We have some books which are leftover from the Day of Puppetry Store.
If you would like to purchase any of these books, please contact me.
Mary Decker: marydeck earthlink dot net or 650-361-131O.

The books with asterisks are highly recommended reference books.

Hand Puppets: How to Make and Use Them by Laura Ross $11.00

Making and Operating Marionettes by Rufus and Margo Rose [photocopies] $2.00

Marionettes: How to Make and Work Them by Helen Fling $14.00

Newspaper Marionette by Margo Rose [photocopies] $2.00

*Prop Builders Molding and Casting Handbook by Thurston James $30.00

Puppet Mania! by John Kennedy $12.00

*The Puppetry Handbook by Anita Sinclair $37.00

Puppets from Polyfoam: Sponge-ees $11.00

Rod Puppets by Coad Canada Puppets $9.00

Puppet Theatre Production and Manipulation by Miles Lee $27.00

Wisdom of Big Bird by Carroll Spinney $15.00

Lucy Ladybug Pattern [marionette] $8.00

Cha Cha Chicken Pattern [marionette] $8.00

Boogie Cat Pattern [marionette] $8.00

Cloth Hand Puppets and Cloth Animal Patterns [photocopies] by Lewis
Mahlmann $3.00

Hand Shadows and More Hand Shadows by Henry Bursill $7.00

Fanciful Dinosaur Finger Friends by Fanciful Finger Puppets $8.00

Fanciful Finger Friends from Sea and Shore by Fanciful Finger Puppets $9.00

First Festival [the program book plus extras from the first PofA
Festival in 1936] $2.00

Classroom Stages by Coad Canada Puppets $8.00

Yahoo is now using something called "Web Beacons" to track Yahoo Group users around the net and see what you're doing and where you are going similar to cookies. Yahoo is recording every website and every group you visit. Take a look at their updated privacy statement: http://privacy.yahoo.com/privacy

About half-way down the page, in the section on cookies, you will see a link that says web beacons. Click on the phrase web beacons. That will bring you to a paragraph entitled "Outside the Yahoo Network."

In this section you'll see a little "click here to opt out" link that will let you "opt-out" of their new method of snooping.

Once you have clicked that link, you are exempted. Notice the "Success" message on the top of the next page. Be careful because on that page there is a "Cancel Opt-out" button that, if clicked, will *undo** the opt-out.

Here is a puppet show I thought some of you might find of interest.

David Goldman

Go-Ga Puppet Theater

Friday, April 29th

11:30pm-12:00am

$6

----/ Event Description /-----------------------------------------------

Go-Ga Puppet Theater presents:
The Ghosts of Disco F.O.Y.

starring: Ling Busche, Sandy Castleberry,
Matthew Davis, and Jerry Smith

a puppet show in celebration of all things spring--featuring everything
from Ponce DeLeon to The Saddest Robot in All the Lands. Twin dancing
unicorns and the DiscoDestructo. Don't miss this ultra-bizzarro
goodstuff event!

----/ Venue Info /------------------------------------------------------

The Odeon Bar
3223 Mission Street
San Francisco
415-555-1212
http://laughingsquid.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 19, 2005

CONTACT:
Teri Stevens, (707) 6O3-2338
teri nvoh dot org

GIANT HANDCRAFTED PUPPETS BRING HUMPERDINK'S
CLASSIC FAIRY TALE HÄNSEL AND GRETEL TO LIFE AT
THE NAPA VALLEY OPERA HOUSE

Napa, CA - One of the most inventive puppet
companies in the world, Canadian Théâtre Sans Fil
(Theatre Without Strings), brings Engelbert
Humperdink's classic fairy tale Hänsel and Gretel
to life through the manipulation of giant
handcrafted puppets. Initially inspired by the
classical technique of Japanese Bunraku theatre,
the company successfully united the concept with
original and modern set design, lighting, music
and special effects. Over the years, this mix
has become the signature of the company's
exceptional productions. Fantasy, poetry and
magic have always figured strongly in Théâtre
Sans Fil projects. This alchemy between the
traditional and the modern has earned the company
international recognition and has allowed them to
perform for family audiences all over the world.

Hänsel and Gretel was the only opera composed by
Engelbert Humperdink that has remained in the
standard repertoire. It was first conceived as a
children's theatre piece incorporating folk
songs. Later, it was expanded musically and
recast as a singspiel (opera with spoken
dialogue) and finally, in 1893, became what it is
today. The premiere of Hänsel and Gretel took
place in Weimar, Germany in December of 1893
under the direction of composer and conductor
Richard Strauss. It was a resounding success.
It first played in the United States in 1895 in
New York.

