OLD Whidbey Life Magazine

Category: Festivals

Inspiration through Music at the Oak Harbor Music Festival Sept. 2 – 4

BY LARA DUNNING
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
August 24, 2016

For two years in a row, Whidbeyites have voted the Oak Harbor Music Festival as Whidbey Island’s best festival. The celebration of music happens every Labor Day weekend and attendance can fit everyone’s budget because it’s free.

The event takes place in historic downtown Oak Harbor from Friday, Sept. 2 through Sunday, Sept. 4 and includes 37 bands on two different stages, arts and crafts booths, food vendors and beer and wine gardens.

Penguin Prison is the festival’s headliner. (photo by Shervin Lainez)

“A very cool thing about our event is there is a whole lot of talent on Whidbey Island and the Pacific Northwest,” said Larry Mason, a musican himself and the Festival’s Director of all things musical. “But we also bring in musicians from outside the area that people wouldn’t get the opportunity to hear. It’s a very diverse line-up.”

Diverse indeed. The headliner is Penguin Prison, a New York based electropop band. Other musicans include L.A. Edwards, San Diego’s alternative and folk band; Jelly Bread, Reno’s desert-twang-meets-funk-and-rock band; and Olympia’s country rock band, The Olson Bros Band. And there’s plenty of opportunities to hear Whidbey Island-based musicans like folk and blues band, Broken Banjo; the swing-inspired SeaNotes; and the ska punk band, Simple Minded Symphony.

The music festival attracts all ages. (photo courtesy of the author)

Festival hours go from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4. For those who want an overnight experience, there are $25 RV and camping sites available. There’s no power or water and bathrooms are out-houses, but the sites are near the heart of the festivities.

The first Oak Harbor Music and Jazz Festival was held in 2012. The positive response was so great that the members intrumental in arranging the event decided to make it more offical. In 2013, they received their nonprofit 501(c)(3) status, and offically changed the name to the Oak Harbor Music Festival. Three years later, the festival continues to create a buzz about Oak Harbor and the power of music.

Over three days, bands of all musical genres perform (photo courtesy of the author)

The event’s motto is “to inspire the community through the power of music.” And inspire they do. Each year, the festival draws around 15,000 people of all ages to Oak Harbor, including out-of-state visitors from California, Oregon and our friendly neighbor, Canada.

With the free admission price, which is hard to find anywhere these days, it’s easy to encourage folks to indulge in their love of music. The no-cost admission is thanks to the help of all the sponsors, including Island Thrift, title sponsor; Island Trollers, stage sponsor; AlaskaUSA Mortgage Company and Hearing Health Services, beer and wine garden sponsors; and Saratoga Builders and LangCo Northwest, Inc., VIP backstage sponsors.

“Music is a language everyone can relate to,” Mason said. “This year, Island Thrift matched $12,000 in community funds. They’ve been a great supporter for the past four years, as well as the City of Oak Harbor and Island County.” And, there are donations from locals. “We have great community support and people will write a $500 check because they love our event.”

Cody Beebe and the Crooks with a fan from the audience. (photo courtesy of OHMF)

Raising money also means being able to provide music scholarships. This year the organizers gave out six $1000 scholarships to students from all three Whidbey Island high schools. Sometimes scholarship recipients, such as Kevin Silveira of Simple Minded Symphony, return to be part of the festival’s musical talent.

Music is the highlight of the weekend, but there are plenty of other creative outlets to keep attendees busy, such as perusing the more than 20 art and craft booths. One can indulge in sweets at Whidbey Island Fudge Company, get a temporary tattoo by Ryno Airbush Tattoos or find that perfect take-home gift made from local artisans. There are plenty of food options too, like tasty donuts from Dinky Donuts, Greek dishes at Athena’s and chicken and waffles from Vagabond.

Visit the Oak Harbor Music Festival website by clicking: The free annual http://www.oakharborfestival.com/home.

Lara Dunning is enthusiastic about small town living and you can read more about her discoveries at Small Town Washington. She has been published in The Crossing Guide, Explore Anacortes and Waggoner’s Pacific Northwest Boating. Her interests include young adult novels, history, hiking and locavore inspired food.

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CLICK HERE to read more WLM stories and blogs. Have a great story idea? Let us know at info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

August 15, 2016
The 2016 Whidbey Fair in Photos

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY DAVID WELTON
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
August 10, 2016

The 2016 Whidbey Island Fair is now a wrap and planning has already started for the 2017 event, with a call for volunteer staff, vendors and participants to share their skills, art and products.

On the eve of this occasion, voters of Island County approved a measure to transfer operation of the fairgrounds to the Port of South Whidbey, with a levy to provide funds for improvement and maintenance that will assure certainty for the future.

These photographs provide a peek into a four-day slice of Whidbey Life.

Matt Hoar at the head of the parade with his steam-punk blaster as Kelly Baugh looks on.

David Locke encourages a young listener to play the accordion, assuring him “believe me, it is a chick magnet.”

Lila Stach rejoices when she learns she won a Superintendent Ribbon for her photography.

Massive pony power was on display at the horse arena.

Cadence Smith naps on the side of her gentle pigs.

Anita Smith demonstrates a foot powered antique sewing machine. She vows to “save the treadle.”

Spinning takes dexterity and focus.

Duane Fulgham spins the political wheel of fortune at the Island County Democrat booth.

It is a good thing that Shelby Healy posed with a Hillary Clinton cutout the first day of the fair, as Hillary mysteriously took a walk that night and vanished.

Girl scouts marched in the parade.

Political viewpoints of all persuasions mingled freely.

Big bubbles, always a favorite!

A variety of foods and treats nourished the crowd, and curly fries were among the most popular.

Merry-go-round horses and woodpeckers are almost exciting as the real thing!

