BY DAVID WELTON
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
Sept. 30, 2015
The merry sound of children laughing filled the air Saturday, Sept. 26 at the annual Children’s Day Festival at South Whidbey Community Park. Program co-ordinator Carrie Monforte sent a bright technicolor message of thanks to the 46 businesses and organizations with booths, and numerous volunteers with fun activities for area children and families that made for a memorable first weekend of Fall. “I can’t recall a more well attended Children’s Festival” said Monforte at the end of the day. “I enjoy watching this event unfold because I see so many happy people.” She added, “attendance estimates are imprecise, but the South Whidbey Kiwanis Club handed out 850 hot dogs free of charge.”
A fire truck with souvenir fire hats was stationed at Castle Park, open for tours. There were ponies for petting and riding, and children could become acquainted with appropriately sized musical instruments. The local chapter of the Red Cross stressed safety tips for the winter living and fun was had by all.
The bounce houses were among the three most popular attractions, along with bubbles and face painting. A happy child’s voice from inside exulted “this is the most fun day of my whole life!” Tom Lindsay, the “Bubble Man” went through 25 gallons of “bubble juice” as he taught eager 5 year olds how to create giant bubble sculptures, who quickly got the hang of it and gave him a run for his money. His pleas to let the bubbles live were ignored by children eager to pop them.
Kids queued up for a turn with the team of face-painters at the Mother Mentors booth.
A big sister voices disgust at the black widow spider on her brother’s forehead.
Larry Dobson coached young stilt walkers on the proper technique to safely lace in, then danced with protege Grace in front of the baseball field.
This young lady jumps to the sounds of the DJ and Karaoke, as her free hot dog from South Whidbey Kiwanis awaits her. Multitasking face painted stilt-walkers speak with helium fueled squeaky voices and avoid face-plants on the lush grass, which was revived by recent rainfall.
A relatively quiet moment with play-doh sculptures at the South Whidbey Children’s Center booth. The creative chefs from Kids First of Island County orchestrated hourly competitive pie-eating contests. A stuffed participant signals that he is finished by raising his empty hands. An empty mouth proves that he is not hiding un-eaten pie.
David Welton is a retired physician and staff photographer for Whidbey Life Magazine. You’ll see him with his camera and ball cap at many festivals and events capturing the faces of people enjoying Whidbey Island.
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.
BY RUSSELL CLEPPER
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
September 16, 2015
Whidbey Island’s gypsy jazz ensemble, the Hot Club of Troy, has a few subtexts to their mission statement. First subtext; “No amps? No problem!” Second: Gypzy jazz all year long. Third: Coffeehouses make great music venues.
As for their mission statement itself, just three words, one for each subtext; Django, Django, Django.
Hot Club of Troy (Troy Chapman, Kristi O’Donnell and Keith Bowers (l to r)) play in front of the DJangoFest mural at WICA (photo by David Welton)
Working exclusively with Django Reinhardt’s body of work, the trio strives to present his music with the purest expression possible, eschewing any amplification except a single microphone placed in front of them as they perform. Although band leader and guitarist Troy Chapman, guitarist Keith Bowers and bassist Kristi O’Donnell each have long resumés in music-making, the Hot Club of Troy is just one year old. However, this nearly nascent act will open this year’s prestigious DjangoFest Northwest at WICA in Langley at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Lance Cercel and the Roma String Ensemble will also perform that night. The headliner for this year’s festival is Bireli Lagrene, the “undisputed top guitarist in the gypsy jazz genre” according to the festival’s website, and according to Chapman and O’Donnell as well.
Chapman himself is no stranger to the DjangoFest stage. One of North America’s premier interpreters of the genre, the Whidbey Island resident has been a member of the influential Seattle gypsy jazz group Pearl Django since 2010. Along with the Robin Nolan trio, Pearl Django starred in the first DjangoFest Northwest in 2001, and they have appeared every year since that highly successful beginning. On Saturday, Sept. 26, Chapman will perform with Pearl Django once again, sharing the bill that night with the Hot Club of Detroit.
Hot Club of Troy in an impromptu performance in downtown Langley (photo by David Welton)
The Hot Club of Troy’s debut at DjangoFest caps a year of advanced musical exploration of Reinhardt’s music by the group. “One thing we do is play not only strictly gypsy jazz, but we only do Django’s compositions. He wrote 84 songs and some of them are rarely heard,” said Chapman. “We want to do stuff that people haven’t heard, to dig deeper into his repertoire and learn about his influences. We don’t want to present great guitar playing so much as his songs as great compositions.”