WHEN: Sunday, May 1, 2 p.m.
WHAT: Family Theatre
WHO: Hänsel and Gretel
COST: $20
WHERE: Napa Valley Opera House, 1030 Main Street, Napa, CA 94559
PUBLIC INFO: (707)-226-7three72, NVOH.ORG
CONTACT: Teri Stevens, teri nvoh dot org , 707-6O3-2338

More than 30 years in the making, The Napa Valley
Opera House, a national historic landmark,
completed the Margrit Biever Mondavi Theatre in
June 2003, a second-floor theatre that was
originally constructed in 1879. This 500-seat
theatre is the intimate main stage of the Napa
Valley Opera House and is the premier
professional-quality multipurpose performing arts
venue in the Napa region featuring musical
theatre, plays, opera, dance, cabaret, chamber
music, jazz, blues, world music, comedy and
family programming.

s message comes from SFBAPG President, Tim Giugni:

Job Opportunity with Liebe Wetzel and Lunatique Fantastique

Lunfan is seeking fabulous movement based actors for a special performance
of EO 9066 as well as a school tour of Reframing the Hourglass.

Executive order 9066 will be performed at the 60th anniversary of the
closing of topaz, a japanese internment camp in utah. You will be performing
the piece for the very people who inspired its creation.

For more information about the piece you can follow the link below.

http://www.lunfan.com/shows/2003_eo9066.html

Here are the details and money info below.
(Total project fee for both projects is $2250 and you get to travel to
Utah!!!!)

-         Rehearsals would start ASAP - like next week - and run about 4 per
week for 4 weeks. (4 hours per rehearsal)  They would be scheduled around
your availability.  They will either be at the Marsh in SF mornings 10:30
-2:30 or week day evenings 6:00-10:00pm

-         The first set of shows is in Topaz, Utah on the weekend of June
11th.  We would fly out on thrusday june 9 and come back Sunday june12.  We
would do two shows - one of them at a High School june10 and the other at
the actual internment camp site with an audience of people who were in the
camp (wow!) june 11.   Air travel and lodging is included and you would each
be paid $250 for the weekend.

The second set of shows is the award winning reframing the hourglass. So we
have to learn a new show, but here is the scoop.

- We are also negotiating a contract with Julia Morgan center to do this
same show as a part of their arts in schools program.  For this, there would
be 2 shows during the summer, 8-10 shows in the fall and 8-10 shows in the
spring.  you would each be payed $100 for each show.

-         The summer shows will be 2 daytime shows on June 22 or 23 and 2
daytime shows on the week of June 27-July 1. The fall and spring shows would
be during the school day (morning or afternoon,) but could be scheduled
around our availability.

Please contact lunfan mindspring dot com or 510 44four 5252 if you are interested.
Please feel free to pass this on to anyone you know who may be qualified and
interested.

Liebe Wetzel
Artistic Director
Lunatique Fantastique
PO Box 20192
Oakland,CA. 94620
www.lunfan.com

A message from Michael Nelson, SFBAPG Newsletter Editor:

Michael Nelson would like to get some digital photos of the Day of
Puppetry.  If you are coming to the Day of Puppetry, please bring
your digital camera and snap a few!

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

SUNDAYS only....
FREE to SFBAPG Members.
Two for one to anyone mentioning this email.

Fun for the Entire Family!

Show Dates:
April 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30,
May 1

Show Times:
Saturdays at 2 pm, Sundays at 7 pm

Ticket Prices:
Children - $5; Adults - $10

Produced by:
Il Teatro Calamari

Synopsis:
A near-classic retelling of this beloved children's story that children and adults can participate in and enjoy together.

The audience gets to choose just how scary they want the Troll to be and also get to chant along with the Troll as he does his Troll things. What are Troll things? You will see in this fun-filled show for all ages.

Audience comments:
"[The] one goat was too small and then the big one came and knocked the troll out and took his money". Some one who wasn't paying attention to the end of the show, Juan de Fuca Festival, Port Angeles, Washington

"Waaaarrr!", when asked what was your favorite character. St. Helena, California. I assume it was the troll.

"I said he was behind you", after the Biggest Goat knocked the Troll off the set.

