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Tuesday, July 16, 2019 | jg-tc.com | SECTION B
Something for everyone Bagelfest to offer concerts, carnival, parade, breakfast ROB STROUD
rob.stroud@lee.net
MATTOON — The 2019 Bagelfest will offer three nights of main stage concerts, four days of carnival rides, a parade, and the event’s signature free bagel breakfast. The main stage at Grimes Field in Peterson Park will host performances by contemporary Christian music group 7eventh Time Down on Thursday, country music legends The Oak Ridge Boys on
Friday, and Beatles act 1964 The Tribute on Saturday. All of theses concerts will start at 8 p.m. Admission to the 7eventh Time Down concert will be free. Tickets for the other two concerts can be purchased in advance by calling 1-800-500-6286 or visiting mattoonbagelfest2019.eventbrite. com. Remaining tickets will be
sold at the gate. Tourism and Arts Director Angelia Burgett said they are “basically sold out” on reserved seating for the Oak Ridge Boys concert, but still have lawn seating available. “The Oak Ridge Boys concert has hit a button with people in a way I didn’t expect,” Burgett said.
seems to resonate with Beatles fans purchasing tickets for 1964 The Tribute. She said sales have been brisk for combo tickets for both shows. The Bagelfest carnival at Peterson Park is scheduled to be open 6-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 1-11 p.m. Friday, and noon11 p.m. Saturday. Armband discounts will be available all night Wednesday, 1-5 p.m. Friday, and noon-4 p.m. Saturday. Armbands She added that many of the ticket can be purchase for $17 in advance buyers have indicated they have from the Peterson House at the been to other Oaks shows and park or $20 on site. want to “see them again.” Food vendors will accompany In addition, Burgett said the music of the Oak Ridge Boys also Please see BAGELFEST, Page B4
WHAT’S INSIDE
Bagelfest parade Annual trek through downtown promises to be crowd-pleaser PAGE 3
Run for the Bagel Organizers expand race options PAGE 4
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
The Oak Ridge Boys are scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. Friday, July 19 at the Mattoon Bagelfest in Peterson Park. The group, which traces its roots back to World War II, will perform their signature songs, including “Elvira” and their latest album, 17th Avenue Revival.
Oak Ridge Boys honor roots How cute
Newborns flock to Beautiful Baby Bagel Contest PAGE 5
Bass singer Sterban talks about “Elvira,” Elvis, President Bush ROB STROUD
rob.stroud@lee.net
Chart toppers
A distinguished list of performers have graced the Bagelfest stage PAGE 8
Yummy
View pictures from the Bagel Breakfast, the early years PAGE 10
MATTOON — “Giddy up baoom papa oom papa mow mow” Bass singer Richard Sterban of the Oak Ridge Boys will be forever associated with singing that deep-voiced solo on “Elvira,” a 1981 platinum hit single that would go on to become the signature song for these country music legends. Sterban said audiences still rise to their feet whenever they hear the introduction to “Elvira.” “You can count on the fact that whenever we come your way. That song will be in our show,” Sterban said. Visitors to the Mattoon Bagelfest in Peterson Park will hear “Elvira” when Sterban and fellow Oaks Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, and William Lee Golden bring their four-part harmony there for a concert at 8 p.m. Friday, July 19. Sterban said concer-goers also will hear “American Made,” “Bobbie Sue,” “Dream On,” “Y’all Come Back Saloon” and other Oaks classic hits, plus music from the band’s new 17th Avenue Revival album. This Dave Cobb-produced album takes an early rock ‘n’ roll approach to connecting with the Oak Ridge Boys’ roots in gospel music.
Honoring music history
Royalty M 1
Local girls vie for Miss Teen Bagelfest, court PAGE 11
Sterban said the roots of the Oak Ridge Boys stretch back to World War II, when a group known as the Georgia Clodhop-
‘We bring a lot of history with us every time we walk on stage,’ said Richard Sterban, far right.
If you go WHAT: Oak Ridge Boys concert WHERE: Bagelfest in Peterson Park, Mattoon WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, July 19 TICKETS: Call 1-800-5006286 or go to mattoonbagel fest2019.eventbrite.com.
association with these shows. They began making regular Grand Ole Opry appearances in the fall of 1945. In the mid-1950s, they were featured in Time magazine as one of the top drawing gospel groups in the nation. Later, the quartet became known as the Oak Ridge Boys as its membership changed over the years. Golden joined the Oak Ridge Boys in 1965, Allen in 1966, Sterban in 1972, and Bonsall in 1973. “We bring a lot of history with us every time we walk on stage,” Sterban said. “We want to honor that history and continue to allow that to go forward.”
