There are still some storms traveling through Wyoming, but spring is on its way. However, up in the high country in Star Valley, the snow and cooler temperatures linger. These two photos were taken just south of Star Valley a few days ago by a family member. They could be winter or spring—sometimes in the high country it’s hard to tell the difference. The temperatures are still icy with daytime temps in the 30s to 40s and some night time temps at 15 degrees. Spring comes late at 6,000 feet! Ah, but the plus is you won’t find prettier or more spectacular scenery anywhere else!
Some time ago we wrote about the very small town of Langlois, Oregon between Coos Bay and Bandon. On March 31st, Langlois is celebrating the 333rd birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach. Local musicians are inviting the public to a Bach Birthday Party and Concert on Sunday, April 8, at 3 PM in the famous Langlois Cheese Factory.
Local musicians, along with special guests, will be performing several pieces for small ensembles consisting of flute and piano, violin and piano, recorder and piano and cello solo. Plus, the bigger work of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4.
The event is sponsored by Cardas Audio and Bain Insurance and presented by The Dead Composers’ Fan Club and Composer Comix. Tickets are $10.00 and available in Bandon at the Bandon Mercantile, in Port Orford at the Hawthorne Gallery and in Langlois at the Langlois Market. Tickets are also available on Tuesday through Sunday evenings at Angelo’s Italy Restaurant in Bandon. If you need more information, contact Landucci at 541-260-1644 or landucci.christine@yahoo.com.
Don’t miss this exciting Oregon Coast event. In the meantime, enjoy the rerun of our earlier post all about Langlois, Oregon.
I love to visit and write about out of the way or unknown places like Hartville, Wyoming (watch for a future blog about this historic place). Today, though, it’s going to be Langlois, Oregon. If you’ve heard of Langlois, you must have been to Oregon. While it is on the Coast Highway 101, it is the kind of place you’d probably just drive right through after having visited north in Bandon or trying to get north to Bandon.
Named for an early Oregon pioneer, William Langlois, the town boasted 177 humans in the 2010 census. The locals pronounce the name as “Langless.” This unincorporated community claims to be famous.
Actually, it is famous. In the past, it was famous for the cheese making that went on until the factory burned down in 1957. It was never rebuilt.
There is now an open-air barn on the site where concerts are held by groups like the Crooked Still.
The Langlois Market claims its hot dogs are world famous. They are made with both beef and pork and served with a secret family mustard recipe and just the right kind of pickle. People come from near and far just to have one of these dogs! http://www.langloismarket.com
For breakfast, there isn’t a better place than a greasy spoon café and Langlois has one housed in a somewhat quaint building! The reviews on their Facebook page are all good!
Langlois also boasts Raincoast Arts, a gallery filled with regional handmade items, paintings and photographs, in a building that has survived from the town’s hey-day. Their Facebook page has some great photos of the beautiful items within.
While this tiny community has no public school anymore, it does have a library and a community church.
Located about 2 miles inland from the ocean, Langlois does have its own beautiful places. One is Langlois Mountain.
Nearby lakes and waterways, including the Floras Creek, a tributary of the New River, weave their way in and around Langlois. Langlois is known as the Gateway to America’s Wild River Coast!
There are other historic buildings here, like the hotel, and more country to see. And the beautiful Pacific Ocean isn’t very far away. If you get to Bandon, take some extra time to travel the 14 miles south to explore the historic and very quaint community of Langlois. It is an easy day trip from www.umpquahaven.com. Stop in and see us on your way to Langlois!
Here’s another great shot from Piane in our neck-of-the-woods! This shot was taken at Winchester Bay. Another beautiful day on the Oregon Coast! Windy Bay is about 20 miles from http://www.umpquariverhaven.com Stop in and say hello on your way to the Bay!
It is again time for watching the whales migrate on the Oregon Coast. March 24 through the 31st is prime time to watch them travel back north during this migration time. We are reposting our winter whale watch article for you to find some of the best places to view the spouting whales along the coast!.
