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PAGE 2 December 2010 Th e Entertainer

Clover Island Inn offers special holiday packages

The Mid-Columbia Mastersingersand Artistic Director Justin Raffacontinue their season of collaborationwith a big-band Christmas concertfeaturing the Columbia Basin JazzOrchestra.

They will present the Pacific North-west premiere of Nils Lindbergs AChristmas Cantata on Friday, Dec. 17,at 7 p.m. at Hanford High SchoolAuditorium in Richland, and on Satur-day, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. at ChiawanaHigh School Auditorium in Pasco.

A Christmas Cantata is a mix oftraditional English carols, Swedishfolksongs, classical harmonies and

jazz rhythms. It was written in 2002 bycontemporary Swedish composer andpianist Nils Lindberg for choir, big bandand two vocal soloists.

Lindberg, born in 1933 in Upsala,Sweden, has an extensive composingand recording rsum, with a style thatis greatly influenced by folk music and

jazz.

Season of collaborationsThis concert is part of the Mid-

Columbia Mastersingers season ofcollaboration with local and nationalartists. Partners on this concert includethe Columbia Basin Jazz Orchestraand its director Randy Hubbs, associ-

ate professor ofmusic at ColumbiaBasin College. Hubbsis the founder of theColumbia Basin JazzOrchestra, which isthe premier big bandof the Tri-Cities. TheMastersingers arealso pleased towelcome their twosoloists on thisproject, sopranoCarisa Simpson ofthe Tri-Cities andbaritone Jeremy Irlandof Walla Walla. Bothare professionalsingers with areaopera companies andserve as musiceducators in theircommunities.

Mid-ColumbiaMastersingers is thepremier choral en-semble of Southeast-ern Washington. Itsperformers seek totransform lives through the beauty andpower of choral singing. They are ledby Artistic Director Justin Raffa, who inhis third season with the choir contin-ues to build collaborations throughoutthe Tri-Cities performing arts commu-nity.

Much more to comeThe remaining concerts in the Mid-

Columbia Mastersingers seasoninclude a performance with saxophon-ist Barry Bergstrom on Feb. 4, 5, and6; and a guest artist residency withcomposer Paul Basler and painterGabriel Navar, showcasing concerts onApril 15, 16 and 17. The Mastersingersare also joining the Mid-Columbia

Mastersingers present a Big Band Christmas

Symphony for a presentation of RalphVaughan Williams A Sea Symphony on May 21.

Tickets for A Christmas Cantata areavailable at the door. The cost is $20general admission and $15 for seniorsand college students, K-12 s tudentsare always admitted free.

Contact Mid-ColumbiaMastersingers Operations ManagerMolly Holleran at (509) 460-1766 formore information or to inquire aboutdiscounted group rates. Be sure to visitwww.MidColumbiaMastersingers.org tosign up for e-mail concert announce-ments.

You can also find the Mastersingerson Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

The Columbia Basin Jazz Orchestra

Soloists: soprano Carisa Simpson of the Tri-Cities and baritone Jeremy Irland of Walla Walla

The CloverIsland Inn invitesyou to enjoy theholiday seasonon the river thisyear.

First, theannual lightedboat parade onthe ColumbiaRiver takes placeon Dec. 10 and11, andKennewicksonly waterfronthotel provides the best seat in town forthis unique parade.

As many as 20 lighted and deco-rated boats some with animateddisplays will slowly make their wayfrom the cable bridge to Richland andback. From the Clover Island Inn youcan almost reach out and touch themas you enjoy the reflected lights on theglassy waters of the Columbia River.

Reserve your package for either Dec.10 or Dec. 11 for this spectacularannual display. Just $139 for twoincludes a $50 dinner cerificate in theaward-winning Crows Nest restaurant,a room for two and a breakfast buffetthe next morning.

And dont wait to book for NewYears Eve. The safest way to ring inthe year 2011 with a little holidaycheer happens to also be the mostfestive and fun way. Toast the newyear with spectacular views of the riverand the cable bridge with the CloverIsland Inn Gala Ballroom New YearsEve Package.

The package includes an overnightstay for two, dinner, partying with livemusic by the band Colorblind, achampagne toast at midnight and afree breakfast buffet on the morning ofNew Years day. You can even requesta late checkout if you want to sleep in.

The Clover Island Inn is offering this

all-inclusivepackage for just$174 per couple.Its a great value,and we promise agreat party, saidClover Island InnGeneral ManagerMark Blotz.

Dont wait tomake yourreservations. Call(509) 586-0541and join yourfriends on New

Years Eve, Dec. 31, for the best partyin town.

The Clover Island Inn, viewed from the Columbia River

An entry in the Lighted Boat Parade.

December

2010This Months Features

Take a horse-drawn jingle-bell ride ....4The Nutcracker tradition continues ...4Celebrate in style at Marcus Whitman 4Artist Spotlight is on Dara Quinn .........5Rail museums Toy Train Christmas 5CBC celebrates the holidays...............7Yellow brick road leads to our area ...8First Night: A safe way to ring in 2011 . 8Flying high with Sundance Aviation .....9Meet the new skating instructors ........9Holiday wreaths honor the fallen ......1 0Grease to play Yakima, Wenatchee 11Oregon hosts winter activities ...........1 2Oregons Extreme sled-dog race ....12Visual arts: A wealth of exhibits ......... 13Travel: Adventures in Jackson Hole ..1 4Winters the time for wildlife viewing. 15Estrogen creams: a warning .............16A personal story of plastic surgery ....16Beware toxins in fragrances ..............17Give comfort gift a cookbook .......1 8New Years Eve with Randy Oxford ...19

Ag Hall of Fame seeks nominees ....19Movies: Thumbs up for Tangled ......2 0Gift books for gardeners on your list ..2 1Ski areas prepare for the season ......2 2Philly Robb mourns loss of Niehaus .2 3What Fred Astaire did for dancing ......2 4Eugene Ballet comes to Walla Walla 24

Calendar Of Events

21,000 copies distributed monthly withinthe Tri-Cities, as well as Prosser,Sunnyside, Toppenish, Connell, WallaWalla, Pendleton, Hermiston andUmatilla. The Entertainer gladly acceptsany article submissions or calendar/ event listings. Use of submitted materialis at the discretion of The Entertainer.Submitted materials will not be returned.The deadline to submit ads and articles

Contact Us At:

Distribution:

9228 W Clearwater Dr., Ste 101Kennewick, WA 99336Phone: (509) 783-9256Fax: (509) 737-9208Web Site:www.theentertainernewspaper.comE-Mail:[email protected]

Pick up The Entertainer at more than400 locations in the Tri-Cities, South-eastern Washington and NorthernOregon, including: the libraries inPasco, Kennewick and Richland,Legends Casino, Albertsons,Starbucks, Tesoro, Sun-Mart, Brulant

Espresso Bars, Exxon, Shell, 7-Eleven,Apollo Greek Restaurant, Nouveau DaySpa, Isla Bonita, Casa ChapalaExpress, Zips, Red Apple Market,Pasco Wal-Mart, Chicos Tacos,Country Gentleman, Sterlings,Brickhouse, Tony Romas, Teriyaki Grill,Lourdes Medical Center, AdventuresUnderground, The Roxy, Griggs, TheHampton Inn, TheShilo Inn and the Marriot Hotel.

All rights reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced withoutthe express written consent of TheEntertainer Newspaper.

Every MonthMovie Reviews.......................................20Sports ..................................................2 2Dancing .................................................24Horoscopes............................................25Crossword & Sudoku ........................ 25Com ics ...............................................2 5

Monthly Entertainment Planner ... 26-27

The Entertainer Staff:Publisher/Editor: Dennis CresswellGraphics/Production: Sally GreenSales: Deborah RossWebmaster: Bobby Walters


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Th e Entertainer Decem ber 2010 PAGE 3


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If you are looking for a memorablewinter experience, take an old-fashioned sleigh ride through thewoods at Red-Tail Canyon Farm. Wrapyourself in warm woolen blankets andtake a cozy ride behind one of theirbeautiful draft horse teams.

Your hosts will be Ross andMarianne Frank, who for 30 years haveowned and operated Red-Tail CanyonFarm, a working draft horse ranch justtwo miles outside the Bavarian villageof Leavenworth.

Ross will be your guide on this tripback in time as he picks up the lines.Directing the horses with his gentlevoice, he commands, Git up, Ike; Gitup Bud.

The sleigh slowly moves through thesnow-covered woods as you hear thebrass bells jingle and the boards on theold antique wooden sleigh creek. Snow

falls off the branches overhead,covering you in a blanket of white.

During the 40-minute ride, Ross willshare with you the history of the areaand the farm, interspersed with hisown farm humor. In fact, some folkscall him a cowboy comedian, and hedefinitely knows when he has a captiveaudience.

As you glide through the barn areayou can see the other draft horses andyou can sense Rosss special sourceof pride in these handsome animals ashe introduces you to each one.

In the winter he hooks his horses tothe beautiful handcrafted sleighs andtakes tourists on trips; in the summeryou will find him with his teamslogging and thinning his 120-acre treefarm. These gentle giants are his dailycompanions.

As the sleigh glides through snow-

Ever been over the meadow and through the woods?Heres your opportunity for a trip back in time at Leavenworths Red-Tail Canyon Farm

covered Red-TailCanyon and comesback around, you arelet off at a largecolorful tipi where youstep inside and standby a warm fire with acup of hot chocolateto chase away the

chill.The entire experi-ence from beginningto end will leave youwith lasting memo-ries. Red-Tail CanyonFarm offers a trulyunique experience.

Rides are availabledaily on a reservationbasis from 10 a.m. to4 p.m. Theyreaccessible to all ageswith stairs and handrails for loading.The cost of a ride is $16 for adults, $8for children 12 and under, and ages two

You get the authentic jingle-bells experience when youtake a horse-drawn sleigh ride at Red-Tail Canyon Farmnear the Bavarian village of Leavenworth.

