SUE BATES HAS PASSED AWAY

Sue Bates, one of the original Children's Festival five passed away on May 2, 2013 from complications of A.L.S.

Sue was one of the original Storytellers for the Storytelling Guild and alternated with four others doing weekly storytimes at the Medford Library Children's Room.  Sue was a favorite storyteller and was always bringing something of interest for our 'tots to five' group!   On occasion she would bring in "Jake the snake" who was a family pet Boa Constrictor for the children to pet.  Jake was small and lived in a cage in her son Jeff's room.  Always a good sport, Sue even let the Children's Librarian (me) have my turn at petting the snake!

For the first Children's Festival, Sue acted as the gatekeeper/ treasurer to take in the .25 cents admission that was charged to adults only that first year!  Children got in free.

Sue quietly took care of business and was always available to take on a job at hand whether it be doing stories, counting quarters, painting backdrops, running a booth with her own children, Kim, Jeff, Shannon and Meredith and giving encouragement and at the same time building confidence for other women.  She never expected the limelight, nor sought center stage but she was a star!  Sue traveled extensively serving as a mission worker for her church group in many third world countries and was always photographed with the children wherever she went.  She will be missed!  

Obituary For Gail W. Caperna

Gail W. Caperna   July 2, 1922 - December 13, 2012

 A Storytelling Guild Founder has passed on.

More than 90 years ago this last July Gail Caperna was welcomed into this world. In mid-December she bid us all a fond good-bye with her son and daughter, and dear friends Shanna and Veronica beside her.

We have lost (one of) our matriarch(s).

Words can't describe this woman, this powerhouse: storyteller and puppeteer for countless libraries, co-founder of the Jacksonville Children's Festival, charter member of the Jackson County Storytelling Guild, 20-year Girl Scout leader, oldest recipient of a BS degree in Theater Arts at Southern Oregon University at age 75, an extraordinary costumer for the SOU Theater Dept. and OSF, and teacher of creative dramatics when, walking with a cane at age 82, she toted bags of magical props and costumes to classrooms of children in local schools.

She had a remarkable creative influence on her four children. Reading defined her life and we revere the eclectic treasure trove of knowledge, through books, that she has left us. Her three grandchildren are especially grateful for knowing Jody in The Yearling, Sterling in Rascal, or May Belle in Bridge to Teribithia, characters experiencing rites of passage-often in nature-and now threatened in our postmodern, digital world. This knowledge, disappearing as our elders leave us, will be passed on to her four great-grandchildren and to all who treasure books and storytelling.

Full of curiosity, she wrote about everything she did and was a published poet. With her children and grandchildren, you could find her at a Yaqui Indian ceremony in Mexico, a fashion show in Italy, on a boat on Lake Meade, inspiring children with the Little Moon Theater at the Jacksonville Children's Festival, or hunting in the Wallowa Mountains.

Nature was a powerful source of her inspiration. Growing up on the coast in Bandon, Ore., she survived the 1936 fire that destroyed the entire town and her family home. An Oregon tomboy, she traveled with her father, Clark, a cattle buyer, and listened to his endless yarns and recitation of Robert Service poems. In the late 1930s she moved to California and worked as executive secretary to the Commander of the Mare Island Naval Base where she met her husband, Ron. She then returned to Oregon, settled in Medford, and began an art gallery in Jacksonville, full of watercolors of the coast, misty landscapes, fishing boats, and the Oregon woods she loved so much.

Obituary taken from Mail Tribune, 12/30/2012

Remembering names from the past

FROM MY HEART

Recently

 I gave a talk for members of my P.E.O. Chapter about my years as the creator of Fred The Litter Critter artwork.  I let the audience know that I was confessing an on-going love affair that had lasted for 46 years.... and his name is FRED.  It was a fun time for me as I passed around original drawings and printed materials from Festivals past.  I ended my talk by showing  my T-shirt quilts (2) that were made by my friend Anne Duncan.  She used the T-shirt fronts from all of my collection of shirts dating back to 1982.  There were no T-shirts before that time or I would have three quilts instead of two!'