This pdf press release comes from L.A. Guild member, Greg Williams. [You'll need to wait a few seconds for your Acrobat to download the pdf. ]
Download file

This notice comes from non-SFBAPG member, Frederika Lamphere:

Lost Coast Puppet Feast- Memorial Day Weekend (May 27-29)

A weekend retreat for puppeteers, puppet lovers, and the puppet
obsessed to see puppet performances, learn about puppetry, eat great
food, and camp in a beautiful place.

The weekend will include camping Friday and Saturday night in
Petrolia CA, workshops and performances throughout the day on
Saturday, and a special show Sunday night in Eureka. Delicious food
will be served, and there will be a chance to watch the world famous
Kinetic Sculpture Race.

Pre-sale weekend passes:
$65 before May 1
$85 after

There will also be an option to pay for shows and workshops individually.

If you would like to perform or lead a workshop or discussion send a
description and photo or video by MAY 1st.

Registration and submissions email or write:
firecircus hotmail dot com or
1616 Pine St. Eureka, CA 95501

Directions and more info is on the way.

make checks out to: Shoe Box Puppet Co.

Questions call Fredrika Lamphere (707) 445-five853 or
firecircus hotmail dot com

The 2nd Annual National Day of Puppetry Celebration

April 23 - THIS Saturday!
10 AM to 4 PM

San Leandro Public Library, 300 Estudillo Ave. in San Leandro

Bring your puppets for the EXHIBIT!
For any interested members coming to the Day of Puppetry. Any and all display items are welcome for exhibit. There will be a few hand puppet stands available, but if you can bring a self supporting stand for your puppet, please bring it a long! Please bring your items around 9:30-10 am, that would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Kevin Menegus
www.FratelloMarionettes.com
Pelpup1 msn dot com

If you want to sell anything at the STORE, come early and fill out an inventory sheet.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS to the San Leandro Main Library: Take 880 N/S and exit Davis St. Go east on Davis for about 2 miles, passing under the BART tracks and up to the traffic light at East 14th Street. Continue straight through the light (Davis St. turns into Callan St. at this intersection.) Continue for 1-1/2 blocks. The library is on the right side of the street.

This message comes from the president of Puppeteers of America, Paul
Mesner (via Mary Decker):

Paul Mesner, the current president of PofA, has been making
arrangements to meet with individual guilds all over the country.  He
is scheduled to meet with the Los Angeles Guild:

Date: Friday night, May 13
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Bob Baker's Marionette Theater, 1345 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA
       213-250-9995

If you are in L.A. on that day, please feel free to come!   Paul
provides all the snacks and goodies!

Paul is trying to arrange a time to meet with San Francisco Guild
members who are interested in talking about PofA and its future.  It
looks like he will be in our area at the end of August.

SFBAPG Newsletter Editor, Michael Nelson, is looking for items to
fill the May and June newsletters.

Calendar listings
Articles
Show reviews
Commentaries about the Day of Puppetry

Send 'em in! Michael is on tour until April 27th. He will assemble
the newsletter immediately after that.

This message comes from fellow SFBAPG member, Alan Cook:

Greetings from COPA. [Conservatory for Puppetry Arts located in L.A.]

Watch for Digiorgio pizza commercial with Pinoke & Gepetto and in
background, a dozen puppets from my collection. The set was
beautifully put together---Gepetto's workshop. Gepetto asks Pinoke to
order a pizza from his favorite take-out, but instead Pinoke gives
Gepetto a home-cooked frozen DiGiorno pizza. When Gepetto asks if
Pinokio carried out his request, Pinoke says yes and his nose grows
l-o-n-g and the nose knocks things over in the workshop, creating
havoc while G intensely enjoys the pizza.---ALAN

The 2nd Annual National Day of Puppetry Celebration

presented by

San Leandro Public Library & San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild

Date: Saturday, April 23

Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Location: San Leandro Public Library, 300 Estudillo Ave., San Leandro, CA 94577

Price: All events are free, unless indicated otherwise (see Schedule).

Schedule of performances, workshops and on-going events:

10:00 to 3:00: Puppet Exhibit, Raffle, Store, and Puppet Petting Zoo open to the public.
11:00 & 12:00: Audience participation performance by young members of Alameda County 4-H Puppeteers.

1:00: "An Irish Tale" performed by The Puppet Company.

