Oregon Drift

Hudson Ridge and Back Porch Revival are two of the bands scheduled to perform in Mingus Park August 7. Contributed Photos

Star of Hope’s annual Bluegrass Bash on Aug. 7 will showcase bluegrass, gospel, and old-time bands at Mingus Park in Coos Bay.

Local groups Hudson Ridge and The Young Bucs will be joined by two bands from elsewhere in Oregon: Bill Coleman and the Good News Gospel String Band, from Woodburn, and Back Porch Revival, from Portland.

Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.

Besides the music, visitors can enjoy food and craft booths.

Children can get their faces painted, make crafts, and try their luck in a fishing tank.

Adults can try their own luck in a 50-50 raffle and a drawing for a star-patterned queen-size quilt donated by Sand & Sea Quilters’ Guild.

Back Porch Revival

Star of Hope is a nonprofit organization that assists people who have developmental disabilities, helping them to become more independent and achieve their personal goals. These may include developing life skills, getting jobs, and accessing helpful resources.

Some clients work in Star of Hope’s businesses, which include janitorial and landscaping services, document shredding, and The Oregon Connection, a myrtlewood gift shop.

This is the second Bluegrass Bash, and the first to be held at Mingus Park.

According to Pam de Jong, Star of Hope’s development director, the Sunrise Rotary Club came up with the idea for a bluegrass event last year.

‘They were going to do it, but they had too many other things going on,” de Jong said.

‘So they asked if we would like to do it as our fundraiser. We are so grateful to them for sharing that idea with us.”

Many of Star of Hope’s clients come to enjoy the day and help out around the event, which brings other benefits as they interact with the public.

De Jong explained that many persons with developmental disabilities have communication barriers that make it hard for other people to understand them.

‘Once other people understand that they need to have a little patience, that communication barrier drops, and the communication flows freely,” she said.

‘We want to inform the community that it’s not a disease, it’s a disability, and we’re teaching people the skills they need to cross those communication barriers.”

By Gail Elber