THE SPIRIT OF THE FOX

by: Frank DiSalvo

My first encounter with C.O.T.A. was through Ed Joubert, owner of the Bottom of the Fox and one of the founders of this organization. It was a habit of mine to stop at the "Fox" on the way home after working the 4-12 shift. One Friday night, about 25 years ago, as soon as I walked in the door, Ed approached me about helping him with an idea he had to expand the stage.

We did a little brainstorming, and the next day I went into work 4 hours early to make the braces and piping we would need for this project. I’ll never forget the look on his face when I arrived Saturday night and told him everything was done and ready to be installed. I guess I was hooked that night, and I have been trying to help out ever since.

It has always been a philosophy of mine that we should give something of ourselves back to the spirit that keeps us going. I have never meet a finer group of people to work with, and I would not change a thing in the relationship I have with the festival and its people.