To promote recycling and celebrate “America Recycles Day” (November 15), the York County Solid Waste Authority is sponsoring puppet show recycling assembly programs in 18 York County Elementary Schools.  The program, titled “Something for Nothing...or Nothing Into Something!” was created by Kathleen Jacobs, of “Kathleen Jacobs and Puppets”.  The assembly programs will be presented November 5 through November 18.

More than 4,000 students will see how a life size puppet and impromptu performers from the audience help Kathleen dramatize a tale about a ne’er do well character who schemes in his effort to gain … SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.  In another tale children teach puppet characters how they can change NOTHING INTO SOMETHING by recycling their litter. The Authority will pay for the cost of the programs and the schools receive the assembly for free.  Performances run approximately 45 minutes and feature audience participation.  The performances target students in grades K-6. 

The following 18 schools responded to the Authority’s program offer and will receive the assembly program: Dover Elementary, Weigelstown Elementary, Kreutz Creek Elementary, Stony Brook Elementary,South East Middle School West, Delta-Peach Bottom Elementary, Canadochly Elementary, Locust Grove Elementary, Lower Allen Elementary, LJ Macaluso Elementary, Lion’s Pride Academy, Friendship Elementary, Southern Elementary, East York Elementary, EH Markle Intermediate School, Clearview Elementary, Hayshire Elementary and Paradise Elementary.

America Recycles Day (ARD) is a national all-volunteer, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The goal of the annual campaign is to encourage Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products.  Since its inception in 1997, the ARD campaign has grown substantially to include millions of Americans who pledge to recycle and to buy recycled products.  

Kathleen Jacobs is an award-winning artist who has been writing, producing and performing her high-energy brand of interactive theater for more than 20 years. Kathleen combines folklore with a generous dose of imagination to create plays filled with joyful participation. The former art teacher designs and constructs all the puppets, costumes and sets.

Kathleen Jacobs & Puppets has performed thousands of programs for schools, libraries, museums, camps, festivals, theaters and community events throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond.  Recent performance venues include The Smithsonian Discovery Theater & The National Theater in DC, Artscape & Lively Arts for Little ones in MD, Pennsylvania State Museum, Allentown Art Museum in PA and the Long Beach Island Foundation for the Arts in NJ, to name a few.