A robotic giant turkey delights the young at heart.

Keely Conners waited in line to have her face painted and is transformed as a fierce tiger.

Long John Silver the pirate rolls his “aarghs” at the main stage as a lowly entertainer looks on.

A rooster prepares to fly the coop as Matt Hoar looks on during the Chicken Olympics

Merchandise available on the midway included handcrafted Tibetan beads by Kalsang Ghongpa.

It’s hard to not be happy when surrounded by goats!

4H Knight Rider horses with purple ribbons braided into their tails parade in front of the Eva Mae Stage. “The End.”

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CLICK HERE to read more WLM stories and blogs. Have a great story idea? Let us know at info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

August 10, 2016
Woodworkers in their Element at ‘Art + Wood = Woodpalooza’ Sept. 2 – 5

BY LARA DUNNING
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
August 31, 2016

Don Bundy sits at his woodworking bench with a partially carved bird resting on a block of wood. He supports this bird-to-be with his right hand and carves with his left, a method he devised after a serious motorcycle accident resulted in the loss of use of his right hand due to extensive nerve damage. An array of woodworking tools and a picture of the bird he’s bringing to life are nearby.

“I like to get to know the character of my subject,” Bundy said. “Your product is much better if you know your subject well.” During our conversation, he tells me about his Woodpalooza piece, “Bullware’s Storm Petrel.” This small bird, which lives almost its entire life at sea, has an unusual protrusion on its beak that filters salt.

I also learned that bird carvers typically use a wood called Tupelo; it’s softer and has no visible grains, which can interfere with extremely fine feathers.

Don Bundy researches his subject before he begins carving.” (photo by David Welton)

An intimate conversation like this is one of the highlights of attending this weekend’s woodworking exhibition, “Art + Wood = Woodpalooza.” Craftsmanship can be experienced up-close, and artists are happy to talk about their process and craft.

The free exhibition takes place over Labor Day weekend at Zech Hall at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts on Camano Avenue in Langley. The event kicks off with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2 and continues through Monday, Sept. 5 from noon to 5 p.m.

Work from 16 woodworkers will be exhibited in an all-black room and each artist’s work will sit on a white pedestal, highlighted with lights. “It really makes the wood pop,” said Gary Leake, Whidbey Island Woodworkers Guild Secretary. “The venue looks like it should be in Seattle.”

Sixteen woodworkers will be on display at Woodpalooza. (photo courtesy of Gary Leake, Whidbey Island Woodworkers Guild Secretary)

Artists include David Gray, Bruce Schwager, Christine Schwager, Don Bundy, Gary Leake, Gordy Edberg, Janet Lewis, Jim Short, John Shinneman, Karl Nielson, Marian Quarrier, Mike Scott, Pat McVay, Rick Pitt, Wilson Binger and Mike Freal.

“We started Woodpalooza to educate the public about what woodworkers do and why it’s an important art form,” Leake said. “We also wanted to create a place that would encourage youth to explore the craft of woodworking.”

Woodworkers Bruce and Christine Schwager have been involved since the show’s inception 13 years ago. In the past, Christine has carved images of Pacific Northwest shells, such as oysters, abalones and sea snails. This year, her representation of a Pacific Madrone “Giant Clam” shell is from South Pacific waters. “I love collecting sea shells, and I love wood,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to do this one.” The woodworking duo has been in business for over 42 years at Schwager Design and Construction; they also create custom doors, furniture, cabinets and architectural woodwork.

“When we design something, we always collaborate,” Christine Schwager said, “and by doing that Bruce and I come up with a better design.” (photo by David Welton)

A carpenter by trade, Rick Pitt made his first rocking chair for his father. (photo by David Welton)

“Woodpalooza” showcases many diverse types of woodworking, including Rick Pitt’s wooden rocking chairs; Mike Scott’s partially scorched “Cube” carved from maple and burl; and and Janet Lewis’s mahogany and pau ferro guitar, “Bird on a Wire Concert Guitar.” Other woodworkers carve sculptures; build, restore and refinish furniture; and create clocks and bowls. Clearly, each member of the guild may have a particular niche, but they all share one thing in common—their love of wood.

To learn more about “Woodpalooza” and the artists, visit the website at http://www.woodpalooza.com/.

Image at top: Rick Pitt puts an extra wax coating on his chair to get it ready for the show. (photo by David Welton)

Lara Dunning is enthusiastic about small town living, and you can read about her discoveries at Small Town Washington. She has been published in Bainbridge Island Magazine, Explore Anacortes and the WaggonerGuide.com. Her interests include young adult novels, history, hiking and locavore-inspired food.

Woodpalooza Poster (image courtesy of the Whidbey Island Woodworkers Guild)

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CLICK HERE to read more WLM stories and blogs. Have a great story idea? Let us know at info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

July 31, 2016
Magical Meerkerk

BY LINDA RUSSELL
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
May 4, 2016

“I saw a fairy in the popcorn tree,” my granddaughter told me excitedly as she pointed to a fluffy white and pink rhododendron tree. A bit later, she saw a gnome duck under an old tree stump.

“I see them!” I replied. And, I could! Meerkerk Gardens, magic spoken here!

Gnome Home (photo by Linda Russell)

Walking through the Gardens with a child is an opportunity to step back, take a breath and appreciate nature from a different perspective. Children grow up with fairy tales, forests and hazy woodland paths waiting to be explored. As adults, we often forget this world. Meerkerk Gardens invites us to explore this magical world again through a child’s eyes. The paths are green and lovely, the flowers are dazzling and tree stumps invite exploration. With a little imagination, you really can see fairies flitting among giant rhododendron blossoms or spy an occasional gnome scurrying into his home beneath an old, moss-covered tree stump. Few things are as magical as a woodland forest – especially one punctuated with enormous orange, pink, red and purple blossoms. Invite a child to visit Meerkerk Gardens with you, and you will rediscover magic.

