Evelyn C. McDonald
Arts & Culture Reporter
October 12, 2017 1:00 a.m.
Last Thursday was the 4th Annual Story Slam, sponsored by the Friends of the Library and held at the Women’s Club. Storytellers Sinda Nichols, Nancy Dickson, Cynthia Riegler, Arva Butler, and Ron Araya took the stage to tell us stories on the theme of relationships. The relationships were with relatives, books, friends, and lovers. Each storyteller spoke with an enviable ease and really entertained us.
The event was presided over by the incomparable Marsha Phelts, last year’s story slam winner. Marsha is an effortlessly funny mistress of ceremonies. I defy you to refrain from laughing. She told a story about a childhood “doll” that was nearly as good as her story last year involving a pair of bloomers.
An early evening rain did not dampen the spirits of the audience though it did soak a few toes. We feasted on hors d’oeuvres and drinks under a tent before going inside to hear the storytellers. Many of us shared hurricane stories ourselves. Most agreed they were still recovering.
Before the story slam started, Dan Voll provided music. Dan is a songwriter and arranger as well as an amazing guitar player. His music choices ranged from Latin to folk to old favorites, and had many toes tapping.
The 801 Kitchen and Bar provided the food which was a great arrangement of hors d’oeuvres. I appreciated the fact that I could eat most of them without ending up wearing them. The final touch to the evening was plates of good cookies. I had to have 2 brownies just to make sure they were up to standards.
We could all relate to the stories, with the possible exception of Marsha’s “doll.” Stories were bittersweet, funny, romantic, and well told. There was a nice variety to the evening. It was difficult to choose between story tellers but attendees did vote for their favorite. This year it was Sinda Nichols whose lost sunglasses story involved a handsome stranger on a plane. My vote for funniest story was Ron Araya whose story about dealings with his grandmother was hilarious.
The Story Slams are a great idea from the Friends. The evening is a major fund raiser for them and proceeds go toward their annual support donation to the Fernandina Library. It’s a good place to catch up with people you know but don’t often see. So the atmosphere is always congenial.
Dee Torre said that since this is the fourth year, next year they make consider a slam involving the four past winners. Put it on your calendar and be prepared to enjoy a great evening with friends and acquaintances.
Evelyn McDonald moved to Fernandina Beach from the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C. in 2006. Evelyn is vice-chair on the Amelia Center for Lifelong Learning and is on the Dean’s Council for the Carpenter Library at the UNF. Ms. McDonald has MS in Technology Management from the University of Maryland’s University College and a BA in Spanish from the University of Michigan.