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'Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince'

No Comments 30 July 2009

One of the best in the series

On The Aisle

By Tony Macklin

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” is an intoxicating potion of teenage hormones and evil spirits. Both are raging. The sixth movie in the Potter series about the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is one of the best. Evil is increasing its deadly invasion.

Albus Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) enlists Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) to try to get former professor Horace Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) out of retirement and back to Hogwarts.

Dumbledore asks Harry to get close to the befuddled professor of potions Slughorn, because the professor once taught Tom Riddle (played as 11-year-old by Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and as a 16-year-old by Frank Dillane.)

Tom Marvolo Riddle (an anagram for Lord Voldemort) became the sinister epitome of evil who is committed to destroying Harry and the school. The frightened Slughorn has information about his former student that could help defend the school and Harry against overwhelming evil. But he is too terrified to tell anyone.

The die is cast.

In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” a powerful potion is adolescence. Because Harry, Hermione (Emma Watson), Ron (Rupert Grint), et al. are now adolescents, pheromones are as powerful as magic. “Wands out” has more than one meaning. When keeper Ron stands proudly astride a broomstick after winning a Quidditch match, the symbolism is apt.

Hogwarts is a hotbed of adolescent angst. Much of the movie’s amusement comes from young wizards talking about love and attraction. A conversation in their room between Harry and Ron sharing bewilderment is funny.

Relationships are secretive and devious. Harry is attracted to Ron’s sister Ginny (Bonnie Wright), but he can’t let Ron know. Hermione likes Ron, but she can’t tell him. She can only stand by as Ron is blatantly pursued by the infatuated Lavender Brown (Jessie Cove). When Harry is sent a box of bewitched candy, Ron unknowingly intercepts it, eats the contents and is smitten by a romantic spell of giddiness.

According to the movie, Ron is a catch. I still can’t fathom that Hermione is attracted to the clunky Ron. And the lovely Lavender runs after him. That takes an overdose of magic potions to believe.

I guess I don’t understand teen love. But who does?

As with “Star Trek,” one doesn’t have to be a fan of the series to enjoy “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” It’s spectacular entertainment.

Much of this is due to director David Yates, cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, production designer Stuart Craig and editor Mark Day. It’s a movie of technical wizardry. It has a terrific look, it’s glowing with burnished imagery. It has visual pyrotechnics; it’s macabre, haunting, and tantalizing.

Yates, who directed the brilliant BBC series “State of Play,” also did “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.” He is presently helming the final two Potter movies, due in 2010 and 2011.

Writer Steve Kloves has done all the Potter screenplays from J. K. Rowling’s novels except the one for “Order of the Phoenix.” His script for “Half-Blood Prince” is artful.

The acting is a “who’s who” of British dramatic talent. One shouldn’t underestimate the value and ability of Radcliffe. He is the solid foundation of the series of films.

Gambon is memorable as the aging Dumbledore under siege. Emma Watson and Rupert Grint are likeable as Harry’s best friends. Helena Bonham Carter is fierce, dark passion as Death Eater Bellatrix Lestrange. Robbie Coltrane is given a humorous scene paying respects to a deceased arachnid. It’s good to have Hagrid still around and kicking. Tom Felton is a mix of scowling neurosis and simmering anger as Draco, Harry’s enemy.

But my favorite is Alan Rickman as Professor Snape. Rickman slowly rolls his words in bile before, after pregnant pauses, he speaks in sonorous chilliness. He is an evil hoot.

“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” has remarkable energy for the sixth episode in the series. The franchise keeps invigorating itself with new actors (Broadbent) and fresh images. Harry Potter is still going strong in magical fashion.

Live Music, Music

Much Good Music

No Comments 30 July 2009

Thursday, July 30

Celtic Grill: Effron White

George’s: Earth Society

Gusano’s: Darren Ray

Gypsy: Joey Farr Band

Jose’s Streetside: Leah & the Mojo Doctors

Mellow Mushroom: Jeff Kearney

Pesto Cafe: Sarah Hughes

Powerhouse: Charliehorse

Smiling Jack’s: Josh & Friends

Smoke & Barrel: Opal Fly

Teatro Scarpino: Big Bad Gina

Friday, July 31

Arsaga’s Crossover: East of Zion

Bayou: Benjamin Del Shreve

Drifters: Dave Stiles Band

George’s: The Belaires, Benjamin Del Shreve, Hardaway & the Commoners, The Poggs, Randall Shreve & the Sideshow, Kingsdown, Will Gunselman, The Eurpean Sons

Gypsy: Hunkr Down

Jammin Java: Alaina Clark

Jose’ Southwest Grill: FOS Band

The Perk: Open Mic

Ryleigh’s: Well, Well, Well, The People in the Paper

Smiling Jack’s: Kevin Bennoch

Smoke & Barrel: The OneUps

Teatro Scarpino: DJ Adam Richardson

Saturday, Aug. 1

Arsaga’s Crossover: Stacy Mackey

Bayou: Furious George

Boomer’s Time Out: Big Bad Bubba

George’s: Melvin Seals of JGB, Mountain of Venus & Friends

Gypsy: Hiphop

Jammin Java: Off the Wall

Jose’s Streetside: Robert Hatfield Show

Mellow Mushroom: Folk Holler

Sunday, Aug. 2

Common Grounds: Sarah Hughes, DJ SoulFree

Copeland’s: Claudia Burson Trio

Fez Hooka Lounge: Jovan Arellano

George’s: Sarah Hughes

Jose’s Streetside: Isayah Warford, Kory Montgomery & Friends

Mellow Mushroom: The Crumbs

Pesto Cafe: Shannon Wurst

Monday, Aug. 3

Gypsy: Songwriter Night with Jovan Arellano

Pesto Cafe: Darren Ray

Tuesday, Aug. 4

Bayou: Blues Jam

Copeland’s: Darren & Russ

Jose’s Streetside: The Odds

Teatro Scarpino: McLeod Burson Jazz Quartet

Wednesday, Aug. 5

Ella’s: Jazz

George’s: After the Scars

Herman’s: Effron White

Ironhorse: Open Jazz

Mellow Mushroom: Jovan Arellano

Thursday, Aug. 6

Jose’s Streetside: Big Bad Bubba

Mellow Mushroom: Eoff Brothers Band

Pesto Cafe: Sarah Hughes

Powerhouse: LaFuSo

Smoke & Barrel: Opal Fly

Want your band listed? E-mail information two weeks in advance to: sporter@nwaonline.net.

Wine of the Week

Time To Reconsider Australian Wines

No Comments 30 July 2009

Limestone Coast Shiraz

‘E’ Wine of the week

By Bruce Cochran

Australia’s wines are similar in style to California wines, and often at very good prices. Both California and Australia are mostly warm places looking for cool spots in which to grow grape varieties native to Europe’s cooler climate. Chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, syrah (aka shiraz in Australia) and others have long thrived in their new “New World” homes.

While most of the wine world struggles with current economic conditions, Australia’s wineries have been having a particularly difficult time. In addition to a down world economy and a rising home currency (making Australia’s imports more expensive), many of their vineyard areas have faced droughts, floods and fires. They’ve lost market share from the U.S. to Britain.