The Oregon Coast is famous for its Grey Whales. When visitors from all over the world are here and learn about the whales, well, everyone wants to see one. There are expeditions you can take to see the whales and Depot Bay is famous for their boats out into the ocean to view the whales that hang not far offshore. But a good, fun time can be had from shore where they have the Whale Watching Spoken Here Programs.
Trained volunteers are posted in various places along the Oregon Coast to help guide visitors in watching the Grey Whale migrations. Right now is prime whale watching season as 20,000 Grey Whales are traveling south (north now) to the warmth of the waters at Baja, Mexico (to the waters of Oregon, Washington, Canada and Alaska). In March (now) they’ll travel back again. Our favorite place to watch is on the platform looking out over the dunes at Winchester Bay with the Umpqua River Lighthouse behind us.
View from the platform to the south.
View from the platform to the north
The extremely endangered Grey Whale is a migrating baleen whale. They can be as big a 40 tons and live from 55 to 70 years. The gray patches and white mottling on dark skin give them the name of Gray Whale. These are the whales that migrate from their winter breeding grounds off the coast of Mexico to their summer feeding grounds in Alaska and back again. They have been seen popping up around the globe in small numbers possibly repopulating long lost breeding grounds not used for centuries. Worldwide protection of the species is what is bringing them back. One lady Grey Whale has made a 22,000-kilometer migration across the Pacific Ocean. Scientists believe this demonstrates how endangered species are making major changes in their lifestyles. They are amazing creatures.
This is the live Whale Watching webcam. You can watch the ocean to spot the migrating Grey Whales this week! This is from December. When they have spring, 2018 posted, we will update this.
Whale Watching at the Umpqua River Lighthouse State Park is just a short 20-minute drive from Umpqua River Haven (www.umpquahaven.com) Stop in and say hello on your way or stay with us for a bit while you visit the coast to see the whales! And visit our favorite lighthouse.
Arizona is host to much cultural activity from Scottsdale’s art galleries to Tucson’s Opera. From many varieties of museums everywhere to the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra. From Tucson’s Irish step dancers to the Phoenix Ballet and Ballet Arizona. But, one very colorful multi-cultural activity is reserved just for folks like you. Anyone can participate at any age with or without a partner.
International Folk Dancing is alive and very well all over Arizona from the high country of Prescott to the Southern Sonoran Desert Country of Green Valley and the in-between places of Tucson and Phoenix. In Green Valley on any Sunday afternoon, you will find them dancing:
On most Sunday afternoons you will also find them dancing in Prescott:
And once a year (this year it was St. Patrick’s Day) on a Sunday you will find many of these faces joined with those from the Tucson International Folk Dancers and the Phoenix International Folk Dancers at the annual Phoenix Folk Dance Festival. Held in recent years at the Shepard of the Valley Church in Glendale, this event is faithfully attended by International Folk Dancers from all over Arizona.
Einstein said it: “Dance for your brain!” And it’s true! Dancing makes you smarter as evidenced by many studies: “Dancing Makes You Smarter, Longer. … A major study added to the growing evidence that stimulating one’s mind by dancing can ward off Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia, much as physical exercise can keep the body fit. Dancing also increases cognitive acuity at all ages,” Richard Powers.
While International Dancers know this, that’s not the reason they participate and attend gatherings like the one in Phoenix. They do it for the fun, friendship and food. Yes, dancers love to eat and their love of everything ethnic contributes to some very yummy potlucks. It is also great physical exercise and dancing is often recommended by doctors as a way to stay fit. Folk dancing is an easy way to get that exercise because to quote this teacher: “If you can walk, you can folk dance.”
