Your locally-owned newspaper, serving North Bend and Snoqualmie, Washington
Break dancing classes coming to Si View Page 3
September 19, 2013 VOL. 5, NO. 37
Pole position Local couple plans to hike across Antartica. Page 2
Talk about transportation State lawmakers to hear citizen concerns, questions. Page 3
Groundbreaking See the start of the new hospital. Page 6
Police blotter Page 7
Rock out Locals form new band. Page 7
First taste of fall colors
Photo by Camille Bodey
Autumn creates colorful scenes on trails and hills and even on the ground. Camille Bodey of North Bend was walking her dog, Trisha, along 432nd Avenue Southeast when she saw this arrangement on the ground. The colors, patterns, leaves, twigs and dirt looked like floral arrangement, Bodey said. She’s an artist and plans to paint the picture.
Valley Center Stage presents ‘Almost, Maine’ Kick past them
By Sherry Grindeland
Mount Si tops Issaquah. Page 10
Like the northern lights that are part of the background scenery, love and romance shimmer in the air in “Almost, Maine,” the opening play of Valley Center Stage’s 2013-2014 season. The action happens in the mythical town of Almost, Maine – so named because it is so far north it is almost in Canada. An assortment of characters works through romances that sometimes soar and sometimes crash; sometimes bring laughter and sometimes tears. The play, written by John Cariani, opens Sept. 26.
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Adding “Almost, Maine” to the season line-up was a unanimous decision, said Valley Center founder, president and artistic director, Gary Schwartz. He said that one of Valley Center Stage’s regular actors, Robin Walbeck-Forrest, suggested this particular show. “We held several readings of various shows to pick out our new season,” he said. “When we read this one, we laughed out loud and decided we had to do it.” Although “Almost, Maine” isn’t as well known as the rest of the season’s productions (“It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Over the
River and Through the Woods,” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”), it is becoming a staple in small theater circles. “Almost, Maine” is currently being staged in Bellingham, and Woodinville Rep performed it last year. The romantic comedy has acquired a reputation as a quirky, fun production, garnering good reviews wherever it is done. The New York Times described it as “a whimsical approach to the joys and perils of romance (where) magical happenings bloom beneath the snowdrifts.” Another reviewer
said, “John Cariani aims for the heart by way of the funny bone.” Each scene in “Almost, Maine” takes place at 9 p.m. Each vignette features fun characters who come and go and aren’t quite what they seem at first glance. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 26 thru Oct. 12, with one matinee at 2 p.m. Oct. 12. “Almost, Maine” is directed by Rich Wiltshire. The cast includes Craig Ewing, Ed See ALMOST, Page 2