The spiritual journey of a Federal Way lens grinder. A new play by Bryan Willis, directed by Brian Tyrrell. Our incredible cast includes: Peter Kappler, Jana Tyrrell, Cecil Cheeka, Megan Sanders, David Wright, Andrew Gordon, Megan Tyrrell and Jason Haws.

Our equally amazing design and tech team: Chad Carpenter--Stage Manager; Benny McConkey--TD; Matt Lawrence--Lights; Michael Kohlmeier--Sets; Peter Jansen--Sound; Darren Mills--Costumes; Karen Naughton--Producer.

• Jan. 12-14 @ 8 pm, Jan 15 @ 2 pm at The Evergreen State College - Experimental Theater - Tix available at the TESC Bookstore, at Orca Books in downtown Olympia, on line at buyolympia.com or at the door.
• Jan. 19-21 @ 8 pm, Jan 21 & 22 @ 2 pm at the Washington Center Stage II Tickets can be purchased by visiting the box office or by calling 753-8586. They can also be reserved on line at washingtoncenter.org
• February 2 - 4 at Centralia College (8 pm shows) can be reserved by calling 736-9391, ext. 525.

Tickets at TESC and CC are $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens. At the WCPA, they’re $13/adults and $9/students and seniors. (price includes $2 WCPA ticket charge).

Please Note: Friday Jan. 20 @ 8 pm, benefit for Bread & Roses. Sponsored by Pacific Slope Properties.

Sunday Jan 22 @ 2 pm, benefit for K-Bird & KLADY radio.

Program sponsors: Pacific Slope Properties, K-BIRD 680 am, KLADY 1280 am, Northwest Playwrights Alliance and Centralia College. Special thanks to Dan & Mary Weiss and the Arts Alliance of Downtown Olympia.

Northwest Passage is produced by Northwest Playwrights Alliance in conjunction with Centralia College. Jpeg production photos available upon request. For additional information, please contact Brian Tyrrell 360/736-9391 ext. 525 btyrrell@centralia.edu

It looks like we might get a meaningful civil rights bill through the senate this year. From gay.com:

Finkbeiner joined fellow Republicans and two Democrats in opposing the bill, leading to its 25-24 defeat after passing by a large margin in the House. On Monday, however, he reversed his stance, giving civil rights advocates new hope for the bill's passage.

"I've had a number of conversations over the past year that have led me to more fully understand the level of discrimination against gays and lesbians, and I now find it is both appropriate and necessary for the state to make it clear that this is not acceptable," Finkbeiner said in a written statement.

There has long been broad bipartisan support in the House for a statewide antidiscrimination bill. Washington's Senate, however, has been bitterly divided, and observers see Finkbeiner as the key link to break Republican opposition to the bill.

Whether more Republicans follow suit is unclear, but Democrats say Finkbeiner's reversal locks in the minimum 25 votes to ensure passage. If the bill makes it out of committee this week, a vote could come as early as Jan. 20.

Given the long and tortuous road to a statewide antidiscrimination law -- a bill in one form or another has been delayed or defeated for 30 years -- gay rights advocates are waiting until the vote is final before celebrating.

You can read more about it here.

From the Olympian:

Whether it’s a clarinet that lost its appeal after six months of squeaking, or a trombone that was faithfully toted to class each day until high school graduation, used band instruments can be spared a life sentence of storage thanks to at least one South Sound nonprofit organization.

[snip]

Each fall, the instruments are given to schools that have high numbers of children who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches, which is an indicator of poverty. Then individual band and orchestra programs loan the instruments to students who can’t afford to buy or rent an instrument of their own.

“Those are the kids that need that instrument,

Rick posted earlier on rubber sidewalks and there is now one ready for inspection on 6th and Cushing SW, westside Oly.

The sidewalks are under two large trees that survived the ice storm of winter 96-97. So the placement is appropriate, will be interesting to see how the rubber panels respond to the tree roots over time.

My honest first impression? I don't like rubber sidewalks. But eventually probably I'll get used to them. They don't feel right, they are sort of spongy and strange. They aren't quite like rubber used for playgrounds, less give to them. But there is a big transition from walking on cement to rubber. And possibly I'd like the rubber sidewalk better if all the sidewalks were rubber, to have just a patch of rubber amidst cement doesn't seem to work.

I am curious about how animals will react, anyone have a dog out there that they can walk across the sidewalk and see how it responds? I can easily imagine a dog refusing to walk on it, or deciding that the sidewalk needs to be properly marked. Which might make the now light colored surface take on a yellowish tone.

• Materials and lunch provided
• Child-care provided
• 1pm March from Sylvester Park to Capitol Steps FREE
• 4pm - 11pm Benefit Show at The Vault FREE with morning registration, otherwise by admission price. Link.
  

I'm starting to grow webbing between my toes. From the Olympian:

It has rained every day in Thurston County since Dec. 16, and it could be several more days before that streak is broken, according to the National Weather Service.

“We're just in this pattern where we keep getting one right after another,