8A • January 5, 2018 • Seaside Signal • seasidesignal.com
Tillamook Head Gathering comes to Seaside
Songwriter Brian
Bovenizer, band
New Old Stock
headline
By Katherine Lacaze
For the Seaside Signal
From a field trip to watch
a national tour performance
of “Cinderella” in Portland
to workshops and assemblies,
arts enrichment opportunities
at Seaside High School have
become more accessible in re-
cent years thanks to the Tilla-
mook Head Gathering and its
annual fundraiser, coming up
Saturday, Jan. 13.
“There are so many things
in education that are import-
ant that you can’t necessarily
quantify,” said English teach-
er Mark Mizell, one of the
gathering’s original found-
ers. “Ideally, what schools
do when they’re doing their
best work is encouraging kids
to find things of interest they
can access for the rest of their
lives.”
The arts, he believes, play
a big role in accomplishing
that objective. They will be
celebrated at the fourth annual
Tillamook Head Gathering, a
fundraiser to take place at the
Seaside Civic and Convention
Center. Doors open at 6:30
p.m.
Featured performers
Each year, the Tillamook
Head Gathering features a
different performing arts or
musical group or person who
works in another artistic pro-
fession. Songwriter and musi-
cian Brian Bovenizer, with his
backing band New Old Stock,
is headlining this year’s event.
The Astoria-based musical
group includes pedal steel gui-
tarist Jamie Greenan, guitarist
FILE PHOTO
Students at last year’s Tillamook Head Gathering: Hunter
Thompson, Will Garvin, Lucy Bodner, Kirsten Lent, foreign
exchange student Zeynep Payzanoğlu and Dana Ottem.
COURTESY BRIAN BOVENIZER
Brian Bovenizer and New Old Stock star at the Tillamook Head Gathering in Seaside.
Jeff Munger, bassist Luke
Ydstie and drummer Olaf
Ydstie. In the past, Bovenizer
described the band’s sound as
“surf country,” although it’s
evolved to encompass more
rock ‘n’ roll, he said.
As a teenager, Bovenizer,
originally from the Chicago
area, worked for Peterson
Electro-Musical Products, a
music-electronics company
that specializes in instrument
tuning devices, through which
he was introduced to various
country artists. Since then,
he has remained in the music
industry, working a variety of
jobs, from booking and mar-
keting to performing.
“The music industry is
constantly evolving, and I’m
interested in keeping up on it
all the time,” he said.
In
2009,
Bovenizer
“moved to Astoria to launch
a songwriting project and
started picking up gigs play-
ing drums for bands,” he said,
adding drums were his initial
instrument of choice. He got
connected with Munger, Gre-
enan and the Ydstie brothers
about two years ago.
“Right of the bat, it
clicked,” he said. “I’m happy
to be writing songs and have a
cool band behind me. … The
guys who are with me are all
pros.”
When it comes to song-
writing, Bovenizer is inspired
through random circumstanc-
es and situations, like surfing
or being in a boat in the mid-
dle of a river in a canoe.
“Most of the songs that
end up being the ones I per-
form just come from stream
of consciousness,” he said. In
general, the people he’s met in
Astoria have “opened up the
music” for him.
One of his influences is
country folk singer-songwrit-
er John Prine, who also hap-
pens 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 peo-
ple I’ve idolized for years,”
Mizell said.
Other regional artists per-
forming at the gathering in-
clude former Seaside student
Max Strozzi, John Mersereau
and Jim Stewart.
Giving students a boost
During the past few years,
the funds raised through the
Tillamook Head Gathering
have completely or partial-
ly subsidized events, work-
shops, field trips and other
enrichment activities for high
school students.
Last fall, funds went to-
ward hosting two workshops
for the high school’s Words
in Music class. One workshop
was led by Peter “Spud” Sie-
gel, Jim Stewart, and Michael
Shay. The other was led by
folklorist Olivia Pepper and
singer-songwriter Nick Jaina,
a finalist for the 2016 Oregon
Book Award.
