Musical prodigy Ethan Bortnick is bringing his talent to Austin on Friday.

Bortnick, the 17-year old pianist, singer, composer and actor will perform at Knowlton Auditorium at Austin High School as part of his national concert tour “Generations of Music.” The concert is being sponsored by KSMQ Public Television and begins at 7 p.m.

More than 150 choral singers from Austin Public Schools and Pacelli Schools will join Bortnick on stage for several of his songs.

“It is a full concert by Ethan, with the added benefit of our local youth joining him on stage for a few songs,” KSMQ Public Television President and CEO Eric Olson said in a press release. “It will be a wonderful experience for all. We are so thankful for the cooperation we have received from Austin and Pacelli schools.”

A native of Florida, Bortnick was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records at age 9 as the “Youngest Solo Musician to Headline His Own Concert.” He is also the youngest person to headline at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Bortnick has opened for musical acts such as Nelly Furtado and Jordin Sparks. He has performed for PBS specials and has been featured in “Rolling Stone” magazine and “USA Today.” Hehas been featured on countless national television shows, including multiple appearances on “The Tonight Show,” “Good Morning America” and “Oprah,” where he was named one of Oprah’s All Time Smartest, Most Talented Kids. Bortnick has collected over $50,000,000 for charities.

Besides his many original compositions, Bortnick will sing a wide range of familiar songs including “Come Fly With Me,” “Rockin’ Robin,” “Happy Together,” “With A Little Help From My Friends” and “Sweet Caroline.”

The Austin Positive Action Coalition (APAC) is a directing sponsor of the concert. Tickets are available at www.ksmq.org or at Austin Hy-Vee. Tickets cost $25 for one, $40 for two and $75 for four. There are also $50 tickets available that include a meet and greet with Bortnick.

Proceeds benefit KSMQ Public Television’s “Keep It Local” fundraising campaign.

For more information, visit www.ksmq.org.

Stock up on your book collection

Reading lovers rejoice, for the Friends of the Austin Public Library will be holding the annual Fall Book Sale this weekend.

Friends volunteers have been accepting donations of books and DVDs since last week, and this weekend’s sale will give buyers the opportunity to select from thousands of books from a wide variety of categories.

“It’s an incredible buy,” said Friends of the Austin Public Library member Peggy Keener, who assisted in organizing the books. “Books are very expensive and we are not expensive, we’re a good deal.”

She also said donating books for the sale does more than “relieving bookcases of their groaning agony.”

“We will put them to good use by selling them, with all of the proceeds going to the library,” she said. “Everybody wants the library; it helps the entire community. When they buy, those pennies go to the library, 100 percent, for programs and the purchase of more good books.”

Previous sales have helped raise thousands of dollars for the library.

Keener said that the Friends also work with Better World Books, a philanthropic organization, who are given books they need from those that don’t sell at the sale. Those not needed by Better World Books are then given to other organizations or are made available for free to the public.

Keener said that none of the books are thrown away.

The Fall Book Sale will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Austin Public Library. A special Friends of the Library-only sale will be held on Thursday evening.

For more information, call 507-433-2391.

Schedule of Events

Friday

• Austin Bruins vs. Bismarck Bobcats, 7 p.m. at Riverside Arena. Go, Bruins! For more information, call 507-434-4978.

• “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, 7 p.m. at the Mower County Historical Society. MCHS and Matchbox Children’s Theatre present this American classic, performed in the Pioneer Building. Limited seating; tickets $14 for adults, and $9 for students – on sale starting Aug. 15. For more information or reservations, call 507-437-6082.

Saturday

• Pacelli Walkathon 2018, 9 a.m. at Pacelli Catholic Schools. Fun-filled family event including a Knights of Columbus pancake breakfast, a mile school/community walk, and a carnival complete with children’s game, giant inflatable obstacle course, and prizes. Proceeds benefit the Pacelli Catholic Schools. For more information, call 507-437-3278.

• Walk for Life, 10 a.m. at East Side Lake. Sponsored by Rachel’s Hope. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. T-shirts available for purchase.

• Clay Hand-building – Pie Plates, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Austin ArtWorks Center. With Dave Snyder.  Create your own pie plate for the upcoming holiday season. – a great handmade gift or for your own use. During this two class series, learn how to make the same plates sold in the Artworks Center retail space. This is the second class, for glazing of your piece that was created on Sep 15. Cost: $60. All supplies included. Students will be notified after the glaze fire once their pieces are ready to be picked up. The class is geared towards adults, but anyone 15+ is welcome. To register or for more information, go to www.austinareaarts.org or call 507-434-0934.

• Austin Bruins vs. Bismarck Bobcats, 7 p.m. at Riverside Arena. Go, Bruins! For more information, call 507-434-4978.

• “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, 7 p.m. at the Mower County Historical Society. MCHS and Matchbox Children’s Theatre present this American classic, performed in the Pioneer Building. Limited seating; tickets $14 for adults, and $9 for students – on sale starting Aug. 15. For more information or reservations, call 507-437-6082.

Sunday

• “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, 2 p.m. at the Mower County Historical Society. MCHS and Matchbox Children’s Theatre present this American classic, performed in the Pioneer Building. Limited seating; tickets $14 for adults, and $9 for students – on sale starting Aug. 15. For more information or reservations, call 507-437-6082.

• Austin Artist Series – Holy Rocka Rollaz, 3 p.m. at Knowlton Auditorium, Austin High School. First concert in Austin of the 75th season of one of the largest and longest running artist series in the Midwest. Subscription tickets available starting Sept. 4 through the website – www.austinartistsseries.org. Tickets also include access to the season’s concerts in Osage and Albert Lea. For more information, call 507-440-6030 or 612-272-8653.

• APD K-9 Fundraiser, 3-6 p.m. at Bandshell Community Park. Enjoy K-9 demos at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., along with hot dogs, chips, and beverages. Free will donation gratefully accepted. Sponsored by Willow Pet Hospital, Hormel Foods, Double K Specialty, HyVee and All Fur Dogs. For more information, call 507-437-9400.