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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2003)
It’s Happening at Chinook Winds in February ... by Teresa Simmons Four-Day St. Patrick’s Celebration The Spirit of Ireland to Perform Chinook Winds is set to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day from March 14-17! A St. Patrick’s Day Festival will take place in the convention center on March 14-15 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., and March 16-17 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free. If you crave corned beef and cabbage, this is the place to go. It’ll be one of the dishes available at the themed food court, along with green beer at the no-host bar that will feature this and other specialty drinks. Niall Stanley & The Rovers will provide live entertainment, and McNamara’s and Paddy O’Leary will be there with the Little Leprechaun. Stop in for some beads and party favors and a taste of Ireland. Daily drawings will take place on the gaming floor. Celebrate St Patrick’s Day early when The Spirit of Ireland brings the music and dance of Ireland to Chinook Winds Casino on March 15, 2003. Ceol Chiarri Traditional Group was formed in 1985 to promote Irish culture abroad and has become one of Ireland’s most recent success stories. It has won many national awards and performed for distinguished people all over the world, including prime ministers, ambassadors, and several thousand people. At home and abroad, the group has appeared on many TV programs and is acclaimed far and wide for its professional, colorful presentation of The Spirit of Ireland. The Spirit of Ireland was the country’s first international success story, long before River Dance and Lord of the Dance and other imitators. It’ll probably be around long after those other troupes because it’s completely live - in every sense of the word. There are no blaring tapes and it’s a treat to see the musicians interact with the dancers as they have for centuries on ye olde Emerald Isle. Using traditional Celtic instruments, the sound is authentically Irish and unpretentious. The musicians are top caliber and the dancers are world champions. The group has performed in the United Kingdom since 1985 and internationally since 1989. Its performances have been well received through the world and continue to wow audiences no matter where it performs. Champion dancers, world-class musicians, and singers to melt the coldest heart make up the group, which performs a high-standard show of music, song, dance and, of course, storytelling. There’s many a laugh throughout a performance that leaves you wishing for more. Don’t miss the opportunity to see the beauty of Irish dancing and hear true Irish music when The Spirit of Ireland performs at Chinook Winds Casino. Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets range from $10-$20, depending on seat location. The Four Tops Bring Doo-Wop Sound to Chinook Winds Travel back to the doo-wop days of the ‘50s with the smooth vocal blending of The Four Tops when the group performs at Chinook Winds Casino on March 21 and 22. The Four Tops have been marveling audiences with its infectious blend of pure vocal power and sweet harmonies since 1954. High school friends from Detroit’s North End, Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, and Lawrence Payton started playing parties as The Four Aims, as they were aiming for the top. After catching the ear and eye of singer Billy Eckstine, they changed the name to The Four Tops to not be confused with The Ames Brothers. The Four Tops, after working with other record companies, signed with Motown Records in the ‘60s. At Motown, the group was teamed with the song writing powerhouse of Holland, Dozier, and Holland, and the rest is history. Hit after hit followed, starting in 1964 with Baby, I Need Your Loving, and continuing with songs like Reach Out, Til Be There, Standing In The Shadows Of Love, and Bernadette. During the British invasion of the U.S., The Four Tops became a sensation in England. The group signed with other record companies during the ‘70s and ‘80s and as the hits slowed down and record sales slowed, it returned to its strength - the live show. It played to audiences all over the world, maintaining the vocal magic that had placed it in the upper echelon of the entertainment world. In 1985, the group stopped the show at the heavily rock-filled LIVE AID. Critics around the world hailed its set as a highlight of the marathon 22 U Siletz News benefit concert. But benefits weren’t foreign to The Four Tops. To this day, the group has raised money all over the globe with its charity work, never forgetting where it came from. When the hits stopped coming during the late ‘80s, the group continued playing almost 200 dates a year and ended the decade by being inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Although members have lent their talents to others, solo work was never a priority for the group. It stayed together for 43 years, something that’s unmatched by any other group ever. Nothing could stop it, not even the bad times and hardships of the entertainment world. In June 1997, Lawrence Payton died of liver cancer. The group decided to continue on and worked for almost two years with just the three remaining members, with no signs of slowing down and dedicating every show to the memory of Lawrence Payton. In 1999, when the group marked its 45th anniversary, it also made the first member change. In February, the group added Theo Peoples, a golden-voiced, multi-talented young man from St Louis, and Ronnie McNeir joined Obie and Duke onstage for the first time. The result was magic and showed that The Four Tops was ready to continue playing concerts and corporate events, even using 80 symphonies to spread its special magic worldwide. Don’t miss the opportunity to see these legendary entertainers in person when they perform at Chinook Winds Casino. Show time for both nights is 8 p.m. Tickets are $25-$40, depending on seat location. February 2003 Gymnastics Meet Returns More than 350 of the best young female gymnasts from the Northwest and California will compete in a national gymnastics meet, The Pacific Edge Challenge, scheduled at Chinook Winds Casino’s convention center on Feb. 8 and 9. This is the second year of this annual event that’s hosted by The Athletic Edge gymnastics center in Salem and Chinook Winds. The gymnasts will compete in four events: floor, balance beam, uneven bars, and vault. They will be scored by official USA Gymnastics judges in the four events and all-around. “This sport opens doors for athletes - not only to have an opportunity to someday reach an Olympic dream, but also to have a chance to work for an NCAA scholarship,” Athletic Edge Executive^^^ S Director Walt Wagner said. “Events like these open the door^^ £ rfr for achieving those dreams.” The meet is divided into! GYMNASTICS sessions, starting with beginning-level competitors and advancing to high-level gymnasts. The meet schedule is as follows, with times approximate depending on the length of the preceding session: Feb. 8-8 a.m. - Level 4 and 6 Competition 12:45 p.m. - Level 7 Competition 6 p.m. - Levels 8-10 Competition (high level/college-bound gymnasts) Feb. 9 - 8:30 a.m. - Level 5 Tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children under 12, and $10 for a family package (two adults and one child) and are available at the door or by calling Jackie or Walt Wagner at 503-361-2344. Proceeds from the Pacific Edge Challenge will help build a scholarship fund for underprivileged young people who want to compete in this sport. The Athletic Edge is a non-profit corporation. “In training young athletes, it is our goal to help these talented young people grow into strong, well-rounded, positive adults,” Wagner said.
