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Fair 'got talent,'derby
  
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By Francesca Olsen
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
The Columbia County Fair opened yesterday with a song and a smash, offering the first division of “Columbia County’s Got Talent,” which showcased the best and brightest of the county’s kids under 12, followed by the annual Demolition Derby at the other end of the fairgrounds.
Fifteen acts competed for the top prizes in their categories in the talent competition. This is the first year of “Columbia County’s Got Talent.”
“We were talking about having something like “American Idol”, and it just evolved from there,” said Marilyn Barry, who coordinated the contest. Contestants had to submit a video of their act in order to enter the competition.
Barry assembled a panel of judges, including Mark DeGarmo, executive director of Dynamic Phone Forms, Jan Hanvik, executive director of the Clemente Solo Velez Cultural and Educational Center, Stephanie Monseu of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Christine Abitable of Upstage Productions.
“We’re all very excited to help support this effort,” said DeGarmo. “We’re all excited to support local talent.”
The winners in each category are eligible to compete in the New York State Fair in Syracuse this weekend, if they choose to.
Robert Bruneau, age six, won in the individual instrumental category; he was the only drummer who competed and performed “The Kids Are All Right” to open the competition, showcasing what has got to be a fierce natural rock talent. Lola Hughes, 5, won first place in the individual dance competition, performing a ballet routine to “Morning Song.” She stole the show, causing other contestants to murmur their jealousy, with her precise and artful dance maneuvers. Second place was Kacey Wildermuth. Third place was Madison Roe.
The Hudson Valley Academy of Performing Arts Musical Theater Workshop, performing a dance routine to “Zip A Dee Doo Dah,” took first place in the ensemble dance competition. Dancers included Megan Schoep, 12, Kyle Pecord, 11, Isabelle D’Arcy, 10, Julia Ordu, 7, and Lola Hughes, 5. Kaylin Meyer, 9, took first place in the individual vocal category with “Look to the Rainbow.” She wore a white dress with a rainbow sash to match her song.
Second place was Hula Circus Review: Syona Morrison, Abigail Cashen, Laura Coe, Juliett Coe.
The Zappa Project, a young, up-and-coming rock trio, took first place for vocal ensemble. The band is comprised of the talented Ryan Moag, 12, Jaun Jurak, 12, and Griffen Jurak, 9.
First place in Individual Vocal went to Kaylin Meyer. Second place was Amelia Stapleton, and third place was Janah McKinnon Smith.
On the other side of the fairgrounds, a very different ritual was prepping for destruction at about the same time the contestants of the talent show took their final bows. The drivers in the Columbia County Fair’s annual Demolition Derby lined up, going over the numbers on their cars in spray-paint one last time, and preparing for the apocalyptic, intense smashfest that was to come.
During the first heat, contestants gave it everything they had, shedding bumpers, tires, and various other pieces across the muddy raceway. Man and woman alike squealed tires and smashed into each other with alarming candor and velocity, from the front, from the back, from the sides. Scott Quinn took first place in the first heat, after years of participating. “This is my first win...I’m glad to be up here,” he said.
It was Robert Barret of Greenport’s first derby. He’s eighteen. It took him two days to retrofit his car, a Ford Tempo, for the derby. “My dad gave it to me,” he said. He decided he wanted to enter about two months ago to continue the family tradition. “My dad’s been doing it since he was younger,” he said.
Jethro Rossman of Stuyvesant Falls won second place at the derby last year. “I’ve been doing this probably ten years,” he said. “It’s like a disease.”
His car, devoid of description, “is pretty much just a clunker,” he said. “It barely runs. It’s been getting harder to find them. Scrap metal’s up.”
“This is my first time in a long time,” said Andrew Murphy of Niverville. He drove the car representing the Pie Cafe in Kinderhook. He said he wasn’t particularly excited. “It’s just the Columbia County Fair.”
“This is my twelfth year,” said Larry Stickles of Valatie. “The whole Stickes racing crew does it.” The Stickles racing crew had 16 cars in the derby this year, and that isn’t even a record — they have previously had 19 cars in the derby at the same time. He said he loved doing the demolition derby “because you get to crash a car, and not get a ticket for it!”
Alexis Antonecchia of Kinderhook said she was very excited for the derby. She ran it with a 1993 Cadillac, with a V8 engine. This is her first year competing. “I always wanted to do it...it’s on my bucket list,” she said. “I’ve already hit three in the last two years.”
Kristin Stickles, also on the Stickles racing team, has been a contestant four times so far. She finished second two years ago. She’s been going to the fair her whole life, and is a 4-H alumni. She said she loves the derby “just like everyone else —you get to wreck cars, and you can’t do it on the street, so it’s great.”
The adult division and finals of “Columbia County’s Got Talent” continue Thursday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively at the fair’s North Gate Stage. The Demolition Derby continues at the grandstand at 6:30 p.m. As an added bonus, there’s free admission for ages 18 and under until 4 p.m., and entry fees for senior citizens are half price until 4 p.m.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit www.registerstar.com.
