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SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2016
‘Black Suitcase’ author to speak at library Library to host ‘Hang
Local coastal author and for-
mer educator Gail Elliott
Downs will be at the Siuslaw
Public Library in the Bromley
Room on Tuesday, April 19, at
1 p.m., to share the story of her
book, “The Black Suitcase
Mystery,” published in 2015.
The mystery begins with
World War II era letters discov-
ered by one of the author's fam-
ily members, letters Downs
inherited and preserved.
The real life mystery of the
letters in the suitcase took four
years to solve. The sleuthing
began in 1991, the first year of
the 50th anniversary of World
War II, as part of an assignment
given to fifth graders by
Downs who was then a school
librarian in Missouri.
The purpose of the assign-
ment was not only to learn
about World War II and the
importance of family history,
but to also teach research tech-
niques to the young student by
using primary sources, in this
case the 200 letters in the
Downs family black suitcase.
What the students discov-
ered and recovered over the
four years of their research was
a poignant story of love against
the backdrop of a faraway war,
The project, which started
out as a simple school library
assignment, eventually gar-
nered national attention and
resulted in history exhibitions
and programs for veterans.
President Clinton even
mentioned the group’s work in
a 1994 Memorial Day speech.
One of the students involved
in the project wrote “none of
us could have predicted the
astounding course this project
would follow.”
Discover
what
this
“astounding course” was by
joining fellow history buffs —
family and military and world
— for the opportunity to learn
COURTESY PHOTO
the details of the fascinating
Gail Downs lookd through family photos and the contents of mystery of the Black Suitcase
the black suitcase.
letters.
While this program will
in particular the experiences of bomber crew. Downs wanted appeal to a myriad of history
B-24 Liberator bomber crews. the story contained in the 200 lovers, it is certain to appeal to
The collected letters were letters to be “told because of mystery fans as well. The
written to Downs’ great aunt, its uniqueness — approxi- event is free and open to the
Hazel Elliott Rich. The corre- mately 150 letters written in public and copies of the book,
spondents were her son, Rich, the 1930s and ’40s from a The Black Suitcase Mystery,
and Rich’s wife, Wanda, who young son to his ill mother.” will be available for purchase
began writing letters to her This was followed by war- from Downs upon conclusion
husband’s mother in 1943.
time letters and finally letters of the discussion.
For more information, visit
George was killed in action from Wanda, the last one writ-
while performing his 50th and ten in 1946, each a glimpse the Siuslaw Public Library,
scheduled last mission as a into their own experience of call 541-997-3132 or visit
www. siuslawlibrary.info.
member of a B-24 Liberator love and war.
It All 2’ during May
The Siuslaw Public Library
will again present “Hang It All
2” beginning May 2. The
exhibit will continue through
May 30. This year’s theme is
“Animals.”
Artwork will be on display
throughout the month of May
in the lobby gallery and lobby
display case.
All artists and craftspeople
are invited to enter this non-
juried art show. This is a great
opportunity for all artists to
display their talent in a popular
community exhibit.
Artists can submit one entry
per person in any medium.
Two-dimensional items must
be framed and wired for hang-
ing. No “sawtooth” hangers
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‘Shuffling’ off to a night of music at FEC
Shuffle Concert
Review
B Y E LLEN T EMPLAR
Shortly after 7 p.m. on April
7, Nancy Pearson, Seacoast
Entertainment
Association
board member, walked onto an
open stage set with piano,
chairs, microphones and soft,
violet lighting and introduced
one of the most unique instru-
mental groups found anywhere.
Shuffle Concert is an eclectic
group of instrumental musi-
cians and one singer. Their
main goal is to give their audi-
ences the experience of great
music in a variety of musical
styles, and the experience of
participation.
A menu of music choices
from multiple styling venues is
passed out. Attendees were
advised to memorize their num-
ber.
Dressed in concert black, the
musicians took their places.
They called out the first number
and a participant voiced their
selection. Shuffle Concert
musicians flawlessly executed
Duke Ellington and Billy
Strayhorn’s “The Star-Crossed
Lovers.” This slow, beautiful
jazz piece expresses the sadness
of Romeo and Juliet. Violin,
clarinet and piano together are
unusual and most of the music
is arranged for particular instru-
ment groupings playing duets,
trios, quartets and ensemble.
