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Submitted by Olympia Youth Chorus

Olympia Youth Chorus presents “Bach to Rock” Saturday, May 18 at 4pm. The concert will bring to listeners a sampling of choral music from J.S. Bach and Hildegard von Bingen to Sister Act’s “Joyful, Joyful.”

Those attending will enjoy a mix of early Michael Jackson and more as the singers explore several decades of music, including classical, contemporary, and maybe even a few unexpected surprises!

This is a fun concert for all ages, so plan to join us and be entertained by some of the finest young talent (ages 5-18) Olympia has to offer.

The concert will be held at the Westwood Baptist Church located at 333 Kaiser Rd NW in Olympia on Saturday, May 18 beginning at 4 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and students.  Children 3 and under are admitted at no charge.  Tickets can be purchased by emailing Olympia Youth Chorus at olympiayouthchorus@gmail.com.

Event:  Sat, 05/18/2013 - 1:30pm - 4:00pm

Come hear leaders of Citizens for a Clean Harbor (CCH) from Aberdeen/Hoquiam discuss their opposition to 21 new oil tanks in the Port of Grays Harbor. You've heard about coal trains and oil pipelines, but this new oil trains plan also affects us locally.

The plan involves 50 oil tanker trains a month coming from North Dakota, on a route through the Columbia Gorge, Centralia, and along the Chehalis River to Hoquiam. The oil would be then shipped in huge Panamax oil supertankers in Grays Harbor and along our Pacific coastline.

The Ports of Grays Harbor and Olympia are colluding with the oil industry that has been waging war against climate stability. What can we do to stop them?

Join us at the Olympia Center (downtown at 222 Columbia St NW) on Saturday, May 18 at 1:30 pm for "Talking Crude," for this unique chance to hear from our neighbors, and discuss how to stop the oil trains! For questions contact Olympia Confronting the Climate Crisis at Bourtai31@gmail.com For background see Citizens for a Clean Harbor at www.cleanharbor.org/

Event Schedule:

1:30 Paul Pickett will talk about the climate crisis, and explain how burning more oil will add CO2 to the 400 ppm we already have in the atmosphere;
1:45 Zoltan Grossman will speak about fracking for oil in the Bakken shale, and explain how the Port of Olympia is colluding with big oil by downloading materials necessary for fracking;
2:00 PM Arnie Martin and Arthur (R.D.) Grunbaum will present their slide show about the proposed oil trains, storage tanks, and huge tankers in Grays Harbor;

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I used to crew on a big, black boat. A 42′ Sparkman & Stevens called the Oh My God (A.K.A. the GodBoat; the Oh My Godzilla; the Black Pearl and the Ship of the Damned). We terrorized the South Puget Sound Racing Circuit, with a rag-tag crew of social dropout, hairier than average men, and […]

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By Tom Rohrer

The need for speed on a motor vehicle can literally be a driving force for an individual.

From the early days of his youth to the present day, Olympia’s Joel Garlinghouse has been hooked on the adrenaline rush of going fast, whether riding his 50cc dirt-bike as a five-year-old, or racing quads in the pro class at the D and W Flat Track in Rainier.

“It’s in my blood, I just have it,” said the 25-year-old Olympia native and Capital High School graduate. “I could not ride a quad for two years, then hop on, and be able to ride it just as well as before.  It’s natural talent that’s in my blood.”

Olympia’s Joel Garlinghouse (far left on podium) poses for a picture after a third place finish in a Pro-Am Quad World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) race. Over the course of his racing career, Garlinghouse has competed against such riders as Sammy Halbert, a professional flat track motorcyclist, and Dillon Zimmerman a pro ATV rider on the WORCS tour.

After a few months since competing, Garlinghouse will have the opportunity to put his talent out on the track this weekend.  D and W Racing will begin its summer racing schedule on Saturday, May 18 at the Flat Track in Rainier.   An experienced motorcyclist and quad rider, Garlinghouse now races in the pro class of the quad division of the D and W races, and will also be traveling to areas somewhat close (Longview) and far away (Sioux Valley, South Dakota) later this summer.

As a youngster in the local dirt bike racing scene Garlinghouse excelled, winning the AMA District Championship every year between 1996 to 1999, along with tallying up the 1996 and 1997 Elma Indoor Championships and the 1999 Catawampus Caveman Series Championship.  He then took a hiatus from competitive racing before returning to race in the off road quad contests at Straddleline ORV Park in 2009.

For athletes in all sport, such a long period away from competition can lead to diminished skills and a lack of confidence.  This was not the case for Garlinghouse, as he was able to earn two third place finishes in 2009, earning a podium position in the Pro 6 hour team race (a 211-mile endurance ride that took six hours) and a Pro Am Quad WORCS race.  Garlinghouse’s high level of performance during his first year back is a testament to his skill and confidence on a vehicle.

“That confidence and courage as part of my mindset just helped me get back into it,” Garlinghouse said.  “Growing up racing as a kid, that prepared me for the competitive aspect and regardless if it’s on a quad or a motorcycle, I’m confident in my abilities.”

“I’ve seen Joel wheelie through an entire house, and honestly just do things so easily that others physically cannot do,” said friend Kyle Questi.  “He knows his motors, and it’s like he’s just connected to the throttle.  What he does easily on a quad or a bike would be the hardest thing some riders ever attempt.”