My granddaughter’s pop corn tree (photo by Linda Russell)

Any visit to the garden is magical for adults and children. In recognition of that, for instance, every spring legions of children dressed in fairy wings descend on Meerkerk for Fairy Making Magic and storytelling. This year’s event, held on April 23, was no exception. “It’s an exciting time,” Kathryn Hurtley, Garden Executive Director, says. “I love watching children create fairy wings from a magnolia leaf skeleton! Making fairies is just one of the ways we hope to pass our love for nature on to the next generation.” It must be working because every spring more aspiring fairy makers come to the Garden.

If you missed the Fairy Making Magic, you haven’t lost out. For example, Meerkerk’s annual Mother’s Day Concert on May 8^th, from noon to 4:00 p.m., offers another opportunity to introduce your children to the magic of Meerkerk. Harper Tasche, who reminds me of a leprechaun or a Celtic sprite, will delight visitors again with his harp and dulcimer music. Garden volunteers will sell pies from Whidbey Pies, and best of all, children under 16 are free. So bring a picnic, a blanket and your imagination and prepare to experience the magic of Meerkerk Gardens!

Woodland path (photo by Linda Russell)

Linda Russell is a transplanted Texan who has lived happily on Whidbey Island for 15 years. In a previous life, she taught English, Creative Writing and Theater Arts. She has published articles in professional journals and has won first and second places in Chris Spencer’s Short Story Smash contest.

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CLICK HERE to read more WLM stories and blogs. Have a great story idea? Let us know at info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

May 4, 2016
Celebrate Spring with Mayfaire Festival

BY KATE POSS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
May 4, 2016

Take a look around and you may be dazzled by the lavender, rhododendrons, bluebells, forget-me-nots and irises in local gardens, along with the profusion of wild plant beauty in bloom here on Whidbey Island. Spring infuses us with the energy brought on by longer daylight and welcome sun.

MayFaire poster (courtesy of Whidbey Island Waldorf School)

In celebration of this fecund time of year when the sap rises and the birds sing early morning songs, the Whidbey Island Waldorf School celebrates its thirtieth year and welcomes spring with MayFaire, a festival on Saturday, May 7, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Waldorf students begin dance to weave Maypole ribbons (photo courtesy of Whidbey Island Waldorf School)

One of the highlights of MayFaire is the students’ dance around the Maypole, set up outside and decorated with rainbow streamers of ribbons flowing from a garland of flowers. Students wear flower garlands in their hair and each holds a ribbon attached to the Maypole, weaving it in and out to create a colorful pattern when the dance is done. The practice dates back to 10 BC when the Druids of ancient Briton honored tree spirits and gave thanks for the harvest to come.

In the flow of Maypole ribbons (photo courtesy of Whidbey Island Waldorf School)

MayFaire, free and open to the public, includes crafts such as making magic wands, necklaces and flags. Faces will be painted in spring colors, crowns made and fortunes told by the Green Man. A booth selling peppermint lemonade (made by inserting a peppermint stick into a lemon) benefits the school’s library. Sack-races, tug o’ war and egg toss complete the timeless day honoring the spirit of community, flowers, trees, earth and sky.

Waldorf Students practice to get the Maypole dance just right (photo courtesy of Whidbey Island Waldorf School)

Woven ribbons create a pattern once dance is finished (photo courtesy of Whidbey Island Waldorf School)

Hosting festivals and being tuned to the Earth’s natural rhythms are part of the Waldorf education approach, founded in Germany nearly a hundred years ago by Rudolf Steiner, an Austrian philosopher and social reformer. The private school system has since spread to nearly seventy countries and emphasizes a holistic education, integrating children’s head, heart and spirit. Students tend to stay with the same teacher from grades one to eight. Curriculum is based on the developmental stage of the children.

For instance, in second grade, students learn curriculum and stories and perform plays about saints and their counterpart, the trickster. At this age, second graders might exhibit both of these qualities, said Natasha Zimmerman, who teaches first grade this year. In the past, she taught a class from first through eighth grade. Those students, now in their early twenties, are still friends and meet during the summers when they return home to Whidbey. Their memories of class with Miss Zimmerman include circumnavigating Whidbey’s coastline in fourth grade in order to map the island and gain a better understanding of geography.

Natalie Rehberger, a former student of Miss Zimmerman’s, sent a message through Facebook regarding her memories in her beloved teacher’s class. Natalie lives in India now and has accepted a marketing and PR position in Bejing.

Face painting and ribbon wand (photo courtesy of Whidbey Island Waldorf School)

“I have a very clear memory of her on the first day of first grade,” Rehberger wrote. “Everyone was seated at their desks, which was a new feeling since kindergarten classes don’t have desks. I don’t remember what she said as we began class, but I remember feeling very comfortable. She taught us a song called Twelve Golden Bells (one for each student) that morning. Through the years the number of bells changed as new students came and left, but she was always there for us, even now. Every year we get together at least once to have a Swedish Meatball party. Her mother is Swedish-American and she brought that culture into the classroom, most significantly for me, her stories of Tomptin (a Swedish gnome). She brought magic into the classroom and made learning fun. I think her students really respect her. She had a good balance of being a fun teacher while still fostering a disciplined environment.”

Look for the Green Man to tell fortunes (photo courtesy of Whidbey Island Waldorf School)

Grade 5 student drawing for botany class (photo by Kate Poss)

Simple lessons, use of top quality art materials, music, stories, plays and eurythmy (a therapeutic dance originated by Steiner are all part of Waldorf education. (For more information, visit Rudolf Steiner and Eurythmy). Top-quality material doesn’t translate to intense technology. Classroom teachers from preschool to grade eight teach lessons writing on genuine blackboards with chalk instead of relying on computers and televisions for teaching lessons. Young students learn to make letters initially by practicing the concept of straight and curved. Then those forms are combined in a variety of patterns. Students are asked to stand up tall to feel straight and then how to draw it when they take a pencil in their hand. They then curve their body, and the feeling of curve is imprinted on their muscle memory when they draw.

