Napavine’s Funtime Festival recently celebrated 50 years of providing entertainment in Lewis County. The organizers have been responsible for Easter egg hunts, logging shows, mud bogs, destruction derbies, lawn mower races, drag car races, parades, providing Christmas decorations, and the list goes on.
Jerry and Eileen Owens were among the first to volunteer at the onset of the first meeting. Over the years, through the efforts of many good-hearted locals, the Funtime Festival has supported the Napavine Booster Club, Fire District 5, and many other public and private organizations.
For the past 49 years, Princess Napawinah has been the living logo of the festival and has also represented Napavine in parades and local events such as the Southwest Washington Fair. It was the highlight of a young girl’s dream to know she worked hard enough to sell more tickets to support the Funtime Festival than her competition. Her competitors also took comfort in knowing their hard work was not in vain, as their combined effort endowed the community.
The efforts of a few individuals have disparaged the actions of the many civic-minded people that have participated in the Funtime Festival over the years. The mayor and at least two council members have bought into the idea that Princess Napawinah theme is now offensive, and the city government needs to step in and take over a private sector nonprofit organization.
The epitome of government overreach at its best is in action. Quote from the mayor of Napavine regarding issuing a permit: “From here on out, the message is clear: ‘You’re not going to get it unless the council approves of it. And that just means that instead of us just saying, ‘Yes,’ … we’re going to put more effort into it, and we’re going to make sure that we check your budget, we’re going to check your insurance, we’re going to check your numbers. And we’re actually going to play a part.”
It is appropriate to request that insurance is in place to protect the citizenry. The rest of this quote reveals egotistical dominance and is unbecoming of the office of the mayor. Followed up by these belittling comments from the mayor, he said, “I think it’s our duty to step up and make sure that we are as good as the other guy. And I’m talking about Toledo. ‘Cause Cheese Days is awesome.”
Referring to Napavine Funtime Festival as substandard is a slap in the face to all who have worked hard over the years to give funding back to the community. Sadly, as the saying goes, “Let no good deed go unpunished.”
The mayor and the city council members should consider putting some sweat equity into becoming part of the Funtime Festival.
Taking on an attitude of gratitude and getting into the trenches with other servants of the people will go a long way toward making the Funtime events more festive and less turbulent.
What’s next? Will Lewis County consent to a name change because Merriweather Lewis enslaved people?
Bob Bozarth
Napavine