After racing in the physically grueling and demanding off-road contests at Straddleline, Garlinghouse decided to move to flat track racing in Rainier.  It is a transition he believes was necessary but still comes with its own challenges.

“I was breaking parts, bouncing off trees and rocks in the woods, was getting off the quad bleeding from blisters, so I decided to come back to where I started,” Garlinghouse said.  “But (flat track) is probably more expensive, in large part because I go through tires faster and I’m burning through them every two races.”

Expenses in all motorsports add up quickly, whether it’s for repairs, parts, race fees and transportation or other associated costs.  While Garlinghouse is sponsored through some local businesses, like South Sound Honda, Lew Rents West, and Pints and Quarts, his competitors usually have higher price vehicles and a payroll that allows them to compete more consistently throughout the year.

And yet Garlinghouse consistently finishes ahead of those very competitors, thanks to the motivation guided by his love of the sport.

“I have only pennies in my quad, and there are quads out there with $40,000 of top dollar equipment inside,” said Garlinghouse.  “Finishing ahead of these racers is amazing and really the best feeling there is.  I pay for everything from my own pocket and that’s the hardest challenge I face.  But what separates me (from other riders) is my background and just the love of the sport.”

Unlike many other competitors, Garlinghouse’s “support team” in the pit at races consists of only two individuals: fellow Capital High graduate Geoff Sheltstad and longtime friend and mentor George Prindville, a motorcycle rider in the 30-plus division.

“I’ve been friends with George my whole life, and he’s seen my love of racing ever since I was a youngster,” Garlinghouse said. “He’s someone I looked up to always and still do.”

He also noted that his parent’s love of motorsports helped instill his active lifestyle as a young age and that they still continue to support him.

“My dad’s friend Mike Harret built the motor that I race with and does the internal motor work for me.  They just always supported me growing up, and I’ve come to respect that even more as I’ve gotten older because I know how expensive it is,” Garlinghouse said.  “I just grew up around them and motors and that’s what I love to do still.  I really appreciate them because instead of being inside playing video games all day, I was outside building bicycle jumps and riding around.”

Last year, Garlinghouse took third and fourth place in the Rainier Cycle Bowl Pro and Prom Am Quad divisions respectively.  During a typical race weekend, Garlinghouse will participate in 5-lap qualifying heats, along with three other riders, in order to qualify for the final.  The final races feature twelve riders total, and are much longer, going for 20-25 laps.

In the heat of the moment, when he is inches away from his fast paced competition, is when Garlinghouse puts his talent on display.

“It’s crazy out there. We are a foot away from each other’s tires, inches away from bumpers,” Garlinghouse said of the experience on the dirt track. “If we touch we can go head over the bars. You have that fear of getting hurt, and that’s where I get the patience that helps me make moves to get ahead.”

The fear of losing has driven Garlinghouse to improve his mental and physical approach to racing. To keep up with the rigors of the sport, Garlinghouse runs and lifts weights, leaving him less susceptible to muscle fatigue that is common during races.  Equally important to his success is his focus during the chaos of a race.

“You have to react quickly, you have to think ahead, and you have to react to what the other racers are doing,” Garlinghouse said.  “I take my time because patience pays off but you still have to be aggressive.”

Later this summer, Garlinghouse is going to be putting his talents up against the best in the country, as he expects to travel to AMA ATV Nationals in Sioux Valley, South Dakota in mid-June.

“That’s going to be one of the biggest trips I’ve ever made and it’s exciting because there are riders from across the country, top flight riders,” Garlinghouse noted.

Along with competing in South Dakota, Garlinghouse will likely make a trek over to Spokane for a race, and is slated to compete in a flat track event on ice at Comcast Arena in Everett in December.  However, Garlinghouse’s focus remains on the Flat Track at Rainier, a place he has come to love for the excitement it provides him and the support offered by fans.

“It’s really like a family atmosphere, and the racers, fans, we all get along,” Garlinghouse said.  “You have the kids racing in the young divisions in the afternoon, and then they’ll come up and talk to you after.  And there are families of other racers who will come talk to you, offer you encouragement.  It’s fun to get that support and to be someone that kids look up to, especially because I was that same kid once.”

Though he has now lived a quarter century (while racing a majority of those 25 years) Garlinghouse is still driven by a child-like enthusiasm that will likely never leave him.

“I still compete because I love it too much, and if I didn’t, I wouldn’t still be racing because it’s too expensive, too time consuming,” Garlinghouse said.  “And in reality, that helps me compete, helps me go up against these other racers because I know I have to put everything I’ve got into winning.  I appreciate the opportunity to race, and it’s one I will never ever take for granted.”

For more information on D and W Racing at the Rainier Flat Track, click here.

To inquire about sponsorship for Joel Garlinghouse email garlinghouse02@gmail.com or call 360-789-9302.

 

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Submitted by Westport Winery

Westport Winery’s Fleur de Lis Festival is Sunday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This celebration of flowers is free to attend and open to all ages. The winery is known for its extensive iris plantings which bloom for this festival. In addition the winery’s nursery has brought in a wealth of exciting new iris plants for purchase at this event.

