Three venues throughout downtown Edmonds will feature jazz performances by regional and national award-winning student big bands, trios and choirs, as well as an afternoon jam session uniting student and professional musicians for an extraordinary concert. All venues are open to the public and are free, although donations are appreciated to support the event and school music programs.

For more than a decade, Edmonds Jazz Connection has kicked off Memorial Day weekend by bringing together talented students, professional musicians and a music-loving community to showcase the best of local jazz while raising funds to support student music programs.  After a long academic year of practices, performances and touring, the student musicians enjoy the opportunity for a local non-competitive encore performance for their family, friends and neighbors as way to cap off another successful year.

This year, the 22 participating groups are bringing with them numerous national and regional awards. Topping the list are Edmonds-Woodway, Mountlake Terrace and Mead high schools, each selected in past or current years as Essentially Ellington finalists – the top national honor in high school big-band jazz.

The following groups will be performing:

Jazz Bands
Arlington High School Jazz Bands*
College Place Middle School
Edmonds Community College
Edmonds-Woodway High School*
Everett High School
Lynnwood High School
Mead High School (Spokane)
Meadowdale High School
Meadowdale Middle School
Mountlake Terrace High School

Jazz Choirs
Cascade High School
Edmonds Community College Soundsation
Edmonds-Woodway High School*
Kings Middle School
Mariner High School*
Meadowdale High School*
Shorewood High School

* Schools with more than one group performing


In addition to being a wonderful community event showcasing the talents of student musicians, Edmonds Jazz Connection raises funds to support school music programs and students pursing music and education at colleges and trade schools. Corporate and personal sponsorships, as well as donations to the event, are appreciated and can be made by contacting Ron Keimer at 425-774 – 2466.

The proliferation of smartphones provides businesses with new opportunities to be more relevant and helpful to consumers. Text messaging and mobile social media are rapidly becoming key to promoting business and getting the word out on events and special offers.

Panelists includes Michele Graves, Edmonds Community College Public Information Officer; Jeremy Baker, Owner of JTB Internet Marketing and Greg Urban, Owner of Ideas Unfold.

Graves is a communications specialist and journalist with 15 years experience in writing and editing, publications, media relations, Web content, and new media. She is the voice behind the college’s e-newsletter, blog, and Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Pinterest accounts.

Baker, owner of JTB Internet Marketing, helps businesses build databases of targeted groups of customers who are interested in receiving updates & special offers/coupons via text messaging which results in new customers & increased frequency of transactions.

Urban, owner of Ideas Unfold, specializes in Web design, photography and graphic design. He works with client on various aspects of marketing, including branding, building brand loyalty, visual marketing services and graphic design.

Jan Steves at the start of the 2012 Iditarod.

Iditarod dog sled race veteran and Edmonds native Jan Steves will be the 2012 Grand Marshal of “An Edmonds Kind of Fourth” Parade, the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce announced Friday.

Steves is the second women from Washington state to have completed the Iditarod in Nome, Alaska, called “the greatest race on Earth.” A 1974 graduate of Edmonds High School, Steves grew up loving the outdoors, from sea level to the mountain tops. She is an avid skier, biker, snowshoe enthusiast, boater/fisherman and animal lover, and in 2008 combined her love of mountains, snow and dogs to become a sled dog racer.

The Chamber, which sponsors the daylong Fourth of July celebration that includes also includes a fun run and fireworks show, announced that is it recruiting marching bands to perform during the 2012 Fourth of July Parade. Those interested can download an application from the Chamber’s website.

Here is the schedule for An Edmonds Kind of 4th:
5K Fun Run 10 a.m. (Edmonds City Park, 3rd & Walnut)
Children’s Parade 11:30 a.m. (Downtown Edmonds)
Main Parade Noon (Downtown Edmonds)
Evening Entertainment & Fireworks 7:30 p.m. (Civic Field, 6th & Bell)

The group will have a booth in the parking lot of the Vatika Restaurant and a bike mechanic, courtesy of Bicycles West, will be on hand. Edmonds PCC Natural Markets is providing refreshments while the downtown Edmonds Starbucks is supplying hot coffee.

People who are considering biking to work are encouraged to stop by, even if they can’t bike on Friday.  The group also welcomes anyone interested in information about bicycling in the greater Edmonds area.

A panel of four speakers representing police and social assistance workers will speak on the issue of domestic violence, followed by a discussion period. Speakers include Kari Hovorka, Edmonds Police Domestic Violence Unit; Jan Dahl, volunteer speaker for Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County; Al O’Brien, retired Seattle police sergeant and former State Representative who  now teaches Criminal Justice Legislation at Edmonds Community College and Keith Galbraith, Executive Director of Family Renewal Shelter in Tacoma.