And dance they did starting with, what else, Pot Of Gold:
And the dancing continued:
Dancers from Phoenix:
Sometimes they would take a break and visit for short periods but never for long:
Dancers from Green Valley (top 2) and Tucson:
There are always dance performances at this event between dance sets. This year the Tucson International Dancers gave a performance of 6 Romanian dances with Romanian cheers singing throughout their performance. They were excellent and danced with great enthusiasm allowing everyone attending to truly enjoy their dancing:
For the second performance of the day, the Phoenix Serbian Dancers youth divisions performed admirably. They were also adorable at both age levels:
Prescott dancers:
Note all the wonderful costuming. Some of it is authentic from the many countries represented. Some of it is authentic imitation made by the creative hands of the wearers who tend to every detail to ensure authenticity. Represented here are several examples of both:
The Wild Cossack makes his own costuming that is different each year:
Joan has new red boots this year to compliment her Polish ensemble:
Karen (Tucson) is one of the Romanian dancers in costume from that country. Dick (Prescott) appears to be similarly clad although he usually dances in Serbian shoes that are leather and have long curled, pointed toes:
Millie (Phoenix) has been dancing with the PIFD so long no one remembers when she started. She is usually dressed in Polish costume:
Dee (Green Valley) varied from her usual, authentic Russian costume this year in this interesting ensemble. Many countries have aprons as part of women’s costumes, and embroidered blouses.
And the leader of this dance is one of the leaders of the Phoenix dancers. She did much to make this event happen.
There are always children present as this is a family activity. This fella was described by his dad as a dancer in training:
We cannot pass up the individual section without mentioning this gentleman. He is Joan’s hubby and did a stellar job of announcing, virtually managing the afternoon’s dance program:
This Phoenix costume was unique:
Note the bright colors which are mostly red, white and black with a smattering of blues thrown in. Red, white and black are the standard colors of the Balkan countries and extend into other surrounding countries that will add blues and even purples. This year there was a lot of green!
The group indulged this author by gathering for a group shot. The full group photo is at the top but there were also some great close-ups of sections of the group:
It was a delightful day even if you were just watching. The weather was perfect as it was not too hot and there was a breeze. Dancers get warm in a hurry. The time was up and many left as there were some long drives home. But the dancing continued with the sounds of the Balkans wafting out through the door as dancers went to their vehicles. If ever you are in Phoenix during March, check with the Phoenix International Folk Dancers on their website or their Facebook page to find out the date for this fun event.
Folk dancers have friends all over the world and while they were not in attendance, we remember our FD friends in Florence, Oregon—the Oregon Coast International Dancers. Miss you and wish you could have been with us!
Here’s a video from this event from the Phoenix International Folk Dancers:
It’s that time of year when we all celebrate the Irish in us even if we don’t have any. We here at http://www.UmpquaRiverHaven.com do have a bit of it in us through our ancestor, Mary Maroney. Mary was a brave young woman at the age of 16. She left Ireland on a ship headed to America. En route she met an Englishman on board and they were married when the ship docked in the New York Harbor. At least that’s the story her great-granddaughter told to her grandchildren. And we proudly claim the Irish in us.
That was back east. Here in Oregon, the Irish traveled over the Oregon Trail after saving enough money to finance their journey. They arrived in Oregon during the 1840s and 1850s to take advantage of the Oregon Donation Land Claims. The records list 139 Irish immigrants who held claims during this period of time.
Many Irish were farmers and some of them settled on land between the Long Tom and Willamette Rivers north of Junction City and south of Corvallis not far from Eugene. Irish farmers from the East and California were attracted to the rich soil of Marion County and the Catholic Church in St. Paul.
Many Irish were also laborers and immigrated to Portland in the 1870s to lay railway tracks, work on docks, build roads and dig sewers. Other Irish laborers moved to Morrow and Lake Counties and worked on cattle and sheep ranches. Some earned enough and saved to purchase their own land for ranches, open businesses or to go for a college education to become teachers, lawyers and politicians. By the year 2000, nearly 12 percent of Oregon’s population was of Irish descent.
