Classical music festival director bids adieu

Maestro Michael Palmer will be stepping down from his position as artistic director and conductor of the Bellingham Festival of Music at the conclusion of this season's series of classical music concerts taking place July 1–24, but that doesn't mean he's putting down his baton anytime soon. “Conductors are like soldiers,” Palmer, 77, said. “We don't die, we just fade away.” He explained that conducting is one of the pursuits in life in which age is an advantage, not only because