For the fourth year, the Westport Art Festival will host Art in the Vines during this event as a precursor to their annual summer art festival at the docks in Westport on August 17 and 18. This is your opportunity to discover the latest creations from some of the best known artists in the region.

At 11 a.m. to launch the festival Westport Winery will open their new lavender labyrinth and unveil the centerpiece sculpture by North River artist Sherryl Jackson-Butts. The sculpture titled “Love” is a female form holding a large purple heart in the air. The piece was created using over one mile of fencing wire.

The labyrinth was designed by winery co-owner Kim Roberts in collaboration with lavender grower Sarah Bader. Bader is the owner of Lavender at Stonegate in West Winn Oregon. She is the author of The Lavender Lover’s Handbook. Bader will be attending the unveiling and autographing her books (available at Westport Winery) throughout the day.

The winery has added lavender to its considerable fresh farm offerings with over fifteen varieties available in their nursery and grown as a crop. They have also included numerous lavender inspired products to their menu including a delightful lavender lemon drop and their famous lavender vanilla bean shortbread cookies.

The lovely and talented Ericka Corban will be performing throughout the festival. Ericka is known for her Autumnal Equinox CD recorded live at Westport Winery in addition to being a featured artist on Starbucks’ play list.

Montesano author Ruth Kivi will be autographing her book Dad Goes Home from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. McAshton’s Shave Ice will be on site and offering icy snacks for all ages. The winery will also be hosting Yappy Hour for people and their canine pals from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on this date as well as every Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Westport Winery and Vineyards By-the-Sea with the outdoor sculpture garden, grape maze, and bakery, is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road halfway between Aberdeen and Westport. Come see for yourself why Westport was named the 2011 Washington Winery to Watch by Wine Press Northwest, voted Best Wine Tour by King 5 Evening Magazineviewers, and Best Wine in Grays Harbor by The Daily World.

The winery, bakery, gift shop, nursery, and restaurant open daily at 11 a.m. with lunch offered daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Friday and Saturday dinner is served from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and dinner reservations are recommended by calling 360-648-2224.

 

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Submitted by City of Olympia

City of Olympia’s Parking & Business Improvement Area (PBIA) is offering matching grants of up to $3,500 each for the creation of new parklets in downtown Olympia. Businesses, non-profit associations, and community groups can submit parklet design concepts by 5:00 PM, May 31, 2013. All grant money provided by the PBIA is intended to help offset the initial cost associated with the supplies and materials needed for the construction of the parklets.

What are Parklets?

Parklets are parking spaces converted into “mini parks” providing space for people to sit, converse, and enjoy the city around them.

PBIA chair, Darren Mills, says “Downtown Olympia is in need of public gathering spaces and parklets not only provide a space for people to gather but widen our somewhat narrow sidewalks.” In 2012, The PBIA awarded similar matching grants to Darby’s Café and Jakes on 4th which resulted in the creation of the first two parklets in downtown Olympia. “People of all ages are taking advantage of the parklets as a place to see friends, hang out, and relax,” says Rob Cameron, owner of Jakes on 4th. Sara Reilly, owner of Darby’s Café, says, “We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to the parklet from customers and people just walking by.”

Mills said, “One of best outcomes of parklets is the partnerships that they create between the sponsoring business owner, the city, PBIA and the public. They also bring economic benefit to the city by encouraging people to come downtown and spend dollars in our locally owned businesses.”

To learn more about parklets and future downtown projects, please visit the Downtown Project page on the City of Olympia website. For additional information on parklet development and how to apply for a parklet in front of your establishment, please feel free to contact the City of Olympia Downtown Liaison, Brian Wilson, at 360.709.2790 or via email at bwilson1@ci.olympia.wa.us.

 