Perhaps the greatest challenge they’ve brought on themselves. Younger readers may not know that Australian wines haven’t been in the U.S. market for very long. They rocketed from not much to a lot in only a few years, mainly in the 1990s. What they did was popularize their California-style wines at inexpensive prices. What they didn’t do was effectively promote their best quality areas, as Napa Valley vintners did for example.

Few Americans really know that much about Australia’s various wine regions. Mostly along the cooler southern coast (being south of the equator), names like Hunter Valley, Victoria, Coonawarra and Barossa were emphasized early on, but not enough. In most consumers’ idea of Australian wines the really good independent wineries are mostly lumped together with low priced “critter wines” (labels with animals). Even Fred Franzia, inventor of “Two Buck Chuck” has announced a new venture called “Three Dolla Koala.”

Part of the problem has been the appellation South East Australia. This name incorporates three wine producing states under one name, so wines can be blended together for greater efficiency and volume. At the same time, it has confused consumers, who mostly don’t remember smaller, often higher-quality appellations, or even individual states, like South Australia.

It’s said that sometimes you have to hit bottom to get back up, and Australia’s wine business looks like it must be close to a bottom. I sure hope so, because I like Australian wines and have a very friendly feeling toward Australians. Motivated sellers tend to offer bargains, and that’s what is happening now across Australia. For good quality at a good price, I think it’s time to consider Australian wines again. And I really hate to say “again.”

Your local wine retailer can likely suggest good wines from independent wineries in a variety of price ranges. One that I like is also easy to remember. Greg Norman Shiraz, “Limestone Coast” comes from the fine Limestone Coast area in the state of South Australia. It’s a deeply colored red that’s rich in fruit, with dark berry flavors over a backbone of fine tannins and enough, but not too much, toasty oak. Retail price is $15 to $20.

Risa's Astrology

Third Eclipse, Full Moon

No Comments 30 July 2009

Leo Solar Festival

Risa’s Astrology

By Risa D’Angeles

The third of the eclipse triplicity occurs Wednesday at the full moon solar festival occurring at 7:55 p.m. at 13.43 degrees Leo/Aquarius

Lunar eclipses mean the Sun, Earth and Moon are aligned with Earth at the center. See eclipse.org.uk/eclipse/1532009. For excellent graphics on the July 23 solar eclipse followed by the August 5 lunar eclipse and the Perseid meteor showers, where the best viewing is in southern California deserts, beginning now and peaking August 12, see shadowandsubstance.com.

Eclipses are important events for humanity and our Earth. It’s unusual to have two lunar eclipses following each other in two successive months. Lunar eclipses affect outer appearances. In the U.S., Gemini rising chart, this eclipse affects the foundations of our identity. In the U.S. sunrise chart it affects our money.

Aquarians and Leos (also Taurus and Scorpios, the four signs comprising the Fixed Cross) will be especially influenced by this eclipse. The course of our life is shifted, our pathway is corrected, purpose is revealed subtly as an exterior aspect of our life disappears. Eventually a new aspect of life appears, one more adaptable to our evolutionary and spiritual needs. At the Full Moon, the New Group of World Servers invites everyone to the meditation by reciting the Great Invocation. Find out more at www.nightlightnews.com.

ARIES: The group calls to you. It needs your help to guide them through the upcoming challenges of how to fully be and define themselves as a group and how to participate with loving cooperation. Perhaps you need to review the new Aquarian Laws and Principles. These are the new sets of guidelines for the Aquarian Age. The last Law given to humanity was to “Love one another.” Do you know the new Laws? Read on.

TAURUS: You know the Aquarius Laws and Principles and guidelines for the Aquarian Age. You know that laws emanate from principles. The Law of Right Human Relations emerges from intentions of goodwill used in our daily life. Your Venus understands this for you come from kindness and goodwill. This is why you understand your life task to tend and safeguard humanity and prepare for their future safety.

GEMINI: Your Mercury (used for personality-building) and Venus (understood and used when Soul-directed) rulers understand the principle of unanimity (working together), which emerges from your focus upon group endeavor. You know that we no longer progress individually. Spiritual progression occurs only within groups. Where is your group? Keep seeking. It will find you. Actually it has. Ask that your eyes be opened.

CANCER: As the “gate” where Spirit enters matter, as the sign where all beings new to the Earth are given passage, you understand intrinsically the law of spiritual approach and that the word spiritual applies to all phases of life on Earth because matter is really spirit hidden in form. It is the spirit within that impels us to move forward. Spiritual approach embodies the vision for our future. We are thus, all of us, “essential divinities.” Your nurturing principle has not forgotten this. Even if you have.

LEO: You are the ultimate individual and advanced creative. Your Leo individualness and gifts are invited to be presented, with utter surrender, to either God or the hierarchy or to a human group that you identify with, as long as they are a loving, service-oriented group.

VIRGO: You will be called to sense the divine in all moments and areas of life and in all people. You’ll be asked to not place anyone in an exalted position, but to stand with the great ones and absorb their virtues. As this occurs, you will have a clearer idea of your divine purpose. Do your best to communicate with the angelic realms, the creators of matter especially in nature. They are called the “lighted ones.” They create the “lighted way.”

LIBRA: You will be shining your way through life these days at the very center of other people’s graces and attention, being in the spotlight so to speak. The light will be shining on your accomplishments, your ability to soothe others’ wounds, your expanded ability to love and the ways you direct many in the direction toward right actions. We applaud your gifts, your creative use of time, your goodness. You are integrating.

SCORPIO: You’re pulled in two directions, home and not at home, home and work, at other people’s home where you’re aiding their progress, health and healing. You worry about your home, worry about the future, your money and how you will progress with so much of the past to tend to. One day at a time, one step in front of the other – in these ways you progress and then the future meets you more than halfway. Careful with communication. It can be harsh.

SAGITTARIUS: Here’s esoteric information for you about the Full Moon this week: At the time of the Full Moon a door (usually shut tight) suddenly stands wide open inviting you to walk through. Through that door, energies are contacted, approaches may be made and realities, impossible at other times, become possible. You’re invited to explore these new possibilities, an approach not understood by many. You would understand.

CAPRICORN: New opportunities are presented. You understand deeply the financial changes occurring in the world. Although they’re not easy to confront, you finally take the bull by the horns (so to speak, a financial metaphor) and realize that your goals must change and therefore your financial strategy. Do you understand strategy? Some Capricorns must rest for several years to come. Some Caps must forge forward. Which are you?

AQUARIUS: After your most recent adventures you’ll want to be relieved of too many possessions. You’ll assess what’s important and what can be released. Keep what is valuable from a life-giving point of view. Keep what you can barter and what will allow you to be safe and comfortable in the future. We are all teetering on the brink of un-knowingness. Intuition must play a greater role now, along with instinct. Remain close to the Earth.

