The Selma Times-Journal

On St. Patrick&8217;s Day, Tally-Ho Restaurant on Mangum Avenue will be holding its annual benefit dinner beginning at 5 p.m and continuing until &8220;at least&8221; 10 p.m. This year&8217;s recipient will be The Journey School.

Penny Foster, director of The Journey School, said the money raised by the event &8212; everything above the minimum operating cost &8212; will go toward the school&8217;s arts initiative, which will integrate various media including

music, artistic media, and the literary arts into the school&8217;s curriculum.

Foster since they are new, they have basic needs for supplies and other items. &8220;We want to give them exposure to different types of art, music, and literature,&8221; Foster said.

The goal is to raise $2,190, which would go toward the total expense of items such as bulletin boards, CDs, art supplies, bean bags, activity mats, and stipends for instructors over the course of the year.

In the works are plans to have a guest artist of the month, composer of the month, and author of the month to visit students as part of the initiative.

Bob Kelley, owner of the Tally-Ho restaurant, said in the 27 years the restaurant has held the benefit dinner, there are few charities that have not benefited from the annual event.

But The Journey School struck a special chord with owners, management, and staff.

Kelly was moved to action, and said he and staff are ready for the fun to begin. &8220;When you come in, we put a little shamrock on your face,&8221; Kelley said. &8220;There are green drinks.

But no green food, except for maybe green beans.&8221;

Several large parties have already made reservations for the dinner, and seats are filling quickly. Kelley said individuals who would like to attend the dinner and have not made reservations are urged to do so, so staff members can prepare and guests can be accommodated promptly. Kelley said the event will continue until at least 10 p.m.

In addition to the dinner, there will be an auction and raffle for door prizes. The prizes include a hand-print caterpillar and flowers made by Journey School students.

To make reservations for the dinner, call 872-1390.