Of course, Chapman and Bowers are highly regarded guitar players and their shows certainly feature expert picking. O’Donnell explained the group has labored to meld Bower’s chordal style of playing with Chapman’s straight ahead approach as they have explored ways of performing Reinhardt’s music. “We work at weaving the two styles together,” she said. “We’ve worked really hard to make that happen,” Chapman added. “You have to learn first how Django did it, then you can put your own style in it.”
Another reason they formed a gypsy jazz trio was to create opportunities to play that style all year long, not just during the time of DjangoFest. Their home base venue has been Useless Bay Coffee Company (UBCC), which is where the three musicians first jammed together on Tuesday nights for awhile. That collaboration resulted in the formation of one of Whidbey Island’s finest bands, Trio Nouveau, whose repertoire is mined from the swinging jazz of the Great American Songbook.
“When we’re playing there, we joke that we’re fueled by UBCC coffee,” said O’Donnell. “Lots of eighth notes!”
Even the local canines appreciate the outdoor concerts and smooth sounds (photo by David Welton)
UBCC owner and head roaster Des Rock has been a stedfast supporter of the group, as well as of local live music in general. “He told us that ‘the quality of the atmosphere goes up every time you play!” said O’Donnell. We’re really lucky to have Des. He rocks!”
The popular Langley hangout is the only coffee house on the island currently offering a steady program of live music. Historically, coffee houses have often provided a place for musicians to perform in public and sometimes become important incubators of musical talent and generators of vibrant musical “scenes,” such as one that is happening right now in Paris. In fact, a coffee house in Montreal was instrumental in the musical path of a young Troy Chapman where he spent countless hours at a place called the Yellow Door, one of the longest-lived contemporary live music venues in North America, and one well known among the folk and singer songwriter crowd on the East Coast.
His mother worked there in the late 1960s and 70s. “I spent every summer, for years, spending my days there,” he said. “until I began living full time with my mom in ’73,” he said. “I sat in the Yellow Door after school, day after day, and watched great guitar player after great guitar player and decided that was for me!”
The label for UBCC’s new “Django Blend” was created as a celebration of the Hot Club of Troy’s beginnings at the lively local gathering place. It was created by author, artist and gypsy jazz guitarist Irene Ypenburg.
The Yellow Door was the site of his first public performance. “I played ‘Goodbye Porkpie Hat’ with my new Electro Harmonix Small Stone Phaser plugged into the PA. Probably in ’78!”
If that truly was a hootenanny, Chapman must have caught some of the banjo players off guard with that one. It wouldn’t be the first time he has surprised people.
For example, The Hot Club of Troy’s association with UBCC has inspired the creation of a special offering for coffee lovers and music fans. “We are going to have a brand of coffee,” said O’Donnell, “the Hot Club of Troy ‘Django Blend,’ roasted by Des, in time for DjangoFest. UBCC will be selling the coffee that week and it will be online, too.”
That development was not part of their original mission statement, but the organic aspect of the coffee that Rock brews at his establishment does compliment their desire to nix amplification of guitars at the group’s performances. Chapman said, “There’s nothing like the beauty of the un-amplified instrument. There’s a great simplicity when playing with no amps.”
Hot Club of Troy’s bandleader, Troy Chapman, got his inspiration to play guitar from countless hours spent at the famous Montreal coffeehouse, the Yellow Door (photo by David Welton)
In some music circles that approach would be described as “organic,” meaning natural and unaltered by electronic amplification. Even though the guitar itself is a mechanical sound wave amplifier, the sound it produces is the result of the type and quality of the wood, the kind of strings, the skill of the luthier, and the expertise and soul of the musician. Any kind of electric amplification alters that “natural” sound. Even though the altered sound may be pleasing to the ear, it’s not the same as the un-amplified sound of a guitar.
Chapman has played plenty of loud music throughout his long career in music, but to get at the heart of Django Reinhardt’s sound he and his bandmates are taking this organic path to get there. Their show at DjangoFest will provide an excellent opportunity for local gypsy jazz addicts and music lovers to hear the Hot Club of Troy fulfilling their mission.
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Django’s Hand
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Langley resident Drew Christie has created an animated short film for DjangoFest Northwest. Christie’s work has appeared or been featured in numerous publications including the Atlantic and the New York Times. Hot Club of Troy’s bandleader Troy Chapman performs the soundtrack for the short which is titled “Django’s Hand” and tells the story of how Django Reinhardt turned a terrible injury sustained in a fire into the creation of a new style of guitar playing.
To see the 68 second-long film, visit this link on the DjangoFest Northwest website: http://www.djangofestnw.com.