1:30 to 2:15: Workshop for all ages: How to Work a Puppet on Television. Presented by Lee Armstrong of Images in Motion, Inc. Puppets and TV Camera provided.

1:30 to 3:00: Workshop for older children and adults: How to Make a Scarf Marionette. $6.00 materials fee. Teacher: Mike Burroughs.

1:30 to 3:00: Workshops for younger children: Make It and Take It. Teachers: Elisheva Hart and Tia Smirnof.

3:00: "Vaudeville Follies" performed by The Fratello Marionettes. $3.00 entrance fee. Guild members free.

Help support the SFBAPG. Donate to the Raffle.

Rose and Nick Barone are gathering puppetry related items for the Raffle at this
year's Day of Puppetry.

If you have a puppetry related item you would like to donate,
please contact Nick and Rose Barone at 650-365-8O7O or send an email to
nick nbpuppets dot com.

Puppet Builder Needed!

My name is Marie Travers and I work as a rehabilitation supervisor at
International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC) in Fairfield, CA.
We are expecting to raise at least 400 baby herons and egrets this
year, and are trying to minimize the risk of imprinting them, so we
would appreciate any help we can get!

In the past, we have used lame sock puppets and hemostats to feed the
chicks, but this seems neither helpful nor functional. Latex puppets
would be ideal, since we would need to be able to clean the puppets
regularly.

Is anyone available to help us with the development of our bird
puppets? If you would like more information, I'd be happy to send it
along.

All the best,
Marie
marie ibrrc dot org
510-912-547O
www.ibrrc.org

P.S. We are finding ourselves this week suddenly swamped by 260+
orphaned ducklings! We only had 60 this time last week, so things
are getting busy quickly! The puppets would be such a huge help to
the baby herons and egrets who should start arriving soon.

Hello SFBAPG members,

For the last year or so, I have been the Email Coordinator for the SFBAPG and I have distributed the email announcements to members through my own private email accounts (marydeck, marydeck2, marydeck3, etc.). Now, I am trying to simplify and improve the Guild's email distribution system.

Starting at the end of April, SFBAPG notices will come to you from the following Yahoo group email address:

sfbapg yahoogroups dot com

If you have a spam filter, please add this new SFBAPG email address to your list of acceptable senders.

The advantages of creating this Yahoo group are: (1) the moderator can send a message to everyone through just one mailbox (instead of the eight I've been managing); and (2) it is easy for the Guild to change the person who is the moderator. It's just a matter of changing the settings on the account.

Our account will be set up as a kind of "newsletter only" account. Unlike most Yahoo groups, it will not be an open discussion forum. This means that if you reply to a message, your reply will go only to the SFBAPG Email Coordinator and not to the whole group. (Just like it's always been.)

Since I can only add 10 addresses per day to this account, it will take me about 12 days to completely set up the account. So, I figure it'll be ready about the end of April.

Feel free to contact me with any questions. In the meantime, if you have a spam filter, please add sfbapg@yahoogroups.com to your list of acceptable email senders so you don't miss out on any great puppet news!

Mary Decker

This message comes from fellow SFBAPG member, Herbert Lange:

Dear friends,

THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS Fairy Tale will be performed in North Beach next Sunday, one day only! Come join a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster on their way to hit it big as musicians, with a few SURPRISES along the way.

This fun-filled puppetry afternoon, performed in English, is suitable for everybody young at heart, ages 3 +.

In addition, we will be treated to an extraordinary guest appearance by Micha Patri with his fantastic drum stories.

When:
Sunday, April 17, 2005, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Where:
At the LIVE WORMS Gallery
1345 Grant Avenue (between Vallejo and Green)
San Francisco (North Beach), CA 94133
phone: (415) 3O7-1222

Parking:
garage on Vallejo between Stockton and Powell
garage on Filbert Street off Columbus Ave.

This show is a Tsunami-fundraiser to help the children in need by supporting the SAVE THE CHILDREN organization. No one will be turned away, but donations are strongly encouraged.

The FAIRYTALETHEATER company has been successfully touring the Bay Area over the past two years with its colorful, poetic, educational, funny and traditional productions of the GRIMM fairytales, both in German and English. For more information, visit www.fairytaletheater.net.

Come one, come all and bring children for this entertaining afternoon!

