Tusky Days talent show a festival highlight
The Tusky Days talent show winners, all from Dover, were Cailyn Hartline, left, third; Cami Steed, second; and Belle Fockler, first.
Seven talented competitors took to the School Street stage during the Tusky Days Festival on Saturday, June 26, entertaining spectators and making the judges’ job difficult.
The song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” led to a first-place finish for Belle Fockler, 16, of Dover. Fockler’s performance, complete with jewelry featuring large clear stones, was flawless. Fockler will be a junior at Dover High School.
The late actress and singer, Marilyn Monroe, is an idol for Fockler and the reason she selected that song. She won $75 for her efforts.
Fockler has been in 25 shows in her life including plays at The Little Theatre in Dover. After she graduates she plans to attend Baldwin Wallace College and study musical theater.
Second place went to Addie Steed, 16, of Dover, who accompanied herself on the guitar and sang an original song titled “Excuses.” Steed has been writing songs since the fifth grade and playing the guitar for more than a year. She won $50.
“I wrote the song last year in about 10 minutes,” Steed said. “I get these random bursts of inspiration.”
In her first talent show ever, Cailyn Hartline, 8, of Dover took third place with her version of the song, “Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
Country singer Lorretta Lynn is Hartline’s favorite performer. Hartline’s performance included pure vocals and the same country twang as her idol.
“We are all old souls,” said Robin Hartline, Cailyn’s mother, of her daughter’s interest in Lynn’s music. The family has visited Nashville several times. “She has listened to it so much she picked up the accent.”
Hartline first heard Lynn’s music while staying with her late grandmother, Lorretta Cramlet, who lived in the Newcomerstown area.
It was the second year for Hartline to have her creativity rewarded. In first grade she sold a piece of artwork to Akron’s Children’s Hospital. Hartline would like to be a schoolteacher in the future.
Other performers at the talent show included Ethan Collins of Newcomerstown who sang the song “Good Ones” by Gabby Barrett. Collins also plays the piano and drums even though he is legally blind.
Cami Steed of Dover sang “A Million Dreams” from The Greatest Showman. Lily Johnson of New Philadelphia did a tap dance to “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” Hometown favorite, Mia Brinkley of Tuscarawas, who has been dancing for four years, performed a routine to the Kim Possible theme song while dressed as a Disney cartoon character.
Judges for the event were Melanie Quillen of Tuscarawas and Melanie’s Hairport salon and Shana Reichman and Linda Carpenter, both of Tuscarawas and representing the Dover Phila Federal Credit Union, which is a stage sponsor. Talent show host Marc Davis of New Philadelphia also thanked the other stage sponsors Durbin Farms and Smith Ambulance, and Joyce Walton, owner of the Corner Tavern, who provides the electricity to power the stage.
Davis was impressed with this year’s group of performers, saying they showed confidence by getting on stage. “You’re a winner just for being up here,” he said.
Each contestant was able to select two door prizes for their participation in the event.
In festival action on Thursday night, Tuscarawas Mayor Dana Moore dedicated this year’s festival to the memory of Patty Smith and Larry Holmes, who made a positive difference for their community during their lives.
Following the presentation, relatives of Patty Smith, who was a volunteer at the Tuscarawas Library, went to the library building to see a new bench that was placed in her memory and now sits outside the library. Smith’s daughter, Terry Glidden of Akron, and her son, Bob Smith of Massillon, were in attendance. Her other children are Gary Benadum of Dennison and Cher Pratt of Mechanicstown.
“This bench is a permanent reminder of a selfless woman’s dedication to her community and how she will forever watch over the Tusky Library,” said Tabitha Johnson, Tuscarawas Branch Library supervisor.
The Paddle Auction, which helps to support the festival, was held on Friday evening and raised more than $3,000. The paddles were made by the wood shop class at Indian Valley High School and featured the canal era residence and general store of Mr. John Blatter. The building currently houses the Home Towne Tavern. A small “pandemic paddle” also was awarded with each paddle purchased due to the cancellation of last year’s festival. The smaller paddles read “2020 The Year of the Pandemic” and featured a mad face emoji.
Bob Hall served as auctioneer and was assisted by his grandson, Logan Slutz.
Paddle auction winners were Devin Brown, Brotherhood Heating and Cooling, Gnadenhutten, $600; Eric Kinsey, Kinsey Excavating, New Philadelphia, $900; Chris and Melissa Shamel, Tuscarawas, $300; Mayor Dana Moore, Tuscarawas, $300; Steve Carlisle, Brightwood, $300; Dale Douglas, Jr., Old Towne Tavern, $100; Bob and Lisa Hall, Gnadenhutten, $100; Melanie’s Hair Port, Tuscarawas, $100; Carlisle, $100; Matt Smith, Tuscarawas, $50; Amy Stanley, Canton, $50; and Matt Love, Tuscarawas, $150.
Despite the pandemic difficulties and the new Ohio carnival ride laws, following the festival’s conclusion, Tusky Days officials reported on their Facebook page that they had a record number of people attend and thanked everyone for helping make the event a success.