community
december13
2011
Vernonia Community Theater Profiles Part 1:
Hands-on Art and Tobie Finzel
The Vernonia Community The-
ater (VCT) was formed in 2010 with the
intention of bringing the performing arts
to Vernonia. The group and their pro-
ductions involve both youth and adults
and provide a creative outlet for mem-
bers of the Vernonia community to ex-
press their artistic talents. In a series of
profiles over the next few months leading
up to the VCT’s third production in the
spring of 2012, Vernonia’s Voice will
visit with several key members that make
up the VCT.
Many people in Vernonia know
Tobie Finzel. And if they don’t know
her, they have probably heard her name.
Finzel is the consummate volunteer, a
retiree who has devoted much of her free
time to finding ways to better her com-
munity by giving of her time, energy
and talents. Finzel plays key roles and
is a board member and an officer for
several important groups in and around
Vernonia, including but not limited to,
Vernonia Cares, the Vernonia Pioneer
Museum, the Columbia County Cultural
Coalition, the Vernonia Grange and Ver-
nonia Hands-on Art (HOA).
Over the past fourteen years,
Hands-on Art has sponsored a variety
of activities for children and adults in
the Vernonia community including arts
camps, a community orchestra, an annu-
al variety show (2004-2009) and Open
Mike nights and youth theater produc-
tions at the Grange. HOA has also been
involved with the Vernonia Pioneer Mu-
seum, First Friday, the Junior Salmon
Auction, and its newest venture, the Ver-
nonia Community Theater (VCT).
As a non-profit sponsor, HOA
often acts as an umbrella for organiza-
tions to operate under. Funds, along
with bookkeeping are handled through
HOA. HOA also provides support for
marketing and promotion.
VCT’s first official offering was
a July 2010 youth production of “Robin
Hood,” written and directed by Carol
Pelster. Twelve adult volunteers helped
the twenty-five young performers learn
lines, design and produce the costumes
and backdrops, sell tickets, design the
posters and programs, and stage two
performances to a total audience of 175
enthusiastic patrons.
“I saw some young people really
blossom and gain some self-confidence
and we capitalized on that for our next
VCT production,” says Finzel about that
initial production.
Finzel, who is currently serving
on the Vernonia School District Budget
Committee recognizes a need for the
community to provide access to arts pro-
grams for youth. “Unfortunately when
the school has to make cuts, they tend
to be in what some people perceive to
be the ‘non-academics,’ but I’m a strong
believer in art and music and drama and
any kind of creative expression as an
important component of a well-rounded
education,” says Finzel. “So we’ve tried
to supplement what the schools can’t al-
ways do—though not nearly as much as
I would like to.”
After having such a good expe-
rience with the youth production, VCT
staged a second play, “Exposé: Holiday
Celebrities Tell All” in December 2010.
Directed by Theresa Morris and assisted
by another ten adults, some of whom
also acted in the play, the cast of twenty
high school and adult actors entertained
over 150 patrons in three performances.
Once again, the beautiful color posters
were created by students in Mr. Low-
er’s Digital Arts class at Vernonia High
School.
Both production included beau-
tiful sets that were designed and created
by volunteers, and some amazing cos-
tumes—again designed and created by
the production crew.
According to Finzel both VCT
productions made enough money to
fund a future performance while donat-
ing money to Vernonia School
District in appreciation of the use
of Washington Grade School fa-
cilities.
Finzel, through her work
with HOA, has played a pivotal
role in helping the VCT become
established. Finzel is the Secre-
tary/Treasurer for HOA which
gives her an excellent opportu-
nity to really support the arts.
“The arts have always
been a passion for me but I never
had time, except to go as an at-
tendee,” says Finzel. “And one
of the things I wanted to do as I
eased into retirement was to get
involved and support artists. I
am not an artist myself, I just re-
ally appreciate all the forms of
artistic expression and partici-
pate to the limited ability that my
skills allow.”
Finzel has found that op-
portunity in Vernonia through HOA.
Vernonia Hands-on Art Cen-
ter was founded in 1997 to provide art
therapy for children affected by the 1996
flood. Over the years, HOA programs
have evolved to fit the current needs of
the community that are in line with its
mission to provide a high quality learn-
ing environment that celebrates the cre-
ative spirit by exposing the community
to the arts and honors the community’s
heritage.
Finzel’s back ground in banking
as well as computer systems and secu-
rity gives her the ability to help with the
financial end of operating a community
group. “With any arts organization, you
have a lot of artistic and creative people
who don’t necessarily have business ex-
perience,” says Finzel. So there always
needs to be someone to keep the books,
so that’s how I end up serving many
boards that I’m on.”
Providing a creative outlet, not
just for youth, but also for adults is also
7
important to Finzel. “In Vernonia we
have an incredible amount of artistic tal-
ent, people that are hidden in the woods
who have moved out here because they
love the green and the quiet,” says
Finzel. “Often they are not eager to pro-
mote themselves and so having venues
that allow people to show their art or be
on stage or perform in musical events
is a way to provide that type of enriched
community.”
VCT is planning a third produc-
tion – this time a comedy with a few mu-
sical numbers - for April 2012; the cast-
ing call will be issued in January. The
theater welcomes all aspiring Thespians
adults and youth thirteen and older.
“I so love to watch people’s tal-
ent bloom or watch people perform who
might be hesitant to come forward,” says
Finzel. “I’m kind of a cheerleader for
the arts and enjoy just getting people out
there. And we have some enormously
talented people in this community.”
CCWRC Receives Grant from The Safeway Foundation
The Columbia County Women’s Resource
Center (CCWRC) is pleased to announce they are the
grateful recipient of a grant of $2,500 from the Safeway
Foundation. The check was presented on November 30,
2011 at the local St Helens Safeway. The funds given
by the Safeway Foundation come from employee’s
voluntary payroll deductions. 100% of those funds stay
locally within the community.
“Thank you to our local Safeway employees
and the Foundation,” said the CCWRC’s Executive
Director, Rachel Barry-
Dame. “This grant will
support CCWRC in
providing free, as-needed
counseling services and
therapeutic art classes
for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
The Safeway Foundation generously supports
local 501©3 non-profits such as CCWRC; CCWRC
programs are included in the Health and Human
Services priority area. “Safeway is a great partner to
help meet needs in our community,” said Barry-Dame.
CCWRC is the only agency of its kind
dedicated to serving survivors of domestic and sexual
violence in our community. For information on how
you can help change lives by volunteering or donating
to the Resource Center call 503-397-7110.
GET PREPARED FOR WINTER
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month on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday. Look
for our next issue on December 27th.
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