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Coos Bay graduate releases Old Time Fiddlers’ new book uncovering mystery of government lab BY DEAN BRICKEY For The World
BY BREE LAUGHLIN The World
A 1999 Marshfield High School graduate had an unexpected journey unravelling the history of a mysterious place in her new hometown. After a decade of research, Tai Stith recently released her book, ‘Science, Submarines & Secrets: The Incredible Early Years of the Albany Research Center.” Stith said she got strange feelings whenever she would pass by a government laboratory along her running route in Albany, OR. She dedicated herself to piece together what actually happened at the Albany Research Center (U.S. Bureau of Mines lab). “When I moved to my first house in Albany it was two blocks from this mysterious complex of buildings,” Stith said. She started asking herself, ‘How did these building come Book Release continues on page 4
Marshfield High School graduate Tai Stith displays her recently released book, ‘Science, Submarines & Secrets.'
‘Uncorking Opportunity’ provides scholarships for local students BY BREE LAUGHLIN Country Media
Curry and Coos County residents can help young people pursue their education while also enjoying food and wine pairings during an ‘Uncorking Opportunity’ on Friday, Feb. 23. The ‘Uncorking Opportunity’ is an annual fundraising event put on by the Southwestern Oregon Community College Foundation in collaboration with the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute. Those who attend the event will be treated to a selection of hors d’oeuvres specially paired with Oregon wines provided by well-known wineries from the Rogue, Umpqua and Willamette Valleys. Thanks to sponsor support, one hundred percent of ticket proceeds will go to scholarships for students pursuing degrees and training at Southwestern’s Coos and Curry campuses and the Oregon Coast Culinary Institute. “A lot of different people
Regional members of the Oregon Old Time Fiddlers’ Association will pick up their instruments again from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, for a public jam session at the Bandon IOOF Hall, just east of town along Oregon Highway 42S. Everyone will pick up their instruments, that is, except Linda Sweatt of North Bend, a retired music teacher, who plays piano. Technically, the piano is not part of the Old Time Fiddlers’ tradition, even though it’s a stringed instrument, explained Mapril Combs of Dora, chair of the association’s District 5, which includes musicians from throughout Oregon’s South Coast, from Florence to Brookings. The district also includes a few members from Crescent City, Calif., just across the border from Brookings. Altogether, District 5 includes about 30 families, totaling about 150 individual members. They range in age from 15-80, including the very talented Rachel Eickhoff, a Bandon High School senior who “plays everything,” Combs said. “Instruments played are anything you might have brought on the Oregon Trail,” explained Combs, a member of the organization for the past 40 years. Barbara Scheirman of Coos Bay, who plays the fiddle and guitar, put it another way. She said the Old Time Fiddlers’ talents include all the instruments one can play on your front porch — “and a piano’s hard to haul out on your front porch. We don’t show up with electric guitars!” The Old Time Fiddlers play at a variety of venues in District 5 on a weekly, biweekly or monthly schedule. On Saturday, Jan. 20, the fiddlers jammed at the Odd Fellows Hall in Bandon, where they get together from 1-3 p.m. monthly on the third Saturday. At the last Bandon jam,15 musicians
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Fiddlers continues on page 10
Submitted photo
Barbara Scheirman of Coos Bay plays fiddle and guitar for the Old Time Fiddlers in District. She also plays guitar.
Uncorking continues on page 4
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participated, including six on guitars, three on fiddles, Sweatt on the piano, Bill Winfrey of Coos Bay on the harmonica, two playing banjos, one on an autoharp and one playing mandolin. Most Old Time Fiddlers play from memory. One, who was new to the group, used sheet music in Bandon. “We play by ear,” Combs said,” noting that all the longtime members have memorized the songs. Selections in Bandon included ballads, bluegrass, country, waltzes, polkas and gospel music. The musicians sit in an arc or semi-circle at the front or side of the hall, taking turns leading and/or singing the songs. Some numbers are instrumentals; others have lyrics. Throughout the 90-minute to two-hour jams, the musicians and audience join in singing familiar tunes. Some musicians, like Sweatt, play several instruments. She’s comfortable at the piano, strumming a guitar and/or singing along. “The concept of leading a tune is not grandstanding. One leads and the others play along,” Scheirman said. “Once in a while a musician will ‘perform’ and the others just play along quietly.” Bill Winfrey of Coos Bay said, “We play at assisted living homes. We do that every Tuesday. There’s usually 10 or 12 of us who show up there.” Winfrey joined the Old Time Fiddlers about 10 years ago. He plays several harmonicas — not all at once, of course. His wife, Pat, plays the guitar, ukulele and sings. The harmonica has reeds, not strings, but it qualifies because pi-
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