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Show Friday, Sept. 10, 2010 Page 6 Utah State University • Logan, Utah • www.aggietownsquare.com Celebrating, Hollywood style Big band show performs for the eleventh year New Equine Center completes first stage By SARAH HATCH guest writer By SHANELLE GALLOWAY staff writer It opened with the orchestra: saxophones, clarinets and trombones combined to recreate the suave style of Big Band era music, which set the mood for the next hour and fifteen minutes in USU's Evan Stevenson Ballroom. Performers dressed in elegant gowns and dashing tuxedos danced onto the stage, and Celebrate America's 2010 "Hooray for Hollywood" theme show was under way. The Celebrate America Show Corporation was started 11 years ago by Production Director Brenda Anthony. The inspiration for the corporation was the "Evening with Glenn Miller" dinner show that the USU Entertainment Department used to put on until 12 years ago when it was cut for financial reasons, according to Anthony. The community, however, wanted the tradition to continue, and members, such as Anthony, took it upon themselves to keep the show going. Retired faculty member Larry Smith started the orchestra, the Larry Smith Orchestra, now conducted by Mr. Will Francis. "The best big band anywhere, they're fantastic," Anthony said. The production staff pieced together a show with support from the university. "That first year, we just decided to give it a try," Anthony said, "We did it for one night, and over the last ten years [it has grown] to CELEBRATE AMERICA PERFORMERS sing and dance for the audience in the Evan Stevenson Ballroom. The theme for this years Celebrate America set wasinHollywood 1942. photo courtesy of BRENDA ANTHONY what it is now." This year, the show is running for five days. Tuesday night was the dress rehearsal, open to the general public, and Wednesday was student night, with reduced ticket prices for students of USU. Thursday, Friday and Saturday night a universitycatered dinner is included with the show. "We couldn't do the show if Utah State didn't work with us," Anthony said. "This is a great example of Utah State wanting to work with the community." The university does not fund the event. All the funding for Celebrate America comes from ticket sales and the corporation's benefactor, retired Army veteran Colonel Von Freeman, who resides in Texas. The thirty performers are clad in dazzling costumes produced under the direction of wardrobe director Dawn Hooker. The lasting energy of the 12 singers, five ballroom dance couples and eight rockette-style dancers is evidenced by the smiles on their faces and pride in their eyes. "It's a lot of work," said ballroom dancer Jessica Tripp, "but everything really came together in the last week." Auditions began in April, and throughout the summer singers periodically received songs in the mail that they were responsible to learn before each monthly practice. "It takes a year [to put together]. We have to start planning now for next year," Anthony said. "All the music in the show is transcribed specifically for us." The show includes several familiar songs such as "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend," "Baby It's Cold Outside," and an instrumental version of "Singing in the Rain." Each piece of music was creatively arranged for the show but still carries all the merit of classic Big Band. This year's show was inspired by Hollywood's Coconut Grove Nightclub in 1942, a place and a time when celebrities and fans gathered for nights of morale-boost- I See AMERICA, page 7 Students and community members gathered Wednesday to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony in a three-phase unveiling of Utah State University's newest facility. Now sitting on 26 acres, the Equine Education Center is located five miles south of Logan on Highway 89 near Wellsville. The center has many new and improved developments to benefit students and teachers of USU. One of these developments is a 24,000 square-foot barn and classroom complex that will accommodate 100 students per room when construction is complete. "This new facility will benefit teachers in every aspect. It will be a lot easier to instruct students in the proper ways when they are actually able to be out there in the industry," said Colette Floyd, equine coach and lecturer. "With the new breeding processes and increasing our horse herd, students will be able to get hands-on experience, and that will dramatically increase learning," she said. With some of these new developments, however, she said they also hope to make the new equestrian team one of the best in the nation. Other major benefits included in this facility are 44 new horse stalls, six covered round-pens and a 6,200 square-foot reproduction facility. The new parking lot is big enough for students, visitors and teachers as well as trucks and trailers to park. USU student and Rodeo Club member Paige M. Morgan said this facility was one feature that made her excited to attend USU. "For me as a student, when I was looking at schools, I wanted first, to attend an agricultural college and second, to attend a place where I could continue riding and working with