The holistic approach includes incorporating creativity in art and beyond the school. Soule said that emphasis is placed on daily visits with the outdoors and to that extent, the school hosts a Forest Kindergarten, which takes the students outside all day in the woods where their teacher reads stories and teaches lessons, and students run and play and use their imagination.

Mom and son at MayFaire festivities (photo courtesy of Whidbey Island Waldorf School)

“The students learn to work together and in a mysterious way, being outside helps them create neural pathways from their time spent in nature,” Soule added. (For a report on this, visit Scientists Say Child’s Play Helps Build A Better Brain.) “Later on, their practice of art and study in school is directly related to developing skills in executive thinking. We teach our students to be creative and social. To work with others. To be enthusiastic. To solve problems outside the box. These are skills headhunters look for nowadays. While life is changing quickly, some things remain the same: how well do we treat each other and the world around us? That is a part of what Waldorf is about.”

A little girl enjoying a snack at MayFaire (photo courtesy of Whidbey Island Waldorf School)

Waldorf parent Cherub Zimmermann has spent the past 20 years shepherding her three children through the school. With her two older children now grown and out of high school, her youngest son Atom is in first grade with veteran teacher Natasha Zimmerman (no relation to Cherub).

Grade 4 birthday celebration in late April (photo by Kate Poss)

Sandra Walston, whose grandchildren attend the Whidbey Island Waldorf School, learns to make basic forms used in writing and drawing (photo by Kate Poss)

“Waldorf education is so healing on so many levels,” Zimmermann said. “I love it here. I am there every day working as the class coordinator and with the parent community association. The school is a beautiful shield of light! It’s therapy for humanity. I love that I learn something new every day. It’s a privilege and an honor to participate in this school and be part of its community.”

Photo at the top: A new twist on peppermint lemonade (photo courtesy of Whidbey Island Waldorf School)

Kate Poss works as a library assistant at the Langley Library. She was a chef for three summers aboard a small Alaskan tour boat from 2008 to 2010. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Los Angeles for many years before moving to Whidbey Island where she likes “talking story,” hiking, hosting salons and writing her novel.

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CLICK HERE to read more WLM stories and blogs. Have a great story idea? Let us know at info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

May 4, 2016
What’s Happening || Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, May 15

BY KATY SHANER
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
May 11, 2016

Welcome to the weekend on Whidbey. “What’s Happening” includes many weekend events starting Thursday and running through Sunday. “What’s Happening” is a collaborative information guide project between the Visitor Information Kiosk and Whidbey Life Magazine.

THURSDAY, MAY 12

“PROOF” BY DAVID AUBURN 7 p.m. at the Whidbey Children’s Theater. Thursday, May 12 is opening night and the show runs through Sunday, May 22. Catherine has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father, Robert. When he dies she has more than grief to deal with: there’s her estranged sister, Claire, and Hal, a former student of her father who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that Robert left behind. And a further problem: how much of her father’s madness (or genius) will Catherine inherit? This Pulitzer Prize-winning play opened at the Donmar Warehouse in 2001.

Whidbey Childrens Theater, 723 Camano Ave., Langley • Recommended Ages 13+ for language and mature situations • Adults: $16 / Youth: $8 • Purchase Tickets Online: http://wctmagic.org/calendar/2016/5/12/proof-by-david-auburn

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WICA! 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Whidbey Island Center for the Arts community open house. In celebration of WICA’s 20th anniversary, the entire community is invited to take a stroll down memory lane during an open house this Thursday evening. Refreshments, light hors d’oeuvres, libations, and birthday cake will be served as guests view pictures, posters, costumes and props, and other memorabilia representing 20 years of our shared experiences in the arts. The Open House is free and open to the public. Whidbey Island Center of the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley www.wicaonline.org

THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL WONDERS OF DECEPTION PASS 7 p.m. Located at the Coupeville Recreation Hall. Presented by Park Manager Jack Hartt. Since the turn of the last century Deception Pass State Park has been transformed from rugged federal land donated to the State to one of the most-visited state parks in Washington. From sand dunes to old growth forests – freshwater lakes to beaches on the Salish Sea – an abundance of wildlife including 174 species of birds. Explore some of the natural and cultural history of the park – how it came to be and the challenges we face as we head into the future. Preceding the 7:30 program, scholarship winners will be introduced and annual officer elections will be held.

The public is welcome to attend this free event • Coupeville Recreation Hall, 901 NW Alexander St., Coupeville • Whidbey Audubon: www.whidbeyaudubon.org

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: BOOK DISCUSSION 6:30 p.m. Located at the Langley Library. It is satisfying to see someone get their just desserts. Many novels explore this theme. Join the delicious discussion to talk about your favorite novels where characters get their due. “Let Them Eat Cake” by Gesine Bullock-Prado is our featured cookbook. Just desserts will be served! Langley Library, 104 Second St., Langley • 360-221-4383

BEACH LITTER PICKUP VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Ft. Casey State Park • 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Open to all adults 18 and older (sorry, no minors). Please contact Stinger to learn about opportunities available to youth. Contact Stinger prior to attending a beach cleanup to let him know to expect you, preferably at least two days before. This will insure that, if there is an emergency change or cancellation in the schedule, he can then notify you. Bags, gloves, and other equipment will be provided. Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and footwear for walking over sand, cobble, and driftwood. Schedule can change due to adverse weather conditions. A one-day volunteer park access pass is available for volunteers who do not have a Washington State Parks Discovery Pass. For a map or more information about any of these cleanup locations, contact: Stinger Anderson, Community Litter Cleanup Program Coordinator • stinger.anderson@wsu.edu • 360-240-5558 (office) • 360-941-3171 (cell)

