Cache Magazine

Cache

Magazine

Music that’s weathered and wise: Cache Valley’s Dry Lake Band plays bluegrass

The Herald Journal

Aug. 20 - 26, 2010

Page 2 - The Herald Journal - Cache, Logan, Utah, Friday, August 13, 2010

Cache The Herald Journal’s

Arts & Entertainment Calendar

What’s inside this week More than 20 performers return for a final Tabernacle performance

Magazine

(Page 4)

On the cover:

The Cache Valley-based bluegrass group Dry Lake Band rehearses in a band member’s back yard in Logan. The band has spent the past few months performing around the region and winning new fans for the traditional genre of music. (Photo by Alan Murray/Herald Journal)

From the editor

I

JUST FINISHED READING a new book by Nicholas Carr titled “The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains.”

The premise of the book is this: The Internet is literally altering the brain structure and function of those who use it often.

Carr points to decades of research that have shown the human brain is quite susceptible to change and reshaping even after childhood. Our brains are trained by what we experience, and a growing number of us spend a growing portion of our days experiencing a disjointed string of 140character tweets, 20-second YouTube clips and an endless tangle of hypertext links.

The result is that paying attention to one topic for an extended portion of time becomes more difficult. Carr makes the case that the hours spent daily flitting between articles and blog posts and videos and RSS updates have played havoc with our ability to delve into a text for hours, understanding it, blocking out external distractions.

Slow Wave

dfelix@hjnews.com

One of the reasons I so enjoyed this book was that it affirms what I’d already come to vaguely suspect: The Internet has been killing my attention span. It usually takes no more than 15 seconds of reading something online before I feel the tug to go check out something else.

It kind of concerns me. Almost nothing important was ever accomplished in 15 seconds or less. Even as I write this, I have to keep whipping myself back to attention. Get off Facebook, man! You’ve got a magazine to finish!

So what’s to be done? A complete withdrawal from the digital world? A return to the woods and commitment to write only in cuneiform on dried animal skins? Sounds fun, but I think the best solutions to this modern problem for me are old-fashioned ones: moderation and discretion.

When faced with the Internet’s siren song of endless variety, I need to ask myself: Is this a better use of my time than going and playing outside in hopes of staving off a mental breakdown and adult-onset ADHD? — Devin Felix Cache Magazine assistant editor

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Dennis ruminates on the benefits of fixing things

Bestseller list........... p.10 Bulletin Board.......... p.12

Get ready for some jazz and big band music

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Cute

pet photo of the week Pet: Toto From: Cache Humane Society Why she’s so lovable: “Just look at Toto. What a cutie and such a mixture of dog breeds. Only 10 pounds, she’s cute as a button and is waiting someone’s lap to perch on. She’d make a great walking companion and snuggler for that smart person who will snatch her up quickly.”

To meet Toto or other animals up for adoption at the Cache Humane Society, call 792-3920 or stop by the shelter at 2370 W. 200 North, Logan.

Slow Wave is created from real people’s dreams as drawn by Jesse Reklaw. Ask Jesse to draw your dream! Visit www.slowwave.com to find out how.

AWHC to host second Celtic Festival

T

HE UTAH SCOTTISH Association and American West Heritage Center will host the second annual Cache Celtic Festival & Highland Games on Aug. 27 and 28 at the Heritage Center.

Friday the gates will open at 5 p.m. with entertainment happening immediately on the stage. Highland athletics will be demonstrated, and at 5:30 p.m., Scottish Highland dancers will perform courtesy the Heather Glen School of Scottish Dance. A traditional Celtic music concert by Stonecircle will begin at 6 p.m. and will be interspersed with other performances until 9 p.m.

On Saturday the gates open at 9 a.m. A full slate of Highland athletics will then commence. A noon ceremony will feature the five pipe bands massed into one, and all Celtic clans will be called to assemble.

More vendors are registered than last year; many will be open Friday night as well as until closing Saturday.

Tickets for Friday only are $4 for adults and $1 for children ages 5 to 12. Discount tickets for both Friday and Saturday events will be sold Friday; these twoday discount tickets are available for Saturday-only prices: $7 for adults and $3 for children ages 5 to 12.

Children younger than 5 get in free each day.

Pipe bands will perform on Saturday and the entertainment stage will be full “to the hilt” with traditional Celtic music, Irish step dancers, pipers and Scottish dancers. Stonecircle, Leapin’ Lulu, Cuchulain and Citrine are among the musical groups performing.

More than 24 Scottish clans have registered, plus representatives of the Welsh; all will host heritage booths and displays all day Saturday. A Gaelic language booth will be open as well. Historical presentations on Celtic influences on the surrounding settlements will be held — Celts and the mountain man era; Scouting and Scots: Scouting’s Scottish birth; and other topics. Children’s activities and a candy cannon will also be part of Saturday’s festivities.

David Campbell will preside as chieftain of the Games. Campbell is a past president of the Clan Campbell Society (North America), having served an unprecedented two terms. He and his wife, Betty, have been guests at Inveraray Castle, home of their clan’s chief. Their host was the previous Duke of Argyle, and more recently his son, the current Duke of Argyle. David is also a past president of the Utah Scottish Association.

