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Shelton-Mason County Journal
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@masoncou~ty.corn
Church and community choirs
from around the county plan to
come together for the third year to
perform patriotic standards in the
Songs of Freedom concert.
The concert is scheduled for 7
p.m. on Nov. 8 and 9 at St. Ed-
ward's Catholic Church in Shel-
ton.
Ginger Brooks, of the Faith Lu-
theran Church choir, has partici-
pated in the event since it began.
"I think it's
kind of nice we
all come togeth-
er," she said.
"Everybody gets
togetherfor a
common pur-
pose."
This year
choirs from St.
Ginger Edward's Cath-
Brooks olic Church,
St. David of
Wales Episcopal
Church, Shelton United Meth-
odist, Shelton Presbyterian, Mt.
Olive Lutheran and Hood Canal up to the concert. The following said.
Community churches, as well as year, the group performed the con-. Each year, a number of voter-
the New Community Church of cert on two nights to accommodate ans and their families also attend
Union, the Church of Jesus Christ demand, the event. Veterans from World
ofLatter-DaySaints, the Olympia/ "It was packed," Brooks said.War II, as well as active service
Lacey Church of God, the Harst'me "Another almost overwhelming personnel and new veterans from
Island Choir and Anna's Bay Cho- sensation (is) when we have the the Iraq and Afghanistan wars
rale will combine to perform the whole group rehearsal." have been well represented at past
concert. In preparation for the event,concerts, Brooks said.
In the concert's first year in individual church choirs practice "I think it's important to them,"
2010, the groups didn't know how songs, then come together for a she said. "They're very proud that
many attendees to expect. Brooks group practice before the open per- they served and they should be."
said she expected the families of formances. The Songs of Freedom choir
singers to show up, along with a "The first time you hear some of also performed in Skookum
few community members, the patriotic songs with 120 peo-
More than 500 people showed ple in a church -- it's moving," she See Freedom on page B-6
Journal photo by Gordon Weeks
Clayton Beasley, a 13-year-old Shelton resident, received a new kidney last month, and next week will sing a song
he composed with Grammy Award-winner Mateo Messina on stage at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. On Friday, he
attended the fall dance at his school, Pioneer Intermediate/Middle School.
The song, and Beasley's health chal-
13-year-old receives 2nd kidney,
lenges, prompted an appearance on the
KING-5 News segment "Making a Dif-
ference" and on the station's "New Day
slated to perform song in Seattle Northwest."
The song is about "how we can heal
people who don't have a voice," said Bea-
By GORDON WEEKS as a surprise - he got to co-write.it with sley, a student at Pioneer Intermediate/
gordon(~,%~nasoncounty.com Seattle composer Mateo Messina, who Middle School. He added, "My whole life,
won a Grammy Award for penniDg theI've been trying to find my voice."
soundtrack to the 2007 film "Juno." "I'm very proud of him, because it is
On Sept. 13, 13-year-old Clayton Bea- Beasley will sing the song solo at the a lesson for everybody,,' said his mother,
sley received a new kidney. Next week, end of Messina's benefit concert "The Diana Sushak. "It's awesome someone
he'll debut his song about hope onstage Voice of Finnegan Farrell" at 8 p.m. Nov. his age can think of something like that."
at Benaroya Hall in Seattle. 9 at Benaroya Hall. The concert is Messi- It's especially awesome considering
The kidney transplant, Beasley's sec- na's 15th annual fundraising concert pre- the obstacles Beasley has faced all his
ond, came as a surprise -- it was the per- sented in support of Seattle Children's life.
fect match he needed. His song "I'll Use Hospital. For tickets, call 206-215-4747
My Words Until the Day I Die" also came or toll-free at 1-866-833-4747. See Concert on page B-6
I didn't realize how difficult it
could be to move my feet and
count to eight at the same
time. Judy and I took the Salsa
dance class offered at Pioneer
School. Even though I have two
left feet, the class was still a lot
of fun. I think there were 12-14
couples there learning to move
their feet in the correct order to
the rhythm of the music. "Danc-
ing with the Stars" makes this
look so easy. When class v~as
over and we were walking out,
the hallways were full of other
By MIKE
CALLAGHAN
tion.
On Nov. 17, the garden club
students. So is going to hold a wreath mak- Irish crew is already planning
remember, ing class at the community hall. the annual Thanksgiving din-
these classes Things will start around 10 nor at the hall. If you want
are free and a.m. They will be providing the to enjoy a dinner with other
they are a lot greens and the instruction on islanders, you need to make a
of fun. You how to make a beautiful wreath reservation early, as this event
still have time for the fast-approaching holiday is always popular. To reserve a
to attend two season. I'm not sure, but there spot call either the Bensons at
more classes might be a small charge for this; 426-7803, or the Irishes at 426-
on Nov. 6 and I will find out for sure and let 0266.
13. Call 426- you know next week. Last week's speakers at
9115 ext. 3 for Can yot/believe it is Nov. 1Pioneer Kiwanis were Damian
more informa- today. Wow. So, when I said the
holidays are fast approaching,
I wasn't kidding. The Benson/ '~ •
@
n •
Reporter plays
role in best-selling
author's books
W~c%en I was a report-
for the Port Or-
ard Independent
during the early 1990s, I
frequently interviewed an
aspiring local writer named
Debbie Macomber.
Macomber was writing
her first novels. On several
occasions, she told me she
was considering basing a
series of romance novels in
Port Orchard.
When
Macomb-
er's Ce-
dar Cove
series
debuted,
I noticed
several
similari-
ties be-
By GORDON t w e e n
WEEKS m y s e 1 f
and Jack
Griffin,
the editor of the Cedar Cove
Chronicle. He covered the
annual seagull calling con-
test, just like me. We share
some of the same personal
challenges.
So when I interviewed
Macomber on yesterday
about her appearance from
5-6 p.m tomorrow at the
Shelton Timberland Li-
brary, I had to ask her: "So,
speaking of Cedar Cove,
you can admit it: Jack Grif-
fin is partially based on me,
right?"
"It's true!" she said with
a laugh.
The 16 Cedar Cove books
are among more than 150
romance novels and con-
temporary women's fiction
books penned by Macomber,
who now splits her time
between Port Orchard and
Florida. More than 150 mil-
lion copies of her books are
in print, and many of her
novels have hit No. 1 on the
New York Times bestsellers
list.
At the Shelton Timber-
land Library, she'll be sign-
ing copies of her new book,
"Angels at the Table." The
event is hosted by The Sage
Book Store.
Macomber said she never
runs out of ideas for books.
"I'm really a storyteller,"
she said. "That's the gift
See Harstine on page B-6 See Author on page B-6
Thursday, Nov. 1,201~2 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Page B-1