One of the Tri-Cities oldest holidaytraditions starts in September, with morethan 160 children waiting anxiously fortheir chance to show a director what theycan do on stage. The anxiety may giveway to shrieks of joy when those lettersarrive with offers to be in The Mid-Columbia Ballets The Nutcracker .

This scenariohas beenplaying out for35 years. TheMid-ColumbiaBalletsproduction isseen by some5,000 people infour publicperformanceseach year. Its aholiday traditionfor many in theaudience as wellas those in thecast andbackstage. Overthe years, The Nutcracker has become multi-generational, with the children of formercast members now performing. Theirholidays wouldnt be complete withoutThe Nutcracker .

The Nutcracker has also become a riteof passage for area fifth-graders. Since1991, the Mid-Columbia Ballet, with the

cooperation of the local school districts,has presented The Nutcracker to morethan 52,000 area fifth-graders in twoschool performances. For some, it willbe the only ballet they will ever see.

After 35 years, The Nutcracker is stillfresh and new each year. This yearsproduction is the largest ever, with a cast

of 184 andnearly 300costumes 80 of which arebrand new. Butits not just abig cast andnew costumesthat make The Nutcracker new. The Mid-ColumbiaBallet pridesitself onchoreographingto the talents ofits dancers,and of coursethose talents

change each year.One of the things the Mid-Columbia

Ballet is proud of is its Nutcracker set,professionally designed and built in1997 at a cost of more than $68,000. Itwould not have been possible withoutthe generous support of the Mid-Columbia Ballets patrons. A project that

Mid-Columbia Ballets 35-year Nutcracker tradition continues

and under ride free.Call (800) 678-4512 for more infor-

mation or visit redtailcanyonfarm.com.

The Nutcracker

This year, treat yourself to unexpectedholiday pleasures at the Marcus WhitmanHotel and Conference Center.

The festivities begin with the JuniorClubs Festival of Little Trees, runningthrough Dec. 12. A variety of tiny trees,decorated by area organizations andbusinesses, will be up for silent bidding.These delightful little trees will beshowcased in the Grand Lobby of thehotel.

The Downtown Walla WallaFoundation will bring its annualgingerbread contest to the hotels lobby,and the entries will be on display therethrough Dec. 30. Both professional andamateur categories guarantee that you llsee some fun and creative entries.

The hotels 10th annual Festival ofCarols will kick off at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 7and run until 2 p.m. The event featureslocal school children singing their favoriteholiday carols, and its open free ofcharge to the public.

A very special menu will be offered inThe Marc Restaurant for both ChristmasEve and Christmas Day dinners. Forreservations or more information, call(509) 524-5110.

And finally, ring in 2011 at a New YearsEve party complete with a disc jockey,midnight champagne toast, hourly prizedrawings, party favors and more. TheDec. 31 celebration starts at 8 p.m., andyou can attend for a modest $25 covercharge. A New Years Eve menu will also

be featured in The Marc Restaurant.Located in the heart of beautifuldowntown Walla Walla, the MarcusWhitman Hotel and Conference Center iswithin walking distance of wine-tastingrooms, eclectic shops and art galleries. Itfirst opened in 1928 and was completelyrenovated and restored to its originalelegance before reopening in 2001.Guests will enjoy the rich dcor andcomfortable atmosphere, from the quaintGeorgian Room to the Grand Lobby. Withmore than 10,000 square feet of eventspace, the ballrooms and conferenceareas are among the largest and mosttechnologically advanced in EasternWashington.

Its not too late to schedule a holiday

party! Bring your group for a retreat,conference, meeting or celebration andtake advantage of the special grouppackages. Offering complete banquetand catering services, the hotel canaccommodate small, intimate gatheringsto large groups of 400.

Youll find a traditional, luxuriousatmosphere with genuine hospitality andexcellent service. As they say at theMarcus Whitman Exceptional guestexperiences for every guest!

For information and reservations, call(509) 525-2200 or (866) 826-9422.

Discover old-fashioned yuletidepleasures at the Marcus Whitman

the ballet company thought would taketwo years was completed in one. This setwas custom-built for Richland HighSchool Auditorium, and it fills the stagewith the magic of The Nutcracker .

Bringing all the elements together publicity, fundraising, ticket sales,memento sales, set construction,costuming takes literally hundreds ofvolunteers, including 100 backstagevolunteers for each performance. Again, itis a testament to the community support

enjoyed by this annual endeavor.Performances are Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.,

Dec. 11 at 2 and 7 p.m., and Dec. 12 at 2p.m. All performances are at the RichlandHigh School auditorium.

Prices are $22 for adults, $17 forseniors and students, and $12 forchildren 12 and under. Tickets can bepurchased online atwww.MidColumbiaBallet.org, at Tri-CitiesAcademy of Ballet and Music, or by phoneat (509) 946-5417.


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The Dara Quinn Project has playedtheir eclectic mix of music allaround the area for years. But if youhavent heard them yet, youll want toattend their CD release party on Friday,Dec. 10, from 8 to midnight at the RoxyWine Bar in downtown Kennewick especially if youre into jazz, funk,Latin, fusion or world music. Or or all ofthe above. Those are the influencesthat Dara Quinn brings to her keyboardplaying.

A native Northwesterner, Dara spentmore than 10 years aggressivelytouring the West Coast from a base inSeattle. After two years touring with asteel drum ensemble that was heavyon world rhythms, she formed RockinTeenage Combo with Seattleites PaulKemmish on upright and electric bassand Oliver Klomp on drums. This hard

jazz fusion trio had quite a buzz on theWest Coast and aggressively toured

venues from San Diego to Bellinghamand as far East as Bozeman, Mont.Rockin Teenage Combo also

became a Seattle favorite and playedvenues such as Jazz Alley, the Experi-ence Music Project, Bumbershoot,

Hempfest and more.Daras keyboard playing hascrossed many genres. The uniqueflavor of her improvisations andrhythmic tendencies has earned herthe honor of jamming with such greats

as Les Claypool (Primus), StantonMoore (Galactic), Jessica Lurie (LivingDaylights), Reggie Watts and count-less other fantastic musicians.

She started The Dara Quinn Projectabout four years ago, and the current

lineup has been together for twoyears. They include:

Andy Evens, a Tri-Cities native andKennewick High graduate. He playssaxophone with a huge pedalboard ofeffects, and is not your conventionalsax player. He played for years in theColumbia Basin Jazz Orchestra.

Justin Chapman, a Richland Highgrad and WSU alumnus. He playselectric bass, and was formerly with apopular Pullman band called DeadCasuals. He was also in two other Tri-Cities bands with Evens FutonTorpedo and Mancala.

Luther Hughes, a transplant fromSpokane. He plays drums and has hadyears of R&B and bluesexperience. He played with a Spokanegroup called Charlie Butts and theFiltertips before coming to the Tri-Cities for a job at Hanford.

The new CD, a year in the making,is called This Way That Way. Althoughits the Dara Quinn Projects debut CD,its the fourth CD featuring Dara. (Theothers were with Rockin TeenageCombo.)

The $8 cover charge to attend theDec. 10 release party includes a copyof the CD.

To book the group, e-mail Dara [email protected]. To learnmore about the Dara Quinn Project,visit www.daraquinnproject.com.

Popular local bandcelebrates releaseof their debut CD

Remember Christmas morningswhen the first thing you saw under thetree was a model train making a circle?

You can relive those days with yourkids at the annual Toy Train Christmascelebration at the historic NorthernPacific Railroad Museum in Toppenish.

The event will take place from 10a.m. to 4 p.m. on three consecutive

Saturdays Dec. 4, Dec. 11 and Dec.18 and from 10 to 4 p.m. on three

Sundays, Dec. 5, Dec. 12 and Dec. 19.The museum is at 10 Asotin Ave.

The cost is $6 for adults and $4 forchildren 12 and under. Admissionincludes a tour of the restored railroaddepot, which was first opened in 1908by the Northern Pacific. In all rooms ofthe depot will be operating modeltrains and decorated Christmas trees.

The model trains range from N andO gauge to garden size. Some

layouts have multiple trains and othersonly one. All are different and some arevery old, while others are more mod-ern. All of the Christmas trees will haveuniquely different decorations.

Hot chocolate and cookies will beserved, and the highlight of the event isa caboose ride to the North Polewhere Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet

you. Pictures with Santa and Mrs.Claus are available for an additional

charge. While traveling in the caboose,you will get a great view of the rail yardwith all the old railroad cars on display.

To reach the museum, take exit 50off I-82 to Toppenish, turn left onAsotin Avenue (just before you crossthe railroad tracks), and proceed untilyou see the NP Depot on the right.

For more information, visitwww.nprymuseum.org.

Model trains kick off the season at Toppenish rail museum

DARA QUINN PROJECT


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By Bill McKay

In December, the Arts and Humani-ties Division at Columbia BasinCollege has a number of concertofferings that are sure to warm you up.

On Dec. 2, the popular jazz nighthosted by the Department of Musicand featuring the Columbia Basin JazzEnsemble and the vocal jazz ensembleFreeForm will beon stage in theCBC Theatre on thePasco campusbeginning at7:30 p.m.

This concert isfree to the publicand always show-cases someamazing talent. Theperformers in thesetwo ensembles areprimarily ourdeclared musicmajors. Many ofthese young artistshave gone on to be highly respectedperformers across the United Statesand some, after having left the Tri-Cities to further their education, havereturned to the Tri-Cities to work in theaward-winning music departments ofour local K-12 school system.

The Columbia Basin Concert Band,under the direction of Randy Hubbs,will be performing a holiday concert atthe Manor at Canyon Lakes on Dec. 7at 7 p.m. This event is also open to thepublic and is free of charge. This groupis very active in taking music out to ourlocal community. They can be heardperforming during the MusicDepartments quarterly concerts aswell as at various retirement homes

throughout the summer. The Columbia

Basin Concert Band believes in takingmusic out to our community as a giftof the arts.