There were three different periods during which the Irish came to Oregon: from 1820 to 1844; then during the famine years of 1845 to 1855; and after the famine to 1930. Most of the Irish immigrants were poor and left Ireland for financial reasons. Most of them were farmers that had depended on potatoes and other hearty crops that would grow in the tough Irish soil. Even though many Irish left Ireland during the potato famine, most left because of the over-bearing British taxes, loss of land and religious persecution. Many Irish immigrants had relatives and friends in America who told of a better life. About 4.5 million Irish immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 1930. 15.7 percent of the 10 million immigrants in the US were Irish by the year 1900. Most of them didn’t have funds to buy property or start businesses in America. They settled in port cities – Philadelphia, New York, Boston and other New England communities. A few of them reached Portland and the farming country of Oregon.
Information for this article came from: Robert Donnelly and Joshua Binus of the Oregon Historical Society.
We love to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the Moorhens from Northern Ohio! So, tap your toes, dance, sway or move in your own way. It’s about impossible not to be in motion to their music. If you are in Northern Ohio this Saturday, you can find the Moorhens @ Fort’s Tavern in Wellington from 12 PM to 1 PM and @ the American Legion in Sandusky from 5 PM to 7 PM. Come on out and enjoy some great Irish music with the Moorhens!
Music is a passion for many of us. Just listening involves so many pluses for the human mind, body and spirit. But playing intensifies all of those and more. Music also stimulates brain cells to repair and to improve their functions. It makes you smarter. Studies have been done that prove listening to Mozart helps very young children grow to be smarter than they might otherwise have been. It keeps the brains of seniors sharp and functioning. And music provides great joy/pleasure just in and of itself.
There are, of course, many varieties of music in jazz, rock, heavy metal, folk, big band, classical and some I haven’t thought of. Classical music is probably the best teacher and brain stimulator. Playing classical music in small and large groups provides one with a multitude of advantages in joy and preservation of brain functions.
Ah, but how does one participate? With minimal competency, a person can play in both large and small music groups. Orchestras and smaller ensembles all provide everything positive associated with playing music with others. But I especially like the smaller, chamber ensembles of duets, trios, quartets and chamber orchestras. These music situations are more intimate with the music and with the musicians playing together, and, also for the listener attending a chamber concert.
The quest of chamber musicians is to find sheet music to play that is also economical to obtain. It is easy to find expensive sheet music but most chamber groups do not have the means to purchase a lot of expensive music. Enter www.virtualsheetmusic.com For a very nominal annual fee, Virtual provides a wealth of music to download, copy and distribute to musicians in any group to play and enjoy. Virtual’s sheet music copy is a good size, put together well and easy to read. Sometimes less expensive and free music is almost too small to read well or even has too many different parts on a page making it difficult to read. I’ve done a lot of copy, cut, paste and copy again to make more readable pages for single or duet instruments. Virtual makes it easy!
If you play in a smaller group or know those that do, pass along this information to them. They will thank you for it!
This fine violin is for sale. Contact me by leaving a comment and your email address.
One of our residents, Piane as she is known, took this photo a couple of days ago and we wanted to share it with you. There’s been a lot of rain in Oregon but this was the end of a beautiful day without any rain. This is the Umpqua River which is one of the most beautiful river valleys in the world with some of the best year-round fishing anywhere. The scenery never ends and it all looks just like this. Our residents love living here surrounded by nature’s glory. We love that they enjoy it here and are willing to share their photography with us and you. You can find us at http://www.umpquahaven.com For now, enjoy the view!
One of the fun things you can do on the Oregon Coast is clammin’ for your supper. When the tide is out, you can search the mucky sand for clams. Dressed in hip-high rubber boots and armed with shovel and bucket, the adventure begins. You’ll need a license ($7.00) and be sure and check with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Clam digging is open year around but they do occasionally have some closures, especially for razor clams. You can rent the equipment needed for a whole family experience.
