The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA) is grateful to all those who helped to make this year’s sixth annual Anderson Marsh Old Time Bluegrass Festival a success.

The festival is the major fundraiser for AMIA, whose mission is to preserve and educate about the natural, cultural and historic resources protected by Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

Funds raised will be used to support AMIA’s current effort to keep the Park open and accessible to the public.

Other local nonprofits and service groups as well as art, craft, and food vendors also benefited once again from this first-class event.

The Lake County Community put its best foot forward and earned rave reviews, receiving unanimous positive feedback from the musicians, volunteers, vendors and public attendees.

Musicians reported “this is the best run festival they’ve been at.” And we know why – it’s the fantastic group of volunteers who make this event a great experience for everyone.

AMIA Board members Anna and Frank McAtee got this event going six years ago and we still feel the spirit of their team and community building.

Bluegrass Festival Musical Director and AMIA Board Member Don Coffin brought us the best lineup ever. His passion and commitment are an inspiration.

Our vendor team of Nora Moore, Anna McAtee and Ellen Lundquist completely took care of this very large “piece” of the festival and made sure there was a great mix of food, crafts and art.

Konocti Unified School District not only loaned chairs and tables for the event, but Bill McDougall and Ed Zander came and lent a hand. Carlé Principal Dennis To and Carlé High School students provided lots of help before, during and after the event. Also giving invaluable service during the festival was Joan Mingoni and students from Lower Lake High School.

Carolynn Jarrett, along with other members of the Children’s Museum of Art & Science (CMAS), produced the children’s activity area, providing a variety of interesting, fun activities for children of all ages. John Burke and Billy Gear of CMAS coordinated the many community volunteers needed for the gate and perimeter security.

MCs Bill Fredriksson and Linda Guebert, along with Stage Managers Dennis Purcell and Michael Barrish, kept the flow of the day going and made it seem easy. Dwain Goforth and his team graciously hosted performers in the Ranch House.

Lake County Arts Council’s Richard Seisser curated, set up and coordinated the volunteers at the Art-In-the-Barn exhibit. The art on display was varied, interesting and beautiful, and added so much to the event.

The Kiwanis Club of Clearlake took care of the Beer & Wine Garden. Special thanks to Sharon Bassham for coordinating and Jim Mackey for dealing with the finances.

Thanks to all our vendors, whose diversity helped showcase the depth of talent in our area, the Clearlake VIPs who provided additional security and CHP Explorer Scouts who made the parking area run so smoothly.

Many thanks also to Buck Bouker, Del Cox, Dan Harris, Jenn Jensen, Kris and Nancy Langdon, Roberta Lyons, Tom Nixon, Robert Riggs, Andy Weiss and the KPFZ Radio team, Clear Lake Sector Superintendent Bill Salata and Rangers Darin Conner and Aaron Wright – as well as AmeriCorps, the Kiwanis Club of Clearlake and all the community volunteers – you gave selflessly of yourselves to help make the event run very smoothly and it did!

AMIA appreciates the regional businesses and local senior centers who sold tickets: Band Box Music, Bob’s Vacuum, Dig!Music, Earth Goods, Highlands Senior Center, Lakeport Senior Center, Lakeview Supermarket & Deli, Marie’s Lakeshore Feed, People’s Music, Strings & Things, The Last Record Store and Watershed Books.

This Festival could not have happen without the sponsorship of the following businesses and individuals, who made the event possible by their financial and in-kind support: 5 Happiness Webmaster; Action Sanitary, Inc.; Affordable Signs & Tees; America’s Best Value Inn & Suites; Barreda's Lower Lake Feed; Bruno's Shop Smart; Burrell's Auto; Charlotte Griswold; Chernoh Excavating, Inc.; city of Clearlake, Clearlake Stadium Cinemas; Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, Clearlake Veterinary Clinic; County of Lake; DJ's Pizza; Epidendio Construction Inc.; Ewing and Associates; Four Corners Building Supply; Gae Henry & Henry Bornstein; Gregory Graham Wines, Inc.; Grocery Outlet – Clearlake; Hardester’s Markets and Hardware; IGA Foods, Etc.; James Kinsel DDS, Inc.; Jonas Oil / Jonas Heating & Cooling; Kiwanis Club of Clearlake; KPFZ 88.1 FM Lake County Radio; Lake County Chamber of Commerce; Lake Marine Construction; Lake Transit Authority; Lakeport Lions Club; Lakeshore Lions Club; Lincoln/Leavitt Insurance Agency; Love Farms; McAtee's Marine Repair Inc.; Mendo Lake Credit Union; Neft & Neft Realtors; Photos by Joe Harden; Ray's Food Place; Reliable Caregivers, SF; Roberta & Dr. Harry Lyons; Ronald Lovitt; Safeway Stores; South Lake Refuse Co.; Spotless Janitorial; Thomas Hewlett, DDS; Vigilance Winery and Vineyards.

This event was truly a team effort. Thank you so much for being a part of it and helping show-off Anderson Marsh and our community for what it is – a jewel of Lake County.

Henry Bornstein and Gae Henry are members of the for the AMIA Board & Bluegrass Coordinating Team.