Dear Salinas Valley Fair Livestock Auction Buyers;
Let me take a few lines to tell you about a young man named Kevin and his pig named Malcolm. I have lived next door to Kevin’s family for about a decade now and have always found them to be friendly, industrious and outgoing; in short, great neighbors. I have watched over the past weeks how before school Kevin walks from our section of Seventh Street down to the large Quonset building at the Stampede Grounds where Fair pigs and sheep are penned and again every afternoon after classes to care for his animal. I say he walks but because Kevin is a long-distance track runner, he does the mile in under four minutes, he may very well run down to the paddock. The same happens on weekends.
Now because I am no judge of porcine flesh, I cannot speak for Malcolm the pig beyond the brief description that he is black with a white stripe running from front foot up the leg, over his shoulders and down the opposite leg to the foot and, if memory serves, that makes Malcolm a Poland China breed (but don’t quote me). As far as I can tell he seems to be a happy pig, but perhaps this applies to all Fair livestock entries because they don’t know their final ending.
I wanted to offer these brief remarks regarding Kevin and Malcolm to all you Livestock Auction buyers for the open and blatant reason of soliciting someone to buy this young man’s animal. I know Kevin, like all youngsters with animals up for auction, will duly send out letters to potential buyers, but I wanted to add my voice to his solicitations because, well, just because I like Kevin and his family. And as far as is possible with a pig, Malcolm is also likeable. That is all there is to this letter, a simple plea. So, if you are a buyer come the day of the auction, please consider Kevin (I do not often use last names in this column but for this letter it seems appropriate; it is Monroy, Kevin Monroy) and give a think to bidding on Malcolm. It would be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
Steve Wilson
King City
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I thought a good segue from pig to performer would be Tommy Moon, but it isn’t really because you can buy a pig, whereas you cannot buy Tommy; but you can hire him. Let me explain that. Tom Mooneyham is his real name and, at special times in special places, music is his game. The Tommy Moon Band first appeared on the Central Coast some 30 years ago and has existed in one form or another since that time. The five-member combo play a variety of genres stretching over many years including rock, R&B, Country Blues and even a little Jazz thrown in the mix.
Many of us here in South County know Tom as the tech master at the high school where from high up in the booth at Robert Stanton Stage he works his magic on all performances held in that historic building. Also, the residents of Arroyo Seco get internet due to Tom’s efforts up in the Canyon. But most of us do not know Tom as frontman, but that can change when the Tommy Moon Band play the Longbranch Saloon the evening of May 17 at the Fairgrounds. If you are a music lover over multiple decades then that is the place to be Friday night of the Fair.
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With mention of the Robert Stanton Theater, it should be noted the old building has seen many updates over the past couple of decades, with more to come. The addition of new stage lights and audio and visual updates coupled with recently replaced curtains and new performance flooring combine to enhance every performance held in our revered Auditorium. In the past couple of months, the stage has hosted a traveling dance troupe, a couple high school events and a ballet.
This week the stage is host to a story set to music that audiences have enjoyed for 60 years; the original production opened in 1964 and closed eight years later after a record setting 3,242 performances. The musical is “Fiddler on the Roof” and the storyline takes place in 1905 Russia, it is a sometimes humorous sometimes serious portrayal of Tsarist rule and the persecution of the Jewish population, a stark example of anti-Semitism.
Widespread media coverage of current protests at universities across the nation remind us the present situation in the Middle East has brought the Jewish nation once again into the public dialogue and made last weekend’s opening of Sol Treasures’ production of “Fiddler” all the timelier and more pertinent. That it was a hit is no surprise as Director Reg brings years of experience as both performer and director to this special musical, the added talents of Choreographer Kyle and Music Lady Madison combine to form a formidable artistic trio. Tevya the Dairyman, played by Jeff, guides us through the small village of Anatevka, his wife Golde, played by Jamie, always loudly at his side.
Of the cast ranging from high school students to graduates of the 1950s, locals will see many familiar faces with a few new faces all combining for an evening of musical storytelling. If you are a fan of musicals with a message or haven’t been to a classy performance in a while, then you want to be in the audience for this one. The Sol Treasures’ website and Facebook page informs how to purchase tickets for this coming weekends final performances. Go, enjoy.
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In last week’s column, I listed what I thought were accurate family names; seems I was wrong, twice. One was a typo on my part, the other a young person’s personal journey, which included a legal name change. Fine with me, Camille “Meel” Shaw it is.
Take care. Peace.