Russell Clepper is a singer-songwriter who plies his trade locally and around the country. He is also a substitute teacher for the Oak Harbor School District.
Please check the following links for more information about the Hot Club of Troy and/or DjangoFest Northwest 2015:
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BY LARA DUNNING Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor September 16, 2015
I’m standing at one of the primo kite flying spots on Whidbey Island―Fort Casey Historical Park. There’s a northwesterly wind cutting across the lawn, and the Whidbey Rev Flyers show off their skills in preparation for the upcoming Whidbey Island Kite Festival on Sept. 19 and 20.
Lisa Root, event organizer and 15-year competition flyer, calls out commands: “One eighty go! Flank right! Break to thread! Face your edges! Do-si-do!” Under her lead, hands move with precision, and the Revolution kites—which resemble two connected upside-down triangles—create dynamic patterns in mid-air.
Fort Casey Historical Park is one of the favorite kiting spots on Whidbey Island (photo by David Welton)
This aerial ballet will be one of dozens at the Festival. The Olympic Mountains and Admiralty Inlet will provide the backdrop to the spectacular sight of hundreds of airborne kites.
An array of kite activities will take place throughout the weekend. The highlight of the event—sport kite championships—will include teams, pairs and individuals flying in dual and multi-line events. Winners will be acknowledged at a Saturday awards dinner and again on Sunday afternoon.
Those wishing to pre-order festival gear, sign up to compete, or purchase lunches and dinners may do so on the Whidbey Island Kite Festival website. At the event, hungry bellies can fuel up with hot dogs and sodas from Central Whidbey Lions Club and warm cups of coffee and snacks from The Kaffee Haus.
At 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, dozens of delta and box kites will take to the skies in a mass ascension. At the same time on Sunday, flat and soft kites will rise. Anyone may join in for these flies, and no registration is necessary. For children 10 and under, teddy bears will don parachutes for the popular Teddy Bear Drop each day at 1:00 p.m.
Kite flying lessons, single-line challenges, free fly areas, and kite making classes will be offered. Kite games (think of the “running of the bulls,”) will be held in which children tie a kite around their waists and run like the wind. The mystery ballet event challenges flyers to create an impromptu routine to music they’ve never heard.
On Saturday evening at 7:30 p.m., the indoor kite fly takes place at the Coupeville High School gym. “It’s amazing. There is no wind except what is created by the flyer,” Root said. “We encourage folks to come and watch and come and try.”
The admired Whidbey Rev Flyers, joined by Island Quad from B.C., will entertain visitors with a choreographed performance to music with their four-line Revolution kites. If the practice session I’ve witnessed is any indication of what to expect, it’s going to be quite a show.
Whidbey Rev Flyers practice for their upcoming performance at the kite festival (photo by David Welton)
“You can’t just have one kite,” Root claims. “You must have a series of them.” She whips out her phone to show me a picture of her kites―there are dozens. The festival feeds this passion for multiple kites by hosting a Used Kite Loft where folks can buy and sell kites. A drawing for a raffle of 500 kite related items will be held on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. (You needn’t be present to win; all proceeds fund the festival.)
At Fort Casey, the wind continues to blow steadily over the grounds, and a handful of children excitedly fly their own single-line kites. As I observe the Whidbey Rev Flyers team practice, I notice that each face is a mixture of meditation and concentration. Bodies brace against the wind. Positions are called out. Hands move in sync. And the best part—geometric kites dance against a turquoise sky.
Hundreds of colorful kites take to the skies at the Whidbey Island Kite Festival (photo by David Welton)
To join Whidbey Island Kite Fliers, visit http://www.whidbeykiteclub.org/. Every third Saturday of the month the Fliers combine a “fun fly” at Fort Casey Historical Park with a cookout. Members also meet on-island and off-island at various kiting locations. For more information about the Whidbey Island Kite Festival visit http://www.whidbeykites.org/.
Lara Dunning is a freelance writer. She has been published in The Crossing Guide, Anacortes Scene and Waggoner’s Pacific Northwest Boating. Her interests include young adult novels, history, travel and locavore inspired food.
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.
BY SEAN FLETCHER
Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
Sept. 9, 2015
With the end of summer drawing near, this weekend will prove an ideal time to get outside and see the beauty Whidbey Island has to offer. And very little is more beautiful, or contributes more to the health and sustainability of the island, than its farms, dairies, and distilleries. The Whidbey Island Farm Tour is a weekend event, September 12th and 13th, that includes more than 11 unique farms, each with its own history, methods of production and inspiring scenery.