Director and founder Eliran
Avni and clarinetist Moran Katz
are both from Israel. Hassan
Anderson, oboist and “Mr.
Personality,” is from Florida.
All three are graduates of the
famous Juilliard School in New
York City and knew of each
other at Juilliard. They did not
come together in their music
until after graduation.
In the upbeat manner of the
ensemble, Katz expressed her
joy and the love of what she
was doing in every piece she
played. Katz invoked the soul-
fulness of this instrument as she
magically worked her wood-
wind.
Sofia Nowik sat center stage
expertly plying her bow across
the cello strings. She never
missed a beat. She was con-
stantly watching each musician
as her cello, along with the key-
board, carried the rhythms for
the ensemble.
Harmonics on a violin can
sometimes sound like a finger-
nail scratching across a black-
board. There was none of that
when Brendan Speltz played
them. This technique is difficult
to perfect but not for Speltz.
Everything he did on that violin
was done to perfection. He was
not quite as good with the shak-
From left: Adrienne Pardee, Sofia Nowik, Brendan Speltz,
Nancy Pearson, Eliran Avni, Hassan Anderson and Moran
Katz (photo by Ellen Templar)
ers as Anderson in one piece,
but did have a definite violin
wrist technique with them.
Soprano Adrienne Pardee has
an absolutely lovely voice.
When she turns up the vocal
volume, it can probably be
heard out in the parking lot. She
often sang without a micro-
phone and her voice was just as
lovely soft, but not always
heard by the back row.
A highlight of the evening
was “Far From The Home I
Love” from Brock and
Harnick's “Fiddler On The
Roof,” performed by Pardee,
Anderson on oboe and Avni.
Anderson introduced this
piece as being about a “hot
boy” and then proceeded to
unbutton his shirt a bit while
eyeing Pardee. Shortly after
Pardee started singing, she
broke up and asked to start over.
She stated, “I can’t stop think-
ing about the hot boy.”
Everyone cracked up then.
Anderson excused himself from
the stage, returning with his
shirt buttoned and a great deal
of decorum. The piece started
again and Pardee sang this sad,
emotional song beautifully.
When it ended, Anderson
crossed the stage and gave
Pardee a kiss on the cheek.
Perfection in playing one’s
instrument and then in playing
in a group is accomplished by a
great deal of practice, along
with a lot of talent. The intona-
tion of instruments may be even
more important. A string can be
played on a sliding scale. Winds
can also hit various parts of a
single note.
Perfection is achieved in
intonation by listening to each
other and not letting notes slide.
Shuffle Concert has unbeliev-
able and exquisite intonation
are allowed.
Maximum size for flat work
is 38” measured either hori-
zontally or vertically. Three-
dimensional items must fit into
the display case.
Maximum accepted size is
12” deep by 12” by 24”.
All entries should be hand-
delivered to the Bromley
Room of the main library in
Florence on May 2, between
10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
No shipped items will be
accepted.
Information brochures are
available at both the main
library and the Mapleton
Branch.
For more information, call
the library at 541-997-3132.
See the
DentureMaster’s
difference, we do
it all right here!
and clarity of tone.
Enough cannot be said about
Avni. He is the consummate
piano accompanist playing with
perfection in the background
letting the rest of the musicians
stand out, never overpowering
them with his vast talents.
It was a treat during “The
Eleven O’clock Train,” by A.
Barbosa and arranged for the
group by Oran Eldor, to hear his
command of the keyboard. It
would be good if he did more of
that.
Presented by SEA producers
Pat McArdle and Nancy
Pearson, Shuffle Concert was
the sixth in this seven-part
series of SEA’s 35th concert
season. Don’t miss SEA’s next
exciting concert, The New Hot
Club of America, on May 13, at
FEC.
For tickets, call 541-997-
1994.
Dr. James Ridley,DDS
206 Nopal Street
Florence, OR 97439
CALL NOW
541-997-6226
See Jim for your auto sales needs!
2150 Hwy. 101 • Florence
(541) 997-3475 • 1-800-348-3475
www.theshedd.org
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Swing!
Ye ar o f
Sentimental
Journey
E=McSwing!, , 1943-46
E=McSwing!
Sat, , April 23, 2:00 pm
Sat
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Florence Events Center
Tickets: 541.997.1994
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Previews April 24th, April 30th, May 1st 1-4 pm
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