Original paintings and sketches created by members of EASEL (Experienced Art Students Enrichment League) will be on display during the month of March at the Wantagh Public Library, announced Hempstead Town Supervisor Rich Guardino. The library is located at 3285 Park Avenue in Wantagh.

"EASEL is a daytime art league under the auspices of the Town of Hempstead Department of Senior Enrichment," Guardino said. "It is a new workshop designed to meet the needs of our dynamic seniors who have had previous experience in the field of art. Their agenda includes demonstrations, an opportunity to work in one's medium, as well as discussions and museum trips."

The exhibition will be on display in the meeting room of the library during its official hours. A reception to Meet the Artists will be held on Sunday, March 7 between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m. at the Wantagh Library. Councilwoman Linda Reed is inviting everyone in the neighborhood to stop by and view the artwork and take the opportunity to meet the artists.

EASEL meets every Tuesday afternoon from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Oceanside Senior Center, located at 2900 Rockaway Avenue in Oceanside. For more information about the EASEL program, please call Elaine Eckert at the Department of Senior Enrichment at 485-8100, or Oceanside Senior Center cooordinator, Lynda Shagam, at 766-8888.

One of the Town of Hempstead's popular picnicking and bathing facilities, Lido Beach Town Park, is slated to receive a new bathhouse this summer. "The funds for the construction will be coming from a $25 million capital park improvement bond approved by the Town Board in order to rehabilitate an over 30-year-old parks and recreation system. preliminary expenditures from the improvement bond is currently being used for design and construction management costs for the new public accommodations building," said Town Supervisor Rich Guardino. "This will include modern men's and women's bathrooms, showers and changing stations."

"The bathhouse is being constructed in a central location, just north of the administration building and adjacent to the recreation center and picnic areas," said Councilman Anthony Santino. "Our seniors will especially find the bathhouse a plus because it is alongside their summer recreation program area administered by the Department of Senior Enrichment. Selected to design the structure is architect Frank G. Relf of Huntington Station. Park East Construction Corporation of South Huntington received the contract to manage the bathhouse construction."

Town Park at Lido is noted for its large cement mushroom-like sun shelters which host over 400 reserved picnics each summer. This includes an estimated 50,000 visitors traveling through the park gate from May through September. The park is the home of special recreation groups such as the nationally acclaimed ANCHOR Program for handicapped persons and the Department of Senior Enrichment. Each September, Lido Beach Town Park is also the site for the Annual Family Festival By The Sea, which draws over 30,000 persons patronizing a wide array of food and craft vendors.

"When complete, the new bathhouse will enhance the enjoyment of all who plan to 'make it a day' at this beautiful ocean park," stated Guardino." "Our township is the largest in the United States, and through the efforts of the Town board and Commissioner Nicholas Famiglietti, we plan to ensure that our residents experience one of the best park systems in the nation.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Rich Guardino has announced that the Department of Parks and Recreation's Adventure Tours program has seats available for its Wednesday, April 14 trip into New York City for a matinee performance of the hit Broadway musical, Titanic. "I would like to invite theater fans to take advantage of this unique opportunity by securing a trip reservation today," Guardino said.

"Join the fun as Adventure Tours travels into the Big Apple for a visit to the legendary Lunt-Fontanne Theatre to see Titanic, the winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Musical," Supervisor Guardino continued. "A limited number of tickets remain for the upcoming trip," offered Councilwoman Linda Reed. "Prospective "adventurers" are urged to call the Department of Parks and Recreation as soon as possible to reserve a seat."

The fee for the April 14 performance of Titanic is $83 per person. Seating is in the orchestra. Trip hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The point of departure and return is the parking lot of the Merrick Road Park Golf Course Clubhouse on Clubhouse Road, just south of Merrick Road, in Merrick. For trip information or to reserve a ticket for the show, call the Adventure Tours office at 292-9000, ext. 255.

The enchanting sounds of colonial chamber music, as performed in an intimate parlor setting, highlight a trio of upcoming Saturday evening performances at Rock Hall Museum in Lawrence. The Town of Hempstead's legendary landmark, newly restored, and historically preserved, will present classic, colonial era chamber recitals on March 27, April 24 and May 15, according to Hempstead Town Supervisor Rich Guardino.

"As part of an expanded schedule of cultural attractions, combining historic flavor with a storied setting, Rock Hall will present the upcoming chamber music series as part of an exciting Spring '99 calendar of events," explained Guardino. "Three critically acclaimed chamber music ensembles will appear on separate evenings to re=create the joyful sounds of a colonial era parlor recital."

The Rock Hall Chamber Music Series will consist of the following performances: Saturday, March 27 - New York City Young Artists; Saturday, April 24 - Long Island Baroque Ensemble and Saturday, May 15 - Four Winds and A Horn Trio. All shows begin promptly at 8 p.m.

Tickets for the Saturday evening series are priced at $24 with a senior citizen rate of $22. To obtain tickets, residents are asked to send a check or money order, made payable to the Town of Hempstead, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope, to: Cultural Events, Department of Parks and Recreation, 200 North Franklin Street, Hempstead 11550. The check or money order must include name, address and phone number. Senior citizens, 60 years and over, must enclose a copy of their senior I.D. to receive the appropriate discount.

"Beyond the chamber music series, residents are encouraged to visit Rock Hall to relive the township's historic past and experience our colonial legacy as displayed in the museum's rooms and exhibits," added Councilman Anthony J. Santino. "The Town's storied colonial heritage is preserved forever as a living history lesson within the hallowed confines of Rock Hall."

Rock Hall Museum (239-1157) is located at 199 Broadway in Lawrence. Now open year-round, visiting hours are, Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. For ticket information, call the Department of Parks and Recreation at 292-9000, extension 382.