“It’s been incredibly successful for the last decade,” says Sarah Cassatt, organizer for the tour. Cassatt says the farm tour, now in its 10th year, draws people not just from all over the country, but all over the world. “We’ve had people from Texas, Florida, even Europe.” And the popularity of local farms is still growing. The farm tour aims to educate the community about local and family farms on the island, raise awareness of the contributions they make to agriculture, and assist local farms with marketing and publicity efforts for their products. In just one weekend, small farms like Rosehip Farm and Garden can see upwards of 300 to 400 people on its five acres of flowers, berries and, yes, rosehips (the fruit of the rose).
Most people come to see the beauty of the farms but leave with an understanding of just what it takes to make a family-run farm, dairy, or distillery a success year after year. It’s no walk in the park. Between rising before the crack of dawn, long days in the sun, and some years where crop yield is scant, farming life isn’t for everyone but can be appreciated by all.
Rosehip Farm and Garden (photo by Sean Fletcher. Taken with permission)
Whidbey Island’s landscape is as diverse as the farms it nurtures. The high quality of locally-grown products, as well as their uniqueness, brings a literal meaning to “farm to table.” You can take home many of the products from the many local farmers’ markets held weekly during the summer. These markets, stretching from the north to the south end of the island, offer fresh local food, including a variety of farm-fresh fruits and veggies, eggs, milk and more. Many local farmers rely on farmers’ market sales, and it’s a chance to show off the fruits of their labor. Even after the summer market season is over, stores like 3 Sisters carry products from surrounding farms and dairies. Times and dates of the farmers’ markets can be found on the Whidbey farm tour website.
Eleven unique farms are featured as part of this year’s tour, ranging from Wildwood Farms’ premier horse breeding, training, and riding, to Glendale Shepherd Dairy. There is something for everyone. Visit Greenbank Farm and sample its famously delicious pies, or stroll through Ebey’s Prairie and learn the history and importance of the prairie from historian J. Adams.
Ebey’s Prairie (photo by Sean Fletcher)
The farm tour is free and starts from any farm you choose. Visit as many or as few farms as you wish, but be aware that some offer events at certain days and times, such as the South Whidbey Tilth Old-Iron Antique Tractor Meet (Saturday only) and Strawfield House, open on Sunday only. The variety of farms ranges from family-owned farms like Shipki and Rosehip, to the Whidbey Island Distillery and Abundant Earth Fiber Mill. See and learn about the 200 varieties of fruits and veggies and dozens of types of animals for meat, eggs and dairy that Whidbey Island farmers are raising.
The weather looks clear and mild for the upcoming tour. Now that winter’s gray days are closing in, there’s no better time to get out in the sunshine. Most farm events start at 10:00 a.m., so it may be wise to get an early start and see as much as possible before the crowds arrive. However early you rise, though, you can bet the farmer was up hours before you.
Tour Information:
Weekend of Sept. 12-13, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
The tour is free, starts at any farm on the list, and you can visit as many or as few farms as you’d like.
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BY RUSSELL CLEPPER Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor
Sept. 2, 2015
The unexpected success of the Oak Harbor Music Festival continues with this Labor Day weekend’s 2015 edition with what has become, in just four years, the flagship musical event of the island. Not bad for a town that has never been known for supporting a hopping live music scene. But this Friday through Sunday, Sept. 4 through 6, Oak Harbor will be front and center in the Whidbey Island music world.
However, despite its lack of music venues, quite a number of fine area musicians have come from Oak Harbor, including Larry Mason who has booked talent for the event since its second year, 2013. Mason has always been proud of the Ed Bridges Music Scholarship, which is awarded to graduating seniors from each high school on the island.
Janie Cribbs and the T.Rust Band
“This year the Oak Harbor Music Festival is awarding six music scholarships to graduating seniors from all three school districts on Whidbey Island,” Mason said. That’s double from last year. That’s because, this year, the festival has added another scholarship, named after another Oak Harbor High School music teacher, Bruce Lance, who retired this year.
Saturday night’s headline act is Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real. Nelson, one of Willie Nelson’s musically gifted children, is a well-respected guitar player and singer—respected, as a matter of fact, by no less than Neil Young. Promise of the Real was formed around the group members’ mutual interest in Young’s music; the band’s name was inspired by lyrics from one of Young’s songs, “Walk On.” Eventually, Young invited the group to collaborate with him on his new album, “The Monsanto Years.”