Karin Rohlfs and Herbert Lange

Press Release

NEW EXHIBITION MUSEUM OF CRAFT & FOLK ART
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Puppets from Around the World
May 4 through July 24

EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION:

Puppets from Around the World features a selection of more than 50 puppets representing puppetry traditions of North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. All major types of puppets are included from marionettes to hand, rod, and shadow with educational information on techniques and purposes. Drawn mainly from the vast collection of Alan G. Cook, legendary collector and puppeteer, the puppets on display will charm children and remind adults of magic moments spent watching figures come to life before their eyes.

Museum of Craft & Folk Art - General Information

Location: Fort Mason Center, Landmark Building A, San Francisco, CA 94123-1382

Entrance at Buchanan Street and Marina Boulevard

Dates: Wednesday, May 4 through Sunday, July 24, 2005

Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm; Saturday 10 am to 5 pm

Admission: $4 for adults; $3 for seniors; free for youth 18 and under. Free the first Wednesday of each month and Saturdays 10 am to 12 pm

Information: 24-hour recorded message at 415-775-0991 or www.mocfa.org

Guided Tours of the Exhibition
First Wednesday of each month: 1:30pm; Second and Fourth Saturdays, 11:30am (All Tours are Free)

During this docent-led tour, visitors will learn about the overall exhibition theme and in-depth information about selected works.

About MOCFA: The Museum of Craft & Folk Art promotes the understanding and appreciation of human expression, ranging from utilitarian objects to contemporary art. This is accomplished through innovative exhibitions of craft and folk art from cultures past and present, education programs, and publications.

Media Contact: Karin Nelson, MOCFA Acting Curator
415-775-O991 x111
karin mocfa dot org

This message comes from fellow SFBAPG member, Lettie Schubert:

"CORTEO" (which means cortege in Italy), Cirque du Soleil's newest touring show, will visit San Francisco and San Jose in November and maybe December.  It opens in Montreal on April 21, and they will play Minneapolis closing October 23rd. Exact dates for the Bay Area have not been set yet. If you want to be up to date, check out their website and join the Cirque Club.

This message comes from SFBAPG member, Elisheva Hart:

"In commemoration of National Library Week and the 200th Anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen's birth, the Friends of the San Rafael Public library present: AN EVENING WITH HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN, performed by Randel McGee. Friday, April l5th, 7:00 pm.

Suitable for adults and children ages 8 years and older. Randel McGee portrays H.C.Andersen as he may have shared his stories as he traveled among the rich and famous of Europe in the mid-l800's, complete with elaborate paper cut designs to illustrate the stories. Hear and enjoy some of the less familiar stories that show the wit, personality, and sensitivity that Andersen's stories are famous for. San Rafael Public Library, ll00 E Street (at Mission), San Rafael, Ca 415) 485-3322."

Note from Elisheva: Randel is doing storytelling, not puppetry. He is a former regional director of our Puppeteers of America Region. Check his website to see what other Bay Area appearances he will make during National Library Week. www.storyteaching.com

Randel's other performances in the Bay Area:

Saturday, April 9, 2:00 p.m. Pleasanton Library

Tuesday, April 12, 3:00 p.m. Orinda Library
Tuesday, April 12, 6:30 p.m. Kensington Library

Wednesday, April 13, 7:00 p.m. Santa Clara Library

Friday, April 15, 7:00 p.m. San Rafael Library

This article is submitted (with permission) by fellow SFBAPG member, Mary Decker:

Strings Attached: Pending deportation threatens Turkish
puppeteer's bonds with United States

By Kathryn Casa | Vermont Guardian

Posted March 18, 2005
BRATTLEBORO — It was in the rubble of the World Trade Center that Caglayan Sevincer became part of this country.

Sevincer was a Turkish immigrant living in Connecticut on Sept. 11, 2001, when the Twin Towers were hit. As thousands fled New York in panic and police shut down access to Ground Zero, Sevincer headed straight into the maelstrom.

"Why? Because I couldn't be anywhere else," he said last week. "I didn't think I would be able to sit home and watch TV. I felt that I had to be there and help in some way. I couldn't just sit and watch it happen because I knew I could be useful."

By the time he got to the city, only emergency responders were allowed to enter the gaping wound at the heart of New York's financial district, so Sevincer wandered the downtown streets until he stumbled across a Salvation Army storage unit with people scurrying to load boxes onto trucks. He asked if he could help, and was told to return at 4 a.m. When he did, they asked for ID, gave him a Salvation Army nametag, and put him into a van bound for Ground Zero.