BILLY THE CELLOIST 11 a.m. Live and strung at UBCC. A good time is likely to be had by all, but especially Billy. Useless Bay Coffee Company, 121 Second Street, Langley • 360-221-4515 • www.uselessbaycoffee.com/

FRIDAY, MAY 13

THE RURAL CHARACTERS VARIETY SHOW 7:30 p.m. Located at WICA. Enjoy The Rural Characters as they host a variety show featuring many of the artists who have graced the stage over two decades, including: Sing!Chronicity (the very first performers at WICA!), Whidbey Island Dance Theatre, Saratoga Chamber Players, The Heggeness Valley Boys, WOW! Stories, Troy Chapman, Judith Adams, Theatre skits, Drew Christie Animation. All Seats $22 • Tickets by phone: 360-221-8268 • Online: tickets@wicaonline.org • Whidbey Island Center of the Arts 565, Camano Ave., Langley • www.wicaonline.org

STEWARDSHIP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Join us for Hammons Preserve Blackberry Bonanza with the Whidbey Camano Land Trust. Would you like to help steward the land and restore habitat? We have volunteer opportunities coming up on our nature preserves, and we need your help. The Land Trust provides tools, snacks, and drinks. All you need to bring is a pair of work gloves and be ready for outdoor fun with fellow volunteers. To sign up online: www.wclt.org/events • By phone contact Kyle at: 360-222-3310 • Email: kyle@wclt.org

PETE 7 – 9 p.m. Located at Bayview Hall. Admission is free. Donations for the band are highly encouraged. There will be a charge for beer, wine, and sodas. Brought to you by Goosefoot and Bayview Hall. Bayview Hall, 5642 Bayview Road, Langley • For questions contact: 360-321-4145 • info@goosefoot.org

OTT & MURPHY WINES – RUSTY FENDER AND THE MELODY WRANGLERS 7 p.m. Alt-Country and Americana.“There will be dancin’ in the street”. Contributions for the music gratefully accepted. Reservations are recommended. Ott & Murphy Winery Tasting Room, 204 First St., Langley • 360-221-7131

THE LANGLEY 2ND STREET MARKET 2 – 6 p.m. Every Friday through September 30. Our European-style market includes several local produce and flower farmers local soap makers, artists, jewelers, baked goods, food by Dorcas of Lesedi Farm, and numerous local musicians. For more information or to inquire about being a vendor, contact Ben at: secondstreetmarket@whidbey.com

“PROOF” BY DAVID AUBURN – WHIDBEY CHILDREN’S THEATER 7 p.m. (See Thursday, May 12 for more information.)

OPEN MIC NIGHT 6 – 8:30 p.m. Blooms Winery Tasting Room at the Bayview Corner. Open Mic Night is the second and fourth Friday of each month. The Open Mics Night, hosted by Ron Eaton, provide an opportunity in a casual and intimate setting for musicians to perform live and play a song or two and perhaps join in with fellow musicians on stage, or for a poet to recite some of their verse. Anyone interested in being included in the evening’s talent showcase can call the tasting room at 360-321-0515 for more details. Drop-ins are accepted as time allows.

Special Friday night food menu includes Blooms regular menu, our Friday Flatbread special and a few additional choices with wonderful award-winning Blooms wines by the glass or bottle, as well as craft brews by Foggy Noggin and Boundary Bay, and non-alcoholic choices! Blooms Winery Taste for Wine & Art, 5603 Bayview Road, Langley. www.bloomswinery.com • www.tasteforwinewhidbey.com • 360-321-0515

SATURDAY, MAY 14

SAVOR SPRING FOOD AND WINE TOUR 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Four wineries and a distillery on Whidbey Island open their tasting rooms to present the annual Savor Spring Food, Wine and Spirits Tour. This tour includes not only tastes of wine and spirits – many of them new releases for spring – but each venue will also feature a food vendor that will have samples of locally made and grown foods, creating a true taste of Whidbey Island. Participating wineries and distillery are:

Comforts of Whidbey/Gordons – 4361 Witter Road, Langley
Spoiled Dog Winery/ Roaming Radish 5881 Maxwelton Road, Clinton
Whidbey Island Distillery/ Prima Bistro 3466 Craw Road, Langley
Blooms Winery’s Tasting Room/ Glass Alley Café / Sundance Bakery 5603 Bayview Road, Langley
Holmes Harbor Cellars/ Mile Post 19 4591 Honeymoon Bay Road, Freeland

The tickets for the tour are $20 in advance, available at the participating tasting rooms or online at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2498855 • Tickets are also available at the door for $25. Although the tour hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., some winery tasting rooms will be open later. For more information on the tour, visit the Whidbey Island Vintners Association website at: www.whidbeyislandvintners.org, or call Blooms Winery tasting room at: 360-321-0515.

