The Le Mans, France, property of Mariettan Ken Kirk was recently selected by a French TV production company to be the site for filming 24 parodies of "French Soccer." Each four-minute parody will be shot in the fields of Chateau Rivesarthe. Several interior shots of the lovely chateau are planned.

The parodies will air on French national TV, on a cable sports channel and Internet during the World Cup soccer championships this June. This is the third time in the past three years that French TV has featured his property.

Later this year, two groups from Marietta, organized by Beth Colquitt and Bud Baker, will tour northwestern France using Chateau Rivesarthe as their base. Led by Ken and his wife, Claire, the group will see D-Day landing beaches, Le Mont St. Michel, the chateaus of the Loire, and Chartres Cathedral.

In June and July, 140 British racing fans will stay at Chateau Rivesarthe while attending events at the Le Mans racing circuit.

For more information, visit www.rives arthe. net.

***
Mary Motschman, a Marietta High School senior, was selected for the National Symphony Orchestra's Summer Music Institute in Washington, D.C., coordinated by the NSO Education Program, a component of the Kennedy Center Education Program. The 4-week program provides private lessons, rehearsals and coaching by NSO members, along with classes and lectures to prepare aspiring musicians for their futures in music.

Approximately 70 students from across the nation are awarded scholarships to participate. Students will perform two concerts during July at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Motschman is principal violist with the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and will attend the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in August.

Mary's mother, Arie, is Associate Director of Music and Organist at First United Methodist Church of Marietta.

***
Eastside Christian School, located at 2450 Lower Roswell Road in Marietta, presents "Thoroughly Modern Millie" on Friday at 7 and Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. The 31-member cast and crew includes Marietta's own Julia McClure as "Millie." Cost is $7 for general admission and $6 for the matinee. Call ECS at (770) 971-2332 for more information.

***
Tomorrow is West Side Shopping Day at Lizards & Lollipopz Toy Store on the Marietta Square from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. There will be a 20 percent discount for the first five West Side customers. Ten percent of all proceeds benefit West Side Drama Club.

Catch West Side's production "School House Rock Live! Jr." on May 12 at 7 p.m. at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre. Tickets are on sale for $12. Call (770) 293-0080 or e-mail lgazaway4 @earthlink.net for more information.

Sally Litchfield is a longtime Marietta resident. She formerly practiced law in Marietta and now stays home to raise her two children. Send Sally news at sallylit @bell south.net. Call Sally at (770) 425-7122.