Although the folk rock icon himself will not be at this show, Promise of the Real is backing Nelson up this year as he tours to support “The Monsanto Years,” which was released earlier this summer. (If you’d like to catch that tour, Neil Young and Promise of the Real will perform at Seattle’s WaMu Theatre on Oct. 4. However, tickets start at $122 apiece.) All shows at the Oak Harbor Music Festival are free, although donations are encouraged and accepted and are one of the primary sources of funds for the scholarships the festival provides.
The group’s performance at 9:30 p.m Saturday on the Island Trollers will also have a nationwide audience. “With the help of the Melodic Caring Project, we will stream Lukas Nelson’s set live to hospitalized kids across the USA, as well as to the Internet,” Mason said.
Whidbey favorites—PETE
New to this year’s festival will be the presentation of the winners of the teen talent contest that the festival sponsored this year. “I am very excited about it,” Mason said. The seven winners will play at 1 p.m. on Sunday on the Island Trollers Stage. This is another way Mason and other organizers have found to encourage the development of musical ability among young, talented area musicians. After all, Mason himself was one of a crop of youngsters back in the 1970s who were inspired to pursue a career in music because of then Oak Harbor High School Music teacher, Ed Bridges, namesake for the festival’s original scholarship.
The participation of local musicians in the festival doesn’t stop with these young folks. “We also have the very talented Nathaniel Talbot,” Mason said. “Janie Cribbs and the T.Rust Band, PETE, Broken Banjo and the Cranberry Bog Bluegrass Band. Whidbey Island natives also play in Greg Murat and the Cool Wind, and the Mama Rags.”
As in the past two festivals, shows are presented on two main stages at either end of Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor. The start times of the shows are staggered so that fans can catch at least parts of every act on the schedule if they want. There are two beer gardens, vendors, ample parking and even camping available.
Hip hop artist Scotty Jay
Many groups on this year’s bill are return performers, including several of the local groups such as Janie Cribbs and the T.Rust Band, PETE and Nathaniel Talbot. Others include the Joy Mills Band, Fame Riot and Dylan Jacobsen. The festival has added a hip hop artist this year, Scotty Jay, as well as a big band, the A Town Big Band. A complete list of performers and the schedule for both main stages is posted on the festival’s website (see link at the end of this article.) Jazz, singer-songwriters and many other genres are included in the eclectic offering the festival is presenting.
Weather reports look promising and the music will be excellent. Last year, the festival drew 15,000 people, twice as many as the year before. With this year’s line-up and good weather, festival-goers should be prepared for some large crowds.
Russell Clepper is a singer-songwriter who plies his trade locally and around the country. He also is a substitute teacher for the Oak Harbor School District.
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.
Cotton candy dreamin’ (photo courtesy of the author)
Visions of cotton candy had been swirling in my head for two weeks when I realized the reason—the Whidbey Island County Fair was coming to town. I found my fascination odd, as I have to admit I’m not a “fair” gal, yet I couldn’t get it out of my mind, and I couldn’t wait to go!
So last weekend I walked over, those same cotton-candy visions still swirling in my head while I made a beeline to the cart selling clouds of sugary goodness. My destination was detoured, however, when I happened upon the Arts and Crafts building; this was one display I didn’t want to miss. I walked the rows of children’s craft entries—smiling over some, wondering over others—and as I stood looking at a little toilet paper roll sheep, 50-year-old memories led me back to my second-grade art project—Clara Barton.
Original art: a toilet paper tube lamb (photo by the author)
She was the founder of the American Red Cross and I liked her gumption; I deemed her worthy of my artistic talents. The likeness I created, however, was a god-awful toilet paper tube rendering: some cotton for hair, scraps of cloth for her dress and a yarn mouth that resembled that of Mr. Bill’s (oh nooo). I remember it well; it was truly horrible.
This little TP tube lamby was so much better. No self-praise intended, but it takes a lot of guts to turn a toilet paper roll into art.
I say I’m not a fair gal, yet I attend them—I like the sounds, the animals, the people-watching. I remember I loved to go to our town fairs when I was a youngster. They were loud and thrilling (because I was a child) and it was exciting to stay up late and be out walking amongst the smells and sounds of All Things Fair. Those were steamy nights in Chicago; this night I had on a jacket. And as hard as I tried, I just couldn’t conjure up those feelings I used to have.
Returning to Earth, while fighting nausea and dizziness (photo by David Welton)
Darn. Time just isn’t fair. Things change…
Things like my love for amusement park and carnival rides. I would buy my tokens and stand in line and go on the Regurgitator 12 times before it affected my equilibrium or stomach. These days, as much as I’d like to get on one, I can’t even look at the tame Merry-Go-Round or Ferris Wheel without thinking I’ll get sick… No fair.