PENN COVE WATER FESTIVAL 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Located at the Historic Front Street in Coupeville. Celebrating our Native American heritage this one-day freefamily festival features tribal canoe races, Native American arts and crafts, demonstrations, story-telling, music and dance performances, educational displays, food, and youth activities.. For full info: www.penncovewaterfestival.com

EARTH SCIENCES FOR KIDS AT EBEY’S LANDING 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Whidbey Camano Land Trust. The dramatic beauty of our Island’s beaches and bluffs is something to enjoy and cherish. But have you ever wondered what made them? The rocks, sand, and living organisms are full of clues. Join the Whidbey Camano Land to explore the effects of wind, rain, waves and sun on our island shores. This is a family-friendly tour aimed at elementary and middle school kids aged 10-13. Each child must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The event is free, but space is limited! To sign up visit our website: www.wclt.org/events • By phone contact Kyle at: 360-222-3310 • By email: kyle@wclt.org

SPRING SHRED EVENT – SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF SOUTH WHIDBEY ISLAND AND COASTAL COMMUNITY BANK 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Time to clean out your file cabinets, garages, and storage rooms. Securely dispose of your personal and financial records. Minimum donation $5.00: bankers box or grocery bag. $10.00: oversized box or garbage bag. All proceeds benefit Soroptimist International of South Whidbey Island’s Grants and Scholarships Program. Licensed and Bonded SECURE Shredding Company. Contact: Tara Long www.coastalbank.com

BUILDING HOPE TOGETHER – SOUTH WHIDBEY HOMELESS COALITION 4 – 7 p.m. St. Augustine’s Church in-the-Woods. Enjoy an evening of fun music, good food, and a celebration of the work of the South Whidbey Homeless Coalition, whose mission is to help make homelessness a brief and rare experience on South Whidbey. BBQ chicken dinner, no-host bar, live music and silent auction. Tickets are $25. To purchase tickets or make a donation call: Victoria Ritts at 206-992-4054, Linda Rush at 509-859-3070 • St. Augustine’s Church in-the-Woods, 5217 Honeymoon Bay Road, Freeland

THE RURAL CHARACTERS VARIETY SHOW 7:30 p.m. WICA (See Friday, May 13 for additional information.)

“PROOF” BY DAVID AUBURN – WHIDBEY CHILDREN’S THEATER 7 p.m. (See Thursday, May 12 for more information.)

SUNDAY, MAY 15

“MOSTLY FEATHERS” – WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY OF GOVINDA ROSLING 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Artist’s Reception at the UUCWI Gallery. Govinda photographs mostly birds, working with a variety of lenses that enable zoomed shots, some through blinds, some by sitting and letting the birds come to her. She focuses on aspects of their life in each photograph – their quirkiness, intensity of foraging, their place in the world. “Mostly Feathers” will continue on display throughout the months of May and June. UUCWI, 20103 State Route 525 (approximately two miles north of Freeland on the west side of the highway) • www.uucwi.org/

THE HOT CLUB OF TROY 12 – 2 p.m. Sunday, May 15. Playing lively swing music with a romantic French flair. Useless Bay Coffee Company 121 Second St., Langley (360) 221-4515

19TH ANNUAL HEDGEBROOK WOMEN PLAYWRIGHTS FESTIVAL 4 p.m. WICA. $5 suggested ticket donation. New works by Kristiana Rae Colón, Virginia Grise, Dawn Renee Jones, Madhuri Shekar and Regina Taylor. Hedgebrook partners with regional theatres across the country with strong track records of commissioning and producing new works by women playwrights. This year’s festival partners include Denver Center Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Repertory Theatre and Southern Rep Theatre. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: www.hedgebrook.org/hwpf-dl Whidbey Island Center for the Arts 565 Camano Avenue, Langley.

“FORAGING FOR EDIBLE FOOD” WITH KELSI FRANZEN – SLOW FOOD WHIDBEY ISLAND’S 1 – 4 p.m. May 15. Pacific Rim Institute. This unique three-part event, learn what wild plants can be combined as delicious and unique ingredients into your daily meals. Educator, farmer, and fifth generation Coupeville native Kelsi Franzen will engage all of your senses first on a hike, to learn how to identify some common edibles in several Pacific Northwest ecosystems, followed by a presentation on how to create meals inspired by and infused with Whidbey Island’s wild and cultivated foods.

Kelsi Franzen holds a Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Environmental Education and Non-Profit Administration from Western Washington University, in partnership with North Cascades Institute, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Education from Western Washington University.

Program cost will be $15 for a one-hour foraging tour on the Pacific Rim Institute grounds followed by a one-hour presentation in the auditorium for $10. There will be a one hour break between the two events to allow people to tour the Pacific Rim hoop houses and learn about their exciting plans for the future of PRI or just linger, chat and snack in the Auditorium building. Pacific Rim Institute, 180 Parker Road, Coupeville. Contact Kathy at kathy46@whidbey.com to sign up.

Important: Please note: The one-hour foraging tour at PRI is already full but we can put you on the waiting list.

SAVOR SPRING FOOD AND WINE TOUR 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (See Friday, May 14 for more information).

TILTH MARKET 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. South Whidbey Tilth’s Farmers’ Market’s features local farm produce and plants, concessions and crafts. Island There’s lots of parking, clean restrooms, free WiFi and children’s play areas. SNAP cards are welcome. South Whidbey Tilth Farmers’ Market, 2812 Thompson Road, Langley • www.southwhidbeytilth.org/market.html

“PROOF” BY DAVID AUBURN – WHIDBEY CHILDREN’S THEATER 2 p.m. (See Thursday, May 12 for more information.)

OTT & MURPHY WINES – TROY CHAPMAN AND GARY WAY 3 – 5 p.m Conversations in jazz with guitar and piano. An afternoon of beautiful music, wine and view. No cover. Ott & Murphy Winery Tasting Room, 204 First Street, Langley • 360-221-7131.

SUNDAY MUSIC SERIES – RUSSELL CLEPPER 3 – 5 p.m. Enjoy Sunday afternoons all year long with live music at Blooms Winery Tasting Room at Bayview Corner Store. Russell Clepper will play some of his favorite original tunes. Russell has a wonderful style that captures your heart and moves your soul. No cover and no minimums but we ask you to please tip appropriately. Fabulous wines, good food and great music! Blooms Winery Taste for Wine & Art, 5603 Bayview Road, Langley • www.bloomswinery.com • www.tasteforwinewhidbey.com • 360-321-0515

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The Visitor Information Kiosk is funded by the Greater Freeland Area and Langley Chambers of Commerce and What’s Happening is prepared by Katy Shaner, Manager and Volunteer Coordinator. Contact Katy at ktshaner@whidbey.com.