There are many places to dig clams but Coos Bay is an obvious favorite with locals who can often be seen as you cross the restored Conde McCullough Memorial Bridge heading into North Bend/Coos Bay. Just look down at low tide to see the clam diggers. Clams can be prepared in a variety of ways from steaming in a pot to on the grill to preparing them for clam chowder. They are pretty easy to cook although you do need the proper knife to open them.
Whether or not you are into digging and preparing your own clams, head this weekend to the Mill Casino that will be hosting the 29th Annual Clambake Music Festival. There are a variety of styles of music to listen and to dance to from Country Western to Swing and many styles in between. There will be four different dancing and music venues under one roof. You can watch, listen or even dance!
Don’t expect a ‘clambake.’ The term “Clambake” is an old time musical term for a “jam session.” If you aren’t digging for your own clams, you can find delicious ones at the many restaurants around town, including the Plank House at the casino. Great food and great music to please everyone—what could be better this weekend, March 8, 9, 10, 11?!
You can visit the Clambake Music Festival website here:
to view the schedule of events/music and to order tickets ahead of time. But come back to us at www.umpquahaven.com. We are just 45 minutes away from the casino where you can bring your RV for a peaceful night’s sleep following the busy Clambake Music Festival activities.
From ancient times to the present, people have gotten together to play music around campfires, in palace halls, in villages and cities. The early instruments were homemade and there were a large variety of them (visit the MIM in Phoenix, AZ to see them all). Many kinds of music existed over the eons including various ethnic folk music, Renaissance, classical and more. There were early, homemade cellos, violas, violins and guitars along with carved woodwinds, many varieties of drums, bagpipes and more. Many of our modern instruments retain the sounds of the originals.
In modern times there has been a rite of passage for musically inclined teens dubbed, “Boy Bands.” High school-aged boys would gather in garages (still do) to play what is usually the music of the day together. Some of them were very good although most of them would disband after those high school years as they went their separate ways. The ones that survived for a few years usually didn’t make much of a dent in the music industry and would eventually fade out.
Not so Makeshift3. This boy band started out in 1995 during their high school years as “Makeshift.” The 3 original musicians in the garage were Ryan Coughlin on bass/vocals, Jeff Lascola on guitar/vocals and Eric Mattson on drums. After graduation, Ryan went to college and was replaced by Eric’s cousin, Tyler Bochenek. They proceeded to rebuild their sound, message and focus and became Makeshift3.
The music of Makeshift 3 is a blend of rock, pop, punk and metal. It can be one or the other or a mix of all of them. Very modern sounds. Their main influences have come from Pantera and Blink 182. And this group has been successful as they persisted with their art over the years. They have been on multiple national tours as well as having earned a spot on the Vans Warped Tour. They have played with many other bands like Slick Shoes and Reel Big Fish. Makeshift3 has been featured in magazines, television interviews and airplay on ESPN. They have also been heard on several Warner Brothers TV shows and many radio stations throughout the US. Some of their music has been ranked # 1 in various genres with over 500,000 listens at mp3.com.
Makeshift3 has produced 4 albums over the years with a variety of record labels. They have also released material with additional record labels for various compilation CDs with other bands. You can find all of this information, and purchase their music, on their website: http://www.makeshift3.com The band is currently open to offers from record labels as they plan to release a new EP.
You can find their music on YouTube and here is an example. This selection has some interesting tempo changes and also introduces you to Eric, Jeff and Tyler throughout the video. If this is your kind of music, you will enjoy Makeshift3. Thanks to Eric for the bio information.
From ancient times to the present, people have gotten together to play music around campfires, in palace halls, in villages and cities. The early instruments were homemade and there were a large variety of them (visit the MIM in Phoenix, AZ to see them all). Many kinds of music existed over the eons including various ethnic folk music, Renaissance, classical and more. There were early, homemade cellos, violas, violins and guitars along with carved woodwinds, many varieties of drums, bagpipes and more. Many of our modern instruments retain the sounds of the originals.
Adventures along the Umpqua River and the Oregon Coast 