This past week I discovered a wonderful event which I’ve already decided will become the kick-off activity of the holiday season for me every year from now on. One of the pluses of moving to a new community is being exposed to its unique festivals,celebrations and institutions. Here in the Rogue Valley (and, specifically, the city of Medford) is a lovely performing arts center, the Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater. Opened in 1924 as a venue for both live traveling performances and popular movies of the day, it was transformed in 1997 into a community performing arts center after languishing unused for several years. The famed dancer/actress purchased a ranch here on the Rogue River in the ’40s and was a quiet but active member of  the community until her death in 1995. She supported fundraisers focused on the remodeling of the old Craterian; hence, the addition of her name to the site.

The theater hosts an ecletic assortment of national concert, dance and theatrical tours each year in addition to several local and regional dance and musical entities and is operated by a non-profit organization. For several years now, the largest fundraiser for that group has been the annual Gingerbread Jubilee. On Tuesday I trekked downtown, plunked down a measly three dollars and spent the next 90 minutes thoroughly amazed and impressed with the ingenuity, skill and artistry of those who submitted the 48 entries on display. There were a few different divisions – student, adult, individual and group — and very few rules. The only one that really seemed to matter is that everything used in each creation had to be an edible item (not just gingerbread). The more I looked, the more I spotted some really amazing adaptations of cereal, various kinds of pasta and even dried seaweed as building materials!

This being the 150th anniversary of Oregon’s statehood, several displays depicted well-known historical sites and events from the past. There was a lovely recreation of the Chateau at the Oregon Caves National Monument, a 1934 rustic wooden hotel; a covered bridge complete with goldfish-cracker residents ”swimming” in the “river” below; a log homestead with a rock-candy chimney. Most impressive for its intricate detailing inside and out as well as the age of its creators was a beautiful rendition of a one-room schoolhouse. Tiny fondant-molded coats, hats, gloves and lunch boxes cluttered the cloak room; desks contained books and were covered with crayons, calculators and papers with homework problems sketched on them; outside, a lizard sunned itself on a bench next to a basketball hoop. All of this was created by a team of students aged 5 through 11 who attend a charter school in the area.

Other entrants were inspired by the holiday season (creche scenes and the North Pole), the environment (”Save the Penguins” and salmon streams) and popular culture. Where the Wild Things Are was represented by Max’s room growing out of one of the pages in the book, with some of the wild things — perfect replicas — romping nearby. One of my favorites was the house from the movie Up invented by a 17-year-old girl who created the three-story structure in amazing detail inside and out (rabbit-eared T.V. and gramophone included). Garnering “Best of Show” was Saurusville, designed by a woman who has entered the Jubilee several years in a row and is truly an artist. Inspired by her 5-year-old son’s infatuation with the PBS kids’ show Dinosaur Train (for which she and he created a separate entry depicting the train winding its way through a tunnel and around some mountains on its way to the town), she dreamed up an entire community including a four-story hotel, cinema, bakery shop and apartments with dinosaur denizens included. How does anyone, let alone someone with a 5-year-old, have the time and patience to create such wonders?!

I left the exhibit utterly charmed and amazed. My past meager attempts at very simple gingerbread houses taught me just enough to realize that the individuals who made these elaborate creations possess an unbelievable amount of imagination, stamina and patience (and steady hands!). They even inspired me to consider taking another stab at a gingerbread creation in the future. In the meantime, though, I will be more than happy to look forward to attending this annual event to begin each Christmas season with healthy doses of whimsy, wonder and awe.

– Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader

Growing up in Chicago, I, among many others, got my daily sports news from Tim Weigel on our local ABC affiliate. A former football player at Yale, Weigel had a great passion for sports, but he also had fun with it. When he gave a speech at my old high school, I desperately tried to meet him but was unsuccessful. Sadly, in June 2001, Weigel died of a brain tumor.

