SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2016
Those who are new
to town may not be aware
of the Native Plant Distri-
bution.
Because of this, the
Florence Garden Club will
host Kate Harnedy to speak
about the Siuslaw Watershed
Council’s efforts in giving
plants away to benefit local
land and water.
Property owners who qual-
ify, will be the recipients of
free trees and flowering
shrubs.
To learn more and apply,
join the Garden Club at its
Wednesday, Jan. 13, meeting
at the Presbyterian Church,
3993 Highway 101, begin-
ning at 1 p.m.
All are welcome to attend.
Ned Hickson to guest speak at writers social
The Oregon Mid-Coast
Writers community is hosting
a “writers social” Thursday,
Jan. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the
Florence
Regional
Arts
Alliance (FRAA) center, 120
Maple St. in Old Town.
The social is open to all
writers and those who provide
resources to writers.
Siuslaw News journalist
and nationally syndicated
humor columnist Ned Hickson
Spruce Point Assisted Living and
Memory Care Community
Living, Loving, & Thriving
Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other
h
her
memory related illnesses can be very overwhelming. We’re here to help.
We are offering these FREE informative events to provide support and education.
Senior Gems Video Presentation Explains the Different Stages
of Alzheimer’s Disease
Wednesday, January 13th, 2pm
Learn the ‘Best Friends’ Approach to Caring
for a Loved One with Dementia
Wednesday, February 10th, 2pm
Managing the Challenging Behaviors of Alzheimer’s Disease
and Other Related Dementias
Wednesday, March 9th, 2pm
Space is limited for these FREE
educational events. For more information
and to reserve your seat please call
(541) 997-6111, or visit us today!
(541) 997-6111
375 9th St
Florence, OR 97439
www.spruce-point.com
will be the guest speaker for
this event, where he will dis-
cuss how to write and submit
press releases.
“A well-written
press
release with proper formatting
that follows newspaper style
increases your chances of get-
ting in sooner,” says Hickson.
“If your press release includes
cookies or tickets to Hawaii,
your odds are even better. But
for this discussion, I’ll just
cover some basic PR rules and
common mistakes that we
encounter every day.”
Following Hickson’s talk,
three local writers will give a
10-minute reading of their
work. There is no charge to
attend, but donations to help
offset costs will be appreciat-
ed.
Beverages will be available
and everyone is encouraged to
bring light snacks or finger
foods.
COURTESY PHOTO
Ned Hickson
The Oregon Mid-Coast
Writers (OMCW) is a free
membership community for
writers in Florence, Mapleton,
Waldport, Yachats, Reedsport
and Winchester Bay.
It provides a clearinghouse
and meeting place where
all kinds of writers and
area groups can connect
and network.
According to founder Leta
McCurry, the OMCW plans to
sponsor many other upcoming
events as a cohesive group,
such as local workshops, sem-
inars and conferences for writ-
ers from a much wider area to
help Florence become a writ-
ers’ destination.
“There are a lot of talented
writers in the Florence area
and a few groups that meet
regularly,” McCurry said.
“However, there is no central
connection where all the writ-
ers, publishers, editors and
other support people can come
together and share support,
information and resources.
“The Oregon Mid-Coast
Writers was formed to meet
this need.”
For more information, visit
the OMCW website at www.
oregonmidcoastwriters.com or
call 360-880-0050.
Students audition Monday, Tuesday for ‘Shrek’
“Let Your Freak Flag Fly” at
“Shrek The Musical, Jr.” audi-
tions this week. The musical is
based on the story and charac-
ters from William Steig’s book
“Shrek,” as well as the
DreamWorks Animation film
“Shrek,” the first chapter of the
Shrek movie series.
“Shrek The Musical, Jr.”
tells the story of a swamp-
dwelling ogre who goes on a
life-changing adventure to
reclaim the deed to his land.
Joined by a wise-cracking
donkey, this unlikely hero
fights a fearsome dragon, res-
cues a feisty princess and
learns that real friendship and
true love aren’t only found in
fairy tales.
CROW
(Children’s
Repertory of OR workshops)
will hold open auditions
Monday, Jan. 11, and Tuesday,
Jan. 12, for the musical come-
dy gem, with book and lyrics
by David Lindsay-Abaire and
music by Jeanine Tesori.
This marks CROW’s fifth
mainstage production.
The show will be performed
April 15-17, at the Florence
Events Center, and for invited
school audiences April 14.
CROW is a Florence-based
nonprofit organization and is
dedicated to giving back to the
community by providing quali-
ty performing arts experiences
to local youth.
Unlike the majority of youth
theatre organizations in the
nation, CROW charges no fee
or tuition to participate in its
spring mainstage musicals.
This is possible due to a
tremendous amount of local
support, as well as fundraisers,
grants and sponsorships that
allow the organization to pro-
vide these top-notch opportu-
nities to local children.
In addition to providing a
very professional work envi-
ronment for the cast members,
CROW utilizes the highest cal-
iber costumes, sets, lighting
design, choreography, music,
sound, stage makeup and more.
There are great roles in the
“big show” for ages 6 to 22,
and all children, teens and
young adults are encouraged to
try out regardless of previous
stage experience.
Mature 4- to 6-year-olds will
be
considered
for
“Telegrammers.”
Auditions will be held at the
Siuslaw Middle School cafete-
ria at 6:30 p.m. each day.
Invited callbacks will be
held on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at
6:30 p.m.
There are approximately 40-
45 onstage roles, and several
behind the scenes jobs for kids
interested in technical theatre.
To perform or participate
backstage, kids must attend the
audition. Onstage performer
hopefuls will need to bring 16-
32 bars from a song that they
would like to sing (sheet music
or a CD, MP3 track with no
background voices is also
acceptable), and a headshot
and resume if you have one.
Prospective cast members
will also be taught a short
dance combination, and those
asked to come to callbacks will
read lines from the script.
Interested families are
strongly encouraged to check
out the CROW website for all
of the information you need to
prepare for the audition.
Visit CROW’s website at
www.crowkids.com
or
Facebook page for informa-
tion.
For a casting breakdown,
FAQ’s and detailed audition
information, visit www.crow
kids.com or contact Melanie
Heard at 541-999-8641 or by
email at crowtheatrekids@
yahoo.com.
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