PORT ANGELES — The Powers were in the house at the fifth annual Clallam County Fair Variety and Talent Show, producing another winning stage act — and they plan to keep the energy going.
Powerhouse, a Sequim band consisting of members of the Powers family and several family friends, was named the winner of the 2015 contest Sunday and is moving on to the Washington State Fair.
The victory was a repeat for Kate Powers and Ethan Powers, siblings and members of the band who won the talent show in 2014 as a duo.
Kate, 15, is a violinist with big plans for her future.
“I’m going all the way to the top,” she said.
Ethan, 18, plays several instruments.
Other members of the band are Phebe Powers, Bill Woods, Kristina Gustafson and Don Betts.
Powerhouse will perform next Sept. 5 at the Black Diamond Dance at Black Diamond Community Hall, 1942 Black Diamond Road in Port Angeles, and Sept. 12 and 26 at the Education Pavilion at the State Fair in Puyallup.
Second-place winner
Judges selected as second-place winner David Tormala, a 9-year-old fiddle player, who was backed up on guitar by his brother, Alex Tormala, 11.
The Tormala brothers also are from Sequim.
Third place was a tie between solo singers Vickie Helwick and Stephanie Royal, both of Port Angeles.
It was the first tie in the five years of the talent show, said Todd Ortloff, KONP radio general manager and talent show announcer.
Winners received ribbons.
Fair attendance
Fair attendance overall seemed higher than it has been in a long time, said Shari Ioffrida, fair manager, although she won’t have attendance figures until later this week.
She said there seemed to be higher attendance Thursday and Friday than in the past but fewer Saturday and about average Sunday.
Ioffrida said the 2014 fair set records for Saturday and Sunday attendance, and this year’s weekend was likely second only to that record.
“The carnival was up, vendor sales were up, the rodeo was huge. Most people did very well,” she said.
In addition to it being a successful fair in terms of attendance and sales, organization also made Ioffrida’s task easier.
“This is my 10th year, and this was the best, smoothest-running fair ever,” she said.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