It was a perfect time to pass around a sheet of paper to have those in the audience who had worked in some capacity at Children's Festival some time during the passed 46 years.  Of the 23 people attending this meeting there were 11 people who have worked with me at the festival.   Here's a list of those who were there to "sign in":

Mary Jo Bergstrom, Macaroni necklaces, Mother Gooseland
Carol Holst, Southern Oregon Historical Society's history booth
Robin Dressler
Valerie Root, Stage, l982-l986
Dottie Palamara, Face Painting Booth
Marjorie Overland, Kite Booth, 1981, Strolling Artists & Performers,  1982-1983 Festival Co-Director, 1984-l985 Properties
Bette Haberlach, Mother Gooseland chair,  Festival Co-Director
Peggy Tomlins, Festival Co-Director, Festival Properties, Festival Special Session
Carolyn Barrett, Festival Co-Director, Festival Properties.

Becky Versteeg, Festival Co-Director, Festival Properties, Festival Special Session.

CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL QUEEN FOR 2012

Queen Cecile McKee

CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL 2012 NOW IN THE HISTORY BOOKS

Karen Dailey, Judy Gambee, Queen Cecile McKee, Pat Blair & Cameron McCandless

Teen Volunteers, Sophie, Sascha, Miranda, Maia & Kaitlyn

STAGE PERFORMERS DOING DANCES FROM HAWAII

Queen Cecile in the Central Point 4th of July Parade

A NEW QUEEN IS SELECTED!

2012 Queen Cecile McKee

The Queen for the 2012 Children's Festival was crowned June 10th in a special ceremony held in her honor at a Queen's Tea which was presented by the reigning 2011 Queen, Cameron McCandless.   The Tea, held at Holmes Park in Medford begins Queen Cecile's year long reign.  Storytelling Guild members, Children's Festival Volunteers and their children attended the Tea and consumed tea, lemonade, cookies, tea sandwiches, tea bisbuits and cupcakes.   After the coronation ceremony was completed the newly crowned queen led the children present in her first "Queen's Parade" around the park.

She will officiate over all Storytelling Guild programs and Children's Festival activities for he 2012/2013 season.   This honor is bestowed upon a deserving member of the Storytelling Guild who has been active in all phases of the Storytelling Guild's many community activities.  She is recognized for her long and dedicated work on behalf of children in the Rogue Valley Community.

Fifteen past Children's Festival Queens were present to honor the new queen and to say
"welcome" to the " Children's Festival Queen's Society" ,  A select group of 44 women who have
served as Children's Festival Queen over the last 46 years.

Past Festival Queens Surround Queen Cecile for her first official photograph.

They are:  Ilma McKern, Pat Blair, Judy Gambee, Lynn Kellogg, Peggy Tomlins, Marilyn Gradwell,  Andrea Mobley, Linda Higgins, Janice Cox, Sue Roberts Dalke, Diane Newland, Karin Dailey, Cameron McCandless, Terrie Kirkpatrick, Darla Foley, and Susie Wright.

CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL-2011

 

After a very successful three days,
Queen Cameron closed the festival.

I cannot believe it's over!  

All that fun, and all that wonderful weather just 

FOR THE CHILDREN!

The 2011 Children's Festival's theme, "Read Around The World", encouraged kids to see, do, and explore arts and crafts and activities designed with children in mind.  The scene was wonderful to observe.  

I spent three enjoyable sessons at the Lost Parent's Tree and was fortunate to have dear friends from the Storytelling Guild and Children's Festivals past join me.  These were:

Karin Dailey, Lynn Kellogg, Sue Dalke, Cathy Theen, Becky Versteeg, Peggy Tomlins, Marilyn Gradwell, Bonnie Hall, Linda Higgins, Andrea Mobley, Susie Wright, and Darla Foley.  (I missed attending on Tuesday Morning because I was teaching a watercolor class). Former Festival Queens, Diane Newland and Karen Foster were sitting at Lost Parent's Tree location then.  

The tree, by the way isn't a tree at all but the sound tower for the Britt Stage.   It is perfectly situated right in the center of everything on the upper hill.  From our vantage point we have coveted center stage seating for the performances and looking around we can see the upper hill down to Storytelling Tree, etc.  We cannot see Mother Goose Land from there but Queen Cameron and her attendants stopped by to say hello and to tell us all was well in Mother Goose Land!

This map of our Festival was created in 1977 Landscape Architect, Jurgen Hess.

