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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 18, 2016)
AUGUST 18, 2016 // 9 See a kite-lying spectacle Washington State International Kite Festival is biggest festival of its kind SUBMITTED PHOTO The 12th annual Buddy Walk at the Beach will take place Sept. 17 in Seaside. Registration is open to participate. Register for Buddy Walk at the Beach 12th annual walk promotes local programs for adults with special needs Sept. 17 SEASIDE — Registration is now open for the 12th annu- al Buddy Walk at the Beach, set for Sept. 17 in downtown Seaside. Buddy Walk at the Beach is a national Down syndrome and special needs aware- ness walk that promotes acceptance and community support of people with devel- opmental disabilities. Like last year, the nonproit Sammy’s Place is sponsoring this year’s Buddy Walk. Founded in 2006, Sammy’s Place seeks to create a nature-centered living, working and respite community on the North Coast of Oregon for people with special needs and those who share their journey. The 2015 Buddy Walk at the Beach raised over $38,000 from nearly 500 supporters. “We were bolstered by the groundswell of support we received last year and heard that our vision was, indeed, shared by our special needs friends,” said Sam- my’s Place President Julie Chick. “We have our work cut out for ourselves and want to keep the momentum moving forward.” This year’s goal is to raise an additional $15,000. You can register online to partic- ipate in the Buddy Walk at the Beach or make a dona- tion at www.crowdrise.com/ BuddyWalkattheBeach2016 Most of the funds raised will continue to be used to purchase land to implement Sammy’s Place’s vision of an inclusive residential com- munity. Additionally, Sam- my’s Place is now turning its attention toward launching nature-based programs for and with the special needs community. These programs will be focused on recre- ational, educational and employment opportunities. Sammy’s Place seeks to empower the special needs community of Tillamook and Clatsop counties by creating opportunities to en- gage with the extraordinary natural environments of the North Coast of Oregon. Ad- ditionally, Sammy’s Place is working towards providing alternative housing options for adults with disabilities. For more information about Sammy’s Place, visit www.sammysplace.info LONG BEACH, Wash. — All things kites will take over Long Beach as the Wash- ington State International Kite Festival wraps up this weekend August 18 to 21. The festival offers a full, entertaining program of kite competitions, exhibitions and demonstrations, kite making and lying lessons, mass ascensions, indoor kite ballet, a teddy bear drop and more on the spaciously sandy beach. “For kite lyers this is the kite festival to ly at and be seen lying at,” said Holli Friddle-Kemmer, festival organizer and director of the World Kite Museum. “For those that want to try kite lying and other spectators, it’s a very user-friendly event where participation by all ages is encouraged.” Crowd favorites include the Rokkaku Battles, sport kites lessons and lying, themed mass ascensions, mystery ballet, and, on Friday, the magical lighted night ly followed by a ire- works display. This year, Island Quad, a remarkable team of quad line kite lyers from British Columbia, will be featured at the festival. Working on a freeform type of format instead of choreographed routines, the Island Quad leader uses commands similar to a caller in tradi- tional square dancing to put a show together. With music, good winds, and the crowds’ appreciation, Island Quad puts their very best effort into surprising and thrill- ing a crowd. They will be performing artfully choreo- graphed, breathtaking feats throughout the week. An expanded lineup of PHOTO BY JOSHUA BESSEX The Washington State International Kite Festival ills the skies of Long Beach with kites of all shapes and sizes. PHOTO BY JOSHUA BESSEX Barry Tislow, of Renton, Wash., needs some help as he tries to pull down his 750-square-foot kite at last year’s Washington International Kite Festival. SUBMITTED PHOTO PHOTO BY NATALIE ST. JOHN The annual kite parade battled strong winds last year live music will add to the festivities in the beergarden on the Bolstad beach access. Hear Pretty Gritty from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday and The Fog Band from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, everyone is welcome to join or watch the Parade of Colors, which will line up at 12:45 p.m. at the north end of the Long beach Boardwalk and then march Bolstad Avenue beach approach is full of crowds and vendor tents during the Wash- ington State International Kite Festival. down the boardwarlk and around Field A. Saturday evening will see a Dinner, Auction & Tribute event held at the Long Beach Elks Lodge, located at 106 N. Paciic Way. Tickets are $25 and available during the week at the kite museum, at the museum’s tent and at the door. Only 200 tickets will be sold. Doors open for a no-host bar at 5:30 p.m., and dinner begins at 7 p.m. There will be bag, silent and live auctions. The Washington State International Kite Festival is the longest running and biggest kite festival in the U.S. For a downloadable event program and more informa- tion, visit www.kitefestival. com