Local teens perform in ‘The Music Man’
March 19, 2013
Two Issaquah teens will join more than 100 high school students from across the state as they take over The 5th Avenue Theatre to produce their very own production of “The Music Man.”
The show is a product of The Rising Star Project, which gives local students the opportunity to star in, produce, direct and market an entire production with the guidance of theater professionals.
‘Pillow Talk’ to whisper sweet, 1950’s nothings
March 19, 2013
Issaquah High School wants to take an audience back to a simpler time of rotary phones, party lines and post-war charm.
For its spring performance, the drama department will put on the play “Pillow Talk” beginning March 27. A romantic comedy set in the 1950s, it is perhaps most known from the 1959 movie starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day.
Contributed
Junior Kylie Fletcher (left) and senior Andrew Marsh star in Issaquah High School’s spring play, ‘Pillow Talk.’
It follows the crossed lines and crossed lives of Brad the carousing playboy and Jan the interior decorator as he weaves a double life of deception to capture her affections. After initially sparring over Brad’s constant use of the building’s shared party line, when he spies Jan dancing at a nearby club, he invents a Texan persona to win her over.
North Bend theater hosts a Kaleidoscope of rock bands
March 12, 2013
Fall City’s Nick Mardon — bass player, guitar player and drummer — splits his time between Zero Side Effects (his rock band), Bad Idea (his metal band) and his school’s jazz band.
Oh, and at some point in the next 12 months, he plans to turn 13.
The rock band Zero Side Effects practices March 10 in a music room at Kaleidoscope School of Music.
Mardon and Zero Side Effects will participate in a summit of rock bands from Issaquah’s Kaleidoscope School of Music at the North Bend Theatre.
Musician proves it’s never too late to publish a first book
March 5, 2013
Newcastle resident Italene Gaddis may be 87 years old, but if you ask her, she doesn’t feel any older than she did as a child growing up in the South.
“You’re not a number,” she said. “People say ‘Are you really 87?’ and I say ‘No, not really, I’m Italene.’”
By Christina Corrales-Toy
Italene Gaddis, an 87-year-old poet, songwriter and musician, plays her autoharp in her Newcastle home Feb. 19.
With her charming Southern drawl, the poet, musician and songwriter captivates with her quick wit and sunny disposition. She’s an endless source of encouraging words, uplifting songs and positive affirmations.
Youth group Listen Up is ready to perform for you
March 5, 2013
Early last February, a group of young girls formed the band Listen Up and became known in the community through their YouTube video “Pass the Bond,” meant to promote the Issaquah School District’s construction bond issue.
Since then, these girls have not stopped performing in the community. The group is made up of Caitlin Neill, 10, Luca Nardi, 11, Monti Fleck, 11, and Emily Rudolph, 13, who attend Issaquah Valley Elementary School and Issaquah Middle School.
As a group, Listen Up has performed all over Issaquah; at a luncheons for the Issaquah Schools Foundation and the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce, at care homes, council meetings, and PTA meetings at different Issaquah schools.
By Liz Rudolph
The Listen Up quartet of (from left) Caitlin Neill, Luca Nardi, Emily Rudolph and Monti Fleck, stand together backstage at the Miss Washington pageant in October where they sang the National Anthem during opening ceremonies for the finals competition.
Grape Escape festival is a culinary celebration
February 26, 2013
The Rotary Club of Issaquah will celebrate local charities and cuisine at its seventh annual Grape Escape festival March 7. The event features food, wine and beer from nearby establishments.
The event started as a small wine tasting with about five area wineries featured. Not only has the number of vintners involved quadrupled, but restaurants now also provide appetizer-sized signature dishes. And everyone who participates in the festive event is supporting the Rotary Club’s many charitable undertakings.
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A full house of guests enjoy the wineries and local restaurants at Pickering Barn at the Rotary Club of Issaquah’s 2012 Grape Escape, which raised $20,000 for the club’s charitable community work.
“It’s a win-win for everybody,” said Jacalyn Holsted, the Rotary Club’s marketing director. “It’s a chance to have fun, promote local businesses and give back.”
Since 2007, Grape Escape has raised more than $65,000 for many causes, including Rotary First Harvest, Issaquah Food Bank and various student scholarship programs.
Renowned director starts new choirs in Issaquah
February 26, 2013
Choir director Dan Hegelund has performed in some lofty locales across the European continent. He’s sung at the presidential palace in Ukraine, performed in front of the Latvian government and appeared with his choir on national television in Sweden.
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Dan Hegelund performs in Clash of the Choirs, which was televised on national television in Sweden in 2010.
Last year, though, Hegelund and his family decided to leave Sweden and move to the United States. The family could have chosen to settle anywhere in the U.S., but the Hegelunds decided, without any doubt, that Issaquah would be the place for them.
“We believe we made a good choice, and we look forward to raising our children here and becoming part of the Issaquah community,” Hegelund said in an email.
ArtEAST seeks submissions for 150 Feet of Art Auction
February 26, 2013
ArtEAST’s annual 150 Feet of Art Auction returns April 19, featuring literally 150 12-by-12-inch individual, original pieces of art from all media.
ArtEAST seeks submissions from the community for the exhibit.
Submissions must meet the following guidelines:
- 12-by-12 wall-hung art in any media. Jewelry may be hung in frames supplied by the artist.
- Works should be gallery-ready to hang.
- Deadline for submission is 7 p.m. April 3
- The work should have a minimum gallery value of $175. The goal is to sell the pieces at the auction between $300 and $500 with a $450 buy-it-now option.
A little food love goes a long way
February 19, 2013
Valentine’s Day snuck up on me this year. It feels like yesterday I was planning Super Bowl food. And yet, last week I found myself scrambling to come up with something divinely delicious for the annual day of love.
Creating a special dinner for my family is my way of saying I love you. But alas, my dazzling Valentine dinner didn’t quite happen the way I’d planned. From work to school activities, homework and deadlines, it seemed a momentous task to bring everyone together on a Thursday evening for our Valentine feast.
The lovely celebration dinner was postponed. However, always looking for a good excuse to dine on the delicious, my darling family agreed to reconvene this weekend for our annual evening of food love.
Young philanthropists cook up Canvas and Cupcake Fundraiser
February 19, 2013
Chirag Vedullapalli and Amol Garg, like other 12- and 13-year-olds, love making art.
They also love helping others, and two have teamed up to host an afternoon of creative fun for children in the hopes of raising enough money to fulfill one child’s dream through the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
“Both of us are passionate about art and we like giving to charity, so we came up with an idea to help charity and follow our passion at the same time,” said Amol.
Contributed
Costco CFO Richard Galanti (left) and CEO W. Craig Jelinek meet with Chirag Vedullapalli and Amol Garg to discuss the young boys’ organization Creative Children for Charity. One of their events is the Canvas and Cupcake Fundraiser, selling paintings (above right) for Make-a-Wish Foundation.
The seventh grade student at Pine Lake Middle School added that as he speaks both Hindi and English, art is his third language.