On Dec. 17 at Hanford High Schooland Dec. 18 at Chiawana High School,the Columbia Basin Jazz Orchestraand the Mid-Columbia Mastersingerswill collaborate to perform a wonderfulwork by Nils Lindberg entitled A

ChristmasCantata. This isa uniquecollaborationbecause themulti-movementpiece combinesa traditionalchamber choirwith a jazzensemble.

The idea ofthe collabora-tion was thebrainchild ofJustin Raffa, theartistic director

of the Mid-Columbia Mastersingers. Hepresented this idea over the summer toRandy Hubbs, the director of theColumbia Basin Jazz Orchestra, andthe concert was born.

The piece features the vocal work ofsoprano Carissa Simpson and baritoneJeremy Irland. Also featured will be anumber of instrumentalists from theJazz Orchestra. Both concerts beginat 7 pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and$15 for seniors and college students.K-12 students are admitted free ofcharge. Tickets will be available at thedoor the evening of the concert.

All of the concerts are festivalseating. If you have questions,contact Molly Holleran, the Mid-

Columbia Mastersingers manager, at

CBC invites you in out of the cold this December

Bill McKay is the Dean of Arts and Humanities at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.

CHRISTMAS CONCERTManor at Canyon LakesTuesday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.

A CHRISTMAS CANTATADec. 17, Hanford High, 7 p.m.Dec. 18, Chiawana, 7 p.m.

FIRST NIGHT TRI-CITIESDec. 31 (www.firstnighttc.org)

[email protected] by phone at (509) 460-1766. Groupsof 10 or more may purchase advanceblocks of tickets for $10 per person.

Finally, stay tuned for further informa-tion on First Night Tri-Cities. CBC willagain host this alcohol-free and family-

oriented community New Years event.Information on First Night Tri-Cities canbe found at www.firstnighttc.org.

IN BRIEFCentral Church celebrates Christmas family-style

Central United Protestant Church in Richland is hosting this years only Tri-Cities presentation of Handels Messiah under the direction of Justin Raffa. Theconcert is Friday, Dec. 3, at 7 p.m. at Central Church, 1124 Stevens. Tickets areavailable at the church office and are $7 for adults. Admission is free for anyoneunder 18. Contact Debbie at (509) 943-1143. Also, dont miss the churchsAdvent Family Fun Night on Dec. 10. Arrive at 6:30 p.m. to see Oochee theClown in a hilarious, touching and interactive Christmas presentation. Then stayfor crafts, games, snacks, crazy Christmas photos and decoration of a ginger-bread house in the Fellowship Hall. Contact Julie at [email protected].

Alternative Gift Fair helps support local charitiesGive a gift that reflects the true spirit of the holidays and help raise needed

funds for nonprofit organizations at this years Alternative Gift Fair. Itll be held onDec. 4 at the Community Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasco from noon to 4p.m. When you make a gift to your selected charity, you may purchase aholiday card by a local artist and have it personalized on site by a talentedcalligrapher, telling the recipient about the gift made in his or her name. All giftsare tax-deductible. For a list of participating charitable organizations, visitwww.communityuu.org. Therell be live music, crafts for all ages and a bakesale. The church is on Sylvester, just east of Highway 395.

Lighted Boat Parade an annual holiday traditionThis years Christmas Lighted Boat Parade sponsored by the Clover Island

Yacht Club will be held Friday and Saturday, Dec. 10 and 11. About 20 boats willparticipate, decorated with lighted and animated displays. The parade will beginat 6 p.m. at the cable bridge and proceed along Columbia Park to Howard AmonPark in Richland. On the return trip it will end at Clover Island at about 9 p.m.You may view the parade from the many parks along the river, but the best viewsare from Columbia Park, Howard Amon Park and Columbia Point. For more

information, contact parade chairman Mark Showalter at (509) 737-1166.


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The greatest family musical of alltime, The Wizard of Oz , istouching down in the Tri-Cities asVenuWorks, the Toyota Center andJam Theatricals bring this nationaltreasure to the Windermere Theatre inToyota Center on Jan. 9 at 7 p.m.

Tickets for The Wizard of Oz are onsale now, and prices start at only $32.Tickets are available at the ToyotaCenter ticket office, online atwww.ticketmaster.com, at allTicketmaster outlets or by calling (800)745-3000. A special $5 discount isavailable for children 12 and under bycalling (509) 737-3722. Discounts arealso available for subscribers andgroups of 20 or more.

This magicalproduction,based on theRoyalShakespeareCompanyscelebration ofthe 1939 MGMmovie, ispresented withbreathtakingspecial effectsthat will sweepaudiences away,starting from themoment thetornado twistsits way intoKansas. Twelve children from the Tri-City area will be performing the roles ofmunchkins, singing timeless clas-

Wizard of Oz travels over the rainbow to Tri-CitiesTickets now on sale for this magical musical

sics such asDing Dong, theWitch is Dead.

Director NigelWest, choreog-rapher LeighConstantine andset and costumedesigner TimMcQuillen-Wright utilizethe glamour andelegance of artdeco Hollywoodas the visuallystunning back-drop for The Wizard of Oz.

Dorothy, Toto and their friends theCowardly Lion, the Tin Man andScarecrow are transported Over the

Rainbow to adventures in MunchkinLand, the Haunted Forest and theEmerald City.

Featuring the classic songs com-posed by Harold Arlen Over theRainbow, Ding Dong, the Witch isDead and If I Only Had A Brain along with the beloved characters, The Wizard of Oz will have your entirefamily captivated as you travel downthe yellow brick road for an unforget-table evening at the theater.

The Wizard of Oz is presented byJam Theatricals(www.jamtheatricals.com), VenuWorksand the Toyota Center as part of theBroadway and More series at theToyota Center, and its sponsored byKVEW-TV and the Tri-City Herald.

For more information, visit:www.wizardofozontour.com.

Stunningly colorful sets form the backdrops for this production of The Wizard of Oz .

First Night Tri-Cities is an alcohol-free, family-oriented celebration thatoffers an opportunity to enjoy a safe,fun-filled New Years Eve. With the artsas a backdrop and the community as astage, First Night Tri-Cities lifts thehuman spirit and celebrates all that isgood and right in the world as we usherin the new year.

The celebration will again be held onthe Columbia Basin College campus inPasco. Nowhere else in the Tri-Citiescan you celebrate New Years Eve withyour entire family no matter what theages enjoying a variety of visual andperforming arts. Best of all, its afford-able and accessible to all.

The headlining performers areChristina and Ali. Sisters Christina, 13,and Ali, 20, of Idaho Falls were featured

on NBCs Americas Got Talent earlierthis year and finished in the Top 10.

Both sisters have cystic fibrosis andwere told they wouldnt be able tosing, but they have long since provedtheir critics wrong and have not let thedisease hold them back. The sisterswill perform two shows in the CBCgymnasium.

A low-cost general-admission buttonfor family members ages 5 and over isall it takes to get into all venues on thecampus. You can hear live music of allkinds, get a kick out of a hypnotist,have your children participate in KidsZone activities, find lively venues forteenagers, enjoy exciting main-stageacts and then gather for the excite-ment of a spectacular fireworksdisplay to celebrate a year ending anda year beginning.

First Night Tri-Cities provides a safe,

family-friendly environment for yourNew Years Eve. Its also a place and

a time for renewing old friendships andmeeting new friends. First Night Tri-Cities is a very special event thatshows why the Tri-Cities is a greatplace to live, work and play.

Want to have VIP access to FirstNight Tri-Cites? Purchase a Friends ofFirst Night booster button! Its just $50and allows you reserved parking at theevent, reserved seating in selectvenues, access to the hospitality roomand admission to every venue at theNew Years Eve event.

The Friends booster button is agreat way to show your support andhelp ensure that this popular annualevent will continue into 2012 andbeyond.

To purchase your Friends of FirstNight collector button, contact Roy

Garcia or visit the button page online atwww.FirstNightTC.org.

First Night Tri-Cities the family-friendly place to celebrate New Years

Sisters Christina and Ali will headline at this years First Night Tri-Cities.


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Th e Entertainer December 2010 PAGE 9

Like anyone who does anything really well,figure skaters we see on TV make it look easy.Even as we hold our breath during that triple Axel,we may imagine ourselves spinning on the ice tothe applause of an admiring audience.

Ever since Norwegian Sonia Henie thrilled thecrowds in three consecutive Winter Olympics and10 figure-skating world championships more thanthree-quarters of a century ago, children the worldover have dreamed of being figure skaters. Butthere are no frozen ponds here as there are inNorway, and for most Tri-Cities kids it has been anelusive dream. The necessary facilities andinstruction were out of reach.

That is, until now.

Today we have year-round practice ice at ToyotaArena in Kennewick, and world-class skatinginstructors Craig and Jenny Bond have begunoffering a range of instruction for beginners toexperienced skaters.

Craig and Jenny have been national and worldchampions, and although they started life onopposite sides of the Atlantic Craig in WallaWalla and Jenny in her native Southampton,England they met as featured performers inHoliday on Ice and were married in 1982. Theysettled in Rochester, N.Y., and for three decadestheyve been coaching beginners, gold medalistsand NFL hockey players.

Jenny was just a toddler when she startedskating, and was competing by the age of 7.Intensive daily practice paid off in 1970 when shewon both the British Junior Championship and theSouthern Regionals. She was selected as analternate for the European World Championshipsand the Olympics, and represented the UnitedKingdom in many international competitions. Shewon the bronze medal at the World ProfessionalChampionships before turning professional toskate with Holiday on Ice.

Craig grew up in Walla Walla and startedskating at the YWCA Ice Chalet. He begantraveling to Seattle at every opportunity to receivethe special coaching he would need to make acareer of performing on ice. He won medals andawards in solo free skating, pair skating and icedance competitions.

