Excitement at the Tusky Days Festival talent show
The winners of the Tusky Days Festival talent show were Belle Fockler of Dover, left, first place; Lily Johnson of New Philadelphia, second place; and Lydia Gustkey of Dover, third place.
Talent shows are for everyone. Proving that was Bill Ripley of Dover, who at nearly 84 years old competed in his first talent show, something he always wanted to do. Ripley has been singing for 20 years and performed “Blueberry Hill,” a song originally done by Fats Domino.
Talent show host Marc Davis of New Philadelphia said Ripley and 10 additional contestants made up one of the largest talent shows in Tusky Days Festival history.
“They were all so good. I think any of them could have been the winners,” Davis said. “I’m very lucky that I get a chance to be part of this event that gives all these talented individuals the opportunity to showcase what they do.”
Taking top honors and winning $100 was Belle Fockler, 18, of Dover, who sang “A Change in Me” from the musical, “Beauty and the Beast.”
“Belle is my favorite princess, and it’s definitely my favorite Disney musical,” Fockler said. “It’s Belle’s best song, and I love it.”
Fockler will move out of the area in mid-August to study performing arts at Ohio Northern. It was a process to get accepted.
“It was after a month-long process every weekend going to different states auditioning everywhere in New York City, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and putting myself out there to all those schools. I got four offers, but Ohio Northern was just perfect for me. They have so many connections and a lot of people working professionally and on Broadway,” Fockler said.
Fockler said her goal is to be in show business.
“I’ll be graduating with a BFA in Musical Theater, and I also plan on minoring in dance,” Fockler said.
As for her prize money, Fockler said she enjoys visiting New York City.
“I can’t stay away for long, and I think I’m going to spend it thrifting at some of the vintage stores in Manhattan,” Fockler said.
Taking second place and $75 was Lily Johnson, 15, of New Philadelphia, who won for her tap dance routine that was interrupted by a technical problem. Her phone froze while the music for her routine was playing.
“I panicked. I don’t know if it was noticeable. I definitely was like, hold up, but I know you just got to keep going,” Johnson said. She finished the entire routine without music or any slip-ups.
Johnson has done tap dancing for eight years, and she’s also done other types of dances including jazz and lyrical. She takes lessons at Legacy Dance Studio.
While her talent could take her into show business, Johnson’s current plans for the future include becoming a mortician. She would like to focus on the way people are remembered.
As for her winnings, she is going to put the money into her savings account so she can buy her own car.
Lydia Gustkey, 11, of Dover won third place and $50 for her a cappella performance of “Amazing Grace.”
“I decided to sing ‘Amazing Grace’ because I think it’s a very nice, reverent song, and I have a good range for it,” Gustkey said. She has been singing since she was a young age. “I think my first song was ‘Jesus Loves Me’ in church when I was 4.”
Tusky Days wasn’t her first talent show win. Gustkey won a second-place award at the First Town Days Festival in 2022. She’s planning on saving her prize money.
Other contestants were Layla Coventry of Dennison, dance routine; the duo of Mia Brinkley of Tuscarawas and Gabby Coventry of Dennison, who danced to the song “Dancing Queen” by Abba; a trio of friends hailing from Newcomerstown, Dover and Tuscarawas, Lilly Bassett, Karson Roth and Kate Stewart, who performed a dance routine in mouse costumes; Isla Dotts of Stone Creek, who sang and played guitar to “Flies in the Butter,” a song first done by The Judds; Cora and Aria Dotts of Stone Creek, who played “The Butterfly” on the violin; Aria Whitten of Dennison, who sang “Girl on Fire;” and Renita Ecenbarger of Dennison, who sang “What I Never Knew That I Always Wanted,” a song by Carrie Underwood.
All contestants received a door prize for their participation. The talent show judges were Shana Reichman and Mel Quillen of Tuscarawas and Cindy Davis of Goshen.
The total of this year’s paddle auction, which helps support festival activities, was $6,675, surpassing last year’s total by more than $1,000.
The first paddle went to Matt Smith for $900, and 11 other paddles were won by Devin Brown of Brotherhood Heating and Cooling, $750; Eric and Bobbi Kinsey, Kinsey Excavation, $650; Todd Holmes, $525; Tusky Deli, $600; Olde Towne Tavern, $650; Bob Smith, Smith Ambulance, $500; Tuscarawas Mayor Dana Moore, $400; Lela Kerns of Ruscin, Florida, $350; Cheryl McPherson, $325; Steve Carlisle family, $250; and Curt and Mel Quillen for St. James Lutheran Church, $250.
Helping to account for some of the extra earnings were two paddles from previous festivals, 2017 and 2018, that were donated back to the auction. Both were purchased for a total of $450 by Devin Brown of Brotherhood Heating and Cooling. Brown still needs one from 2019 to complete his collection, and he is hoping someone will donate a paddle from that year back to the committee for a future auction.