LOWER LAKE ? Anderson Marsh State Historic Park was packed with visitors Saturday enjoying the sights and sounds of the fourth annual Old Time Bluegrass Festival. Great success of the event was evident with the near 1,500 who gathered to celebrate local history and folk music.
History and talent alike were abundant at the festival, which was presented by the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA), Children”s Museum of Art & Science (CMAS) and the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce. Every turn brought guests closer to area resources, organizations, students and residents.
“It takes all of us to put this on and here we are and we are having a great time,” Gae Henry, AMIA secretary said. “At least a third of the people here are from outside Lake County.”
Henry said she attributes the vast attendance to wide-spread media efforts as well as live coverage by KPFZ 88.1 FM. “Them being here all day and the advertising they gave us on the radio really helped,” she said. “They”ve been doing live interviews too, which has brought a lovely live feeling here.”
Two stages hosted a mountain of musical talent. Headlining the main Ranch Stage was Grammy-award winning fiddler, singer/songwriter Laurie Lewis with guitarist Nina Gerber. The pair dazzled the audience with their Americana selections. The crowd was equally appreciative of performances by Susie Glaze and the Hilonesome Band; local favorite Pat Ickes and Bound to Ride; Andi Skelton”s student musicians of the Konocti Fiddlers; and the Cobb Stompers trio, who played authentic Appalachian music.
Second-stage stars that shined from the Shady Grove Stage included solo artist Eric Brittian; Jim Nunally and Dix Bruce; Sarah Ticheva and Jill Shaul; Laura and Darrin Smith; and the family band Blue Moon featuring David and Sarah Ryan and their daughters Helen and Claire, who also performed on their own as Off Hand Gents. The Mighty Chiplings, whose average age is 14, brought pride to their teacher Chip Dunbar with their dynamite bluegrass music and Michelle John-Smith”s students Clear Lake Clikkers clogged their way into the hearts of all.
Musicians” Workshops offered opportunities to strengthen skills in guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and singing. A lesson in flat-picking guitar technique was led by Jim Nunally and Dix Bruce as well.
The incredible talent of area artists was displayed in “Art in the Barn.” Selections featured local landscape, wildlife, floral and fauna and more. “We”ve got a wonderful array of artists in here,” Lakeport artist Phil Mathewson said. Mathewson was joined by fellow artists Mary Schossler, Linda Fielding, Janet Taylor, Jimmie Osborne, Pat Skoog and Doug Marble whose display included a sculpture piece entitled “The Anderson Marsh-en.” Alicia Lee Fransworth also showcased a three-dimensional piece made of wood, steel and paint that depicted Mt. Konocti, Clear Lake and surrounding landscape.
Local history was shared with guided tours of the Old Anderson Marsh Ranch House and grounds and CMAS”s information trailer packed with archeological and geological tid-bits. Lake County History Society”s (LCHS”s) featured decades of editions of the “Pomo Bulletin” and more. “We cover all of Lake County. Whatever people can give us. We like to keep people enlightened. People tend to forget their history,” Valerie Onellion, LCHS volunteer said. “That”s a big part of this. It”s all about history in our park.”
Local organizations utilized the opportunity to reach out to the community. Lake County Co-op offered information about its buying club; Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild advertised for its upcoming quilt show, Oct. 3 and 4 at the Lake County Fairgrounds; and Master Gardeners of Lake County offered information for planting in drought conditions. “This is a great opportunity to make people aware of our presence as a largely, untapped resource for home gardeners in Lake County and we love the music,” Gabriele O”Neill said.
Student organizations contributed to the event as well. Lower Lake High School Band offered snow cones to raise money for a trip to Disneyland; a lemonade stand helped raise money for fieldtrips for Mrs. Langdon”s third grade class at Lower Lake Elementary School (LLES); and big kids were helping little kids by manning a station of goodies in benefit of LLES kindergarteners. All provided service with a smile. “Anderson Marsh is great. I”ve been coming here since second grade,” 11th grade band student Lisa Ramos said.
Henry said that students of Carl? High School were particularly instrumental in the success of the event. “We”ve had about half of all the Carl? High School kids here between today and yesterday,” she said. “They really feel that they are an integral part of this here.”
Vendors from near and far also got in on Saturday”s action offering handmade goods ranging from jewelry to clothing, home d?cor to designer soap. “This is our first big festival event. We”ve done some farmers markets but this is our big debut,” Susan Norem co-owner of MeadowSweet Soap said. Norem and her partner Jill Longcrier traveled from Ukiah to showcase their selections of handcrafted artisan soaps and body care products.
Throughout the event volunteers sold raffle tickets for fabulous, donated prizes such as a $500 gift certificate for shopping of choice; dinner for two at Cache Creek Casino; a massage at Lavendar Hill Spa; t-shirt and tote from Featherbed Railroad and more. Kiwanis Club of Clear Lake once again hosted a profitable wine garden as well.
Underlying the event was an urgency to convey the community”s need for the park to the governor. Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is currently on Governor Schwarzenegger”s hit list for closure. For more information regarding ongoing efforts to save Anderson Marsh State Historic Park visit AMIA”s Web site at www.andersonmarsh.org.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
