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| Pack dancers clinch titles Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 3:49 PM PST Lexi Viernes of Half Moon Bay can now add the title of Miss Dance of California to her name. Viernes, 16, a longtime Shely Pack Dancers student and senior at Half Moon Bay High School, won the title Saturday at the Northern California chapter of the Dance Masters of America competition held in Santa Clara. She clinched it with a lyrical ballet routine to the heart-tugging “I Dreamed a Dream,” choreographed by studio owner and teacher Shely Pack-Manning. Viernes was one of eight Pack students seeking titles on Saturday, and one of two to get them: Seven-year-old Brooks Tanner, also of Half Moon Bay, received the title of Master Dance with an open routine with multiple styles to “Workin’ in a Coal Mine,” also choreographed by Pack-Manning. Annual exhibit by women artists welcomes the holidays Eight artistic Coastside women will showcase skills at the annual “Gathering of Women Artists” Saturday in Montara. Organizer and artist Tracey Walsh of Montara estimated this will be the 10th such gathering, with jewelry, photography, textile and glass art, and pottery. Walsh, with still photography and greeting cards, Chris Pritchard with handcrafted jewelry and goddess ornaments and Niki Pritchard-Bell with her own handmade jewelry, have been part of the gathering since its inception. They will be joined by Karin Fay with hand-knitted scarves and accessories, Patt Sheldon with handmade wearable textile art, Diane Centoni with pottery handmade for a variety of uses, Kathleen Smith with fantasy-inspired art and hand-painted silk items, and Barbara Grauke with blown glass art and ornaments. The Gathering of Women Artists will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at a private home at 565 Fifth St. in Montara, at Le Conte. Tea and refreshments will be served. For information, contact 728-7848 or 728-3950. Exploring the myths of crop circles The Visionary Edge plans to screen a sneak preview of “What on Earth? Inside the Crop Circle Mystery,” an 83-minute film that scrutinizes myths and possibilities concerning patterns in meadows or cultivated fields. The screening will take place at, and is co-hosted by, the Community United Methodist Church of Half Moon Bay, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Filmmaker Suzanne Taylor is part of an international community of scientists, educators, artists, farmers and others who marvel at crop circles. Previously an actress and New York University graduate, she interacts with “croppies” at annual gatherings where they study and chase the phenomenon — and try to determine if crop circles are human-made or derive from a different source in the universe. “Crop circles have been occurring all over the world for at least hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of years,” she said in Visionary Edge publicity. “Could they be the marks of another intelligence?” The church is located at 777 Miramontes St. in Half Moon Bay. The event is free, though donations are welcome to cover expenses. For information, call (650) 207-3440. |