pers, based in Knoxville, Tennessee, performed a series of country and gospel music shows for sequestered staff and families at the research base in nearby Oak Ridge where the atomic bomb was being developed. Singing with Elvis The group renamed itself the Prior to joining the Oak Ridge Oak Ridge Quartet because of its Boys in late 1972, Sterban, a New
Jersey native, toured with the J.D. Sumner and the Stamps Quartet while the gospel group was singing backup for Elvis Presley. Sterban said he was honored to be singing in the studio with Presley in 1972 when he recorded “Burning Love,” a single that is still widely played and used in commercials to this day. Sterban said he also vividly remembers being alongside Presley during his June 10, 1972 concert at Madison Square Garden, which he described as a “special day.” During their downtime between concerts, Sterban said Presley often gathered the quartet around a piano to sing “How Great Thou Art” and other hymns. Please see OAK RIDGE, Page B2
BAGEL GAZETTE
B2 | Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Journal Gazette & Times-Courier
CROWDS BOND OVER BEATLES 1964 The Tribute set to share ‘raw energy’ of iconic band’s early years DAVE FOPAY
If you go
dave.fopay@lee.net
I
t only took a familiar opening guitar chord and lyrics, Mark Benson recalled, to bring friendship to a leather-clad biker and a man in business suit. It was during a concert at an outdoor street fair years ago, that the two men began singing together to the Beatles’ staple “Hard Days Night.” For Benson, it was an ideal example of what the band 1964 The Tribute is supposed to be about. “It was perfect,” he said. “It’s Beatles’ fans and the walls come down.” 1964 The Tribute has been re-creating Beatles’ concerts since 1984 and will take the Bagelfest stage Saturday, July 20, to take listeners back to iconic Ed Sullivan Show and Carnegie Hall performances. Benson is one of the founders and original members of the Akron, Ohio-based band and portrays John Lennon during the performances. He said the band stays true to the Beatles of 1963-66, the limited time of their career when they did live shows. “If you were lucky enough to get a ticket to see the Beatles, this is what you would have seen,” he said. They re-create the “raw energy” of a Beatles’ performance, and while there are no teenage girls screaming, that’s something the audience can contribute.
WHAT: 1964 The Tribute concert WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, July 20. Gates open at 6 p.m.
PROVIDED PHOTO
1964 The Tribute “We encourage screaming,” Benson said. The band members perform in character all the way, including replicating the Beatles’ Liverpool accents. Benson didn’t miss a beat, mimicking Lennon perfectly with a swift reply of “I couldn’t possibly do that” when asked for a sample. The band also includes Mac Ruffing as Paul McCartney, co-founder Tom Work as George Harrison and Robert Potter as Ringo Star. Some of the members have changed over the years but the
band’s performed several times at Carnegie Hall and several other “amazing places” that hosted Beatles’ concerts, Benson said. That came after starting at a time when tribute bans were “in their infancy” and most thought the group would be “a baby boomer thing” with performances limited to local venues, he said. Benson said the Bagelfest audience can expect to hear about 30 songs during Saturday’s performance. There’ll be tunes from the Beatles’ first seven albums, trav-
was 11 when the Beatles were on the Ed Sullivan Show. The others in 1964 The Tribute are around the same age. The tribute band’s enduring popularity is thanks to the longtime, strong love of the Beatles that’s continued over the years, Benson said, noting large audiences drawn today to concerts by surviving Beatles Paul and Ringo. He said there are often three generations of fans at 1964 The Tribute’s shows and doesn’t know of any other form of entertainment that could do that. “There’s no demographic that isn’t included as Beatles’ fans,” he said. Benson also recalled a performance where a man brought his 7-year-old grandson who was “so excited,” leading the grandfather to tell him “We’re bonding with the music I grew up with.” “They’re all singing and they’re all happy,” he said. Additional information about the band, its members and more can be found on the band’s website, www.1964web.com.
eling from the time of “I Saw Her Standing There” from the “Please Please Me” album to that of “Taxman” and “Eleanor Rigby” from “Revolver.” “You can’t lose,” he said. “Try to find any Beatles song you wouldn’t recognize.” There will also be some laughs in between songs, as the Beatles were “very cheeky,” “cocky but not offensive,” Benson also said. “That was Liverpool all the way,” Contact Dave Fopay at (217) 238he said. 6858. Follow him on Twitter: Benson is now 66 years old and @FopayDave
MINISTRY AND MUSIC 7eventh Time Down to perform Thursday JARAD JARMON
jarad.jarmon@lee.net
F
or 7eventh Time Down, it is as much about shepherding the message of Jesus as it is performing a song. “We just want to gently remind people that no matter what kind of junk you’re carrying around, Jesus is enough,” Mikey Howard, lead vocalist, said in summation of what the band was about. The southern-bred band from Mount Vernon, Kentucky, best known for their 2013 single, “Just Say Jesus” and their 2015 single, “God is On the Move,” is cur-
Oak Ridge From B1
“Some of my favorite memories of being with Elvis actually involve singing gospel music,” Sterban said.
