110 degrees magazine - Index

110 degrees magazine - magazine - Index

PEEKS I PERSONA
a number of local residents in dressing up in lavish
turn-of-the-century fashion complete with parasols,
bonnets, corsets, and flaring petticoats for
the women, plus mustaches, waistcoats, strawhats,
and canes for the men.
Many attendees enjoyed the music venues,
which featured things like New Orleans Jazz and
popular music that incorporated tunes you could
whistle and lyrics you could sing along with — all
performed at decibel levels that didn’t require you
to scream into your neighbor’s ear in order to
make yourself heard.
Chris Robinson’s dream was too good to let die
so now the City of Brentwood is working with the
Art Society to move the project forward to the next
level and have made Peggie Schutemacher responsible
for organizing and advertising the event.
HER KIND OF A CHALLENGE
“I’m ready for this assignment,” Peggie said. “I’ve
spent the past 18 years working with Brentwood
Community nonprofits. The focus of my passions
throughout my whole life has been upon volunteering
and community development.”
For decades Peggie has played the role of the
Go-To person for numerous fundraisers, community
outreach, and local improvement projects.
“Networking is what I’m good at,” she said.
“Helping others is what I love to do.”
Peggie’s past projects have included working
with the City of Brentwood Economic Develop -
ment Department and with the Chamber of
Commerce.
“Let’s get Peggie Schuitemaker on board with
this,” was a way, in many people’s minds, of
moving a fundraiser or community development
project to the next level.
“I’ve always performed this type of service as a
deeply committed volunteer,” Peggie said, “but it
occurred to me to start a small business that would
create a vocation in which my avocation could
26 www.110mag.com September/October 2008
“FOR DECADES PEGGIE HAS PLAYED THE ROLE
OF THE GO-TO PERSON FOR NUMEROUS
FUNDRAISERS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, AND
LOCAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.”
thrive.” So now she is the owner of HomeGrown
Promotions and is throwing her energies and
resources into the task of enhancing the 7 th Annual
Art, Wine, and Jazz Festival this October that will
appeal to all Brentwood residents and raise the bar
high for subsequent events.
“I began laying a strong foundation for the
event,” Peggie said, “by carefully studying past
festivals in order to create continuity and to build
on the good things that were done in the past by
people like Chris Robinson and Saunie Fridley.”
Peggie said that she rethought the festival,
asking questions like: Why are we putting on the
Art, Wine, and Jazz Festival? What exactly is it?
What can we do to go beyond the things we’ve
done in the past? She began with a map of the
city Park studying how the various sections could
be laid out; working from the physical venue to
the events that the festival could put on.
Peggie is working on a lot of new and creative
ideas. For example, as with the Olympics, she’s
planning some attractive opening ceremonies.
On Saturday, at 10 a.m., they’ll get the event
started off right with a color guard presenting
and raising three flags including the U.S. Flag,
the flag of California, and the Art, Wine, and Jazz
Festival flag.
Dignitaries and veterans who are present will be
acknowledged. Jan Melloni, the President of the Art
Society, will give a brief message of welcome.
At 9:00 a.m., prior to opening ceremonies,
children will decorate the park with their art,
which will be arranged to provide a history of the
process of student art, beginning with kindergarten
and going through grade 12.
“We will create an impressive Wall of Art,”
Peggie said, “which will consist of 10-by-10-foot
sections of chain link fence. Each section will
promote the artwork from a different section of
the community including public school students
representing various districts, private organiza-
tions, and private schools. The art will be laminated
and following the show will be returned in
its presentation quality to the sources.”
Peggie has invited Bill Rose from Hoffman
Corporation. Attendees to the festival will be
greeted by sand sculptures that Bill and fellow
sculptors will erect at an entrance to the park.
The process of carving the statues will go on
during the Festival so festivalgoers can witness
the process of creation.
The name of the event is the Brentwood Art,
Wine, and Jazz Festival, which means that there
will be no country & western music — nor acid
rock, heavy metal, hip-hop, Goth, punk, etcetera.
Programs will be offered on the main stage with
ethnic and international jazz music. Rod Linn
and Pat McVeigh are lining up the bands and
artists. There will be Jammin’ Jazz sessions for
professionals and amateurs. Band members will
provide gratis music lessons and a group
performance will take place on the Main Stage
Sunday afternoon.
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
Masters of the Arts teams will compete in creating
an evening dinner for two in front of the
Main Stage. They must create the meal from
scratch and within one hour serve it.
Competitors will include local restaurateurs,
vintners, chefs, florists, and musicians. People
can also compete in a Best Cookie in Brentwood
contest. Or offer entries in the Culinary Arts
Cooking Contest.
Another event, The Crush, sponsored by Delta
Demolition, will include bathtubs full of grapes.
People are invited to take off shoes and crush
grapes — a remarkable experience. Bloomfield
Vineyards and other local vintners are providing
a ton of grapes for this event.
The festival will be divided down the sidewalk
with a Children’s Park area on one side, which