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Madonna to Fund Youth Art Project to Celebrate her 66th Birthday

Madonna performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/FILE PHOTO
Madonna performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/FILE PHOTO
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Madonna to Fund Youth Art Project to Celebrate her 66th Birthday

Madonna performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/FILE PHOTO
Madonna performs during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, US, February 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/FILE PHOTO

Madonna will fund an artistic project involving youths, she announced during her 66th birthday celebrations in Pompeii.
While touring the Pompeii archeological park Friday with its director, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the American pop star met a group of teenagers involved in “Sogno di Volare,” or “Dream of Flying."
As part of the project now in its fourth year, hundreds of young artists perform re-adapted comedies by Aristophanes, starting from Pompeii’s amphitheater, Teatro Grande, and then touring other Italian theaters. Madonna announced she would fund “Dream of Flying" for one year — about 250,000 euros ($275,000), The Associated Press reported.
“This project generously supported by Madonna is strategic for Pompeii, because it is directed to the people who live in this marvelous and complex territory, in particular youths,” said Zuchtriegel. He noted that many of the kids involved live in poor southern towns where rates of school dropout and unemployment are higher.

Zuchtriegel announced that the show financed by Madonna’s foundation will be on stage at Pompeii’s Teatro Grande in May 2025.

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Varieties

A Stowaway Groundhog is Elevated to Local Icon in Pennsylvania

In this photo provided by Lynn Castle is a groundhog dubbed Colonel Custard, July 30, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Lynn Castle via AP Photo)
In this photo provided by Lynn Castle is a groundhog dubbed Colonel Custard, July 30, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Lynn Castle via AP Photo)
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A Stowaway Groundhog is Elevated to Local Icon in Pennsylvania

In this photo provided by Lynn Castle is a groundhog dubbed Colonel Custard, July 30, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Lynn Castle via AP Photo)
In this photo provided by Lynn Castle is a groundhog dubbed Colonel Custard, July 30, 2024, in Hollidaysburg, Pa. (Lynn Castle via AP Photo)

A Pennsylvania groundhog is making a name for himself for something other than predicting an early or late spring, The Associated Press reported.
An intrepid varmint dubbed Colonel Custard — so named for the frozen custard shop and mini-golf outlet where he was discovered — was found stowed away with a passel of stuffed animals prizes in an arcade game two weeks ago. Players were maneuvering a mechanical claw to pluck toys from the glass game case when they suddenly realized a real live groundhog was blinking back at them.

The newly named colonel was found in Hollidaysburg, a good hour's drive from Pennsylvania's far more famous groundhog town, Punxsutawney, home to the weather-predicting groundhog Phil.
The owners and staff at The Meadows frozen custard shop aren't being shy about promoting their own furry friend.

Staff and owners made T-shirts that read “Respect the Groundhog,” held the online naming campaign that drew an avalanche of responses and are working on more promotional ideas, such as naming one of their frozen treat flavors for Colonel Custard.
Meadows manager Lynn Castle said no one is sure how the groundhog got in the building, but he must have clambered up the game chute into the machine.
“They were just staring at the stuffed animals in there getting ready to decide what to pick and saw the groundhog's eyes blinking and realized there was something alive in there,” AP quoted Castle as saying.
It took a village to set the varmint free. Employees first called the claw machine owners, who were too skittish to take the colonel on. Next came the police, who called the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Game wardens opened up the claw machine and released the groundhog into a nearby field, Castle said.
“It’s a good story that ended well,” Castle said. “He got set free. No one got bit.”