Memorializing a president
If you go WHAT: 7eventh Time Down concert WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, July 18. Gates open at 6 p.m.
of theirs touch on the everyday struggles and the strength they find in God, often maintaining a swell of uplifting melodies typically found within the genre. According to their biography, the band with Howard, Austin Miller on drums, Cliff Williams on bass and Eric Vanzant on lead guitar, grew up playing together. The band toured with a long list of artists, including Newsboys, for King & Country, KJ-52, Manafest, Fireflight and Stellar Kart. A free will offering will be taken at the concert for One Stop Community Christmas.
rently touring their 2019 album, “Brand New Day.” Among the list of stops, the group will be heading to Mattoon to perform at Bagelfest. The concert is scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m. Thursday on the main stage in Peterson Park, with gates opening at 6 p.m. The group boast an array on Christian contemporary tracks Contact Jarad Jarmon at (217) 238spanning two albums and nu- 6839. Follow him on Twitter: 7eventh Time Down merous singles and EPs. Songs @JJarmonReporter
“deep cuts” off of their older albums. “We realized then that he was a true fan of ours. He was very familiar with our music,” Sterban said. “That day we established a friendship with him that lasted well over 35 years.” Sterban said the Oaks and their wives periodically visited Bush and his wife, Barbara, at their home in Kennebunkport, Maine, where they performed concerts “right in the living room.” Sterban said Bush always requested “Amazing Grace” and he later asked that the Oaks perform this song at his funeral, which they did on Dec. 6, 2018. “It was a very emotional time, but it was an honor we will never forget,” Sterban said.
The Oak Ridge Boys also built musical memories through their friendship with President George H.W. Bush. Sterban said they met then Vice President Bush in 1983 while preparing to perform for a special event on the White House lawn. Sterban said Bush was preparing for a trip overseas, but stopped by to say he was a big country fan and ask if they could play some songs for him before the concert started. Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238Sterban said they agreed, and the 6861. Follow him on Twitter: vice president then requested @TheRobStroud
PROVIDED PHOTO
Band shell to feature free performances JG-TC
MATTOON — Visitors to Bagelfest will have three chances to hear local musicians free of charge. Acts are scheduled to perform on Thursday and Friday evenings, July 18 and 19, and on Saturday morning, July 20, in the Rotary Band Shell in Peterson Park. The shows kick on Thursday with Scott Wattles, a performer of early rock ‘n roll tunes and gospel music, performing from 5-7 p.m. Friday’s concert, also from 5-7 p.m., will be a trio of area youth bands: Amplified, Anyone’s Guess and Vulfspieler. Also, those who get free bagels at the festival’s signature event, the free bagel breakfast, can also listen to a musical performance at the band shell from 9-10 a.m. on Saturday. JG-TC FILE PHOTO For the second year in a row, there will be a performance by the East Central Illinois Harmony Scott Wattles will perform in the Peterson Park band Chorus, the local chapter of Sweet Adelines Inshell Thursday evening in one of the free Bagelfest ternational. concerts in the location.
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TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019 |
‘PEACE, LOVE & BAGELFEST’ Parade to kick off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday
F JG-TC
loats and other entries in the annual Bagelfest parade will be decorated to match the “Peace, Love & Bagelfest” theme of the 2019 festival. The parade is scheduled to kick off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20, at Western Avenue and 21st Street. The procession will travel east on Western and then on Broadway Avenue through downtown and past Peterson Park, where most of the Bagelfest activities will be held. The parade will conclude at First Street, a block east of Peterson. Winners of the Miss Bagelfest pageant and the Bagel Baby contest from earlier in the week, as
well as the Book of Golden Deeds honoree, will once again be featured in the parade. Parade entrants are asked to start lining up at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at their assigned places along Western west of 21st Street. The parade roster order will be posted at www.mattoonbagelfest.com and possibly www.facebook.com/ mattoonIL/ by the day before the parade. Entrants that have not registered in advance are asked to line up at the end of the procession. The registration form is posted at www.mattoonbagelfest.com/ parade/. More information is available by calling the Mattoon Tourism & Arts Office at 217-2586286.
At left, Kim Cash of Mattoon, and her granddaughter, Lucy, watch the Bagelfest parade in Mattoon in 2016. JG-TC-FILE PHOTO
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Play ball! Softball hits home run at fest Bagelfest softball tourney features 45 teams MIKE MONAHAN
mike.monahan@lee.net
Just as there is no shortage of bagels during the annual Bagel Breakfast, there is no shortage of softball games at the Mattoon Roundhouse Complex this weekend. Forty-five teams among the five different age groups will take the field during the 31st annual Bagelfest Tournament, which runs from July 19-21 at the complex located at 311 N. 6th St.
