Grand Coulee Dam Festival of America 2016

Festival of America

PRESORTED STANDARD

A supplement to The Star June 29, 2016

U.S. Postage Paid Grand Coulee WA 99133 Permit #3 ECRWSS Postal Patron

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Big toys with water offer cool new feature

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new feature for the Festival of America July 4 celebration will be a number of inflatable water slides.

The Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the event, have contracted with Jump N2 Fun, from Post Falls, Idaho, will bring inflatable water slides for a two-day show, July 3 and 4.

Michael Hunt, who provided nine inflatables for the chamber’s Colorama event in May, said he was looking forward to returning to the coulee area, where the inflatables proved to be a big hit with kids.

For Hunt and his wife, Julie, the event will entail more than pumping up some inflatables.

“We will also be celebrating our 26th wedding anniversary,” he stated. The couple was married on July 4.

The two-day venue will be at the park below the Visitor The

Center. The inflatables will be operational at 10 a.m. Sunday, running until 8 p.m. On Monday, July 4, the inflatable splash program will run from 10 a.m.

- 6 p.m.

Hunt is bringing a number of inflatable water slides, one with a splash pool, a four-way teeter totter under a sprayer, and lots more designed to cool off the crowd, even if it’s super hot. (It likely won’t be, weather predictors say.)

Advance ticket sales for the inflatable water slides went on sale earlier this month at the Trading Post near Nespelem, H&H Grocery, The Star newspaper, the chamber of commerce office, Coulee Hardware and the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union.

Advance tickets cost $30, good for the entire day. A rate of $5 for 25 minutes will be available at the gate.

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GCD Festival of America 2016 - 3

National quilt show brings art to the GCD area

by Scott Hunter

scapes and Wildlife in Fabric Perspectives,” details the major art show, drawn choices of the artists who were in cloth and stitch- asked for their top eight ideas es, and honoring the on 59 parks.

National Park Service in its The 177 quilts in the 272100th year, will arrive in Cou- page book, richly illustrated lee Dam, just in time for the with photos of the them, offer Fourth of July. a celebration of the national The “Inspired by the Na- parks from Acadia in Main to tional Parks” Quilt Show will Haleakala in Hawaii. be on display in the Lake RooThe Discover Your Northsevelt Elementary School gym west sales outlet at the Bureau July 1-4, with more than 180 of Reclamation’s Visitor Cenart quilts. ter has the book for sale for Don’t think about those $34.99. warm blankets sewn from DeSoto launched the projscraps that may first spring to ect soon after completing an mind. These quilts depict some- earlier one in which she asked thing inquilters for spirational pieces infrom the naspired by tion’s most Th e B ea Where: beautiful tles. That Lake Roosevelt Elementary places. gave her School gym, Detailed the network 503 Crest Drive, and hailed needed to Coulee Dam. in a new accomplish book by the big task.

When: D o n n a July 1, 1-4 p.m.

“Other DeSoto, the July 2-3, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. people colquilts cover July 4, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. lect quilts,” a wide range she said, “I of styles and collect quildepict everything from an ters.” overhead view of a blue river The show in Coulee Dam through a rocky brown land- will also include five local scape to an intricate forest entries. scene to the earth below a Marlene Oddie, who owns volcano. Some are literal in- KISSed Quilts in Grand Couterpretations, some are more lee, reconnected with a former impressionistic. None of them quilting partner one day and look like your grandmother’s learned of the project. One quilts. of the nationally-renowned DeSoto’s book, “Inspired quilters selected for the book,

by National Parks, their LandSee QUILTS page 4

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To see the show

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Stoney River Saturday, July 2 ~ 8 p.m. - Midnight

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Continued from page 3 Dr ive

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Ricki Selva, had spoken at an D.C. The Lake Roosevelt Naevent Oddie attended. tional Recreation Area had Oddie became acquainted already gotten the show for the with DeSoto and the two July 4 weekend. friended each other on FaceThe quilt collection to be book. on display in LR ElemenIn the spring tary’s air conof 2015, ditioned gym when Oddie drew 4,000 and her husvisitors at a band, Dunshow earlier can, headed this month, to Virginia to DeSoto said. a high school In addireunion, tion, Oddie DeSoto saw has brought w here they The work of quilting artist Elaine i n t o h e r were and con- W. Evans of Middleburg, Virginia, store located the summer tanagers of tacted Oddie depicts at 301 Main Congaree National Park. It is shown on Facebook on page 75 of “Inspired by National St., in Grand opposite the photo also t o s a y s h e Parks,” Coulee, two shown on the cover of cypress lived just 20 trees in the same park, by Marjorie collections, minutes away. Dolling Curia. also inspired They had a by national “fabulous” visit, Oddie said, parks, from Gwen Carreon and the relationship helped Designs near Glacier National book the major exhibit in Park. They’ll be on display Coulee Dam before NPS head- Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., quarters could get it for the and Sunday and Monday from National Mall in Washington, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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The quilt display will be at Lake Roosevelt Elementary. Enter through the side door.

