B4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 5,. 2003 JENNIFER LANG Around Town Snow news is good news for contest WINTER ARRIVED in earnest at the tail end of last month, ensuring Terrace Tourism’s first- ever snowman building contest can go ahead. It was originally conceived as a month-long event that was supposed to wrap up at the end of January, says marketing coordinator Krystal Piper. But when the wait for the white stuff ~ any at all ~ was starting to drag, even as the origi- nal Jan. 31 deadline loomed, organizers sens- ibly extended the deadline. (Hey — it’s Terrace. if you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes.) Now, with a sizable dump firmly refusing to melt on focal lawns, the first entries are start- ing to roll in, There sre four categories: best effort; most creative; best dressed and most grandiose (as in big). Here’s how the contest works. Step one: build a snowman, snow buddy or snow sculpture. Anything goes. Step two: take a picture, Step three: send it in to Terrace Tourism. You can do that two ways; drop it off in person at the Visitor Info Centre on Keith Ave., or email it to info@terracetourism.be.ca Be sure to include your name and phone number. For more info, call 635-0832. Letting it all hang out for two decades THE TIE-DYE-shirted, Birkenstock-wearing denizens of the Bulkley Valley: may find this hard to believe, but 2003 marks a special an- niversary — the Midsummer Festival turns 20 this June, That’s right, for 20 years, folkies of all stripes have been descending on the fall fair- grounds in Smithers on or around the summer solstice for a weekend of live music featuring dozens of bands from across the region — and . beyond.. Tugby pants and Vuarnet sunglasses were de ri- geur attire and a certain young neo-con named Alex P. Keaton had millions of viewers tuning in to a sitcom called “Family Ties”. Two decades in, the Bulkley Valley Folk Music Society’s Midsummer Festival is now easily the largest (and most mainstream) of the summer music festivals in a region that loves live music — and communing with like- minded souls — in equal measures. In its melodic wake have followed the Ki- spiox Walley Music Festival, the intimate Rosswood Jamboree, and Haida Gwaii's Edge of the World Festival to name but a few. Sadly, Midsummer Fest’s live and let live/do your own thing ethic seems to be on the wane, judging by last year’s festival. You'll recall how day pass holders and campers alike _ were rounded up im at the stroke of midnight and es- corted outside the gates grounds. Forget about banging your bongo drum in the performer’s roost “til dawn or hang- ing around one of the many sing- along campfires. Recent flood- ing in the area apparently posed a threat to every- one — everyone thal is, except for dozens of perfor- mers and a fair- sized group of BVFMS mem- bers, who were all cozily camping right next the banks of the Bulkley River. Sigh. At least the performers were sociable, particularly Prince Rupert’s dependably dance- able Undecideds, and the boyishly enthusiastic Buttless Chaps, who were so inspiring women in the crowd felt compelled to toss their under- wear Up on stage in appreciation. Let’s face it, those were pood times. And there’s more to come. So if you're feeling creatively and musically iuspived, why not try your hand at designing this year’s logo? As in previous years, festival organizers ate sponsoring a contest. The winning entry will be used to decorate T-shirts and posters. “It’s a great opportunity for local artists to produce a design which will be seen by sev- eral thousand visitors and posted throughout the province,” the society's Tom Chamberlin said, Entries should celebrate the 20th anniver- sary them. © The deadline for entries is March 1. Submit them to BVFMS public relations committee at box 2209 Smithers, VOJ 2N0 or to pr@bvims, Org The prize is two weekend passes to this year’s festival. : Pelted by panty | throwers Tt all beganin: -4983;, oa. year many of. cee : ‘might prefer to forget. ‘Tt was a time when * TERRACE STANDARD Terrace entered a national garden contest in 2002. The results are in By JENNIFER LANG PAT YOURSELF on the back, Terrace, for a job well done. Volunteer efforts have earned the city a special mention for community involvement in the 2002 Communities in Bloom con- test. “The City of Terrace can be proud of the efforts of all of its volunteers,” the judges say. Terrace earned four aut of five blooms overall, which wasn’t en- ough to win first prize but is wel- come news nonetheless. Terrace competed against 12 other Canadian towns its size, in- cluding the 2002 national award- winner in the 10,001-20,000 popu- lation category, Huntsville, On. And it’s the first time Terrace has entered the national competi- tion, which evaluates participants on a range of criteria, from flora! displays to heritage conservation. Despite a late spring and an arid early summer that left lawns and fields looking a little par- ched, judges had positive com- ments about the cooperation be- tween the Greater Terrace Beauti- fication Society, city council and Terrace Parks and recreation de- partment. Their combined efforts resulted in the Grand Trunk Pathway — a park described as a great example of people and the city working to- gether to change 4 less-than-desir- able strip of land into a beautiful landscaped, pathway that all can enjay. “The judges would like to con- gratulate all of the staff and vo- Junteers that have worked so hard in improving the quality of life in Terrace,” Ashley Langridge said, one of the two judges who evalua- ted Terrace July 27. Volunteer efforts are even mare important during times of fiscal resiraint — placing morte pressure on volunteer groups like the beau- | tification society, Langridge said. Steve Scott, the city’s parks and recreation superintendent, is pleased with how Terrace scored. “We were in pretty tough com- FLORAL DISPLAYS were only part of the criteria judges looked at while they were here. They also rated community involvement. petition — 13 communities in