As for upcoming arts
enrichment
opportunities,
Mizell is organizing a field
trip to Elko, Nevada, for the
34th National Cowboy Poet-
ry Gathering, an event he has
attended with students “reli-
giously 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 sessions featuring
singers and songwriters, as
well as craft demonstrations
and films about the American
West, Mizell said. Fifteen stu-
dents and seven chaperones
from Seaside High School will
attend part of it, leaving the af-
ternoon 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 Mur-
phy and Wylie & The Wild
West. They fly home Sunday,
Feb. 4. Overall, they will trav-
el more than 2,000 miles and
be exposed to a different facet
of culture, Mizell said, adding,
“Stuff like that makes your
world so much bigger.”
In February, funds also will
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.”
When Mizell started teach-
ing more than 30 years ago,
these sorts of arts-related
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, though, the impor-
tance of exposure to the arts
for high school students has
not, Mizell believes. Boveniz-
er echoed that sentiment.
“It’s almost not a question
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 a value
in providing training and de-
velopment opportunities for
high school students who may
be pursuing professions in the
industry.
“It takes a while to get
where you want to be,” he
said. “You need that jumpstart
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 ad-
mission 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.
CommunityCalendar
Friday, Jan. 5
Monday, Jan. 8
Dave Stamey
Tuesday, Jan. 16
Chamber Breakfast
Knochlers Pinochle Group
TOPS Meeting
8:20 a.m., Holiday Inn Express, 34
Holladay Drive, Seaside, 503-738-6391,
www.seasidechamber.com, open to
the public. Offers weekly speakers and
discussions, locations subject to change.
1 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community Center,
1225 Avenue A, Seaside, 503-738-3311,
www.sunsetempire.com, $1 per session
per person. This is a weekly, regular play
card game. Prizes awarded.
7 p.m., private home, Arch Cape, 503-
717-2997 or 503-436-1718, $20. Cape
House concert series features cowboy
entertainer and songwriter Dave Stamey
playing country, western and Americana
music; location given at time of ticket
purchase.
AAUW Walkers
Rehearsals Begin
9:30 a.m., 503-738-7751. This low-im-
pact walking group meets weekly at
different locations.
6:30 p.m., Cannon Beach Community
Church, 132 Washington St., Cannon
Beach, 503-436-0378, www.cannon-
beachchorus.org. The Cannon Beach
chorus will begin rehearsals for its spring
season “All-American” concert, featuring a
repertoire of American composers.
RJ Marx Quartet
7 p.m., WineKraft, 80 10th St., Astoria,
503-468-0206, www.winekraftpnw.
com, no cover, 21+. Saxophonist RJ
Marx leads the quartet in a repertoire
of jazz music with John Orr (guitar), Joe
Church (bass) and Dave Gager (drums).
Sam Chase Duo
7 p.m., McMenamins Sand Trap, 1157
Marion Ave., Gearhart, 503-717-8150,
www.mcmenamins.com, no cover. The
Sam Chase Duo plays folk, rock and
Americana music.
Reading Series
7:30 p.m., Best Western Ocean View, 414
Promenade, Seaside. Pacific University
Master of Fine Arts in Writing residency
program offers free nightly readings
by featured authors Judy Blunt, Vievee
Francis and John McNally.
Saturday, Jan. 6
Beach Clean Up
City Council
7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway, Seaside,
503-738-5511, www.cityofseaside.us. The
Seaside City Council meets twice a month
on the second and fourth Mondays.
Reading Series
7:30 p.m., Best Western Ocean View, 414
Promenade, Seaside. Features Ellen Bass,
Frank Gaspar and Valerie Laken.
Tuesday, Jan. 9
Cyber Security
8:30 a.m., CCC Seaside Campus, 1455 Roo-
sevelt Drive, Seaside, 503-338-2402, $20.
Clatsop Community College offers a Cyber
Security class for small and mid-sized
businesses, preregistration required.
TOPS Meeting
9 a.m., meet at Seashore Inn on the
Beach, 60 Promenade, Seaside. Join lo-
cal volunteers for the monthly “Treasure
the Beach” community beach clean up.
Watercolor Class
Reading Series
9 a.m., Trail’s End, 656 A St., Gearhart,
503-717-9458, $180. Debbie Loyd will
teach the basics of beginning water-
color painting every Saturday to Feb. 3;
limited seating, registration required.
