I attended a performance of Cinderella at Issaquah High

School last Thursday, and I enjoyed it immensely. There is some real talent

involved in the show, and unlike most plays over the years, this

production ended too soon.

These young people have been working very hard on this play,

practicing for the last two weeks, plus before opening night until 10 to

10:30 p.m. All that work showed on stage with a great performance from the

lead to those in the chorus who also doubled as dancers at the Prince’s

Ball. Everyone did an outstanding job, and I am going to go back to watch it

again this week.

There are three more performances this week, Thursday, Friday and

Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. I would highly recommend this show to

anyone who enjoys very good young talent and live-stage presentations.

The program passed out at the door is impressive as well, as it gives

you the names of the cast, the orchestra and the stage crew. It then has a short

statement regarding the students’ roles in the performance, and a little bit

about the student as well, a very nice touch that I have never seen before. It

also shows the critical roles of the orchestra and stage crew in the overall

production.

The music, by the way, was also exceptional, but without a good

and well-tuned stage crew, let’s face it, you don’t have a production; you have

a disaster.

Again, I highly suggest you go see this production. I cannot say

enough to describe it. You just have to see it for yourself.

PPP

On to other things. A short reminder that on March 31, you

must have studded tires off the car. Otherwise, it is a healthy ticket that I

know I would not want to have to pay. In addition, the studs do

tremendous damage to the highways every year.

A new tire is coming out that allegedly does as well as studded

tires, but is just a unique construction in all rubber. Thus, in a few years,

studded tires may become a thing of the past. Time will tell.

PPP

Someone commented in general conversation a few days ago that

the political race and politics in general were boring, and she did not

even bother to watch the debates, nor was she going to vote.

This is becoming far more commonplace in recent years. It is also

the reason we get some very shaky people elected to high political office. It is

not only a good idea to have a well-informed voter; it is imperative if

our form of government is going to survive and serve the people of this

nation as it should.

One thing that one needs to be aware of is the fine art of lying,

while actually telling the truth. A recent political advertisement is a classic

example. One party indicated the following on a TV ad: “Even the

candidate’s hometown newspaper warns it is time the rest of the country know what

he is really like,” or words to that effect. Using the term “warn” would

indicate that the article was against the hometown candidate, because

“warn” would usually be taken that way

in such a statement.

But the dictionary also indicates that it is used to indicate

informing someone, to counsel. Now, change the “warn” to “indicates,” and you

have an entirely new meaning to the statement. An informed voting

public needs to learn how such little tricks are used, to make a better

judgment of what is going on.

Debates are for more valuable than printed ads for the ability to judge

the candidate. You are able to hear what the candidate says at the time, and

read him or her far better than just watching a TV ad or reading a political

flyer. The tricks like the one mentioned previousluy are far more often

used in ads or flyers than in a debate, where it can be directly challenged by

the other side. At all levels of government, you need to take a more active

part; doing so does indeed impact your future and that of your family.

PPP

Thought for the week: Does anyone out there know how to keep a

turkey in suspense? I will have the answer for you in next week’s column.

Preston News Notes author,

Bill Hebert, can be reached at

P.O. Box 918, Preston, WA 98050.