Front: Jesse Smith, back: DuWayne Andrews, Jr., Zack Wheeler,
Bobby Barnts. Photo by Michele Smith LewisWhat do you call eight men and women with impressive training and experience in musical theater, solo performance, and even opera, singing and dancing their hearts out for two-and-a-half hours? You call it rock and soul — a soul-stirring evening of some of the best of the music that defined an era.It’s Only Rock and Soul at Centerstage Theatre in Federal Way brings is an evening of favorite hits of the ’60s and ’70s that is well worth a drive. We drove up from Olympia and it was a late night for us, but if it had gone on for another hour that would have been just fine with me.All but two of the cast are Seattle and South Sound favorites. Those two, Trista Duval and Zack Wheeler are newcomers to the area with strong professional backgrounds in other parts of the country. Duval has performed professionally in Massachusetts, Florida and Texas. Wheeler has performed in film and on stage in New York. He even performed in benefits for Bill and Hillary Clinton and for Al Sharpton.DuWayne Andrews, Jr. was in Seattle Opera’s Porgy and Bess and has been seen at Tacoma Musical Playhouse in The Color Purple and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He sings and dances with power and energy. He’s mesmerizing on “War,” the powerful anti-war anthem written by Edwin Strong and first recorded by the Temptations.Stacie Calkins, queen of soul in the South Sound, starred in Dream Girls, The Color Purple, Tommy, and many of the Purple Phoenix Productions including The Lena Horne Songbook and Aretha at the Apollo. In this show she does a great medley of Aretha Franklin songs and a stunning rendition of “Stairway to Heaven” in duet with Jesse Smith.Bobby Barnts is making his Centerstage debut in It’s Only Rock and Soul. He’s an opera singer, having performed with both Seattle Opera and Tacoma Opera, but he proves in this performance that he can belt out rock and roll and tender ballads with the best of them. His amazing call-and-response duo with Wheeler on “Hello It’s Me” and “Desperado” leaves the audience breathless.Centerstage audiences know Smith from his lead role in Tommy and Ain’t Misbehavin’ and their previous summer rock extravaganza, I’m Into Something Good. His acting, his joyful smile, his energy and his smooth voice draw the audience in and make them feel like they’re a part of the songs.Ashanti Mangum’s previous outing at Centerstage was in Ain’t Misbehavin.’ In Seattle she’s performed at Intiman, the 5thAvenue and Seattle Opera. She is absolutely spellbinding in that great heart-tugger from Hair, “Easy to Be Hard” and in the haunting “Whiter Shade of Pale.”Meg McLynn. Photo by Michele Smith LewisMeg McLynn starred in Purple Phoenix Productions Patsy Cline tribute and Tommy and the English Panto Pinocchio. She does a knockout “Angel in the Morning” that segues into Janice Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart,” and her rendition of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” complete with psychedelic lighting is one of the highest of highlights in a show filled with highlights.Rather than doing the songs chronologically, they are grouped by theme and style, with a “chemical sequence” (recalling the ‘60s drug culture), boy-group and girl-group medleys, and songs of war and peace. The five-piece band led by David Duvall is outstanding as always, and Duvall’s arrangements are masterful, especially on some of the chemical sequence numbers and the Beatles medley and a rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” that’s unlike any I’ve ever heard.
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. through May 26, 3200 SW Dash Point Road,
http://www.centerstagetheatre.com/

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The Bettie Brigade is an all-female player-run flat track roller derby league serving the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community.   The league also includes a junior derby team.

Photos here are from their May 11, 2013 home meet.

To learn more about Bettie Brigade, click here.

Event:  Sat, 06/15/2013 - 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Waves Studio is proud to announce the return of Scott Huckabay for an evening of transcendental guitar alchemy.

Door open at 6pm. Show starts at 7pm

Tickets $15 Advance/ $0 Day of/ $10 Children under 15

Secure Online Ticket Purchase Click Here

For more Information: info@waves-studio.com or 360-705-9100

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Interested in running for local public office in the 2013 elections? The narrow window of opportunity is May 13-17. Check out your County Auditor websites for more details:

Thurston County

Mason County

Lewis County

Grays Harbor County

Pierce County

The graphic above comes from a minicomic I drew in 1999 entitled Write-in Morty the Dog for McCleary Mayor.

 

 

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By Leslie Merchant

Since the sun is back from vacation early this year, many Thurston County families are scrambling to find kid friendly things to do in the community.  The Lacey Spring Fun Fair at Saint Martin’s University is back for its 26th year and bigger than ever with loads of fun and free activities for everyone.

For two full days, the Lacey Spring Fun Fair offers plenty for South Puget Sound families to do.  This annual community celebration will begin on Saturday May 18 and continue on Sunday May 19,attracting approximately 16,000 people from around the region.

Get tips and highlights to enjoy the Lacey Spring Fun Fair.

Introduced last year in honor of the fair’s 25th anniversary, the Grand Parade has become an integral part of the weekend. The Grand Parade will begin on Saturday at 6 pm.

The Lacey Spring Fun Fair Grand Parade route will begin at Huntamer Park and wind its’ way in front of Saint Martin’s University.  Viewing is offered all along the parade route, but the best spot will be in front of Saint Martin’s where announcers will be commenting on all the happenings.

In a salute to educators, over 100 North Thurston Public School (NTPS) staff will march as the Grand Marshals of the parade.

Accompanying the NTPS staff will be a colorful assortment of clowns, princesses, dignitaries, floats, horses and bands.  Parade organizers are planning a super secret beginning to this year’s parade.  Our advice – parade-goers should plan to arrive early so as not to miss the excitement.

Catch the Lacey’s Shining Stars Talent Show, Sunday 1pm, where cash prizes compliments of O’Bee Credit Union will be awarded to the best (a.k.a. most entertaining!) performances.  Enjoy a variety of acts from music to dance and vote for your favorite.

Additionally, vendors from four states will offer a variety of yummy foods as well as arts and crafts.

The Lacey Sunrise Lions are offering another new and welcome feature this year.  They are bringing their health screening van to the Lacey Spring Fun Fair.  Check off a free vision, hearing, glaucoma, diabetes, and blood pressure screening off your list of things to do.

Children will delight in the special features offered just for them.  Giant inflatables, the Circus Train, and Kids World in the Pavilion are highlights for kids of all ages, and they are all free!  Local businesses and non-profit organizations will be providing games, craft projects and face painting for children.

The Lacey Spacey Celestial Family Fun Parade on Saturday at noon promises lots of laughs as community members and children dress in space or alien themed costume for the half-mile trek.  River Ridge High School students will be on hand to help transform parade-goers into space creatures with the help of some face paint.

