Look for a full lineup of music, events, food and fun in Port Angeles at the 19^th annual Juan de Fuca Festival over Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28.

According to organizers, the festival has come of age as one of the top festivals in the west, if not the country.   And with advance tickets (through April 30) available at just $45, this has to be one of the best deals ever ($60 at the gate).

The group has doubled the popular “Juan de Fuca After Hours in the Clubs” program (included in the ticket price).  Its off-the-charts success last year has led to non-stop, multi-stage entertainment for as much as 14 hours a day.

Show goers may also be interested in our pre-festival celebration. Beat the crowds on Thursday and enjoy an amazing celebration with the legendary Afro-Celtic dance band Baka Beyond.  With band members joining us from six different countries in Europe and Africa, this will be a very special Port Angeles evening indeed.

With a beautiful setting nestled snugly between the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, four days and nights of unparalleled artistry, a street fair filled with a garden of earthly delights, a fun after-hours program and so much more, it probably seems too good to be true. So… come one, come all, families and folks of all ages, and find out for yourself. Welcome to the 19th Annual Juan de Fuca Festival of the Arts! For more information please go to jffa.org.

It was quite a sight for many Seattle Rhythm Festival attendees: a group of six senior citizens (average age: 88) playing African djembe drums near the International Fountain at Seattle Center.  As soon as the group from Fairwinds – Brighton Court based in Lynnwood began to play, they were surrounded by people listening, dancing and drumming along with them.

Accompanied by drum instructor Andres Lorenz and their family members, they played until 6pm on Saturday, April 28^th and then joined the large drum circle in the Center House — where they kept in perfect rhythm with the other 300+ people.

Reflecting on the day, Brighton Court General Manager Nick Glenn said, “The residents loved it.  They were sweating and sure had the heart rates up where they need for cardio.  For me, two things will stick in my mind: First, when they started playing outside and were immediately surrounded by event goers of all ages watching, playing, dancing and  belting out chants.  The other is the feeling when they were fully immersed and drumming in the monumental drum circle.  To see that many people staying pretty well in sync, and then to look down and see a group of 85+ year olds who are all first time drummers, it took my breath away.”

Since it started last year, the African drumming class at Brighton Court has doubled in size.  All of the participants are first-time drummers — actually, it’s their first time playing a musical instrument ever.  Andres was inspired to start the class after reading about the wellness benefits of drumming for seniors.

The mental, physical and social aspects of drumming have immeasurably helped each Brighton Court drummer.  For example, one resident is a stroke survivor and drumming has helped her to restore some muscle function and regain motor control.

For advice about how to develop a drumming class, contact Nick Glenn through Fairwinds-Brighton Court’s website at www.seniorhomes.com/Fairwinds.

South Puget Sound area families now have a unique opportunity to take advantage of free training and other resources to help them care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias (see below).

Home Instead Senior Care assembled some of the top Alzheimer’s experts in North America to develop the Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias CARE program. Focusing on person-centered care, the CARE Program incorporates an innovative, hands-on approach to help families deal with the difficult behavioral changes that often are associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Because Alzheimer’s disease is quickly becoming a worldwide epidemic, many people will want to learn more about the CARE approach and the free resources that are now available at www.HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com.

The Celebration of Food Festival will be a free, family event where participants can taste, explore, and experience real food 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday, May 20, at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. S.W., Lynnwood.

“This event brings together people who are passionate about delicious, local, wholesome food,” said organizer Chris Hudyma. “Farmers, ranchers, culinary professionals, youth, students, and business owners will offer activities to inspire the enjoyment of real food.” 

The event will include free samples, demos, displays of foods in categories throughout the center: Surf & Turf, Sweet & Nutty, Kickin’ Flavor, Veggies & Fruit, Great Grains, and Preservation.

Look for fun:

• Food — Free samples, demos, displays, and items for purchase including Surf & Turf, Sweet & Nutty, Kickin’ Flavor, Veggies & Fruit, Great Grains, and Preservation.
• Gardening — Demos, displays, and activities by farm and garden professionals will show how to grow your own food and where to purchase locally grown food.
• Resources — Experts, displays, books, and resources will be available for children and adults to learn everything about growing to cooking to preserving food.

Volunteers are needed, too. To volunteer, email Chris at foodrevsnoco@edcc.edu.

For more information, email foodrevsnoco@edcc.edu, go to www.edcc.edu/foodfest, or connect with Food Revolution Snohomish County on Facebook www.facebook.com/foodrevsnoco. Follow @EdmondsCC

The Golden Age of Cinema shared the stage with the golden years of paper doll production and popularity between the 1920s and 1950s. As movie personalities became popular they starred in their own paper doll books, complete with fashionable wardrobes and scenes to delight even the toughest critic.

The Edmonds Historical Museum presents famous paper people in glorious color and art during its showing of ”Paper People go the Movies.” The exhibit runs daily, Wednesday through Sunday through July 15, 2012.

