Music by
the Bay brings together songs, environment
Posted by the Times-Beacon Newspapers on 11/8/07
BY BOB VOSSELLER
STAFF WRITER
WARETOWN — Cloudy skies and some rain for part of the
weekend didn't dampen the spirits of those who came out for
the first Music by the Bay event, which ran from Friday
night to Sunday afternoon at the Lighthouse Environmental Center in
Waretown.
The musical event was the brainchild of Pola Galie, who
lives at the center and serves as caretaker of the
facility.
"I really enjoy living here," said Galie, who also works
for the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New
Jersey.
Galie decided to bring her love of music and the
environment together for an event that included singers
Madeline MacNeil and Lorraine Lee Hammond, dulcimer
workshops, decoy carving demonstrations and nature walks.
She said Friday afternoon that she had some experience in
putting together an event like this.
"I was involved with an event called "Music in the Pines'
in 1996 held at the Flying W airport in Medford," she said.
"I'm a member of the Greater Dulcimer Society. I joined 12
years ago and heard the music of Dave Filed who performs
folk music on the dulcimer. He's been performing music
since the '60s and is a performer, a teacher and we are
honoring him this weekend for his lifetime of achievement
... thus far. He's a great guy and we want him to do even
more."
Pinelands environmentalist Terry O'Leary, a trustee of the
Lighthouse Center, said that he was very pleased that the
event was taking place.
"This facility and the pinelands area have a rich heritage
that includes music from instruments like the folk harp,"
he said. "This is an ideal location for this type of event.
The Board of Directors is very happy to see this. This
place lends itself to this."
Galie said that the facility's next big project will be the
restoration of a bayman's cottage. The cottage was used
during the weekend for a decoy carving workshop by George C. Snyder of Toms River and
Barow McDuffy of Barnegat. Snyder said that he's
taught classes on decoy carving and woodwork before.
He's also won awards at the annual decoy show in
Tuckerton.
"I'm at the Pine Barrens Jamboree each year," McDuffy said
as he and Snyder prepared the cabin for their workshop,
which was scheduled for Saturday. "This will be very
enjoyable."
Galie said that the cottage should be completely renovated
by March.
"We hope to have a dedication ceremony for it sometime
around March 15," she said.
The center was built in 1927. For much of its history it
was a camp for the blind and used by young people.
"I came here as a volunteer and fell in love with the
place," Galie said. "When the chance came up to become its
caretaker. I jumped at the chance."
"Having a full-time caretaker was a big step," O'Leary
said. "We haven't regretted the decision at all."
The facility has served as a base of operations for Drexel
University to conduct field studies and research during the
spring and summer months. The Waretown Environmental
Commission and the Stafford Historical Society have
utilized the center.
Richard and Mary Carty of Mount
Holly co-sponsored the Music by the Bay weekend. Mary
Carty held basket-making demonstrations.
"I'm also a dulcimer player and vocalist," she said.
Her husband was busy setting up various dulcimers.
"I've been teaching the mountain dulcimer. I've been
involved with the dulcimer for 28 years."
Carty's son, Steven Carty, coordinated the hiking trail
event during the weekend. Lorraine Hammond of New England
also conducted a workshop on the mountain dulcimer while
her husband, Bennett Hammond, taught a guitar workshop.
Jennifer Mylod presented a workshop on the Irish fiddle
while Phil Mylod held a workshop on the Irish whistle.
MacNeil, known to Mary Carty and Galie as "Matty," arrived
on Friday night.
"She'll be giving a concert during the weekend. She's
fantastic," Mary Carty said on Friday afternoon.
"All our proceeds after expenses will be donated to the
center's environmental foundation and used for a great
cause," Galie said.
For information about the Lighthouse Environmental Center,
call (609) 698-7231 or visit www.musicatbarnegatbay.org or e-mail
info@musicatbarnegatbay.org