Ruth Weigelt, chair of the Lacey Spring Fun Fair, advises fair attendees to “come early on Saturday if you want to brave the zip line!”  The wildly popular 300-foot zip line is returning for its second year.

Chair of the Lacey Spring Fun Fair for 21 years, Weigelt has watched it grow from a small community gathering into a beloved and highly anticipated event.  “People having fun and smiles on kids faces, you can really feel the sense of community,” she exclaims.  Ruth is also very excited about this year’s line-up of live entertainment.  Local school groups and bands, dance troupes and other popular performers will be on stage throughout the weekend to keep the crowds entertained.

While Saturday will be the busiest day for parade lovers, Sunday is the highlight for car fans.  They will get a chance to visit with cherished vehicles from around Southwest Washington during the Classic Car Show.

Getting to the Lacey Spring Fun Fair is easy.  Park at the South Sound Mall and hop aboard a free shuttle service on Saturday between 10:00 am – 5:15 pm.

Attendees are encouraged to use the shuttle on Saturday and Intercity Transit throughout the weekend as parking is limited at Saint Martin’s.

Lacey Spring Fun Fair

Saint Martin’s University

Saturday, May 18 – 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sunday, May 19 – 11:00 am – 5:00 pm

For more information on show times and events, visit the website at www.laceyspringfunfair.com.

Event:  Fri, 05/10/2013 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm

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Job Description:

The Olympia Downtown Ambassadors, a program of Capital Recovery Center, is hiring a Team Leader to assist in the day to day operations of the program. The position will start at 30 hours a week and will pay $13-$15/hour, based on experience and qualifications. This position reports to the Program Manager.

Applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, three professional references, and a 600 word essay describing your customer service and leadership philosophies and how you would apply them to this job, to the front desk at Capital Recovery Center (522 Franklin st se).

Duties and Responsibilities:
• Create an environment oriented to open communications, creative thinking, cohesive team effort and workplace trust.
• Lead by example (be a role model) – make your behavior consistent with your words
• Manage, train, and help the development of team members; help resolve any dysfunctional behavior
• Attempt to achieve team consensus and create win-win agreements wherever possible
• Lead problem solving and collaboration
• Keep discussions focused and ensure decisions lead toward closure
• Build and foster healthy group dynamics
• Assure that all team members have the required education and training to effectively participate on their assigned duties.
• Acknowledge and reward team and team member accomplishments, as well as exceptional performance
• Lead creativity, risk-taking, and continuous improvements in workflow
• Familiarize the team with the customer needs, specifications, techniques and tools to support task performance
• Provide all necessary information for the team to perform their duties
• Help keep the team focused and on track
• Serve as a focal point to communicate and resolve issues within the team, and with stakeholders
• Escalate issues which cannot be resolved by the team Google Plus One Facebook Like

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The musical Legally Blonde at Capital Playhouse is high-energy escapist entertainment with some great music, and delightful but fluffy humor.
Elle Woods (Bailey Boyd) is an airhead sorority sister in love with Warner Huntington III (Patrick Wigren), a Jack Kennedy wannabe student whose goal is to become a senator by the time he’s 30. Before leaving UCLA to go to Harvard Law School Warner dumps Elle because she’s not “serious” enough and would not be a proper mate for an up-and-coming lawyer/politician. Determined to win him back, with a little help from Delta Nu sister Kate (Erin Snodgrass), Elle applies for and is accepted into Harvard Law — highly unlikely but hey, this is a musical.
Bailey Boyd (center); from left: Megan Tudor, Jen Ropella, Erin Snodgrass, Kristin Burch, Alessa Daniel, Jesika Westbrook, Samantha Eagle – photo by Dennis Kurtz At Harvard Elle transforms herself into an exemplary student with the help of — again, highly unlikely but it’s a musical — a divorced hairdresser named Paulette (Stephanie Nace), an imaginary Greek chorus cheering squad from her old sorority, and a nerdy but nice law teaching assistant named Emmett Forrest (Pauls Macs). Emmett is a character we’ve seen in countless romantic comedies, the nice guy who falls in love with the heroine.
Elle wins a coveted internship and joins a team of attorney interns defending a famous fitness instructor, Brooke (Kristin Burch) accused of murder.
The set by Bruce Haasl and Matt Lawrence’s lighting are outstanding as usual, and the costumes by Kellen Dixie Krieg and Lauren Cook are fabulously outrageous — notably Elle’s red dresses (which I wish were pink) and her drum majorette outfit, some of the clothes worn by the punk/hip-hop boys in the ensemble, and everything worn by Paulette.
Boyd carries the show, but not alone. Petite and perky with long blonde curls and big black eyelashes, Boyd was a great choice for this role. She’s a firecracker of energy and charm with a winning smile, and she sings beautifully.
Bailey Boyd, Pauls Mac – photo by Dennis Kurtz If this were a serious show Nace’s Paulette would provide the comic relief. Maybe she’s the comedy in the comedy. I’ve seen her in many roles at Capital Playhouse, and she always throws herself wholeheartedly into every role she plays. She plays Paulette as gutsy and streetwise, but also vulnerable.
Warner is a stuffy and arrogant character who turns out pretty nice in the end, not the kind of character that allows for Wigren to display his considerable comedic skills, but he plays him nicely.
Macs, an actor/director from Seattle, makes his Capital Playhouse debut as good-guy Emmett. He sings well and acts the part convincingly and his physical appearance is ideal for the role.
Burch stands out in the ensemble throughout most of the first act and then truly explodes with energy in the rope-jumping song “Whipped Into Shape.” Like Boyd, she brings so much energy and expressiveness to the part that she’s practically exhausting.
Another supporting role that is perfectly cast is Gregory Conn as Professor Callahan. Olympians will remember him as the emcee for the last two Capital City Pride festivals. As an actor he is sure and confident and he has an amazingly controlled voice.
Other notable supporting roles are Christian Carvajal in a great wig as Ella’s father and in other roles. He doesn’t sing much, he doesn’t dance, but he’s fun to watch — especially for people who are used to seeing him in highly dramatic roles such as Claudius in Hamlet and the professor in Oleanna. Also Alayna Deatherage as Enid Hoopes the outspoken feminist-lesbian student.
I recently saw Legally Blonde at Tacoma Musical Playhouse, and while I don’t like to compare different theater’s productions of the same show, seeing this in the smaller, more intimate space of Capital Playhouse has both advantages and drawbacks. Seeing the actor’s expressions up close and personal is great, but the drawback is there’s not enough room for the big song-and-dance numbers. Smaller numbers like the afore-mentioned “Whipped Into Shape” with only three performers right in the audience members’ faces are exciting, but the larger ensemble numbers lack the sweep and grandeur of a large stage, which this particular musical calls for.
For a delightful evening of fun-filled entertainment you can’t go wrong with Legally Blonde.
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through May 26Where: Capital Playhouse: 612 Fourth Ave. E., OlympiaTickets: $28-39More information: 360-943-2744, capitalplayhouse.com

