From BCB... http://bestofbcb.org/wu-099-mochi-tsuki-at-islandwood/

On Sunday, January 4, everyone is invited to celebrate the new year at Islandwood with the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community. Listen here as Lily Kodama tells BCB host Ellen Miyasato about the upcoming mochi tsuki (moe-chee sue-key) or mochi-making festival. Mochi, a sweet Japanese rice treat, is a New Yearʻs tradition in Japan. 

Making mochi involves a centuries-old method of steaming sweet rice over an open fire, and placing it in a stone bowl called an usu. Using large wooden mallets, participants rhythmically pound the rice while another reaches in to turn the rice between mallet crashes. After several minutes of vigorous pounding, the rice becomes a thick, smooth dough. The hot dough is then hand-formed into small cakes, either plain or filled with a sweet bean paste. Guests can eat their mochi on the spot, or bring them home to be roasted and dipped in sweetened soy sauce.

At the mochi tsuki festival, participants can learn about the history of Bainbridge Islandʻs Japanese American community and hear the latest on the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, a National Historic Site located at Pritchard Park. Free tickets will be distributed for stirring taiko drumming performances by Seattle Kokon Taiko prior to each of three performances. Participants can also tour the Islandwood trails. Due to limited parking, car pooling is encouraged.

Visit http://bijac.org/index.php?p=EVENTSMochiTsuki to learn more about this exciting annual event.

Credits: BCB host and studio tech: Ellen Miyasato; audio editor: Chris Walker; social media publisher Diane Walker. 

In this 16-minute interview, Alice and Craig Skipton tell us how they transitioned from professional careers to get back to the land and become farm managers. They describe a journey toward appreciating Heyday Farm as more than a place to grow livestock and other fresh foods.

They write:  “All food has a story. We farm so that the story of our food is rich and savory, healthy and satisfying. It’s a historic, environmental, neighborhood and family story that expresses our deep commitment to this place we call home and a healthy future for us all.

As they say: "Our vision for Heyday Farm is finite: we grow and sell farm fresh food at our farm store and offer authentic farm experiences, cooking classes, field to table events, and professional and family retreats for our island community, and visitors near and far who want to understand, experience and celebrate our region and the food we produce."

Alice and Craig explain:  "Our 25-acre family farm includes a farmhouse, farm kitchen, micro-creamery, gardens, greenhouses, and pastures for animals. We are not an 'event center' but rather an authentic working farm that strives to increase the number of people who honor the land and the sustenance it provides. We are people powered. We would never be able to produce the delicious and nutrient rich food that we do without the support of our staff members and our wonderful Bainbridge community.”

Learn more at the Heyday Farm website.

Credits: BCB host: Sonia Scaer; BCB studio tech and social media publisher: Barry Peters; BCB audio editor: Tim Bird.

From BCB...http://bestofbcb.org/wu-098-january-library-events/

In January the Bainbridge Public Library will again sponsor its Great Decisions series: 8 lively discussions on the most important foreign policy issues facing the US today. Now in its tenth year, Great Decisions at the Library is part of a nationwide, non-partisan program of the Foreign Policy Association intended to broaden public involvement in foreign affairs.  

This year's topics will be: Human Trafficking in the 21st Century, Russia and its Neighbors,  Privacy in the Digital Age, Sectarianism in the Middle East, India Changes Course, U.S. Policy toward Africa, Syria’s Refugee Crisis, and Brazil’s Metamorphosis.

While enjoying coffee and pastries, participants first view a 30-minute Foreign Policy Association DVD on the topic under consideration and then engage in a discussion led by an informed moderator. A Briefing Book, published by the FPA, is also available. 

This year's series will begin with Human Trafficking in the 21st Century on Saturday, January 10 from 9:30-11a.m. at the Bethany Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. The moderator for this discussion will be Elizabeth M. Petras, retired professor of Economic Sociology. To be added to the mailing list for suggested background readings on the topics and other information about Great Decisions at the Library, email GreatDecisionsBainbridge@gmail.com . 

Also on offer through the library starting in January is a new series called "What Do You Know," which features knowledge explorations led by community experts from Parks & Rec, the Historical Society, Squeaky Wheels, and the Battle Point Astronomy Association. The inaugural program, entitled "Snowshoeing with Jeff," will feature Jeff Ozimek, Outside Programs Manager for Bainbridge Island Parks & Recreation Department. He'll offer a how-to presentation on snowshoeing, including where to go, what to do, and what you’ll need to enjoy the wilderness.

The library is also offering training sessions for tablet and ebook users!  Tablet users can call to schedule an hour of one-on-one training, and for ebook users there will be two separate presentations, each followed by hands-on time.  Ebook sessions will be offered Saturday Jan 3 from 10am-12pm and Tuesday Jan. 13 from 1-3pm.

And the easiest thing to remember -- Every Wednesday there’s a Bainbridge Library Program:

1st Wednesday = Books on Tap at the Treehouse

2nd Wednesday = Movie at the library

3rd Wednesday = Travelogue with Travel Store

4th Wednesday = What Do You Know

So come on down and enjoy the fun: you'll be glad you did!