Craig moved to Phoenix at the age of 18 andreceived more coaching that led to five nationalchampionships and many national and interna-tional competitions and exhibitions. In the spring of1979, he and a partner won the World ProfessionalChampionships in Spain.

Toyota Arena is a year-round skating facilityadjacent to Toyota Center in Kennewick. Itsavailable for public skating as well as birthdayparties, private lessons and hockey tournaments.And whether you want to learn to skate for fun orfor competition, Craig and Jenny Bond are nowoffering a full range of lessons.

For the learn-to-skate program, call (509) 737-3721. For Toyota Arena public skating times andother information, visit www.yourtoyotaarena.comor call (509) 737-3718.

Meet the new ice-skatinginstructors at Toyota Arena

If youre familiar with the term fixedbase operator, or FBO, youreprobably either a pilot or havealways wanted to be one. In eithercase, youll enjoy the services ofSundance Aviation in Richland.

An FBO is a provider of essentialservices to general aviation aircraft andpilots. Those aircraft and pilots may be

based at the same airport or justvisiting. They could be stopping in forfuel or a mechanical check-up.

Clif Dyer and Sue Kelly-Dyer,owners of Sundance Aviation, havebeen providing those services andmore at the Richland Airport since2006, but theyve been in the businessof serving Tri-Cities pilots since 1979,previously at the Kennewick Airport.

Clif is a certified flight instructor andaircraft mechanic, and Sundance offersthe full range of services that a goodFBO should offer. That includes aircraftrentals, flight instruction, parts, full-service maintenance, tie-down space,

a courtesycar, jet fueland avgas(short foraviationgasoline), anda place to justrelax, file aflight plan or

get a cup ofcoffee beforetaking to theskies.

TheRichlandAirport isowned by the Port of Benton, and Suesays port director Scott Keller andairport manager John Haakenson havebeen wonderful to deal with. The porthas been very supportive, she said.Theyre glad to have a full-service FBOin Richland.

Perhaps the port staff realizes thatany small airport these days is

fortunate tohave a goodFBO. In theTri-Cities,only Richlandand themuch-largerTri-CitiesRegionalAirportprovide a fullrange ofservices togeneral (non-airline)

aviation. The Kennewick Airport nolonger does.

Learning to flyIf youve always wanted to learn to

fly but you think its outside yourcomfort zoneor youre worried aboutthe expenseor you started lessonsonce but its been too many years

stop worrying! Sundance Aviation isuser-friendly, and all pilots, formerpilots or wannabe pilots are friends toClif and Sue.

Were working with one guy whohadnt flown for 25 years, Sue said.

And as for the expense, SundanceAviation offers a membership discountprogram that makes it very affordable to

train in one of their Cessna 152s (two-seater) or 172s (four-seater).If you have your own airplane, you

can rent one of about 100 tie-downsand have ready access to all therequired maintenance. Self-serve avgasis available 24 hours a day.

So, if you dream of learning to flyand youre ready to find out more aboutit, call Sundance Aviation at (509) 946-2515 and talk to Clif or Sue. Theyll putyou at ease.

And it wont be long before youexperience that wonderful, exhilaratingfeeling when you touch down from yourfirst solo flight.

Sundance Aviation offers a great way to get high

The Dyers, Clif and Sue, of Sundance Aviation


10/28


By Deborah Kawaguchi

More than 15 years ago, Mainebusinessman Morrill Worcestermade a boyhood dream areality when he used an excess ofwreaths from his company after theholiday season to pay tribute to theveterans who have made the ultimatesacrifice for their country. MaineSenator Olympia Snowe assisted, andthe wreaths were laid on headstones inArlington National Cemetery.

From that simple ceremony, thou-sands of requests have poured in,causing the project to spread across thecountry. Originally called the ArlingtonWreath Project, it has now expanded tobecome the non-profit Wreaths AcrossAmerica campaign(www.wreathsacrossamerica.org). Itincludes state and national veteranscemeteries, veterans monuments andlocal communitycemeteries; intotal, more than500 locations.

The wreath-laying is now heldannually on thesecond Saturdayof December.Many volunteersfrom manyorganizations andthose in thetrucking industry make this possibleeach year.

When Morrill and Karen Worcesterdecided to take this project nationwide,the challenge was accepted by the CivilAir Patrol, the official civilian auxiliary ofthe United States Air Force. TheNational Commander, Maj. Gen. AmyS. Courter, wants CAP to be on thefront lines to honor veterans and

comfort their families, since the USAFAuxiliary wholeheartedly supports

WreathsAcrossAmericasmission toRememberthe fallen;honor thosewho serve;teach ourchildren thevalue offreedom.

Tri-Cities takes part

This year, the Richland Tri-CitiesComposite Squadron of the USAFAuxiliary Civil Air Patrol will participatefor the first time.

Orders to support the mission ofWreaths Across America can be madethrough this website http:// dcriggs.homestead.com/ Wreaths082Tri-CitiesSq.html.

Each $15 wreath is made fromcarefully managed and sustainablyharvested Maine balsam. Since theWorcester Wreath Company managesits own 4,000-acre forest, it is able toharvest, hand-prepare and ship within24 hours for the freshest qualityproduct. The Tri-Cities CompositeSquadron receives a $5 honorarium

from each wreath purchased.Officers and cadets from the squad-ron will take part in the EasternWashington ceremony in the TahomaCemetery in Yakima on Saturday, Dec.11, at 9 a.m. The public is invited tonot only buy a wreath to pay tribute toour veterans and their families, but toattend and even participate in theceremony as well.

In the future, the Tri-Cities Compos-ite Squadron hopes to establish aceremony in the Tri-Cities.

Arlington to Eastern Washington: Wreaths Across AmericaFirst created the week before the

bombing of Pearl Harbor in December1941, the USAF Auxiliary: Civil AirPatrol was congressionally charteredin 1948, after serving during World WarII. It is a federally supported, non-profitcorporation of more than 65,000volunteer officers and cadets nation-wide who donate their time and

resources to train for disaster relief,emergency services, cadet programs,aerospace education, and mostrecently in homeland security tosupport their communities and servetheir nation.

Freedom is never more than one generationaway from extinction. We didnt pass it toour children in the bloodstream. It must befought for, protected, and handed on for themto do the same, or one day we will spend oursunset years telling our children and ourchildrens children what it was once like inthe United States where men were free. President Ronald Reagan

Major Deborah Salter Kawaguchi is Commander of the Tri-Cities Compos- ite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.You may contact her for more information at (509) 967-2639.

By Micki Perry

This month, 3 Rivers Folklife Society will host a special holiday con-cert, two sing-alongs and our ad hoc coffeehouse. There will be no contradance in December. For more information about 3 Rivers Folklife events,directions and links to performer websites, check our web site atwww.3rfs.org or call (509) 528-2215.

Two songalongs on Dec. 3 and 11The First Friday Folkie Free-for-all will be held on Friday, Dec. 3, at

7:30 p.m. at 1011 South Dawes Street in Kennewick. This gathering ofmusicians and singers has a song circle format with participants takingturns choosing songs to sing from a variety of genres. Call (509) 783-9937for directions. The Second Saturday Sea Song Singalong, to be Dec. 11at Richlands Round Table Pizza, actually has more of a free-for-allformat. Singing usually begins around 7 p.m.. Holiday songs and carolswill be appropriate at both gatherings this month.

Concert: A Celebration in Music Dec. 4A Dec. 4 concert will feature Seattles foremost nautical music duo of

William Pint and Felica Dale and the transatlantic world music team ofTania Opland and Mike Freeman. They have titled their joint concertWinters Return: A Celebration in Music and it will begin at 7:30 p.m. atthe Community Unitarian Universalist Church, 2819 West Sylvester inPasco. Tickets are available in advance for $11 ($9 for seniors andstudents) at Bookworm stores and Octopus Garden. They will be $1more at the door.

William Pint and Felicia Dale specialize in music of the sea, fromcontemporary songs to traditional shanties. They put their own spin ontraditional music with exotic instrumentation and great vocal harmonies.Visit them on the web at www.pintndale.com. Tania Opland and MikeFreeman play music with an international scope, with tunes from Russia,Uzbekistan and Central Asia as well America and the British Isles. Theirwebsite is www.opland-freeman.com and the link for the Winters Returnconcert series is www.opland-freeman.com/wintersreturn.

Laddie Ray Melvin featured at CoffeehouseSpokane singer/songwriter Laddie Ray Melvin will be the featured

performer at the 3 Rivers Coffeehouse on Friday, Dec. 10, at All SaintsEpiscopal Church, 1322 Kimball Ave., in Richland. The coffeehousebegins at 7:30 p.m. with an open-mic session. Potential performersshould arrive early to sign up for a performance slot. Suggested donationat the door is $8, or $6 for seniors and students.

Laddie Ray Melvin is a songwriter who carefully crafts his lyrics andsurrounds them with music from the American folk t radition with roots incountry, blues folk and folk-rock. He has recorded three solo albumsincluding his 2009 release A City Glows in the Distance, a collection ofstory songs. His website is www.laddieraymelvin.com.

THREE RIVERS FOLKLIFE SOCIETY

CELEBRATES THE HOLIDAY SEASON


11/28


The one that you want is back, andits coming to Yakima! Grease isrockin and rollin across the country ina production direct from Broadway.

If you liked the 1970s movie, the

Broadway production of Grease at theCapitol Theatre on Jan. 4, 5 and 6 willhave you singing and hand-jiving thenight away. It features songs from thehit motion picture for the first time onstage, including Sandy, HopelesslyDevoted to You, Grease, and Yourethe One That I Want, as well thesongs from the original stage produc-tion Summer Nights, GreasedLightnin and We Go Together.

After spending a hopelessly devotedsummer with Sandy Dumbrowski(played by Alyssa Herrera), DannyZuko (played by Matt Nolan) is throwna curve when Sandy appears as a newstudent at Rydell High. Danny is atough guy and the leader of the localhigh schools bad-boys club known as

the T-Birds. Being in love with sweetand pure Sandy doesnt quite jive withthe image he wants.

