Dixie Lee Lipnichan, who teaches Japanese language and world cultures, demonstrates tea culture March 6 during an event for children at the Maridon Museum in Butler. One of the museum's goals is to be available and offer services to the community.

The Maridon Museum in Butler is entering its sixth year of operation. But it is doing so without its founder Mary Philips.

The museum is the result of her hard work and eclectic collecting habits. Philips died in January 2009.

She was an avid collector of Asian art, particularly jade and ivory, and of the famed Meissen porcelain.

Highlights of the collection include a pair of male and female sculptures that once belonged to the Shah of Iran and a variety of intricate jade and ivory pieces that demonstrate the time and patience involved in traditional Chinese art.

Mary's late husband, Don's favorite piece, a large Buddha sculpture, also occupies at spot in the first gallery of the museum. Visitors are encouraged to rub the Buddha's stomach for luck. It is the only piece in the museum visitors are allowed to touch.

Museum docent Carole Fruehstorfer said the museum is a result of Phillips' desire to display her collection and it took three years to get the museum up and running.

Once the building on South McKean Street became available, Phillips, a renowned philanthropist in Butler, brought in a museum professional from New York City to help get the museum off the ground.

The early days of the museum involved a lot of planning and work to make it fit into the neighborhood.

"There are lots of details to running a museum that no one thinks about like how to display things and the correct heat and light," said Fruehstorfer, who has been involved with the museum since the beginning. "It's now a building the community can be proud of."

Since the museum began six years ago, more than 100 volunteers have helped to make the museum a success. Currently, there are 40 active volunteers keeping the museum in operation.

The museum is an attraction that draws visitors from other states and even other countries to the Butler area.

It is an attraction that has on occasion sparked the interest of a celebrity. According to Fruehstorfer, David Conrad, of the CBS show "Ghost Whisperer," once arranged to take a private tour of the museum.

Currently, the museum is focused on reaching out to the community in any way it can through a variety of programs, some in conjunction with other organizations, such as the Butler County Symphony and school districts, colleges and universities.The Maridon also has lent out a few items from its collection for a display in Applebee's restaurant.In February, museum volunteers and benefactors celebrated the Chinese New Year with a gala at the Butler Country Club. This year is the year of the tiger, and the museum has several sculptures on display of the entire Chinese zodiac.Highlights of programs on tap for this spring include a spring garden lecture series and the continuation of the Chinese Film Series presented in association with Slippery Rock University. Other events include art classes such as brush painting and an origami class scheduled for July.Fruehstorfer said the museum "tries a little of everything to bring people in from the community."June marks the return of an exhibit of Samurai dolls in the museum's multipurpose room. This an exhibit that excites volunteers and Fruehstorfer.Fruehstorfer describes the antique dolls as "just beautiful and very special."Her involvement in the museum began in part as a result of her friendship with Phillips as well as her own interest in Asian art.Fruehstorfer was one of the first docents for the museum. She described volunteering at the Maridon as a gratifying experience to give back to the community and to continue learning about Asian art.She also enjoys the unpredictability that giving guided tours at the museum each day brings."Nothing is ever quite typical, but that's what makes it fun," she said.The Maridon is always looking for volunteers. Fruehstorfer said there is a lot to do in all aspects of the museum from social aspects like docents to behind-the-scenes tasks like maintenance.Fruehstorfer believes "art is good for the soul," and that the museum has heightened the awareness of the city to the surrounding areas.She describes it as "one of the many wonderful things that brings people to the area. It's an asset the community can be proud of."

<B>NAME:</B> Maridon Museum<B>ADRESS:</B> 322 N. McKean St.<B>DIRECTOR:</B> Nancy L. Hile<B>HOURS:</B> 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays<B>Cost: $4 for adults; $3 for students and senior citizens; children under 8 are free<B>VOLUNTEERS:</B> 40<B>TELEPHONE:</B> 724-282-0123<B>E-MAIL</B>: info@maridon.org<B>WEB SITE:</B> www.maridon.org

The Maridon Museum is now in its sixth year of operation and was the result of hard work by founder and late Butler philanthropist Mary Phillips. The museum features Phillips' collection of Asian art that attracts people from all over the world.