Incline artist Barb Kallestad has put her talent to work to benefit the inaugural Tahoe Chautauqua Festival. She designed a watercolor poster for the event, plus a logo, which will be featured on event sweatshirts as well as in promotional materials. The logo is made for use with overlays, giving the design the flexibility for future years, said event organizer Lyn Karol. Karol's vision and persistence is bringing a Chautauqua festival to Sand Harbor on July 7 and 8.

"It's exciting to have a professional like her become involved," Karol said. "She's very excited about the festival."

Plans for the two-day event are proceeding according to schedule, she said. Since the initial announcement of the event, organizers have broadened the focus from World War II to "A Rendezvous With Destiny, 1932-1945."

Performances are another aspect of this event that have become firmed up since March.

On Saturday, July 7, Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of former Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, will be portrayed by Ann Seville, who will be traveling from the East Coast to participate in the Chautauqua

Also performing on Saturday, humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson will portray William Shirer, author of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Jenkinson is considered one of the founders of the modern Chautauqua movement and is noted for his portrayal of former Pres. Thomas Jefferson.

Sunday's performances feature former Pres. Harry S. Truman, portrayed by Noel Pugach and Ernie Pyle, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who covered WWII, presented by Doug Mishler. Ten-year-old Elia Pirtle will perform as Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who kept a diary about her experience in hiding from the Nazis during the war.

The festival will showcase young performers as well, presenting historical figures from the period in free, afternoon performances during the weekend. Fifth- and sixth-grade students will be portraying Mdm. Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel prize; Teddy Roosevelt, former U.S. president and Rough Rider.

The Chautauqua scholars will be on hand for informal discussions from 1 to 4 p.m. both days during the weekend and will be free. These open forum discussions and the youth performances will be held at a variety of locations around the North Shore.

The gates open at 6 p.m. both days. Audience members are invited to bring or buy picnic-style suppers as they listen to musical groups, Big Band and Swing in harmony with this year's theme, at the Sand Harbor stage. Performances begin at 7 p.m.

Because this is the festival's inaugural year at Tahoe, organizers are seeking North Shore residents to volunteer. Event volunteers will be able to choose from a variety of tasks both prior to the July weekend and during the festival. To volunteer, call festival producer Lyn Karol at 831-1515.

For more information, call 1-866-833-5045 or visit www.tahoehistoryfestivals.com.