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By Tom Rohrer

Following his sophomore year at college, Kosta Psaltis wanted something to occupy his time other than a summertime job or internship.

The Claremont McKenna College (located outside of Los Angeles) student got his wish and will be undertaking a cross country bicycle journey through Bike and Build, a fundraising program for affordable housing.

Psaltis, and his team of around 25 other cyclists, will begin their journey in Providence, RI., on June 10.  The ride will conclude on August 18 in Seattle.

“I have heard people say that they wished they would have done something like this while they were in college,” said Psaltis, who graduated from North Thurston High School in 2011. “This is the time to go do something with a long duration. If you have a regular job you cannot ride across the country, so I wanted to capitalize on the situation.”

That’s not to say Psaltis won’t be working hard during the two month journey.  Along with riding distances approaching 100 miles a day, Psaltis and the Bike and Build Team will be stopping at communities along the way to complete repairs and construction to combat the housing crisis that is plaguing the country.

There will be around eight “work days” on the trip  The volunteers will use tools carried on a Bike and Build support van that follows the team.   Combating a major social issue is something that Psaltis is looking forward to participating in.

“At college, there is awareness of social issues such as welfare and medical care, but the housing crisis isn’t getting attention on the same level,” said the government and French dual major. “I love biking and it seemed like a worthy cause.  I’m thankful they accepted my application.”

An experienced cyclist who competed for RAD Racing Northwest before graduating from high school, Psaltis has participated in long distance rides such as Seattle to Portland (STP).  However, Psaltis knows the Bike and Build trip will test him physically and mentally.

“I’ve done nothing comparable, but it’s a challenge I’m looking forward to,” Psaltis said. “STP is an intense ride but this trip is like doing that for seventy consecutive days.”

Psaltis noted that while he has taken vacations to destinations across the country, he has never done so in a “road trip” setting.  Also appealing to him is the fact that the route will take the team through small town locations, rather than just stopping at large metropolitan areas.

“It’s exciting to see parts of the country that I haven’t been to and in some cases haven’t heard of,” Psaltis said. “Every day will be a new opportunity to see a part of what makes this country great.”

Along with the handiwork he will be providing with his Bike and Build Team, Psaltis will also be donating a portion of his fundraising efforts for the trip.  It’s required that Bike and Build participants raise $4500 for the trip, with a large portion going towards food and hospitality costs.

“Almost half of the funds will be for buying food, and just surviving the trip,” Psaltis said with a laugh.  “The rest is going to affordable housing organizations across the country.   I can raise more than the ($4500) amount, and every dollar over that amount goes to those organizations.”

Psaltis is encouraged by the response he has gotten from family and friends donating to his cause.

“I’ve talked to lots of people about the trip,” Psaltis said. “Everyone seems to think it’s an important cause and that obviously is a rewarding feeling.”

In an effort to quickly acclimate to the rigors of the trip, Psaltis estimates he is riding around 100 miles a week spread out across three rides.   The excitement for the trip likely provides the motivation for the training, as there is no fuel quite like that of anticipation and dedication.

“I know I don’t have many opportunities to do something like this, both for the adventure, and also the opportunity to help people across the country,” Psaltis noted. “I couldn’t imagine a better thing to be doing over the summer.”

For more information on Kosta Psaltis’s journey, and to donate towards the cause of affordable housing, visit his Bike and Build page.

For more information on Bike and Build, including a complete breakdown of the Providence-to-Seattle route, click here.

