Paintings by self-taught artist John Counterman are exhibited at Highlands Ranch Library, 9292 Ridgeline Blvd. through July. Counterman, who teaches art in the Jefferson County Schools, grew up as a military kid, living in the U.S. and abroad, although he considers Cincinnati home. His figurative oil paintings reflect his take on scenes around him and are created with a limited palette of four or five colors. Ideas come from an interest in history, but are not an attempt to portray a specific event. “My paintings are about sentiment and existence,“ he says. For information, 303-791-READ.

The loss of the always-upbeat Phil Gottleib of Centennial has saddened the Denver area theater community. He died June 22 at 56 from a heart attack. His wife Mary and sons Matt and Chris will go on this week, in theater tradition, but without him, in a Breckenridge Backstage Theatre production of “The Fantasticks,” where he was scheduled to play Mortimer. Together and individually, the family members often appeared in Littleton Town Hall musical productions and with other area small theater companies, including Performance Now of Highlands Ranch. A service was held June 30 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Englewood.

Plan on a festive day in Downtown Littleton on July 11. Olde Town Market, a Second Saturday street market with antique and artisan vendors, will debut from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by the 5th Annual Wild on Littleton and Fireworks Show from 4 to 11 p.m., with Taste of Littleton, bands and fireworks to the west after dark. Market information: www.oldetownmarket.com (vendor space still available). “Wild” information: Korri Stainbrook at the South Metro Chamber of Commerce, 303-795-0142, bestchamber.com. Advance ticket sales for Taste of Littleton: $10 for 15 tickets at the chamber. Day of event: $10 for 10 tickets.

Firehouse Quilts’ 4th Annual Quilt Show will be held Friday and Saturday, July 17 (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and 18 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 E. Grace Ave., Highlands Ranch, exhibiting about 100 quilts and a group of vendors’ booths. New quilt racks will show the entries beautifully, according to Dusty Darrah of Highlands Ranch. The fundraiser plus area donations allow the organization to supply 45-inch square snuggle quilts to fire departments throughout the state for children who lose homes to fire. The group also makes quilts for battered women’s shelters and the Denver Rescue Mission. To connect and sew with FHQ, or for information about the show, see www.firehousequilts.org. Tickets to the show cost $7 at the door, $6 in advance.

The popular “Psychedelic Experience: Rock Posters From the San Francisco Bay Area 1965-71” exhibit at the Denver Art Museum has been extended for a week: through July 26. Seen on our recent visit: folks in tie dye tees and headbands enjoying the show and the adjoining Side Trip Space. Note that Friday Night, July 10, from 5 to 10 p.m. is Concert Tee Friday Night. Wear a favorite tee from back in the day and enter to win a prize package. (Ticketed show with untimed tickets: $15, $12, $7. Free under 6 and members. 720-865-5000, www.denverartmuseum.org. *Just received: notice of a big July clearance in the DAM shop, which is going to move across the lobby.

The Parker Writers Group, which meets 2 to 4 p.m. the second Sunday of each month at the Parker Library, 10651 S. Crossroads Drive, will present former Rocky Mountain News Book Editor Patti Thorn at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 12, speaking on “Book Reviewing Q & A.” Thorn, an award-winning journalist, is currently working as a freelance manuscript editor. Questions about PWG should be directed to parkerwritersgroup@gmail.com Directions to the library, are online or at 303-791-READ. (Due to funding cuts, the libraries can no longer offer publicity support to the groups who meet).

“Adventures With Boldness— Great North American Explorers” will be Dr. Bruce Paton’s topic at 7 p.m. July 14 at Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton. Think Alexander Mackenzie, Zebulon Pike, Lewis and Clark, John Wesley Powell…. Paton will show slides, maps and aerial views of the routes. His book, “Adventuring With Boldness,” will be available for purchase and signing. Free. 303-795-3961.

Artists on Santa Fe, 747 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, is owned by potter Macy Dorf of Littleton, who participates in the monthly First Friday open house, 6 to 9 p.m., held by the many galleries in the arts district. July 5 is the next date. Featured for July: “Figures: A Moment in Time,” large expressionistic oil paintings of the human figure by Phyllis Stone. Gallery hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. 303-573-5903, www.artistsonsantafe.com.

