Magician and comic Tim Gabrielson has more than a few tricks up his sleeve. If his many reviews are correct he’ll have you ooh-ing and aah-ing, then laughing like a child during his show at the Annandale Performing Arts Center on Friday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. But best of all, the money you pay to get in will go toward creating more scholarships for low-income families to send their children to all-day kindergarten at Bendix Elementary next year. Originally from Braham in the North Star state, Gabrielson performs all over the country blending magic with comedy. "My first memory of magic was at Disneyland," he said. "I was only 4 or 5 years old, yet I was so mesmerized. I watched a magician perform a disappearing sponge ball trick, a common, simple trick. "I was so fascinated I made my parents buy it for me. I practiced all during the long drive home to Minnesota. At my age it was very difficult to do, but by the end of the trip, I was able to make the ball vanish. I still do it in my act today." At 16, Gabrielson started acting at a local theme park where he discovered his comic wit, skills as a magician and natural timing made him a highly sought-after entertainer. Soon he became one of the Midwest’s busiest performers, landing gigs at colleges, fairs and corporate parties. It didn’t take long for him to gain the attention of agents and producers, which landed him fill-in spots for Las Vegas headliners like Ron Lucas and Mac King. His philosophy is to keep it funny and his laugh-a-minute show does just that. Best of all, he provides a clean performance that is enjoyable to all types of audiences. Show hosts are Annandale-Maple Lake Community Education and Annandale State Bank. The Feb. 13 performance is the second event in an effort to bring more arts and entertainment to the community, and at the same time raise money for deserving programs or organizations. Last fall Tonic Sol Fa came to town and proceeds were given to Annandale Youth First. If Gabrielson’s show is sold out, it would mean three more scholarships for low-income families, Bendix principal Tracy Reimer said. The Annandale School District started offering the all-day option six years ago. The program immediately took off and now approximately half of Bendix’s kindergarten students attend all day. But since the state only funds half-day kindergarten, the district has had to find an alternative means to pay for it. Officials decided to offer it as a tuition-based option because the benefits of an all-day program were so appealing. "We have the same expectations academically for half-day as we do for all-day, but half-day kindergartners are very rushed to get it all done," Reimer said. All-day kindergartners also have the benefit of getting art, music and physical education during their day and it makes the transition into first grade easier. Unfortunately, the students who would benefit the most from all-day kindergarten are the ones who are less likely to get it. Three more scholarships "National studies have shown that students who come from low-income or minority backgrounds make the most gains in all-day kindergarten," Reimer said. "That is why we are so excited because three more kids could potentially get scholarships." Bendix gives out five to seven scholarships a year thanks to donations from local organizations and their own efforts. In the spring Bendix hosts a silent auction at its annual carnival, the proceeds of which go toward scholarships. Meanwhile, the school’s student council has an annual T-shirt sale to raise money for the cause. "Every family, when we get to make that call and say they got that scholarship, they are so excited and so grateful for their child, and we might get to make three more calls this year," Reimer said.