Not to give up, sweet Sandy createsa plan to capture the boy of her

dreams. And of course, in this 1950s-era teen romance, she does just that.The story is the classic boy meets/

loses/regains girl theme, plus a littleclass conflict, a rumble where no onegets hurt, and of course a drive-inmake-out scene. If those themes wereout of date in the 1970s, theyrepositively ancient today but thatswhat makes this show so much fun.

The production also features EddieMekka as DJ Vince Fontaine. He isbest remembered as Carmine Ragusaon TVs Laverne & Shirley.

For tickets, visit capitoltheatre.org orticketswest.com, or call (509) 853-ARTS or (800) 330-ARTS.

Be cool, Daddy-O, and order yourtickets now.

Rydell Highs new class is comingThe T-Birds club members with the car Greased Lightnin

IN BRIEFFort Walla Walla Museum activities continue

Join with Fort Walla Walla Museum Dec. 9 in a salute to the museumsvolunteers. Bring your favorite dish and meet at Golden West Estates on JadeSt., just past the state drivers license office off of Rose St. Social time beginsat 12:30. Call the museum at (509) 525-7703 to participate. Also remember themuseum has extended its season through December 23 and is featuring aspecial exhibit, An Olde-Fashioned Christmas , featuring enlargements from theMuseums extensive Christmas card collection, sleigh, toys and more. Also,The Landscapes of Leslie Williams Cain art exhibit will be in the new EntryHall. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. For nformation visitwww.fortwallawallamuseum.org.

Author Hamann to headline multicultural event

On Jan. 14, the WSU Multicultural Club will hold its fourth annual CommunityConversation and Jazz event at 7 p.m. at the Three Rivers Convention Center.There will be a panel discussion about civil rights, followed by dinner and jazz.The special guest panelist is Jack Hamann, author of On American Soil: How Justice Became a Casualty of WWII , about the wrongful conviction of African-American solders during the war. Senior scientist Novella Bridges of PNNL andphilosophy professor Joshua Wretzel will complete the panel. There will also besome world-class jazz music by Larry Fuller of the Pizzarelli Orchestra in NewYork along with his quartet. His guest vocalist will be former Miss Texas ShilahPhillips. There is no charge for the event, which includes dinner for the first 400people (doors open at 6 p.m..) Dress is evening cocktail attire.

Clint Black plays Wenatchee Town Toyota CenterCountry star Clint Black will play his hit songs and some Christmas favorites

in a Dec. 18 concert at Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee. Black is a prolificsongwriter, and has chalked up more than 30 singles on the Billboard countrycharts, of which 21 have reached No. 1. He has released nine studio albumsand several compilation albums. He has earned many music awards includingthe Academy of Country Musics Album of the Year Award for Killin Time andSingle of the Year for A Better Man. He was raised in Katy, Texas, where helearned to play multiple instruments, began writing music and formed a bandwith his brothers before going solo. He is one of the few country artists whorecord primarily their own material. Other upcoming events at Town ToyotaCenter include the musical Grease on Jan. 16 and the Harlem Globetrotters onFeb. 16. Tickets for all events can be purchased online attowntoyotacenter.com, by phone at (866) 973-9611 or at the Town ToyotaCenter box office at 1300 Walla Walla Ave. in Wenatchee.


12/28


Have you ever been to Joseph,Oregon? If you have, chances areyouve enjoyed walking the stonesidewalks of Main Street, admiringmagnificent bronze statues and themajestic Wallowa Mountains.

Have you thought about visitingduring the winter? If you havent, itswell worth the trip! Whether youre

seeking adventure or a relaxinggetaway, the charming town of Josephhas what youre looking for.

Josephs 7th Annual Winterfest, tobe held Jan. 11-15, will be a week fullof fun and entertainment for everyone.A snow sculpture contest starts off theweeks events. The Taste of WallowaCounty is held on Thursday, showcas-ing specialties from local breweries,bars, and restaurants. Friday eveninghosts the action-packed Loomix TubRaces and other thrilling events. Andthis is the second year for the WallowaCounty Rail Jam, in which youngpeople get the chance to show off theirski or snowboard talents using variousramps, jumps and rails.

Think you can run with the best?You could also try racing up and down

Main Street in your Skivvies asonlookers cheer you on in the PolarBear Run! Then warm up with a hottoddy in the Stubborn Mule with theAdult Winter Games.

The fun isnt over yet! On Saturday,theres an all-you-can-eat breakfast tostart your day off right. However, youmight want to save some room for later

to sample the recipes at the ChiliContest.The snowmobile Poker Run sets off

from the local snow park, Salt CreekSummit. With a $2,200 purse, this isan event youll want to take part in. Forthose without snowmobiles, there is aPoker Walk in town along with aScavenger Hunt through local busi-nesses. There are great prizes forthese events as well. Saturday eveningthere is an all-you-can-eat steak feedand beer till 8 p.m. After the liveauction and raffles, you can dance thenight away to a live band beginning at9 p.m.

This is a great time to travel toJoseph to enjoy Winterfest and seewhat everyone is talking about.

In addition to Winterfest, Joseph will

Events showcase Wallowa Countys winter wonderland

Joseph, Oregon and the Wallowa mountains beckon winter travelers.

The Eagle Cap Extreme is anonprofit organization that provides aquality, environmentally consciousamateur sporting event for mushersand their teams. Its a unique familyactivity for Northeast Oregon.

The Eagle Cap Extreme is in its7th year of running sled dog races.The 2010 sled dog race event offereda 100-mile, eight-dog team race aswell as a 200-mile, twelve-dog team

races.The event boasted more than 60

paid members, more than 100 volun-teers and 75 sponsors. Thirteenmushers with their handlers and teamsparticipated.

This Jan 5-8, the Eagle Cap Ex-treme will run the same two races asin 2010, using the same schedule ofevents. Oregon Public Broadcastingcovered the race two years ago, andyou can view the coverage via a link onthe Eagle Cap website atwww.eaglecapextreme.com.

host the Oregon State SnowmobileAssociations annual convention fromJan. 18 to 22. For more informationabout Winterfest and the local area,

visit snowmobilewallowacounty.com, josephoregon.com andwallowacountychamber.com.

race, which is the official qualifier forboth the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest

Musher John Barron in 2008

EAGLE CAP EXTREMESLED-DOG RACING

One recent musher sheepishlyadmitted that he fell off his sledmore than once while gawking atthe breathtaking beauty of theWallowa Whitman National Forest.Racers who have run the Iditarodhave told volunteers this race hassome of the toughest terrain theyhave ever run and predicted it willbecome the premier race of thelower 48 in a few years. Themajority of the mushers also havecommented on the kindness of thelocals and volunteers.


13/28


The traveling exhibit of the American

Watercolor Society continues throughDec. 19 at Allied Arts Gallery inRichland. Approximately 40 paintingsfrom the societys international juriedshow in New York are on display.

The American Watercolor Society isthe foremost society of its kind in thecountry, and Richland is the onlyNorthwest stop on this years 12-month tour of its prize works..

The paintings cover a wide range ofsubjects and styles landscapes,seascapes, nature, city life andportraits, with styles running from

almost photographic realism all the

way to abstraction.At the same time as the watercolorshow, Allied Arts will have its annualGallery Aglow celebration, offeringoriginal artwork by regional artists justin time for holiday gift purchases.There is no admission charge for thesetwo events.

The gallery will be open from 10 a.m.to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday,from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays,and on Sundays from now throughDec. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. For informa-tion, visit www.alliedartsrichland.org.

Dont miss watercolor exhibit at Allied Arts

Cyber Art 509 is an online artistsco-op, but you can see the work ofits talented members up close andpersonal as well as online.

The 509 in the groups name repre-sents the area code of the Tri-Citiesand surrounding area that is home tothe 23 members of Cyber Art 509.

We are a spin-off of 509Art, whichpromotes the arts but is not intoexhibiting, said Pat Fleming, whomanages the groups website,cyberart509.com. We display ourmembers art on the website and wealso do call outs for art from ourmembers to exhibit at local busi-nesses.

Pat said the co-op is always lookingfor new members who would like to

exhibit not only online but also at localbusinesses. Member artists havebenefited from contacts theyve made

through the website that have led tosales of their artwork or commissionsfor new works.

Businesses also benefitCyber Art 509 welcomes local

businesses to partner with them byoffering display space in their stores orfacilities.

We are a win-win situation for coffeehouses, wineries and other localbusinesses because we hang our art intheir places at no expense to them,Pat said. And we will rotate theartwork every 60 days.

Cyber Art 509 gives artists outlets for exhibitingPat said business owners have the

right to accept or reject any individualpiece and are not liable for any acci-dental damage to the artwork.

Viewers of the works who want tobuy them can deal directly with theartists, whose contact information isprovided.

Cyber Art 509 is now exhibiting atthe Mountain Springs Wellness Center,Cheese Louise and Edward Jones inRichland, and at Cool Beans CoffeeShop in Kennewick.

The works range from paintings andphotography to jewelry, pottery andsculptural objects.

We are at the point now that we arelooking for advertisers for a brochurewe want to distribute to businessesabout the co-op, Pat said. The adspace is being sold for $25. Wed loveto have some art patronage. The Tri-Cities needs more exhibition places forlocal artists work because theressome really good art being producedhere and limited venues.

Artists who are interested in becom-ing members for just $12 per year, aswell as businesses interested in havingworks of art exhibited in their shops forfree, will find contact information on thecyberart509.com website.

Cheese Louise in the Richland Parkway exhibit works by Cyber Art 509 members.

Three generations of an artisticallytalented Tri-Cities family will beshowing their artwork this month atT&L Office Supply, downtown at 203W. Kennewick Ave. in Kennewick.

Family matriarch Salle Ostergaardwill show her original watercolorpaintings. I come from a long line of

artists, Salle said. My mother wasa fine artist and singer and mygrandfather was a pen-and-inkdrawer and pianist, so at least fivegenerations of artists are in ourfamily!

