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Camas Library Summer Reading Program Begins

Camas, WA — The Camas Public Library officially began its Summer Reading Program, titled “Build a Better World,” and is open to young children, teens, and adults.

The purpose of the Camas Public Library’s Summer Reading Program is to encourage youth to read and participate in community activities during their school break. Youth who read during the summer will practice their comprehension skills, and are likely to start school in the Fall more prepared and ahead of their classmates.

The program measures reading time and community participation rather than number of pages or books. With this method, youth of all ages and abilities can accomplish their goals with comparable effort.

The program itself includes games, events, and weekly summer movies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as reading for the Summer Reading Program? Books, magazine articles, graphic novels, eBooks, audio books. The library has many downloadable audio books.

What is the first day people can participate? June 24.

Do I have to participate in the program to attend the free events? Nope!

The program is sponsored in part by:

  • Burgerville
  • Squeeze & Grind
  • Clark County Fair
  • Camas/Washougal Community Chest
  • Lacamas Swim and Sport
  • City of Camas
  • Oaks Park
  • Vega Programs
  • Camas Farmer’s Market
  • Sky Zone Trampoline Park
  • Friends of the Camas Library

Summer Movies

Every Wednesday features a summer movies. The first one, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” is on June 28 at 2 pm.

The second movie is “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” which will be shown on July 5 at 2 pm.

The third movie is “Iron Giant,” will be shown on Wednesday, July 12.

Each movie is projected in the upstairs library big screen. Popcorn will be served.

To learn more, and to sign up for the program, visit: http://www.ci.camas.wa.us/index.php/librarykidsteens/summer-reading-program

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Fans Pack Liberty Theatre on 90th Birthday

Camas, WA — Liberty Theatre fans packed the house Wednesday night as the historic venue celebrated its 90th birthday with a special 30th anniversary showing of the pop culture classic, “The Princess Bride.”

Moviegoers waited out into the sidewalk to get in as many reminisced about going to see movies there as kids. Many came to celebrate both anniversaries.

“We’re really big fans of ‘The Princess Bride,'” said Adam Corey, who brought his wife, Kati, and two sons, Jacob and Will, to celebrate. “We love the comedy, the characters, Andre the Giant. Plus, the Liberty is small, intimate, they have great service, and they serve beer here!”

Corey said they come when it fits their active schedule, and they always try to come here first — before going to other theaters.

“And we love Rand (Thornsley) the owner,” Corey added.

Liberty

The Corey family at the 90th birthday of the Liberty Theatre. From left: Katie, Jacob, Will, and Adam Corey.

 

Liberty

The concession stand was super busy.

On this day in 1927, the Liberty Theatre first opened its doors. At that time, it was called The Granada. Local leaders and several investors raised the money needed to build the structure, which cost $75,000. That was an incredibly large sum of money in 1927.

The first film at the theatre was “Lost at the Front.”

Since then, the theatre has changed hands many times, and went into disrepair. Previous operator, Greg Wood, did a lot of renovations in the 2000s, bringing some state-of-the-art sound equipment and a new screen. When he tried to purchase the historic theatre, negotiations failed, and he left to operate a theatre in Portland.

The Liberty closed in 2009, and remained dark for nearly two years — until Thornsley reopened its doors, breathing new life into the downtown marquee.

The first 100 guests at Wednesday’s event received a special commemorative poster for the occasion.

To learn more, visit www.camasliberty.com

LibertyMoviegoers wait in line for concessions. Gotta have popcorn!

Showtimes!

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Clark College Jazz Ensemble: 6th Annual Big Band Bash

VANCOUVER, WA —  The Clark College Jazz Ensemble hosts the 6th Annual Big Band Bash on Saturday, June 10, 7:00 p.m. in the Gaiser Student Center on the Clark College Campus, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver.  The concert is free to the public.

“We’re excited to have the Clackamas Community College Jazz Ensemble directed by Lars Campbell, join us on stage this year,” says Richard Inouye, Clark’s Director of Bands. “And we’re also featuring the community group, VanPort Jazz. If you like the sounds of the Big Band era, you’ll love this concert.”

For complete information about all the Clark College Music Department concerts including the orchestra, concert band, jazz ensemble, and choirs, please see http://www.clark.edu/campus-life/arts-events/music/music-concerts.

About the Clark College Music Department

Clark College offers an Associate in Music DTA/MRP degree with courses in music theory/ear training, instrumental and vocal performance training, and ensemble experience. Classes are designed to prepare the music major for advanced studies at a four-year institution while providing the non-major with the skills and background to fully enjoy music as a cultural pursuit.

Ensembles on campus include three choral groups, orchestra, concert band, and jazz ensemble. Three tenured and several adjunct faculty, provide professional instruction to the 500+ students that pass through Beacock Music Hall each year.