Books come alive | MailTribune.com

Books come alive | MailTribune.com

2011 CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL QUEEN CROWNED

PRESENTING QUEEN CAMERON McCANDLESS

Queen Cameron McCandless will reign for the entire year, representing the Storytelling Guild and Children's Festival

Queen Cameron will reign over THE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL which happens

July 10, 11, and 12th at Britt Park in Jacksonville, Oregon.   

Her duties officially began today with her coronation.  2010 Queen Terrie Kirkpatrick presented her with her Royal Crown,  Robe & Septer and read the Royal Proclamation.

There were Twenty Past Queens in attendance to honor her at this special occasion. In addition many of the Past Directors of The Children's Festival were invited to the ceremonies and to a special picnic luncheon given by Queen Terrie and The Social Events Chairpersons, Maggie Donovan and Nicole Ford.

 

 Past Festival Queens in attendance:
Ruth Schwada, Bonnie Hall, Becky Versteeg, Pat Blair, Verdell Coleman, Janice Cox, Karen Foster, Suzanne Yaru, Karin Dailey, Diane Newland, Linda Higgins, Lynn Kellogg, Sue Dalke, Marilyn Gradwell, Cathy Theen, Ilma McKern, Darla Foley, Judy Gambee, Andrea Mobley, and Terrie Kirkpatrick.  Most of these will be volunteering at the Lost Parent's Tree during the Festival.  Do drop by to say hello as you make your way down to the Queen's Court to visit Queen Cameron!

STORYTELLING TREE PLAQUE

The Co-Directors for the 2010 and 2011 Children's Festival, Anne Billeter and Teresa Stumpenhaus  presented a SPECIAL AWARD PLAQUE to  
Margie Cicerrella, Francine Conner-Coash, Anne Guevara, and Kim Wolfe to honor their service for many years as Jackson County Library Staff who operated the Storytelling Tree at the Children's Festival.  The plaque will be hung in the Storytime Room in the Medford Library.

An Article Written For THE OREGON ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

Children's Festival in Jacksonville

Each July, the Storytelling Guild of Medford presents the Children's Festival in Jacksonville. This all-volunteer program, begun in 1967, is designed to present a positive message to children and parents and to promote reading as important to a child's development. The festival is held at Jackson County Britt Park (previously known as the Peter Britt Gardens) in Jacksonville. Attendance averages between 8,000 and 10,000 people.
More than 2,000 volunteers work at the three-day festival, telling stories, sharing picture books, and performing music, theatre, and dance in the Britt Pavilion. Magic and puppetry are performed in smaller venues around the grounds. Arts and crafts booths blanket the eleven-acre Britt Park, and children can choose from throwing clay pots, creating and pulling a silk screen image, painting a mural, making a candle, creating a sandcasting, making something out of leather, and building with hammer and nails. Children are encouraged to perform during the festival on the pavilion stage.
All performers and craftpersons volunteer their talents, and many are professionals. Local organizations and businesses contribute time, resources, and money to make the festival a success.
Nationally known artists Jim Robinson and Judy Morris, as well as local artists, have demonstrated their art at the festival; and in 1976, for the national bicentennial, Oregon Shakespeare actor Rex Raybold portrayed photographer Peter Britt. The Oregon Shakespeare Dancers and Tears of Joy Theater puppets have performed, and local journalists and county commissioners have told stories to children under the giant Sequoia tree.
The Storytelling Guild was formed in the mid-1960s by a small group of women who regularly read picture books for children at the Medford Public Library. There were no public kindergarten programs in the Jackson County schools, and they wanted to help area children prepare for first grade. The founding group—E. Susan Bates, Gail Caperna, Lois Cousineau, Jeannette Paulson, and Jody Pfiefer—together with the children's librarian, Myra Getchell, held its first Children's Festival in 1967.
The Storytelling Guild maintains the focus and commitment envisioned by its founders and continuously evaluates community needs. The Guild provides many programs: Pre-School Storyhours at the Medford Library; Bookwalk, a fashion show for books, designed to pique the interest of third-grade children in Medford; Pass The Book, a program that distributes new and used children’s books to twenty-one agencies in Jackson County; a scholarship to students studying early childhood development; and Dial-A-Story, where children can hear a story over the telephone.
Written by Patricia L. Blair

Further Reading:
"The Women Behind The Magic." Medford Mail Tribune, June 2009. http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090617/JOY/906170324/-1/JOY12#STS=g0ilf67b.zg9.
The Storytelling Guild website: http://www.storytellingguild.org/.

