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About Cannon Beach gazette. (Cannon Beach, Or.) 1977-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2016)
January 29, 2016 | Cannon Beach Gazette | cannonbeachgazette.com • 11A Conference empowers women on education, career planning One-day program features inspirational speakers, workshops SUBMITTED PHOTO Frogtown will premiere a new production at the Tillamook Head Gathering at the Seaside Convention Center on Satur- day, Jan. 30. The gathering is a fundraiser to benefit the arts at Seaside High School. Frogtown to benefit arts at high school Second annual event supports arts education, experiences for Seaside High School students really keep people going on a day-by-day basis: vi- sual arts, music, poetry,” Mizell said. “They might not be necessarily bread- and-butter sorts of things as far as money goes, but the arts give us spiritual nour- ishment that sometimes the students don’t necessarily get in other places.” By Katherine Lacaze Teaching diversity with frogs, music EO Media Group The commonality of art, music and poetry is one of the messages students will receive when they partici- pate in the Tillamook Head Gathering in Seaside this month. The gathering “is really an effort to keep art endeav- ors alive,” English teacher Mark Mizell said. “I real- ly think we’re shorting the kids if we don’t expose them to the arts.” The fundraiser returns Jan. 30 at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center for a second year with a special multimedia production by Frogtown, a socially con- scious entertainment troupe that features Astoria native and 1993 Seaside High graduate Heather Christie, and other performers from WKH3DFL¿F1RUWKZHVW Last year, about 250 peo- ple attended to hear promi- nent local author and Sea- side High School alumnus Karl Marlantes. The event raised more than $6,000, used to bring award-win- ning Oregon author Clem Starck to speak to English classes on the subject of beat poetry, send students RQ ¿HOG WULSV DQG RIIHU RS- portunities to learn more about visual and perform- ing arts. When Mizell started teaching at the high school, funds were available for ¿HOG WULSV DQG DFWLYLWLHV WR support extracurriculars, but “those funds have really gotten scarce,” he said. That is unfortunate, since “there is a very thin line — if there is a line at all,” between the arts, cre- ativity and spiritual mat- ters, he added. “When you’re talking about the arts, you’re talking about things that The Tillamook Head Gathering is put on by a committee of current and former students and teach- ers. The highlight of the event will be a multimedia stage show, Frogtown, based on Emmy-award-winning au- thor and composer Philip Pelletier’s musical story- ERRN ³2QH 1LJKW LQ )URJ- town,” published in 2008. “It’s for kids 9 to 90,” Mizell said. “It’s really a cool story, and the perfor- mance they do is really neat.” Using projected anima- tions, a live-story reading and live music performanc- es, the theatrical rock show tells the story of cultural diversity using music as a metaphor. The cast includes Seaside’s Christie, Pelleti- er, Oregon Music Hall of Famer Andy Stokes and saxophonist Andy Warr. SUBMITTED PHOTO Seaside High School alum Heather Christie sings Frog- town’s “River Meets the Ocean,” from the group’s upcoming release “Bedtime For Tadpoles.” “I think it was just some- thing I was born with,” she said. “It was just happening and it was what was driving me.” +HU VW\OH LV LQÀXHQFHG by the sounds of the ’60s and ’70s — Joni Mitchell, the Eagles, Grateful Dead, Rickie Lee Jones and Bon- nie Raitt. She has written and produced three albums and toured with her own material. About eight years ago, she got connected with Music as an outlet Pelletier and Frogtown and Christie, who helps pro- started producing, collabo- duce the show, also does rating and singing with the individual work as a per- group. “It actually helped me former. She comes from a musical family; her grand- grow a lot as an indepen- parents, father, aunt and un- dent artist to have all these cles all did performing arts new experiences and take it of some sort. Her aunt, Ret- to another level,” she said. The group is focused on ta Christie, spearheaded the western swing group Retta a new release, called “Bed- time for Tadpools,” a multi- and the Smart Fellas. Heather Christie’s early media experience with a lul- memories include watching laby ambiance that follows her dad’s rock shows under the water cycle, as well as a her mother’s poncho. At a CD featuring dance music, young age, she started sing- called “Let’s Move!” Some ing bluegrass, country and of the new material will be western and gospel songs. premiered at the group’s Using her mother’s 1940s Tillamook Head Gathering Martin guitar, she taught performance. Christie said she is excit- herself how to play the in- ed and honored to partake in strument. $QDI¿QLW\DQGWDOHQWIRU the fundraiser for her alma music was a natural part of mater. Giving students ac- her life, not something she cess to arts education is “es- had to consciously strive for. sential for survival and san- Live Local? Experience Family Dining in a Relaxed & Friendly