Jazz

Clackamas Community College Jazz Ensemble.

 

Jazz

Clark College Jazz Ensemble.

 

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“Gnome and Fairy Gala” for Camas May First Friday 2017

Camas, WA — For First Friday, May 5th, downtown will be having a “Garden Gnome & Fairy Gala” in honor of the Camas Plant & Garden Fair the next week. Events are from 5-8pm.

Find those mischievous gnomes and cute fairies in each participating location and see what kind of fun each is having! You’ll earn tickets to win great prizes for each location you go to!

Other activities will include:

  • Find the fairy houses through town and feed the fairies! (get the fairy food at the DCA tables in Journey! :))
  • S’mores roasting with iQ Credit Union (weather permitting!)
  • Get your picture taken with our friendly gnome family!
  • Enjoy the “Secret Garden” window display at Camas Antiques.
  • Fairy flower crowns! Plus 3 Crafting will be selling very cool flower crowns to fit our theme! In Journey.
  • Art gallery shows and receptions with refreshments:
    • Attic Gallery: Encaustic paintings by Sheary Clough Suiter and Tyler Marchus. Free “Painting With Encaustic” demonstration by Sheary Clough Suiter; Live music
    • Camas Gallery: featuring paintings by Katey Sandy
    • Second Story Gallery: Douglas Keith – painting & sculpture and Earlene Holmstrom – soft pastels
    • Watch a craft beer brewing demonstration by the group Drib Pro Quo in honor of National Homebrew Day; next to Caps N’ Taps, 337 NE 4th
    • The movie “Labyrinth” at the Liberty Theatre at 8pm
    • Gnome and fairy kids’ crafts at the DCA tables in Journey
    • *Cinco de Mayo Celebration hosted by Mesa unfortunately had to be cancelled due to the weather. They will be having a fun celebration inside though! Thank you for understanding!
    • After Hours Shopping–get a ticket to win for every $10 spent in downtown!
    • Much more!

The fun begins at Journey, 304 NE 4th; May 5th, 5-8pm (Some activities are weather permitting).

Information provided by the Downtown Camas Association. To learn more, visit www.downtowncamas.com

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“Images from the Interior” Art Exhibit Opens Friday at Camas Library

CAMAS, WA — “Images from the Interior” is a dual art exhibit from two artists who were introduced when they were selected by Second Story Gallery for its May show.  Both use their chosen tools to explore beyond the surface.  Often that surface begins life as a portrait but goes deeper to capture an inner quality.
Interior
Earlene Holmstrom sticks to pastels to capture the spark.  She will be joined by Douglas Keith who paints and sculpts to get to the interior of his subject matter.  They will unveil their recent works at a reception on First Friday, May 5, from 5 to 8 pm in the gallery. Keith experiments with a variety of textures and styles to capture his subjects, but he also notes his ideas and images come to him for some internal source.  He says he suspects they may come from the same place where dreams and myths originate, and that capturing them becomes a dialogue between the creator and the created.  His pieces range from dreamy landscapes to what could be death masks from an ancient–or alien–civilization.  His mediums include mesh, wood, basalt, molded cloth and paper.
Interior
While Keith looks inward for inspiration, Holmstrom spends her time observing passersby.  She says she loves the challenge of capturing subtle nuances in each face as well as the emotional message in the figure.  Nothing inspires her painting more than the people she encounters daily, she says. Holmstrom spent her teen years working at the Ringling Art Museum in Florida but only recently settled on soft pastels for her own style.  She says she loves the vibrancy, the layers that can be built on paper and the feel of them in her hands.  Walking into her studio, she says, is like walking into a rainbow. Both artists have turned to their mediums after careers in other fields.  Their combined show, a mix of images that delve into the interior of each subject, will open May 5 and continue through May 27 in the Gallery, upstairs in the Camas Public Library.  In addition to the artists, keyboardist Brad Jensen will be at the First Friday reception with live music. To learn more, visit www.camaslibrary.org
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Journey Theater Arts Group presents Meredith Willson’s The Music Man Jr.

Youth Theater Production Runs Two Weekends – May 19 – 28, 2017 at Washburn Performing Arts Center at Washougal High School

WASHOUGAL, WA

Based on Meredith Willson’s six-time-Tony-Award-winning musical comedy, The Music Man Junior features some of musical theatre’s most iconic songs and a story filled with wit, warmth and good old-fashioned romance. The Music Man Jr. is family entertainment at its best – a bold, brassy show that will have the whole town atwitter!

