Last weekend, Hamilton International Middle School’s Senior Jazz Band grabbed First Place in the Middle School Division at the 2013 Bellevue High School Jazz Festival. The school’s 25-member Senior Jazz Band, under the direction of Dan Rowe, beat out 16 other middle school jazz bands and trombonist Michael D. received an outstanding soloist award.

Festival adjudicators also named Hamilton the “Best of the Best” among the 50 bands that competed (32 of which were actually high school bands). This is the second time in 31 years that a middle school was chosen for top honor.

Listen to their winning final performance at this link or click below. I don’t know about any of you, but my middle school band sounded NOTHING like this. I’m completely blown away:

HIMS-Bellevue HS 2013 Jazz Competition Winning Song from dominicleong on Vimeo.

(If you’re having trouble viewing the embedded video, try refreshing your page. If all else fails, click on the link I’ve indicated above.)

Silver Tray (2101 N 45th St) has delivered on their promise of outdoor dining in Wallingford. Lucky writes:

The patio have done and open for a week since Mother’s day. Now, Silver Tray has outdoor seating.

Hooray, just in time for the summertime. Lucky adorably adds “Special thank you for all customers who help me to correct spelling on dinner menu.  Thank you for all of you who say, ‘Do not be discouraged with misspellings on the menu. You guy so awesome.’ I have already correct them.”

I swear, if I were to simply split an infinitive, the grammar police would swarm my inbox with invectives. Lucky does it, and she’s awesome.

Whatever.

Has your child ever experienced the summer slide – wherein all previously learned subject matter slides right out of their head once summer begins? Firefly Tutoring has designed a summer math review course to help students entering 4th through 7th grades avoid that slippery slope of forgetfulness. Summer math reviewers  will meet twice a week from June 24-August 22, covering a year of math curriculum in one summer course. According to their website:

At each class, we will cover one topic from the Common Core and then provide ample time for students to work at their own pace on material targeted specifically to the individual student.  Highly qualified teachers will provide support.  Short daily homework is available optionally to help students make optimal progress.

Firefly Tutoring is owned by Wallingford parents Paul Schurr and Mona Reed, and offers tutoring in reading, writing, math, study skills and SAT prep in addition to their summer fare.

Soleil writes:

Wallingford resident and my dear friend Felipe Canete passed away tragically yesterday from an apparent heart attack/failure. You may have seen him around the neighborhood with his son Rio Malai and wife Katy Canete.  He was far too young, at 35 years of age. He performed with bands Luc and the Lovingtons and Sing with Señor.

Soleil, Felipe’s business partner and band-mate, notes that they had a performance scheduled at Alphabet Soup for June 8th, which has obviously been canceled, and said there may be a small musical event to “pay tribute to his legacy of positivity, love and smiles.”

Our heart goes out to his wife and son and all those who loved him.

Just in on the mama-vine:

We know that starting a new school marks a new chapter for the entire family. Getting to know other new and incoming families can make the transition so much easier. We hope you will join us at our Spring Play Date for incoming McDonald families.

• What: Spring Play Date for Incoming Families
• When: Sunday, May 19, 3 – 5PM
• Where: McDonald International Playground

Sounds muy divertido to me!

The folks running CityGrownSeattle, the farmstand stocked with produce grown here in Wallingford and in Ballard, wanted to let you know they’re opening up for their “preview day” tomorrow, May 18th. They’ll take Memorial Day weekend off, then, be back with regular Saturday farmstands in June and on through the summer.

Their farmstand is located at 4108 Eastern Ave N, hours are Saturdays 10 am – 1 pm. If you’d like to receive their “fresh sheet” email,  a list of the veggies they have available that week, email them at citygrownsea@gmail.com to get on their mailing list.

The Wallingford Farmers Market will be returning to Meridian soon (Wednesday, May 29th), as well (and CityGrownSeattle will have a booth there). More on that as we get closer, so hold your potatoes.