The Cub Scouts of Pack 51 raced their Pinewood Derby cars last week.
By Sarah Schrock
It was a weekend of parties, from what I can make of it. I didn’t attend any myself, but talk on the street is that it was happening everywhere.
Friday, Winterfest at TwispWorks drew a committed crowd of locals to the annual winter music festival hosted by the Spartan Art Project. The OSB Taproom was reportedly packed with a jubilant energy while smaller venues held more intimate performances.
The 24hr MART saw continuous streams of karaoke fans Saturday night as singers and party-goers flowed in and out of the old meat locker turned elusive storefront gallery, art space and entertainment venue that has mystified onlookers since its inception. Despite its enigmatic reputation, the funky retail art space has a strong following of supporters who came out for a party of what was reportedly “the best ever.”
According to George Wooten, “Performers were treated to a live video stream that projected them on the wall screen as tracer images (followed) on a sea of swirling colors. Music ranged from sublime, soulful, to ethnic folk songs, country to driving trance.” Wooten sang a raucous “Shout” but attributed karaoke accolades to the following performers: Gudrun Brunot, whose songs harkened to far-off lands; Rollean, who brought Alley Oop back from the stone age; Rebecca Kinney with soulful R&B; and Shelley Block, who channeled Janis Joplin.
It’s been a little over two years since I last reported on what is happening at the 24hr MART on Glover Street. Since its opening, proprietor Max Kraushaar has hosted a variety of different events ranging from social media marketing tips, movie nights and musical performances. But like all good things, it’s coming to an end.
The final party at the 24hr MART will be March 24. The final blow-out bash is entitled ClosaBonanza. If you have always wondered what goes on in the 24hr MART, here is your chance to come check it out. The party will host a DJ, dancing, and dress-up along with food and drinks!
While not so raucous of an affair, Friday night Pack 51 of the local Cub Scouts raced their Pinewood Derby cars in a heated competition of design, speed, and decor. The local troop, led by Scoutmaster Paul Peterson and Barry Simmons, meets every Wednesday night at the Mormon church in Twisp and has been working on cars for a few weeks.
The boys were thrilled to watch their creations rip down the track and thanks to smart phone cameras, photo finishes were recorded, leaving no ambiguity as to who the winner was. For the second year in a row, Emil Schkrohowsky won the race and moves on to regionals.
It was a perfect bluebird day for Saturday’s third annual Community Challenge competition at the Loup. The event drew in costumed skiers alongside families for the all ages, co-ed multi-sport relay involving a downhill slalom race, tubing sprint and slide, and a Nordic loop. I won’t say who in this house is sore from sprinting up the hill, carrying a tube, but I will say that watching Graham and Carter Sheley, who race for the Loup downhill team, scream down the course and dominate the gates was well worth the entry fee.
Of special note, Team Ian was among a mob of enthusiastic participants who raced in honor of their friend Ian Fair, the Winthrop man killed in an avalanche near Mazama last week. I knew Ian only by association, but I would guess, given the playful nature of this group, he had a fun-loving nature that was penetrating. If he was looking down on Little Buck Mountain Saturday, as I’d like to think he was amused by their wild wigs, costumes and antics as they skied the rest of the day to honor him before his celebration of life gathering later that same day.