Sevincer spent the next nine or 10 days distributing energy drinks, food, and fresh socks to emergency personnel. The environment, he said, was like a parallel world, where "everything was quiet, in slow motion. The color was different, the smell was different. I didn't feel the time."

When he finally emerged, he said, "I went through this complete stripdown as far as identity. I wanted to make myself part of the community through language, art, social work."

The experience became a defining moment of Sevincer's 20-odd years. Afterwards, "I knew myself," he said, "and I knew what it felt like to be an American."

Not that simple
The problem is that Sevincer is not a U.S. citizen - at least not on paper. In 2001, he had already overstayed his student visa by a year.

Caglayan (pronounced Cha-leon) Sevincer, 31, worked for an Istanbul theater company as an actor, puppeteer, and stagehand before coming to New York in 1997 to study English. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Connecticut to continue his studies, but found it financially difficult to remain a full-time student - a requirement of his visa.

"I kept full-time as long as I could afford to, then dropped down to part-time, then back to full-time again. It took me three years to study the language, and as soon as I had a good grip of English, I started taking art lessons, teaching children art and theater. That was my main intention, to learn more about theater."

Sevincer's puppet artistry blossomed, and in the summer of 2001 he was offered a job as third puppeteer with a southern Vermont company. That fall, he moved to Brattleboro, where a thriving arts community welcomed him with open arms.

"This art form is not one you find everywhere," said Inez Zeller, co-founder of the Sandglass Theater in Putney. "He contributes a lot in this country to the art form. His specialty is marionettes - puppets on string - an even more intricate art form which I don't think that many people do anymore."

Sevincer became an active member of his new community. He taught deaf children at the Austine School, and his puppet performances drew crowds of enthusiastic theatergoers. But his illegal immigration status needled him. So early in 2002, unbidden, he called immigration officials in St. Albans.

"I was looking for resolution. I wasn't going to try something fake" like seeking refugee status or a marriage of convenience to a U.S. citizen, he said. The officials told him that he would be summoned to court within a month to begin the process of determining whether he could legally stay. "I didn't hear from them for more than a year, so I called again, and they said just wait."

After a year and a half of no news, Sevincer drove back to St. Albans and finally, in February 2004, the U.S. immigration machine kicked into gear. But because Sevincer refused to contort himself into a politically acceptable immigration category, such as political asylum, after three hearings there was little hope.

His friends in Brattleboro gathered nearly 1,000 signatures on a petition urging the judge to let him stay, and collected money for his legal defense fund. They rented a van so that 25 of them could accompany Sevincer to his fourth and final hearing in Boston. VIPs - from the town manager to state representatives to Vermont's congressional delegation - wrote letters in his favor.

But at the hearing, Sevincer's bid for a special visa reserved for aliens with "extraordinary ability" failed. He had exhausted his legal avenues. The only hope, the judge told him privately, was Congress.

Private relief
According to U.S. immigration law, any member of Congress may sponsor private legislation for permanent resident status of an illegal immigrant "when strong equities exist and other relief is not possible."

Such bills are rare and extremely difficult to pass when they are introduced, said Ruth Spivak, an immigration specialist with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.

But Sevincer's hopes were buoyed earlier this month when a popular Boston high school teacher facing deportation to his native Ivory Coast got a 17-month extension, thanks to a private relief bill sponsored by Sen. John Kerry, D-MA.

Like Sevincer, Obain Attouoman had broad community support, from his students and others. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, wrote to the Homeland Security secretary that "the unique and impassioned effort by these students to convey to our government the important contribution of Mr. Attouoman certainly demonstrates the impact he is having as a member of our education community."

Public support in that case was critical, said Chris Nugent, a member of the community services team with the Washington-area law firm of Holland & Knight.

Last year, just five private relief bills passed Congress, Nugent said. In Washington's current political climate, the only glimmer of hope for such bills comes from "major public outcry and a public campaign," he noted. Skittish about expending their political capital, members of Congress "need to see it as a matter of significant importance to constituents."

"It's ironic, because there is a greater need than ever for compassionate treatment of exceptional cases because the law is so restrictive," Nugent added. "Yet the private bill process is one that is used so sparingly."

"You turn to private bills when there is nothing left, but it seems meritorious," said Alan Pampanin, the Cambridge immigration attorney Sevincer was able to hire with donations from his friends. "That's when you go to a congressman and say, 'We need your help.'"