PISCES: There may be changes in your spiritual regime, in your meditation and prayers. Those changes will also include daily work world and environments, those you serve and how you tend to yourself each day. Pray each day for a dynamic fixity of purpose, an unfoldment of consciousness that allows you to know where to go, what to do and with whom. Offer your “little will” to the divine will. Know that there is a gift after the strife.

Risa D’Angeles is founder and director of the Esoteric & Astrological Studies & Research Institute, a contemporary Wisdom School in Santa Cruz, Calif. E-mail: risagoodwill@gmail.com. Web site: www.nightlightnews.com

Film, Film Schedule

Opening: Adoration, Aliens In The Attic, Funny People

No Comments 30 July 2009

Opening

Adoration (R) Critically acclaimed film by Canadian filmaker Atom Egoyan (“The Sweet Hereafter”). A young man searches for the truth about an accident that occurred several year before. Woven into the script are glimpses into today’s fears about terrorism and the state of society. FS: 01:40*, 1:05, 4:05, 7:25, 9:30.

Aliens in the Attic (PG) Family action adventure film.FS: 10:35*, 12:40, 2:40, 4:40, 7:10, 9:05. R16. S9. TC.

The Collector (R) Horror film with Josh Sewart, Madeline Zima, Michael Reilly Burke. FS: 11:10*, 1:45, 4:55, 7:50, 10:05. TC.

Funny People (R) Judd Apatow (“Knocked Up”, “40 Year Old Virgin”) comedy with Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen. FS: 10:15*, 1:10, 4:05, 7:00, 10:00. R16. PC.

The Hurt Locker (R) “Watching “The Hurt Locker” is a stunning ordeal. It takes the viewer by the scruff of the neck. It embeds him or her in the middle of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal squad in Baghdad. We’re in an environment that is as alienating as being in outer space. When a member of the squad approaches a potentially cataclysmic bomb, we’re with him lumbering, breathing heavily, in a weighty Kevlar suit, like a man on the moon”. Tony Macklin, July 23 in the Fayetteville Free Weekly. Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty. R16.

Rudo Y Cursi (NR) A rags-to-riches story about two brothers who seek fame and riches as soccer players. A collaboration of Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (“Babel”), Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) and Alfonso Cuaron (“Y Tu Mama Tambien”). Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal. FS: 10:55*, 1:15, 3:40, 6:50, 9:15.

Also Playing

Angels & Demons (PG-13) Tom Hanks as a symbologist in the adaptation a Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code) novel. TC.

Bruno (R) Sacha Baron Cohen’ latest “reality” spoof. FS: 4:00, 9:55.

G-Force (PG) Animated action adventure about a covert team of guinea pigs that hold the fate of the world in their hands. FS: 10:05*, 12:20, 2:30, 4:35, 7:05, 9:20. R16. S9. PC.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (PG-13) A bachelor is haunted by old girlfriends. Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner. TC.

The Hangover (R) Comedy about a bachelor party in Las Vegas. Brad Cooper, Ed Helms. FS: 11:20*, 1:55, 4:50, 7:35, 9:55. R16. S9. TC.

Harry Potter: Half-Blood Prince (PG) FS: 12:15*, 3:45, 7:15, 10:15. R16. S9. PC.

I Love You Beth Cooper (PG-13) Teen comedy. Lauren London, Paul Rust. TC.

Ice Age 3 (G) Animated kids comedy. FS: 10:25*, 12:35, 2:45, 5:05, 7:30, 9:40. S9. PC.

Moon (R) Futuristic flick about a man who lives and works on the moon for a three-year stint. Sam Rockwell. FS: 11:15*, 1:40, 4:15, 6:55, 9:10.

My Sisters Keeper (PG-13) Family conflict develops when a daughter is diagnosed with leukemia. Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin. FS: 10:20*, 1:20, 6:45. R16. TC.

Orphan (R) Horror flick about an adopted daughter. Peter Sarsgaard, Vera Farmiga. FS: 10:10*, 12:55, 4:10, 7:40, 10:20. R16. S9. TC.

The Proposal (PG-13) Romantic comedy with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. FS: 11:05*, 1:35, 4:45, 7:20, 9:35. R16. PC.

Public Enemies (R) Story of ‘s gangster John Dillinger. Johnny Depp, Marion Cotillard. FS: 3:50, 9:45. R16. TC.

Star Trek (PG-13) The early years with a new cast. Leonard Nimoy, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto. FS: 10:20*, 1:00, 7:10.

The Taking of Pelham 123 (R) A New York subway train is hijacked. Denzel Washington, John Travolta. TC.

Terminator Salvation (PG-13) Life after nuclear holocaust. Christian Bale, Helena Bonham Carter. TC.

Transformers: Rise of the Fallen (PG-13) Sci-fi action adventure. Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox. FS: 12:30, 3:55, 7:00, 10:10. R16. S9. PC.

The Ugly Truth (R) Romantic comedy set in a TV studio. Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler. FS: 10:30*, 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:45, 9:50. R16. S9. PC.

Up (PG) Animated adventure. R16.

FS — Fiesta Square, Fayetteville, 888-262-4386; R16 — Razorback 16, Fayetteville, 521-4080; 521-4080; S9 — Sunset 9, Springdale, 751-2600; PC — Pinnacle Cinema 12, Rogers, 631-5927; TC — Town Center, Rogers, 631-5927. *Shows on select days.

Advice Goddess

Buy Sexual

No Comments 30 July 2009

Advice Goddess

By Amy Alkon

My boyfriend of a year is wonderful, intelligent, kind and hilarious. He told me he’d never been in love until meeting me, and while he’d had more sex partners than he’d like to admit, before me, it was all meaningless. Then, yesterday, I read an article about a prostitution ring, and asked how prostitutes can advertise without getting arrested. He explained how escort services work, with a little too much expertise. I asked if he’d ever paid for sex. He admitted he had, then let loose, saying he’d done it five times over several years; most recently, six years ago. He said it’s more common than people think, and like paying for a couple dates. He added that it was a time in his life when he was avoiding relationships, and considering the emotional cost of one, it was worth the price. Now, I’m finding myself repulsed by a man who, only yesterday, seemed so amazing. Help!

— Distraught

Clearly, honesty is the second-best policy, right behind leaping up to get one’s jaw wired shut when one is tempted to take a little trip down memory lane, to the corner of it, anyway, and tell the girlfriend about the good old days, back when $20 still bought you somebody.

Your boyfriend apparently got so wrapped up in reminiscing that he forgot to check your face for a look of horror, his cue to start an Olympic-style backpedal: “ … and I took one look at that skanky ho, sped home, made hot cocoa, and read the collected Beatrix Potter!” Actually, he probably wasn’t scoring drive-by sex from whichever meth-head in hotpants was working the alley; he most likely found a number in the paper or on a Web site for an escort, essentially a gold digger with an advertising budget.

Retired escort-turned-author Amanda Brooks explains the difference in “The Internet Escort’s Handbook, Book 2”: “If you are selling your time, undivided attention and the (unspoken) offer of sexual entertainment, you’re an escort. If you’re selling a specific sexual activity for a certain amount of money, you’re a prostitute. If you won’t have sex with the man you’re dating unless he buys you an expensive dinner, you’re a (relatively cheap) prostitute.”