7:30 p.m., Best Western Ocean View,
414 Promenade, Seaside. Features Mike
Magnuson, Mary Helen Stefaniak and
Kellie Wells.
7:30 p.m., Best Western Ocean View,
414 Promenade, Seaside. Features
Kwame Dawes, Pete Fromm and Willy
Vlautin.
Sunday, Jan. 7
7 p.m., McMenamins Sand Trap, 1157
Marion Ave., Gearhart, 503-717-8150, no
cover. The eclectic style of the Junebugs
range from turn-of-the-century Ameri-
cana to modern hip-hop.
TRAIL’S END
9:15 a.m., North Coast Family Fellowship,
2245 Wahanna Road, Seaside, 509-910-
0354. Take Pounds Off Sensibly (TOPS)
focuses on healthy lifestyle changes for
weight loss, meets weekly.
Reading Series
Junebugs
Wednesday, Jan. 10
Bingo!
12:30 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community
Center, 1225 Avenue A, Seaside, 503-738-
3311, www.sunsetempire.com, 10 cents
per card, $2.40 (in dimes) all games. A
weekly game of Bingo fun with friends.
Lou Kister
Lifetime member
award for Lou Kister
Seaside Signal
Longtime Trail’s End
Art Center member Lou
Kister was recently hon-
ored for her participation
and support of the center by
outgoing President Richard
Newman during the cen-
ter’s recent year-end meet-
ing, potluck and announce-
ment of new officers for
2018.
Kister has been a mem-
ber of Trail’s End since
2003, enjoying a variety of
art classes, being part of the
center’s celebrations and
exhibitions, and volunteer-
ing in many aspects of its
operations. The Lifetime
Reserves Research Project” at the next
Haystack Rock lecture series.
Reading Series
7:30 p.m., Best Western Ocean View, 414
Promenade, Seaside. Features Chris Abani,
Debra Gwartney and Joseph Millar.
Thursday, Jan. 11
Member Award signifies
the center’s appreciation for
all her efforts.
Kister’s interest in art
began following her retire-
ment in 2001 after many
years of teaching school
and raising her four chil-
dren. When she retired from
teaching, she took a trip to
Italy. While in Florence, she
realized how little she really
knew about art, but definite-
ly wanted to learn more.
Kister took all the
two-dimensional art class-
es she could find at Clatsop
Community College, along
with art history. She joined
Trail’s End Art Association
in 2003.
Night of Trivia
11 a.m., Tolovana Hall, 3779 Hemlock
St., Cannon Beach, 720-301-3993, $5.
Facilitated by Linda Lawson, the class
includes relaxation exercises, guided
meditation and silent practice.
6 p.m., Seaside Public Library, 1131
Broadway, Seaside, 503-738-6742, www.
seasidelibrary.org. Trivia tournament
nights are informal, fun competitions;
prizes awarded.
Reading Series
HRAP Lecture Series
7:30 p.m., Best Western Ocean View,
414 Promenade, Seaside. Features Steve
Amick, Claire Davis and Scott Korb.
7 p.m., Cannon Beach Library, 131 Hem-
lock St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-1391,
www.friendsofhaystackrock.org. Wolfe
Wagman of the Oregon Dept. of Fish &
Wildlife will give a talk on “The Marine
8 a.m., Finn’s Fish House, 227 Broadway,
Seaside, 503-739-3890. Ham radio opera-
tors meet every Thursday; venue changes
the first Thursday of the month.
SDDA Breakfast
8:30 a.m., Pig ‘N’ Pancake, 323 Broad-
way, Seaside, 503-717-1914, www.
seasidedowntown.com. Weekly speakers,
discussions and a no-host breakfast.
Smart Basketball
5:30 p.m., Broadway Middle School, 1120
Broadway, Seaside, 503-738-3311, www.
sunsetempire.com, $55 to $75. Start
Smart Basketball is a developmentally
appropriate introductory program for
ages 3 to 5; sign up required.
Wednesday, Jan. 17
Reading Series
Bingo!
7:30 p.m., Best Western Ocean View, 414
Promenade, Seaside. Features Sanjiv
Bhattacharya and Laura Hendrie.