all - I thought we did a great job,” Scott said. “The judges certainly recognized where our efforts were, in particular the volunteer efforts in the community.” The results are even more re- markable considering they were achieved after a prolonged dry spell when not much sprinkling or watering was done. Despite doing so well, Terrace How the judges rated Tér won’t enter the contest again this year because the cily’s resources are maxed out, as are the volun- teers with the beautification soc- iety. “To do some of the things that are recommended in the report would take extra effort and extra resources that aten’t available right now,” Scott says. “In order to do more, we need . Continued on Page B6 ld | is “hive: ieoihas race By JENNIFER LANG COMMUNITIES IN Bloom judges gave Ter- race a respectable 76 per cent mark overall. Here’s how the evaluation breaks down. Tidiness effort: The judges found Terrace generally clean and tidy, although there was a small amount of litter and graffiti. They gave a rating of 74 out of 100, Environmental effort: Judges gave a thumbs up to the city’s Help Minimize Waste recyling brochure and no herbicide policy, but suggested more aeration and irrigation might be in order for athletic feilds. Rating: 72/100. Community Involvement: The volunteer program led by the beautification sociely was praised, but judges suggested adult volunteers encourage more youth participation with Scouts or 4-H groups in order to foster com- munity spirit in younger minds. Rating: 85/100, Heritage: Terrace also fared well in this category, although judges had a number of suggestions, including taking advantage of the proximity between seniors’ housing and Herit- age Park Museum by recording oral histories, and capitalizing more on the town’s relation- ship with the logging industry. Total: 79/100. Urban forestry: The judges say more should be done to develop an inventory of what trees exist, their age and condition in arder to evaluate how well plantings of newer trees are faring and what varieties do the best under various conditions and situations. Total: 114/150. Landscaped areas: It’s time for more ima- gination and flare in plant selection, colour and scale, such as the use of ornamental prasses or native varieties. Another cost-con- scious suggestion includes using more local materials like rocks, logs and stumps, adding a “Terrace flair’. Rating: 115/150. Floral displays: Well distributed and main- tained, but the judges suggest using mroe or- namental grasses and taller annuals to give more variety of hiehggt textrure and colour. Theme gardens of herbs or wildflowers are an- other suggestion. Rating: 116/150. Turf and ground cover areas: Evenly dis- trubted and in good condition, considering the city doesn’t use pesticides. Creating a turf maintenance plan would help concentrate ef- fots on high profile tawns and athletic fields. Rating: 107/150. The city hasn’t used pesticides in 10 years. Sports fields are watered on a regular basis but this year the city scaled back the amount of watering done on some of its decorative areas, including the Grand Trunk Pathway. A little romance over dinner Affections of May opens Friday for three weekends at the golf and country club By JENNIFER LANG AN ATTRACTIVE Bed and Breakfast proprietor who’s been left in the lurch by her two-timing husband is at the centre of the Terrace Little Theatre’s upcoming dinner theatre romantic comedy, Affections of May. Penned by the prolific and popular Norm Foster, a Canadian playwright known for his comic situa- tions, Affections of May looks at how May Henning copes with the attentions of males in pursuit. At the helm is first-time director Jerry Stuebing, an actor from Kitimat who co- starred in last year’s Ter- race Little Theatre dinner theatre production, Drink- ing Alone, which was also a Norm Foster play. An electrician at Euro- can by day, he’s got a per- fectly sensible reason for “As the banker says, COURTED: Debbie Haynes, centra, joins Phil Bialobzyski left, Robert it Dugdale and Paul Sametz in Norm Foster's colourful comedy, Affections af May. ‘You're the closest thing this town’s got to a single person.’” He’s played by Paul Sametz, a former Prince Rupert resident who cain- cidentally once played the role of May’s husband in Harbour Theatre’s produc- tian of Affections. Veteran TLT performer Phil Bialobzyski, an actor with a flare for comedy, returns to the stage as Da- niel Quinn, a handyman who’s seen better days. He played the starring role in the TLT’s produc- tion of Harvey, a role that required him to share the stage with a 6-foot tall rabbit no one else could See. Stuebing says audi- ences will be well rewar- ded, and he's not just talk- ing about the food. “We can pretty much trying his hand a% direct- promise them a wonderful ing: “I don’t have to learn any linesl” he laughs. With the show about to open Friday, he says it’s been a wonderful exper- ience — thanks in no small part because of the four actors, “They've got a good work ethic: and they’ve done their homework. [i feels terrific,” he says. The play stars newco- mer Debbie Haynes, and elementary teacher at Up- lands School, as May Henning. “She’s taken on a big role,” Siuebing says ad-. miringly. “Debbie’s on ail the time, while. the boys get time off; She’s an ab- solute delight to work with.” May and Brian Henning (Robert Dugdale, an ex- perienced actor who’s a strong presence, Stuebing says) have taken refuge from big city Toronto ia a remote, tiny seaside town called Grogan’s Grove, ‘where they open up a Bed and Breakfast. Before long, Brian stealthily plots his escape having decided that life in Sticksville is not really his - cup of tea, leaving May in financial dire straits. Enter Hank Davis, the local banker who comes-to help May with her books —. ‘and her heartache. meal, a relaxing evening full of laughs, fun ~ come see it. It’s just a wonderful play.” The production: runs Feb, 7-8, 14-15, and 20, 21 and 22 at the Skeena Val- ley Golf and Country Club. Reserved seating. Tick- eis at Uniglobe Courtesy Travel.