Master showman Harold Hill is in town and he’s got “seventy-six trombones” in tow. Can upright, uptight Marian, the town librarian, resist his powerful allure? The story follows fast-talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill, as he cons the people of River City, Iowa, into buying instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band he vows to organize. The catch? He doesn’t know a trombone from a treble clef. His plans to skip town with the cash are foiled when he falls for Marian, whose belief in Harold’s power just might help him succeed in the end in spite of himself.

Performances are May 19 – 28, 2017 at Washburn Performing Arts Center at Washougal High School, 1201 39th Street, Washougal WA, 98671.   Tickets are on sale now at journeytheater.org or by calling 360.750.8550.   Pre-sale adult tickets are $14.  Youth and senior tickets are $10.  Groups of 10 or more are $9.  Our “family day” performance is Saturday, @ 7 p.m. with all tickets $10 in advance.  Tickets for all performances will be $4 more at the door. School day pre-performance prices are:  groups (10 to 99) – $6, groups (100 or more) – $5 with 1 free ticket with each 15 purchased!  School day tickets at the door are $8.

Public Performances

Friday, May 19th @ 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 20th @ 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 21st @ 2:00 p.m.

Friday, May 26th @ 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 27th  @ 2:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 28th @ 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 28th @ 2:00 p.m.

School Day Performances

Wednesday, May 24th @ 11:30 a.m.

About Journey Theater Arts Group

Journey is the most dynamic theater arts community in the Portland/Vancouver area, offering dozens of classes in drama, dance, voice and more, as well as producing 12 shows in four locations during the school year and a professional-level community theater musical each summer.   Journey strives for excellence, while providing a welcoming and encouraging environment where kids ages 6 to 18 and their families can build life-long skills and friendships. Journey is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization, with offices located at 1400 NE 136th Ave, Suite 201, Vancouver WA, 98684.  Contact at 360.750.8550 or www.journeytheater.org.

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Journey Theater Presents A Year With Frog and Toad

Youth Theater Production Runs Two Weekends – May 20 – 29, 2016 at Washburn Performing Arts Center at Washougal High School

Washougal, WA — A hit on Broadway, A Year With Frog And Toad was nominated for 3 Tony Awards – including Best Musical. Based on Arnold Lobel’s well-loved books and featuring a hummable score by Robert and Willie Reale, this whimsical show follows two great friends — the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad — through four, fun-filled seasons.

Waking from hibernation in the Spring, Frog and Toad plant gardens, swim, rake leaves, go sledding, and learn life lessons along the way. The two best friends celebrate and rejoice in the differences that make them unique and special. Part vaudeville, part make believe, all charm, A Year With Frog And Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures throughout the seasons.

The jazzy, upbeat score of A Year With Frog And Toad bubbles with melody and wit, making it an inventive, exuberant, and enchanting musical perfect for introducing theater to youngsters, while keeping adults entertained as well.

A Year with Frog and Toad Performances

Performances are May 20 – May 29, 2016 at Washburn Performing Arts Center at Washougal High School, 1201 39th Street, Washougal WA, 98671.   Tickets are on sale now at journeytheater.org or by calling 360.750.8550.  Pre-sale adult tickets are $14.  Youth and senior tickets are $10.  The May 21, @ 7:00 p.m. showing is a “family day” performance with all tickets $10 in advance per person.  Tickets for all performances will be $4 more at the door.

School Day Performances will be offered at 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25.  Tickets are $6 each for groups of 10 – 99 and $5 each for groups of 100 or more, with one free ticket for every 15 purchased.  Call 360.750.8550 to arrange to bring your class or home school group.

Public Performances

Friday, May 20 @ 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 21 @ 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 22 @ 2:00 p.m.

Friday, May 27 @ 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 28  @ 3:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 29 @ 2:00 p.m.

 

School Day Performances

Wednesday, May 25 @ 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.

About Journey Theater Arts Group

Journey is the most dynamic theater arts community in the Portland/Vancouver area, offering dozens of classes in drama, dance, voice and more, as well as producing 12 shows in four locations during the school year and a professional-level community theater musical each summer.   Journey strives for excellence, while providing a welcoming and encouraging environment where kids ages 6 to 18 and their families can build life-long skills and friendships. Journey is a 501(c)3 nonprofit educational organization, with offices located at 1400 NE 136th Ave, Suite 201, Vancouver WA, 98684.  Contact at 360.750.8550 or www.journeytheater.org.

 

Frog

Frog

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Clark College Orchestra features violist Wendy Edgar

The award-winning Clark College Orchestra, under Music Director/Conductor Donald Appert, will present its spring concert as part of the 2015-2016 season “High Strung” on Sunday, June 12th in the Royal Durst Theatre of the Vancouver School of Arts & Academics, 3101 Main St., Vancouver, WA.  Featured on the program will be Adjunct Viola Instructor Wendy Edgar performing Holst’s Lyric Movement for Viola and Small Orchestra. Ms. Edgar is celebrating her twentieth anniversary as Principal Viola/String Coach of the Orchestra. The orchestra will also perform Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz.