Eli Lucero/Herald Journal file photo

Kurt Carpenter throws a caber during the 2009 Cache Celtic Festival & Highland Games.

Bengt Washburn will perform Friday, Aug. 20, at the Logan Arthouse and Cinema. Tickets are $10. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.

Comedian

The show will also feature Alvin Williams and will be hosted by local comedian/magician Brad Bonar.

For more info call 757-6237.

B

engt Washburn graduated from Utah State University in 1989 with a degree in art, and started his standup career in 1995.

Six years later he won the San Francisco International Comedy Competition. Past finalists of this prestigious competition include Robin Williams, Ellen Degeneres, Louis CK, Patton Oswalt, Doug Stanhope and Sinbad.

Bengt has appeared on the Late Late Show with Craig Fergusen and Live at Gotham on Comedy Central. He

Learn about human DNA this Saturday at the Museum of Anthropology

AVE YOU EVER H wondered when and how the earliest Native American groups

came to the Americas?

What is the relationship between modern Native Americans and the ancient mammoth hunters?

Those and other questions will be answered Aug. 21 during “DNA: Tracing the Peopling of the New World,” the Utah State University Museum of Anthropology’s next “Saturdays at the Museum” presenta-

has two CDs that play on XMRadio, and he has produced a DVD, “Mormon Meets World.” He lives in Germany with his wife, an officer in the U.S. Air Force.

He will record his fourth comedy CD, “Bengt Over in Europe,” this fall.

While his act is often described as intelligent, Washburn himself (on and off stage) is ditzy, neurotic and logistically impaired. His show is often autobiographical, mostly clean, sometimes inappropriate and funny.

tion. The program will include an examination of the DNA evidence of prehistoric and modern Native American groups.

USU archeology student Allyson Martin will give presentations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on ancient and modern human DNA. A family activity with a DNA kit will also be offered.

USU students and members of the public are invited to the museum any time during open hours: Monday -

Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is free. For Saturday activities, free parking is available in the adjacent lot, south of the building.

The USU Museum of Anthropology is on the USU campus in the south turret of the historic Old Main building, Room 252.

For more information about this event, call museum staff at 797-7545 or visit the museum website (anthromuseum.usu.edu).

Page 3 - The Herald Journal - Cache, Logan, Utah, Friday, August 13, 2010

Upcoming events

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Rhythms

Encore!

The 2010 Noon Music at the Tabernacle Encore performance will take place Friday, Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Logan LDS Tabernacle. Admission is free.

The following performers will return for another night of music:

Emily Heap

Kim Rives

Brandon, Sherilyn and Shannon Lee

Vickie Craw

Brianna Craw

Katie McGregor

Mark Gibbons

Andrea Bailey

Ryan Axtell

Richie Albrechtsen

Lisa Budge, Sue Baker and Sylvia Kirkland Saddle Serenade

Karen Teuscher

Lee Cannon

Treblemakers

LaeKin Burgess

Anson and Miho Everitt

Flute quartet

Joseph Ditton

Sarah Jacobs Huff

Taylor Clark

— Also performing will be David and Eliza Done and Brandon Clayton.

Logan natives back for a night of jazz

J

ACKSON AND MAGGIE Evans will present “Jazz from a Lower Latitude” at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 1, at the Logan Arthouse and Cinema, 795 N. Main St., Logan.

Admission is $12 at the door.

Jazz from a Lower Latitude is a concert event conceived by Jackson and Maggie in their Savannah, Ga., home. After cutting their teeth on the competitive southeast jazz scene, the two will return to Logan and showcase the unique sound they have developed: a blend of Latin American rhythms, Southern swing and authentic Georgia blues.

To enhance the performance, they have enlisted Cache Valley virtuosos Eric Nelson and Jason Nicholson. A special appearance will also be made by Utah State University professor Mike Christiansen.

Both Maggie and Jackson were raised in Maggie Logan and are graduates of USU. This speEvans cial event will commemorate six years since their departure from Cache Valley on Sept.

1, 2004.

After arriving in Savannah, Maggie pursued a Master’s of Fine Art in painting at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Maggie spent much of this time juggling a full-time school schedule, freelancing as a bassist with local blues bands and promoting, producing and co-leading her new jazz project, Silver Lining. The success of Silver Lining came largely as a result of her unique vocal ability and skill on the six-string bass. Currently Maggie balances her busy musical schedule with a successful career as a nationally exhibiting artist and Eric Nelson part-time professor at SCAD. Jackson has spent his time in the southeast developing a solid reputation as an accompanist, arranger, composer, lyricist, teacher and allaround performer. He has amassed a large private studio including more than 30 students and has taught group courses, developed curriculum and conducted

Celebrate America with 1940s big band music

F

OR NEARLY THIRTY years, Larry Smith was part of Utah State University’s “An Evening With Glenn Miller.” Now, 10 years later, Larry has formed his own orchestra, which is part of the popular annual Celebrate America Show.

America’s love of big-band music is at the heart of the show, and these dedicated musicians play big band the best!

