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RiverFest 2018

rf18 crowd In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River

rf18 crowd In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Happy crowd. Judges at table far right; Carol Velasques Richardson, Rob Aycox, Russ Augspurg

Seven great songs about the Santa Fe River were presented to the audience at Rum 138 at RiverFest 18 on a beautiful March day southwest of Fort White, Columbia County, Florida.  The music just gets better every year, and our sponsors list longer and longer.  Thanks to all of them, without which we would have no RiverFest.  And of course a huge thanks to our contestants, all of whom were indeed winners.  But the judges said the money should go to young Cliff Dorsey for his “Santa Fe Song,” beautifully rendered.

rf18 pam In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River

Past OSFR President Pam Smith made RiverFest happen

 

rf18 sharon In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Sharon Yeago was the brains behind the planning

While we are talking about “thanks,” many go to all the volunteers, many of whom are pictured here, and apologies for those who escaped the camera.  This year, as those who follow our web site know, we filled the month of March with RiverFest activities, all geared toward the Santa Fe.  Engineered by Sharon Yeago with final execution by Pam Smith, the complicated and many-faceted project was brought to fruition with help from all.  Especial thanks to Sharon and Pam.

rf18 mike In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
OSFR President Mike Roth. Yes, Mike is very passionate about protecting our Santa Fe River.

 

rf18 cindy mm mh mike In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River

Key people OSFR here, Cindy Noel, Treasurer, Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, co-founding president and now Advisor, Marihelen Wheeler, Advisor and Alachua County Commission candidate, Mike Roth, President of OSFR.

 

rf18 susan In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Susan Giles, who makes this web site go and designs those beautiful pages to tell us about RiverFest and all the other wonderful things about Our Santa Fe River. And makes it all work.

 

rf18 mmj In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson conceived and executed the first RiverFest many years ago. Then called the Song Contest, it has resulted in many songs being written about the Santa Fe River.  Here she is informing the crowd about the very real dangers of fracking.   Merrillee is way beyond the definition of the term “community leader.”

 

rf18 t shirt In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
This is a picture of Ray Carson, our photographer.  Hint, he is inside this handsome RiverFest shirt.

 

rf18 doug In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe RiverDoug Jipson, owner-operator of our sponsor Digitel Video and also co-owner of our sponsor Rum 138, makes it possible for OSFR to have its headquarters on his property. Doug gives constantly and much to not only OSFR but also to the community, with art showings, music and film events. Here he is filming the on-goings, but he also wields a wicked burger turner on the griddle in the Jahfew cafe.

 

rf18 ken jane mm patty In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe RiverKen Cornell, unopposed candidate for the Alachua County Commission, Jane Blais, OSFR board member, Merrillee one more time,and Patty Street, OSFR board member and secretary.

 

Our great contestants

 

rf18 dorsey In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Contest winner Cliff Dorsey  “Santa Fe Song.”

 

rf18 sterpe In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River   rf18 bear In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
John Sterpe                                                                           Cindy Bear

 

rf18 keenum In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River   rf18 mallard In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Cassie Keenum                                                                             Darya Mallard

 

rf18 page In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River     rf18 peters In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Carl Page                                                                                            Keith Peters

More of our exceptional volunteers         (in no particular order)

 

rf18 rhonda In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River      rf18 kristin In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Pam Smith & Rhonda Long                                                                  Cathy Messersmith & Kristin Rubin

rf19 ray In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River          rf18 toni In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River               rf18 martha In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River             rf18 russ In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Ray Carson                           Toni McIntosh                                Martha Strawn                           Russ Jones

 

rf18 kathy fl In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River            rf18 linda In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River            rf18 erik In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River               rf18 bill L In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Kathy Fleming                    Linda Heyl                                   Erik   Wise                                 Bill Latham

fest m billie jo In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River           fest m kristen In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River          fest m walt In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River                 fest m terry In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe River
Billy Jo Benedict               Dr. Kristen Merritt                Walter Bickmeyer                  Terry Phelan

 

fest m group In: RiverFest 2018 | Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) | Protecting the Santa Fe RiverSome but not all of our many great volunteers

Five of the photos in this post are from Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson and John Minnicks.

 

 

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1 Comment

  1. I can’t thank you all enough! The incredible harmony – and synergy – transformed into a smooth sailing day of music and food and laughter and goodies enjoyed by everyone who attended. A great team, indeed!

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