Recently in Arts and Culture Category

News Release:
By Joshua Fox
Library Manager

HOT OFF THE PRESS
"Nightwalkers" By Peter T. Deutermann
"Heartless" By Diana Palmer
"Legend of Sigurd and Gudrin" By J.R.R. Tolkien

Summer Reading Program Calendar of Events
Registration begins June 10th. Every Child that registers gets a book bag full of gifts.

June 19th at 3 PM is the Kick off program with Hullabaloo Band. Join us for some excellent music and a celebration of creativity. Refreshments will be served.

June 23-27 "Now You See It" Expression through Visual Arts
June 30 -July 2 "Write It Out" Expression through Writing
July 7- July 11 "Move It" Expression through Dancing
July 14-July 18 "Showtime" Expression through Pretending
July 21-July 25 "Acting Up" Expression through Theatre
July 28- August 1 "I've Got Rhythm" Expression through Music
Join Us Every Wednesday at 4:30 PM for a preteen event celebrating creativity.
Join us every Thursday at 10.30 for a Preschool Storytime exploring the arts!

News Release:

By Ken Corona, President
Yucaipa Little Theatre
(909) 790-1884 (theatre phone)

YUCAIPA - The Tony-Award winning Broadway musical Camelot, the story of a young king, his beautiful wife, and a love-struck knight, is currently showing at Yucaipa Little Theatre through June 14.

A favorite of late President John F. Kennedy and an indisputable hit on stage, Camelot is the timeless story about the rise and fall of a great kingdom. Arthur, King of England (played by Kevin Kahn), has gathered the best knights in the world at his famed round table. He finds a kind and loving wife, Queen Guenevere (Natalie Tavarez), and a best friend in Lancelot (Daren Prescott), his treasured knight.

When romance blossoms between Lancelot and Guenevere, the kingdom begins to crumble with a little help from the young, villainous Mordred (Cedric Wright), and Arthur finds his dreams shattered.

Yucaipa Little Theatre staged Camelot nearly a decade ago. According to the director, Ken Corona, "There has been a lot of interest from members and supporters to see it again, and we're excited to have this opportunity to finally bring it back."

YUCAIPA - Recover and nurture your creativity through this 12 week workshop based on Julia Cameron's million selling book, "The Artist's Way."

Led by children's book writer, Diane Adams, author of Zoom!, and I Can Do It Myself!, and illustrator of A Home for Salty, this course will nurture your creativity and help you regain a sense of hope and excitement about your writing .

News Release
By Courtney Taylor
Image Up Advertising
(909) 797-3647
Email Address: imageup1@verizon.net
Website URL: yucaipalittletheatre.com

YUCAIPA - Auditions for the beloved musical, "Oliver!", the stage version of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, will be held June 1 and 2, 7 - 9 p.m. at the Yucaipa Little Theater, 12135 California Street, Yucaipa, CA 92399.

Oliver! is the timeless story of a plucky young orphan and his quest for love and happiness in a world populated by rascals, rogues and thieves. Some well-known songs featured include "Consider Yourself," "Where is Love?" and "I'd Do Anything."

Parts for the show range from young actors 7 years of age and older, as well as several male and female adult roles. Please come to the audition prepared to sing a cappella musical selection of your choice.

Oliver! will run on the Yucaipa Little Theatre stage from July 23 to August 9.

For more information, contact director Emmanuel Suarez by calling the theatre at (909)790-1884. The theatre's website is www.yucaipalittletheatre.com.

Click Here For Yucaipa Little Theater Website

By Diane Mierzwik
Director
The Writers' Gallery

YUCAIPA - Make your book dreams a reality. On Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., award winning author Catherine Feher-Elston, of Penguin Books, will explain how to put pen to paper, how to research books and book markets, how to find an agent, how to negotiate contracts and how to promote books.

Included in the seminar are comparisions of self publishing and traditional publishing, and the importance of market research. An introduction to intellectual property rights and publishing law is included.

News Release
By Anne Dorsey
YVAA Publicist

YUCAIPA - The Yucaipa Valley Art Association will meet on Thursday, June 18 at 7 p.m. at Scherer Community Center, 12202 First Street.

