The Pops! are coming, the Pops! are coming! In fact, by the time you read this, they may already be in town. I’m talking about the Monterey County Pops! Symphony Orchestra (and those are not typos, the name includes the exclamation point after Pops; er, Pops!) If you have no plans for this evening, then you can make to the King City High School Auditorium, the home of the Robert Stanton Stage, for this evening’s special Veterans Day performance. If you have plans for this evening, then you may want to cancel them and attend this honoring of our local veterans. As Ol’ Abe said in dedication of the nation’s first national cemetery, “It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.”
It is a fact that since the beginning of human existence, we have adapted well to the elemental aspects of nature and so are able to inhabit all the Earth, even in some of the harshest environs found on the planet. But we have yet to figure out a way to co-exist peacefully, and so we have defense systems in place to ward off those who would impede upon our liberties; or seek to overtake us as a democratically run country; such people have existed, and still do. When members of a society dedicate their lives, for either short periods of conscription or as careers, to defense of America from all dangers either foreign or domestic, it is right and just that we should show them the honor due such commitments. And there is no better way to exercise this honor that with music, and the Monterey County Pops! Symphony Orchestra are masters of this type of music.
Presented by the Southern Monterey County Center for the Performing Arts and Veterans of Foreign Wars Sgt. Frank Lillard Post 6747, tonight’s event will include not only patriotic numbers by the Pops!, but also will be joined by the King City High School Band under the direction of Dr. David Bakken. A special addition to the program will be a rare appearance by the Monterey County Dance Theatre’s Kick Line; the special group of dancers performing their snappy routines of unison cadence to military music. There are a total of 20 dancers in this group who alternate in teams of 8-12; tonight’s performance will showcase the talents of eight of the ladies; they are: Alicia Quintana, Sheccid Salas and Kali Jimenez from Soledad; Anahi Cervantes, Fatima Silva and Sara Godinez from King City; Ezrie Bautista from Greenfield and Nicole Diaz from Paso Robles.
The addition of the high school band and the kick line dancers makes the evening even more significant as it allows our youth the opportunity to honor the men and women who have served our country in times of peace and war. The VFW will provide the service flags presented during the playing of the five military theme songs; a very special part of the program. The doors open this evening at six o’clock with the music commencing at seven o’clock and admission is free to all comers.
This event is our time to show honor and respect and it is something we can carry with us through the next year knowing we did our part to support local veterans and our youth talent. See you there!
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Last Saturday was a busy one for me, as I shuffled back and forth from the dance Studio and a home on Mildred Street. In the Studio was the annual Clara’s Tea for the 65th annual “Nutcracker Ballet” to be performed the weekend of Dec. 13, 14 and 15 on the Robert Stanton Stage. Not only is this long run of annual performances a milestone for the City of King and South Valley, but also ranks as, I believe, the third longest running “Nutcracker Ballet” in the nation; and that is saying a lot for a small city troupe. The event last weekend kicks off a period of local recognition of this cherished local event with businesses offering special dishes and treats with a “Nutcracker” theme and a special pre-performance dinner at The Cork and Plough on the evening of the 15. For more information about tickets for the performance and the dinner (tickets for that are down to just a few as of this writing, so act quickly), email mo***************************@gm***.com .
Also last Saturday, after Clara’s Tea, the King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture held a mixer at the Studio where visitors were treated to a preview of some of the characters found in the “Nutcracker Ballet.” Shadrach and Fatima performed the Arabian routine, Sheccid performed the Spanish dance and Kali was the Sugar Plum Fairy. It was a busy day in the Studio, all in anticipation of the upcoming 65th performance.
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And, as for the home on Mildred, that was where a gathering took place of a family I grew up with in Greenfield. Most townspeople know Rick, he has been the maintenance supervisor at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds for about 100 years now (OK, about 40; but still a long time) and the home is that of his daughter Shauna and her kiddos Kelly, Lilly and Junior. In town were Rick’s brother Danny and wife Susie and daughter Justine from Chowchilla; sister Yvonne from McKinleyville area and brother Shaun and wife Tawana, daughter Sierra and a couple of grandkids from Berryville, Ark. There are about 15 more gathered, grandkids and nieces and nephews, but I only had a few minutes with them between appearances in the Studio, so I don’t yet know all those who are here. But I know it is a rare occasion to have so many friends and family together, and because I have known this clan for most of my life, it is a real blessing to see old friends meet the younger generation.
Take care. Peace.
