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Free fest won't leave you blue

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published April 29, 2005

OLDSMAR - Recreation coordinator Eric Pavlica, a music fan, had noticed a lot of blues festivals in this area featuring national acts, but not much for local acts. So he suggested that Oldsmar showcase local blues talent.

The first Oldsmar Blues Fest will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Elizabeth J. Smith Amphitheater in R.E. Olds Park, 107 Shore Drive W.

"The Tampa Bay area is so rich in blues talent," Pavlica said, "that I thought it would be a good idea to put the best that the area has to offer in one show."

Pavlica said anyone who knows blues will know these acts, and anyone who loves music will have a great time. The event also includes Ronnie Setser's classic car show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you are down on your luck, save your dimes for the $1 concessions. Though these groups would usually play in festivals with a $20 or $25 admission price, Pavlica said, parking and admission will be free.

"You usually don't get this caliber of talent for a free show," he said.

Here are the performers scheduled to play, with quick comments from Pavlica:

The Smokin' Joe Band from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - "Very fun. Crowd friendly."

Sandy Atkinson from 1 to 3 p.m. - "A very powerful vocalist and songwriter."

Jimmy Griswold from 3 to 5 p.m. - "Unparalleled energy."

The Shawn Brown and Willie Lomax Blues Revue from 5 to 7 p.m. - "Lomax runs the show with his guitar and Brown has the most soulful voice you'll ever hear."

Molten Mike from 7 to 9 p.m. - "He is just a local, regional legend. Quite a showman."

Bring chairs or blankets for seating. For more information, call (813) 749-1260.

TARPON SPRINGS - The atmosphere was tense as a crowd of about 250 awaited the launch of the E.S.S. Endeavor into the Anclote River last weekend.

At 165 feet long and 600 tons, the red and blue commercial clam boat was an awesome sight. But as the ship sat on temporary launching rails at Duckworth Steel Boats, there was no guarantee that its transfer from land to sea would go smoothly.

Junior Duckworth, 62, has built more than 60 boats in his 27 years as owner of Duckworth Steel Boats. Watching him oversee the launching of his latest project, it was obvious that each launch is serious business fraught with risks.

Once the ship made its dramatic splash into the water, however, the cheers of the crowd gave way to a festive air Saturday afternoon.

Joe Duckworth, 36, Junior's son and vice president of the company, said he felt relieved once the boat was in the water, but he was quite tense beforehand.

"I'm still shaking," he said.

The ship's owner, Arthur R. "Dick" Myers, and his wife, Mary, and son, Rick Myers, 46, were also there. Moments before the launch, Mary christened the ship with a bottle of champagne.

The E.S.S. Endeavor is the third ship the Myerses have purchased from Duckworth Steel Boats, which is on Island Avenue on the north side of the Anclote River.

"They're the best," Myers said. "They do beautiful work."

The E.S.S. Endeavor will hold 500,000 pounds of clams, which will be kept alive on board with refrigerated seawater. Once ashore, they will then be shipped via refrigerated trucks to Myers' factory, Eastern Shore Seafood Products in Mappsville, Va.

Mary Beth Kersey, whose fiance is an employee at Duckworth Steel Boats, said it was amazing to see the near-finished product after having watched the construction, which took 14 months.

"They start with a piece of steel and build up and up and up," she said. She also admired the kitchen and its restaurant quality side-by-side refrigerator-freezer that will serve the captain and crew of seven.

The E.S.S. Endeavor still has about three months of finishing work to be done. All in all, the $8-million project will have taken about a year and a half and about 65,000 man hours.

Duckworth has built a wide range of boats in his career, including ferries, commercial fishing boats, lobster boats, casino boats, even a replica of a pirate ship.

It all started in 1972 with a 42-foot boat Duckworth was building for himself. He worked on the boat, he said, for three years in his spare time. Before he had a chance to finish it, he had a buyer. He immediately started on another, a 50-footer. This also got sold to someone else. After that he met a man who wanted a 95-foot tuna boat, so he took on that job. By 1978 he was building boats full time.

Of his boat-building, wife Joann Duckworth says he had been "blessed with a talent." She says he's had no training but can envision each new boat "in his head," is able create his own blueprints and that he oversees all aspects of the boat-building.

Duckworth has 36 employees. Almost a third are family. Many have been with the company for years.

"This is a great family business and a wonderful place to work," said office manager Barbara Danapas, sister of Mrs. Duckworth and a 25-year employee. "We're very fortunate."

[Last modified April 29, 2005, 09:39:11]