I used to be a Fair Food Fanatic…chowing down whatever my iron gut and pocketbook would allow: anything and everything as long as it was deep-fried, exotic, double-dunked, extra-chunked, bacon-wrapped and, of course, on a stick! Fair food was fair game! I walked around, sucking in the scents—fried Snickers bars, cotton candy, roasting corn-on-the-cob, sizzling whatever—savoring the aromas of foods that only appear at functions and festivals such as this.
Erin Kelly savors a caramel apple. (photo by David Welton)
I’d read that morning that Indiana’s State Fair boasted deep-fried sweet corn while Iowa’s touted a bacon-wrapped, jalapeño cheese-stuffed brisket on a stick. It was decidedly heart-attack worthy but, oh joy—gluten free!
The winner of the fair food fight, however, was clearly Wisconsin with its skewered concoction of deep fried-crispy alligator. I think it would take guts to try any of those treats—and not just intestinal fortitude, but actual courage! Our fair, to my knowledge, didn’t have any deep fried alligator. Perhaps that was a good thing or perhaps we missed out!
Curly fries and friends before the show (photo by David Welton)
As I passed the curly fries kiosk and some guy carrying a bag of kettle corn larger than his child, I longed for the days when I wasn’t allergic to everything on the planet and when my insides didn’t revolt against anything wilder than a bowl of rice. Again, no fair.
Past the food stalls, I wound my way through the throngs of attendees milling about, munching down and listening to some singer up on stage chatting with the crowd. Again, I was on a mission—this time I was headed to pet some animals—and the goat barn was in sight. I’ve always wanted to, but have never lived on a farm. The closest I’ve ever gotten to being a farm girl was pretending to be Fern from Charlotte’s Web and living where I do now, with chickens next door. But there is something about farm animals that just gets me—they are sweet and innocent and it all makes me want to kiss their furry, little faces.
One of the many goats being talked to… (photo by the author)
I walked the barns and talked to the goats (yes, I talked to them) and looked into their wide-set, cat-like eyeballs and baa’d at the sheep and moo’d at the cows and then apologized to the pigs for loving bacon as much as I do. And by the time I made my rounds I had a heartache the size of the island. How could these kids raise these beautiful creatures and then sell them—either as a herd animal or for consumption? I cried when my kids’ tadpoles died; I’d never be able to do what these kids do. They have guts.
I left the barns rubbing a glob of anti-bacterial gel onto my licked and dusty hands and silently thanked the genius who provided those bottles. I walked past more food kiosks where families stood huddled making important decisions while kids ran around laughing like goons.
As I made my way out, I passed the rocket ride—The Vomitor, I think it was called—and looked at the little faces waiting in line, their bodies electric with excitement, jubilation and sheer terror! Those kids had guts! Courage with a capital C. As much as I like rides, you couldn’t pay me to get on that thing! I wanted to stand and watch them go on and then come off, but I’m allergic to hay and my throat was feeling scratchy. I was more in favor of breathing and removing myself from the fairgrounds than having (even a cute) EMT do it for me. So, I started for the exit.
An alpaca hums and smiles. (photo by David Welton)
My night wasn’t quite like out of the movie “Pollyanna” or how I remember fairs when I was a child, but the faces of the kids I passed as I was leaving told me they felt differently. Glee and sticky sugar bits were on their faces and rapture shone from their eyes.
I stopped and looked at those beaming children, cursed hay under my labored breathing and turned on my heels and headed back for the spun-sugar vendor. If I was going to keel over, it was going to be with sticky fingers and in a cotton candy coma—it only seemed fair.
Kids and adults enjoyed the slide. (photo by David Welton)
Les McCarthy is an author, entrepreneur and IPPY bronze medalist for her yearly “Healthy Living ~ Healthy Life: 365 Days of Nutrition & Health for the Family” calendars. She’s been a year on the island and in the NW and loves every gorgeous bit of it. She joyfully tends to her geriatric fur factory and is rethinking her stand on how cute the snails and slugs are!
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.
PHOTO ESSAY BY DAVID WELTON AND INTERN EMILY ALEXANDER Whidbey Life Magazine Contributors
August 12, 2015
It’s a sure sign that summer is in full swing when the Whidbey Island Fair comes to town. If your last weekend was filled with cotton candy, petting farm animals, equestrians, art, music, rides and four days packed full of fun, you might be in some of these photos. If you missed it this year, you’ll want to get your calendar out for next year, because nothing beats a small town fair!