Drummer Ned Smith will fly in from Washington to be part of the show for the third year. Last year he brought the house down with his solo work in “Sing Sing Sing.”

This year’s Celebrate America Show, “Hooray For Hollywood,” will take audiences back in time to experience the glamour, patriotism and excitement of “old Hollywood.” In 1942,

ensembles for community-based programs. In 2009 he was awarded the distinction of becoming a Benedetto Artist and endorses their Bravo model guitar. Jackson also endorses Island Amplifiers and aids in their product development.

Clarinetist/saxophonist Eric Nelson hails from Northern Utah where he has been a member of the Lightwood Duo since its inception in 1992. With the Lightwood Duo he has performed in New York, Arizona, California, Nevada, Idaho and Hawaii. In addition, he has performed in Utah with the Utah Symphony, Utah Chamber Artists, Ballet Jason Nicholson West Orchestra, Contemporary Music Consortium, Utah Festival Opera and the Lyric Theatre, and in New York with the Riverside Trio and Wagner/Nelson Chamber Jazz. He is also saxophonist and Jackson keyboardist with the jazz/rock band Phase2.

Evans He has taught in public schools in Utah and Texas for 30 years. Nelson holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from USU and a master’s of music in applied woodwinds from the University of North Texas.

Jason Nicholson received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in percussion performance from the University of North Texas.

From 2005 to 2008 he was a Graduate Teaching Fellow in percussion at UNT, where he taught applied lessons, percussion methods and percussion ensemble. Jason was also a featured soloist with both the Graduate Percussion Ensemble and the Wind Symphony, performing at the 2006 PASIC alongside Keiko Abe and the UNT Percussion faculty.

In 2006, Jason was honored with the award for Most Outstanding Graduate Student in Percussion and also served as the principle percussionist with the UNT Wind Symphony. Jason received his undergraduate degree in music education from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. He then completed a master of music in percussion performance from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.

Hollywood produced music and movies that helped America through the difficult days of World War II. The leading movie stars enlisted to serve in the military and patriotism soared.

Everyone wanted to do their part to help America, and most did, by buying war bonds.

Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe will be on hand to sell war bonds.

The show will be held Sept. 7-11 in the Utah State University Ballroom.

Special group rates are available for the evening of Sept. 7. For more information or for tickets, call 753-1551 or visit www.celebrateamericashow.com.

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Rhythms

Page 6 - The Herald Journal - Cache, Logan, Utah, Friday, August 13, 2010

Film

Still playing

“The Expendables” Rated R ★ 1/2 An exercise in nostalgia for the bygone era of muscly, macho action films, “The Expendables” is willfully out of date, like an aged hair band that can’t pack away the spandex. Sylvester Stallone, the director, co-writer and star, has summoned a who’s who of the remaining defenders of high body-count, testosterone-fueled action: Jason Statham, Jet Li, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, Terry Crews and Dolph Lundgren, who collectively make up a band of beefy, tattooed mercenaries. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis make cameos, too: It’s a reunion. Mickey Rourke comes along as a grizzled former warrior. The crew is hired to overthrow a corrupt general (David Zayas) and a villainous, rogue CIA agent (Eric Roberts) on the fictional island of Vilena. But the world of “The Expendables”

has shockingly little connection to anything like the real world, and the military compound that will be the setting for much of the film could be that from any “Rambo” movie: cargo boxes, sand bags and watch towers, all ripe for explosions. The film is a time warp to a time before irony, to a low-production-value movieland where it’s still OK to fade to a close-up of a full moon.

But it’s exactly the movie Stallone wanted to make; he loves this stuff. R for strong action and bloody violence throughout, and for some language. 103 min.

“Scott Pilgrim vs. The World” Rated PG-13 ★★★ It’ll sound like blasphemy — especially to the film’s target audience — but here goes: This is way more involving when it focuses on actual people and the palpable angst of young love rather than the video game-style duels to the death in which the title character finds himself.

Director and co-writer Edgar Wright certainly creates an infec-

tious energy in bringing Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels to the screen, with wonderfully weird little details sprinkled throughout. No surprise there, given Wright’s previous films — the excellent “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz” — which reveled in the deliriously absurd elements of everyday life. But it’s those kinds of relatable factors — and some lively performances from an appealing, eclectic cast — that make the movie work.

The video game flourishes grab you the first couple times. Often the action is split in a way that suggests the panels of a comic book coming to life, or words like “Ding Dong!” and “Blam!” appear on screen. These devices grow repetitive and tiresome, though, especially once you realize Scott really is going to have to fight every one of his new girlfriend’s seven evil exes. Michael Cera stars as the 22-year-old Toronto nerd who’s smitten upon the

sight of the mysterious Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead). PG-13 for stylized violence, sexual content, language and drug references. 112 min.