A few months back, while wandering around a book store, I saw Stay Tuned: Conversations with Dad from the Other Side, a book by Jenniffer Weigel (Tim’s daughter). I picked it up, figuring I would get some good stories about Weigel. I did get those good stories — and so much more.

Stay Tuned is about the Weigels’ lives, specifically about the journey they took and are still taking. Tim looked for alternative methods to treat his condition. Jenniffer looked for alternative answers in life and death. That is just my very simplistic breakdown, but the book really is so much more.

Last Friday I attended a book discussion held by Jenniffer and Dr. Therese Rowley, a local psychic who just happens to also be a strategic business consultant. Rowley played a big part in Jenniffer’s journey and in Stay Tuned. The evening was enlightening, calming and entertaining. Therese is so well-grounded and comfortable, and Jenniffer is a ball of controlled energy. Theirs is a perfect partnership, and it came through throughout the night as well as in the book.

They weren’t there to preach (and neither am I). In fact, most of what they said is already within us all. They are just trying to help us find the way to bring it out and to find our way. A recurring theme is that we are just where we are supposed to be. They talked about our place in the world and how to understand the ramifications. It’s about managing your life — both business and personal. It’s amazing how this journey of life has so many business applications.

Jenniffer’s transition from an unhappy journalist is one such example. She figured out a way to get the most out of her personal life during her employment as a journalist. Her career path presented chances for her to talk to some of the great spiritual minds of today. It’s another lesson we all could learn.

Last Friday, at Burke’s Book Store, I was where I was supposed to be. Oh, and I am pretty sure I met a little bit of Tim Weigel there, too.

– John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

I was driving around running errands yesterday and pondering, among other things, what book I should read next. Just a few days earlier, fellow GT blogger John Wroblewski had written about some of the books and authors he enjoyed. He mentioned some which I had not heard of before but which sounded like the kind of thing I would like. I can get in a bit of a rut with what I choose to read — same genres or authors or subject matter – so I like getting a nudge in a new direction now and then.

I had my radio tuned to the local public radio station (if there is a decent local news/talk radio station in this valley, I have yet to find it) and only listening with half an ear when I realized the current interview was with an author . . . of a graphic book. Now, that’s definitely a subject I know next to nothing about. They’re basically comic books, right? Mostly about superheroes or science fiction/fantasy subject matter, biggest fans are kind of nerdy young men? I vaguely was aware that several had given rise to some very popular recent movies (V for Vendetta, The Dark Knight, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Watchmen). As a former English teacher and avid reader, I’m all for anything that will encourage kids — and older folks, too — to get away from a screen and read, but this format has never enticed me personally.

Having a healthy imagination, I’ve never felt the need to have pictures help tell a story when well-chosen words will do (although I greatly appreciate, even now, a beautifully illustrated children’s book). And as I said, action/science fiction/superhero stories as a whole aren’t very high on my list of preferred genres. But I’m always open to something new and decided it’s high time I checked out these graphic novels. Listening to the NPR interview, the first thing I learned is that not all of these books are fiction. The author of the one under discussion, Michael Keller, just completed a graphic interpretation of Darwin’s On the Origin of Species. As I listened to the interview, I began to understand that presenting information or a story in the graphic format could allow a writer to present ideas and demonstrate concepts or theories in a way that the written word alone could not — much as there are certain things one can do or show in an animated film that are impossible or at least fall short in a live-action movie. Seems so obvious, yes?

Poking around the Internet last night, I found that, indeed, the format has been dominated by adventure and sci-fi stories, but that’s not the whole story. Back in 1992, the Pulitzer committee gave a special award to Art Spiegelman for his graphic memoir Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, about his father, a Holocaust survivor. In 2005, Time magazine included Spiegelman in its list of 100 Most Influential People in the world. There are graphic books for kids, tweens, teens and adults, and the subject matter can be light or very heavy. Though fiction dominates, one can find subjects from biography to science, history to philosophy. A recent publication, The Book of Genesis Illustrated by Robert Crumb (anyone out there old enough to remember Fritz the Cat?),  gives what one reviewer calls “a new perspective on this ancient work” and says the detailed artwork makes the text (from the King James Bible) more accessible to all, no matter their religious background or beliefs.