Daughter LuAnn Ostergaard is awell-known local artist whose forte iscolorful and sophisticated abstractphotographic mixed media work. Ithink the artistic genes have defi-nitely been passed down through ourfamily, LuAnn said. You may seemore of her work online atwww.LuAnnOstergaard.com.

LuAnns son, Joseph Rastovich,has two large public sculpturesunder his belt, and hes creatingsmaller-scale pieces of Celticdesigns for sale through galleries.He is also a gifted musician andcomposer, playing piano and Fla-menco and classical guitar.

Growing up, I was immersed in allaspects of the art world, Josephsaid. We had every manner ofbrush, paint, paper and clay in ourhouse and I was welcome to dabblein all of it.

Josephs art can be seen atwww.Rastovichart.com.

Also included in the show at T&Lis LuAnns husband, MichaelRastovich. I also come from a longline of creative people in my family,Michael said. So our son Josephwas destined to be an artist!

Michaels art career has variedfrom creating a public sculpture atthe Tri-Cities Business and VisitorCenter in Kennewick to winning thetop award for his design of aPortland Rose Parade float. Hecreates colorful animations on LEDsign boards around town for localbusinesses and events. You cansee his animated design work atDoTown.net, a community calendarsite he created.

A reception and opening will beheld Dec. 2 from 2 to 8 p.m. duringdowntown Kennewicks FirstThursday Art Walk. For informationcall (509) 586-8586.

A THREE-GENERATION ART SHOW

The Ostergaard-Rastovich family and their works, from left: LuAnn, Joseph,

Michael and Salle.


14/28


By Steve Bergsman Creators Syndicate

The snow stopped falling, but thetemperature gauge barely moved,holding steady at about 20degrees. There was no wind, anddespite wearing nothing more than abathing suit, I was very comfortable. Ahot tub happily gurgling away in afrozen landscape does wonders for apersons psyche, especially when it ison a mountaintop ledge that looksacross the Snake River Valley and tothe Grand Tetons. I was luxuriating in asplendid mountain resort outside ofJackson Hole, Wyo., called Amangani.

My game plan was to start at theAmangani and end up at the FourSeasons. Amangani has a fabulouslocation and the resort runs shuttles toJackson Hole and, for skiers, to TetonVillage.

Four Seasons is also well-sited atthe base of the Teton Village gondola.At the end of the day, enjoy apres-skirefreshments while watching the last ofthe skiers heading downhill.

Any other year I would have skieduntil my knees collapsed, but not thistrip. I was fully tuned into the lazy

mans outdoor experience. I startedwith a stroll through the idiosyncraticshops that sell winter gear for extreme

activities suchas ice-climbing,gewgawsmade from elkantlers andbonze statuesof buckingbroncos. Ididnt buyanything, but Icounted mywalk as equal

to a 10-milehike throughthebackcountry.

After all thatstrolling about, it was time for a hottub and a swim. Amangani alsobelieves in the outdoors, as the lappool was next to the hot tub on theoutdoor veranda.

The Four Seasons hot tub and lappool wasnt so picturesquely placedbut was ornately and handsomelydesigned on a series of elevations.What I liked about the Four Seasonsoutdoor water area was that theattendants would put my towel andbathrobe in a warming closet.

Besides the indulgences, however,my wife and I also found a number of

outdooractivities thatactuallyinvolved wildlifeand theenvironment.One morningwe took a kindof wildlife safariinto theenvironssurrounding thecity of Jackson(nee JacksonHole).

Promptly at7:30 a.m., withthe tempera-

ture at a chilly minus18 degrees, abiologist with the Teton ScienceSchools Wilderness Expeditions unittook us out to show us what kind ofwildlife was in the area. Our first stopwas the National Elk Refuge, 25,000acres on the northern border of thecity. Since time immemorial, tens ofthousands of the regions elk havemigrated to this valley floor to avoid thedeep mountain snows.

Our objective was to find a smallgroup of bighorn sheep that madethemselves at home along a lengthybutte in the middle of the refuge. The

foggy morning made it difficult to spotthem, but Taylor persistently kept usfocused through binoculars until itseemed we could almost touch them.We then stopped along the side of thehighway to see a small herd ofpronghorns that were making a rareappearance so far north in the winter.

The Jackson Hole Visitors Centersells tickets for a horse-drawn sleighride through the refuge. Not only is thisa lot of fun, but sleigh drivers take theirpassengers directly into the herds ofelk. They are so expert at this maneu-ver that the elk, normally very skittish,allow the sleighs filled with picture-taking tourists to mingle among them.

Since the National Elk Refuge isopen to the wide world of wildlife, it isalso visited by other animals, mostlypredators. Wolves, for example, havebeen spotted on the refuge. During myvisit, we saw a number of coyotes.

None of these outdoor activitiesrequire specialized hiking gear sincevisitors are mostly inside a vehicle, norare special skills required beyonddressing warmly. When my safariswere over, I journeyed back to the FourSeasons, warmed my cold feet before

a roaring fire and ordered sushi.For Jackson Hole information, visitwww.jacksonholechamber.com.

Jackson Hole holiday provides luxury, adventure

Sleigh-riding visitors have a close encounter with a herd of elk at the National Elk Refugeoutside Jackson Hole, Wyoming.


15/28


Agetaway to Northeast Oregon isa short drive with plenty ofwinter entertainment. Fromskiing to wildlife viewing, snowmobilingto theatre, travelers can find an afford-able respite from the city hubbub.

Ski areas, both alpine and Nordic,are plentiful in Eastern Oregon, andmost are near snowmobile access.After a day in the snow, visitors canfind fine dining, entertainment, andcozy motels.

Anthony Lakes, long favored byskiers for dry powder and high eleva-tion, is now under the ownership oflocal citizens after nearly half a centuryof private management, and is man-aged by Baker County. With loweredticket prices and the promise of bigsnows, Anthony Lakes is planning topower up lifts in the next few weeks. Itboasts 21 alpine runs, a new triplechair, 37 kilometers of Nordic trails,

and Sno-Cat adventures.Anthony Lakes is 20 miles fromInterstate 84 between Baker City andLa Grande. With a base of 7,100 feet,skiers are treated to exceptionalscenery, great snow and short lift lines.For group rates, contact Trish Brintonvia e-mail to [email protected] call (541) 856-3277.

In Union County, local Nordic skiershop on I-84 and head for MeachamDivide Nordic Area, 15 miles west of LaGrande. Managed by the Blue Moun-

tain Nordic Club, the free ski areagrooms 25 miles of trails throughoutthe winter. Maps and trail conditionsare available at www.onc.org.

Back-to-basics Nordic adventurists those looking for pristine snow sansgrooming can find it at Mt. Emily

Recreation Area, just two miles northof downtown La Grande. The year-round recreation area hosts summerhikers, mountain bikers, and horse-back riders, while snow buffs lookforward to tackling untracked snow.

Although privately owned for yearsby timber companies, Mt. Emily wasaccessed freely for generations. Themountain, so beloved by locals, wasput on the block in 2008, and UnionCounty bought the iconic mountain.

Mt. Emilys peak is close to 6,100

feet, so its sure to see some goodsnow this winter. For information andtrail maps go to www.union-county.org.

Wildlife viewingGetting close to wildlife doesnt

necessarily mean skis. T&T WildlifeTours, operated just outside of NorthPowder, takes visitors in a horse-drawnwagon through snowy fields into arobust herd of Rocky Mountain elk.

Winter elk-feeding programs werelaunched in the 1970s to ease thewinter stress on the animals and topreserve ranchers crops, fences, andhay intended for livestock.

Things have changed a lot over thepast 20 years, says Susan Triplett,one of the Ts in T&T. When we firstbegan the tours, the elk were pretty

suspicious of human interaction, andlittle things, like rewinding a camera,would send them running.

Now, with 20 years of acclimationand a breakfast of alfalfa hay, thecritters have become accustomed tovisitors. Once finished dining, the elkstay in the viewing area, sparring witheach other and generally showing offtheir magnificent antlers, Triplett says.

We have animals here that wewatched grow up, eluding hunters yearafter year and coming back to the siteas if they are anxious to see the returnof the horses, wagons with feed, andeven the people, says Alice Trindle,T&Ts other T.

T&T Wildlife Tours begins operatingon Dec. 11 and will run weekends toursthrough the end of February, withspecial holiday tours on Dec. 26 andJan. 2. For information, visitwww.tnthorsemanship.com/wildlifetours

or call the Union County Chamber ofCommmerce at (800) 848-9969.Self-guided winter wildlife watching

can be found at Ladd Marsh, a 3,200-acre wildlife preservation area near LaGrande. It attracts winter birds, elk,deer, foxes, and other wildlife.

For more information about EasternOregon winter activities, dining,lodging, and Ski & Stay packages,contact the Union County Chamber ofCommerce at (800) 848-9969 orwww.unioncountychamber.org.

Wintertime getaways in Oregon offer affordableadventure, skiing, wildlife tours and much more

Skiers take advantage of short lift lines at Ski Anthony Lakes near Interstate 84.


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PAGE 16 December 2010 Th e Enter ta iner

By Colette Nelson

After having four babies within fiveshort years, my stomach was stretchedout and hung very low. My breasts werelong, heavy and shapeless. I absolutelyhated what I looked like. My body wasalways hidden under layers of clothing.Every night I went to bed with such anincredible sense of grief for letting mybody get to the point of no return. Silently,I cried myself to sleep.

On the outside, people saw avivacious and outgoing personality. No

one ever saw the insecurities anddespair I felt deep inside my heart.Finally, as my youngest entered schoolfull-time, it was time to do something formyself.

After much encouragement from myobstetrician, I finally made the decision tosee a plastic surgeon, and I was referredto Dr. Aysel Sanderson. On the day ofmy appointment I sat in my car afraidand nervous. I was contemplatingwhether or not I should cancel myappointment.

