The weekend looms ahead….

Hey, what’s happening….

• You knew it: Duck Soup Inn has Friday Happy Hour tonight, and is now on schedule for Thursday through Sunday each week….

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• Just heard that the FHHS girls soccer team nudged La Conner 2-1 in overtime last night, while the Wolverine volleyball team was passed 3-0 by the Braves. Friday Harbor meets Lynden Christian Friday night here on the island in football – see you there!

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• Did you see the AP article that Canada has observed the loss of an entire ice shelf in the Arctic? Here’s more…pretty sobering stuff.

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• The soccer dinner’s coming & it’s time to plan! Here’s the scoop from Travis & the youth soccer association:

Soccer Dinner!  We will be having a fundraising dinner at FHHS on Thursday October 27th from 5:30-7:00 pm. To help us plan, RSVP to Gail Seitz seitz74 (at) centurylink.net to let her know how many adults and kids will attend, and (of course) if you could help volunteer somehow!  We are also looking for folks to bring desserts and possibly drinks. More details to follow.

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• You know, it’s always great to see friends on stage, and this one’s gonna be funny. I read the script before casting, and I think it’s been really well cast. Here’s more about next week’s opening for The Ladies’ Man at the Community Theatre, from Jan Bollwinkel-Smith:

Did you know our own executive director Merritt Olsen has taken on one of the leading roles in SJCT’s fall farce The Ladies Man, which opens on October 6?

This is just the second play Merritt has performed in at the Theatre since he moved here 11 years ago.  The first one, as the memorable Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, came because he needed to fill-in for another actor who had an emergency.  This time, Merritt purposely sought out the role as a French physician (Dr. Hercule Molineaux) who tells “one, tiny, little, hardly noticeable lie” to cover an innocent but embarrassing indiscretion. From that single untruth tumbles a cascade of increasingly convoluted deceptions, misunderstandings and mistaken identities.

“I think our audience likes to see people take a risk on stage,” said Merritt.  “I used to make a living as an actor—I wanted to see if I could still do it.”

Merritt is joined on stage by Penelope Haskew as Molineaux’s suspicious wife, Deb Langhans as his mother-in-law, Susan Williams as an amorous female patient,  John Davis as Susan’s jealous Prussian husband, Bo Turnage as Molineaux’s  well-intentioned friend with a lisp, Mason Turnage as a valet with attitude and Shannon Kelley as a maid with a secret.

Merritt says the collaboration among the cast, crew and visiting director Chris Jorie has been terrific, with them focusing as a group on the play and the writing, which he calls “brilliant.”

“I think it’s important as an executive/artistic director to be reminded what our volunteers—especially those who have full-time jobs—go through to get a production up and running,” said Merritt.  “It’s a very humbling experience.”

As to whether Merritt completely relates to taking the role of a “ladies man”?  Other than growing a mustache and perfecting a French accent… “I’d say those days are long behind me,” he laughs.

The Ladies Man is presented in the Whittier Theatre October 6-9 and 13-16.

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• Creative Passions is open! Here’s more about the store (right)….

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• This is next week at Skagit Valley College/San Juan Center – sign up now to make sure you get a spot! Here’s more from Randy:

Richard Russell’s one day workshop entitled Island Living: An Owner’s Manual is on Saturday, October 8th.

It’s an engaging seminar designed to assist participants in finding cost savings and improving efficiencies in the operation of your home, collectively aimed at sustaining a comfortable island lifestyle while minimizing impacts.

Richard is a fourth generation carpenter, a mentor and master builder with forty years of experience and has served as general contractor for PBS’s show “This Old House.” He operates Soundhouse LLC, a design-build construction company and consults through the Building Consultants Group.  Cost is $57.00.

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• Yoga for men only at XYZ Movement Arts Studio! It’s Wednesdays from noon to 1pm – here’s more from Cynthia:

Do you feel stiff, tired or achy? If you are a middle-aged or older guy, perhaps you remember those years when your body naturally felt supple and full of vitality? If you are a woman, perhaps you have a significant other who complains of tight, painful muscles or joints. Perhaps this constant discomfort makes him feel cranky or depressed.

Most of us have some idea of the great benefits Yoga can provide, yet not everyone is willing to give Yoga a try. But those who do try Yoga usually get hooked, because they feel so great from the practice, and naturally do not want to give this feeling up! Occasionally, it is true, there are people who have a not-so-great-experience when they try out a Yoga class. It may be that the class does not really fit their needs, or the instructor does not really understand exactly what their bodies can and cannot do. Very often, it is men who seem to have these not-so-satisfactory experiences. Sadly, they may quit before finding out what Yoga can really do for them.

The fact is, many more women than men attend Yoga classes. Many men feel too embarrassed to even try it. They either are afraid they will look super stiff next to the women students, or they convince themselves that Yoga is really a female thing anyway. Nothing could be further from the truth: far from being a female sport, Yoga was actually originally designed for men. And it is not just about stretching either. It is also about strengthening the body, toning muscles, improving digestion, calming and balancing the mind, and slowing down the aging process.

Friday Harbor already boasts some excellent Yoga classes taught at the XYZ Movement Arts Studio on Airport Center Rd. Now XYZ has added a men only class on Wednesdays from noon to 1:00 PM, specially designed for men’s bodies and men’s needs. This class is open to beginners and seasoned practitioners alike. It offers a fun and lively experience that can start to shake the cobwebs off your body and bring back some of that youthful flexibility and “bounce.” Men typically suffer from tight shoulders, hips and hamstrings. Also, men tend to experience low back pain and difficulty bending forward. Yoga For Men provides the perfect exercise protocol for all men who wish to loosen up stiff joints, recover youthfulness, increase cardio-vascular health, and transform stress or depression in positive states of mind.

Why not give Yoga For Men a try? After all, who doesn’t want more energy, less pain, more suppleness and even a bit of serenity! XYZ’s Yoga For Men is every Wednesday from noon to 1:00PM. The class is designed and taught by Nicholas Corrin, a highly experienced Yoga instructor and Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

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Categories: Around Here