Bake, book & more sale coming up

LONG BEACH The Chinook Observers third annual Bake, Book and More sale will be Aug. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at our office. If you have any baked goods, books, VHS videotapes, CDs or DVDs to donate to the cause, bring them by our office during normal business hours. Monetary donations are accepted as well. Drop by 205 Bolstad Avenue East in Long Beach or mail to: P.O. Box 427, Long Beach, WA 98631. All of the sale proceeds will go to purchasing school supplies for children of low-income families in Pacific County. Call 642-8181 or 800-643-3703 if you have questions.

North Coast Chorale

ASTORIA The North Coast Chorale and director Dr. Denise Reed invite you to become one of those millions who sing in a chorus. For two decades North Coast Chorale has entertained audiences all over the Northwest. Most recently, they had the thrill of accompanying world-famous opera stars at the Astoria Music Festival.  

For the fall season, they are looking for all the men and women in our community who love to sing! This seasons concerts will have a contrast of music, both sacred and secular.  They will be singing, Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menotti.  This will be a special treat for families.  It tells a story about a young crippled boy and his encounter with the three kings on their journey to the birth of the Christ child. They will also be singing The Magnificat by John Rutter.  They will perform this piece with orchestral accompaniment.  On the lighter side, they will be singing Twas the night before Christmas.  The Chorale will tell this traditional story in song with the assistance of some of the members of the Astor Street Opry Company. Their spring concert will contain both jazz and gospel music. 

You do not have to audition for the full North Coast Chorale. Rehearsals begin Tuesday, Sept. 13 at        6:45 p.m., at the Performing Arts Center at 16th and Franklin in Astoria. 

The North Coast Chorale is also establishing a womens choir. This group will perform music for womens voices only.  Women and girls starting at age 12 through all adult ages are invited to audition for this group. Please give Reed a call at 503-325-5439.  

Randal Bays and Family to Play at Sunday Vespers

OYSTERVILLE Randal Bays and family will provide the music at the afternoon vespers service in Oysterville on Sunday, July 31.  Father Don Maddux, associate priest at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Olympia, will officiate.

We play traditional Irish music, family style, says Randal, whose history with the Oysterville Church goes back almost two decades.  In recent years, Randals wife, Susan Waters, and their sons Willie (9) and Owen (7) have taken an increasingly large part in the music presentation.

Weve never owned a TV, Randal points out, so its pretty natural for the boys to make music with us.  Willie plays flute, hornpipe, guitar and tin whistle.  Owen plays guitar and fiddle but often chooses to lilt when performing.  Lilting is also called mouth music and is an Irish tradition born out of family music sessions in which instruments for all were not always affordable.  

Both Randal and Susan play the fiddle and Randal plays guitar as well.  Sundays congregation will be treated to hornpipes, jigs, reels and other toe-tapping Irish music.  It is likely that a few of the 3,000 tunes by blind harper, Turlough OCarolan (1670-1737) will be among their vespers repertoire.

Father Maddux and his wife, Carolyn, are also annual vesper participants.  They are long-time home-owners on the Peninsula and have a big following among Oystervilles church goers. Vesper services are open to the public.  There is no dress code and donations made at the time of the weekly collection go to the on-going maintenance of the ecumenical church.