The truth is, to a guy, a hooker isn’t all that different from a hookup. Men can have sex without knowing where a woman grew up, what her sign is, and all the ways her cat is like a dog. Men ask about that stuff because women typically require some emotional connection before they’ll get it on. But, unless a guy’s seeking something girlfriend-y, all he really needs to know is: Is she hot, free around 8, and will she take the credit card he gets frequent flyer miles on?

Society and religion say it’s wrong to pay for sex, but maybe it’s worse to do what a lot of guys do: fool girls into thinking they’re up for commitment when they only want to use ’em and lose ’em. Your boyfriend, on the other hand, was honest. He had a need and he paid to fill it: Cash and Carrie (and Candeee, Tifani, and Jazmin, too)! It’s natural that you’d feel threatened. Throughout history, women have made men pay for sex with commitment. If strings-free sexcapades are so readily available to your boyfriend, what hold could you possibly have? Well, just read your words above. Your boyfriend’s sex acts six years back don’t seem to impact how he lives today, except maybe in how grateful he is for the happy ending, the kind a guy just can’t buy, no matter how many hundreds he stacks on the dresser.

Boys ‘R’ Us

How successful are relationships where the woman is much older? I’m a 21-year-old guy with a 38-year-old girlfriend. I’m frequently hit on and teased by her female friends. They don’t seem interested in me as a person but want a younger guy for sex. Being referred to as “the toy” is getting old.

— Annoyed

Age difference? What age difference? Meanwhile, your girlfriend isn’t sure whether to offer you a cigarette after sex or a plate of animal crackers. It’s the rare 21-year-old who has much to tell a 38-year-old, beyond “Your shoulder’s putting my arm to sleep.” Sure, there are older-younger relationships that work, but you two don’t have a relationship; you have playdates. How do I know? Because friends don’t hit on friends’ boyfriends so easily. Yeah, it happens. But, when it happens with frequency, it’s a sign of how your partner feels and talks about you. If you want a relationship, that’s what you should have. Just find some sweet girl closer to your own age; in other words, somebody more likely to draw hearts around your name than straws to see who’s next in line to play with her toy.

8 Days A Week Calendar

Calendar

No Comments 30 July 2009

All events listed in 8 Days a Week are open to the public. To submit a listing, send to FFW, 203 N. College Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701, or fax to 444-7289, at least two weeks prior to event. Submissions are printed as space allows. Photographs and art are also considered.

Special Events

TONTITOWN GRAPE FESTIVAL: Tuesday through Aug. 8 in downtown Tontitown. Spaghetti dinners Aug. 6-8. tontitowngrapefestival.com.

MAGGIE IVY ARTIST’S RECEPTION: 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Fayetteville Underground, 1 E. Center St. in Fayetteville. fayettevilleunderground.com or 422-8607.

DAVID L. MURPHREE ARTIST’S RECEPTION: 5-8 p.m. Aug. 6 at Fayetteville Underground Gallery, 1 E. Center St. in Fayetteville. fayettevilleunderground.com or 422-8607.

Stage & Screen

THE MUSIC MAN: 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and Aug. 6-8 and 2 p.m. Sunday and Aug. 9 at the Rogers Little Theater. $7.50-$42. RogersLittleTheater.com or 631-8988.

SWEET CAN CIRCUS: 7 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. $20.50. waltonartscenter.org or 443-5600.

FRIDAY MORNING MOVIES: “Sound of Music” at 10 a.m. Friday at the Fayetteville Public Library. Free. Next week: “ET: The Extra Terrestrial”. faylib.org or 856-7170.

DAN’S PARTY-COMEDY IMPROV: 8 p.m. Friday at Teatro Scarpino in Fayetteville. $5; for ages 21 and older. scarpino.com or 409-3772.

Words

BIRD’S OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS: An ecological perspective by Jo Neal at 6 p.m. Saturday at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville. nightbirdbooks.com or 443-2080.

LIFE WRITERS: 10 a.m. Monday at the Shiloh Museum. For people interested in writing the stories of their own lives or those of family and friends. springdaleark.org/shiloh or 790-2588.

ARKANSAS PLAYWRIGHTS WORKSHOP: 6:30 p.m. Monday at Nightbird Books, 205 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville. Free; actors, directors and walk-ins welcome. bob@theatresquared.org or 582-4448.

BOOKTALK@NIGHT: “Winter’s Bone” at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Fayetteville Public Library. Registration required. faylib.org or 571-2222.

Music

TONY BAKER & THE SUMMER JAZZ RHYTHM SECTION: 8 p.m. Friday at the UA Fine Arts Concert Hall in Fayetteville. With Claudia Burson, James Greeson and Darren Novotny. $5-$15. digjazz.com or 225-2306.

BRUMLEY GOSPEL SING: Wednesday through Aug. 8 at the Cowan Civic Center in Lebanon, Mo. Jeff and Sheri Easter, Booth Brothers, Blackwood Brothers, Dixie Echoes, Isaacs, Chuck Wagon Gang, Karen Peck and New River, The Inspirations, McKameys, Perrys, Lesters and Aaron Wilbur. brumleymusic.com or 800-435-3725.

OREO BLUE: 7 p.m. Aug. 6 in Gulley Park in Fayetteville. Free. Bring seating. 444-3471.

PICKIN’ IN THE PARK: 6 p.m. Saturday at Frisco Park in Rogers. Free. mainstreetrogers.com or 636-8204.

SOUTHERN GOSPEL SERIES: 8 p.m. Tuesday at Ozark Mountain Hoe-Down in Eureka Springs. $12.50 adults. hoedown.net or 800-468-2113.

MUSIC IN THE PARK: Noon-6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at Basin Spring Park in Eureka Springs. 253-2586.

Learning

RAIL TRANSIT IN NWA: 6:30 p.m. today at the Fayetteville Public Library. Light rail discussion with Steve Luoni. faylib.org or 856-7250.

FINDERS KEEPERS: 1 p.m. Friday at the Rogers Historical Museum Annex. Antique show and tell; no appraisals. Free. rogersarkansas.com/museum or 621-1154.

HORTICULTURE FAIR EXHIBITOR’S WORKSHOP: 10 a.m.- noon Saturday at the Washington County Extension Office, 2536 N. McConnell Ave. in Fayetteville. Learn how to prepare you entries for the county fair. Free, registration required. 444-1755.

ULTIMATE SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP: Saturday through Tuesday at the Ozark Mountain Hoe-Down in Eureka Springs. With Barbara Cloyd and Steve Bloch. ultimatesongwritersworkshop.com or 877-242-6481.

THE BIRTH OF YOUR CREATIVE SELF WRITING WORKSHOP: 3 p.m. Saturday at Nightbird Books in Fayetteville. With Nadine Trees Nehring. Reservations required. $9.95. nightbirdbooks.com or 443-2080.

WOOD TURNING: Monday through Aug. 7 at Eureka Springs School of the Arts. With Kip Powers. $275. esartschool.org or 253-5384.