Supporting a pair of private relief bills in June 2000, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT, told the Senate Judiciary Committee on which he sits, "We should continue to be attentive to this issue. These should not be the last private relief bills we report during this Congress."

But despite his earlier letter of support for Sevincer, Leahy will not attempt a private bill, according to the senator's spokesman, David Carle. Sevincer "unfortunately does not meet any of the criteria spelled out under the law for cancellation of removal," Carle said, referring to a last-ditch legal maneuver that can stop deportation. "The circumstances of this case also are not favorable for a private relief bill."

Vermont's other senator, independent Sen. James Jeffords, "hasn't sponsored private relief bills, since doing so would mean having to favor one Vermonter's need for such relief over another's," said spokeswoman Diane Derby.

A spokeswoman for Rep. Bernie Sanders said the independent congressman did not comment on Sevincer's case.

Ever the optimist, Sevincer still holds out hope for an 11th hour reprieve. Just as he felt he could be useful at Ground Zero, he said he still has more to offer the country he wants to call home.

"I think I represent the cross-cultural person. I can be the middle person between two cultures. And I think a middle person is needed even more after September 11 because misunderstanding of other cultures is the source of the problem," he said.

Sevincer acknowledges that, legally, he should have returned to Turkey when his visa expired in 2000. "But I didn’t feel I was ready to go back. I hadn't done what I came do to, at that point. Legally, yes, I should have gone back. But what is the meaning of coming to America?"

An Invitation to all SFBAPG Members to Celebrate the Birthday of David C. Jones

April 23, 2005
7:00 p.m.
In honor of David's 75th birthday

San Leandro Community Center
15310 Wicks Blvd.
San Leandro, CA 94579

The celebration of David's Birthday will take place just a few hours after the end of the SFBAPG's Day of Puppetry event at the San Leandro Public Library. (Please note the two events are in different locations, but in the same town.)

Did you enjoy your adventure on "Upset Blvd" last year? It was performed in the evening at last year's Day of Puppetry. Now you are invited to join us for "Psycho Path" -- David's latest masterpiece.

Kindly RSVP to Lewis Mahlmann.

Directions to the Community Center:

Going northbound on 880. Exit Marina Blvd. West. After exiting, go over the overpass and get into the far left lane. Turn left onto Merced, the first stop light. Continue on Merced and bear right on Wicks (Merced turns into Wicks). Community Center is on the right, across from the park.

Going southbound on 880: Exit Marina Blvd. West. Get into far left lane immediately. Turn left onto Merced, the first stop light. Continue on Merced and bear right on Wicks (Merced turns into Wicks). Community Center is on the right across from the park.

This message comes from Alan Cook, an SFBAPG member who lives in the L.A. Area:

We invite visitors to our web page at www.COPA-puppets.org to see a
sampling of our collection of international puppets.---ALAN COOK,
Curator

This message comes from Steve Axtell, a puppeteer/builder in the L.A. area.  Steve's message was posted on Puptcrit, the online puppetry discussion forum.  Please consider making a donation to help pay for this funeral.  -Mary Decker

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Received this from Rick Lazzarini (The Character Shop)

I am using this maillist to let people know that Anton Rupprecht is sadly no longer with us.  Anton was one of the four Puppeteers who brought the Foster Farms Chickens to life.  I worked with him for ten years on those spots, as well as many other projects. Anton was an amazing, friendly, funny, talented friend, but in recent years was hobbled by arm surgeries and was sidelined from earning a decent living doing what he did best: creating puppets and creatures and characters and bringing them to life.

His death last week has stunned his wonderful wife M.J., emotionally, mentally, and financially. If you knew Anton, please try to make it to his memorial service. If you can make a donation toward the costs of the funeral, it will be for a very good cause, whether you knew him or not.

His passing leaves a void in the world; there was no one quite like Anton. Please keep him and his wife in your prayers. Thank you.

This is a website where you can make donations; anything you can contribute will be appreciated.

http://users.adelphia.net/~ebbcreations/

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If you prefer to donate via check, contact Mary Decker for MJ's address.

If you have not yet purchased your plane ticket to the Puppeteers of America National Festival in Minnesota, go to http://www.delta.com and jump on the low fares.  It's only $241 roundtrip, including taxes.  It doesn't get any cheaper.  This price is out of San Francisco Airport only.

The National runs from dinner time on Sunday, July 24 through breakfast on Saturday, July 30.