Lisa Stroud will be the guest demonstrator. She plans to present different art supplies from the shop at her university.

Everyone is encouraged to come and enjoy the refreshments,vote for the monthly show winners and participate in the opportunity drawing.

Also, the art assoc. is holding a big yard Sale, Friday, June 26, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Vision Quest, 35136 Ave. A, at California Street. Please plan to attend.

If anyone has any questions re the art association please call Bob Norris at (909)790-7109.

Canyon Middle School students and staff took part in the school's eighth annual Renaissance Faire on Friday.
Bob Otto / Staff Photographer

YUCAIPA - 12-year-old Addie Miller's eyes widened in dread of the thought. If she had lived in the Renaissance Period from about 1450 to 1600, in another year or too she'd be someone's wife.

"I wouldn't want to get married that young, that wouldn't be any fun," said Addie. "I know I wouldn't have liked living back then."

Back then people were fortunate to live into their 40s, which meant that married life had to begin much sooner - at about age 13 and 14, and sometimes as young as 12.

But the Renaissance Period was also, "an age of enlightenment when art, music and drama, and science flourished," said 22-year dance and physical education teacher, Gayle Timilione. "It was a wonderful period of time."

Karissa Phillips, a sixth-grader from Mountain View Middle School, plays Grasshopper, one of the Fairies in "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Photo by Mark Griffith

By Mike Sturman
Beaumont Unified School District Reporter
msturman@beaumontusd.k12.ca.us
(951) 845-7441

BEAUMONT, CA - Drama students from Beaumont High School and Mountain View Middle School will join forces to present Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" on May 28 and May 30, 2009, at the Fellowship in the Pass Church, 650 Oak Valley Parkway in Beaumont.

This light-hearted tale of sprites, lovers and some intruders will be performed by 31 students from both schools. The show is being directed by Robin Biggs, drama teacher at Mountain View Middle School.

The May 28 performance is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the May 30 performance for 1 p.m. Tickets are $5. For more information, call (951) 237-7900.

Dr. Barry Kayrell, Superintendent
(951) 845-1631 (Ext. 309)
bkayrell@beaumontusd.k.12.ca.us
http://www.beaumontusd.k12.ca.us/home.htm

HOT OFF THE PRESS
"Impeached: The Trial of Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln's Legacy" by David O. Stewart
"Intent to Kill" By James Grippando
"Cold Light of Mourning" By Elizabeth J. Duncan
"Digital Barbarism: A Writers Manifesto" By Mark Helprin
"Paul Newman: A Life" By Shawn Levy
"40 More Years: How the Democrats Will Rule the Next Generation" By James Carville

Music
"Still Unforgettable" By Natalie Cole

Summer Reading Program
That time of year is fast approaching. Pre-registration begins on Tuesday June 15th, with our kick off program on Friday June 19th at 3PM. Joins us on that day for a concert and party with Hullabaloo!!!

FACEBOOK
The Calimesa Public Library is now on facebook. Become a fan of our site to follow events and happenings at the Calimesa Public Library. Interact with the Library on a whole new level.

By Bob Otto / Staff Photographer

YUCAIPA - Cathy Kenison and Sherry Ford strolled through aisles of tables filled with vases of flowers and plants. The two Redlands women were on their first visit to the Iris Festival Flower Show at the Yucaipa Community Center on Saturday.

"The artistic quality is exceptional," Kenison said. "Everybody who entered has their way of showing their beauty through their work."

When Kenison's admiring eye caught 12-year-old Grace Robertson's arrangement of mini coke bottles with petals of red and white geraniums blossoming out of the top, she rushed over for a closer look.

"How creative," she said to Grace. The future florist said that the idea of using coke bottles as vases came from the old coke machine her dad keeps in his office in their Yucaipa home."

By Bob Otto / Staff Photographer

YUCAIPA - Will Wood looks the part and acts the part. He's a living, breathing model of Sir Francis Drake of the Renaissance Period from about 1460 to 1600. The seventh grade students taking part in the Renaissance Faire at Park View Middle School on Thursday were mesmerized by his performance.