Reminder to artists: Entries are due for the 2009 Kaleidoscope Juried Exhibition, actual art to be delivered from 9 to 11 a.m. July 11 at Colorado Gallery of the Arts, Arapahoe Community College, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive. The show runs July 16 to Aug. 6. Fee: $10 per entry, no limit, exact cash please. 2 D work must be wired to hang. 3D pieces must fit a 17”x17” pedestal and be light enough for one person to lift. Info: Trish.Sangelo@arapaho.edu.

A Summer Wizard Camp for kids ages 7 to 16, taught by two professional magicians, is offered August 3 to 6 by Theatre of Dreams, 735 Park St. in Castle Rock. A performance for family and friends completes the sessions, which run 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each day. Fee: $160. Reservation deadline July 20, 303-660-6799.

Plein Air Artists of Colorado will hold its 13th Annual Member’s Juried Exhibition July 10 through 25 at Abend Gallery, 2260 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. Karen Vance is juror. There will be an online catalog of the show at www.abendgallery.com. This would be a good follow-up to the recent lecture on Plein Air Painting by susiehyer at the Littleton Museum— which reminds us: check with the museum about her two upcoming onsite painting workshops— 303-795-3950.

The talented Lubotsky sisters of Littleton are onstage this summer: Kate, who will be in fifth grade at Centennial Academy of the Arts, shares the lead as that little red-haired girl in “Annie” with Olivia Hill at Boulder Dinner Theatre through Sept. 5. Tiny Lexie, who will enter Centennial’s first grade, is the shortest (but clearly noticeable) cast member in Performance Now’s “Evita” through July 5.

“Girls Night Out #7” is scheduled 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. July 16, by Highlands Ranch based Colorado Women’s Connection, which is affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries. (Women connecting with God, each other and their communities). Learn belly dancing and line dancing, enjoy dinner, music and an inspirational speaker at The Peak, Foothills Park and Recreation District, 6612 S. Ward St., Littleton 80127. Cost is $5. For reservations and information, call Michelle Cartwright at 303-257-2043.

Dancer Paul Fiorino is trying to gather support to return the Denver Civic Theatre, 721 Santa Fe Drive to the use Henry Lowenstein intended when he renovated it in 1986: a venue to be shared by small performance groups. The asking price is $1 million. Prospective angels can contact Fiorino at 303-825-7570.

The Colorado Irish Festival will fill Clement Park 7306 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton, July 10 to 12. Ireland. The Fest opens on Friday night, when admission is free between 5 and 6 p.m. From 6 to 11 p.m., $8. Saturday and Sunday hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets $12. (Arrive at the gate at or before 11 a.m. on Sunday with two non-perishable food items and enjoy free admission. Information, schedules and discounted advance tickets at www.coloradoirishfestival.org. The Museum of Outdoor Arts and Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre will present “Sounds of America” with the Colorado Symphony at 7:30 p.m. on July 4, followed by fireworks at 9:40 p.m. on July 4 at Fiddlers Green. The program will include a musical synthesis of the American experience, including patriotic music, Warren Hill singing the National Anthem, Pianist Katie Mahan performing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” and more. Gates open at 7 p.m. Tickets: $17, $15, $12, free under 3. Four-person family packs, $51. To purchase tickets, www.livenation.com, 303-220-7000. Activities in nearby Samson Park from 6 to 7 p.m. Information: 303-806-0444, www.moaonline.org.“William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet” is next in the Cherokee Ranch and Castle Performing Arts Series on July 17. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. for a family picnic and performance by Denver Center Theater Academy’s teen actors on the castle veranda. Tickets: $45; $20 children. www.cherokeeranch.org, 303-688-4600, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays or leave name and phone# for callback next business day. The castle is at 6113 N. Daniels Park Road, Sedalia, a short jog east of Highway 85 (Santa Fe Drive).

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