The following article appeared today, Dec. 25, 2016, in the Lake City Reporter. The RiverFest/SongContest featuring the Santa Fe River in music, has become a popular tradition in the community. Conceived by Sierra Club organizer and OSFR member Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, it is continued by current OSFR President Pam Smith and last year was the most successful ever.
Thanks to the RiverFest and Our Santa Fe River, Inc., we now have more songs about the Santa Fe than the famed Suwannee. Sorry, Mr. Foster.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
-A river is like a life: once taken, it cannot be brought back-
From staff reports
Songwriters are invited to enter a song writing contest and help raise money for a good cause — Our Santa Fe River — by participating in the 7th annual Santa Fe RiverFest, being held April 9, 2017. Original song submissions about the Santa Fe River are due March 1, 2017.
Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR), a non-profit organization working to protect the aquifer, springs and waters, is sponsoring the songwriting contest and music festival. It will be held at Rum 138, located west of High Springs (corner of C.R. 138 and Rum Island Terrace), and hosted by WKTK host Storm Roberts.
Songwriters should submit an MP3 about the Santa Fe River no later than March 1 to info@ourSantaFeRiver.org. Judges will look for originality, quality of lyrics, melody and performance.
The finalists will take the stage during the afternoon and will have an opportunity to win the $300 first place prize. Each finalist will receive a professional video of their performance, which also will be placed on YouTube.
For more information, contact Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson at 352-474-8418.
