The Latah Creek Drum Band at a “Sweetheart Family Dance” on Friday, February 15, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Orient School located at 5th and C Streets, Orient. Pre-show tickets are $7.00 for adults and $2.50 for students 15 and under. A limited number of pre-show tickets will be sold. The tickets will be sold at Greenwood Institute d’Art in Chewelah. Tickets at the door are $8.00 for Adults and $3.50 for students 15 and under. A “sweetheart” community dinner will be served at the school from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Steve Nelson founded the Latah Creek Drum band as a percussion ensemble. The band has evolved into a full-blown R&B dance band with some of the best musicians in the Inland Northwest represented in the band.

Latah Creek Drum Band plays covers from Josh Stone to Bonnie Raitt, with plenty of original songs as well, some written by Nelson. Latah Creek boasts violinist Constance Eller, who plays first chair violin with the Gonzaga University Symphony.

Steve Nelson, founder of Latah Creek Drum Band states, “I’ve been a professional drummer for over thirty years. I’ve played in NYC, Seattle and Calgary. Our trumpet player Mike Lenke, has performed with BB King, Maynard Ferguson, and Buddy Rich’s band. We also have one of the best female blues vocalists I’ve heard in the Inland Empire.”

This family-based concert is partially funded by The Washington State Arts Commission. Artwork by Orient students will be on display, and also students will demonstrate dance moves they have learned from teaching artist Gina Greenwood of Chewelah. Greenwood is the director of Greenwood Institute d’Art, a non-profit organization she has directed for over ten years. There will also be interactive areas at the family dance where all ages can paint, draw, and dance with hoola hoops.

For tickets or other information about the Orient/Inchelium/Valley Arts Consortium, call OIV Arts Coordinator, Gloria J. Geary at 509-684-6873 or email: gloriart@hughes.net.

Colville Valley Performing Arts Association is holding two separate fundraisers to help fund the performing arts in Colville in these difficult economic times. The association is committed to bringing high-quality performing artists to the Colville area. The group has been in operation since the 1940s, only taking a break during World War II. The first fundraiser, just in time for Valentine’s Day is the Sweetheart Package, a raffle with a suggested donation of only $5. per ticket. Only 100 raffle tickets will be printed. The winner will receive a gift certificate for a one night stay at a suite at Benny’s Colville Inn ($132 value), two adult tickets to the Jeni Fleming concert on Feb. 17 at  2 p.m. at Colville High School Auditorium (value $30), a $25 gift certificate to Hudson Bay Restaurant, located at Barney’s Junction west of Kettle Falls, and a gift basket from Heather’s Fairytale Bakery to be presented at the Jeni Fleming Trio Concert.

Then, on February 2nd, Heather’s Fairytale Bakery, 576 N. Wynne Street, Colville, will present Bread into Dough -- A Backwards Fund-Raiser. Pre-paid reservations are required and there is a limit of 50 persons per noshing. Cost is $8 for teens and $15 for adults. Please call 684-6458 or 680-3185 for ticket information.

Heather Ruskievicz, the owner of Heather’s Fairytale Bakery explains, “Bread into Dough is an opportunity to spend a few hours with friends, food and beverage at Heather’s Fairy Tale Bakery and raise money to support the Colville Valley Performing Arts Association! A lovely selection of fresh baked breads, cheeses and a scrumptious dessert or two will be available.”

The word “nosh” means an informal snack or light meal. It comes from the Yiddish “nashn,” to eat sweets or nibble on, and also from Middle High German “naschen,” to nibble.

Also, don’t forget the Jeni Fleming Trio, who will be at Colville High School Auditorium, performing at 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 17th. This trio is remarkable, and it’s a musical performance that you won’t want to miss. The Big Sky Journal remarked that "[after] an evening of this, you're both whipped and exhilarated. You've wiped your eyes, yet your cheeks hurt from all the grinning."

The Jeni Fleming Trio is gaining national recognition for their unique sound and emotionally packed deliverance. Based in Bozeman, MT, the trio's music is defined by the sublime vocal talent of Jeni Fleming. With a crystal clear voice that demands attention, Jeni gently delivers truth in each song. The other members of the group include her husband, Jake Fleming, and Craig Hall. Playing various roles in the group as songwriter, guitarist, saxophonist and vocalist, Jake weaves through the music with character and color, intuitively predicting and reacting to Jeni. Equally versatile, composer, bassist, guitarist and vocalist, Craig Hall provides the foundation for the Trio with rich sustaining and rhythmic purpose.

 For more information on the Jeni Fleming Trio, or to buy tickets for any or all of these events, call Karen at 684-5687. Tickets for the Jeni Fleming Trio concert are $15 for adults, and $5 for students. Concert tickets and raffle tickets are available at Colville Chamber of Commerce, 121 East Astor, Colville.

The North Columbia Monthly provides news, views, humor and a calendar of events for an area that stretches from Nelson in British Columbia south to Spokane in Washington State and covers all points in between. A free (and free-thinking, progressive) magazine, The Monthly is available at several hundred spots throughout the region and now is also available on-line at www.ncmonthly.com. Published once a month since 1994, The Monthly is an independent magazine that often challenges contemporary wisdom by encouraging critical thinking about issues and attitudes in the region and beyond.

Featuring our one-of-a-kind "What's Happening" department, The Monthly provides the region's only all-inclusive, free listing of community events and is the first place many people check to find out about area arts, crafts, music, fairs, services and events of all kinds. Our open listing policy for the "What's Happening" department promotes diversity, cultural interaction, and the exchange of ideas and free expression. Also featured in the magazine are people, food, health, humor, and feature articles that keep readers coming back for more each month.

We can be reached by mail at The North Columbia Monthly, PO Box 541, Colville, WA 99114; by phone or fax at 509-684-3109; by email at editor@ncmonthly.com; and on the Web at www.ncmonthly.com.

©2008. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the contents or use in whole or part without written permission from the publishers is strictly prohibited. Views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishers.

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