The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 22, 2000 - BI

‘TERRACE Ss ANDARD

COMMUNITY:

INSIDE
COMMUNITY |
EVENTS B2

A THOUGHT
EV BISHOP

Spring cleaning....almost

T idy houses are the signs of messed up

minds. I don’t really believe that, I just want
to. It’s my defense line when people pop by to
visit and my hame is looking like it’s been
burglarized.

It’s not that 1 don’t admire tidy house, I da,
but I find that “clean” takes up my house care
energy. Alphabetized spice racks, plastic clo-
set organizers, promptly folded laundry, etc,
just aren’t as alluring as a good book, a hat
bath, a television mini series.

Regardless of my feelings of apathy towards
it, I nonetheless get sucked in every year by
the ritual of spring cleaning... How did that be-
come a titual anyway? The voices of my mo-
ther and orderly friends fill my head with their
wise sayings; how the nifty thing about getting
organized is that the more organized you get,
the MORE organized you get! Once you're or-

“ganized, you'll find that you now have more
time to organize, leaving even MORE time to
organize and so on. This new found organiza-
tion lasts at least one week in my house.

I glance through the latest magazines.

gazine claims to have 101 “easy and cheap”
ways to make your life and home clutter and
chaos free? I guess it depends on your idea of
inexpensive. Renovating my whole home isn’t
mine. As for their debris free kids rooms... Get
reall Since when does any kid have only the
type of stuff that coordinates perfectly with
their lovely décor-theme? ‘When. would you
want them too? I have no problem with the
tons of dolls and stuffies my daughter loves but
I would be really sad if she didn’t have her
passion for plastic reptiles and dinosaur bones.
They compliment her castle and unicorn wall-
" paper perfectly and Barbie is so much casier
"ta stomach when she’s being chased (or chas-
ing) a T-Rex.

My son's room is at the brink of toddler

turning into boy. Translation: sharp, tiny “big
kid” toys camouflaged under soft, safe looking
baby toys.
Ouch! Why is my foot the only one that finds
them? After looking in the kids, rooms and
concluding that they have their own style, I
turn to closets. I even contemplate purchasing
the fore-mentioned, dreaded, closet organizers.
My organization skills, still new at the plan-
ning game, cause me to miss the spring into
cleaning sale. Since I try not to buy even
things I like at regular price, I feel justified in
going home. Cardboard boxes worked fine for
my mom, they’ll work fine for me. I forget
that the reason that they worked for her is be-
cause she actually filled them.

With the most diligent of intentions, | get

started. I realize that the crumpled paper jam-
ming in the back of the junk drawer is actually
.a masterpiece that I couldn't part with when il
came off the bulletin board.
’ The miscellaneous McDonalds toys belong
to my children, I can,t just throw them away.
The small clear plastic container has been
chosen for some reason by the tooth fairy; she
leaves small teeth for me as souvenirs. I may
use those coupons sometime. I know we don’!
even have that store in Terrace but I go to
Vancouver occasionally. 1 see that the drawer
really didn’t need that much attention and am
satisfied because after returning all the stuff to
the drawer, it no longer jams because the Pi-
casso is now folded safely in the front.

I decide to tackle a closet. I bring my still
empty box. Oh! That’s where the bike helmets
went! Too bad I replaced them... They’re still
‘good. Keep,em. Ahhhh, I remember this sweat
suit. Topher looked sooo cute in it, I can’t be-
lieve how big he’s gotten. Hey, these are
Riah’s baby pictures; how come they,re not in
an album? Oh, look at her... My stamps! 1

‘should get into rubber stamping again. Almost
‘every item has some memory attached, some
potential future use. Proud of the fact that ]
don't have a closet filled with junk, I decide
‘ta quickly check out my husband's closet be-
_fore putting the contents of mine away in an
orderly fashion. His is interesting too,

My kids pop their heads in, no doubt taking
a break from organizing their cupboards,
“Mom, we,re hungry!” I check out the flash-
ing red lights of the digital, knowing their in-
ternal alarm clocks are probably right. It’s
dinnertime.

A quick look at the room reveals that it was
in better shape before I cleaned. Rats! 1
quickly shove everything under the bed, into
‘the closet, into any space that closes... after
“all, does mid March even count as spring? I'll
try again. in May,

Have you ever noticed that almost every ma- 7

+

Let the festival begin

SINGER Ambur Braid has
been looking forward to
the Pacific Northwest
Music Festival ever since
Christmas,

It was last December
when she selected the
songs she wants to sing at
the week-long compeli-
tion, and she’s been prac-
tising them ever since,

“I’m excited,” Braid
said. “I look forward to.the
music festival because it’s
the only chance I get to
sing in front of people -
and I love to sing in front
of an audience!”

Braid, 17, has been
singing in the festival
since she was 11 years
old, winning bursaries and
awards almost every year.

She said the adjudica-
tors always give her help-
ful advice and offer her
words of encouragement.

Last year she won a
Knights of Columbus scho-
larship worth $500, which
she’s saved to help pay for
university.

The Pacific Northwest
Music Festival is gearing
up for its 35th season
March 28-April 8.

The festival, ane of the
longest running music
competitions in the pro-
vince, provides arts stu-
dents with an opportunity
to share their talents with

. the community, and en-

courages them to strive for
excellence through friend-

ly competition.

