etc. Jan. 28, 2010

Bank Left features 2 artists in February

Featured artists for February at Bank Left Gallery in Palouse will be Hungarian painter Ildiko Kalapacs from Spokane and mixed media artist Judy Parry Folk from Lewiston. Their exhibit will showcase art as a thought provoking narrative and a whimsical medium. The reception with the artists will be Feb. 6 from 1-5 with live music from 1 to 3:30.

The exhibit will run until Feb. 27.

PHS books run of student plays

Pullman High School will perform plays written and directed by students February 5, 6, 11, and 13 at the Pullman High School Theater. Matinees will be February 6 and 13. The house will open at 6:30 p.m. for evening shows and 1:30 p.m. for the matinees. Tickets are sold at the door.

Students in the PHS Theatre Arts and Drama will present two shows each night.

St. John Library sets mark in 2009

The St. John Branch set a new circulation record in 2009 by checking out 16,036 items. Public computers and Wifi also had among the highest usage in Whitman County. St. John continued its 10-year run as the branch with the highest total attendance for programs.

Second Monday Club will continue to celebrate holidays with Mardi Gras the theme for February. Students in grade 1 - 4 are invited to come to the library Feb. 8 after school for stories, crafts and snacks.

Three short reviews can be exchanged at the library for a free drink card at Maggie Lynn’s. Turn in 5 and receive a certificate good for a drink and a cookie. Entry forms can be picked up at the library.

Endicott library

Endicott library storytime meets Friday mornings at 10 am. Theme for February is hearts and colors. Mothers are welcome to attend to enjoy the crafts and stories. Endicott library hours are Tuesdays 1-6 p.m. and Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Clubs & Youth Groups

Rivers Edge 4H

The Colfax Rivers Edge 4H group met Jan. 15 at the home of leaders Brian and Jolene Jacobs. The group had a planning meeting for the year and is going to host a demonstration day at the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds Feb. 13. in the Community building starting at 9 a.m.

-reporter Gabe Ahmann

Athenaeum

Twenty- three members of Athenaeum celebrated the holidays with a luncheon at the Colfax United Methodist Church Dec. 4. The luncheon was prepared and served by the United Methodist Women.

The group welcomed new member Phyllis Kincaid. Entertainment was provided by Ruth Enos who reviewed the book Rudolph, Frosty, and Captain Kangaroo: The Musical Life of Hecky Krasnow - Producer of the World’s Most Beloved Children’s Songs, by Judy Gail Krasnow. Ruth took members down memory lane with a wonderful exhibit of old records, tapes, cassettes and CD’s plus the devices used to play them.

Additional entertainment was provided by Matthew Scholz, grandson of member Lois Scholz. A third year music student at University of Idaho, he wowed the group with his skill and technique playing Christmas and classical pieces on the piano. The group closed the day by singing several Christmas carols accompanied by Scholz.

The first Athenaeum meeting of 2010 was Jan. 15 at the home of Mary Ann Wigen. Members discussed the ways individuals could give help for the relief effort in Haiti.

Katie Schmick introduced Pat Zuger who gave a review of the book Cats and Dogs, Our Alter Egos by Nona Hengen. Pat gave a detailed biography of the author, a well-known area artist and writer. She also shared some of her favorite stories from the book.

Hostess Mary Ann Wigen served dessert.

Lois Scholz will be hostess for the Feb. 5 meeting.

Births

Becker grandson born

A boy, Joshua Keith was born on Jan. 15, 2010, at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, to Matthew and Jennifer Harris of Duvall. Maternal grandparents are Keith and Pam Becker, Colfax. Paternal grandparents are Steve and Beth Harris, Duvall. Maternal great-grandparents are Bill and Evelyn Closson and Norma Becker, Colfax. Paternal great-grandparents are Roy and Dalyce Harris, Bremerton and Derry Werge, Monroe. Weighing eight pounds, 12 ounces at birth, Josh joins brother Will, age 3.

On campus

MUSIC

WSU’s Jazz Big Band and VoJazz, a vocal jazz ensemble, will present a jazz concert Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. in Kimbrough Concert Hall. The band is currently under the direction of Dave Snider, jazz bass instructor, while Gregory Yasinitsky is on sabbatical leave.

WSU VoJazz, under the direction of Kathleen Hollingsworth, will perform selections by Miles Davis, The Real Group and an original gospel-influenced arrangement of “This Little Light of Mine,” arranged by Hollingsworth.

The concert is free to the public.

The WSU School of Music’s concert by mezzo-soprano Sheila K. Converse has been rescheduled for Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. in Bryan Hall Theatre. She will be accompanied by pianist Meg Kelley and by WSU’s faculty members Ruth Boden, cello, and Meredith Arksey, violin and viola.

This concert is free and open to the public, and will include folk songs arranged by Beethoven, Britten, Quilter and Copland.

WSU’s School of Music will present the 2010 Festival of Contemporary Art Music, featuring guest composer Robert Carl, Feb. 4-6 on the WSU campus. The festival’s culminating concert of original works by Carl will be performed by WSU music faculty and students at 8 p.m. Feb. 6 in Kimbrough Concert Hall. All festival concerts are free and open to the public.

Carl, 55, is professor of composition and theory and chair of the composition department in the Hartt School at the University of Hartford, Conn. His music has been widely published, recorded and performed in the U.S. and Europe.