RIDGWAY – An influx of foreign accents can be heard throughout
the town today as the eighth annual Ridgway Chainsaw Carving
Rendezvous begins.
The rendezvous, which began in Ridgway and has given the town
the title of “Chainsaw Carving Capital of the World,” will continue
through Saturday at the Clarion River Holding Co. parking lot on
West Main Street, formerly the Motion Control Industrial
Complex.
While the chainsaw carving may have moved across town, the ice
carving remains at the same location at the Visitor’s Center on
Main Street. Everything is within walking distance of downtown.
“People are coming in. It’s really happening again,” Liz Boni,
spokeswoman for the Rendezvous said. “I think it’s going to be
really exciting down at the new grounds. It’s been a positive
experience so far. It’s really going to be beautiful with all the
snow.”
With 244 registered carvers, the event is already gearing up to
be another large and successful one. Patrons interested in
purchasing a carving, which come in any size and price range, will
have ample opportunity to do so during the eight-day event.
Boni said the massive winter storm that hit the area on
Valentine’s Day and dumped nearly a foot of snow on the grounds
won’t have much of an impact on the carvers and visitors because
“people have just been incredible … the amount of people who came
through to help clean up the grounds … everybody is just pitching
in,” she said.
New this year, producers of the new EPSN television show, “Wanna
Go Fishing,” will come to the Rendezvous to find someone to go on
the fishing trip of a lifetime. Anyone planning to attend the event
Saturday morning should bring his passport, because if the show’s
host, Matt Eastman, comes up to him and asks “Wanna go fishing?,”
he’ll have five minutes and two telephone calls to dThe lucky
winner, should he choose to fish, could end up flying away that
evening to catch black marlin off the coast of Panama, trophy
tarpon in the Florida Keys or giant tuna in the Mexican
Pacific.
The Rendezvous started as a backyard gathering of six chainsaw
carvers. In 2000, the small group of carvers took it public. Since
then, it has grown to become the world’s largest non-competitive
event of its kind and evolved into a partnership of community and
artistic spirit, Boni said.
Each year, the participants challenge themselves to do better
than the last, she added. In previous years, an estimated 30,000
people visited the event. A similar number is expected for this
year.
A limited-edition memorial and commemorative poster will be for
sale during this year’s event as well.
For more information, contact Boni at home or at the Web site
for the Rendezvous.
The eighth Annual Ridgway Chainsaw Carving Rendezvous will begin
today in Ridgway, and will last for a week.
A flag-raising ceremony will begin the events at 9 a.m. today,
with flags from all the countries participating to be saluted. The
Bill Plant Memorial Service will be presented by the VFW, and ESPN2
will arrive at the Rendezvous.
At 10 a.m., there will be a Dynamic Duo Demo of Denny Beach and
Dayton Scoggins performance carving on the grounds. Carvers will
carve until 5 p.m.
On Sunday, a pancake breakfast will be held from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m. with sausage and pancakes to benefit the Ridgway Rotary.
Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon, there will be
seminars and workshops related to chainsaw carving held at the
Appalachian Arts Studio.
On Monday, at 9 a.m., Jamie Doren and Niels Ejnar Petersen will
give a seminar on buddy seminar tools and techniques, U.S. and
Europe; at 11 a.m., Simon O’Rourke, carving the human face; and
from 1 to 5 p.m., carving on the grounds in Ridgway.
Tuesday, at 9 a.m., Dave Lavoie (Captain Dave), will present on
gadgets; at 11 a.m., Dayton Scoggins, mystery seminar; from 1 to 5
p.m., carving on the grounds; and from 7 to 8:30 p.m., local
contemporary Christian music group “Malachi” will perform at the
West End Fire Hall on West Main Street. Coffee and dessert will be
served. Donations would be appreciated for the church fund.
On Wednesday, at 9 a.m., Mick Burns will give a seminar on chain
and chain maintenance; at 11 a.m., Robbin Wenzoski, epoxies; at 1
p.m., there will be a special presentation by Cliff Bennett, hand
carver extraordinaire; and from 1 to 5 p.m., carving on the
grounds.
Thursday, at 9 a.m., Steve Backus will share tips for running a
chainsaw carving event; at 11 a.m., A.J. Lutter, minding your own
business (owning and running a retail outlet); 1 p.m., Wayne
DeMoranville, ice carving; and from 1 to 5 p.m., carving on the
grounds.
Also on Thursday, the Rev. Theodore “Father Ted” Marconi will
tour Elk County. For a donation, participants can take part in the
tour. At 8 a.m., a bus leaves St. Leo Church parking lot; a tour of
the Paper Mill in Johnsonburg led by Ron King is set for 8:30 a.m.;
at 10:30 a.m., there will be a tour of Straub Brewery in St. Marys
with Mary Asti and friends; at noon, there will be a tour of live
elk in the valley; at 1:30 p.m., lunch at the Valley Grille, where
everyone must pay for their own lunch; and at 3 p.m., the bus
returns to the church parking lot. Those interested in the tour
must register by Wednesday by calling St. Leo’s Rectory.
On Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., all registered carvers will be
carving on the grounds and ice carving will be done at the Visitors
Center. There will be professional carving demonstrations on the
grounds at Ridgway – at 10 a.m., Denny Beach (U.S.); noon,
Sebastian Sieffert (Germany); and 2 p.m., Simon O’Rourke
(England).
Saturday, carvers will be finishing off carvings on the grounds,
with all auction pieces to be finished by 10 a.m. The auction is
slated for noon. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be a craft show
at the Ridgway YMCA, 34 N. Broad St.
There will be a bus transport throughout the town during the
Chainsaw Rendezvous, and donations benefit the St. Leo Building
Fund. Parking is available with a shuttle from St. Leo’s parking
lot during the event.
