Musical performers in and around the Island take note: Woodminster Summer Musicals in the Oakland Hills will soon begin practicing for its 46th Season at Joaquin Miller Park, which will feature “Fiddler On The Roof,” “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum,” and “CATS.” Auditions will take place this weekend, March 31 and April 1.

Woodminster shows are performed by a combination of professional actors and skilled non-professionals. The 2012 season offers over a hundred roles in three shows. AEA members should call 510-339-0241 to schedule an appointment.

Auditions for non-Equity actors will be at Woodminster Amphitheater in Joaquin Miller Park. Use the main park entrance at 3300 Joaquin Miller Blvd., and bear left, go up and over the hill, and then downhill all the way to the bottom parking lot. Sign in at the stage door.

There will be roles for some young teens in “Fiddler on the Roof.” Young actors who look at least 13 or 14 should attend the general auditions.

Dance auditions are taking place on Saturday, March 31, at 10 a.m., at Woodminster Amphitheater
, as well as on Sunday, April 1, at 10 a.m. at Joaquin Miller Community Center, 3594 Sanborn Drive (at entrance to Joaquin Miller Park). 


Singing auditions are set for Saturday, March 31, 1-4 p.m., and Sunday, April 1, from 1-4 p.m.
 Performers are asked to prepare 16 bars each of two contrasting songs and bring music in the key you will sing it. An accompanist will be provided (and required) for all singers.

Performers are also asked to attend Saturday or Sunday, not both. (Actors who are attending both dance and singing auditions may choose to do them on the same day, or one each day.)

Traditionally, several Alameda residents and public school teachers have performed lead and other roles in the shows.

The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) is inviting interested youth to apply for its second-annual Takahashi Youth Ambassador Fellowship Program to Japan.

This unique two-year youth scholarship program, culminating with a trip to Japan in summer 2013 is open to 8-11th grade students interested in learning more about their Nikkei heritage, gaining valuable leadership skills, participating in their community, creating international friendships and experiencing culture first-hand through a 10-day trip to Japan.

There are two information sessions hosted on the program at the JCCCNC — 1840 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94115 — on Wednesday, April 4, from 6:30-8:00 p.m., and on Saturday, April 7, from 10:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m.. The group welcomes interested individuals and organizational representatives to attend.

Please RSVP by calling (415) 567-5505 or e-mail programs events if you are interested in attending one of the meetings. The application deadline is Friday, April 27.

According to weather instruments at Encinal Avenue and Chestnut Street maintained by Boardsports School and Shop on Crown Beach, winds were as high as 27 miles an hours earlier today. That reading, at 10:40 a.m., was nearly matched by wind speeds of 25 miles per hour at 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday, March 27.

With the winds out of the south by southwest, there were plenty of boarders (in wetsuits, of course) out on the water taking advantage of the conditions. A few sailors also practiced maneuvers on the Bay near the Ballena Bay Yacht Harbor, where Club Nautique has an active sailboat training program.

And the surf was breaking on the jetty near the USS Hornet on Alameda Point.

All in all, the day included plenty of action for spectators and participants of watersports in and around the Island.

Alameda Backyard Growers (ABG) will host a worm-composting workshop from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. tonight, Tuesday, March 13, at Rhythmix Cultural Works, 2513 Blanding Ave.

Lori Lue-Melero and daughter Mikayla Melero of MyvPetvWormyvWorm will discuss how garbage helps a garden grow in a fun, hands-on vermi-composting workshop for the whole family. Guests will learn how to turn food scraps into rich organic soil with the help of red wrigglers and how to care for the environment by recycling, re-purposing, and reusing items which would otherwise go into a landfill.

ABG meetings are held monthly from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., on the second Tuesday of each month at Rhythmix Cultural Works (unless otherwise noted). Monthly meetings/workshops are free and open to all residents of Alameda and the surrounding area. Gardeners of all experience levels are welcome.

Monthly meetings are when members drop off fruit and vegetable donations from their gardens to donate to the Alameda Food Bank. The group delivers members’ produce to the food bank the following morning, and donated produce is typically distributed to food bank clients within 24 hours.

The 4th annual Northern California Boat Fest is in full activity through March 4 at Marina Village Yacht Harbor. The festival is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For boat lovers and those looking into boating as a new sport or hobby, touring new and older boats for sale is a real treat. The docks and many boats are open, so visitors can tour the vessels and ask questions about their features.

The free event also includes displays with more than 100 sailboats and powerboats, as well as seminars, boat rides, music, food and product demonstrations. Guests can enjoy sailboat rides and pick up details on local sailing clubs and charter programs.

Today, the featured seminars include:
– 12:30 p.m., a talk on boat refrigeration and air-conditioning with Alan McDonnell;
– 2:00 p.m., a discussion on alternative boat ownership with Phil Albury of NauticShare; and
– 3:00 p.m., a presentation on sailing the coast of California and Mexico with Pat & Carole McIntosh.

