POULSBO — Molly Walmsley handled her rock debut with grace and humor Saturday.
The 15-year-old Kingston High School sophomore followed veteran rock guitarist Glen Bui’s introduction with, “I’m just glad I didn’t trip in front of everybody,” a reference to her high wedges. Then, she and Magic Carpet Ride launched into Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Southern rock classic, “Simple Man.”
The applause was among the most enthusiastic of the day.
Molly, an aspiring singer who has a YouTube channel, responded to an invitation to rehearse with Bui and Magic Carpet Ride, which is comprised of some former members of Steppenwolf. That led to an invitation to join the band on stage at Poulsbo’s Americana Music Festival Sept. 8 at Muriel Iverson Williams Waterfront Park.
The park was crowded with people enjoying sunshine, live music and a variety of food vendors. Children played in a bouncy house and cooled off in a dunk tank; with temperatures in the 80s, getting dunked was a pleasure. Families decorated bowls for Fishline’s Empty Bowls Benefit; in January, for a donation, people will enjoy a meal of soup and bread at Gateway Fellowship Church, and will keep the bowl as a reminder of the empty bowls of many residents in North Kitsap.
Festival admission was free, but donations were accepted for Coffee Oasis, which is building a center for homeless teens in Poulsbo.
The festival, which was founded as a tribute to the victims and heroes of 9/11, began with an opening ceremony and 9/11 remembrance. It was the first tribute of several planned this week.
Tuesday from 7-10 a.m., North Kitsap Fire & Rescue commissioners, firefighters and staff members host their annual community breakfast at the district’s Paul T. Nichol headquarters fire station, 26642 Miller Bay Road NE, Kingston. There will be no charge for breakfast — which will include bagels, cheeses, croissants, fresh fruit, granola and yogurt — but donations will be accepted for the North Kitsap Schools Foundation to restore enrichment and remediation programs that have been cut from local elementary schools because of budget constraints.
“It’s become NKF&R’s tradition to remember the many people lost on that terrible day 11 years ago, by bringing neighbors together to strengthen community ties as well as to benefit organizations with the same goals,” spokeswoman Michele Laboda emailed.
Poulsbo American Legion Post 245, along with City of Poulsbo, Poulsbo Fire Department, Poulsbo Police, Kitsap County Sheriff’s Department, and Naval Base Kitsap, sponsors its annual “9/11 Memory Walk” on Tuesday. The walk will start at 10 a.m. at the lower lot of the Poulsbo Parks and Recreation Building at 19540 Front St. with music provided by Navy Band Northwest. The walk will start when bells from local churches begin ringing.
The walk will proceed down NE Sunset Street and NE Jensen Way and end at the American Legion Park on Front Street, a three-quarter mile level walking route.
Jeff Petersen of Olympic Printer Resources said residents can join in the walk to remember the firefighters, police, military personnel and civilians who died in the 9/11 attacks.