Bubble Butt gets hosed by Joshua Simmons (photo by David Welton)Roy Fuller, Vancouver WA, relies on lung power; compressors are expensive to repair. (photo by David Welton)Claire Lawson coaches her hen on the teeter-totter at the Chicken Olympics. (photo by David Welton)The roller coaster is a scream. (photo by David Welton)Bagging cotton candy, the health department says sticks are unsanitary. (photo by David Welton)A young girl proudly negotiates the perils of the big slide. (photo by David Welton)Genghis Carroll walks his dog Baxter between the Ferris Wheel and the elephant ear concession. (photo by David Welton)
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If you are handed a speeding ticket in Langley, you might get a closer view of this henna tattoo! (photo by Emily Alexander)Experienced Bunyon Buster shows us how it’s done. (photo by Emily Alexander)Danny Vernon, voted in the Top Ten in the World as an Elvis impersonator by Elvis Presley Enterprises, gave an amazing show opening night. (photo by Emily Alexander)The One Man Band blasts off in the fair parade. (photo by Emily Alexander)Deano the Clown manages to get kids into trash bins—and they seemed to actually enjoy it. (photo by Emily Alexander)Many compete in the jump rope contest, but none jumped higher than this kid. (photo by Emily Alexander)Matt Hoar poses for the camera on the Clucky Stage before the chicken show. (photo by Emily Alexander)
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.
The Whidbey Island Music Festival is delighted to announce its tenth summer season of chamber music concerts. This season will present a wide-ranging series of six performances of four different programs, all on period instruments.
The Whidbey Island Music Festival is a beloved annual event that presents great performances of baroque and classical chamber music in relaxed and intimate venues on beautiful Whidbey Island, with repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Beethoven and beyond. We bring music of the past four centuries to life with vivid and moving concert performances on period instruments.
• Friday, Aug. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s in-the-woods, 5217 Honeymoon Bay Road, Freeland
• Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s in-the-woods
• Sunday, Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. at Greenbank Farm, 765 Wonn Road, A 201, Greenbank
Program III – Bach Cantatas
Aug. 14, 7:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s in-the-woods
Aug. 16, 2 p.m. at Greenbank Farm
Ach, daß ich Wassers g’nug hätte
— Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703)
Himmelskönig, sei willkommen, BWV 182
— Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit, BWV 106
— Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Christoph Bach, J.S. Bach’s uncle, was the organist at St. Georg’s in Eisenach where young Johann grew up. He was revered among the Bach family as a “profound composer.” J.S. Bach contributed the following to his uncle’s obituary: … he “was as good at inventing beautiful thoughts as he was at expressing words. He composed, to the extent that current taste permitted, in a galant and cantabile style, uncommonly full-textured… On the organ and the keyboard [he] never played with fewer than five independent parts.” This wrenchingly expressive solo cantata for alto is among J.C Bach’s few surviving works.
Bach’s Cantata 106 begins with an opening Sinfonia scored for recorders, gambas and continuo, and is one of the most mournfully poignant works in all of the cantatas. Cantata 182 is a joyful celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
Program IV – Concerto, concerto!
Aug. 15, 7:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s in-the-woods
Trio Sonata b minor, 42:h6
—Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
Viola Concerto in G major, TWV 51:G9
—G.P. Telemann
Recorder Concerto in F
—Giuseppe Sammartini (1695-1750)
Cello Concerto in A Minor RV 422
—Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
Fourth Brandenburg Concerto, BWV 1049
—Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
This program features concertos for instruments from large (cello) to small (recorder) as we delve into the musical imaginations of Vivaldi, Sammartini, Telemann and of course J.S. Bach!
Week II Artists
Catherine Webster, soprano, Reggie Mobley, alto, Zachary Finkelstein, tenor, Charles Robert Stephens, baritone
Tekla Cunningham and Adam Lamotte, baroque violin, Romaric Pokorny, baroque viola
Vicki Boeckman and Miyo Aoki, recorders
Beiliang Zhu, viola da gamba and baroque cello, Nathalie Mackie, viola da gamba
Todd Larsen, bass
Henry Lebedinsky, organ and harpsichord
PHOTO ESSAY BY DAVID WELTON and EMILY ALEXANDER Whidbey Life Magazine Contributor and Guest Contributor
August 5, 2015
And then there were two. The 2nd Annual Queer Pride Parade on Whidbey happened under sunny skies in Langley on Sunday Aug. 2.
There was celebration, and rainbow colors were everywhere in downtown Langley for the parade that was organized by Kathryn Morgen and Bonnie Stinson. WLM photographer David Welton was there, and this time he was joined by intern Emily Alexander. WLM is pleased to share both of their photographs in this photo essay.