Got an event you’d like to see on What’s Happening? Make sure to put it on the Whidbey Life Magazine Calendar at https://www.whidbeylifemagazine.org/submit-your-event/.

Since 2008, the Visitor Kiosk has welcomed over 22,000 visitors to Whidbey. The island offers a wealth of activities, places to stay, eateries, shopping and an abundance of the natural environment to enjoy and appreciate. Welcome and enjoy your visit. Do come back.

Event contributions from Katy Shaner, Whidbey Life Magazine, www.whidbeylifemagazine.org and drewslist drewslist@whidbey.com.

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The Visitor Information Kiosk advertisers help us welcome you to Whidbey Island. Please visit them while you visit our fair isle.

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WHIDBEY PHOTO ADVENTURES

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May 3, 2016
The Bard and the Library

BY KATE POSS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
May 11, 2016

“Come, and take choice of all my library, and so beguile thy sorrow,” said William Shakespeare in Titus Andronicus. His words still ring true as Friends of the Langley Library host a soiree, “The Bibliotheque Befriends the Bard,” May 18 at Useless Bay Coffee Company. The free event offers noshes and a no-host bar from 5 to 7 p.m. Library friends and volunteers will be honored, and the public is invited to mingle with actors from The Island Shakespeare Festival whose season begins in July.

Langley Library Friends’ May 18 event collaborates with the Island Shakespeare Festival. (graphic provided by Sno-Isle Libraries)

“Friends of the Langley Library (FOLL) raise money for programs and building renovation,” said Claire Creighton, FOLL president, a post she has held the past two years. Sales of donated books and strip curtains, along with membership fees, help raise funds for programs such as Nancy Pearl’s annual Booklist talk, held the past 18 years at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. FOLL also enjoys celebrating local organizations, such as the Island Shakespeare Festival.

Vicky Welfare manages the Langley Library. (photo by Kate Poss)

The popular Island Shakespeare Festival is in its seventh season and was founded by Rose Woods whose acclaimed past includes being artistic director of several San Francisco theater companies as well as the Whidbey Children’s Theater. The talented Woods has both published poetry and also won awards for screenplays and plays she has written. Her talent triumphed in bringing the power of Shakespeare and other classic plays to the island despite naysayers.

Rose Woods is the founding artistic director of the Island Shakespeare Festival. (photo courtesy of Island Shakespeare Festival website)

One of her proponents, Timothy Hull, a musician and son of Whidbey Institute founders Fritz and Vivienne Hull, was intrigued by Woods’ inspiration and arranged a venue for a performance of As You Like It. Initial concerns of whether islanders would support Shakespeare were dashed when the play drew an audience of 800 to Storyhouse, an open-air stage on Whidbey Institute land in 2010.

Actors from previous plays with the Island Shakespeare Festival (photo courtesy of Island Shakespeare Festival website)

Eventually the venue moved to the Langley fairgrounds to accommodate bigger crowds and more productions. Plays are now held under a striped tent that was built in 2013. Guests sit on hay bales and admission is free, though a hat is passed around for donations. With a lot of work from dedicated volunteers and staff, the repertoire theater continues to thrive and now attracts several thousand summer visitors each season.

Scene from The Tempest, which ran in the past with the Island Shakespeare Festival. (photo courtesy of Island Shakespeare Festival website)

Helen Coe, Langley’s first librarian in 1923 (photo by Cynthia Kaul)

April 23 commemorated the 400th year of the Bard’s death, and our local ISF group celebrates the famous playwright’s legacy in conjunction with the library: the public is invited to a preview of this season’s plays, As You Like It, Jane Eyre and Julius Caesar at the Langley Library June 7 at 6:30 p.m. The group also plans a fundraiser June 4 and is looking for volunteers to house this summer’s entourage of actors. To learn more about the festival and events, visit Island Shakespeare Festival.

The Langley Library enjoys working with local organizations, such as the Island Shakespeare Festival, and has a long history within the community. The library was envisioned by Helen Coe, the first woman mayor of Langley during the 1920s. She donated a plot of land to build a library in 1923 and acted as the first librarian. Coe’s portrait hangs on the wall behind the front desk. She looks like a no-nonsense kind of woman. Over the years, the Friends’ efforts expanded the library from the current children’s library to what it is now. A generous bequest organized by the Friends funded a complete interior renovation in 2011.

See-through strip curtains (in color or plain) from Belgium help fund Langley Library programs and building improvements. (photo by Kate Poss)

Meanwhile, a tall Langley librarian named Nancy Lindholdt started the tradition of selling strip curtains, which raise more than half of the budget to fund library programs. Lindholt managed the library from the 1980s until around 2000 and wanted relief from the summer insects that plagued the library and locals’ homes. While traveling in Belgium, she was impressed by the natives’ use of strip curtains to keep the bugs out. She bought a few, thinking they would make a good fundraiser; thirty years later, sales of the curtains, still imported from Belgium, continue to be swift, especially now. Last year FOLL raised more than $13,000 for the library. For more information on FOLL, please visit Friends of the Library.

Kate Poss works as a library assistant at the Langley Library. She worked for three summers as a chef aboard a small Alaskan tour boat from 2008 to 2010. She was a newspaper reporter in Los Angeles for many years before moving to Whidbey Island where she likes “talking story,” hiking, hosting salons and writing her novel.