MASTER YOUR MONEY: At 6 p.m. and Financial Freedom at 7:15 p.m. Monday at Credit Counseling of Arkansas, 1732 Moberly Lane, Suite A in Bentonville. Free. Fundamentals of budgeting, saving, spending plans, expense tracking and cutting and getting out of debt. ccoacares.com or 800-889-4916.

GRANT-SEEKING ACADEMY : 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Fayetteville Public Library. Six-week program with Thomas Forbes & Kester grant consultants. $50; registration required. faylib.org or 582-1053.

Mind, Body, Spirit

EUREKA SPRINGS WOMEN’S CONFERENCE: Friday and Saturday at the Best Western Inn of the Ozarks Convention Center in Eureka Springs. With Pastor Brad and Denise Wicks of the James River Mega Church. redbudvalley.com or 870-654-7405.

BUDDHIST MEDITATION: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Arkansas Yoga Center in Fayetteville. 422-6526.

DHARMA TALK: 11 a.m. Sundays at Dramis Hardwood Floors, 2275 S. School Ave. in Fayetteville. With Tibetan Buddhist Monk Ven. Geshe Thupten Dorjee. tcia.com or 587-8920.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION: 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesdays at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 9 Oak St. in Rogers. 616-8043.

Outdoors

FAYETTEVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on the Fayetteville Square. Sunday Market 9 a.m.-1 p.m. through Sept. 13 at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks on Crossover Road. Evening market 4-7 p.m. Thursday nights at the Mill District on the corner of School Avenue and Sixth Street. fayettevillefarmersmarket.com or 236-2910.

WEST FORK GARDEN MARKET: 7:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays until frost and 3:30 p.m. to dusk on Wednesdays into September on the Green on Arkansas 170 and Campbell Road in downtown West Fork. Wide variety of natural vegetables, mushrooms and art. 225-1611.

ROGERS FARMERS’ MARKET: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays through October, and 4-7 p.m. Tuesdays through August at Frisco Park in downtown Rogers. 636-1743.

Minor Matters

MUSICIAN ROB BUTTON: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Fayetteville Public Library. faylib.org or 856-7170.

HISTORICAL DANCE SOCIETY: 1 p.m. Saturday at the Fayetteville Public Library. Free, for children and families. faylib.org or 856-7170.

CREATE A MEMORY TEA PARTY: 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday and 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Fayetteville Public Library. For ages 3-5. faylib.org or 856-7170.

KIDSTHEATRE PRODUCTION WORKSHOP: 3 p.m. Monday through Aug. 14 at the Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St. in Springdale. With Nikki Sievert. For grades 2-4. $85-$95. artscenteroftheozarks.org or 751-5441.

LET’S MAKE A TV COMMERCIAL: 2 p.m. Tuesday through Aug. 6 at the Fayetteville Public Library. For grades 4-12; registration required. faylib.org or 856-7170.

STEVENS PUPPETS-SUMMER READING CHALLENGE FINALE: 1 and 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Fayetteville Public Library. For elementary kids. faylib.org or 856-7170.

APARTMENT 5: 6 p.m. Aug. 6 at the Fayetteville Public Library. For teens. faylib.org or 856-7170.

Auditions, Entries, Call For Volunteers

ARSENIC & OLD LACE AUDITIONS: 7 p.m. Aug. 10-11 at Northwest Arkansas Community College. Performances Oct. 9-11. r5efield@swr5.k12.mo.us or 657-6048.

AMERICAN GIRL FASHION SHOW AUDITIONS: 1 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale. artscenteroftheozarks.org or 751-5441.

ANDROCLES & THE LION AUDITIONS: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 17-18 at the Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St. in Springdale. artscenteroftheozarks.org or 751-5441.

VOLUNTEERS FOR BEAVER LAKE SECCHI DAY: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 29 at the East and West Shelters near the Prairie Creek Boat ramps. Collect water samples, record depths and clarity measurements around Beaver Lake. Contact Amy Wilson at awilson@bwdh2o.org or 717-3807.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER AUDITIONS: 1 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Arts Center of the Ozarks, 214 S. Main St. in Springdale. artscenteroftheozarks.org or 751-5441.

Paintings by David L. Murphree are on exhibit

at Fayetteville Underground Gallery

Art

ANNE KITTRELL ART GALLERY: Arkansas Union, Fayetteville. 575-5255. Campus Fashion Exhibit through Sept. 9.

ARTS CENTER OF THE OZARKS: 214 S. Main St., Springdale. artscenteroftheozarks.org or 751-5441. 15th annual Artists of NWA Exhibition through Aug. 7.

CENTER FOR ART & EDUCATION: 104 N. 13th St., Van Buren. art-ed.org or 474-7767. Works by the Art Faculty of UA-Fort Smith Sunday through Aug. 21.

CITIZENS BANK GALLERY: 116 E. Buchanan St., Prairie Grove. 790-0342 or 846-2738. Contemporary ceramics, sculpture, paintings, prints, photography and gifts.

CORNER GIFT SHOP: 3582 N. Highway 112, Fayetteville. 521-2674. Art by more than 30 local artists and craftsmen.

CRYSTAL BRIDGES AT THE MASSEY: 125 W. Central Ave., Bentonville. massey.crystalbridges.org or 418-5700. “Through the Needle’s Eye: The Embroiderers’ Guild of America’s 19th National Exhibit” through Aug. 9.

DDP GALLERY: 7 E. Mountain St., Fayetteville. ddpgallery.com or 442-0001. Works on paper opens Aug. 6.

FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY: 401 W. Mountain St., Fayetteville. faylib.org or 856-7000. FHS design models by Fay Jones School of Architecture students through September.

FAYETTEVILLE UNDERGROUND GALLERY: One E. Center St., Fayetteville. fayettevilleunderground.com or 422-8607. “So Close to Farewell” by Maggie Ivy Wednesday through Aug. 29. “Machines in the Ghost” by David L. Murphree through Aug. 6. “You Could Have Been Home By Now” by Kelly Price-Colston through July.

FOUR SQUARE FINE ART GALLERY: 3996 Frontage Road, Ste. 2 in Fayetteville. FourSquareFineArt.com or 422-8607. Works by Timothy C. Tyler, Robert Andes, Golsa Yaghoobi, Robert Glick, Cindy Wiseman, David Mudrinich, MM Kent, Doug Randall, John L Newman, Nichelle Wilson-Parish, Amber Perrodin, Suzanne Countryman, Szilvie Kadas, Hisai Kamamura Yale and Kirk Lanier.

HEARTWOOD GALLERY: 428 S. Government St., Fayetteville. 444-0888. Jewelry, pottery, glass, handmade books, textiles, sculpture, photography, paintings, drawings, mixed media, music CDs, wood turnings. More than 30 local artists.

JULIE WAIT DESIGNS ART GALLERY: 318 S. First St., Rogers. juliewaitdesigns.com or 631-8706. Paintings by Judy Maurer through Friday.