The format for all age divisions, 8-and-under, 10-and-under, 12-and-under, 14-and-under, 16-and-under, and 18-and-under is two-pool play games that go into double-elimination bracket play. New to the tournament this year is a home run contest for the 16-and-under and 18-and-under teams. Each team is allowed to have two participants. The event will take place on the evening of Saturday, July 20. The Roundhouse Complex offers eight fields with room for team warm-ups and two full concession stands. The non-sanctioned event is a very competitive tourna-
ment. Last year Premier Fastpitch, based in Mattoon, won the 18-and-under division over Team Akadema 10-2. The same organization won the 14U and 12U divisions as well. The 14U won 9-1 over the Belleville Junior Lancers, while the 12U team nipped Midstate Madness 1-0. Teams in the 18U division are: 18U Terror-White, Blitz, Heartland Kids, Indiana Havoc 2001, Marengo Softball, Mattoon Cobras 18U BB, Mattoon Pride, Southern Illinois Dirt Dawgs (Mooney), Southern Glory Softball, Vipers and WCI Fushion. In the 16U division, teams are: Blitz 2003, Bloomington-Normal Girls Softball Association
(BINGSA) Angels 2003, Chaos Elite, Highland Insanity, Mattoon Pride 16U-Black, Mattoon Pride 16U-Hopper, and SWAT. In the 14U division, teams are: Blitz 2004, Bluff City Elite-Evola, Champaign Blue Ice, Marengo Softball, Mattoon Cobras 14U/ JE, Mattoon Pride 14U-Allison, Monticello Sages, Southern Illinois Dirt Dawgs (Merchant), Southern Illinois Dirt Dawgs 14U-Beaver/Reno and Tomahawks-DT. In the 12U division, teams are: Blackwidows 2006, Central Illinois Blitz, Marengo Softball, Mattoon Pride 12U-Masse, Mattoon Pride-Friese, Midland Magic 12u Reed, Premier Fast-
pitch and WCI Fusion. The four teams in the 10u are Mattoon Pride 10U, Midwest Shock, Southern Illinois Dirt Dawgs, and Total Contact-Williford. The Charleston Chill, Cobras, Effingham Flame 8U and Lady Speakers are the four teams in the 8U division. For the complete schedule and results go to tourneymachine.com/Public/Results/ Tournament.aspx?IDTourna ment= h20180723164843002596 4f299c41740 Contact Mike Monahan at (217) 238-6854. Follow him on Twitter: @monahanmikejgtc
JAY GRABIEC
The Run for the Bagel, which this year will feature a 5k and 10k run, as well as a 5k run/walk, has been a staple of Mattoon’s annual Bagelfest event.
Run for the Bagel to wind through town JG-TC
The 32nd annual Run for the Bagel, organized by the Mattoon Area Family YMCA, now offers participants two footrace options during Bagelfest. Angela Hampton, marketing director for the YMCA, said runners and walkers can participate in a 5K (3.1 mile) run/walk or a 10K (6.2 mile) run on Saturday, July 20. Both events downtown will start at the K.C. Summers Toyota dealership, 1913 Broadway Ave. and finish at the YMCA, 221 N. 16th St., with the 10K beginning at 6:30 a.m. and the 5K beginning at 6:35 a.m.
“We’ve listened to participant feedback over the years to develop a race that people really seem to love,” said Sarah Dowell, community events director for the YMCA. “Run for the Bagel is a fun family-friendly event that also allows for some friendly competition for people who are looking for more of a challenge.” Hampton said both races are chip timed, which means that participants will wear a chip that will automatically record their finish time. Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each age and gender division for both races. Every participant will
receive a special edition tie-dyed shirt. The Run for the Bagel offers participants a partially shaded path that will take participants through Lytle Park on the west side of Mattoon. Registration fees will be $33 through Friday, July 19, and $35 on the day of the run. All proceeds will benefit the YMCA’s Membership for All scholarship fund. More information, including age groups, course map, and online registration by visting www. mattoonymca.org/run-for-thebagel/ or by calling the YMCA at 217-234-9494.
Bingo benefits various causes JG-TC
With the bagels come the bingos. The Omega Nu Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha will once again offer three days of Bagelfest bingo in the air-conditioned DeMars Center at Peterson Park. Bingo games are set for 6-9 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 1-5 p.m. Saturday. Terri Crum of Omega Nu said Saturday, especially in the afternoon, garners the biggest crowds over the three days. Participants can join in the games at any point during each day and play as many games as
$
they wish. The entry fee is 25 cents per card for a regular game. The cost is $1 per card for the blackout games, a variation of Bingo requiring participants to cover the entire board, that nets bigger prizes, Crum said. The blackout games will take place once every hour. Participants can purchase and use more than one card per game. Proceeds from each game, of which are exclusively cash prizes, are split between the winner and Omega Nu. Crum said this is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, fundraiser for Omega Nu. The
bingo games have helped the chapter raise money for local causes, such as Camp New Hope, and for national charities, such as Easter Seals and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Crum said the games are open to participants ages 18 and older. Participants are welcome to have their children sit with them. Cold soda and water, as well as snacks, will be sold during the games. Contact Jarad Jarmon at (217) 2386839. Follow him on Twitter: @ JJarmonReporter
Take a resT TesT & enTer To win a
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JG-TC FILE PHOTO
BAGEL BUGGY Rachel Doeding, left, and Lois Vonderheide show off their entry for the Bagel Buggy Derby in 1989.
Bagelfest From B1
During the breakfast, the East Central Harmony Chorus is scheduled to perform from 9 to 10 a.m. in the Rotary Band Shell next to the Demars Center. As the breakfast concludes, the annual Bagelfest parade will be preparing to kick off at 10:30 a.m. at Western Avenue and 21st Street. The procession will travel east on Western and then Broadway Avenue throughout downtown and past Peterson Park. Burgett said parade participants will be decorating their floats and other entries to match the 2019 festival’s theme of “Peace, Love & Bagelfest.”
the carnival. Burgett said new booths this year include Ice Ice Shavings from Mattoon, the SweeTea’z trailer from Charleston, the Dipped & Sprinkled ice cream truck from Flora, and vendors of barbecue parfaits and grilled corn on the cob. Bagelfest and its signature breakfast started in 1986 as a way to introduce the new Lender’s Bagels bakery to Mattoon. This year, the free bagel breakfast will be held from 8-10 a.m. Saturday in the air-conditioned Demars Center at the park. The Mattoon Lender’s factory, now owned by Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238Conagra, will continue to provide 6861. Follow him on Twitter: @ TheRobStroud the bagels for this meal.
