Paella Fest 2019 is in the bag. Donations are still coming in and being counted, but it looks likely that we will surpass last year's record breaking $26,000 in donations to Food for Lane County.
The weather was perfect, the food divine, the music inspired, the auction vibrant, the yellowjackets absent, and a wonderful time was had by all.
One of the most magical things about this event is all of the people and organizations who come together to volunteer their time, goods, auction items and services. There are so many that it is not feasible to list them all, but we'd like to call out some.
Maureen Smith and Eric Gunderson not only put a huge amount of time into organizing the event, they also hosted it at their lovely place in the Douglas-fir and oak forest on Dukhobar Road.
Don McElroy, Char and Dede and Julie Decker and many of the Decker-McElroy clan provided inspiration, perspiration, music, vacation rentals, art, and so much more.
Lisa Kelm, assisted by the other Lisa (Gardner) hereafter to be known as our most honored operations managers, worked tirelessly behind the scenes to provide recycling facilities, portable toilet, eating utensils, solicitations and deliveries of auction items, and more.
Steve Davis, musical master, organizer, and performer runs a tight ship and is to be thanked for the incredible lineup of musicians we had which consisted of Rich the Roving Piper, Char on Guitar, Soccarat Sax Quartet, Justin King, Steve Owens Quintet, String Theory, Martina Flamenco, Meadow Rue, and Missoula Flood.
Sue Dickman spearheaded the silent auction again this year and claimed to really enjoy the hours she spent creating spreadsheets, bid sheets, and coordinating with donors. Thanks to Karen Perkins and Laurel Ross for their assistance with miscellaneous auction chores.
Val and Ken Kime once more graciously allowed us to convert their cow pasture into a parking lot for two days. Good neighbors are not to be taken for granted.
Thirty-three people hauled paella pans, propane tanks and cooking rings to the site, spent hours or days concocting creative paella recipes and preparing ingredients to feed a dozen or so party goers each. Paella fest simply would not exist without these cooks. Thank you.
Many, many, other people helped with hanging lights and banners, setting up tables, washing dishes, facilitating parking, and numerous other tasks. To those not named here, please know that your help is greatly appreciated, too.
We lost track of how many guests attended, but it must have been close to three hundred. Thanks to all of you for your donations to Food for Lane County and for helping to make the evening so joyful.
Local merchants offered food to help feed the masses. We are especially grateful to the following. Beer was donated by Claim 52 Brewing, Deschutes Brewery, Hop Valley Brewing Company, Ninkasi Brewing Company, and Oakshire Brewing. Angus James of The Broadway Wine Merchants donated delicious Spanish wine to enjoy with the paellas. Dwight Collins, owner of Newman's Fish Company once again generously donated fish and seafood to many of the paellas that were consumed.
Many other merchants offered goods that went to the silent auction to help raised money for Food for Lane County. These include Benton-Lane Winery, Broadley Vineyards, Camp Creek Cellars, King Estate Winery, LaVelle Vineyards, Stanton Vineyard, Capella Market, Down to Earth Home, Garden, and Gift, Fred Meyer, The Kiva Grocery, La Tienda, Metropol Bakery, Oakway Fitness, Sandpiper Import Service, and Sundance Natural Foods.
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