IF YOU GO
What: Jon Kerpel’s Earth Jewels Exhibit
Where: Redux Studios & Gallery
Where: 2315 Lincoln Ave.
When: Through April 8, 2012

Alameda artist Jon Kerpel is displaying his environmentally themed artwork at Redux, a studio and set of galleries run by St. Vincent de Paul on Lincoln Avenue that highlights creative reuse and recycling.

“I’m privileged to have gotten this show, which includes 12 sculptures I’ve done in the past 12 months,” said Kerpel. “The temples and 30-plus other pieces on display are made of objects I’ve picked up at St. Vincent de Paul’s facility in East Oakland and elsewhere.”

Kerpel takes discarded materials and transforms them into colorful, challenging mixed-media creations. His work has been shown on this Island at the Alameda Main Library, Autobody Fine Art and Rhythmix Cultural Works, as well as in a show organized by the Oakland Museum of California and at Expressions Gallery in Berkeley.

“I found a great cabinet on a street in the East End near where I live,” said the artist, “and it became the base for the Sea Cathedral piece.”

For his themes, Kerpel turns to the natural world, building his temple-like creations in honor of polar bears, whales, lions, tigers and other beasts. “They’re all very precious, and people don’t always focus enough on them. My work is about affirmation and protecting the environment for the sake of our survival,” Kerpel said.

While the environment guides Kerpel’s themes, the work and lives of artists like Swiss sculptor Alberto Giacometti and clothing designer Ralph Lauren influence his methods and creativity, as well.

“This is the fourth show we’re having in our alternative space,” said Chris Rummell, the creative reuse and recycling manager for Redux and St. Vincent de Paul in Alameda County. “When I saw what Jon was doing in his studio I was very impressed, and we took it from there. It’s a very good collaboration.”

For school volunteer Pam Chang, the results of the artist’s effort is “mesmerizing.” “I saw it in the library and had to come in [to Redux],” she said. “It’s so tactile and beautiful. Plus, there’s the environmental theme for to appreciate.”

Kerpel’s show, Earth Jewels, will be on display at Redux, 2315 Lincoln Ave., through April 8. Redux is also hosting bee-keeping and upholstery workshops in March. See the gallery’s website for more details.

The Frank Bette Center for the Arts, 1601 Paru Street, is hosting First Friday at the Center from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 2.

Sue Lomolino and Alana Dill will demonstrate body painting techniques as an intro to their show in the Signature Gallery.
As a special added attraction, the Frank Bette Storytelling Group, led by Cathy Dana, will also hold make a presentation on Friday, and residents are invited to participate.

Frank Bette is currently presenting the exhibits “Heroes and Villains” through March 31.

Staff would like residents to know that on Sunday, March 2, from 4 to 6 p.m., local artist Paul Feinberg will open his new show at High Street Station.

Also, residents can contribute to the Bette through Lucky Supermarkets’ S.H.A.R.E.S. program, which donates 3% of purchases to the art center and other causes.

Several events focusing on watersports, waterfowl and water creatures are slated for the Island during the first weekend in March. The 4th annual Northern California Boat Fest, for instance, takes place from March 1-4 at Marina Village Yacht Harbor.

On Thursday and Friday, March 1-2, the festival is open from 12 – 5 p.m., while the program on Saturday and Sunday runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The free event includes displays with more than 100 sailboats and powerboats, as well as seminars, boat rides, music, food and product demonstrations. Guests can enjoy sailboat rides and pick up details on local sailing clubs and charter programs.

On Saturday, the following seminars are offered:
– 12:30 p.m., a talk on boat refrigeration and air-conditioning with Alan McDonnell;
– 2:00 p.m., a discussion on alternative boat ownership with Phil Albury of NauticShare; and
– 3:00 p.m., a presentation on sailing the coast of California and Mexico with Pat & Carole McIntosh.

City Councilman Rob Bonta invites residents to a Town Hall event set for 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, at the Washington Park Recreation Center, located at Washington Park, 740 Central Avenue (at 8th Street).

The purpose of this Town Hall is to gather more public input on the alternatives to be presented to the City Council on March 6 regarding improvements to the Chuck Corica Golf Complex.

City Manager John Russo and city staff will be present at the Town Hall to discuss the staff report outlining current options.

Residents are asked to review the staff recommendations online before the meeting.

A sloop of about 20 feet in length ran aground on the north side of the San Leandro Channel and was pulled to safety at about 3:45 p.m. today, when the tide was up.

The sailboat, which had two persons aboard and a gold-painted hull, appeared to have lost engine power. It ended up stuck in the sand near the Elsie Rohmer Bird Sanctuary for an unknown period of time.

A tugboat, likely owned by the City of Alameda, helped right the sailboat and then pulled it into the middle of the channel with a tow line. The distressed sailboat was then tied alongside the tugboat.

It appeared that the sailboat was being taken out into the Bay and then on to a local marina or dock for repairs at about 4:15 p.m. on Monday, February 27.

The San Leandro Channel is quite narrow and very shallow at low tide in the winter months; even at high tide, it can be difficult to navigate, especially the north side (closest to Crown Beach).

The U.S. Coast Guard was contacted about the incident, and a press officer said that its tugboats typically get involved in towing distressed boats that are way offshore and not in the Bay Area.