Frog Island Counts On Music, Hopes For Sunshine

Frog Island counts on music, hopes for sunshine

■ No-rain prediction buoys Ark manager.

By JOHN NIYO

NEWS STAFF REPORTER

David Siglin has studied the weather map. ke has heard the forecasts on the news.

But he's been burned before. “Well, no, we’ve never had a fire,” Siglin says. “But we’ve had everything else.”

Siglin is manager of The Ark, the Ann Arbor folk music club that puts on the Frog Island Festival near Depot Town in Ypsilanti. This weekend marks the 14th festival, which has suffered through more than its share of cold, wet weekends.

Siglin says he’s “cautiously optimistic” about this year’s event, which begins today under what are supposed to be sunny skies.

“We prepare for the best,” Siglin says, “and assume the worst.”

The forecast calls for sun and temperatures in the upper 80s today with a high Saturday of 89. Forecasters say it should be sunny Sunday and temperatures will hit 86, with a chance of a thunderstorm.

Siglin prefers not to rely on the meteorologists, though. He’s counting on the sage advice of a veteran local barber.

“Ernie Dascola says it’s going to be nice,” Siglin says. “The past few years, he’s predicted rain. I trust Ernie. He’s not my barber, but, by God, if he’s right, he’s going to cut my hair from now on.”

The Frog Island Festival nearly folded after last year, but survived after landing a major financial sponsor - the Nature Conservancy of Michigan. This year, the event boasts its strongest lineup, with Los Lobos headlining.

“Every time we’ve had good weather, when it hasn’t been 40 degrees and raining, we’ve had 3,000 people,” Siglin says. “It’s been a sellout, basically.”

The weekend should be a sellout for others as well.

Area parks expect to see plenty of business - even though it’s not yet the Fourth of July weekend - particularly because school recently let out for the summer and kids need someplace to go.

Lara Compton, who works at the Gallup Park canoe rental, says the Huron River will get plenty of use.

There are 32 canoes and 13 pad-dleboats available at Gallup Park, but those will go fast and the wait list likely will fill up. “We expect we’ll be pretty busy,” Compton says.

The story is much the same at Skip’s Huron River Canoe Livery. The 120 canoes and 10 kayaks there are reserved through most of the weekend, with a few some openings Sunday, according to Jan McDonald, office manager.