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TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019 |
Samantha McCormick, right, and her daughters, Ella McCormick, 1, center, and Lillie Wilken, 7, left, smile on the stage during the 2017 Beautiful Bagel Baby contest. JG-TC-FILE PHOTOS
OH, BABY! Newborns to dominate Bagelfest baby contest ROB STROUD | rob.stroud@lee.net
T
he second night of the 2019 Bagelfest’s annual Beautiful Baby Bagel Contest will focus entirely on the youngest entrants — ages newborn to almost 1. Online registration opened on June 4, with spots in the contest being reserved for the first 101 children that were signed up for the Beautiful Baby Bagel Contest. “It booked up in less than a day, so it was very fast,” said contest organizer Renee Fonner. “This year, we have almost as many newborns as we do children in all the other categories.” The contest has been divided between two nights in recent years to better accommodate family members. Fonner said the second night, Wednesday, July 17, will focus on ages newborn to almost 1; while the first night, Tuesday, July 16, will focus on children ages 1 to almost 2, 2 to almost 3, and 3 to 4. Each night of contests will begin at
6:30 p.m. in the former Deb’s storefront next to J.C. Penney at the Cross County Mall, with check-in beginning at 6 p.m. both evenings. No pageant wear or makeup is allowed in the Beautiful Baby Bagel Contest. All dress is casual. There will be one boy and one girl winner from each of the four categories for a total of eight winners. Fonner said the event also will once again offer a People’s Prince & Princess Contest in which community members can vote for their favorite contestants by making monetary donations that will be given to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “You can make a donation either night for any contestant. We will take donations through Wednesday night,” Fonner said. More information is available at www. mattoonbagelfest.com/beautifulbabybagel/.
Stephanie Gentry, right, and her daughter, Kiyah Everhart, left, both of Mattoon, smile during the Bagel Baby contest at the Cross County Mall in Mattoon in 2018.
Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238-6861. Follow him on Twitter: @TheRobStroud
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A SECOND HELPING A look back at Bagelfest 2018 Members of Diamond Rio engage the crowd.
Santa Claus takes a break from his summer vacation to make a parade appearance.
Bagel Bow Wow
Diamond Rio
The Bagel Breakfast
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Chris Dawson of Humboldt shows his 5-year-old miniature long hair dachshund, Ella, during Bagel Bow Wow.
A motorcyclist rides during Bagelfest parade.
The Bagelfest Carnival lights up the night sky.
Chris Walden, son-in-law of Al Krietemeier, with the Volunteer of the Year family Brian Johanpeter, Michelle Johanpeter and Mayla Johanpeter
Local musicians make their way down the parade route.
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Melanie Newton, foreground left, and Ashley Mitchell, foreground right, both from Lovington, enjoy the sounds of Craig Morgan during Bagelfest at Peterson Park in 2010.
CROWD-PLEASERS Some of the biggest names in music have graced the Bagelfest stage over the years. How many names do you recognize? 2018 – Diamond Rio, Phil Dirt Presents – Surf’s Up – A Tribute to the Beach Boys, Jasmine Murray
Luke Bryan
2017 – Trent Harmon, Resurrection – A Journey Tribute, Jordan Feliz 2016 – Chase Bryant, Rachel Holder/Jason Pritchett, Citizen Way 2015 – Frankie Ballard, Waterloo Revival, Plumb 2014 – David Nail, Swon Brothers, Chris August 2013 – Joe Nichols, Victoria Ghost, Finding Favour 2012 – Ronnie Milsap, Taylor Wagner/Muddy Grove, Suede, 16 Cities
The Band Perry
2011 – Travis Tritt, Craig Campbell, Building 429 2010 – Craig Morgan, The Band Perry, Remedy Drive 2009 – Zac Brown Band, Neverly Brothers 2008 – Keith Anderson, Ashton Shepard, Scott Wattles & the Blue Suede Crew, Smash Band 2007 – Luke Bryan, Emerson Drive, Night Ranger 2006 – Jason Aldean, Billy Currington 2005 – Terri Clark, .38 Special, Mathew West
.38 Special
2004 – Gary Allan, Josh Turner, Blake Shelton, Mark Shultz 2003 – Darryl Worley, Chris Cagle, Buckinghams 2002 – Marty Stuart, Cindy Thompson 2001 – Oak Ridge Boys 2000 – Roy Clark 1999 – 1964 The Tribute, Sons of the Desert, Randy Stonehill
1998 – Sounds of Swing, Dorsey Or- 1995 – Captain Rat & the Blind chestra, Randy Stonehill, Comedian Rivets, Chris Jones and the Night Drivers, Lee Roy Parnell Rex Havens 1997 – Gary Puckett and the Union Group, Just for Kicks
1994 – Ricky Lynn Gregg & Tim Wallis
1996 – Steve Wariner, Westcott Epperson & Co.