The performance is at 7:30 pm, and admission is free and open to the public. Donations to the Orchestra General Fund will be accepted at the door.

Wendy Edgar has the joy of being both a performer and a teacher.  She has played with various groups in the area, including the Portland Opera Orchestra and the Oregon Ballet Theatre Orchestra.  She also teaches private lessons and is an adjunct viola professor at Clark College.  Every summer she heads to southern Oregon for three weeks to play in the Britt Festival Orchestra.  In addition to her music, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two girls on a few acres in rural Clark County.  Add in some books, animals, and time spent outdoors, and she is very content with life.

She started violin lessons at age 6 but later fell in love with the warm rich tone of the viola and never looked back.  A native of Washington, she had her first orchestral experiences as a member of the Vancouver Symphonette and the Portland Youth Philharmonic.  She has a Bachelor of Music in viola performance from Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music in viola performance from Northwestern University.  Her teachers have included Ruth Petrasso, Martha Warrington, Jeffrey Irvine, and Lynne Ramsey.  Her viola was made by Mark Moreland in 2002.

To learn more, visit, www.clark.edu

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Clark College Jazz Student Receives Highest Award

Vancouver, Wash.— The Clark College Music Department is proud to announce that music student, James Powers, has been awarded the University of Northern Colorado/Greeley Jazz Festival’s highest award, a tuition scholarship to attend the world famous Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky.  Powers was recognized as one out of only four recipients to receive this prestigious award from the 8,000 participants who performed at the national jazz festival.  James is currently a resident of Gresham, Oregon but graduated from Heritage High in Vancouver.

The Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop is recognized as being one of the best intensive programs for mastering jazz improvisation.  The festival features the nation’s leading jazz educators and performers and is dedicated to providing an intensive learning experience for musicians of all ages and levels. Theory Classes, Ear Training, Combo Performance, and Master Class Sessions allow the opportunity for attendees to grow and develop to their fullest potential, and each evening attendees get to listen to faculty jazz recitals presented by some of the leading jazz musicians around the world.

To learn more, visit www.clark.edu

 

 

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CLARK COLLEGE JAZZ STUDENTS RECEIVE TOP HONORS

For the third time, the Clark College Jazz Ensemble demonstrated the excellence for which Clark is known as they distinguished themselves among the other colleges and universities representing seven states, at the 2016 University of Northern Colorado/Greeley Jazz Festival held April 21 through 23, 2016.  This year, eight Clark College Jazz Ensemble students received Special Citation for Outstanding Musicianship awards, recognized from the 8000 festival participants.  The Clark students who received awards were:

  • Mattias Tyni – trumpet
  • Keith Cheek – tenor saxophone
  • Anna James – tenor saxophone
  • James Powers – trombone
  • Jenny Baird – trombone
  • Hayden Lilak – bass
  • Josh Gonzales – drums
  • Sam Niborg – drums

In addition to performing for adjudication and clinic from internationally recognized jazz educators, Clark students also had the opportunity to listen to performances, workshops, and panel discussions presented by luminaries in the field of jazz including the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Houston Person, Joey DeFrancesco, and legendary jazz royalty, Ellis Marsalis.

James Powers, seen below with bassist and leader of the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, John Clayton, and Clark student Keith Cheek, reflects on how this experience enhanced his education at Clark.  “The experience of visiting the Greeley Jazz Festival this year was exhilarating. It has been said that it can be disappointing to meet one’s heroes, but I can say that that is not always the case. When speaking with some of the learned men of music, I was greeted with humility and kindness. Just as important as the uplifting musical performances, was the realization that these performers were all just regular people who have just practiced more than I have. Overall I would say that as a result of attending the festivities, I have come to several inspiring and informative conclusions about the nature of my craft, and I believe the same can said for my fellow band members.”

College Jazz

Members of the Clark Jazz Ensemble saxophone section get a picture with iconic saxophonist, Houston Person.

 

College Jazz

 

Jazz Ensemble Director, Rich Inouye, could not have been more proud of the band’s performance at the festival.  “Many times you work so hard for something like this and when you perform, little mistakes pop up here and there, but this year’s performance at the festival was pure perfection and I hope the Clark College community recognizes the work our band students put in to help Clark achieve this distinction.  People in the audience shared with me how surprised they were when they found out we were a two-year college!  It’s good that the Music Department can represent Clark academic distinction at the national level along with programs such as STEM, Speech and Debate, and Journalism.”

To learn more, visit www.clark.edu

 

 

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