I pulled my car into my favorite coffee place, deciding in seconds to go inside instead of going through the drive-thru window. A little hot brew is a necessity for the ongoing day.

Historic Washington State Park announces the annual summer concert series Music in the Park with the theme “Music that Binds us Together.” An additional free concert will be held in the afternoon on Saturday, August 20 in addition to the evening performance outside the 1874 Courthouse. At 3pm, Dr. Kristin Stephenson will perform piano pieces of nineteenth century parlors at the Washington Presbyterian Church. Music performed will include compositions from Mozart and Beethoven. Dr. Stephenson is a graduate of The Julliard School in New York and has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. More information may be found online at www.kristinstephensonpiano. com. At 7:30pm, Clark Buehling & Company will perform period banjo pieces on the lawn of the 1874 Courthouse. Clarke Buehling is widely recognized for his interpretations of late 19th Century finger-style banjo. Clarke is also in the forefront of the recent resurgence of interest in the Ante-bellum minstrel banfrom jo style and songs. Learn more at https://www.facebook. com/clarke.buehling. Music has been a favorite pastime that bind families and communities together. Residents of Washington in the 19th century enjoyed performing and listening to all types of music as a form of entertainment and fellowship with each other. Come and enjoy evenings of great music that bring us together as a community at Historic Washington State Park. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. The gift shop will be open for refreshments, and Williams’ Tavern Restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for dining. The Music in the Park series is sponsored by: Tyson Foods, Farmers Bank and Trust, McDonalds of Hope, Lagrone Williams Hardware of Hope, Washington Grace Cottage, and the Pioneer Washington Restoration Foundation.

This week brought yet another time when the only word that comes to my mind when I talk to God the Father is “why.” It seems that we have so many occasions to ask that question these days, but this week brings a new reason that just boggles my mind.

By Heather Russell