This Justice Friday presentation is organized by Advocates for Women and the Social Justice Committee of Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church. Church members may request free childcare by emailing a4w.rsvp@euuc.org

Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m., Packing Like a Savvy Traveler, $5
Thursdays, June 28 to July 26, 6 to 8 p.m., French for Travelers, 5 weeks, $85
Thursdays, Aug. 2-30, 6 to 8 p.m., Italian for Travelers, 5 weeks, $85
Saturday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m., Packing Like a Savvy Traveler, $5
Saturday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m., Botswana
Saturday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m., Trekking in the Himalayas: The Ins & Outs of the Ups & Downs
Saturday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m., Southern Italy
Saturday, Nov. 17, 10 a.m., Nepal
Saturday, Nov. 17, 1 p.m., Off the Beaten Path for Baby-Boomers

Space is limited so please call for reservations: 425-744-6076. For updates, visit www.savvytravelerstore.com

The Astoria Combo plays on the second, fourth (and fifth, if there is one) Fridays of the month. Nice ‘n Easy plays on the first and third Fridays. Donation is $3. Refreshments are provided.

The Edmonds Senior Center is located at 220 Railroad Ave., just west of the Edmonds Ferry Terminal. The ballroom is upstairs and has a large dance floor, a view of Puget Sound and a mirrored ball. For more information, call 425-774-5555, or go to www.edmondssc.org.

Members of the Edmonds Cemetery and Columbarium Board are inviting the public to attend the 30th Annual Memorial Day Observance at 11 a.m. Monday, May 28 at the cemetery, located at 100th Avenue West and 15th Street Southwest, one block north of the Westgate QFC. American Sign Language translation will be provided. The event will take place rain or shine and is approximately one hour long.

Street parking is available along 100th Avenue West and 15th Avenue. Parking within the cemetery is limited to those with handicap-parking permits. Limited seating is available, so guests are encouraged to bring their own folding chairs. Refreshments, provided by the Lynnwood Emblem Club #366, will be served after the program and visitors are invited to stroll the cemetery grounds and take a self-guided tour using one of the cemetery’s walking maps.

The Edmonds Memorial Cemetery was placed on the Washington State Register of Historic Places in 1972 and includes the graves of over 400 veterans. In honor of Memorial Day, graves of all the veterans will be marked with a white cross and a miniature U.S. flag. A special invitation is extended to Pearl Harbor survivors, all veterans and Gold Star families.

Long-time Edmonds resident and Cemetery Board Member Dale Hoggins will be the Master of Ceremonies. This year we are paying tribute to Pearl Harbor survivors. Snohomish County resident and Navy veteran Ervin Schmidt will share his story through an interpretative reading by Edmonds-Woodway High School senior Blaise Lamb.

The Presentation of Colors will be conducted by the following groups: American Legion Post #66, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #8870, Explorer Post #734, Girl Scout Troop #42093, Cub Pack #331 and the Washington National Guard. Fred Apgar, member of the VFW Post #8860, will lead a POW/MIA Remembrance Service.

The EWHS Vocal Volunteers will sing several songs throughout the ceremony along with the high school’s Brass Quintet, which will perform several songs, including the “Armed Forces Medley” and “America the Beautiful.” A proclamation will be made acknowledging the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts.

EWHS senior Katarina Nguyen will read her award-winning VFW essay. Edmonds Mayor Dave Earling, who has participated in the program for many years playing “Taps,” will give his first mayoral Memorial Day address, “December 7, 1941.” The program will end with a rifle salute by the Washington National Honor Guard – Camp Murray contingent and bagpiper Mike Barber playing “Amazing Grace”.

Alyssa Cave and Lara Prado, foreground, apply makeup on guests. (Photo courtesy of FemCity)

Rachael Krebsbach preps for her headshot. (Photo by Janette Turner)

Femfessionals/FemCity Seattle came to town Saturday with a networking brunch and professional photography event. According to Chapter President Amalia Martino, the sold-out event was held in town because she lives and works here. “I love Edmonds,” said Martino, “and am passionate about introducing our little gem of a town to others. “ She also brought on the Northwest Women’s Business Center as promotional partner for the event.  “They’re based in Everett, so Edmonds made geographic sense.”

Saturday’s event met the group’s mission of connecting success-minded women in innovative ways. The 36 women attendees were treated to makeup and styling, and received headshots by Jennifer McKinney. Brunch sponsors included Waterfront Coffee Company, Caffe Ladro, Neuro Drinks, Pop Chips, Coffee-Mate, Chocolat Vitale. Styling was provided by Kelly Statema’s Jamberry nails and Lynn Weber’s Cabi clothing line.

“As a PR professional, networking is essential in my work life and I tend to enjoy it personally as well,” Martino said.  “I want to create opportunities for professional women to connect at events that are welcoming and a good use of time. I want women to walk away knowing that they got something out of it.” The group also gave back to the local community with a raffle that raised money for Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County.

The next opportunity to get involved with FemCity is May 16, at a Trends for Treehouse benefit. Entering the code “FEMCITY” here reduces the ticket price by $10.

– By Janette Turner