The map shows its relation to the visitor center and festival area.

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GCD Festival of America 2016 - 5

They’ll fire 2,000 rockets off the dam

by Roger S. Lucas

I

t takes a lot of coordination and planning to put on the fireworks display over Grand Coulee Dam on July 4, according to Rocketman Pyros owner Dan Verheul.

It all begins with the firm’s broker in China, and the selection of some 40 cases of carefully selected fireworks.

Then when it’s time to set up, it takes 6-8 people to lay out the fireworks, starting at about 9 a.m. and getting getting done about 12 hours later.

“We will lay out the displays from one end of the spillway to the other,” Verheul said last week.

The fireworks display “will last about 18 minutes,” Verheul stated. The Grand Coulee Dam show will be just one of 20 that his firm will be putting

on across the region.

“There’s from 91 rockets in a case to just 18, depending on their size,” Verheul said.

For him, and his crew, it’s a long night.

“We will get off the dam about 3 a.m.,” he said.

Altogether there will be about 2,000 rockets set off during the show.

“Part of our reward is to hear the crowd show their appreciation, when the show is over,” Verheul said.

This year’s show takes on a special local flair because it is sponsored by the Coulee Dam Federal Credit Union, in honor of its 75th anniversary.

Crowds begin to gather at the park below the Visitor Center early in the day and they grow by the hour.

There will be bands, craft booths, inflatable water slides,

the Laser Light Show, and finally, at about 10:30 p.m., on Monday the fireworks.

This will be the second season for Rocketman Pyros, out of Spokane, to display their pyrotechnic skills on top of Grand Coulee Dam. This firm was selected again by the overall sponsor of the

Festival of America event, the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce, which heard a lot of positive comments after last year’s show.

The celebration begins on Sunday with all the features of the festival, save the fireworks show.

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Three bands in festival lineup

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l a s s i c r o c k a n d one of its last performances.

In addition to the leader country music will entertain folks at the of the band, Bob Starkey, the festival site in Coulee Dam members are Rich Vandergriff, Paul Fuhrman, and Barry this year.

Three area bands, two Starkey.

The “Rock a Bar” Band from Spokane and one from Creston, will provide music will play until just before the during the Festival of America beginning of the Laser Light Show on Sunday. celebration, July 3-4.

On Monday, July 4, two Sunday, July 3, the “Rock a Bar” band from Creston, will Spokane bands will play. perform from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m.

The band has been around since 1979, and will DSP plays July 4, 5-7 p.m. be playing in

Rock A Bar plays July 3, 7:30-9:45 p.m.

The “D.S.P.” Band, from Spokane, will play from 5-7 p.m.

Dee Senese, leader of the band, said that the group will play classic rock. Other members of the band are Duane Satran and Pete Sawyer.

The trio has been playing together for the past few years.

All three band members sing as well as play instruments.

The nightcap band Monday will be “The Jesse Quandt Band,” also from Spokane.

See BANDS page 7

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GCD Festival of America 2016 - 7

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Jesse Quandt plays July 4, 7:30-9:45 p.m.

Bands

Continued from page 3

The leader of the band, Jesse Quandt, started playing the guitar and singing at the age of 4. He was strongly influenced on classical and outlaw country and classic rock. His musical career was put on hold for a time as he enlisted in the army, doing a stint in Iraq.

Bands and times on stage are

listed in the Grand Coulee Dam A rea Chamber of Commerce’s advertisement on the back page.

His band will perform from 7:30 to 9:45 p.m., leading into the Laser Light Show.

The fireworks over Grand Coulee Dam will begin about 10:35 p.m.

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Ranger Janice Elvidge helps people discover the Sun with specially-filtered telescope.

Join Sky Rangers event for look at space

T

he National Park Service will offer several special astronomy programs, even during the day, Friday and Saturday, July 1-2, and you’re welcome to drop in anytime.

Ranger Janice Elvidge, an education specialist who runs the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area’s “Sky Ranger” program, said the NPS will be doing solar observations July 1, from 1-3 p.m., at the

Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam. Join Elvidge there to get a look at the Sun through solar-filtered telescopes and glasses.

On July 2, the solar observation program will be held at the Spring Canyon day-use area from 1-3 p.m. Elvidge stated she would have the solar telescope and the filtered telescope available.

