Port Angeles to light up with glitter of Hollywood on Oscar night

PORT ANGELES — You might be King George VI in “The King’s Speech.”

Or perhaps you’re the “Black Swan” ballerina or the hiker who spent “127 Hours” wedged between a rock and a narrow place.

Whichever movie character you prefer to portray, you’ll have your chance to glide up the red carpet Sunday night — for a cause.

“Hollywood Nights,” in fact just one night, is back in Port Angeles with its dress-like-the-stars contest, lavish dinner, live and silent auctions, and dazzling cupcakes crafted by Kathy Skinner; it’s all a benefit for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation.

Oh, and there’s that old thing known as the Academy Awards.

The 83rd annual Oscars telecast will be projected onto a 20-foot screen plus two 12-foot screens at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Festivities begin at 4 p.m.

The “Hollywood Nights” festivities will start at 4 p.m. with the red-carpet rollout, and while patrons are invited to enter the favorite-movie-character or -star look-alike contest, they are not required to do so, said Bruce Skinner, executive director of the OMC Foundation.

He also encouraged movie buffs to take part in the guess-the-Oscar-winners contest, since the first prize is an Alaska Airlines ticket for any continental U.S. destination.

Other prizes for the night’s contests include dinner at WildFire, lunch at First Street Haven and tickets to movies at the Deer Park Cinema.

At this annual event, Skinner asks a local celebrity to preside.

‘Ax Men’

This year, the honorary chairmen are Craig, Gabe and Jason Rygaard of “Ax Men,” a History Channel show about logging.

Craig Rygaard, co-vice president of Rygaard Logging of Port Angeles, and his two sons, Gabe and Jason, first appeared on national television in a March 2008 episode of “America’s Toughest Jobs.”

The family was then asked to join the second season of “Ax Men.”

More recently, Gabe traveled to Louisville, Ky., to help demolish a house for the “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” episode that aired on ABC on Jan. 9.

The “Hollywood Nights” dinner is to be created by chefs Steve McCabe and Jed Kimzey.

They’re volunteers, Skinner said, and they whip up an excellent meal; it’s topped off by his wife Kathy’s cupcakes.

This year’s auction offers some unusual items, Skinner added; they range from a large sculpture of a drummer to a selection of Oscar-nominated movie posters.

Also appearing during the first hour of the event: vocalist Sarah Shea and her band, Chez Jazz, which will warm up the audience for the Oscar telecast.

“Hollywood Nights” is sponsored by First Federal and is an important fundraiser for the OMC Foundation,which helps fund Olympic Medical Center departments including Home Health, obstetrics, cardiac services and the emergency room.

The $60-per-person tickets to “Hollywood Nights” are available through Saturday at Necessities and Temptations, 217 N. Laurel St.

For more details, phone the OMC Foundation at 360-417-7144.

________

Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3550 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.

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