MULLINS LIBRARY: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. 575-6702. “Scissors, Paper, Cloth: Collages by Amy Edgington” through August.

POOR RICHARD’S ART: 116 S. First St., Rogers. poorrichardsart.com or 636-0417. Kathy Mayhue and Erin Neal through August.

ROGERS LITTLE THEATER: 116 S. Second St., in Rogers. RogersLittleTheater.com or 631-8988. Kas Taylor and Silas Byers through Aug. 12.

TERRA STUDIOS, MUSE GALLERY & COFFEEHOUSE: 12103 Hazel Valley Road in Durham. 35 regional artists, 10-acre art park with murals and sculpture installations. Home of the original Bluebird of Happiness. terrastudios.com or 1-800-255-8995.

Museums

ARKANSAS AIR MUSEUM: Drake Field, 4290 S. School Ave., Fayetteville. 521-4947. Aircraft from all eras of aviation history.

CLINTON HOUSE MUSEUM: 930 California Drive, Fayetteville. clintonhousemuseum.org or 444-0066.

GRAVETTE HISTORICAL MUSEUM: 503 Charlotte St. SE, Gravette. 787-7334. Early 1900s restored home with displays representing Gravette’ history.

MUSEUM OF NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS: 202 S.W. “O” St., Bentonville. museumofnativeamericanartifacts.org or 273-2456. Free self guided audio tours of Paleo, Archaic, Woodland, Mississippian and tribal artifacts.

PEA RIDGE NATIONAL MILITARY PARK: 15930 U.S. 62, Garfield. 451-8122. Self-guided road tour, 10-mile hiking trail, Civil War museum and bookstore.

PEEL MANSION MUSEUM AND HISTORIC GARDENS: 400 S. Walton Blvd., Bentonville. 273-9664. 1875 Italianate mansion with historic roses and plants.

PRAIRIE GROVE BATTLEFIELD STATE PARK: 506 E. Douglas St., U.S. 62, Prairie Grove. 846-2990. Civil War battlefield with original buildings.

ROGERS HISTORICAL MUSEUM: 322 S. Second St., Rogers. 621-1154. rogersarkansas.com/museum. “Of Promise and Pain: Life Between the Wars”, “Virgil Lovelace and Life on the Farm”, and “Rogers Auto-Biography: An Automotive History of Rogers” through December. “1968 in America” through Aug. 8.

SHILOH MUSEUM: 118 W. Johnson Ave., Springdale. 750-8165. springdaleark.org/shiloh. Exhibits of early life in the Ozarks. Original buildings on the grounds. “Squeaky Clean” on the history of hygiene through Jan. 16, 2010. “Carry On” featuring baskets, purses, trunks and other artifacts for transport and containment through Sept. 26. “Bridging The Gap” featuring historic bridges in the Arkansas Ozarks through Aug. 8.

SILOAM SPRINGS MUSEUM: 112 N. Maxwell St., 524-4011.

Coming Soon

ANIMAL HOUSE GALA: At 7 p.m. Aug. 7 at The Space in Eureka Springs. Benefits the Good Shepherd Animal Society. Live Auction. Music by Opal Fly. $35 and up. goodshepherd-hs.org or 253-9115.

GUYS & DOLLS THE MUSICAL FABLE OF BROADWAY: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7-8 and 2 p.m. Aug. 9 at Arend Arts Center, 1901 SE “J” St. in Bentonville. $7-$15. bvvillageplayers.org or 254-5200.

SONGS IN THE VILLE: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at UARK Ballroom, 644 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville. Songwriters in the Round Series hosted by Effron White with Jim Patton, Sherry Brokus, Donna Stjerna and Kelly Mulhollan. 200-1631.

BILL ENGVALL: 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 8 at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. $40-$75. waltonartscenter.org or 443-5600.

GALLERY STROLL: 6-9 p.m. Aug. 8 in Eureka Springs. 253-7679.

NEW LOCATION GRAND OPENING: 2-7 p.m. Aug 9 at Four Square Fine Art Gallery, 3996 Frontage Road, Ste. 2 in Fayetteville. Artists’ reception and printmaking demonstration by Nichelle Wilson-Parish. FourSquareFineArt.com or 422-8607.

FOREIGNER: 8 p.m. Aug. 9 at Downstream Casino Resort in Quapaw, Okla. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. $20-$30. downstreamcasino.com or 866-977-6849.

MULBERRY MOUNTAIN HARVEST FESTIVAL: Aug. 12-15 in Ozark. Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Umphrey’s McGee, The Avett Brothers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Railroad Earth, Squirrel Nut Slipper, Lotus, Tea Leaf Green, Corey Smith, Peter Rowan, Split Lip Rayfield, Hot Buttered Rum, Travelin’ McCourys, The Duhks, William Elliott Whitmore, Cornmeal, The Lee Boys, Big Smith, Steep Canyon Rangers, Papa Mali, Cadillac, Sky, Hackensaw Boys, Asylum Street Spankers, Infamous Stringdusters, Blue Turtle Seduction, Greensky Bluegrass, Dirtfoot, Oakhurst, Band of Heathens, Gamily Groove Company, Paul Thorn Band, Chicago Afrobeat Project, The Lovell Sisters, Ten Mile Tide, Delta Nove, Ben Miller Band, The Lost Pines, Head for the Hills, Mountain of Venus, Elephant Revival, My-Tea Kind, Mountain Sprout, Sarah Hughes Band, Eckobase, Weakness for Blondes, 3 Penny Acre, Opal Fly with Foxfire & Thy Faery Prankster, Pope County Bootleggers, Cindy Woolf Band, Cletus Got Shot and more. $29 and up. mulberrymountainmusic.com or 866-667-1919.

I HEART JOHN RAY FUNDRAISER: 7 p.m. Aug. 13 at the Dickson Street Theater in Fayetteville. Music by Lloyd Marley, Matt Buell, A Good Fight. To help with heart surgery expenses for John Ray of Cheap Thrills.

STRIPPED, BEAR SCREENING: 7:30 Aug. 13 at Teatro Scarpino in Fayetteville. Live music by Effron White. Benefits Art Amiss. $5 suggested donation; 21 and older. scarpino.com or 409-3772.

POETRY IN THE AFTERNOON: 3-6 p.m. Aug. 14 at Four Square Fine Art Gallery, 3996 Frontage Road, Ste. 2 in Fayetteville. Burning Chair Readings by Samuel Amadon, Stephanie Anderson, Thomas Andes, Robert J. Baumann, Tim Earley, Jennifer Jabaily, Frederich Kersieck, Don Lee, Karl Saffran. Music by Sam King. FourSquareFineArt.com or 422-8607.

ARTS LIVE THEATRE AWARDS: 7 p.m. Aug. 14 at the UARK Bowl on Dickson Street. Food, Awards, Karaoke and more. artslivetheatre.com or 521-4932.

COMPOSER’S SHOWCASE: 8 p.m. Aug. 14 at the UA Fine Arts Concert Hall in Fayetteville. Jazz by local composers. $5-$15. digjazz.com or 225-2306.

