An unusual run of unique music
Welcome to year 23 of Island Neighbours: stories of island history, people, activities and events. To share an item, phone Lois at 947-2440 or e-mail lbmcarter@shaw.ca.
What a pleasure it is to have concerts and programs in the intimate Tir-na-nOg Theatre on Cates Hill. Because the seating is tiered, visibility is good everywhere. Seats are cushioned and comfortable. Parking is close to the entrance and the few stairs are gently layered. And, the performances offered have a happy variety. Added to that, Jack and Julie Headley, principals of the Tir-na-nOg Theatre School, are usually there to welcome early arrivals.
• The full house for the February 16 concert had a plethora of talent to enjoy and enjoy they did! Neil and Keona Hammond and friends sparked the opening of the evening’s program and after a brief intermission, an exciting array of talent turned into a preview of what was to be presented at the Rogue Folk concert on the following night. In the newly arrived February issue of the Celtic Connection newspaper, Steve Edge, the guiding light of Vancouver’s folk scene, raved about Karla Mundy’s upcoming February 17 launch of her debut solo CD. He noted that she brought together a cast of some of Vancouver’s finest roots musicians and he listed them: Karla Mundy – vocals, Steve Charles – guitar and vocals, Tim Twedale – dobro and weissenborn, Patrick Metzger – bass, Kori Myanishi – banjo, fiddle and vocal, Keona Hammond -vocals, Dawn Pemberton – vocals, Chris Suen – banjo. Bowen is certainly having an unusual run of unique music.
• Last week’s colourful Heritage issue of the Undercurrent noted that Heritage Week runs through Sunday, February 24th, which means that there are treats yet to come. There’s the Legion’s Friday night Heritage dinner for members and guests. The menu includes chicken, roast potatoes, carrots, cauliflower and apple crumble. On Sunday morning, the Little Red Church is offering a heritage-themed sermon while Sunday afternoon leads off at 1 p.m. with a Jane’s Walk - a historical walking tour led by Will Husby and Marian Moore.The walk convenes at the causeway. From 2 to 4 p.m. the cove has three heritage open houses. In the Davies Orchard, the fully furnished steamship era cottage, now a museum, is fun to visit. Not far away, the newly renovated Seaside Cottage can be visited – it’s the white cottage on the left at the approach to the causeway. Up Government Road and across from the RCMP office is Bowen’s Museum and Archives with photographic and biographical databases ready to answer questions about Bowen people or places. In the museum area, Andrea Verwey will be hosting the extensive Lieben exhibit. As always, the old cottage, once the home of logger Bertie Higgins, will be open.
• Good news that the February 10 open house at Bowen Court was a glowing success. Planning, promotion and hospitality were obviously top notch. Congratulations to the team.
• Ten Years Ago in the Undercurrent of February 21, 2003: the Heritage Week theme was Heritage of Our Town. The Heritage Preservation Association and the Historians joined forces to prepare displays of photographs and information about many of the buildings that line Government Road. The display panels were to be placed on the sidewalk outside the respective buildings for Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23. • Artist Bill Hoopes had been invited to display his work in Florence at the Biennale Internazionale Dell’ Arte Contempranea. Two fundraising dinners were scheduled at Blue Eyed Marys.
• James Cameron Collins passed away February 10. He was the elder son of Laura Irene and James Collins. Born on Bowen in 1915, he was active on the family farm and in the social life of the community. His sisters, Margaret, Bertha, Jean, Marion and brother Roy survive.
• In the Undercurrent of February 28, 2003: • Council was scheduled to receive a comprehensive report from the Sustainable Community Task Force which took a look at Bowen’s energy consumption and emissions, noting that goals to reduce consumption ought to be reasonable and attainable. The committee, set up in 2001, had four main areas of focus for 2003: developing a community energy plan; engaging the community in water stewardship; building a digital planning tool; and improving land use planning to better protect and connect Bowen’s natural green spaces.
• Just for fun – For those who follow horoscopes: Aquarius runs from January 21 to February 19 so there’s just time to list a selective few birthdays of famous Aquarians. There’s Robbie Burns, January 25, 1759, Lord Byron, January 22, 1788, Abe Lincoln, February 12, 1809, Charles Dickens, February 7, 1812, Susan B. Anthony, February 15, 1820, Lewis Carroll, January 27, 1832, Thomas Alva Edison, February 11, 1847, Laura Ingalls Wilder, February 7, 1867, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, January 30, 1882, Betty Freidan, February 4, 1921 and one more - Oprah Winfrey, January 29, 1954.
• The Last Word: Yes, the word is out that the early March production of The Tempest - a tale of treachery, revenge, magic, and love. –promises to be a sellout. The web site is tantalizing.
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