2010 QUEEN CROWNED IN JUNE 15TH CEREMONY

2010 Queen Terrie Kirkpatrick

 OUR NEWLY CROWNED QUEEN FOR

CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL  2010

 2009 Queen Darla Foley crowned our new queen in a ceremony during the Annual Queen's Picnic which is held each year in June just prior to The Children's Festival.

Approximately 70 of Her Majesty's Royal Subjects attended a lunch prepared in her honor.

Children's Festival Past Queens: Pat Blair ('76 &'96), Karen Foster ('79),  Sue Roberts Dalke ('81), Susie Wright ('83), Diane Newland ('85), Ilma McKern ('87), Bonnie Harvey ('88), Bette Haberlach ('89),  Becky Versteeg ('91), Carolyn Barrett ('93), Cathy Theen ('97), Marilyn Gradwell ('03), Suzanne Yaru ('06), Lynn Kellogg ('07), Judy Gambee ('08), and Darla Foley ('09) were there to celebrate with her at the picnic which was held in Medford's Holmes Park.

Past Children's Festival Directors in attendance were:  Pat Blair ('74,'75,'77), Susie Wright ('79,'80),  Bette Haberlach ('82), Becky Versteeg ('87,'88), Carolyn Barrett ('89,'90,'91), Cathy Theen ('92,'93), Lynn Kellogg ('98,'99), Darla Foley (2000,'01), Suzanne Yaru ('02,'03), Judy Gambee ('04,'05) Marilyn Gradwell ('04,'05), Cam McCandless ('04,'05), Patti Diehl ('06,'07) Jill Waldron ('06,'07), Annie Michels ('08,'09) Mary Patridge ('08,'09), Anne Billeter (2010), Cindy Braden (2010), Teresa Stumpenhaus (2010).

Past Storytelling Guild member, Francine Conner-Coash was recognized during the ceremonies with The Storytelling Guild's coveted Dragon Cup Spirit Award for her many years of dedication to the Children's Festival.

MARVELOUS MAKERS OF MAGIC!

THE MAGIC BEGINS BEHIND THIS ENTRANCE SIGN

CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL DIRECTORS 1966 TO 2016

1967 Jeannette Paulson 1968 Jeannette Paulson 1969 Jeannette Paulson 1970 Jeannette Paulson 1971 Jeannette Paulson 1972 Jeannette Paulson & Lois Cousineau 1973 Jeannette Paulson & Lois Cousineau  1974 Pat Blair 1975 Pat Blair and Margery Boyer 1976 Marsha McHugh 1977 Marsha McHugh 1978 Cherie Hilts and Susie Wright 1979 Cherie Hilts and Susie Wright 1980 Shirley Huycke & Judy Ahmann 1981 Bette Haberlach & Jill Schroeder 1982 Marjorie Overland & Bunny Lawler 1983 Marjorie Overland & Bunny Lawler 1984 Marjorie Overland & Bunny Lawler 1985 Tudy Schiveley & Barbara Brazier 1986 Tudy Schiveley & Barbara Brazier 1987 Peggy Tomlins & Becky Versteeg 1988 Peggy Tomlins & Becky Versteeg 1989 Carolyn Barrett, Cindy Hoffbuhr & Emily Mostue 1990 Carolyn Barrett, Cindy Hoffbuhr & Emily Mostue 1991 Carolyn Barrett, Cindy Hoffbuhr & Emily Mostue 1992 Andrea Mobley & Cathy Theen 1993 Andrea Mobley & Cathy Theen 1994 Bonnie Howe & Mary Strahm 1995 Bonnie Howe & Mary Strahm 1996 Bonnie Hall, Linda Higgins & Rhonda Loomer 1997 Bonnie Hall & Linda Higgins 