“The Other Guys” Rated PG-13 ★★★ If the mismatched-buddy cop movie seems egregiously overdone, the idea of a parody of that genre would seem especially needless — which is what makes this such a wonderful surprise. On paper, this could have been painfully lame. Will Ferrell is doing a variation on his tried-and-true film persona: the overly earnest guy who’s totally confident and oblivious to his buffoonery. Mark Wahlberg, meanwhile, is playing with his screen image as a tough guy and a hothead, doing a version of his Oscar-nominated role in “The Departed.” It all could have been too familiar, too cute. But

there are just enough tweaks to these characters and this formula — and a refreshingly weird, kinky streak throughout — that make “The Other Guys” an unexpected kick. Director and co-writer Adam McKay’s film runs out of steam in the third act and probably could have been tightened a bit. And we didn’t need the PowerPoint-style presentation over the closing credits preaching to us about corporate greed. But the majority of it works. A big reason for the film’s success is that the action sequences are played totally straight. The comedy similarly has a deadpan tone; it’s selfaware but not tongue-in-cheek.

PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language, violence and some drug material. 101 min.

“Eat Pray Love” Rated PG-13 ★★★ This does exactly what it should

‘Vampires Suck’ is very, very bad

I

’M GOING TO spoil it all right here, right now. The wittiest aspect of “Vampires Suck” is that instead of being the Cullens, Edward and his family band of vampires are known as the Sullens. Yup, as far as humor goes, that’s about as good as it gets here.

What’s happened to the spoof?

Monty Python and Mel Brooks did them so well. Movies like “Airplane” and “Naked Gun” harken back to a past where spoofs were funny, intelligent and enjoyable. Even the first “Scary Movie,” from the Wayans brothers, had its moments.

Now we’re stuck with co-directors Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer, who brought us “Epic Movie” and “Meet the Spartans.” Friedberg and Seltzer wouldn’t know subtle comedy if it bit them in the neck with giant, humorous teeth. Still they’re allowed to make movie after movie of unfunny dreck. Blech!

If there was ever a movie franchise that deserved a spoof, it’s the “Twilight” series. I had hopes that “Vampires Suck” would at least get this one right.

With “Epic Movie” and all the other ridiculous spoofs these guys have churned out, they had to focus on tons of different movies. Here they only have to focus on one story and one set of characters. Somehow in my misguided optimism I thought

The Reel Place

By Aaron Peck

(Zero stars) “Vampires Suck” Rated PG-13 maybe, just maybe, they could string a couple jokes together about “Twilight” that would cause me to chuckle. Apparently that was too much to ask.

It’s hard to quantify “Vampires Suck,” because it’s just so bad and it’s not one of those movies that’s so bad it’s good.

It’s just bad and mean-spirited.

After a CGI baby gets crushed by a bowling ball (yes, this does happen),we realize that this is no longer a movie; rather, it’s some sort of eyeball torture we have been forced to endure at the

hands of Hollywood. And you know what? It will make you even angrier when you realize you actually paid to see it.

I just feel bad for everyone involved. Poor newcomer Jenn Proske, who plays Becca, does her very best Kristen Stewart impression, and you know what?

She nails it. The lip biting, the ground staring, the distance looking, she’s got it all. She’s far too talented for a film like this, though. Scouring her IMDB.com page, this is her only credit, and I hope for her sake that it’s not her last. She’s a decent actress, stuck in a film made by morons.

Maybe good spoof films are dead and buried, who knows.

With Friedberg and Seltzer running the show and cornering the spoof market, there’s no way in hell we’re going to get a worthwhile spoof for years to come.

Film critic Aaron Peck has a bachelor’s degree in English from USU. He also writes for BlogCritics.org and HighDefDigest.com. He lives in Logan.

Leave feedback at aaronpeck46@gmail.com.

Brighten the world. Look for bulbs and fixtures that carry the ENERGY STAR ® label.

change.

1-888-STAR-YES

Learn more. Visit www.energystar.gov

ENERGY STAR is sponsored by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy.

Page 7 - The Herald Journal - Cache, Logan, Utah, Friday, August 13,

to satisfy its core audience: It provides a gorgeous escape, exquisitely photographed and full of female wish fulfillment. Yet it also offers sufficient emotional heft and self-discovery that it’ll make people feel as if they’ve actually learned something and, perhaps, emerged as better people solely through osmosis.

It’s easy to see why Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir became an international phenomenon, even without help from Oprah.

Everyone’s looking for something — for answers, for their true and higher purpose — and Gilbert had the fortitude (and the wherewithal) to take off alone on a journey around the world to find herself after her divorce.

Having Julia Roberts star as Liz Gilbert in the film version of the best-seller, in theory, only makes it more appealing to an even wider audience. Roberts is radiant as ever, and director and co-writer Ryan Murphy’s adaptation allows her to show off her full range with plenty of hardcore hanky moments. It’s overlong and it wraps up with the kind of romantic comedy cliches that, for the most part, were absent from the first two-thirds. Regardless of how you feel about the movie, though, it’ll make you want to head out for wine and pasta with your girlfriends afterward.

Javier Bardem, Billy Crudup and James Franco star as the various loves of her life. PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexual references and male rear nudity. 133 min.

— The Associated Press

Kelin Gibbons

Photo by Levi Sims

Photo by Alan Murray/Herald Journal

Cory Castillo plays guitar.

Photo by Alan Murray/Herald Journal

Wally Gibbons plays the bass during rehearsal.

Photo by Alan Murray/Herald Journal

Liz Woolley sings and plays the mandelin during rehearsal.