"He is great," said seventh grade history teacher Becki Miller, who has coordinated the faire for the past five of the 10 years the school has held the event. "Our next Renaissance unit will be the age of exploration. Sir Francis Drake will be in our unit so when we (study) him they will know about him."

The seventh graders dressed in the attire of kings and queens, princes and princesses, knights and peasants. They moved about to several workshops testing their skill at wheat weaving and face painting. They played a game of Nine Men's Morris and learned about Renaissance weapons and horses.

The 4-H Pass Pioneers American Hoofbeat Drill Team demonstrated jousting as kids watched, wishing they were gallant knights aboard the steeds.

"We're trying to teach them about a knight's life from birth to death, and about Renaissance horses," said Drill Team Leader, Jenny Anderson. "A knight's horse was very expensive and worth about as much as a private jet plane is today."

YUCAIPA - The Iris Festival begins (today) Friday, May 15 at 5 p.m. at Yucaipa Community Park on Oak Glen Road. Activities continue through the weekend.

For more information visit the Iris Festival web site:Click Here For Iris Festival Web Site

News Release:

OAK GLEN - The Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri is generously sharing a special gift with the Inland Empire. On May 30th and 31st, Rileys at Los Rios Rancho will host the museum's traveling Laura Ingalls Wilder, Journey of a Pioneer Family exhibit.

Rarely seen outside of Missouri, the exhibit contains photographs and information relating to Mrs. Wilder, her famous Little House books and Americas westward expansion.

The exhibit will be open to the public 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Los Rios Rancho packing shed. Admission and parking is free. Along with the museum exhibit, there will be a pioneer wagon and schoolhouse display, and special horse-drawn wagon rides. Children can try on clothing of the "Little House" period and try their hands at butter churning and other pioneer crafts and games.

The bakery, BBQ, picnic grounds and wildlands trails at Los Rios Rancho will be open both days from 10a.m. - 5 p.m. The bakery will be featuring cider floats and apple hand pies.

For information, call (909) 797-1005 or visit www.losriosrancho.com.

Rose Sanders,
Events and Tours Coordinator
Rileys at Los Rios Rancho
(909) 797-1005
info@losriosrancho.com

BANNING - Suicide rates have skyrocketed, divorce among veterans as a result of serving multiple missions in Iraq and Afghanistan has escalated. Vietnam vets are still trying to cope with their war-time horrors, and post-traumatic stress disorder inhibits veterans from re-assimilating back into civilian life.

But there is help for veterans: Vet-FAST (Veterans Fine Art Studies and Training), a program designed to help war veterans cope with combat trauma through fine art studies and training.

The non-profit organization provides an expressive and creative outlet for veterans. Veterans learn to use their right-brain (creative) functions to create works of art that helps them develop more self-confidence and a positive self image.

The program offers:
1. Painting.
2. Sculpting with stone and metal.
3. Mineral mining.
4. Visual arts - documentary film making.
5. Knife making and bladesmithing.

For more information call (951) 642-1664.

Vet-FAST
137 San Gorgonio Ave.
Banning, CA 92220

The Banning Cultural Alliance's Sculpture and Memorial Garden at the Banning Women's Club.
By Bob Otto / Staff Photographer

BANNING - About a year and a half ago Banning artist Joe Corda had a vision of creating a garden unlike any other in the Pass Area. As a result the Banning Cultural Alliance now has its very own Sculpture and Memorial Garden. Located on the grounds of the Banning Woman's Club, the sculpture garden ties in beautifully with the many artist's shops and galleries nearby in the downtown area.

"There is nothing like the garden in this area," said Carol Kirkwood, Executive Director of the Banning Cultural Alliance, which resides in the Woman's Club. "Joe had the vision for the garden. He suggested that we should have a sculpture garden and the idea grew from there."

On Monday, May 21, the Alliance will host a festive affair entitled, "Wandering Through the Arts," to dedicate the garden.

The garden features sculptures of stone, metal, and fabricated metal - some reaching eight to 10 feet tall and placed on concrete pads. Sculptures not normally found in Southern California, said Corda, a Banning metal and stone artist.

