The Northwest rock band MEDIUM SIZE KIDS is pleased to announce their first concert tour coming up this summer.

MSK will kick off their “Medium Size Tour” at the Black Forest Indoor Theater in Eugene, OR on June 14. Dates are being set for other venues, and they are hard at work getting their next EP produced.
“We’re pretty excited about the tour,” said band member, John Doyle. “It’s a West coast tour that will start in Eugene and end in Los Angeles.”
MSK, which has recorded and released six songs to-date, has already completed two additional songs for the EP and tour.
The first of these two new songs is titled “Common Feeling,” which is about first impressions.
“It’s very fast-paced,” said band member, Joseph Kashas. “We could release it now. It’s all done and ready to go. And it has a Latin ending. It’s pretty cool.”
The second song, still untitled, is about things that get lost in translation.
“We talk about the challenges of dealing with a person affected by substance abuse,” said Doyle.
MSK also recently added a keyboard player, Kaylee Hillman. Hillman grew up locally, and then spent time in Arizona attending college. Her addition to the band adds new dimensions.

Band’s New Addition  

“We’re really excited to have her,” said band member, Shane Moffett.
Hillman currently attends Clark College and is learning how to play the guitar.
“I’m looking forward to it all,” said Hillman.
The band has been busy doing shows and house parties. They recently did a benefit show that raised money to fight human trafficking.
The group continues to gain momentum, and a growing fan base.
“We love to see kids like our music,” said Moffett. “We recently had an 11 year-old play guitar with us at a concert.”
For now, the band is developing and recording new music.
“We hope to be ready in the next couple months with new music and be ready as a four-piece,” said Doyle.

by Seth Sjostrom

The service our veterans and their families provide our country is heroic even if they (and we hope they don’t) ever see a battlefield. For veterans returning home, they often find they have sacrificed more than we ever could have asked of them. Homes, jobs, physical and mental health are all on the line. War is terrible, coming home shouldn’t be.

DrRickLJacksonMD_2372_162

Dr. Richard Jackson

The Clark County Veterans Court Board is an organization that helps veterans throughout SW Washington who have struggled. Physical injuries and emotional scars can surface in the form of substance abuse, family strife and even aggression. The Clark County Veterans Court Board helps our local veterans reintegrate and thrive when they are at their lowest. Fellow veterans from peer mentorships helping returned soldiers navigate the Veteran’s Administration health, legal and support systems. Judge Darvin Zimmerman understands the challenges veterans face and is the founding judge of the veteran’s court as well as its tireless organizer and advocate.

On Saturday, April 27th, the Luepke Center will be the site of a family friendly multi-act pop and country concert. Headlined by Ricky Lee Jackson with Shawna Quade and the Jackson Band, the concert features two performance times. A matinee kicks off the day at 2 p.m. and is capped by an evening 5 p.m. concert. Joining Jackson and crew are National Fiddler Champ – Cynthia Hamm with Don MItchell, Jesse Wade Holyk, and The Washington Old-Time Fiddlers. Miss Clark County’s Outstanding Teen 2013 Dayzsha Ab-Rahman and The Young Marines will also be taking part in the festivities. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be provided by Goldies BBQ.

Where have you heard of Ricky Lee Jackson? The patriotic, family-focused crooner is Dr. Rick Jackson, owner of Ashbrook Family Medical. His wife, Jeanine, is the founder of Ashbrook Aesthetics. The talent in the Jackson household doesn’t stop with Ricky Lee. Fans of ABC’s “Nashville” will recognize son Jonathan who also fronts the rock band Enation with his brother Richard and bandmate Daniel Sweatt. Prior to the show “Nashville,” Jonathan was a staple on General Hospital for years as “Lucky Spencer”.

Enation’s songs have been featured on the show “One Tree Hill” and MTV.com. Richard has had his regular stint in Hollywood with the show “Ally McBeal”. Ricky Lee’s daughter Candace is a prominent attorney and published author best known for setting the political world straight.

Ricky Lee himself has been on the national stage, performing his song “Freedom, Family and Faith” on the morning show Fox and Friends. Other than practicing medicine and parenting exceptionally talented children, Jackson is most widely known for performing for benefits. Putting his voice where his heart is, Jackson delivers an inspirational message in his music, befitting of the lives the concert hopes to touch. Come support local veterans who can use a hand up. Bring your family and your appetite along with open ears and hearts on April 27th.

The Luepke Center is located at 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver, WA. Get tickets at www.clarkcountyvetscourtboard.org, Ashbrook Medical Family Practice or Ashbrook Aesthetics located at 5512 NE 107th Ave. Vancouver, WA 98662.

About the contributor: Seth Sjostrom is a local resident and author. His novels Blood in the Snow, and Finding Christmaswere released in 2012. Blood in the Waterreleases this spring. Seth co-produces the children’s magazine Kids Ink NW and I s a regular contributor for Lacamas Magazine. For more information on Seth or his books, visit www.wolfprintpublishing.com.

 

Camas, WA — The Camas High School Band is hosting a Spring Benefit Band Concert for Vida’s Ark tonight at 7 pm at the CHS Theatre.  Come support this vital resource and enjoy the Big Red Machine. The concert organization and charitable event is also the Eagle Scout Project of Austin Kohler.

About Vida’s Ark

Vida’s Ark is a young mother’s shelter in Vancouver that provides a safe, nurturing home for struggling teen mothers in Clark County.
The organization was founded in 2007 as a shelter to provide safe, supportive living conditions while teaching young mothers life and parenting skills to become self-sufficient, educated and healthy and parents themselves.  Our home provide a place for hope, healing and restoration.
The Mission of Vida’s Ark is to assist homeless teen mothers, and their children, by providing a safe, supportive and nurturing home; while teaching them the skills to become self-sufficient and to complete their high school education.
To learn more, visit www.vidasark.org
Vida's Ark

 

The CHS Marching Band was the lead group during Wednesday’s SOUNDSATIONAL Parade at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA. The Papermakers are spending the week in Southern California and are having a great time.

Currently, 135 members of the band have just docked at Catalina Island, which is off the Southern California coast.

Photo courtesy of Alisa Wise.

Disneyland