Running Dr

W

hen the Dry Lake Band plays, it’s easy to forget what y 2010 gets lost behind the swift interplay of banjo and stepped on by the steady rhythm of a walking bass line. M 1910. Or 1810.

That’s the effect bluegrass music can have, especially when it’s played with th and passion this five-piece Cache Valley ensemble gives it. The band can mak more than a century old sound fresh, and songs they wrote just days ago sound and wise.

“It’s a little bit like a time machine for me,” says guitar player Cory Castillo. hear it, it’s easy to think back 100 years, about my family and where I come fr Dry Lake Band is made up of five local musicians who play guitar, banjo, stand-up bass, mandolin and fiddle. In the year they’ve been together, they have busily spread bluegrass music around Cache Valley and the broader region.

This spring and summer they’ve performed about once a week, including shows at the Beaver Mountain Music Festival, Summerfest in Logan, the Way Out West Music Festival at Snow Basin, the Park City Music Series and the Ogden Music Festival.

They’ve been consistently surprised and pleased at how audiences have responded to their music, Castillo said.

It’s common after performances to talk to audience members who say they never listen to bluegrass music but loved the band’s set and said they felt like they knew all the songs.

That’s a testament to the band’s skill, but Castillo believes it also speaks to the broad appeal of bluegrass music.

“It’s the music of the people, and it

reminds everybody of something,” he says.

There’s “a truth to it,” mandolin player Liz Woolley says. Many of the songs the band plays have been around for hundreds of years, and they sing of themes or tell stories that have been around even longer. The band strives to give their original songs that same truth.

They also put a lot of energy and fun into the music, and the audience responds. The band members speak fondly of a performance at a wedding, where 60 drunken French people spontaneously broke into a jubilant synchronized dance during one of their songs. Then there was the time the two old ladies who had been sitting quietly for hours suddenly stood up and started clogging.

“I was just honored to be a part of making that happen,” Castillo said.

As good as their music makes audiences feel, its positive effect on the band members is just as potent.

Jamming for a few hours with his

Story by Devin Felix

bandmates or tak form is a great w stresses of a diffi player Wally Gib Kelin plays banj “I’m in this to fun,” Wally says healthy. This is t I have.”

While Dry Lak bluegrass traditio to branch out and bluegrass bands on, Kelin Gibbon George Gershwi mertime,” which clear vocals and favorite.

The band hope improve their cra time on stage in tillo says. It wou a record deal, he doesn’t happen, people back in ti dance with their

ry

Cache Valley’s Dry Lake Band takes listeners to a different time, while keeping them in the moment.

year it is. mandolin and Maybe it’s

• Dry Lake Band’s next performance in Cache Valley will be Sept. 17 at Caffe Ibis in Logan as part of the Gallery Walk.

he precision ke songs that are d weathered

• Check them out at www.drylakeband.com.

o. “Every time I rom.”

• The band has recorded one album and is working on a second.

Lacey Johnson

Photo by Levi Sims

king the stage to perway to get past the icult day job, says bass bbons — whose son jo in the band. play music and have s. “It helps keep me the best anti-depressant

ke Band is devoted to on, they’re also willing d try music that other might not want to take ns says. That includes in’s famous song “Sumh features Woolley’s is usually a crowd

es to continue to aft by logging more front of audiences, Casuld also be nice to land e says. But even if that they’ll continue to take ime and make people music.

Dry Lake Band is (from left): Kelin Gibbons, Liz Woolley, Lacey Johnson, Cory Castillo and Wally Gibbons

Photo by Levi Sims

Page 10 - The Herald Journal - Cache, Logan, Utah, Friday, August 13, 2010

Fix your house and your mental health

W

HENEVER I’M feeling a little down, worthless and confused, I usually turn to a fix-it fix. True, I could turn to booze, psychotherapy or religion, but their relief is fleeting compared to the simple act of making something work that once did not.

The trouble with most of our real jobs is that they only offer delayed gratification, if any gratification at all. Education is like handing out time bombs that may be used for good or evil at some undetermined point in the future. Retail sales just make you the middleman between someone else’s labor and some other someone’s acquisition. Food service could be satisfying if it’s something that does not involve a drive-through window.

Your first obstacle in achieving the fix-it fix is getting past the self-delusion that you are doing this to save money or time. Fixing your own stuff seldom is the easiest or most economical way to get things done; you just have to do it for the personal sense of achievement and satisfaction that comes from doing something other than torturing a keyboard with your hands.

Let me repeat, doing it yourself seldom saves money. By the time I research the procedure on the Internet, make three return trips to Home Depot to get the extra part I need or to exchange a part for the correct size because I measured incorrectly there is no economic or carbon footprint model that could rationalize my behavior. On a strictly cost-benefit analysis, a more cost-efficient use of my time would have been collecting aluminum cans along the side of the road.