1993 – Westcott Epperson & Davis Co., Dude Mowrey & Tracy Byrd
Travis Tritt
1992 – Martin Delray & Rob Crosby
1990 – American Tribute, Bagel Boogie Street Dance
1991 – Greater Decatur Rhythm and 1989 – American Tribute Blues played at the grandstands that afternoon. There didn’t appear 1988 – Decatur Park Singers to be a night concert to close things out that year. 1987 – The Illiana Band
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BAGEL GAZETTE
JOURNAL GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER
TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019 |
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GOIN’ TO THE DOGS Pooches return to Bagelfest with Bow Wow contest
The Bagel Bow Wow contest, a regular feature of Bagelfest, returns to the festival this year. Pooches can compete in various categories in the contest, which will take place on Saturday. JG-TC FILE PHOTO
The origins of today’s Lender’s Bagels
BAGEL RECIPE
Editor’s Note: The following was originally published in the 1998 edition of the Bagel Gazette.
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Try your hand at making bagels at home LEE NEWS SERVICE
Yield: 12 to 16 bagels 2 cups warm water, approximately 110
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degrees ¼ cup honey or barley malt syrup 1½ teaspoons instant yeast or 2¼ teaspoons (1 package) active dry yeast ¾ cup whole-wheat flour About 4½ to 5 cups bread flour 4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1. Stir water and honey or barley malt syrup together in a large bowl. Stir in yeast and let mixture stand 5 to 10 minutes until foamy. 2. Stir in all of the wholewheat flour and 1¼ cups bread flour and mix until smooth and the consistency of pancake batter. Cover bowl and let rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. 3. Stir mixture. Add an additional 1 cup of bread flour, 2 teaspoons of the salt and the vinegar; stir until smooth. Continue stirring in additional flour, a handful at a time, until dough leaves the sides of the bowl and becomes too stiff to stir. 4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured counter and knead until smooth and supple, dusting with additional flour as needed to keep it from sticking. 5. Oil large bowl and add dough, turning it to coat all sides. Cover bowl with plas-
ooches can show how to “peace out,” if they have special talents or if they’re just really good dogs Saturday, July 20, at Bagelfest’s annual Bagel Bow Wow contest. The contest is set for 2 p.m. at the Peterson Park band shell, with registration at 1:30 p.m. The contest will feature the same categories as in the past. Organizer Bernie DeBuhr said he expects Bow Wow to resemble many of those at previous Bagelfests, which averaged about two dozen entries. The contest’s categories include Best Good Old Dog, which is equivalent to a best of show category. Best Bagel Dog is for dogs to be judged on how well they exhibit this year’s Bagelfest theme, “Peace, Love & Bagels.” Owners usually dress their dogs in clothes and accessories to match the theme. There will be a lookalike category for the dog and its owner, as well as a best trick category. The Mattoon Mars Petcare pet food plant will once again provide prizes, DeBuhr said. Those will include packages of pet care items for category winners and dog treats for each contestant. Scheduled to serve as judges for Saturday’s contest are local veterinarian Tammy Albin, Sammy Renfro of Copper Kennels and Mattoon city Commissioner Dave Cox. Kayla Danford from All in One Sit and Done grooming will be the announcer. DeBuhr said dogs should be on leashes during the contest and owners must provide proof of their pets’ vaccinations.
Vegetable oil or nonstick spray 3 quarts water, for boiling 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 large egg white, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water Poppy seeds, sesame seeds, coarse kosher salt, or a combination, optional 1 cup cornmeal for dipping bottom of bagels, optional
tic wrap and let it rest for 10 minutes. 6. Oil hands and pull dough from the edges of the bowl into the center. Cover bowl tightly and refrigerate overnight or 1½ hours at room temperature. 7. Remove dough from refrigerator 1 hour before continuing with recipe. 8. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured counter and cut it into 12 to 16 pieces. Shape each piece into a smooth ball and let rest, covered on the counter, for 10 minutes. 9. Oil a sheet of parchment paper and set aside. To shape the bagels, poke your finger through the center of dough and expand hole while stretching the circle. Place shaped dough onto a piece of oiled parchment paper and cover lightly with an oiled piece of plastic wrap. Let rest for 10 to 15 minutes, or until bagels begin to puff up. 10. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine wa-
ter, the remaining 2 teaspoons salt and baking soda in a large pot (an aluminum pot will discolor); bring to a boil. 11. Drop a few bagels at a time into the boiling water. Turn after 45 seconds and let boil for another 45 seconds. Lift bagels out of water with a spider or slotted spoon and set onto cornmeal, if using, and then onto the parchment-lined pan. Turn over onto toppings, or brush tops of bagels with egg wash and then turn onto desired toppings. Set pan in oven to bake for 5 minutes. Then reduce temperature to 450 degrees and continue baking until bagels are golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped. Transfer bagels to a rack to cool. Per serving (based on 12): 276 calories; 1g fat; no saturated fat; no cholesterol; 9g protein; 56g carbohydrate; 6g sugar; 3g fiber; 220mg sodium; 21mg calcium Recipe by Margi Kahn for Kitchen Conservatory
n 1927, the only thing that Harry Lender brought with him to America (besides some clothes) was the bagel recipe he developed in Lublin, Poland. Seeing too many bagel makers in New York, he settled in New Haven, Conn. There he founded Lender’s Bagel Bakery: the company that would pioneer the bagel boom and build bagel awareness all over America. Within the first two years, Harry had saved enough money to send for his family in Lublin, Poland. The Lender family spent the next 30 years forming bagels by hand and baking them in their small store-front bakery. Their sales began to flourish when Jewish neighbors bought Lender’s bagels for Sunday breakfast. Soon, the Lenders noticed that immigrants of all backgrounds were frequenting the small bakery.