1998 Karin Dailey & Lynn Kellogg 1999 Karin Dailey & Lynn Kellogg 2000 Janice Cox & Darla Foley 2001 Janice Cox & Darla Foley 2002 Lori Dunlap & Suzanne Yaru 2003 Lori Dunlap & Suzanne Yaru 2004 Judy Gambee, Marilyn Gradwell, & Cam McCandless 2005 Judy Gambee, Marilyn Gradwell, & Cam McCandless 2006 Patti Diehl, Christina Oden, & Jill Waldron 2007 Patti Diehl, Christina Oden, & Jill Waldron 2008 Annie Michels & Mary Patridge 2009 Annie Michels & Mary Patridge 2010 Anne Billeter; Cindy Braden; Teresa Stumpenhaus; 2011 Anne Billeter and Teresa Stumpenhaus  2012 & 2013 Maggie Donovan and Laura Horton, 2014 & 2015 Lara Knackstedt and Lona Dillard, 

2016. Teresa Stumpenhaus and Holly Roberts.

SURF 'N TALES IS THE 2010 THEME OF CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL

The 2010 Children's Festival Kick Off Brunch was held on February 23rd. All Major Chairpersons were called together to hear the announcement of this year's theme and to receive their work notebooks. Most of the Chair persons are returning from last year's successful festival and looking forward to another year of hard work, fun and friendship! This is a well-oiled machine which is guided by experienced Co-Co-Co Directors, Anne Billeter, Cindy Braden and Theresa Stumpenhaus. All have had several years of experience and taken on many different assignments and are excited about this summer's festival!

Important Dates for 2010 Children's Festival

OPENING SESSION: Sunday, July 11th, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
SESSION #2: Monday, July 12th, 9 a.m. – Noon
SPECIAL SESSION: Monday, July 12th, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
SESSION #3: Monday, July 12th, 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
SESSION #4: Tuesday, July 13th, 9 a.m. – Noon

Directors, Anne Billeter, Theresa Stumpenhaus and Cindy Braden

NEW CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL DIRECTORS ANNOUNCED!

             Anne Billeter                              Cindy Braden                     Teresa Stumpenhaus 

  
Announcing the dates for the 2010 CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL:

July 11, 12 and13th.

Such a busy and exciting year awaits the newly selected Co-Co-Co Directors of the 2010 Children's Festival!

They are:  Anne Billeter, Cindy Braden and Theresa Stumpenhaus

It will be fun and exciting to find out what these three busy people have planned for Children's Festival 2010! 

About the Children's Festival

IT'S A FAMILY TRADITION!

This year 

Maia , Chair of The Macaroni Necklace Booth, with her "Crew".

(Her Mom was a member of the crew too but Maia was in charge). 2016

Maia, volunteered at the Tye Dye Booth in 2014.

Charlie and MacKenzie rode on Rosabelle with their Grandmother in the 

4th of July Parade in Ashland in  1999.

Sascha, Miranda, Maia & Caitlin  (+one other friend) in 2012.

MacKenzie with Grammie, Queen Pat, in 1996. 

Maia, Makaela, & Caitlin at 2013 Festival

Charlie, Sascha, Caienna, MacKenzie & Maia

SAscha, Caienna, Caitlin, & Maia  in 2006.

MacKenzie & Charlie in Eagle Point 4th of July Parade on Rosabelle

1996

The Women Behind the Magic | Joy Magazine - MailTribune.com

"The Women Behind The Magic." Medford Mail Tribune, June 2009.

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN!

2009 Queen Darla Foley

The Annual Queen's Picnic and Queen's Coronation was held today at Holmes Park. Because the newly selected Queen could not be present at the picnic. Queen Darla was crowned a week earlier at the home of the 2008 Queen, Judy Gambee

Candid shots of Queen Darla as she visited Her Royal Subjects

OUR DRAGONS ARE READY TO ROLL!

**......ROSABELLE IS READY! AND SO IS PEBBLES!. . . . . ................... PARADE DATES ANNOUNCED FOR OUR DRAGONS TO APPEAR!

The two most favorite dragons in all of the Rogue Valley will be making appearances BEFORE the Children's Festival dates. ~~~~ SATURDAY, JUNE 13th JACKSONVILLE, OREGON'S 150TH YEAR CELEBRATION & PARADE 10:00 AM~~~~~~~ SATURDAY, JUNE 27th ROGUE RIVER, OREGON'S ROOSTER CROW PARADE 10:00 AM~~~~~~~ SATURDAY, JULY 4th 4th OF JULY PARADES: CENTRAL POINT AT 8:30 AM & EAGLE POINT AT 10:00 AM. Come and greet the dragons as they come out of their year long hibernation! They'll be so happy to see old friends and especially happy to greet new friends!