I have to say, reading some of the reviews on graphicnovelreporter.com’s website has me eager to check out this genre and some of the very intriguing-sounding titles listed there. I’d be curious if anyone reading this blog has delved into the graphic novel world and has any comments/recommendations to make.

– Patty Vanikiotis, proofreader

I love to read. I have read a lot of autobiographies. I also like thrillers and mystery novels, but I am also always up for trying new authors and genres. I particularly like reading while on planes and in hotel rooms.

In a former professional life, I ran the Newspaper in Education program for a local newspaper. I had the opportunity to talk to many students who were avid readers. In the age of PCs, iPods, etc., it is awesome to hear that youngsters find as much enjoyment out of curling up with a great book as I do.

I just finished reading Revenge of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz. The book is part mystery, part humor. It is a light-hearted suspense novel, but the real pleasure is the wisecracking of virtually all the characters. It is the third in the Spellman series, and I am looking forward to the next, The Spellmans Strike Again, due out in March 2010.

I am also looking forward to reading A Deadly Silver Sea by Bob Morris. This is also the fourth book in a series. Zach Chasteen is a football player turned private investigator. Chasteen is humorous and very human, unlike many larger-than-life fictional P.I.s.

I recommend anything by Mick Foley. Whenever I say this, most people groan. However, whenever people have actually taken my recommendation and read any of his books, they have come away pleasantly surprised. His non-fiction books are unique because he actually writes them by himself. His two novels, Tietam Brown and Scooter, are unlike any books I have ever read.

Other authors I like are Andrew Gross, Michael Ledwidge and Tim Downs. Gross and Ledwidge have collaborated with James Patterson and have done solo efforts. Downs has a series surrounding a forensic entomologist (aka the Bug Man), who helps investigate crimes.

Of course, every month I wait for my copy of GT to arrive. After devouring it cover to cover, I crack open a new book and begin a new voyage. Often times the book is so good, I really don’t want to see it end. At least I know there is another waiting for me though. There are always more books.

– John Wroblewski, distribution specialist

On a recent train ride, I pulled out my latest issue of Vanity Fair. I commented to my traveling companion that I enjoyed reading the magazine because I admired the writing in the articles and the in-depth reporting. I also admitted I do skip some of the articles because I think there is a hidden agenda and they can be very one-sided, but I do enjoy most of the articles. I always learn something new about subjects I wouldn’t normally read up on. Just the other night I caught up on Bernie Madoff’s sons, Nancy Reagan, real estate in the Hamptons and scandal at Ms. Porter’s School in Connecticut.

As the conversation continued, (my traveling companion also enjoys Vanity Fair) we began to discuss our various magazine subscriptions. I subscribe to VF, Cooking Light, People and US Weekly. Now, before you judge my choice of celebrity fodder, it is my light gym reading. I read the entertainment news while I sweat it out on the treadmill and elliptical. Plus, People has a lot of good human interest stories. I am constantly reading books with heavy subject matter, so it is nice to escape with fluff every once in a while. Cooking Light is my attempt to hone what few cooking skills I actually have.

It is funny to hear the magazines to which people subscribe. The list can be all over the board, a variety of subject matters and styles, or all the titles can be similar. I have noticed most people who subscribe to travel magazines subscribe to them all. And over the years, the subscriptions can change rapidly. As a teen, I was a devoted subscriber to YM, Teen People and Seventeen. In my college years, I read Cosmopolitan. Every so many years, tastes change. That is the beauty of magazines. There is truly something for everyone. I almost always have a magazine on me in some way — be it in my car, on my desk or in my bag. And I always have a copy of Global Traveler nearby.

So, besides GT, what magazines do you regularly peruse? Are your tastes wide and varied? Or similar in nature?

–Kimberly Krol, eFlyer editor, circulation and public relations executive