Author Terry Bain shares writing tips
A DOG’S PERSPECTIVE inspired Spokane author Terry Bain, who visited elementary students on Wednesday to talk about writing. The author of “You are a Dog” told Orchard Center Elementary classes how he gets ideas and why he finds writing fun. His book is told through the eyes of man’s best friend, including a passage Bain shared about a dog’s tangle with a vacuum.
“The vacuum doesn’t appear to mind you barking but you bark again,” Bain wrote. “The vacuum wants to eat you and eat the sofa and eat the children. She Who Battles the Vacuum is trying to control the vacuum, but the vacuum is not in her control. It keeps moving, trying to shake free… You bark and scare the vacuum.”
Bain explained to students how ideas such as this one came when he decided to write about something fun – his dogs. He has a Lab-shepherd mix named Pretzel and a border collie called Sadie. He has another book about to be released, “We are the Cat.”
“How did you get inspired to write?” asked Gary Pierce, a student of teacher Carol Trask, who has a first- and second-grade class.
“I had a good idea, I thought, so I wrote a book and nobody bought it, so I started writing about more fun things,” said Bain. “Then I started writing about my dogs and it was fun. I said, ‘I think I have a book here.’
“There is a little in there that’s made-up, so it’s a little part made-up and some part what my dogs do,” Bain said.
A group of fifth-graders responded to Bain’s questions about battling writer’s block.
“If I get stuck, I start thinking of other things, then something good might come up,” said Justin Rice. Others suggested drawing, moving around and writing lists.
Bain offered other tips during the day, such as looking at subjects in different ways.
“Maybe I’ll write about this big group of kids in front of me. Maybe there’s one who only wears pink. Now I have an idea. I can write about someone who only wears pink. Why? Maybe her name is Rose. This stuff works, and then I’ll start to make connections.”
U-Hi, CV bands garner awards
With the fall season winding down, high school marching bands at both University and Central Valley posted division wins this year.
U-Hi band director Keith Nielsen said the Titans group traveled Oct. 1 for the Cavalcade of Bands, grabbing first in its division and eighth overall. Caption awards received were: Best Percussion, Best Brass and Winds, Best Marching, Best General Effect and Best Drum Major.
The U-Hi band placed first in its division at the Oct. 8 Pacific Northwest Marching Band Championships and third overall. Caption awards received were: Best Marching and Best Drum Major.
On Oct. 22 the band went to Everett to compete in the Puget Sound Festival of Bands. The group captured second place in its division and sixth overall.
For CVHS, the band wins were as follows:
Cavalcade of Bands (Kennewick): First Place AAA – Large Division with Best Brass and Winds, Best Marching, Best Percussion, Best Auxiliary, Best General Effect, Best Drum Major.
Pacific Northwest Marching Band Championships (Spokane): First Place AAA – Open Division, capturing Best Music and Best Percussion.
McKenzie Classic (Vancouver, Wash.): Second Place, AA – Division, winning Best Percussion.
University of Oregon Festival of Bands (Eugene): Fourth Place, AA – Division.
EVHS craft fair this weekend
A holiday craft fair at East Valley High School is scheduled today and Sunday to benefit the Senior All-Knighter for senior graduation.
Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the school, 15711 E. Wellesley Ave. More than 30 exhibitor booths are expected with arts, crafts and woodwork. Admission is free.
FBLA officers for CVHS named
Central Valley High School’s Future Business Leaders of America group has announced new officers who were installed during an Oct. 26 ceremony at the FBLA Northeast Region Fall Leadership Conference.
The leaders for the 2005-06 school year are: Josh Tempel, president; Andrea Avenger, vice president; Tori Cook, secretary; Alicia Martin, treasurer; Aimee Goold and Andrea Freeman, historians; Chris Driver, parliamentarian; Kristina Theriot, public relations; and Nic Morden, photographer.
About 35 CV group members also were among FBLA students who heard keynote speaker Dan Miller, author of “Living, Laughing, and Loving Life,” at the fall conference in Spokane.
U-Hi drama presents ‘Noises Off’
University High School drama students will kick off the play season with “Noises Off,” directed by Jennifer Hunter.
A comedy that presents the story of a hapless English acting troupe, the play is scheduled Wednesday and Thursday and continues on Nov. 16, 17, 18 and 19. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. each evening in the U-Hi Performing Arts Theatre.
Tickets are available at the door or can be picked up from the school business office. Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $5 for students, seniors and children.
The cast members include Justin Kjolseth, Katie Osterback, Zach Ormsby, Kayla Henson, Derek Baziotis, Samantha Johnson, Andy Funke, Brett Vlahovich and Carly Jordan.