12:30 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community
Center, 1225 Avenue A, Seaside, 503-738-
3311, 10 cents per card, $2.40 (in dimes)
all games.
Saturday, Jan. 13
PBL Tournaments
8 a.m., Seaside, Warrenton, Astoria,
503-717-4308, www.seasidebasketball-
tournaments.com, $2 to $7. It’s that time
for the annual Pacific Basketball League
tournaments, held at schools in Seaside,
Warrenton and Astoria.
Thursday, Jan. 18
Ham Radio Breakfast
8 a.m., Finn’s Fish House, 227 Broadway,
Seaside, 503-739-3890.
SDDA Breakfast
8:30 a.m., Pig ‘N’ Pancake, 323 Broadway,
Seaside, 503-717-1914.
Author Reading
1 p.m., Seaside Public Library, 1131
Broadway, Seaside, 503-738-6742, www.
seasidelibrary.org, free. Linda Eddleston,
author of “My Three Friends” will be
featured, followed by Q&A, book sales and
signings.
Kiwanis Club Meeting
Noon, Pig ‘N’ Pancake, 323 Broadway,
Seaside.
Matinee Thursdays
1 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community Center,
1225 Avenue A, Seaside, 503-738-7393.
Artist Reception
6 p.m., Cannon Beach Gallery, 1064
Hemlock St., Cannon Beach, 503-436-
0744, www.cannonbeacharts.org. Artists
Jani Hoberg, Lisa Wiser and Jan Rimerman
will be represented in the new show “3
Squared: Line, Light, Layers.”
Writers at Work
Sunday, Jan. 14
Friday, Jan. 19
Meditation Class
Chamber Breakfast
11 a.m., Tolovana Hall, 3779 Hemlock St.,
Cannon Beach, 720-301-3993, $5.
8:20 a.m., call for location, Seaside, 503-
738-6391, open to the public.
Matinee Thursdays
NAMI Meeting
AAUW Walkers
1 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community Center,
1225 Avenue A, Seaside, 503-738-7393.
Enjoy popcorn and a movie on senior
matinee Thursdays.
2 p.m., Seaside Public Library, 1131
Broadway, Seaside, 503-738-6165,
www.nami.org. The National Alliance on
Mental Illness welcomes individuals and
caregivers of anyone who suffers from
mental illness.
9:30 a.m., 503-738-7751, locations vary.
U, Seaside, open to the public, www.
facebook.com/pages/Kiwanis-Club-of-
Seaside-Ore. Features weekly speakers,
discussions and a no-host lunch.
Ham Radio Breakfast
Meditation Class
9:15 a.m., North Coast Family Fellowship,
2245 Wahanna Road, Seaside, 509-910-
0354.
Reading Series
7:30 p.m., Best Western Ocean View, 414
Promenade, Seaside. Features Marvin
Bell, Jack Driscoll and Christopher Merrill.
Friday, Jan. 12
Chamber Breakfast
8:20 a.m., call for location, Seaside, 503-
738-6391, open to the public.
Kiwanis Club Meeting
AAUW Walkers
Noon, Seaside Golf Course, 451 Avenue
9:30 a.m., 503-738-7751, locations vary.
6 p.m., Seaside Public Library, 1131
Broadway, Seaside, 503-738-6742, www.
seasidelibrary.org. This group is designed
for writers to meet and share ideas with
local authors.
Lifeguard Training
PBL Tournaments
4 p.m., Sunset Pool, 1140 Broadway, Sea-
side, 503-738-3311, www.sunsetempire.
com, $150. This is a three-day lifeguard
training program based on the American
Red Cross lifeguarding format.
7 p.m., Seaside, Warrenton, Astoria, 503-
717-4308, $2 to $7.
Eric Kaiser
Monday, Jan. 15
Knochlers Pinochle Group
1 p.m., Bob Chisholm Community Center,
1225 Avenue A, Seaside, 503-738-3311,
$1 per session per person.
7 p.m., McMenamins Sand Trap, 1157
Marion Ave., Gearhart, 503-717-8150,
no cover. French troubadour Eric John
Kaiser crosses musical cultures blending
traditional French stylings and American
rhythm, rock, hip-hop, roadhouse blues
and reggae to his repetoire.
