Time to make leis for grads

Rick and Davelyn Miyashiro welcome the community to their home on June 4 at 6 p.m. to make leis for graduating seniors.

The annual event takes place each year on the Thursday evening before graduation. Family and friends wear the Hawaiian floral wreaths during the ceremony and can present the lei to the graduate following commencement.

"A lei represents a mother's arms around her child and the child's arms around the mother's neck," explains Davelyn.

Anyone who knows a graduating senior is welcome to attend. There is no cost for the leis; the Miyashiros cover the cost of flowers and materials as their gift to the community. They ask that you RSVP as soon as possible so that enough plumeria blossoms are ordered in time.

Contact Davelyn Miyashiro at 265-6764, 450-3873, or 887-9006.

Upcoming gallery presentation at WNC

Since January, I have participated in an English class at Western Nevada College titled, "Creative Writing: Reading and Remembering War in Poetry, Fiction and Non-Fiction."

The class was inspired by sociology professor Don Carlson's viewing of the New York Times Roster of the Dead, a photographic representation of American military personnel who have perished since the beginning of the war in Iraq. He approached English professor Marilee Swirczek with an idea to collaborate upon and highlight the sociological and personal impacts of war.

In discussing the class, Swirczek said, "I see this as a meditation on war in general. We don't have a political point to make. We want to think about all aspects of war, from the mother waiting at home to the soldier in the trenches."

Following that theme, the course studied different literary genres and student work explored many perspectives throughout the semester. Efforts will culminate in a literary art show titled, Always Lost: A Meditation on War. A reception is planned on Thursday, May 28 at 6 p.m. in the main gallery of the Bristlecone building at WNC.

The focal point will be the Wall of the Dead, with over 4,000 photos of U.S. military personnel who have died during the current war.

Photos will be juxtaposed against literary work and sociological demographics presented on charts and graphs. The show also highlights three WNC students who are Iraq war veterans.

The public is invited to attend the reception and admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. The display remains in the gallery through Aug. 14.

This is a show intended for mature audiences. For more information, please contact Marilee Swirczek at (775) 445-4284.

Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com