As it turned out, I had nothing to benervous about. The genuine warmth andcaring from Dr. Sanderson and her staffmade me feel comfortable andunashamed. Dr. Sanderson listenedintently to me for over an hour. She told

me she could help me feel better aboutmy body.

My first surgery was a tummy tuck. Irecovered beautifully, and three monthslater I had a breast reduction. The twosurgeries were life-changingexperiences. My stomach was tight andflat and my breasts went from a G to abeautiful C. She transformed my worn-out, unattractive body into a thing ofbeauty! My soul came alive!

The final phase of my surgical plan body contouring with liposuction tookplace in August 2008. Now that Imthinner and shapelier, my energy seemsendless. I exercise regularly and do yoga.What is even more astounding is thetransformation in my self-confidence.

Surgery is not the answer for everyone,but it changed my life from the inside out.I have also realized why Dr. Sanderson isso special. She is a warm, caring, skilledplastic surgeon with true integrity. Shelistens to her patients. She has the gift ofartistry and a desire for perfection.

Wanting to make a difference insomeone elses life, I am now proud tobe a part of Dr. Sandersons team thathelped me find renewed purpose andself-worth.

How plastic surgery changed my life

The author was a patient and is now an employee of Dr. Aysel Sanderson.

Dr. David Lipschitz Creators Syndicate

Americans are obsessed withyouth. Adults will do virtuallyanything to look, feel and actyoung. We want perfectly shapedbodies with smooth, wrinkle-free skin

no bulges, no double chins, flatbellies and perfectly lean legs (what-ever that means).

Plastic surgery and skin-smoothinginjections have exploded into amultibillion-dollar industry. Many post-

menopausal women have looked tohormone replacement as a good routefor retaining that youthful look. Unfortu-nately, for these women seeking thefountain of youth, estrogen creamsmay have some unusual side effects.

As more and more evidence links thetablet forms of hormone replacementtherapy to increased risk of breastcancer, heart disease and stroke,physicians are turning to patches andcreams to treat the symptoms ofmenopause. In the last four years,there has been a six-fold increase inthe use of creams containing estro-gens. And this number does notinclude the many more women who arereceiving bioidentical hormones com-

pounded by a pharmacist.Whatever the source of estrogen

cream, an unusual side effect hasbeen identified.

A recent article in The New YorkTimes reported that veterinarians havebeen seeing spayed dogs and catssuddenly becoming hormonal. Femalepets went into heat and male petsdeveloped swollen breasts and hairloss.

After a little research, the VeterinaryInformation Network reported thatwomen using topical estrogen creamswere not taking proper precautions

with their pets, letting dogs or cats lickand rub against the t reated skin. As aresult, those pets absorbed the topicalestrogens and went into heat!

Unfortunately, pets are not the onlyvictims. Recently, the Food and DrugAdministration issued a warning thateight children exposed to an estrogenspray (Evamist) developed prematurepuberty. Similar problems have beenidentified in children and pets exposedto mens testosterone cream.

This problem can be avoided if thecreams are appropriately used. Mostimportantly, patients should thoroughlywash their hands to assure that noone comes in contact with thecreams. If the cream is placed on bareskin, no human or pet should come incontact with it until the lotion has

completely dried.Estrogen creams are often used for

cosmetic reasons to treat skin thatlooks older, more wrinkled and lesstaut. Studies have clearly shown thatestrogens improve skin thickness andblood flow and can reduce and preventthe development of wrinkles. Publishedin the journal of Fertility and Sterility, aresearch report showed that theseverity of wrinkles in 11 facial loca-tions was 40 percent less in women onhormone replacement than in women

who were not.Despite the proven benefits, the wayyou look should never be a reason toelect hormone replacement. Whateverthe mode of administration, hormonereplacement treatment should belimited to those who have symptomsthat can be ascribed to menopause(hot flashes, behavioral problems,headaches). Moreover, hormonereplacement therapy should be used atthe lowest dose and for as short a timeas possible.

What should you do to keep yourskin youthful? Experts in the fieldrecommend the use of moisturizingsunscreens every day and a moistur-izer at night. And avoid smoking. Inaddition, it is important to use a gentlecleanser to remove only dead skin.

Do not wash aggressively, which canremove the outer layers of skin calledthe stratum corneum. This outer layerhelps protect against sun damage andkeeps the skin looking young. Over-the-counter preparations containingretinoids appear to maintain a healthyskin with fewer wrinkles.

More aggressive approaches toimproving looks and reducing wrinklesinclude surgery and Botox injections.

Remember, being comfortable inyour own skin and how it looks is ameasure of self-esteem which isconsiderably more healthy thanstaying wrinkle-free. Consider aggres-sive changes to the way you look ifyou unequivocally believe it will seri-ously improve the quality of your life.

Estrogen creams can affect more than their users

Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of Breaking the Rules of Aging and Dr.Davids First Health Book of More NotLess.

Evamist is an FDA-approved estrogen

spray. It can easehot flashes brought

on by menopause,but can bring on

premature pubertyin exposed children.


17/28


By Scott LaFee Creators Syndicate

S cented products like laundrysoaps, shampoos, deodorants andair fresheners obviously smell nice.Less obvious, however, are the chemi-cals in them that produce thesefragrances. Most products do not listthese ingredients. According to a new

University of Washington study, someingredients are classified as toxic.UW researchers examined 25

commonly scented products. Eachemitted an average of 17 chemicals. Ofthe 133 chemicals detected, almost25 percent were defined as toxic orhazardous by at least one federal law.More than a third of the productsemitted at least one chemical classi-fied as a probable carcinogen. So-called green products were notsignificantly different from other

Another reason to buy fragrance-freeproducts, the researchers said.

Manufacturers are not required todisclose any ingredients in cleaningsupplies, air fresheners or laundryproducts, all regulated by the Con-sumer Product Safety Commission.Nor are the producers of personal careproducts governed by the Food andDrug Administration required to list

ingredients used in fragrances.The studys findings are published inthe journal Environmental ImpactAssessment Review.

Though the research focuses on25 products, lead author AnneSteinemann offered this caution: Wedont want to give people the impres-sion that if we reported on product Aand they buy product B, that theyresafe. We found potentially hazardouschemicals in all of the fragrancedproducts we tested.

IN BRIEFBishel Center collecting for holiday baskets

The Edith Bishel Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is collaboratingwith the Multi-Cultural Elder Awareness Committee in hopes of collecting much-needed items for 150 senior baskets for the holidays. Volunteers will distributebaskets to the elderly and disabled who are needy or do not have familysupport. If you have questions, contact Larry Weiss, executive director of theBishel Center, at (509) 735-0699. For a list of needed items, go to our websitewww.edithbishelcenter.org. All donations should be received at the center, 528N. Arthur St. in Kennewick, by Dec. 13.

Safely get rid of hazardous household chemicalsHousehold hazardous waste collection for Benton County residents will take

place on Dec. 4 and 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m in the parking lot of the RichlandCity Shops, 2700 Duportail St. Accepted are paints, solvents, cleaners, auto-motive fluids, pesticides, fertilizers, fluorescent light bulbs and pool chemicals.Not accepted are electronics, tires, appliances, explosives, radioactive materi-als, asbestos and trash. Proof of Benton County residency is required.


18/28


By Creators Syndicate

F or cookbook publishers, theres anupside to the economic downturn.As budget-conscious consumers dineout less and cook at home more, salesof food books and magazines are onthe rise.

Amazon.com reports double-digitgrowth in sales of books on food,cooking and wine this year. And theBorders Group says sales have beenespecially robust for comfort-foodcookbooks not a surprise, given theanxious times.

This years cookbook crop includesplenty of comfort titles, including bookson casseroles, chocolate and baking.There are also several hefty new how-tobooks, including Martha StewartsCooking School and The CulinaryInstitute of America Cookbook, thatwould be a help to kitchen newbiesaiming to prepare more meals at home.

Here are some books on cooking,dining, wine and beer that caught ourattention this year:

Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes:

Recipes From a Modern Kitchen Garden by Jeanne Kelley (Running

Press; $35).

The Wine Snobs Dictionary byDavid Kamp and David Lynch (Broad-way Books; $12.95).

Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics by Ina Garten (ClarksonPotter: $35).

The Beer Book (Dorling-Kindersley; $25).

Christmas Beer: The Cheeriest,Tastiest and Most Unusual Holiday Brews by Don Russell (Universe;$19.95).

Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip - Confessions of a Cynical Waiter bySteve The Waiter Dublanica (Ecco;$24.95).

Bake Until Bubbly: The Ultimate Casserole Book by Clifford A. Wright(Wiley; $22.95; paperback).

The Christmas Table: Recipes and Crafts to Create Your Own Holiday

Tradition by Diane Morgan(Chronicle Books; $19.95;paperback).

Puff: 50 Flaky,Crunchy, Delicious Appe- tizers, Entrees and Desserts Made With Puff Pastry by MarthaHolmberg (ChronicleBooks; $19.95; paper-back).

Shine On: 100 Years of Shiner Beer by MikeRenfro (Bright Sky Press;$34.95).

660 Curries: The Gateway to Indian Cook- ing by Raghavan Iyer(Workman Publishing;$22.95; paperback).

The Wine Trials ByRobin Goldstein, withAlexis Herschkowitsch

(Fearless Critic Media;$14.95).

Cookbooks make great comfort gifts

IN BRIEFWildhorse Resort helps CAPECO Food Share

Wildhorse Resort and Casino in Pendleton has teamed up with the Commu-nity Action Program of East Central Oregon (CAPECO) Food Share. The resorthas made a $1,000 cash donation and will be collecting non-perishable fooditems through Dec. 13. Bring the items to Club Wild at Wildhorse and youll beentered into a drawing for gifts such as Trail Blazers tickets, dinner for two atPlateau, Tri-City Americans tickets and golf at Wildhorse Golf Club.