The second obstacle to your fix is aligning expectation with outcomes of your fix-it projects. This should be easy since societal standards are at a historic low. Most people consider defrosting and opening cans to be cooking, so you don’t have to go too far beyond changing the proverbial light bulb to feel handy. You can follow the wire down the line and change the switch or get even more

Slightly Off Center

By Dennis Hinkamp

* This week’s New York Times Bestseller List * HARDCOVER FICTION 1.”The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” by Stieg Larsson 2. “The Red Queen” by Philippa Gregory 3. “The Help” by Kathryn Stockett 4. “Star Island” by Carl Hiaasen 5. “The Rembrandt Affair” by Daniel Silva PAPERBACK NONFICTION 1. “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert 2. “Three Cups of Tea” by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin 3. “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls 4. “My Horizontal Life” by Chelsea Handler 5. “Where Men Win Glory” by Jon Krakauer CHILDREN’S BOOKS 1. “Lego Star Wars” by Simon Beecroft 2. “Ooh La La! It’s Beauty Day!” by Jane O’Connor 3. “Star Wars” by Rufus Butler Seder 4. “How Rocket Learned to Read” by Tad Hills 5. “Ladybug Girl at the Beach” by David Soman and Jacky Davis

creative and put in a dimmer.

That said, don’t take electricity lightly. I turn off every circuit breaker in the house and ask the city to shut down the power plant just to be sure.

You know those momentary power outages you experienced a couple weeks ago? That was me; sorry.

Plumbing, though less personally risky, is stinkier. People at work can generally tell when I have been doing home plumbing jobs.

Despite all the obstacles I have previously outlined, it is still worth the mental healing balm you will receive from completing a project that gives you immediate feedback. A light that lights anew and a drain that drains again because of something you actually did with your hands is a beautiful thing.

I’m not sure what real plumbers, carpenters and electricians do to get their fix-it fix; maybe they install new software on their computers.

Dennis Hinkamp would like to reveal that “Slightly Off Center” actually refers to his carpentry skills. He is among a number of freelance writers whose columns appear in The Herald Journal as part of an effort to expose readers to a variety of community voices. He is not an employee of the newspaper. Feedback at dhinkamp@msn.com.

HE MOUNTAIN VIEW VETERINARY T Health Center will host a Health Fair and WalkA-Thon from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at MVVHC’s North Logan location, 1702 N. 800 East. All proceeds will benefit Four Paws Rescue of Utah. For more information, call 752-8251 or visit www.mtnviewvet.com. Leashed and well-behaved pets are welcome.

The walk-a-thon registration fee is $10 per person. The walk route is 2.14 miles long and will start at 1702 N. 800 East, go north to 1800 North, east to 1200 East, south to 1400 North, west to 800 East and north back to 1702 N. 800 East. The walk is open to pets and their owners or anyone else who wants to support Four Paws Rescue. You do not have to have a pet to participate, but leashed and well-behaved pets are welcome on the walk route.

There will also be a contest to help promote health and wellness, which will kick off Saturday and last nine weeks. This will be a “Biggest Loser” contest with winners based on percentage of weight lost for Pets Only and for Pets and Owners. Participants will need to have their pet’s weight recorded on an official weight record and initialed by a veterinary staff member each week. There will be two winners, one in each category, and the prize will be a $50 gift card to PetSmart.

There will be informational booths from Four Paws Rescue of Utah, Science Diet, Home Again, Novartis, behavioral/training, grooming, first aid, wellness (with acupuncture and chiropractic) and

mini “How to Exercise Your Pet” classes.

There will also be prizes, raffles, a fishing pond, a bounce house for the kids (sorry, no pets in the bounce house!) and plenty of information about how to care for your pet and help them become healthier.

For more information or to volunteer at the event, contact Jenny or Jonathon at 752-8251.

Page 11 - The Herald Journal - Cache, Logan, Utah, Friday, August 13, 2010

Walk-a-thon to promote pet, person health

Page 12 - The Herald Journal - Cache, Logan, Utah, Friday, August 13, 2010

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GET YOUR STUFF PUBLISHED! The Cache Magazine Bulletin Board is a place for our local community to share, well ... anything! Cache Magazine wants your stuff! Send it all to jbaer@hjnews.com, or mail it to Cache Magazine, 75 W. 300 North, Logan, UT 84321. We’ll be waiting!

www.ThemeCrosswords.com

By Myles Mellor and Sally York Across 1. Monkey bread source 7. Menu 13. Lyndon Johnson dog 16. Strip noise 19. Marine mollusks 20. Lament 21. Cover 23. Cheap handguns 26. Municipality in France 27. Badger’s burrow 28. Athina Onassis Rous

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locale 71. Passage 72. Army careerist 73. Maven

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Eric Herman to bring his kids’ act to North Logan IDS’ MUSICIAN K Eric Herman will perform at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 23, at

the North Logan Library, 475 E. 2500 North, North Logan.

Eric Herman is becoming a big name in the kids’ music world. Eric’s videos, including the smash hit, “The Elephant Song,” have become hugely popular online, with over 20 million views on YouTube, and his award-winning songs have been heard nationally on

PBS Kids, The Today Show and XM Radio.

Bursting with comedy, creativity, audience participation and outrageous fun, Eric’s show will have kids dancing from limb to limb, smiling from ear to ear and laughing from nose to foot!

This show is free and open to the public and targeted especially for kids ages 310 and families. For more information, please contact the North Logan Library.

