Letter to the Editor: Thanks for a Fabulous Storyfest

The 5th biennial Orcas Storyfest was another week-long success, thanks to so many friends and businesses on our beautiful Orcas Island.

We are so grateful to The Friends of the Library who have supported the festival from day one! And to Phil Heikkinen who asks the Friends for our festival and puts us on his budget each time.

Some of the players at Eth-Noh-Tec’s Orcas Storyfest 2013

We are also grateful for first time sponsor the Mindplace, a business in Eastsound that has been designing tools for the exploration of states of consciousness and meditational aids since 1988, producing a number of the ‘world’s first’ systems (www.mindplace.com).

And to Carlene and Dan Kim for their generous donation.

Of course, where would the festival take place? Well – we have the following to thank for their gifts of place: The Senior Center, The Fun House, the Library, and the Emmanuel Episcopal Parish Hall.

Then, there’s the need to house and feed our storytellers who donate their talents and time to the festival. So we thank the following Generous Housing hosts:

• Geri and David Turnoy
• Maura O’Neill and Michael Harnett
• Moana Kutsche and Brian Erhmantraut

Delicious Restaurants:

• Mijitas
• Roses Bakery Cafe
• Enzo’s
• Sazio di Notte
• The Kitchen
• Portofino Pizza
• The Skillet
• Senior Center

Food – Glorious Food:

• Island Market
• The Market
• Maple Rock Farm
• Wang/Kikuchi-Yngojo garden

Yum Casseroles, salads and desserts: Queen Organizer – Marj Franke:

• Judith Black
• Betty Egan
• Barb Ehrmantraut
• Marj Franke
• Joyce Greene
• Lawrence Jackson
• Bronwen Jones
• Eleanor Peterson
• Ellie Stewart
• Patty Thompson
• Robbie Walker
• Jean Wellington

Outstanding Activities:

• Jack Becker, pilot
• Fred Franke, boater
• Leo Lambiel, museum and art curator
• Orcas Island Historical Museum committee
• Mary Meyers, pianist extraordinaire

Amazing Volunteers:

• Melani Nagao
• Les Katsura
• Nina Sakamoto-Bazan

And what is a festival without the talent? A huge thank you to Storytellers:

• Doug Banner
• Judith Black
• Antoinette Botsford
• Heather Forest,
• Ruth Halpern
• Anji Ringzin
• Kirk Waller

Music groups The Bhajans and The Parking Angels

Of course marketing is absolutely necessary:

• Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, A-frame signs and t-shirt design (we have more if you want one – 8705)
• Margie Doyle, Orcas Issues
• Colleen Armstrong, The Sounder
• Chamber of Commerce – Chamber Blast
• Andrew Youngren/Popup Print for a lovely discount for our t-shirt design

And word of mouth!! Thanks to all those who spread the word! Thank you so much Orcas Island! We are so blessed to be a part of this community! See you in 2015 – the next Orcas Storyfest. Or come to China with us Sept. 2014!

Nancy Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo, Eth-Noh-Tec