Hebert visits China

Jon Hebert, Westbrook, recently marked his fourth journey to China.

Hebert accompanied his son, Benjamin Hebert, Long Island, N.Y., on a nine-day business trip. They flew into Shanghai and traveled by train to Beijing for five days. It marked Jon Hebert’s first visit to Beijing, capital of the People’s Republic of China.

Jon Hebert said Shanghai is more modern than Beijing. He described air pollution in China as “unreal.”

They visited the great wall, Tiananmen Square, tombs of Chinese emperors and the Forbidden City, which Jon Hebert said had 990 rooms and covered several hundred acres. He described the vastness of Tiananmen Square but said the great wall “by far” was the most impressive of the sites.

Benjamin Hebert, who works for a company that imports non-woven vinyl fabric, visited the factory in China that produces the product.

Talent benefit Saturday at church

Brenda Orach, social ministry chairpwoman at Trinity Lutheran Church, said with the Lenten season approaching, the church will host a New Orleans style evening of music, food and entertainment.

Saturday, the church, 612 Main St. in Westbrook, will start the evening in the newly refinished fellowship hall at 5:30 p.m. with a light meal of pizza and muffelatas. At 7 p.m., there will be a cabaret-style evening of various talents, ranging from age 9 to 90 with readings, songs, skits and Broadway hits, featuring Heather Connolly visiting from New York.

Connolly is an opera singer who sings soprano and has appeared in operas, concerts and recitals throughout America, Europe and Africa. The evening is an event with a free-will offering to support Project Katrina, which was started by the Rev. Norm Bumby, sends volunteers to help rebuild in areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. A group of volunteers have made three prior missions to Slidell, La., and have another mission scheduled for April.

Ash Wednesday will begin the Lenten season and Trinity will also host an ecumenical community service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6. All are welcome.

For more information, call the church at 854-5653.

Post reminder

The Stephen W. Manchester Post 62 will meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 17 Dunn St.

Seniors to hear author; plan trips

Maine author Ann Brahms will speak when Westbrook Senior Citizens meet at 1 p.m. on Monday at Westbrook-Warren Congregational Church, 810 Main St.

There will not be a meeting on Monday, Feb. 18, Martin Luther King Day.

The seniors are planning three trips. They will travel on Sunday, Feb. 24, to Amesbury Playhouse in Amesbury, Mass., to see “God’s Favorite;” Foxwoods in Connecticut, Wednesday, March 5; and Sunday, March 16, Indian Head, Lincoln, N.H., in observance of St. Patrick’s Day.

(Jon Hebert)

Copy the Story Link