68. Jetty 70. Organic radical 71. Mozart’s “Il mio tesoro,” e.g.

73. Arthropod appendage 75. ___ law 76. Vex 77. Valle del Bove locale 78. Unnamed ones 80. Spicy stew 81. Try, as a case 82. Fringe 83. Next

84. Trattoria entree 85. Muscle type 90. Keats works 91. Remove, in a way 92. Religious insect?

93. Snort 94. Port in western Israel 95. Owning land 96. Upbraid 97. Beluga yield 98. In place 100. “La Scala di ___” (Rossini opera)

101. Chafes 102. Branch 103. Car bar 105. Fall guy?

106. “Doctor Who” villain ess, with “the” 107. Skin problem 109. Wood sorrel 110. Squat 111. “Bleah!”

112. James Whitcomb Riley’s “___ I Went Mad”

Answers from last week

Page 13 - The Herald Journal - Cache, Logan, Utah, Friday, August 13, 2010

Crossword

Page 14 - The Herald Journal - Cache, Logan, Utah, Friday, August 13, 2010

Calendar Friday Stokes Nature Center invites kids ages 2 and 3 to Parent Tot Nature Hour from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday. Explore animals, plants and nature through music, crafts and games. All toddlers must have a parent present to participate and explore with their child. Cost is $3 ($2.50 for SNC members). To register, call 755-3239 or e-mail nature@logannature.org.

A series of three presentations on the evidences of the Book of Mormon in the Heartland of America by Rod L. Meldrum will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sunday and Monday at the Holiday Inn Express, 2235 N. Main St., Logan. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated. For more information, call 752-3444. Topics include “Book of Mormon Prophecies Referencing the United States and its Consitution” on Friday; “Joseph Smith and Book of Mormon Prophecies of the Latter Days” on Sunday; and “Newly Discovered Book of Mormon Evidences in North America” on Monday.

The Food Sense girls will share some quick and easy recipes using in-season fruits and veggies from noon to 1 p.m. Friday in the Providence Macey’s Little Theater.

There is no charge. Seating is limited; call 753-3301 to reserve your spot. For more information, visit www.maceys.com.

The Antics perform improv comedy at 10:30 p.m. every Friday at the Logan Arthouse and Cinema, 795 N. Main St. Admission is $5. For more information, visit www.loganar thouse.com.

Everyone is invited to join a weekly peace vigil from 5:30 to 6 p.m. every Friday on the east side of Main Street between Center Street and 100 North in Logan. For more information, e-mail info@loganpeace.org or call 755-5137.

Saturday The Cache Bash demolition derby starts at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Cache County Fairgrounds. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. with Kris Krompel and friends. There will be food, guitar and other giveaways. Discount tickets are available at KSM Music.

USU’s Museum of Anthropology will host “DNA: Tracing the Peopling of the New World” as part of its ongoing “Saturdays at the Museum” series. Allyson Martin, a USU senior studying archaeology, will provide two presentations on ancient and modern human DNA at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. A family activity with a DNA kit will be available. Admission is free. For more information, call 797-7545.

Banjoman & Co. will perform at 2 p.m.

Friday at the Franklin County fairgrounds shelter pavilion by the Robinson Building, 186 W. 200 North, Preston. Free to the public.

Logan High School Class of 2000 will host its 10-year reunion Saturday. Families are invited to Willow Park from 2 to 4 p.m.; an

adult dinner will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. on the LHS patio. Cost is $10 per person. For more information, e-mail sarahida@gmail.com.

Stokes Nature Center will host a Hummingbird Open House from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday in Corinne Thul’s backyard at Second Dam. Participants will learn facts about hummingbirds, how to identify different species, and will have the opportunity to feed them by hand.

Cost is $3 ($2.50 for members). For more information, visit www.logannature.org.

Cache Pilates Studio will hold fall registration from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Whittier Community Center, 290 N. 400 East, Logan.

Cost is $150 for the semester. For class times and availablity, contact Tora at 787-8442.

A Family Community Carnival/Health Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer Valley Lodge, 2351 N. 400 East, North Logan. There will be booths dedicated to veterans and senior health, plus free carnival games with prizes, a bouncy house, free food and more. A special flag presentation by Ervin Simons will be held at 3 p.m. and a sock hop will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Dress in your ’40s or ’50s attire. For more information, call 792-0353.

Paul Christiansen will perform with Tina Ferguson and Ruben (acoustic) at 8 p.m.

Saturday at Why Sound, 30 Federal Ave. Cover charge is $5. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/whysound.

A Cache Community 5K or half-mile Memory Walk and Brain-Healthy Breakfast will be held Saturday at Cache Valley Assisted Living, 233 N. Main St., Providence.

Cost for breakfast and walk is $25 (5K) and $5 (half-mile), or $5 just for breakfast. There will also be booths offering free memory screenings, gluscosameter testing, bone density testing and more. All proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. The first few to register will recieve a coupon to Casper’s Ice Cream. Register now or at 7 a.m. the day of the race. For more information, call 792-4770.

