There are some new people coming to town – 100 of them, to be exact. And they all need a place to stay.

You might have heard of the group Up with People; they’ve been around since 1965. They’re an organization that gives students ages 17 to 29 the opportunity to travel around the world, singing and dancing and basically bringing their upbeat message to different communities. They’ll be performing here in Concord on Sept. 14 at 7:30 pm. and the Sept. 16 at 2 and 6 p.m., at Concord-Carlisle High School.

But the other part of what they do is to provide a cultural exchange, both for the performers and the local citizens, by placing the kids with local families. And this is where you come in, because they need host families for about 100 kids for one week in September – from the 10th to the 17th. What you need to provide is a bed, breakfast and dinner, as well as transportation at the beginning and end of each day. During the day, the kids will be involved with other things; but when they’re in your home, you have a unique opportunity to hear all about where they’re from, and how they live. And they get to see how you and your family live. Pretty cool!

As if all that wasn’t reason enough, each host family will get two free tickets to the Up with People’s 2012 performance, Voices. The show is a mix of songs from the ‘80s til now, including original music, as well as challenging choreography.

The performers come from 20 different countries, and while they aren’t required to have any specific talent, it’s helpful if they can sing and dance, at least a little. The show will be performed in five different places in Massachusetts, then go on to Taiwan, the Philippines, and Mexico.

The advance group is already in Concord, working out of office space at Barrett & Company Real Estate, the local sponsor for the group. I spoke with owner Laurie Cadigan, who told me there are several Up with People alums in town, who approached her about helping the group, both financially and with office space. She says it’s a natural fit – she was a theater major in college, and loves to support things going on in town, especially a group like this that will be doing good things in the community.

They’re looking for hosts now, so if you’re interested, you can contact Diane Goldsmith at dgoldsmith@upwithpeople.org or by calling 936-828-7006.

And if you know someone who might want the opportunity to travel and perform with the group, they can get more information by clicking here.

Raptors

On Tuesday I told you about the robins nesting in my Rose of Sharon bush; now you can check out some much bigger birds over at the library. Yes, the Fowler branch will host Wingmasters (Live Birds of Prey) next Monday, August 13 at 7 p.m. Raptors are really cool birds of prey that you usually see soaring high in the sky. This is a rare opportunity to see them up close. Wingmasters rehabs wild birds that are hurt, and have been bringing their program to schools and libraries for many years. Check them out!

Do you have something you would like to share? Contact me at stefanieac@comcast.net and I will be happy to help you spread the good news. And follow me on Twitter: @stefanie3131.