The 2019-2020 season of the Port Ludlow Performing Arts is upon us. Due to a variety of circumstances there are many new people on the board bringing the same high quality programs to town at a reasonable price.

The first program of the year is “Three Knights with a Tenor” on Saturday the 28th starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Bay Club. The evening features Canadian tenor Ken Lavigne, a talented singer, composer and entertainer. It is also the “Champagne Season Opener” so you can get a complimentary glass of bubbly, in fact you can have two glasses of it since my proletarian taste buds prefer a good beer.

Those in the know have already noted that this is not really the first show of the season. Quite unexpectedly, an exciting opportunity presented itself to PLPA and Port Ludlow. This Friday, Sept. 20 at 3 p.m., the well-known world-class guitar duo, Loren and Mark, will be in Port Ludlow. It’s truly serendipitous that the duo, who performed for PLPA twice before, and have consistently been listed among the PLPA very favorite entertainers, are available for an amazing and intimate ‘In-Home’ concert on such short notice. If you wish to attend, don’t delay in responding, since seating is very limited. Tickets are $30 per person, and light refreshments will be served.  If you wish to attend, contact PLPA president, Sharla Erich, at 707-684-9701, or sderich@yahool.com to reserve your seats.

There was another party last weekend as Terry Umbreit hosted a “roast” at the Old Alcohol Plant to celebrate his own 80th birthday. Around 80 people attended and noted his many achievements, some albeit not so noteworthy since it was a roast. A few family members, friends and Pete Leenhouts of the Rotary Club actually said nice things about Terry’s contributions to the community. Many others from his past endeavors on the golf course and the poker group he is still a temporary part of were not quite so gracious. Even though he went to Wabash arch rival DePauw and was deserving of all manner of derision, I was reluctant to add any comments related to a couple of small colleges in the middle of Indiana. However, BJ decided to ask Terry about the colors of the balloon centerpieces since they were the black and gold of DePauw, also BJ’s alma mater. Terry decided to drag the rivalry into the discussion and I was forced to respond. The facts are that Wabash is a men’s college a mere 30 miles from coed DePauw and is a target-rich environment for the wonderful women of DePauw. The problem was the paucity of any real men at DePauw. (Hey, Terry, you brought it up.) Lest you think he might be upset that I was that blunt in this column, be assured no reader enjoys his name in public more than Terry.

Terry was a past president of the Port Ludlow Village Council and one of his successors, Bill Dean, has reminded me that the annual meeting of the PLVC is at 3 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3 at the Bay Club. The results of the election of the new members of the council will be announced along with a review of the year’s activities. The meeting is then followed with a reception for the attendees.

In these times of increasing noise from politicians, I encourage you to consider the advice of Laurence J. Peter. He said, “It is wise to remember that you are one of those who can be fooled some of the time.”

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week!

(Ned Luce is a retired IBM executive who is occasionally forgiven for jokes made at the expense               of DePauw.)