies, and figures in the city. She has earned much recognition for her talent in utilizing pastels, etchings, charcoal, graphite, watercolor, and pen and ink, including 57 regional, national, and international awards. Byers has been featured in over 340 exhibits nationwide and draws the greatest crowds in the metropolitan areas of New York, Boston, Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

Numerous corporate and private collections feature her realist- and impressionist-styled artwork. Byers’ biography is included in Who’s Who of American Women and Who’s Who in American Art, and she has been critiqued in many literary and art journals. She also holds membership in The Pen and Brush, the Pastel Society of America, the National Association of Women Artists, the Oil Pastel Association, the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, the Art Association of Harrisburg, The Art Center School & Galleries, and The Doshi Gallery.

This exhibit presents an excellent opportunity to view quality artwork and to meet the artist. An Artist’s Reception will be held on Saturday, April 10, from 5 – 8pm; free admission includes musical entertainment and refreshments. The gallery is located at 413 Walnut Street, Harrisburg. Gallery hours are Mon. – Fri. 10:30am – 5:30pm and Sat. 11am – 3pm. For more information, call The Gallery at Walnut Place at 234-6414.

The event begins with cocktails and dinner, accented with music by Ray Solinski. The Lion’s Club, known in the area for it’s Las Vegas expertise, will run the casino tables. Dancing with DJ Denny Logan will cap off the night.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a raffle for prizes donated by area businesses.

An organization that supports endeavors to improve Harrisburg, HYP consists of “young, active, civic-minded professionals who have a clear vision of Harrisburg’s future as a great place to live, work, and play.” They continually strive to help such causes as HPP, which works to improve open spaces and parks in the area.

Described by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review as “A foot-stomping, hand-clapping amalgam of America’s cultural heritage,” the company’s works draw from American, English, and Irish step dance styles. In addition, the members use tap to emphasize the main element that acts as a bridge between the past and the present— rhythm.

Rhythm in Shoes uses original music that incorporates traditional Irish, jazz, and Appalachian sounds created by composer Rick Good. Choreographer Sharon Leahy intertwines the traditional dances with the more rhythmic forms of tap and clogging to put forth what The Village Voice calls “Really smart stuff.”

The nearly 20-year-old company traces its beginnings to the Shuffle Creek Dancers of Bloomington, Indiana. In 1988, it relocated to Dayton, Ohio, where it is based today.

Rhythm in Shoes will hold a free swing dance workshop in HACC’s Cooper Student Center from 7 – 9pm on April 19. While registration is required, experience isn’t. Call the Performing Artist Series Office at 780-2545 for information.

Clifford the Big Red Dog, the Berenstein Bears, Media Play Man, and others will meet and greet the children, helping them find their way to the balloons, face painting booth, and entertainment, which begins at 6pm on Friday. The evening will include performances by the Patsy Morris School of Dance and a troupe of puppeteers.

The Bratz Puppeteers will kick off Saturday at 10am, followed by the Amazing John Beinhaur Magic Show with showtimes at 11am and 12:30pm. Also from 11am-1pm, three members of the Harrisburg Senators and their mascot will offer autographs. The Harrisburg School of Tai Kwon Do will demonstrate their skills at 2pm, after which school member Joe King will hold a book signing for his recent release. The Cheryl Richey School of Dance will perform at 3:30pm.

In addition to face painting, kids can enjoy computer instruction, story telling, and local animal welfare organization PAWS, which will have furry critters to pet and to adopt. Outside, Halestorm will perform rock music, and the National Guard will demonstrate select items of field equipment, including hummers.

ZooAmerica has prepared extensively to create a habitat that is as realistic as possible. The bears’ surroundings will also house trees, shrubs, limestone rock formation, natural turf, and felled trees for climbing. The keepers will place food throughout the exhibit to promote natural foraging. The pond will vary in depth from three to six feet and permits visitors to watch the bears in action beneath the surface. There should be much action to attract viewers, as the pond will be stocked with trout to interact with the bears. The graphics included in the exhibit will present information on the history and conservation of the black bear.

ZooAmerica spans 11 acres and contains 75 different species of animals. The animals represent five regions of North America: Big Sky Country; North Woods; Grassy Waters; Cactus Community; and Eastern Woodlands, to which Black Bear Encounter is an addition.