In 1955, the family began to package and sell their popular product in local grocery stores. The Lender brothers, Murray, Marvin and Sam, who were by now the driving forces in the business, froze their first bagel in 1962. This meant that the bagel could still be made preservative-free, yet could be shipped anywhere. In the beginning, Murray Lender, the salesman of the family, began selling bagels to supermarkets in New York and New England. He wasn’t always received with the enthusiasm he brought to these sales meetings. In fact, back then many buyers felt that the frozen bagel was the craziest idea they had heard of in years! Fortunately, the Lender persistence won out and soon bagel lovers all over the East Coast were enjoying the convenience and quality of Lender’s frozen bagels. The next 14 years saw many weeks on the road for the Lenders. Market by market, they expanded across America, much like the
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original pioneers did. After California became bagelized in 1976, Lender’s Bagels continued westward and northward, successfully reaching both Hawaii and Alaska.Today, Lender’s Bagels, whether the frozen, refrigerated or bread aisle variety, can be found in virtually every supermarket across the United States. America was eating so many Lender’s bagels that the little roundies couldn’t be baked fast enough. So, in 1976, Lender’s opened America’s then-largest bagel plant, in West Seneca, N.Y. As the bagel boom continued to mount, in 1986 Lender’s opened the world’s largest bagel bakery in Mattoon. As the decades pass, Americans continue to discover the crusty outside and chewy inside goodness of bagels. Even a dreamer like Harry Lender would never have believed that his little backyard bakery could become the industry leader. But, as he used to tell his children, “It could only happen in America!”
BAGEL GAZETTE
B10 | Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Journal Gazette & Times-Courier
Tables were placed end-to-end on Broadway Avenue between 14th and 19th streets for people to sit and sample bagels in 1986.
Bagel breakfast a lasting tradition A s part of celebration to welcome Lender’s Bagel Bakery to town in 1986, “The World’s Largest Bagel Breakfast” was held in downtown Mattoon.
Nearly 15,000 people attended the event, which included bagels, cream cheese, jelly, coffee and juice. “I’m really surprised. I didn’t think there’s be such a turnout,” Wilma Whitehead of Mattoon told a reporter
that day. “Lender’s will be good for the town.” For many who attended the event, it was the first time they had tried a bagel. It started a tradition that continues today.
JG-TC FILE PHOTOS
Nicholas Sparks, 5, Chad Sparks, 9, and Shelly Strong, 11, of Mattoon try out bagel painting in 1987.
Michelle Giverson, 7, takes a break from eating her bagel in 1986.
While others enjoyed a fee bagel breakfast at tables set up along Broadway Avenue in 1986, Chris Rieck enjoys his cup of juice in the back of a bagel truck.
Murray Lender led the way for festival JG-TC
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story originally appeared in the Bagel Gazette in 2014. Murray Lender never met a bagel eater he didn’t like. And there’s a good chance he shook almost every bagel lover’s hand when he was in Mattoon, too, during the early Bagelfest celebrations in this town. The smiling bagel promoter died March 21, 2012, in a Miami hospital, 10 days after a fall that led to medical complications. Lender, part of the Lender’s Bagels family that first opened an American bakery in 1927, was 81. “He loved people and loved bagels in that order,” said Bill Hamel, who helped organize the first Bagelfest when he was publisher of the Mattoon Journal Gazette/Charleston Times-Courier. “I re-
JG-TC FILE PHOTO
The late Murray Lender signs autographs at Bagelfest several years ago. member him smiling all the time as he kept meeting more and more people.” Bagel makers and Mattoon owe a lot to Murray Lender. He and his brother, Sam, turned a Hartford, Conn., bagel factory into a national food brand, popularizing the ethnic food with chutzpah and humor. One of the advertising jingles for the company,
now owned by Conagra, was “If you don’t love Lender’s Bagels, you have a hole in your head,” and several years ago Lender joined in the baking of the world’s largest bagel in a special brick oven at the Mattoon plant. Bagelfest started in Mattoon as a way to introduce what the new Lender’s factory was making in Mat-
toon on its northwest side. Lender helped promote the first free bagel breakfast along Broadway Avenue in Mattoon with the help of the city’s Chamber of Commerce. “When Lender’s was opening here people would ask ‘What’s the deal with bagels?’ People just weren’t familiar with them back then in Mattoon,” Hamel recalled. Lender’s met the Corn Belt and fell in love at first bite, leading to the annual Bagelfest, a celebration now featuring a Beautiful Bagel Baby contest, a Bagel Bow-Wow competition, a parade with some entries festooned with bagels, and dozens of other activities. Joan Record, who helped with many Bagelfests through the years, remembered how Lender enjoyed coming to Mattoon during the early Bagelfests and meeting the friendly people in town.