Environment P.S. Also enjoy a wave cleanse steam shower and saltwater pool access on us! *Please bring your North Coast ID. History of program :,1*6VWDUWHGLQ and originally was intend- ed as a one-time commu- nity service project for the By Katherine Lacaze American Association of EO Media Group University Women chap- Since 2001, the Sea- ters. “AAUW’s mission is side and Astoria chapters of the American Associa- heavily into equity for tion of University Women women and men and ed- and Clatsop Community ucation, so it seemed like College have collaborat- a natural thing for us to ed to help Clatsop County do,” said Pat Lehman, women of all ages access an association member equal education oppor- DQG :,1*6 FRQIHUHQFH tunities and more prom- co-chairwoman. ising, productive futures ,Q :,1*6 ZDV through a free one-day one of the four winners of conference. AAUW’s national Break- 7KH :,1*6 ing Through Barriers Conference — the acro- award. nym stands for Women “We feel we are per- Interested in Going to forming an important ser- School — is Feb. 6, from vice,” said Lehman, who 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Clat- is also the chairwoman sop Community College’s of the Clatsop Commu- Columbia Hall. Lunch and nity College Foundation professional child care are Board. provided to participants Over the years, during the conference. :,1*6 KDV VHUYHG PRUH The conference pro- than 600 local women. vides sessions and work- After past conferences, shops led by college staff PDQ\ :,1*6 SDUWLFL- and other people that help pants enrolled in one or women explore education more classes at Clatsop RSWLRQV VXFK DV FHUWL¿- Community College, such cates, the General Edu- as the free Lives in Transi- cation Development test, tion class, or other institu- degrees, job skills, career tions throughout the state. GLUHFWLRQDQG¿QDQFLDOLQ- “We have some amaz- formation. ing success stories,” Leh- “We were lucky enough man said. to get a college degree and Community support we want everyone who is an important aspect of wants one to have the the conference. Last year, same opportunity,” said more than 100 local busi- $QH 0F,QW\UH :,1*6 QHVVHV VXSSRUWHG :,1*6 publicity chairwoman. WKURXJK GLUHFW ¿QDQFLDO contributions, giving their Inspirational stories employees a paid-day-off During the program, to attend and donating women hear inspirational LWHPV IRU D UDIÀH DQG JLIW stories from past partici- bags. pants or other guest speak- “One of the things the ers, such as State Sen. participants talk about Betsy Johnson, D-Scap- appreciating most is not poose, who is a major sup- just the gifts — which porter of the conference. DUHWHUUL¿F²EXWWKHIDFW They receive incentives that somebody is out there to enroll at Clatsop Com- with a business saying, munity College and the ‘We think that you can do opportunity to apply for it and here’s our testimo- :,1*6VFKRODUVKLSV ny to that fact,’” Lehman This year, the confer- said. ence workshops include: For more informa- GHJUHHV FHUWL¿FDWH SUR- tion, call Lehman at 503- grams and pathways; GED 717-1852 or visit www. FHUWL¿FDWH IHGHUDO ¿QDQ- wings-clatsop.com or the cial aid; lives in transition; conference’s Facebook scholarships; conquering page. In order to guaran- math anxiety; career plan- tee a place at the confer- ning; support services for ence, women need to pre- students; and living-wage register, especially if they career opportunities. plan to bring children. SUBMITTED PHOTO Amy Magnussen, a Clatsop Community College adviser, gives a presentation to a room full of participants during the WINGS Conference in 2015. powered by Serving Seafood, Pizza, Sandwiches, Espressos, Beer, Wine, Ice Cream and our Homemade Desserts Get 20% off any treatment at Elements Spa! 503-436-0366 | elementsbythesea.com ity,” she said. High school is a time when “you’re grow- ing and learning and having strange feelings and emo- tions, and you take things really intensely,” she said. Art “helps us transform those emotions into some- thing beautiful and posi- tive,” she added. Seeing the way children — and people of all ages — react and re- spond to Frogtown. Christie knows the importance of musical exposure. “It’s a really magical ex- perience and with such pos- itive messages,” she said of Frogtown. “It’s very in- tergenerational, and brings everyone together, from the grandkids to the grandpar- ents.” The fundraiser will in- clude a silent auction, fea- turing art donated by local artists. From 6:30 to 7 p.m., people can browse the si- lent auction items. High school senior Claire Ogilvie will coordinate the auction, among other tasks, as part RIKHU3DFL¿FD3URMHFW The high school’s jazz choir and jazz band will perform, followed by the Frogtown production. Tickets cost $10 in ad- vance and $15 at the door. They are available at Beach Books, Seaside Coffee House and the business of- ¿FHDW6HDVLGH+LJK6FKRRO The conference also features a concurrent half-day program called :,1*6 /DWLQD FRQGXFW- ed in Spanish, which was a new addition last year. “TO-GO” Orders Welcome We have a fabulous patio where you can enjoy the weather and your meal. 156 N. Hemlock • Cannon Beach 503.436.9551 Owned and Operated by the Cleary Family music fi rst