horses," she said. With the equine program, Morgan said she has been able to continue pursuing what she loves to do and has also had many opportunities to meet and be around new people that also share the same common interests. "I think with the new Equine Education Center, it's going to bring in a lot more students, as well as more knowledge about the equine program in general," she said. The Equine Center will be large enough to host Western and English riding competitions, livestock shows and adult education courses. Dean of the College of Agriculture Noelle Cockett said it will just keep getting larger. "The Equine Science and Management program here at Utah State University is Exploding," she said. "There have been double-digit increases with students, and we think very soon we will be as high as 100 to 150." Cockett said things are not quite finished yet, but are getting close. "There are people that are actually here right now looking at our program," she said. "There are still a few things left to do, but this new facility is something we are very excited about and would love to share with the community." Gardener's market brings fresh medley to Cache Valley By TAM ROUNDS staff writer Saturday mornings at Merlin Olsen Park start with the jingle of a cow bell promptly at 9 a.m. With that sound, vendors and customers of the Cache Valley Gardener's Market know that the buying and selling can begin. People of all ages and walks of life flock to the market to purchase a variety of goods. Jewelry and handbags, fresh eggs, handmade soaps, artisan cheeses and breads are among the scores of wares available. The majority of goods sold are fresh fruits and vegetables, grown in Cache Valley or neighboring counties. Local restaurants and individuals also offer various prepared foods for people to enjoy at the market. The Beehive Grill makes a showing with their handmade gelato. Sweetly Divine tempts customers with its decadent pastries. The Pauni family brings the unique island flavor that they serve up at Pounders, and Cafe Ibis supports coffee and hot-chocolate lovers alike. They also support the local charity Four Paws Rescue by donating all of their market sales to the organization. Vendors range from six-year-old Finn Brewer, who sells flower bouquets, to Marion Ruediger, 98. Ruediger sews pot holders and grocery sack holders during the week and sets up a card table with her creations on Saturdays. Many market-goers comment on her spryness and are amazed when she reveals her age. When asked for a pearl of wisdom, her advice is to stay busy. "I would go crazy if I didn't have something to do," Ruediger said. Several USU students and graduates are among the sellers hawking their merchandise each week. Lee Derbyshire just completed a certificate in horticulture this spring and is actively involved in the market's management and operating her own booth. She sells water-wise perennials as well as vegetable plants for people to purchase and plant themselves. Those with a brown thumb can also purchase her tomatoes at harvest time. Derbyshire handles the entertainment for the market, which consists mainly of musicians that play each week. "We try to schedule a variety of acts to reach the most people," she said. "The line-up is always entertaining, even if it isn't always the type of music I am generally interested in." Last week's group, a trio named Orjazzm, inspired several market-goers to dance down the aisles. Whitney Robbins, a senior majoring in residential landscape design and construction, grew up with a farming lifestyle THE CACHE VALLEY GARDENER'S MARKET takes place at Merlin Olsen Park every Saturday morning. The market includes a variety of homegrown produce as well as handmade crafts. CARL R. WILSON photo in Garland, Utah. She said her dad started out feeding the family and gradually grew more and more vegetables to sell to the public. Now, she grows the tomatoes and he grows the corn and pumpkins that they sell at various venues in Northern Utah under the name Bubba's Produce. Robbins and her husband, adorned in red shirts printed with the phrase "Aw, shucks," discussed the differences between white, yellow and bi-color corn with a customer. She said the white is the sweetest, while the yellow has the "corniest" flavor and the bi-color offers a little of both. Robbins said shopping for produce at the market allows the consumer to purchase different varieties of tomatoes, corn, etc. than those found at the grocery store. "It's a great way to get all your produce super-fresh and also support your local growers," she said. Kylie Sheppard, a sophomore in psychology, said she makes an effort to go to every Saturday market and has since she was a little girl. She said her mom always made sure to treat her with something special, usually fruity lemonade. "I never miss a chance to stop by the Hot Mamas' Lemonade stand. I love all of their lemonades, especially blackberry," Sheppard said. Hot Mamas uses whatever fresh fruit is in season at the time, so their flavors change as the summer progresses. Sheppard also said she likes to pick up the occasional item of jewelry. "It's not outrageously priced, like Summerfest can be," she I See MARKET, page 9 |