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WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

May 3, 2016
Orange Madness Descends Upon Oak Harbor

BY LESLIE IRISH EVANS
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
April 27, 2016

Dust off your klompen (wooden clogs) and don your hul (bonnet)! It’s time for Oak Harbor’s Holland Happening. This annual event, organized by the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce, features a carnival, parades, entertainment, a street fair and more. The theme for 2016’s Holland Happening is Gemeenschap, which is the Dutch word for “community.” The activities take place April 28 through May 1 at locations throughout the historic city’s downtown area.

This is the 47^th year of the event, which celebrates the city’s Dutch heritage. In the 1890s, Oak Harbor saw an influx of Dutch immigrants who helped the town to grow and to thrive. The celebration itself is based on the Dutch holiday of Koningsdag or King’s Day, which celebrates the birthday of The Netherlands’ currently reigning monarch. The holiday was originally called Koninginnedag or Queen’s Day, until 2013 when The Netherlands welcomed Willem-Alexander, their first king since the national holiday began. Traditional activities include street markets, a parade and wearing orange, the national color of The Netherlands.

The theme of this year’s Holland Happening is Gemeenschap, the Dutch word for “community.” (graphic provided by The Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce)

Over 8,000 people, both local and visitors, are expected to attend the Holland Happening. “It’s our biggest and most popular event of the season,” said Sooz Konopik, Events Coordinator for the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce. “Oak Harbor has a very strong Dutch community that’s very proud of its heritage.” Konopik stresses the inclusiveness of the event. “We celebrate not only Dutch heritage but all of the community members. It’s a really great get together.”

One of the event’s traditional highlights is the Grand Parade. “People dress in costumes,” said Konopik. “And we have street sweepers and town criers that start the parade. That’s a tradition in The Netherlands.” Parade entries are asked to display the Gemeenschap theme and a minimum of twelve tulips. This year, three trophies will be awarded for parade entries: Best in Theme, Best in Show and Best Kinderen’s (children’s). The parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 30 along Bayshore Drive.

The Oak Harbor Holland Happening celebrates the city’s Dutch heritage. (Graphic provided by The Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce)

Other featured events for the Holland Happening include a traditional Dutch dinner, children’s arts & crafts and Dutch-themed photoboards for fun photo opportunities. “We also have our own main entertainment stage with a diverse group of musicians,” said Konopik. “From Gypsy jazz to bluegrass and everything in between.” Attendees needing advice on what to do next can look for Oak Harbor Chamber members, who will be wearing Dutch-blue t-shirts and will be available as resources during the event.

Mark your calendar for Oak Harbor’s 47^th annual Holland Happening, April 28 through May 1. For scheduled events and details visit the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce website at http://www.oakharborchamber.com.

Leslie Irish Evans is a podcast host, Huffington Post blogger, and the author of Peeling Mom Off the Ceiling: Reclaiming Your Life From Your Kids. She lives in Langley, WA. Learn more about her at http://www.leslieirishevans.com.

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WLM stories and blogs are copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Linking is permitted. To request permission to use or reprint content from this site, email info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.

April 27, 2016
4-H Shines on Whidbey’s Chicken Coop Tour

PHOTOS AND TEXT BY SUSAN S. SCOTT
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
April 27, 2016

Rock’n Doodle 4-H Club sponsored its 7^th annual Chicken Coop Tour on April 23, 2016, not only to show the diversity of styles in raising chickens, but to be sure everyone had a fun adventure together.

The Clucky Show featuring local performer Matt Hoar entertained visitors at the Huckleberry Berry Hollow in Clinton.

Two 4-H members with their chickens after the talent show.

The tour also serves as a fund-raiser for the 4-H clubs, helping them take care of the barns they use at the Island County Fair each year. There are about thirty different clubs on the island, each focusing on the interests of their members. Most of the clubs focus on farming and raising animals, but a few are dedicated to teen leadership, crafts, photography, even robotics.

4-H members who raise goats, help out the Rock’n Doodle club with hosting at James Myers and Kristy Oliver’s home in Greenbank.

Chicken coop designed and built by James Myers to look like a dollhouse with its flower boxes and shingled roof. It has a “nanny cam” inside to be sure his hens are safe at night.

4-H members enjoy educating the community as they learn new skills themselves. During the tour participants are asked to use the antiseptic spray they provide so that germs are not carried between chicken coop sites.

Several 4-H-ers spritz the bottoms of my shoes before and after visiting the coops.

The chickens at Sherren’s Glassworks in Clinton huddle under their coop while it rains.

A rooster is being shy while he awaits adoption.

Even the very youngest have a job to do in 4-H. Membership includes boys and girls between 5 and 18 years old.

Mentoring, a significant aspect of the 4-H experience was exemplified by Jerry Lloyd of Greenbank, who demonstrated how to train animals using a clicker and food reward.

Ranger the Rooster chooses the King of Hearts each time his owner, Jerry Lloyd, makes different arrangements of the playing cards.

Mother and child watch the farm animals together.

Small cowgirl learns how to feed the chickens.

Well-tended chickens produce delicious eggs!

By the end of the Tour, I could see that the Rock’n Doodle 4-H club, along with the mentors, families, and chicken coop builders had come together to have fun, learn, be of service, and inspire a good quality of life on our rural island. It reminded me of the 4-H pledge: “My head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.”

Susan Scott, photographer and author, enjoys daily explorations of Whidbey Island and catching glimpses of extraordinary moments of ordinary life with her camera. www.susanscottphd.com.

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April 27, 2016
Penn Cove Musselfest, March 12-13

March 9, 2016

Visit the Penn Cove MusselFest from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 12 and Sunday, March 13 for Coupeville’s March tradition. “Bold, briny and blue,” the world famous mussels will be the centerpiece of two days of festivities, including chowder tasting and mussel eating competitions, farm tours and activities for all ages featuring locally-flavored fun.

Headquarters are at the Coupeville Rec Hall. Visit http://thepenncovemusselsfestival.com/ for more details.

March 9, 2016