"Back east you see a lot of art like this, of a general on a bronze horse, for example," Corda said. "The East Coast is more European and has gardens displaying large monument work, some 10 feet or taller."

OAK GLEN - The ranches in Oak Glen are best known for growing apples, but of late at one ranch in particular, an old musical tradition is undergoing a revival.

On the third Friday of each month at Los Rios Rancho, the Dennis Riley family hosts Gospel Night.

The sweet, melodic tunes of traditional gospel hymns drift out of the Los Rios Rancho packing shed and carry on mountain breezes across the ranch. Tunes such as, "Victory In Jesus," "At The Cross," "When The Roll Is Called up Yonder," and "Sweet, Sweet Spirits," harks back to a simpler time, of a musical folklore long missed by many.

Gospel night began in January 2008 and has drawn a growing gathering from throughout the Inland Empire and well beyond, said Debbie Holley, who along with Dennis and Shelli Riley, host the event.

"We have had people come to Gospel Night from Europe, France, Victorville, Hemet, and Orange County," Holley said.

News Release:
Courtney Taylor;
Image Up Advertising:
909-797-3647

YUCAIPA - The Tony-Award winning Broadway musical Camelot, the story of a young king, his beautiful wife, and a love-struck knight, is coming to Yucaipa Little Theatre beginning Thursday, May 28 for a three-weekend run.

A favorite of late President John F. Kennedy and an indisputable hit on stage, Camelot is the timeless story about the rise and fall of a great kingdom. Arthur, king of the England (played by Kevin Kahn), has gathered the best knights in the world at his famed round table.

He finds a kind and loving wife, Queen Guenevere (Natalie Tavarez), and a best friend in Lancelot (Daren Prescott), his treasured knight. When romance blossoms between Lancelot and Guenevere, the kingdom begins to crumble with a little help from the young, villainous Mordred (Cedric Wright), and Arthur finds his dreams shattered.

Yucaipa Little Theatre staged Camelot nearly a decade ago, and according to the director, Ken Corona, "There has been a lot of interest from members and supporters to see it again, and we're excited to have this opportunity to finally bring it back."

News Release
By Anne Dorsey
Publicity Chairperson

YUCAIPA - The Yucaipa Valley Art Association will meet on Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. at the Scherer Center, 12202 First St. Yucaipa

Orson Woodstock will demonstrate the use of watercolor pencils. Also, he is a representative for various art suppliers and will have information regarding other art supplies. Everyone is encouraged to come, enjoy the refreshments, vote for the monthly show winners and participate in the opportunity drawing.

For questions about the art association, please call Bob Norris at (909)790-7109, or Anne Dorsey, Publicity.

CALIMESA - Stop by the Calimesa Library to check out the latest adult or children's fiction and non-fiction books, and remember the library has a wide selection of movies available, along with computers to search for job opportunities or to peruse your favorite subjects or hobbies. All it takes is a library card.

News Release:
By Joshua Fox
Library Manager

BOOKS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
Maybe you are looking for new authors to read, or perhaps there is an older title by your favorite author you have missed. This is a new section at the Calimesa Library dedicated to highlighting books which may have been overlooked. Come in and discover such titles as:

"The Rapture of Canaand" By Sheri Reynolds
"Gap Creek " By Robert Morgan
"Prospect Street" By Emilie Richards

HOT OFF THE PRESS
"Summer On Blossom Street" by Debbie Macomber

FACEBOOK
The Calimesa Public Library is now on facebook. Become a fan of our site to follow events and happenings at the Calimesa Public Library. Interact with the Library on a whole new level.

News Release
By Pat Murkland
Dorothy Ramon Learning Center

BANNING - The Dorothy Ramon Learning Center will host a Dragonfly Lecture scheduled at 6 p.m. Monday, May 11 (tonight) at 17 W. Hays, Banning, CA.

Tanya Sorrell will share some of her UC Riverside graduate research, "Inside St. Boniface Indian School."

People are invited to share their family memories of St. Boniface. Read more about the school on our blog.

Click Here To Read About St. Boniface Indian School