Organ, choir concert will support food banksAn organ and choir concert on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. at Central United ProtestantChurch will feature members of the American Guild of Organists and many local

community choirs in an organ and choir Christmas Festival. Each choir willindividually perform its own special musical piece. A collection will be taken forlocal food banks. For information, call the church office at (509) 943-1143.


19/28

Th e Entertainer December 2010 PAGE 19

C elebrate New YearsEve with the RandyOxford Band at A Blackand White Affair the ClarionInn and Conference Centerin Richland this Dec. 31.The party will start at 8 p.m.and will last until 1:30 a.m.

A second band is being booked,to be announced later, and forupdated information you can checkthe Randy Oxford website atoxfordentertainment.com. You mayvisit the same website to buytickets, or get them at the Clarion.

Clarion Innboasts bestNew Years

The deadline for nominations to the Mid-Columbia Agriculture Hall of FameDec. 10 The award was established 10 years ago to honor distinguished indi-viduals who have made significant contributions to the agriculture in the GreaterFranklin County region and its immediate surrounding areas. Nominees fromneighboring counties of Franklin County within a 150-mile radius are often alsoconsidered for this prestigious award. To date, more than 30 individuals havebeen honored.

A selection committee of the Pasco Chamber of Commerce is chartered withreviewing the nominations, and individuals are judged on their contributions toagriculture and to their communities.

Candidates are recognized for their dedication, generosity and selflessnessas well as demonstrated achievements, expertise and innovation. Farmers,growers, ranchers, and owners or employees of agribusiness firms are alleligible for nomination as either individuals or families.

The Ag Hall of Fame inductees will be recognized at a special gala on Jan. 20at the Pasco Red Lion.

The three categories of awards and the cr iteria are: The Pioneer Award (those who have significantly influenced agriculture

with groundbreaking ideas, participation and leadership, and have displayedadvocacy or unselfish acts in their communities)

The Mentor Leadership Award (4-H leaders, educators, agricultureadvisors and outstanding mentors who have had a great influence in agricultureor agribusiness through working with youth).

The Agribusiness Man or Woman of the Year (a business person whohas a stellar work ethic, provides workable solutions for issues affecting agricul-ture, influences public policies that affect agriculture and serves their communitythrough volunteering or individual leadership).

The nomination packet should contain the nominees name, a photo, thename of the nominator and his or her relation to the nominee. Sections of thenomination should include:

Years of community and agriculture service no more than 20organizations and services the nominee has participated in.

A brief biography about one and a half pages of background informa-tion, including character traits and personal interests. Include your personalsentiments and justification to support the nominee.

Attachments not to exceed 10 pages of photos, clippings, awards, andletters of recognition.

For forms and guidelines to help with your nomination, call the Pasco Cham-ber of Commerce at (509) 547-9755 or send e-mail [email protected].

Pasco Chamber of Commerce seeksnominees for Agriculture Hall of Fame

The Randy Oxford Band

Room packages are availablestarting at $169.99 and they includetwo event tickets and room. Contactthe Clarion Inn at (509) 946-4121 tomake your lodging arrangements.Be sure to mention you wish toattend A Black and White Affair toget the special room rates.

Individual eventtickets withoutlodging areavailable for $50per person. Each

event ticketprovides a deluxepasta buffet bardinner, a dessertbar, complimen-tary champagnetoast, party favorsand all entertain-ment.

This is theseven-yearstretch for thisparticular party,and the annualregulars considerit the best partyin town.


20/28


By Andrea Green

In the new movie Burlesque , ChristinaAguilera plays Ali short for Alice a squeaky-clean All-Americangood girl with a big dream that can onlyhappen in LA. Fresh off the bus fromIowa, but having no luck finding asinging gig, our country girl stumblesdown the rabbit hole into a magicalworld of sparkling costumes, dancinggirls and lip-synching glamour. Andshes hooked.

Legendary performer and Goddess ofPop Cher stars as Tess, the onlysinging performer and owner of Bur-lesque, a failing cabaret-style club thatboasts the best view on the Sunsetstrip despite having no windows. Chersings two numbers in the film, and hervoice alone will leave you marking downthe soundtrack on your Christmasmust-have list. But its a little odd thata woman known for her flashy fashionsense gets stuck wearing such blandcostumes even for her performancenumbers. What happened to the over-the-top, opulent-yet-skimpy BobMackie creations that made ChersOscar appearances so exciting? Iwonder if the producers forgot that

shes still one of the greatest sex

symbols of all time.Tesss show is magical, and unable

to resist the beckoning sea of rhine-stones, Ali snags a job as a cocktailwaitress at the club until her chance tostep on stage arrives. When the soundsystem blanks out during her act, Aliunveils her true talent and heramazing vocal performance becomesthe touchstone to keep Burlesque fromclosing down.

As you can probably tell from thepreviews, Burlesque is little more thana vehicle for Christina Aguileras re-entry into the contemporary pop musicscene. The plot is barely more than anexcuse to string some dance numberstogether, and the main focus isAguileras amazing voice. StanleyTucci does a great job as Sean, thegay stage manager and Tesssnumber-one friend and confidant. Theiron-screen chemistry is almost asmuch fun as when he played JuliaChilds husband with Meryl Streep inJulie & Julia . Watch for MasterpieceTheatres Alan Cumming, who makesa surprising appearance as theharlequin-like Alexis. And of course wecant have a chick-flick without a

romantic lead; bartender Jack (Cam

Gigandet) fits the bill nicely, despitehis inconvenient fiance in New York.

Overall, the film is almost too sweet,sort of like a Disney-fied, PG-ratedversion of Showgirls where all of thecharacters are people youd actuallylike to get to know. Even the villainMarcus (Eric Dane) barely pulls an

audience reaction, probably because

If you dont ask much, Burlesque delivers with style!hes not such a bad guy at all. DittoAlis nemesis, former headliningdancer Nikki (Kristen Bell). Clearly themost evil things about the club are thatit has only a single costume rack forall of the dancers and a stage thatvisibly flaunts the laws of physics (no,really watch it expand and contractto suit the musical numbers).

By far the most disappointing thingabout the movie is that, despite thename of the film, only a single dancescene is actually a burlesque dancenumber. The rest of the film is Chicago -lite. If youre looking for the mature,risqu humor of a true burlesqueperformance, you wont find it here, butthe choreography is good, the cos-tumes are fantastic, and overall the filmis a really good time (assuming youhave a high tolerance for fluff and arentoverly concerned with plot).

If all this fluff leaves you hankering tosee an honest-to-goodness, realburlesque performance, check out thecalendar of shows at the BurlesqueSeattle Press (http:// burlesqueseattle.com). Or learn a littleof the art yourself at Miss Indigo BluesAcademy of Burlesque (http://

www.academyofburlesque.com).

Pop diva Christina Aguilera as Ali

Tangled is a nice update to the classicRapunzel story. Its fun, witty, and well-acted. Mandy Moores Rapunzel is self-assured and not too nice to bebelievable. Mother Gothel (DonnaMurphy) is deliciously Joan Crawford-esque. Zachary Levi as Flynn gets a lot offunny dialogue, and Ron Perlman has anunexpected role as one of the villainousStabbington Brothers. Chivalrous horseMaximus and playful chameleon Pascalnearly steal the film; theyre certain tobecome fan favorites despite the ratherobvious lack of spoken lines.

Now, I have to say that Ive never beena fan of the musical numbers in Disneyshows. That said, the songs dontdetract much from what is arguably anexcellent all-around film with a lot ofappeal outside of the pink-aisle crowd(no, its not just for little girls). MotherGothels song Mother Knows Best willgive even the most jaded filmgoer agood chuckle.

The 3-D isnt necessary to enjoy thefilm, so dont let the extra cost of thosefancy goggles stop you from seeing thiscleverly updated classic. Tangled is funfor the whole family. See it at least oncethis holiday season, and when the DVDcomes out, youll know what to get thekids for Christmas next year.

Poor Rapunzel. Although she gamelytries to enjoy the protection Mother Gothelso kindly bestows upon her in herbeautiful tower, shes a little, well, bored.She bakes, she paints, she reads, andyet...bored. There you have it. There areonly so many times you can play hide-and-seek with a chameleon.

But more than that, shes curious.What are those beautiful lights that soarin the sky every year on her birthday? Andwhy does she feel that they somehowbelong to her?

Now that shes turning 18, Rapunzel isready to step outside and see the realworld just once, and maybe even despiteMothers adamant refusal to let her leave.When capricious thief Flynn Ryder(Zachary Levi from the TV show Chuck)drops in while trying to escape the palaceguard, Rapunzel sees her chance. Shesteals from the thief, blackmailing himinto helping her find the magical lights inthe sky and ensuring her safe return tothe tower.

Its the adventure of a lifetime! Or shesa horrible daughter. But whateverhappens, Rapunzel cant give up thechance to see the floating lights. Andalthough she doesnt know it, shes aboutto meet her destiny. It seems MotherGothel has been keeping things from her.

Tangled an update of Rapunzel tale

Rapunzel lets her hair down in the animated movie Tangled .

By Roger Showley Creators Syndicate

Death is the operative word in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 .People, pets and magical folk die.Buildings explode. Mayhem reigns. Thisis a three-jumps-out-of-your-seat thriller

a road movie minus Bob and Bing.When we last left our trio, they were

raising their wands at Hogwarts Schoolin tribute to their headmaster, AlbusDumbledore, who had been tumbled offthe Astronomy Tower by ProfessorSeverus Snape. Before his demise,

Dumbledore handed Harry his finalassignment: hunt down and destroy theHorcruxes objects containing piecesof Voldemorts soul. Only then can theDark Lord be vanquished.

With two movies planned out of J.K.Rowlings seventh and final book, theresplenty of space for extra doses of moviemagic and more face time with the goodguys and the baddies.

Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint andEmma Watson are no longer the smilingcuties we met in the first movie nineyears ago, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone . Theyre convincinglydespirited, su

Entertainer Dec10

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