NWA ROLLER GIRLS VS. TULSA’S THUNDER DOLLZ: 7 p.m. Aug. 15 at Roller City in Springdale. $10-$12; kids 12 and younger free. nwarollergirls.com or 756-3866.

CULINARY DEMONSTRATION CLASS: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 21 and Hands-on cooking class from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 22 with Karen Gros in Eureka Springs. $28-$40. Reservations required. cuisinekaren.com.

WHEELS FOR MEALS HERITAGE POKER RUN: 8 a.m. Aug. 22 from Bill Eddy’s Motorsports, 1205 N. Futrall Drive in Fayetteville. Benefits the Fayetteville and Springdale Meals on Wheels Programs. $25-$30, free T-shirt for first 200 registrants, breakfast and lunch provided. wheelsformealspokerrun.shutterfly.com, 751-1521.

EUREKA SPRINGS BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL: Aug. 20-23 at Basin Springs Park in Eureka Springs. Free. 253-2586.

FRISCO FESTIVAL: Aug. 28-29 in Frisco Park in Rogers. Rides, amusements, Chili-salsa-peno competition, Frisco Chicken BBQ, Frisco Idol, car show, street dance. friscofestival.com or 936-5487.

KENNY ROGERS: 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at Downstream Casino Resort in Quapaw, Okla. 6:30 p.m. $20-$50. downstreamcasino.com or 866-977-6849.

SECOND CITY ANNIVERSARY TOUR: 8 p.m. Aug. 28-29 at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. $20-$32. waltonartscenter.org or 443-5600.

AUGUST TASTE OF THE INNS: Aug. 29 at 12 hotels and bed & breakfast inns in Eureka Springs. $25; “mock”tails and two appetizers at each inn. allianceofbetterbandbs.com/eureka-springs-taste-of-the-inns.htm or 253-8916.

SIZZLIN SUMMER MUSIC FEST: Aug. 29 at the North Logan County Fairgrounds in Paris. Willie Stradlin, Charlie Robinson, and the Eli Young Band. $20-$26. arkansasmusicpavilion.com.

CASINO NIGHT: 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Arts Center of the Ozarks in Springdale. Music by Mike and Grady, hors d’oeuvres. artscenteroftheozarks.org or 751-5441.

COLLIN RAYE & RESTLESS HEART: 6 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Arkansas Music Pavilion at the Northwest Arkansas Mall. Free; benefits the Boys & Girls Club of NWA. arkansasmusicpavilion.com.

CHARLIE HUNTER DUO: 8 and 10 p.m. Sept. 5 at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. $15.50-$32.50. waltonartscenter.org or 443-5600.

MOONFLOWERS & MARGARITAS: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, 4703 N. Crossover Road in Fayetteville. $15-$20. bgozarks.org or 750-2620.

LPGA NWA CHAMPIONSHIP: Sept. 11-13 at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. Practice rounds Sept. 7-8; Pro-Am Sept. 9-10. PGBeautyChampionship.com.

OZARK QUILT FAIR: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Shiloh Museum. Music by Shout LuLu. $10 for exhibitors, free for viewing. springdaleark.org/shiloh or 750-8165.

Book Review

'In The Studio With Michael Jackson'

No Comments 30 July 2009

The Bookworm

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

You know the songs by the first five notes. Within three seconds of hearing that beat, you know you’re listening to “Billy Jean” or “Thriller.” There’s no doubt that “Off The Wall” is playing or that “Beat It” will make you want to dance. And there’s no doubt that Michael Jackson had talent. But while he sang those songs and made up those moves, he didn’t do those million-selling albums by himself.

In the new book “In the Studio with Michael Jackson” by Bruce Swedien, you’ll find out how those blockbusters happened and who was involved. Studio engineer Bruce Swedien met Quincy Jones in 1959 and he considered Jones a brother. So when “Q” called Swedien one Sunday in 1977 and asked if he’d like to go to New York to work on a musical, Swedien jumped at the chance. It turned out to be a career-altering decision.

The movie Jones was working on was “The Wiz,” starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. This is how Swedien began a longtime friendship and eventual partnership with Michael Jackson, whose music Swedien recorded and enhanced.

In the book, Swedien recalls working on “Off The Wall,” which he believes was Michael Jackson’s first grown-up album. “Michael is always totally prepared!” Swedien says.

Because this book was penned before Jackson’s death, everything is written in the present tense.

Swedien answers fans’ questions. The sob at the end of “She’s Out of My Life” was an accident-on-purpose. He gives insights. Jackson always said “please” and “thank you.” Swedien also writes about the technical aspects of recording with Jackson, including his brainstorm of putting microphones around a wooden platform on which Jackson would dance, thus recording taps, snaps and sounds that made every Michael Jackson song so memorable.

Despite the scattershot way this book is presented, I liked it. I liked it a lot. But I had issues with it, too.

First of all, despite the title of this book, much of it is about Swedien, his methods, praise from pals, kudos from people who learned from him, his studio equipment, his discographies and so on. This is all quite interesting, particularly if you’re a sound engineer, but it doesn’t totally match the title and it’s probably not what readers will be looking for when buying this book.

Second, while the first half of the book has some wonderful stories and delightful little memories of working with The King of Pop, the latter half of this book is often identical, sometimes word-for-word, to the first half.

While Swedien’s writing is sweet in a star-struck fan sort of way, I found the overabundance of exclamation points to be extremely distracting.

If you’re devouring every smidgen of Michael Jackson information you can find, you must get “In the Studio with Michael Jackson,” too, because it’s a peek you won’t get anywhere else.

Features

Preschool In Peril

1 Comment 30 July 2009

Nonprofit Cooperative School Faces Closure After 34 Years

Shoppers browse for bargains at the Community Preschool record sale

July 18 at Jose’s Streetside. Community Preschool parents organized

the sale to help raise money for the school.

By D.R. Bartlette

Photos by Kirk Lanier

The Community Preschool has been educating and caring for kids — many of whom are low-income — for more than 30 years. Now, with a $10,000 shortfall, a staff in “revolt” and most of the board of directors resigning, it may have to shut its doors.

The Community Preschool at 1502 N. Leverett Ave. in Fayetteville was established in 1975 by a group of parents whose children had grown too old for the University of Arkansas Infant Development Center. Because they were unable to find any existing day care centers that had the characteristics they were looking for, they decided to start their own preschool, which is now a nonprofit cooperative that serves about 20 students.

Shannon Price said her child has been attending the school for a year and a half.

“I loved that it was small, they had a cook making healthy meals and the play yard out back was fabulous. I also liked that the parents had to be involved in the school.”

Charlotte Taylor, director of development for the Fay Jones School of Architecture at the UA, had two children attend the school.

“I feel they had an amazing education there … the combination of a structured, fun educational environment, a creative playground, healthy food and caring teachers was amazing,” Taylor said. She said her children seem to continue to do “exceptionally well” in school.