Fifteen acts competed for the top prizes in their categories in the talent competition. This is the first year of “Columbia County’s Got Talent.”
“We were talking about having something like “American Idol”, and it just evolved from there,” said Marilyn Barry, who coordinated the contest. Contestants had to submit a video of their act in order to enter the competition.
Barry assembled a panel of judges, including Mark DeGarmo, executive director of Dynamic Phone Forms, Jan Hanvik, executive director of the Clemente Solo Velez Cultural and Educational Center, Stephanie Monseu of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Christine Abitable of Upstage Productions.
“We’re all very excited to help support this effort,” said DeGarmo. “We’re all excited to support local talent.”
The winners in each category are eligible to compete in the New York State Fair in Syracuse this weekend, if they choose to.
Robert Bruneau, age six, won in the individual instrumental category; he was the only drummer who competed and performed “The Kids Are All Right” to open the competition, showcasing what has got to be a fierce natural rock talent. Lola Hughes, 5, won first place in the individual dance competition, performing a ballet routine to “Morning Song.” She stole the show, causing other contestants to murmur their jealousy, with her precise and artful dance maneuvers. Second place was Kacey Wildermuth. Third place was Madison Roe.
The Hudson Valley Academy of Performing Arts Musical Theater Workshop, performing a dance routine to “Zip A Dee Doo Dah,” took first place in the ensemble dance competition. Dancers included Megan Schoep, 12, Kyle Pecord, 11, Isabelle D’Arcy, 10, Julia Ordu, 7, and Lola Hughes, 5. Kaylin Meyer, 9, took first place in the individual vocal category with “Look to the Rainbow.” She wore a white dress with a rainbow sash to match her song.
Second place was Hula Circus Review: Syona Morrison, Abigail Cashen, Laura Coe, Juliett Coe.
The Zappa Project, a young, up-and-coming rock trio, took first place for vocal ensemble. The band is comprised of the talented Ryan Moag, 12, Jaun Jurak, 12, and Griffen Jurak, 9.
First place in Individual Vocal went to Kaylin Meyer. Second place was Amelia Stapleton, and third place was Janah McKinnon Smith.
On the other side of the fairgrounds, a very different ritual was prepping for destruction at about the same time the contestants of the talent show took their final bows. The drivers in the Columbia County Fair’s annual Demolition Derby lined up, going over the numbers on their cars in spray-paint one last time, and preparing for the apocalyptic, intense smashfest that was to come.
During the first heat, contestants gave it everything they had, shedding bumpers, tires, and various other pieces across the muddy raceway. Man and woman alike squealed tires and smashed into each other with alarming candor and velocity, from the front, from the back, from the sides. Scott Quinn took first place in the first heat, after years of participating. “This is my first win...I’m glad to be up here,” he said.
It was Robert Barret of Greenport’s first derby. He’s eighteen. It took him two days to retrofit his car, a Ford Tempo, for the derby. “My dad gave it to me,” he said. He decided he wanted to enter about two months ago to continue the family tradition. “My dad’s been doing it since he was younger,” he said.
Jethro Rossman of Stuyvesant Falls won second place at the derby last year. “I’ve been doing this probably ten years,” he said. “It’s like a disease.”
His car, devoid of description, “is pretty much just a clunker,” he said. “It barely runs. It’s been getting harder to find them. Scrap metal’s up.”
“This is my first time in a long time,” said Andrew Murphy of Niverville. He drove the car representing the Pie Cafe in Kinderhook. He said he wasn’t particularly excited. “It’s just the Columbia County Fair.”
“This is my twelfth year,” said Larry Stickles of Valatie. “The whole Stickes racing crew does it.” The Stickles racing crew had 16 cars in the derby this year, and that isn’t even a record — they have previously had 19 cars in the derby at the same time. He said he loved doing the demolition derby “because you get to crash a car, and not get a ticket for it!”
Alexis Antonecchia of Kinderhook said she was very excited for the derby. She ran it with a 1993 Cadillac, with a V8 engine. This is her first year competing. “I always wanted to do it...it’s on my bucket list,” she said. “I’ve already hit three in the last two years.”
Kristin Stickles, also on the Stickles racing team, has been a contestant four times so far. She finished second two years ago. She’s been going to the fair her whole life, and is a 4-H alumni. She said she loves the derby “just like everyone else —you get to wreck cars, and you can’t do it on the street, so it’s great.”
The adult division and finals of “Columbia County’s Got Talent” continue Thursday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively at the fair’s North Gate Stage. The Demolition Derby continues at the grandstand at 6:30 p.m. As an added bonus, there’s free admission for ages 18 and under until 4 p.m., and entry fees for senior citizens are half price until 4 p.m.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit www.registerstar.com.
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