The Edmonds Historical Museum is located at 118 5^th Ave. N. Admission is $5 adults and $2 students and hours are Wed.-Sun from 1-4 p.m. For questions please call 425-774-0900 or go to the website at http://www.historicedmonds.org/.

Do you have a chronic condition that leaves you exhausted from pain or effort?

Perhaps these free, six-week workshops planned over the next several months will give you some tips on “Living Well with Chronic Conditions.” To checkout the schedule for the next four, upcoming workshops, please go to the http://www.sssc.org website.

Developed by Stanford University’s Patient Education Department, the workshop is designed to help individuals who have an ongoing condition (such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, chronic pain, arthritis, and hypertension) improve the quality of their lives.

Each participant will develop his/her own personalized action plan and goals. Discussion will cover a variety of topics including:

• Learn to reduce stress and frustration.
• Manage symptoms.
• Set weekly goals.
• Problem-solve effectively.
• Improve communication.
• Handle difficult emotions.
• Relax, eat well and exercise safely.

Family members, friends and caregivers can also participate..

Space is limited. Reservations are required. To register call Barb Thomas at 425.265.2283

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Mountain View Funeral Home, Memorial Park and Crematory hosts several tributes over Memorial Day weekend beginning Saturday, May 26. Services, concerts (patriotic music by Darren Motamedy Saturday and Queen City Jazz Band Sunday, fireworks and more. Call 253-584-0252 or visit www.mountainviewtacoma.com for more details.

Sunday, May 13th boarding at 9:00am

Make this special occasion an exciting surprise for your Mother with a cruise aboard the steamboat, Queen of Seattle. Enjoy a family celebration with live music and brunch on the water as we steam along the shorelines of Lake Union and Lake Washington, complemented with beautiful views of the city skyline. Savor our menu from the “all you can enjoy” buffet, and raise a toast with a complimentary glass of champagne.

During your cruise, our service staff will attend to your beverage requests tableside. Mimosa’s, Mary’s, your favorite cocktail, wine, champagne, beer and non-alcoholic beverages are available for purchase. For the best views you can upgrade to a reserved window table, add flower bouquets, and bottle of champagne at your table to enhance your celebration.

Visit the website

“Travel & Leisure” says this about Connecting…Single Travel Network (CSTN): “The Vancouver-based-not-for-profit organization helps travelers avoid exorbitant tour supplements by polling ‘single-friendly’ operators for a range of budgets and adventure levels . . . and access to a lively network of advice and fellowship.”

Sounds great doesn’t it? And with the travel season upon us, it’s a good time to look at opportunities for all ages, but especially 50 and older to not only save money on travel but to discover trips that are organized for singles.

About one-third of the adult population lives a single lifestyle these days, so we solo travelers are as diverse in taste and lifestyle as we are numerous. CSTN members are aged from 18 to 80, about 60% female, and 40% male. People attracted to the group are divorced, widowed, married to spouses who don’t care to travel, or we’re just plain single.

Some members are adventurous; some of us are not-so-adventurous. Some like to travel in the lap of luxury; others like to rough it. Some want to lie down on beaches; some want to climb mountains. Some like to visit museums; some prefer casinos. The one thing we have in common is that everyone is looking for comfortable and economical ways of traveling alone.

Many members don’t want to travel solo at all. They would rather share holiday experiences and expenses with other congenial individuals. Or, they want to join comfortable group tours without paying expensive single supplement fees.

Normally, we have between 1,500 and 1,800, paid-up, current members at any given time. About 48 percent live in Canada, 48 percent live in the USA, and a few live in other countries – our dearest wish is to have CSTN friends all around the world.

For more information about how to travel in style at reasonable prices with other singles, checkout the website at www.cstn.org.

After years of design and construction, the LeMay-America’s Car Museum plans a huge grand opening weekend June 1-3. The celebration will actually begin on Friday evening with parties inside the museum walls, providing a variety of fun experiences that will include cars from the collection, interactive exhibits, live music, dancing and much, much more!

While the night begins with three separate dinner parties, all partygoers will be able to enjoy the entire museum after dinner, at 9 p.m. and are invited to the “Rev it Up” Club to mix, mingle and continue the celebration. Coffee and dessert will be served and a cigar tent will be set up outside. There are plenty of surprises and delights in store – this is a night you won’t want to miss – there’s only going to be one grand opening. Get in on the fun.

On Saturday, June 2 the day starts with a free outdoor car show at 9 a.m., which will fill the Haub Family Field with hot cars and cool rides. At 10 a.m., look for the official grand opening ceremonies, also on the Haub Family Field.

At 11 a.m., the Museum doors will open to the public for the first time. At 1 p.m., the LeMay 24 will see 12 teams participate in go-kart races for bragging rights and trophies.
Saturday evening at 5 p.m. will be marked with a free concert featuring nine-time Grammy award winners Asleep at the Wheel performing on the Miller Family Stage.

For all the details and tickets, please go to the museum website at http://www.lemaymuseum.org.