The Mountain View Veterinary Health Center will host a Health Fair and Walk-A-Thon from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at MVVHC’s North Logan location, 1702 N. 800 East. All proceeds will benefit Four Paws Rescue of Utah. For more information, call 752-8251 or visit www.mtnviewvet.com. Leashed and wellbehaved pets are welcome.

The Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at Merlin Olsen Park. Come enjoy locally grown produce, handmade crafts, artisan foods, live music and more. Now accepting SNAP, credit and debit cards. For more information, visit www.gardenersmarket.org or call 755-3950.

Monday Common Ground Outdoor Adventures will host Bike & Ice at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

Come for an evening of cycling and ice cream.

Volunteers are always needed. For more information, visit www.cgadventures.org.

Eric Herman will perform for kids at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the North Logan Library. For more information, visit www.EricHermanMusic. com.

Tuesday Common Ground Outdoor Adventures will hike the Jardine Juniper Trail at 4 p.m.

Tuesday. Volunteer orientation will be held at 6 p.m. For more information, call 713-0288.

A sexual addiction recovery group for LDS males taught by a licensed psychotherapist will be held from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. every Tuesday starting Aug. 24 at the Logan High Seminary building (basement classroom).

Both clinical and spiritual principles will be used. There is no charge.

The Cookie Cutters Salon will share some “back-to-school” hairstyles and secrets on how to fix common mishaps (gum in the hair, color gone wrong, etc.) from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Providence Macey’s Little Theater. Admission is free and there will be giveaways. Seating is limited; call 753-3301 to reserve your spot.

Wednesday Scott Bradley will lead a “To Preserve the Nation” Constitution class at 7 p.m.

Wednesday at The Book Table (upstairs). For more information, call 753-2930 or 753-8844.

Mountainside Elementary will host Backto-School Night from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. All students and their parents are invited.

Nibley Elementary will host its Back-toSchool Night at 6 p.m. Wednesday starting with a general meeting. All students and their parents are invited to attend.

Auditions for the American Festival Chorus 2010-11 concert season will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and 4 to 7 p.m. Sept.

1 at the Edith Bowen School on the USU campus. For more information, visit americanfestivalchorus.org or e-mail elaine.olson@usu.edu.

Rum Rebellion will perform with Resistor Radio and Rebellious Cause (punk/rock) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Why Sound. Cover charge is $5.

Ye Olde Tyme Quilters will meet at 10 a.m.

Wednesday at OPTIONS for Independence, 1095 N. Main St., Logan. The group will eat lunch afterwards (prices vary). For more information or to schedule free transportation, contact Aimee at 753-5353 ext. 105.

Paradise hosts its Farm and Garden Market from 6 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday in the Town Square. Featured are local produce, crafts, music and activities for all ages.

Thursday Common Ground Outdoor Adventures will host a BBQ at Hyrum Reservoir on Thursday. The group will leave Common Ground

at 5:30 p.m. There will be burgers, swimming and kayaking. For more information, call 7130288.

USU Extension in Cache County will host a free nutrition workshop/cooking demonstration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Multipurpose Room of the Cache County Admininstration Building, 179 N. Main, St. Logan. Topics will include “Summer Squash Sensation” and “Breakfast and Snacks.” For reservations, call 752-6263.

Constellation of Cars (Andy Tanner) will perform with ThExpo and Greene and Jill & Narielle (soul/pop/rock) at 8 p.m. Thursday at Why Sound. Cover charge is $5.

OPTIONS for Indepdence will host orientation for its Living Well with a Disability support group from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday at OPTIONS, 1095 N. Main St., Logan.

This group will help you develop healthy behaviors, achieve worthwhile goals and live a rich, meaningful life. For more information or to schedule transportation, contact Kathleen at 753-5353 ext. 104.

Join OPTIONS for Independence at the Box Elder County Fair and Rodeo at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 26. Dinner prices will vary.

This activity is part of the Community Integration Program, which encourages people with disabilities to take part in the variety of recreational and leisure activities available within the community. To sign up, schedule transportation or for more information, contact Mandie at 753-5353 ext. 108.

The Knotty Knitters meet from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Senior Citizen Center in Logan. Everyone is invited to work on their crochet, knitting, needlework, crossstitch projects and more. For more information, contact Cathy at 752-3923.

Next weekend Stokes Nature Center’s new exhibit, “The History & Lore of Logan Canyon,” will be on display Aug. 27 through Sept. 11. This exhibit features historic photos and stories about the history and legends of Logan Canyon. SNC is located about one-third a mile up the River Trail, one mile up Logan Canyon, east of Logan. Admission is free. For more information, call 755-3239.

USU’s Science Unwrapped will consider “Food for Thought: Science on the Way to Your Dinner Plate” at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, in the Eccles Science Learning Center auditorium on campus. Featured speaker is USU food scientist Karin Allen. Admission is free and all ages are welcome. Refreshments and activities will follow the presentation. For more information, visit www.usu.edu/science/ unwrapped or call 797-3517.

A Miniature Golf Tournament for the Cache Foster Care Resource Center will be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at the Renegade Sports Complex, 1903 S. 800 West, Logan. Cost is $5 per person. For more information, visit cachefcrc.blogspot.com.

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