On both July 1 and 2, Elvidge will be

at Crescent Bay from 9 to 11:30 p.m. as the sky gets dark to enjoy and explore the night sky. People are encouraged to bring their telescopes and binoculars. And bring a jacket or sweater; it gets cool after dark.

Blankets and chairs are also useful.

“Take a look at a galaxy, nebula, one of our solar system’s planets!” a flyer says.

The programs are designed for all ages.

GCD Festival of America 2016 - 9

Beer garden open

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“beer garden” will offer refreshment to festival goers at the Melody Restaurant front parking lot during the upcoming July 4 celebration.

The beer garden will be open both Sunday and Monday, July 3 and 4.

The beer garden had been located in the parking lot of the town’s maintenance garage in 2015.

Those visiting the tent concession will be able to watch both the Laser Light Show and the Festival of America f irework s over Grand Coulee Dam from that location, at 512 River Dr. in Coulee Dam. Hours for the beer garden operation are 5-10 p.m. on Sunday and 5-11 p.m. on Monday.

Want to know more?

T

he Grand Coulee Dam Area Visitors’ Guide contains a wealth of information about the area, its history and its people.

You can pick one up for free at the Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam, or at any gas station, convenience store, motel or campground in the area.

The complete guide is also online. Look for it at gcdvisitor. com.

Festival goers shop for temporary tattoos at a henna vendor in the park. Dozens of vendors come to festival each year.

The Melody Restaurant and GCD Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to offer you refreshments during the festivities!

Tent in front parking lot of the Melody Restaurant Wine ~ Beer ~ Light Food

Sun., July 3 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Mon. July 4 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.

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Learn about local railroad history

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id you know that there was a railroad here in the early years of the construction of Grand Coulee Dam? You can learn all about it at 2 p.m., Monday, July 4, at the Visitor Center.

Talking about the subject will be Dan Bolyard, a Coulee City author, who wrote “Images of Rail: Big Bend Railroads” (Arcadia Publishing, 2015).

Bolyard became fascinated with “iron horses” and painting train models. This turned into a serious pursuit of the history of railroads in the area. His blog on Big Bend Railroad History is in its ninth year.

And he makes daily posts to bring his readers up to date on what he has found out.

During his Visitor Center a p p e a r a n c e o n Ju l y 4 , Bolyard will share his unique

Vendors coming for Festival of America

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he park below the Visitor Center at Grand Coulee Dam will not only offer inflatable water slides and live music, but vendors offering everything from books to pizza.

Some 29 booths will be set up in the park, including 10 offering food from Thai food to wraps to sausage.

Arts/Crafts Vendors

Ann’ue Sensation Art to Suit You Baby Kisses Backwoods Jerky Chris Branch for Okanogan County Commissioner Carleens Coffee & Country Catering Child Evangelism Fellowship Good Mojo Enterprises Healing Stone Foundry Hummingbird Hill Margo’s Jewels Mayan Market One of a Kind by Design Parsons Emporium Rag Lady RST Sales Scentsy & Grace Adele Tom Taylor for Grant County Commissioner Usborne Books & More

collection of images, maps and history covering a railroad that served a specific and shortlived purpose and then just as quickly disappeared.

Bolyard is a classically-

trained chef, professional baker, butcher and photographer.

The public is invited to hear his presentation at 2 p.m.

Monday, July 4, at the Visitor Center.

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GCD Festival of America 2016 - 11

Rules for displaying the flag

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he flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset. If the flag is displayed at night it should be illuminated.

Never al low the flag to touch t h e g ro u n d o r the floor. W hen displayed on a wall or w indow the blue field should be in the upper left corner. The flag should be raised quickly and lowered ceremoniously.

There are exceptions to the sunrise/sunset rule, though.

The U.S. flag is flown 24 hours a day by either presidential proclamat ion or law at select locations, including: Fort McHenr y, National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Maryland Flag House Square, Baltimore, Mar yland United States Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima), Arlington, Virginia, On the Green of the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts, The White House, Washington, D.C. United States Customs Ports of Entry Grounds of the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge State Park, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania • In 1909, Robert Peary placed a flag at the North Pole.

His wife had sewn that flag. He

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also left pieces of another flag along the way. It is the only time a person has been honored for cutting the flag.

• That’s not the only interesting location of the American flag.

There are 6 American flags on the moon. They were planted by crews from Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

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24 TH A NNUAL

F ESTIVAL OF A MERICA

in the park below the Visitor Center and at other locations in Coulee Dam

• • •

Event sponsors include the Town of Coulee Dam, City of Electric City, City of Grand Coulee, and these area businesses:

JULY

3-4 2016