But recently the school has run into problems. According to both Misty Gittings, who resigned last week from the school’s board of directors, and Tarah Ledbetter, the school’s treasurer, who also resigned last week, the previous management let the Workers Compensation Insurance and hazard insurance policies lapse. Then, according to Gittings, one of the staff teachers fell in the storage garage, tripping over a child’s tricycle and hitting her head on the concrete floor.

Community Preschool parent and former board member

Misty Gittings sorts albums for a school fundraiser.

Without Worker’s Compensation Insurance, the teacher’s medical bills became the responsibility of the school. These bills represent about five-eighths of the $10,000 the school needs, Ledbetter said. The other three-eighths is for operating expenses.

According to Gittings, the school was going to be $1,500 short of being able to make its July 24 payroll. “We have depleted our fundraising and savings accounts [because of] the significant decrease in enrollment and significant increase in expenses,” she said.

She said one of the reasons behind the increase in expenses is the “unworkable situation” in the school’s government-pay vs. self-pay student ratio. More than half of Community Preschool’s students have their tuition paid by the government in one of two ways: with a voucher or through an Arkansas Better Chance grant.

Ledbetter explained that the voucher system is for families whose income is 60 percent or less of the state’s median income. There is usually a long waiting list for the aid. Once the parents are approved as recipients, there are only certain schools that will accept the vouchers. It is likely that only a few schools accept the vouchers because the vouchers pay only a set rate for any school, regardless of the tuition costs at that particular school, Ledbetter said.

The ABC grant provides tuition assistance to families whose income does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

A 2005 study by the National Institute for Early Education Research showed that the ABC grant provided students with many benefits, including better vocabulary, math and reading skills.

According to the NIEER Web site, a large body of research shows that high-quality preschool programs can lead to increases in school success, higher test scores, fewer school drop-outs, higher graduation rates, less special education and even lower crime rates.

“I was one of those low-income parents trying to make it through college and finding the Community Preschool was a blessing,” said Denise Rohr, whose 8-year-old son is a former student. She says the teachers and parents were “an amazing group” and she feels “lucky to have been a part of it.”

However, the ABC program has its disadvantages for the school.

According to Gittings, the school is not legally allowed to ask the ABC parents to work at the school or pay any additional money.

“But Community is a nonprofit, parent-cooperative preschool, with a focus on ‘cooperative,’” Gittings said. “The parents are expected to pitch in and work so that we can make the school run financially. That means volunteering to clean at the school occasionally, or mowing the lawn or volunteering to help out when an aide is sick. It saves so much money when we all come together, which is why historically Community has been able to keep its tuition so much lower than comparable schools.”

Ledbetter said there is a ton of paperwork that must be completed monthly, quarterly and annually to keep the grant and there are a lot of additional regulations that the school must follow.

“But most importantly it has caused a financial burden on our school because we have been required to increase many teachers’ salaries, provide them benefits and purchase new equipment, along with other things,” Ledbetter said.

Gittings said that the ABC grant only pays 60 percent of the money needed per student.

“It’s not designed for a school this small,” Gittings said. “You can’t be in the hole 40 percent every month. While we love providing a quality education and nurturing environment to these students, it is not financially feasible to continue operating with this ratio.”

Rohr says it would be “disturbing” if the preschool were forced into a position to stop taking vouchers and ABC kids.

“Community Preschool has an opportunity to care for children that wouldn’t normally have access to a rich learning environment (because of) price constraints,” Rohr said.

Last week, the board voted to discontinue taking Arkansas Better Chance students. According to Gittings, board members were met by “several angry parents and a revolting staff.” She said that she and all but one of the board members had resigned and “cut ties” with the school in order to allow the staff and other parents to try to maintain the ABC program.

Music, The Set List

Incubus Still Has It

No Comments 30 July 2009

The Set List

By Brian Washburn

Bands grow older. This is not a debate or even a surprise for even the most naive Rolling Stones fan. The debate comes when the question arises about when a band should hang it up or just keep trucking along. Many bands have played together for decades and still rock. Some have cut it short in their prime when they had so much more to give. However, there are those who ruin it for the rest of us and keep strumming away when they know they were DOA seven years ago when their sophomore album peaked.

Even though Incubus has been around for more than a decade and found enormous radio success about a decade ago, they still have what it takes. Even with six studio albums and a cult of fans nationwide, the band still has the drive (no pun intended) to keep moving along and showing off what they do better than 99 percent of bands out there today: play their instruments and display their talent.

With the release of their greatest hits album, “Monuments and Melodies,” the quintet has hit the road for an enormous summer tour, much like each of their tours over the past 15 years. But this time, there is something different in the air. Many fans (including myself) have speculated this tour might be their last for a while, even though they have been quoted as saying they will write a new album while on tour. The aroma was there, though a sense of nostalgia the first time you heard Incubus and their catchy, yet experimental, genius rock.

The band came onstage to a near full parking lot at Kansas City’s City Market and exploded into their first song of the night, “Privilege,” a fan-favorite from “Make Yourself,” which is rarely played live.

As soon as guitarist Mike Einzinger strummed his guitar, every fan moved harder and faster than most have in their entire life. The music was just the same as every fan remembered from the first time they heard the band, except for one tiny aspect: the band looked noticeably older than they had in the past.

Einzinger, along with vocalist Brandon Boyd, bassist Ben Kenney, DJ Chris Kilmore and drummer Jose Pasillas, featured their grownup looks for this concert. However, the musical ability did not stutter one bit, especially Boyd’s vocals.

Boyd has consistently been overlooked as one of the greatest vocalists of the past two decades. His voice has not changed one bit. It is phenomenal how the man can blast as high as he can on Incubus hits like “Pardon Me,” “Megalomaniac,” and the frequently overlooked “A Certain Shade of Green.” It is equally as amazing when he tunes it down a few octaves in classic live slow songs like the band’s mega-hit “Drive” and “Dig.” Boyd’s voice withstood the entire nearly two-hour show and was the centerpiece the band shows off when you witness the Incubus experience live.

But this is not to say the other members aren’t equally as talented as their frontman. Kenney has the most dynamic bass ability of any modern rock band’s bassist out there, and he

See Washburn Page 17

But this is not to say the other members aren’t equally as talented as their frontman. Kenney has the most dynamic bass ability of any modern rock band’s bassist out there, and he can do it all while dancing around all over the stage. Pasillas is sbout the most diverse drummer out there and he is consistent on stage. Einzenger is one of the few in the business who can truly be called a genius at his craft. And Kilmore still gives the band that ’90s vibe they popularized when they hit the scene back in the day.

For an Incubus fan, the most apparent accolade about the night had to be the set list. While there was the cliche hits such as “Drive,” “Megalomaniac,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Pardon Me” and the atrocious “Love Hurts,” the band threw in cult favorites like “A Certain Shade of Green,” “Idiot Box,” “Sick Sad Little World” and the epic closer of the night, “Warning.”

Incubus might be getting older and their music might not be as loved or revered as it once was, but the band is still one of the best live acts currently touring. They might soon go on one of the dreaded “indefinite hiatuses” every fan hates to hear, but they still have one thing 85 percent of modern bands have no clue about today: musical talent and how to create great songs.

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