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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 24, 2017)
SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2017 11 A Royals were classy with a capital ‘K’ “Emerald City Jazz Kings” Review B Y B URNEY G ARELICK 541•999•6078 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FACEBOOK.COM/PETERSENAUTODETAIL Has it been 5 years or more since your tank was pumped? Then it’s time! Call us to today to schedule an appointment. Check Saturday’s paper for a coupon good on your next service. Lowest Prices Guaranteed—We will match any competitors price ! 541-997-8885 ORDER YOUR SPRING FLORAL BOUQUETS! SEND SOME CHEER TO SOMEONES DAY! Come by our store, call in or visit us online and place your order. Florence In Bloom Full Service Flower Shop & Gifts 1234 Rhododendron Dr., Florence 541-997-5391 • 800-914-2305 www.fl orenceinbloom.com The 2017 Rhododendron Festival was the first time that professional live entertainment was performed on Saturday afternoon in the theater at the Florence Events Center. This entertainment proved to be a delightful option to the car show, carnival, flower show and others, all of which could still be enjoyed that day or the next. The FEC entertainment on May 20 was a concert by The Emerald City Jazz Kings, and it was classy with a capital “K,” — with the “K” standing for Kings, of course. There were a great many roy- als at this year’s festival. What could be more fun than lively, up-tempo tunes by 10 instrumentalists and melodic and comic songs by four out- standing vocalists! The show was titled “My Lucky Star” and featured songs by lyricist Arthur Freed and composer Nacio Herb Brown, who both worked for MGM Studios in Hollywood. The program featured many songs from “Singin’ In The Rain,” everyone’s favorite musical (even in a rainy town on the Oregon coast). The weird thing was that most of the songs from that 1952 show were recy- cled from shows in previous decades. For example, the song “Singin’ In The Rain” was writ- ten by Freed and Brown for The Hollywood Music Box Revue in 1927. Recycling was com- mon in those days, when the studios owned the songs and the songwriters, and the songs could be used again and again wherever they fit — no strings attached. Recycling is always a good thing. “Classy with a capital K” is a lyric recycled from “Eadie Was A Lady,” a humorous song from the 1932 show “Take A Chance,” and was sung, nay, belted by the redoubtable Ethel Merman and interpreted by the Jazz Kings. One of Eugene’s finest ensembles, the Jazz Kings has performed at the FEC about three times each year since the millennium. However, each show is different, always well- constructed and aiming to please. The band plays the swinging music of the American song- book. Personnel have come and gone, particularly since 2012, when reedman Jesse Cloninger took the baton from original director Steve Stone. All the current Jazz Kings are young, extraordinary musicians — per- fect fare for a festival weekend. Unfortunately, probably because festivalgoers were unaware of the concert, only about a quarter of the theater seats were filled. However, so enchanting was the show, the sparse crowd applauded with the volume of a full house, giv- ing the Jazz Kings a standing ovation. Perhaps next year the festival powers-that-be could select pro- fessional live entertainment for a Saturday afternoon concert in the theater at the FEC and include that concert in its boun- tiful festival promotion. Such a concert could only enhance a blooming event that continues to grow and spread the good word about the City of Rhododendrons. June ‘Beauty and the Beast’ exhibit at FEC The tongue-in-cheek title of the upcoming exhibit at the Florence Events Center repre- sents three local artists exhibit- ing oil paintings celebrating Oregon's “beauty,” and the amazing “beasts” that inhabit the state. Featured artists for the exhibit will be Ron Hildenbrand, John Leasure,and Claudia Ignatieff, and their art- work can be viewed at the FEC in Gallery One during the month of June. A graduate in art and graph- ic design, Hildenbrand worked in the field for many years, including having his own stu- dio in Fairfield, Calif. He was also featured in a “California Backroads” TV episode. Upon retiring to Florence 12 years ago, he became an active volunteer in the art community, and he currently serves on the Florence Public Arts COURTESY PHOTO Featured artists (from left): John Leasure, Claudia Ignatieff and Ron Hildenbrand. Committee. Leasure has lived in Florence for the past 36 years, owning West Coast Cabinets. He has taught oil painting classes in Florence and Eugene for the past 25 years, and is the teacher for the popular “Wallflowers and Wine” paint- ing classes at the FEC. Ignatieff, after a career in Early Childhood Education, retired to Florence with her husband Jim 12 years ago, and began taking art classes. She has been a featured artist at the Newport Visual Arts Center. Hildenbrand, Leasure and Ignatieff are active in Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA), serving on the Board of Directors, and on the Display Committee. Additionally, Ignatieff and Leasure serve on the FEC Gallery Committee, and are member artists of Backstreet Gallery. The artists have exhib- ited at many local venues, including the Siuslaw Library, Peace Health Medical Center, and Oregon Pacific Bank. The public is invited to come to an “Appetizers and Wine Reception” on Sunday, June 4, from 3 to 5 p.m., to meet the artists and view their individual perceptions of “Beauty and the Beasts.” WESTERN LANE AMBULANCE OPEN HOUSE June 19 th – August 18 th Dates: Location: Siuslaw Elementary School Time: Ages: Join us! ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ We will be having booths, demonstrations, and tours of our facilities and equipment. Certifi ed car seat technicians on hand for checkups and car seats in stock. Bicycle helmets will be available Free hot dogs and hamburgers May 27, 2017 12-3pm 410 9 th St. Florence, Oregon 541-997-9614 www.westernlaneambulance.com 7:45am – 5:30pm 2016-17 Kindergarten – 12 years of age Breakfast and Lunch will be provided each day. Any additional snacks and drinks will need to be provided by the Parent or Guardian. Please encourage your children to wear clothing they can run around and play in. No Flip Flops unless it is a planned water day. Please feel free to contact Sam Gauderman (541-999-8079) if you have any questions about the Elementary Summer Program. Applications available at Elementary Site or Administrative Offi ce. Please turn in applications by June 1 st to a staff member at the Elementary Site. If you have any questions regarding payment arrangements/scholarships please contact our Executive Director Chuck Trent at the Administrative Offi ce at (541-902-0304) Thank you in advance for your Cooperation.
