First Friday
Dec. 6 First Friday events include the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree, a new exhibit at the Sheldon Museum and a book signing at the Arts Confluence.
At 5 p.m., First Friday participants can view the tree lighting on the corner of Third Avenue and Mainstreet. Santa will make an appearance. Caroling, cocoa and a cookie and candy contest will also take place.
Krampus will visit Amersand AK where new holiday merchandise, textile arts and other goodies will be featured.
Linda Buckley will sign copies of her new children’s book “The Bear in the Blueberry” at Alaska Arts Confluence. The Chilkat Valley Preschool will also hold a silent auction.
Alaska Rods will celebrate its 10th anniversary and host local photographer Judi Rice.
Alaska Wild Bear Photography will display photo greeting cards by Tamara Hackett.
The Haines Sheldon Museum will open its newest exhibit “Winter Memories,” with historic movies and photos.
Locally made skincare products by AK Botanics and holiday bread by Josie’s Bread and Bagels will be available at The Magpie Gallery.
The American Bald Eagle Foundation will display Haines elementary school art works with warm drinks and other treats from 4:30 – 7 p.m.
Other events that evening include Karen Bryant’s oil paintings at the Haines Brewing Company.
Author of “Bear in the Blueberry” celebrates first book
Juneau author and regular Haines visitor Linda Buckley recently self-published a children’s book, “The Bear in the Blueberry.” She’ll be in Haines Dec. 6 to read her new book to students at the school library and do a book signing during First Friday events at the Arts Confluence.
Buckley was inspired to write the book by world renowned teacher and writer Thich Nhat Hanh. “I’m a student of his,” Buckley said. “Twenty years ago, he gave a talk; he held up a piece of blank paper and said can you see the logger in this paper? Can you see the rain, the sun? The entire universe is in this piece of paper. I thought, ‘the bear is in the blueberry.’”
Twenty years later, after a career as a music teacher, she found an illustrator for her book. Robin Robbins, a Seattle artist, painted the watercolor images that bring to life with the story’s theme that attempts to show the interconnectedness of life. “It’s a book about science wrapped up in beautiful watercolors of bears and blueberries and the cycle of life,” Buckley said.
The book includes a recipe for blueberry pancakes and four pages of bear facts. Copies of “The Bear in the Blueberry” will be available for sale at the Arts Confluence for $16.95.
Buckley has also published poetry in several Alaskan journals and magazines.
Holly Jolly Follies to include A Christmas Carol
The Holly Jolly Follies will be back Dec. 15. New this year include the Lynn Canal Community Players performance of an abridged version of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and a community sing along of The Messiah.
Roger Gentry is directing the holiday play. Dave Routh will play Scrooge and Carolyn Goolsby will narrate the tale.
In Act I, Nancy Nash will direct and accompany selected choruses and solos known as “Messiah,” a choral tradition popular around the world. The oratorio, composed in 1741 by George Handel, accompanies a scriptural text from books in the bible. The structure is similar to an opera, the songs tell a story, although no characters play any parts.
“It’s got a whole plot but it’s not acted out,” Nash said. “It alternates between chorus numbers and solos. The solos are rehearsed. The whole oratorio is accessible to people who have been in school choirs or who have just heard it because it’s got melodies intertwining. It’s a real accessible thing both for singing and or people to listen to.”
The choirs will also perform on Dec. 21 in the Chilkat Center Lobby, and the public is invited to listen and sing along. Lucinda Boyce will play some of the piano parts with Nash.
LCCP’s Lorraine Dudzik said Act I will feature the traditional variety show including Holly Davis’ harp performance, and Matt Davis and his children playing brass instruments. Also new to the show this year are tumbling polar bears.
The show is on Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. Ticket prices area $10 for adults $6 for children and $30 for families.