Arts and Entertainment

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.

TONASKET – Nine brave writers stepped up to breathe life into words on paper before a crowd of about 30 people at the Community Cultural Center in Tonasket Feb. 15.

In addition to reading some of his own work, group member Curtiss Howard had emcee duties that evening.

The CCC also had a dinner attendees could purchase to support the building fund.

The readers, including Howard, his wife Suzanne Daily Howard, Karen McGuire, Margaret Lange, Dawna Nagye and Tom Keller, read poems, monologues and short stories, themes crossing oceans and jungles, summer and winter. Many of the pieces came back to life in the Okanogan Valley, from mountains to the elusive snow snake.

OROVILLE – The second of this year’s Java Live Coffee House Series of music, poetry and art was held last Saturday at the Oroville Public Library and featured the talents of Cheatgrass as well as Daisy Belle Nau, a classically trained vocalist.

Nau sang jazz and Broadway tunes accompanied on piano by her mother Roz. Cheatgrass is composed of Judy Elven, Ron Hyde and Steve Pollard. They presented traditional and original songs with a distinctive blend of folk, bluegrass and country. Poet Sundance also appeared at the event which was hosted by Sandy Vaughn and sponsored by Oroville Pharmacy, Oroville Family Medicine and ReMax Realty.

The Okanogan County Chapter of the Washington State Music Teachers Association (WSMTA) is thrilled to bring Dr. Jody Graves of EWU to our area on Friday, Nov. 2.

Dr. Graves holds a Doctorate Degree in Piano Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she was the recipient of the distinguished “Teacher of the Year” award for her excellence in teaching. Dr. Graves is especially interested in promoting concert art music, creating unique ways to foster a collaborative experience between artist and listener and she is dedicated to maintaining the life of music in our schools and culture. She is recognized for her creative ability to engage the audience during her concerts with anecdotes, historical perspectives and humor.