Credits:  BCB host and audio tech: Joanna Pyle; BCB audio editor: Jon Cooney; BCB social media publisher: Diane Walker.

From BCB...http://bestofbcb.org/wu-097-bodhi-center-wellness-series/

We all want to be healthy and “well.”  But what does that mean?  Elizabeth Turner, founder of the Bainbridge Bodhi Center, tells BCB’s Channie Peters that wellness includes much more than not being sick.  And optimal wellness includes multiple modalities that address our entire selves.  

Elizabeth describes the upcoming series of six classes beginning Tuesday, January 13th. The classes, which cover meditation and visualization, Qigong, EFT (psychological acupuncture), acupressure, toning, and nutrition, are taught by experienced practitioners in their fields, all from Bainbridge Island. Each class provides an introduction to the particular modality which, if the participant finds it particularly helpful, can be pursued further.

To register for the entire series, sign up at www.bainbridgebodhicenter.com .  It is recommended that participants attend all the classes because, together, they form a holistic approach to wellness.  

Credits:  BCB host, producer and text author: Channie Peters; BCB audio editor: Tim Bird; BCB social media publishers: Diane and Chris Walker.

In this podcast, Island Theater board member and co-director Rozzella Kolbeggar tells the story of this weekend’s production of “What Women Have to Say”.

The script-in-hand dramatizations take place at the public meeting room of the Bainbridge Public Library, on Saturday December 20th and Sunday December 21st at 7:30pm.

The Island Theater show is an evening of scenes and monologues by, for, and about women. Adapted and directed by Diane Bankart and Rozzella Kolbegger, the offerings range from a very different kind of crazy cat lady to a human resources staffer with some wild stories; from a park ranger giving an unusual tour of Mount Rushmore to an actress who finds a sneaky way to score at an audition; and some Holiday funnies thrown in for good measure.

The cast includes Ruth Urbach, Diane Bankart, Paula Elliot, Carolyn Goad, Mikaela Karter, Christiana Bannister, and Tressa Johnson.

Rozzella also invites you to save the date - the third weekend in February - for a revisiting of one of Island Theater’s widely recognized shows: “Dear Editor”.  It consists of dramatic readings of actual letters sent to the editor of the Bainbridge Review, including during the days of World War II when the Review editor took courageous positions condemning the internship of Japanese-Americans.

Island Theater shows are performed for no charge, but a donation is gratefully accepted. More information can be found on the Island Theater website.

Credits: BCB host, editor and publisher: Barry Peters. Photos courtesy of Island Theater.

Get your head out -- and way above -- the clouds with this podcast of What’s Up Bainbridge.

In this episode, BCB host Jason Goyette speaks with Steve Ruhl, the president of the Battle Point Astronomical Association.

On Saturday, December 13th at 7pm Steve will be presenting “Jupiter as a Star” -- a 90-minute show at the planetarium at the Ritchie Observatory.

Afterwards, if the skies are reasonably clear, there will be a Star Party where adults and kids can look through the telescopes of astronomy club enthusiasts.

During the planetarium show, Steve will explore the role of the largest planet in our solar system. And he'll ask, hypothetically, if Jupiter had evolved into a star, what might have happened to Earth?

In this episode, Steve also mentions other activities - such as astronomy courses - that the Astronomical Association provides to residents of the island and beyond.

Past planetarium shows included “Did the Dinosaurs see Orion in their Night Sky?” and “Killer Rocks”.

As well as being the president of the BPAA, Steve also enjoys Astrophotography when weather and lighting conditions are in his favor.

Planetarium shows are held once a month and are open to the public. A $2.00 donation is suggested for nonmembers, $5.00 for families.

More information on astronomy club activities and events can be found at the BPAA website at http://www.bpastro.org/

Credits: BCB host and studio tech: Jason Goyette; BCB audio editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.

Stories of the Buddha’s previous lives, told by master storyteller Margo McLoughlin, will be featured at the island's Bodhi Center on Monday, December 15th from 7 to 8:30 pm.

In this interview, Margo tells BCB host Channie Peters about this unique event of storytelling accompanied by world musician Doug MacKenzie. He plays an astonishing variety of instruments from Indian and other cultures around the globe.

These delightful stories from the Buddha’s time and place feature the Buddha in many animal and human forms.The Jataka Tales reflect the truth that daily life offers us countless opportunities to develop wisdom and compassion, generosity and loving-kindness. The stories are beautifully told by an accomplished storyteller who has translated many of the stories from their original Pali or Sanskrit language. The tales provide a window into an ancient culture, as well as wisdom from traditional Buddhist teachings on kindness and generosity.

Margo McLoughlin, a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, has studied Pali, the ancient language of the Buddha. Margo has been telling the Buddhist tales since 1991. She is a consultant with the Fetzer Institute for whom she has been gathering world tales of generosity for the past four years. The material is being used as tools for reflection and dialogue with several professional groups. Margo’s stories can be found in CD and video formats on her website.

The Bodhi Center is located at 6717 Marshall Road. Admission is by donation at the door to cover costs. Registration is encouraged at the Bodhi Center website since space is limited. Children are welcome.

Credits: BCB host: Channie Peters; BCB studio tech, editor and social media publisher: Barry Peters.