Emily Alexander is a 17-year old amateur photographer from Ballard. Her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins on her mom’s side (the Littles) live on Whidbey Island and she frequently spends summers on the south end helping her grandparents, working for her grandpa around the farm and spending time with her “awesome family.”
In 2016, Emily will graduate from Ballard High School in Seattle. Her goals are to go to college at Whitman in Walla Walla after high school graduation, become a research psychologist and, of course, continue her photography.
Last summer, during her annual visit to Whidbey, Emily entered some of her photographs in the Fine Arts Photography department at the Whidbey Island Area Fair. She not only won a number of ribbons, but also volunteered as a steward for the photography exhibit. This summer, she has graduated to the position of Superintendent’s Intern, and will be on-site for the duration of the fair. In the meantime, she has spent the summer photographing various island events under the tutelage of David Welton.
These first nine photos are by David Welton.
Matthew Gregory & Travis Reed, newlyweds, shared their beaming smiles.
Charlie Murphy, Grand Master of the 2015 Parade, and his husband. Eric Mulholland.
The Langley United Methodist Church shares the rainbow colors, and mayoral candidate Tim Callison carries a rainbow flag.
Angela Merici from the Sisters of the Mother House of Washington wins for most decorative eyebrows!
Chava Rostov Hill from the 2nd Street Hair Boutique, Kim McLain Oliver and Katie Woodzick (foreground to background)
Valerie Huntington, marching with Island Shakespeare Festival, blows rainbow bubbles.
Matilda the Hunn rocks the color pink this year, and right behind are Bob & Kathy Reim of Skagit PFLAG.
Dyke on Tractor follows a little further behind the traditional starters of the parade, the Dykes on Bikes.
Photo intern Emily Alexander (photo by David Welton)
The photos below are by Emily Alexander
Tisa Seely, the volunteer coordinator at WAIF, winged her way through the parade.
Michael Morgen with Whidbey Children’s Theater shows us the new style of beards with flowers.
2015 Royal Family Member Bristol Branson and her son Branson Bloom ride in the Royal Family boat.
The Whidbey Animal Improvement Foundation (WAIF) marched with two and four legs.
The Langley police managed the parade route and added a touch of pink.
(photo by David Welton)
Whether you sported skates and colorful socks… or fishnets and pink platforms, everyone was welcomed at the Queer Pride Parade.
Charlie Murphy and Eric Mulholland ride off on their next adventure. Read more in this feature by Katie Woodzick. More on the annual Queer Pride Parade here.
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.
On Saturday July 25, a large crowd attended the first “Renaissance at the Farm” event held at the historic Greenbank Farm. There were theatrics, music, dance, equestrian events, costumes, spinning and weaving, dog events, falconry, and much more. WLM photographer David Welton captured the day through his lens.
The event was organized by the Renaissance at the Farm Committee led by Jerry and Connie Lloyd and they were joined by the international Society for Creative Anachronism, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to the preservation, research and recreation of the crafts, arts and experiences of the European Renaissance and Middle Ages. With numerous events and volunteers the event showed us the “then and now” of the Renaissance.
Kimmer Morris performs in front of the historic Greenbank Barn.
Linda Good (far right) and her Island Strings students make music. Courtney Cooke (left), plays guitar with her daughters, Audri on violin and Julia on guitar (in the background). Olive Sichel plays the violin (on the right)
Renaissance attire was prevalent with some notable modern accessories like this fireman’s hat that Olive Sichel wore.
Dan Anderson plays the nyckelharpa with Island Strings.
Attendees watched horses and riders in Renaissance costumes move through their paces in the Renaissance arena. Julie Bloomhall is pictured above and Carol McArdle is in the photo below.
Bryson and Alisoun McCloughen (aka Duchess Angharad, Baroness of Aquaterra), of the Society of Creative Anachronism, turned out in blue.
Steve Layman and his falcon track activity in the sky during Steve’s presentation and demonstration of about the art of falconry.
Kids take some time to play at the more modern playground at the Farm.
The Australian kelpie shows how to stare down a herd of sheep in this herding demonstration.
Madisun Clark-Stern and her husband David enjoy the day on the Farm.
Society for Creative Anachronism member Her Ladyship Kateryn Garnett, (aka Kay Rairigh) demonstrates how to spin at the spinning and weaving demonstration area.
Carol McArdle and her horse show some Renaissance style, a perfect juxtaposition of “then” in the foreground and “now”—a very modern fire truck in the background.
Click here to read Katy Shaner’s story about the event.
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.