 

ThurstonTalk

 

A display fit for a museum sits in the corner of Kiley Gustafson’s office. It includes late 80’s Macintosh computer, a pennant from the 1st Women’s Capital City Marathon, and a screen-printing kit, purchased in 1984 for $40. Each item in the display was a key ingredient in the creation of Color Graphics.

Nuclear Power Plant Electrician to Small Screen-Printing Business Owner

“My dad, Fred Gustafson, was an electrician at the Satsop Nuclear Plant. Our family moved to the Pacific Northwest when he started working at Satsop, but the plant was shutting down and he decided to change careers. Someone asked him to create a jersey for a local sports team, so he purchased a screen-printing kit, made the jersey and enjoyed figuring out the process. He loves learning new things. Really, that was the beginning of Color Graphics,” said Kiley.

Starting with a retail store at the South Sound Mall called New Creations T-Shirts, Fred and my mom, Debbie Gustafson, started their foray into the apparel industry. At the same time, Fred through trial and error figured out the art of screen printing and refinedthe process until he was able to provide products with exceptional quality. Soon he had local contracts for Olympia sporting goods stores like Rainbow Sports and Tumwater Sports. After a while he decided to pursue a wholesale business, added services such as embroidery and signs, and the business grew.

Largest Wholesale Merchandise Showroom on the West Coast

Today, Color Graphics has the largest product showroom on the West Coast in the Mottman Industrial Park near South Puget Sound Community College. The company can put a logo on just about anything and their products and services include: apparel, awards, engraving, digital printing, embroidery, screen-printing and promotional products.

In June, Fred and Debbie Gustafson made the decision to retire, and their son Kiley, and his wife Voshte, agreed to move from Seattle to Olympia and buy the business.

“The transition is going great. The business continues to grow. We are full of creative energy, new ideas, and excitement as leaders of this team. We also have a wonderful staff that has embraced us,” said Voshte.

Fred and Debbie have been traveling a lot, but they are still available to discuss business matters. “They are always a phone call or text away. We have a lot of customers that have been with Color Graphics for years, so it really helps to be able to discuss accounts with my parents,” said Kiley.

The majority of their business is local, mostly apparel brand-wear. “We do a lot of corporate brand-wear, sports league jerseys, fan-wear, and trade show products. For example, if a business is going to a trade show they stop by and we help them determine what apparel to wear and what products to give away,” said Kiley. “If you can put a logo on it, then we probably carry that item, whether it is fan-wear, corporate apparel, rubber stamps, name tags. We take ideas and transform them into a way to market and showcase each business,” said Voshte.

Color Graphics does the majority of their printing in-house. “In-house production improves accuracy and quality, especially with screen-printing and embroidery,” said Voshte.

Customer service is another area that sets this business apart from a lot of the on-line retailers that have emerged over the past few years. “Our customer service is awesome. We hear that all the time from our customers. We’ve been a part of Thurston County for so long and we personally guarantee our products. The majority of our employees have been here for five plus years, some as long as 18 years,” said Kiley.

Color Graphics also employs two in-house graphic artists who enjoy working with clients to create exceptional design for every customer. “You can’t get this kind of service and attention on-line,” said Kiley.

“There are so many variables that go into your final product; it takes a lot of knowledge to make it happen with the highest quality.  That is why we have so many repeat customers. They tell other people that they had a great experience and received a great product,” said Voshte.

…and it’s about popcorn

“We have a theater style popcorn machine in the showroom filled with popcorn 365 days a year. Many of our customers come in on a weekly basis to grab some popcorn, say hello and visit. They check out new products and discuss ideas they have and how we can help them. We love getting a chance to know customers when they stop by,” said Voshte.

Kiley agrees, “Coming from Seattle we want to get to know people, build relationships, and have the chance to give back.”

Stop by Color Graphics if you are in the area, grab a bag of popcorn, and say hello to Kiley and Voshte.

Color Graphics

2540 Crites St SW

Tumwater, WA 98512

800.456.8288

www.colorgraphicswa.com

http://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10200758068694049 In March, I came out to Elliot’s 7th birthday to pie his parents.  He wasn’t interested in a pie for himself, but his friends lined up. For his 7th birthday, I pied 7 faces, I hit the 777th mark and passed it, reaching 782. One of the guests was a boy named Malakie who […]

ThurstonTalk

 

The Olympia Wooden Boat fair, a traditional community and family fun event, is held at Percival Landing Park in downtown Olympia. Hours of this FREE event are Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On display will be wooden boats of all sizes and types, new and old, power and sail, row boats, dinghies, kayaks, and canoes.

ThurstonTalk

 

Sometimes I write this post a day or two earlier and other times I wait for inspiration to strike on Sunday morning.  (Ok, really I just get behind and have to scramble to get this weekly summary done by my self-imposed deadline.)  Today I’m writing at 5:30 am while the rest of my house sleeps.  My six-year-old is intent on making me breakfast in bed.  I cringe at the thought of post-”lovely gift” kitchen clean-up but I am honoring this Mother’s Day tradition.  I’ll scurry back to bed, reading my book, when I hear her stirring as I’m sure many moms will also do today.  I am looking forward to a day, second only to my birthday, where I can be treated like a queen (and act like one too.)