Organizer Carol Lomas
says it’s the commitment
te youth and to their pur-
suits of excellence that’s
kept the festival going
over the years,

“The focus isn’t on
winning,” Lomas said,

What's just as impor-
lant as winning an award,
she says, is the confidence’
contestants gain from their
experience playing in from
of judges and an audience.

This year’s festival has
1,224 entries, altracting
more than 4,000 people.
About half of those contes-
tants are from Terrace, and
the rest come from outly-
ing areas, as far away as
Vanderhoof and Quesnel. _

Contestants compete
and seek advice from ad-
judicators in a number of
disciplines, whether it be
dance or speech arts.

Throughout the two
wecks of festival, most
performances are apen to
the public. But youl want
to get your tickets early to
the festival highlights —
the scholarship perfor-
mances April 7 and gala
and award night on April 8.

Tickets are available at
Sight and Sound on Keith
Avenue and cost $10.

Lomas ensures contes-
tants that the festival will

go ahead regardless of an
impending strike by school
district support workers.

Actors Renee Geronimo, Brent Burbee and Teresa Fleming, and stage crew
Jessica Hovanes, Kasei Yamashita and Devin McKenna won the Best Play
award for their performance of the play -D

yerse at the regional drama competition held March 3-5 in Prince Rupert.

Drama Club wins top award

CALEDONIA Drama Club students won
six awards, including best play, at the re-
gional zone drama competition held ear-
lier this month in Prince Rupert.

Judges gave top marks to the students’
performance of Postponing the Heat-
Death of the Universe, a play by Stephen
Gregg,

Winning the Best Play award earned
the six students the right to perform May
4-6 at the Provincial High Schoo! Drama
Festival at the University of Victoria .

Caledonia Drama Club director Robin
MacLead said play’s three actors Renee
Geronimo, Brent Burbce and Teresa
Fleming, who all won individual acting
awards, gave golden performances.

“They're strong actors,” MacLeod
said, emphasizing she chose a play that
would compliment the actors’ skills.

Actor Renee Geronimo, who won the

Best Female Actor award, said the play ;

was a hit because of its witty script.
“It's clever dialogue,” she said. “Tf it

happened in reai life it would be worth

gossiping about!”
She added: “I love the play because

the the characters have strong personali- :

ties.”

MacLeod said she expects her students
will do very weil at the provincial comn-
petition.

“The adjudicator {at the regional com-

petition) said we'll be competitive,” she
said.

MacLeod said the play’s stage crew,
Jessica Hovanes, Kasel Yamashita and
Devin McKenna, were also commended
at the regional competition, winning an
award for best backstage work.

The drama students will be giving a
local performance of their award-winning
play April 25 at 7:30 the REM Lee
Theatre. Tickets cost $5 and are available
at the door or at school.

The money will help to raise $8,000
needed to pay for the trip to Vicloria to
participating at the provincial level,

The Caledonia Drama Club has 52 stu-
dent members from Grades 11 and 12.

Awards won

Best Play: Postponing the Heal-Death
of the Universe

Best Motivated Sequences: Jessica
Hovanes and Devin McKenna

Best Backstage Work: cast and crew
of Postponing the Heat-Death.of the
Universe

Besi Supporting Female Actor: Ter-
esa Fleming

Best Male Actor: Brent Burbee

Best Female Actor: Renee Geronimo

SING IT: Ambur Braid, 17, will be competing in the Pacific Northwest Music
Festival, which runs from March 28 to April 8. She won the Knights of Colum-
bus scholarship at last year's festival. -

Old Age Pensioners report

By HUGH POWER
THE MONTHLY meeting of B.C. Old Age Pensioners
Branch #73 was held al the Happy Gang Centre Thurs-
day, March 9th with Mary Ann Dilley presiding.

The turnout for the meeting was excellent, with 67
members participating. Everyone welcomed new mem-
ber Shirley Daugherty.

Members observed a minute of silence in memory of
Della Godfrey, Thelma Lindstrom, Edith Sawinsky and
Mary Walker, seniors who have recently passed away.

Margaret Ramage has drawn up a new activity sche-
dule for the centre. Please Jook at it and make a note of
the various functions you plan to altend, There is not a
day when the centre is quiet!

May McFarland read a thank you letter from Ms
Diane Cey, and also cards from students at Cassie Hall
for individuals members in recognition of the knitting
program that was now finished for this year. Thanks to
all who participated in this venture.

Muriel Michiel has been busy visiting members who
were sick or hospitalized. She alsa informed members
that Charlie Oliver will 97 years old on March 11,

Remember to keep March 24 open since Nellie and
Ed McFadden will be at the centre celebrating their
birthday with cake and coffee. Drop by at 10 a.m.

May reported that B.C.0.A.P. Branch #73 consisted of
198 paying members, including 26 life time members.
To become a member and to participate in the wonderful
activities the branch plans, everyone must be a member.
Memberships cost $7 per year.

Mark your calendars: The next meeting is April 12
at 2 p.m. See you there! The Royal Purple will be having
a dinner April 18 at 6 p.m.

P| To be or not to be

Kevin Williamson stars in the English Suilcase |

Company's version of Hamlet, by William Shake-
speare, on Saturday, March 25 at the REM Lee
Theatre, Tickets are available at Erwin's Jewellers in
the Skeena Mall or at:the door. -