JANUARY 11, 2018 // 21
the Long Beach Peninsula's
dine to make a difference
COURTESY MARK MIZELL
Students at last year’s Tillamook Head Gathering (from left): Hunter Thompson, Will Garvin, Lucy
Bodner, Kirsten Lent, Zeynep Payzanoglu and Dana Ottem
Continued from Page 6
One of his influences is
country folk singer-song-
writer John Prine, who also
happens to be a musician
Mizell reveres, and they
connected over their mutual
admiration.
“It’s really heartening to
see a guy like Brian and his
band doing music by people
I’ve idolized for years,”
Mizell said.
Other regional artists
performing at the gather-
ing include former Seaside
student Max Strozzi, John
Mersereau and Jim Stewart.
Giving students a
boost
The funds raised through
the Tillamook Head Gath-
ering have completely or
partially subsidized events,
workshops, field trips and
ap- other enrichment activities
nd for high school students.
me. Last fall, funds went
th toward hosting two work-
shops for the high school’s
Words in Music class. One
is workshop was led by Peter
m cir- “Spud” Siegel, Jim Stewart
ns, and Michael Shay. The other
he was led by folklorist Olivia
noe. Pepper and singer-song-
at writer Nick Jaina, a finalist
per- for the 2016 Oregon Book
eam Award.
As for upcoming arts
id.
e’s enrichment opportunities,
ened Mizell is organizing a field
trip to Elko, Nevada, for
the 34th National Cow-
ge 21 boy Poetry Gathering, an
event he has attended with
students “religiously every
three years for the past 20,”
he said. Anyone from the
school can join.
The poetry gathering
takes place Jan. 29 to Feb.
3, this year, and includes
various concurrent ses-
sions featuring singers and
songwriters, as well as craft
demonstrations and films
about the American West,
Mizell said. Fifteen students
and seven chaperones from
Seaside High School will
attend part of it, leaving the
afternoon of Jan. 31, and
taking a train to Sacramento
and then to Elko. While at
the festival, students will
get to see shows featuring
Michael Martin Murphy and
Wylie & The Wild West.
They fly home Feb. 4.
Overall, they will travel
more than 2,000 miles and
be exposed to a different
facet of culture. “Stuff like
that makes your world so
much bigger,” Mizell said.
In February, funds
will also help bring Dave
Bennett and the Memphis
Speed Kings to play at a
schoolwide assembly. The
music group is a regular at
the Seaside Jazz Festival,
and Mizell said he hopes “to
get the kids out on the dance
floor.”
A jump-start in art
When Mizell started
teaching more than 30 years
ago, these sorts of arts-re-
lated events and activities
received decent funding.
“Now if you want stuff
to happen, like the trip to
Elko, you must figure out
a way to get the money
somehow,” he said. “It’s a
bummer that’s the case.”
Even though funding has
faltered, the importance of
exposure to the arts for high
school students has not,
Mizell believes.
Bovenizer echoed that
sentiment.
“It’s almost not a ques-
tion of whether we need
them or not; I think we’d
all be really unhappy if we
didn’t have art in our lives,”
Bovenizer said.
Knowing how difficult
it is to make a living as an
artist, Bovenizer also sees
value in providing training
and development opportuni-
ties for high school students
who may be pursuing pro-
fessions in the industry.
“It takes a while to get
where you want to be,” he
said. “You need that jump-
start in your art of trade.”
Wine and beer will be
available for purchase at the
gathering, and The Stand
is donating light fare for
the event. The event will
include a silent auction
featuring items donated by
local merchants and artists.
The cost of admission is
$10 in advance and $15
at the door. Tickets can be
purchased at Seaside Coffee
House, Beach Books and
the high school’s business
office. CW
Participating restaurants and lodging will donate 10%
of proceeds to our local Boys and Girls Club when
you use our promo code. Plus, when you dine, get 3
courses for $33.
Promo Code
3 courses
for
$33
Sun.-Thurs. all January
Restaurants
Lodging