Happy Mother’s Day, all.  May your breakfast in bed be tasty and free of spills.  (Mother’s Day articles can be found here.)

Shelton’s Skyline Drive-In Theater Fights To Stay Alive

I was fairly confident that this story would be well received but I was blown away by its popularity, especially in the social media realm.  Read more about the drive-in theater, located on Highway 101 just across the county line, and then grab a seat for the May 16 movie.

A Field Of Blue Flowers At Henderson And 18th Avenue In Southeast Olympia

This quick little post has gone wild this week.  Read about the special mix that the City of Olympia has concocted in the planter strip.

Bryan Hoddle Spreads Message Of Hope Across The Country

Bryan Hoddle is a Tenino teacher and U.S. Paralympic track coach.  But his most important accomplishment is helping injured soldiers.

ThurstonTalk aims to be your source for positive information and events happening in Olympia.  If you have a suggestion for a story, send us a note at submit@thurstontalk.com.  For more events and to learn what’s happening in Olympia and the surrounding area, click here.

from left: Joey Fechtel as Stumpy, Anna Richardson as Lexi and D. Nail as Latham. Photo courtesy Harlequin Productions

Harlequin Productions’ love affair with playwright Israel Horovitz continues with Gloucester Blue, billed as “a dark comedy of modern manners and menacing power tools.” It’s a story of class struggles, murder and sex.

Harlequin co-founder and managing artistic director Scot Whitney has wisely recognized that Horovitz is one of America’s most intriguing living playwrights. Fortunately for Olympians, the playwright has a daughter who lives here, and it was on the occasion of one of his visits a few years back that Whitney and Horovitz connected and teamed up to produce Sins of the Mother, which was followed by Six Hotels, Unexpected Tenderness, and My Old Lady (a film is now in the works starring Maggie Smith and Kevin Kline). What a string of powerful, provocative, often hilarious and always dramatic plays culminating, for now, with this surprise-filled tale.
Horovitz is a master at capturing the lifestyles and speech patterns of working stiffs — especially if they happen to live in the seaport town of Gloucester, Massachusetts, where many of his stories are set. He’s also a master at mixing outlandish comedy with gritty drama. Imagine an amalgamation of Tennessee Williams and Tom Stoppard.
Gloucester Blue takes place in an upstairs apartment in an old industrial building owned by Bradford Ellis IV, aka Bummy (Tom Dewey) and his wife, Lexi (Anna Richardson). Steve, also known as Stumpy (Joey Fechtel), has been contracted to paint the apartment, and he has hired Latham (D. Nail) to help him. As the play opens Stumpy and Latham are up on ladders scraping and spackling and sanding the walls to the tune of Aerosmith who is blasting away on a boom box. Stumpy hates the music and says he is more of an NPR type of guy, thus setting up a kind of class struggle between these two workmen that in interesting ways mirrors the class conflicts between them and their wealthy, high-society bosses, Lexi and Bummy.
Lexi is spoiled and sexy, and Bummy knows she’s having an affair. Bummy is equally spoiled. He says he knows how to read Greek and Latin but doesn’t know how to do anything —including, it would seem, how to confront his wife over her affair. He’s weak and easily manipulated.
standing: D. Nail as Latham, on floor: Tom Dewey as Bummy. Photo courtesy Harlequin ProductionsLatham seems contented in his working-class status. He is the most deeply layered character in the play. He has an amazing knowledge of everyone in town, their pasts and their relationships to one another. He is alternately sassy and gruff and menacing, has a mysterious past, and nobody is comfortable with him and nobody knows how to deal with him.
Sex happens and murder happens and there is one of the most horrendous and realistic fight scenes I’ve ever seen in live theater (kudos to fight director Robert Macdougall). That’s all I’m going to say about the plot except to say there are surprises that I never suspected.The quartet of actors is good. One of the four, Nail, is stupendous.
Dewey quickly had me feeling disdainful toward Bummy — good acting in a tough role to master because he is not a likeable or particularly engaging character. There were a few moments when I felt he was overdoing it. When Bummy falls to the floor in a melodramatic gesture I couldn’t tell if it was the character, the actor or the director (Scot Whitney) who was overreacting. But he certainly made it believable that his wife would betray him.
Richardson creates a believable, strong and sexy Lexi. I had no problem believing she would do the things she did. Fechtel embodies the character of Stumpy. And excuse the word play but Nail absolutely nails Latham. His performance is engrossing. He makes this most complex of characters simultaneously loveable, creepy and frightening.
Linda Whitney’s set is great. How they manage to scrape, spackle and paint the walls, knock over ladders without spilling paint all over the stage and each other, and almost complete the paint job during intermission is beyond comprehension. Perhaps I should have stayed to watch instead of stretching my legs in the lobby, but that would have messed with the magic of the stagecraft. And to think: they have to restore it to its original condition before each new performance.
This is a great play. But be warned: it is tough, gritty, violent and filled with harsh language. It is not for the squeamish.
WHEN: Thursdays through Saturdays, 8p.m., Sundays 2 p.m. through June 1WHERE: State Theater, 202 E. 4th Ave., OlympiaTICKETS: prices vary, call for detailsINFORMATION: 360-786-0151; http://www.harlequinproductions.org/