“He never saw a stranger. He shook all the hands he could when he was here. And he was parade marshal, too. He really loved having the bagel breakfast on a street named Broadway,” Record said. Bagelfest now provides Mattoon with a unique annual festival even though out-of-towners might wonder how bagels have a connection with a small city in the Midwest. Hamel said health problems prevented Lender from at-
tending Bagelfests in later years in his life. His children and a granddaughter rekindled the family tradition by coming to Mattoon during a recent Bagelfest. “We all hoped he could come back again. We’re going to miss him,” Hamel said. “Maybe they’ll crank up production of the cinnamon or blueberry bagels for Murray in Mattoon,” Record said of the sweet aroma coming from the food plant on certain days.
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JOURNAL GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER
BAGEL GAZETTE
TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019 |
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LITTLE MISS BAGELFEST MISS TEEN BAGELFEST Pictured with 2018 Miss Teen Bagelfest Kandice Dyer are, clockwise from upper left, Alivia Badeaux, Avery Smith, Alexandria Wells and Tehya Cloyd.
Pictured, back row, from left, Lucy Bagwell, Ariana Dunne, Kira Gabbard, 2018 Little Miss Bagelfest Layna Adele, Teagan Badeaux-Sanders, Macie Runner, Reece Lindley. Middle row, Kaydence Perry, Cameron Wells, Kylee Walker, Braylee Hensley. Front row, Anslee Stone and Harlee Runner.
BAGELFEST ROYALTY Opening night to feature crowning of Miss Teen Bagelfest, court
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he Miss Bagelfest royalty is scheduled to be crowned on Tuesday, July 16, during the opening night of this 34th annual festival. The Little Miss Bagelfest pageant (ages 5-7) is scheduled to be held from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by the Preteen (8-10), Junior Miss (11-14) and Miss Teen (1517) pageants at 7:30 p.m. at Williams Elementary School, 1709 S. Ninth St. Participation is open to preregistered youths from the Mattoon School District. During the pageant, Little Miss contestants individually answer questions in front of the judges and join together to sign a song or perform a dance. The older contestants give themed presentations and also team up for a performance. In addition, the Mattoon Exchange Club will once again present its annual Book of Deeds honor for community service at 5:45 p.m. just prior to the Little Miss Bagelfest pageant. Members of the Miss Bagelfest court and the Book of Deeds honoree will be featured in the Bagelfest parade that will start at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 20.
JUNIOR MISS BAGELFEST From left, Kaydence Drummond, Elizabeth Anderson, Roxana Cloyd, 2018 Junior Miss Bagelfest Alphia Vatalaro, Madison Cusick and Shaylee McGahey.
MISS PRETEEN BAGELFEST Back row, from left, Serenity Childress, Arely Gonzalez, Jazzy Gordon, Gracie White and Kyndel Evans. Front row, Ava Beachy, Gracie Wilson and Khloe Frederick. 2018 Preteen Miss Bagelfest Audrina Gordon is not pictured. M 1
B12 | Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Journal Gazette & Times-Courier
July 19th Carnival open 1-11pm, armband 1-5pm Vendors open at 1pm Rotary Band Shell Amplified, Anyone’s Guess, Vulfspieler, 5-7pm Bingo at the Demars Center 6-9pm THE OAK RIDGE BOYS on the main stage at 8pm, Tickets are $20 for reserved and $15 for lawn seating.
July 16th Miss Bagelfest Williams School Little Miss 6-7pm Pre-teen, Jr. Miss & Miss Bagelfest 7:30pm
July 16th/17th Beautiful Bagel Baby contest at the Cross County Mall 6pm each evening
July 17th Carnival opens at 6pm, armband night
July 18th Carnival opens at 6pm Bingo in the Demars Center 6-9pm Vendors open at 5pm Rotary Band Shell Scott Wattles Rock and Roll plus Gospel Show 5-7pm 7evnth Time Down on the main stage 8pm, Free Concert with donations accepted for One Stop Community Christmas
July 20th Run for the Bagel 6:30am World’s Biggest Bagel Breakfast in the Demars Center 8-10am Rotary Band Shell East Central Harmony Chorus in the 9-10am Parade 21st and Western Ave., along Broadway Ave to 1st Street. 10:30am Bingo in the Demars Center 1-5pm Bagel Bow Wow dog contest 2pm at the Rotary Band Shell, registration at 1:30pm. Carnival open noon-11pm, armband noon-4pm Vendors open at 8am 1964 The Tribute on the main stage 8pm. Tickets are $10 for reserved seating and $5 for lawn seating.
www.mattoonbagelfest.com (800) 500-6286 M 1
