Pee Wee's big charity performance

One of America's most successful and well-known saxophonists willbe visiting Peasedown St John in March for an exclusive fundraisingevent.

Alfred 'Pee Wee' Ellis was a key member of James Brown''s band inthe 1960s and has worked closely with singer Van Morrison.

As part of the soul classics era of the late '60s, he introducedthe dynamic arrangements and rhythms that helped define the funkgeneration.

He'll be performing at the Beacon Hall to raise funds for the newLaurel Farm Kindergarten in Carlingcott. The Kindergarten, which isa new educational venture in the local community, is based onSteiner philosophy and encourages the children who attend to …

Bush Reels in Gifts From U.S. Admirers

WASHINGTON - President Bush loves fishing, so people aiming to impress him often go that direction. Last year alone, he was given three rods and three reels along with assorted other equipment to the tune of more than $2,600. That's in addition to at least eight other rods he's received as gifts during his presidency.

On the other hand, Bush is only an occasional golfer. But that didn't stop his friend and 2004 campaign finance chairman, Mercer Reynolds, from giving the president a $915 set of new clubs and covers last year.

Bush cleaned up in 2006 - as usual.

He received at least 20 gifts worth a total of $12,364, according to the financial disclosure forms the …

Penguins eliminate Flyers with 5-3 win in playoffs

The Pittsburgh Penguins rallied from 3-0 down to eliminate the Philadelphia Flyers with a remarkable 5-3 victory in the NHL playoffs on Saturday.

The Penguins, who beat the Flyers in the Eastern Conference finals last year, won the first-round series 4-2 and have to wait to find out who they'll play next.

Backed by a raucous crowd, Mike Knuble and Joffrey Lupul scored 51 seconds apart late in the first period and Daniel Briere had a power-play goal to put the host Flyers up 3-0.

But Ruslan Fedotenko, Mark Eaton and Penguins captain Sidney Crosby leveled the score before the end of the second period.

Sergei Gonchar ripped a slap shot …

Carrying an all-in-one caddy helps ease outdoor cleanup job

Areader caught our column about a super paint caddy and sent me apicture of a similar idea he came up with.

For outdoor cleanup jobs, he makes the haul easier with anall-in-one cleanup caddy. He puts a tall can, like a juice can, inthe center of the water bucket and fills this can with soapy water.He puts clean rinse water inside the bucket around the can. This wayhe has both in one container. He also can throw the rags intowhichever container they need to be soaking in and then carry thewhole thing in one hand. This may be exactly what you need whenclimbing a ladder to clean windows or siding.

DEAR AL: Our new fence looks great but it was so long thatsetting it …

NATO emergency meeting reviews Libya no-fly plans

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO's top decision-making body is meeting in emergency session Saturday to review military plans for a no-fly zone over Libya.

The North Atlantic Council is expected to issue the order to launch the operation in coming days. Officials said the military staff was putting the final touches on plans to deploy dozens of fighter-bombers, tankers, helicopters and surveillance planes to several air bases along …

Plodders are on the move

THE Pantyffynnon Plodders have organised two walks next week.

The first, on September 12, is "moderate" and goes from Newbridgeto Rhayader in the Wye Valley.

Meet up is at 9am at Llandeilo railway station, then on to thevalley by car.

The second, on September 15, is a walk in the Llandyfan Churcharea, also "moderate".

Meeting point is at Llandybie railway station, departing at1.30pm by car. Gaiters are recommended.

Katie'S A Natural For The Fame Game

Friends of Bristol student Katie Lewis screamed with delight whenthey heard she has been chosen from 12,000 hopefuls to star BBCtalent series Fame Academy.

The 18-year-old from Bedminster is one of 11 young people to bepicked for the fly-on-the-wall show.

The contestants will live together in a North London mansion andwork long hours being groomed for stardom.

The overall winner will get a GBP1 million recording deal and aluxury London home, but the contestants risk being evicted if they donot make the grade.

Katie has been taking regular acting, singing and dancing classesat Starlight Dance and Theatre Company in Windmill Hill, Bristol,for the past year.

Moira Aldred is principal of the stage school and her step-motherHeather Aldred helps out. Both women know Katie well.

Heather said: "We were absolutely thrilled when we found out aboutKatie being on Fame Academy. Her mum called us with the good newsafter it was officially announced on Monday.

"Katie is one of the two eldest we have and the young kidsabsolutely love her. They idolise her and she's so supportive ofthem, they look up to her.

"When they found out she had been chosen for Fame Academy theywere all screaming and I was in tears." With Starlight, Katie took tothe stage in the heart of London's theatreland in Drury Lane andperformed Night Fever and Chim Chim Choree from Mary Poppins. She hasalso performed in variety shows.

Heather said: "We knew she'd make it - it was just a matter oftime.

"Whatever happens on the show, Katie is made now. We'll all beglued to the television on Friday night." Katie last attended a classat Starlight in Bristol a few weeks ago.

Heather said: "Her main strength is singing. She has a voice tokill for - it's beautiful. She's classically trained so she can hitall the high notes while singing songs like Pie Jesu.

"As well as being talented, Katie is also a lovely girl, a verydown-to-earth genuine person, extremely friendly." The Fame Academyline-up was a closely-guarded secret until it was officiallyannounced on Monday.

Many of Bristol's Starlight performers went to London last weekendto audition on a cabaret boat.

Her fellow performers were told that Katie could not make itbecause she was ill - but they did not realise the real reason shecould not attend was because she had been chosen for Fame Academy andthe show's producers were keeping the contestants hidden.

Heather last spoke to Katie on Friday.

"Of course, now we know the real reason why she couldn't make it," said Heather.

"We have three Kates, so to distinguish between them Katie Lewisis known as Opera Kate because of her classically trained voice."Katie is currently in hiding, as are all of the other contestants,until the first show of the series is screened on Friday.

She lives in Bristol with her parents and has a BTec in PerformingArts but has had to drop out of college to film Fame Academy, whichruns until December.

A 12th contestant will be given his or her big break by thepublic, who will see hopefuls put through their paces at a liveaudition when the show kicks off on Friday.

The contestants will have to spend 24 hours a day together in aGBP35 million north London mansion where tutors will hone theirstage skills.

But those who the teachers feel are not making the grade will beput on 'probation' and the public and fellow contestants will decidewho stays and who gets evicted.

12,000 music wannabes sent in tapes or attended auditions when thecompetition was launched in July.

Unlike TV talent shows such as Fame Academy is one of seriousmusicians rather than pure pop hopefuls.

Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty will host BBC1's Friday nightprimetime shows, which begin at 8.30pm this week.