Arts and Entertainment

OROVILLE – The first annual Tumble Weed Film festival tumbles into Oroville this weekend, with showings of short films from around the world on Aug. 6 and 7.

  OROVILLE – Two Seattle filmmakers who specialize in short features have decidedto bring the first ever Tumble Weed Film Festival to Oroville this Aug. 6 and7.
    Calling their project “The Film Festival for Filmmakers byFilmmakers” Geoff Klein and Mo Fine say the biggest reason they are doing the Tumbleweedis because they love films and they want to introduce more people to shortfilms. Short films, unlike full-length features can be anywhere from 10 minutesto half an hour or so. Klein and Fine have been soliciting short films fromaround the world and have already gotten responses from the U.S., Spain, Italyand Germany, with more coming in to be previewed.

TONASKET – The Community Cultural Center will be premiering the documentary film “Back to the Garden, flower power comes full circle” tomorrow, Friday, March 13, at 7 p.m.

OROVILLE – Born in 1914, Wilbur “Web” Hallauer has seen nearly a century of changes come to the United States of America. As a boy, he lived on a nearly self-sufficient farm in upstate New York. In his pre-teens, his family relocated to Washington State and after high school graduation in Yakima Hallauer went on to graduate from the University of Washington in Seattle.

OROVILLE – Organizers of this year’s Rendezvous Rhythm and Blues Festival are happy with last weekend’s music event at Smith’s Point near Oroville.

“We had a big turnout, the largest turnout we’ve had in the years we’ve been doing it,” said Wes Edwards, who with wife Denise, are the lead organizers of the Rendezvous.

TONASKET – If the sights and sounds of roaring engines and ripping metal are your thing, the Tonasket Demolition Derby is the place to be this Sunday, Aug. 31.

OROVILLE – David Heck is known up and down the west coast as a respected mural artist, but this is the first time he’s plied his trade in the this neck of the woods, he says.

OROVILLE – “Touch of Grace” handbell choir from the Oroville Free Methodist Church will be presenting a free concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16 at the Oroville Free Methodist Church. The Oroville High School Girls’ Choir will also be performing several songs from their upcoming concert.

About four years ago a set of Belleplates from the Whitestone Church were borrowed for a Christmas service. Lynn Chapman, the director, had played in a handbell choir in Oregon and directed and was willing to direct a small handbell ensemble using the Belleplates. The women playing in the ensemble enjoyed playing so much, that the Belleplates were not returned for a year. They not only performed at the Oroville Free Methodist Church, but also at the Habitat for Humanity fall concert.

This exposure to handbell ringing was the beginning of “Touch of Grace.” A one octave set of Malmark Handbells, which includes 13 notes, was purchased on eBay and donated to the church the following year. Very few songs, however, can be played with only 13 tones, so donations were requested from the congregation of the Oroville Free Methodist Church for additional handbells.

OKANOGAN – North Okanogan Habitat for Humanity and their plans to build their next house in Okanogan benefited to the tune of more than $4000 from the wine, beer and coffee tasting event held there last Saturday evening.

“It was nice, it worked out very well,” said Ivetta Howell, one of the board members for the local Habitat for Humanity group.

In addition to the tastings, the event included both a silent and live auction. Ken Neal, veteran auctioneer of many a local benefit quickly got those in attendance to open their wallets wide.

“The generous contributions of all the merchants and individuals were fabulous,” she said.

Howell, who credits NOHH Secretary Lynn Champman with organizing the benefit, said there weren’t as many pre-sold tickets as she thought there would be. However, pre-event publicity packed the River’s Edge Center with people willing to put their $20 down for tickets at the door. The donation returned three drink tickets that could be used for tastings of wine, beer or coffee.

Oroville was well represented at the benefit with three wineries – Copper Mountain, Lake Crest and Okanogan Estate and Vineyards. Oroville’s well-known Alpine Brewing Company was also offering tastes of one of their fine pilsners. The Methow offered up the Lost River Winery from Mazama, Methow Valley Brewing Company in Twisp and coffee from Methow Valley Roasters in Carlton.

OMAK – A taste of Ireland will come to the North Okanogan just a week short of St. Patrick’s Day.

The traditional Irish folk band Craicmore will arrive at the Omak Performing Art’s Center for the third part of the OPAC Series March 9. The Haran Dancers, an Irish Dance group based in Kettle Falls, will join them on stage.