1950, McMinnville, Oregon: Paul and Evelyn Trent saw a UFO. Paul Trent took two photos; the craft zipped off, and the rest is UFO history. If you're not familiar with the Trent case, Google "Trent" and you'll find plenty on it.
Nine years ago, Ted Hills and McMenimin's in McMinnville started the McMinnville UFO Festival. People say it gets better every year. I went last year, and it was fine, but this year was so much better, for a variety of reasons.
Last year, as I've written before, we were very rushed and just made it in time for David Jacob's presentation. We forgot our camera, and the stores nearby were all sold out of the disposable kind. (We could have driven ten minutes away to the sprawl and bought one at a chain store, but it all too busy and rushed and crazy.) The room the talk was in was crowded, and hot, and all kinds of other irritations. Grumble, grumble. Still, we did have a great time.
This year was much better. We took our time, were able to bring the cameras, the laptop, had booked for two nights, etc. The main speaker was none other than Richard Dolan, who was terrific! I'll write more later about what he had to say.
Another treat was meeting Karyin Dolan for the first time. She -- and Richard -- are both very geniune, real people, very warm, intelligent, and it was so nice to just hang out and talk. (Karyn has her own program on the Paranormal Radio Network, and contributes to Women Of Esoterica.)
Next year's speaker is Linda Moultan Howe! Yes, we're already booked!
1 comment:
I recently attended for the 2nd time, the McMinnville 2008 UFO Festival, hosted by McMenamins. Small, quaint, the parade was cute. We stood with the Wookie, Sith, and Mexican Wrestler Alien. People were posing for pictures with the aliens, especially posing their kids. The Klingon charity group was there handing out candy.
What I don't get is McMinnville seems to be strongly ignoring this event completely, It's only featured on one street, and a huge number of business garage sales on the other streets.
McMinnville allows military-tactics style religious fundamentalists to take over at the end of the parade--BOTH years I've attended. At one end of the parade route, glassy-eyed young people clapping and singing in military formation edging the crowd towards the other end of the route where their pastor was standing with another group of young Moonie-like religious extremists. He either had a loudspeaker or was very loud, and was quite disruptive. I'd bet money if a guy feels THAT ballsy & godlike, he's probably helped himself to the young-people's "favors". (PROBABLY a fantastic news GOLDMINE waiting there.)
The fundamentalist presence inadvertently signifies that Jesus or God is an alien, or that Mary was impregnated by one.
The only way to make this "fair and balanced" would be invite the other religions: Hare Krishnas, Scientologists with their Xenu & aliens, Hindus, Buddhists, Catholics with their recent "OK" of belief of aliens, etc.
One of the surrounding costume jewelry shops, they seemed embarrassed about the alien festival.
Anyway, since McMinnville is soooo NOT INTERESTED in this event, I'm sure other McMenamin's sites (Forest Grove, Beaverton, Portland) would get a lot more enthusiastically & respectfully involved.
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