Storm Art ......... opens Friday

When Hurricane Katrina hit five years ago, Louisiana resident Al Reisz found refuge in an art gallery in a neighboring town. It was both a metaphor for how his artwork would become a form of therapy for him, and a matter of survival since he was forced out of his home and knew the gallery would have a supply of food and water. Reisz's wood-turned pieces will be on display beginning Friday at the Modest Gallery, 427 Locust St., Columbia, along with those of his sister, jewelry maker Leslie Scott. The two will be present at a special reception Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Scott will be showing her hurricane-inspired pieces featuring fused glass and precious metals. Reisz often features a piece of his sister's glass works inlaid into his own creations. Their combined show is called "A Collaboration of the Elements, Hurricane Katrina Revisited." Also featured at Modest Gallery is an exhibit of the paintings of Katy Conlin and Rebecca Kopp and the photography of Sara Hess and Ryan Oktela. The gallery is open Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 405-0604 or go to www.modestgallery.hitart.com.

Hospice Auction .............................. Saturday

Every day Hospice of Lancaster County provides care for 500 patients facing the end of their lives as well as support for thousands of their family members and loved ones. No wonder the community comes out in force for the annual Labor Day Auction, now in its 26th year. The auction is being held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Lampeter Fairgrounds. Thousands of items will be on the auction block, including elaborate quilts, hand-crafted Amish furniture, sports and celebrity memorabilia, vacation packages, home and garden accessories, plants, gift certificates and more than 100 pieces of local artwork, including work by Mark Workman, Lisa Madenspacher and, shown at near right, Tom Hermansader. An expanded children's area will feature arts and crafts, mini-train rides, and visits from a magician, clowns and "Uncle Yodie," right. And there will be plenty of food available too, from bacon and eggs to barbecue. It all helps raise funds for the good work of hospice. Last year, the Labor Day auction raised $356,000. To find out more, go to www.hospiceoflancaster.org.

Charlie Daniels .......... Friday

Have you seen Charlie Daniels in those Geico commercials? Clearly, the man still plays a mean fiddle. You can find out just how mean Friday at the American Music Theatre, when the Charlie Daniels Band takes the stage at 8 p.m. Best known for his huge 1979 crossover hit, "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," Daniels has been writing and performing since the 1950s. He was a session player in Nashville (Daniels also plays a mean guitar) before enjoying his first hit, "Uneasy Rider," in 1973. Other hits with the Charlie Daniels Band included "The South's Gonna Do It Again" and "Long Haired Country Boy," both in 1975; "In America" and "The Legend of Wooley Swamp," both in 1980, and "Still in Saigon" in 1982. All tickets for the show are $56. Go to www.amtshows.com for details.