This project is near and dear to my heart because Coronado is my hometown. I’m honored and happy to collaborate with the non-profit organization that brings free concerts to the community and visitors every Sunday Memorial Day through Labor Day weekends.

Different from telling one person’s story, I wove in the many facets of several people who have made the concerts grow and evolve over the five decades. They began thanks to high school’s choir and music director in 1970 and then shepherded by another local, Mary Carlin, and eventually by her husband and a volunteer board of the 501c3. Plus, interviews with fans of all ages and a variety of music.

Those many dimensions meant a lot of scrapbooks, notebooks, and research to visualize the early years; and then at the opposite end of the archive spectrum, sorting through thousands of digital pictures and video (including with the various bands playing) captured since 2010. I embraced the story of the concerts and the tradition not just as a “thing” but as an experience where families have grown up, come together, celebrated birthdays, and just enjoyed a few hours of music in the park. Much credit goes to my fantastic and long-time work partner and editor, Dan Roper, who can interpret my script and voice and make it all come together, together!

Having videotaped many of those personal moments (with my phone and being the producer!) I wrote the script to include a few poignant visual moments including “we watch our children grow…” (Lily from wobbling to dancing!) and “our old parents stay young” (my mom dancing with others and her walker as she was into her 90s!).

The concerts are free, but dependent upon sponsors, donors, and weekly donations from attendees. Whether you’ve been to Coronado for a concert, or just appreciate a beautiful small-town story, I hope you’ll watch and enjoy my latest piece… that continues through the credits!

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Jane Mitchell – Silver Circle Inductee

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JM Press Release 1 – Countdown to Cooperstown v2 Jane Mitchell PR 5’18  

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To expand on that, here are tw0 interviews: the first with the man from Belgium, then one of me sharing my reaction after the event. (Late night, long day, but wanted to get my thoughts out there!)

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Many people were coming into Stratford Station to Olympic Park, but the Central Line West Bound was virtually empty. A half hour later, at the Westminster stop, I walked past people  huddled in the exit tunnel to stay dry. Anxious to get going, I stepped right into the rain and a spectacular site.

Westminster in all it’s architectural glory rising high against a stormy sky. And the river — with ferry boats and a ferris wheel, called the Eye , across the way? Just jaw dropping. It is a magnificent scene. By the time I crossed Westminster Bridge, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and the Olympic rings in the middle of the city were just some of the beautiful scenes of the day.

Next stop, across the Waterloo Bridge to Covent Garden to meet up withSteve Luke of NBC 7 San Diego, who took a day off from his daily TV reports to see the city. We started in the Theatre District with signs such as The Lion King playing at the Lyceum Theatre. Then over to Travalgar Square where a dozen men in orange suits entertained a big crowd (plenty of Olympic spectators for sure) with their music including the Beatles’ “Hey Jude.” Everyone’s iPhones were recording.

We cut through a side street that was nearly empty, and while we had been seeing athletes and tourists non-stop, the next sighting was unexpected.

Walking down the sidewalk two men were ahead of  us. One appeared to be an athlete from the back. As we passed by, and looked left, Steve and I both realized who it was. I said, to the man, “Oh, hello,  I recognize you… Wow.” We introduced ourselves and why we were here and Steve promptly asked if we could take a picture with him. He was very soft-spoken, friendly and appreciative. He was Evander Holyfield: 5-time World Champion Heavyweight Champion. We didn’t really ask him what he was doing here — but figured the  boxing legend and former Olympian, was part of  the London 2012 boxing events. Funny… Steve and I were JUST saying how you just never know who you’re going to meet on a trip like this.

We moved along to St. James’s Park, a beautiful canopy of huge green leafy trees offering a natural umbrella for the occasional raindrops. As we made our way toward Buckingham Palace, I had a deja vus; a flashback of being 18 years old. That’s the last time I visited London, and (I’m dating myself) my parents and I camped out all night with 400,000 other onlookers waiting to see Prince Charles and Princess Diana after they were wed. I walked right to the spot, and called my mom. It’s also where I met Jane Pauley and Tom Brokaw of NBC News, as I was heading to college and on to a broadcasting career. (full story in my book!)

By this point it’s 6-oclock and we sit on a bench to let my feet (in new pink flats!) take a bit of a rest. The people watching and listening are part of the fun. Onward through Hyde Park (where I’ll see Beach Volleyball Wednesday) and Speaker’s Corner, where a man was literally   on a (soap) box talking about politics, and a group bantered with him. After a stop at one of the nicest McDonald’s I’ve seen,  up by Marble Arch, with hip furniture and a stick figure on the “female” restroom, we caught the Tube to nearby Notting Hill.

I loved the movie,and wondered if Hugh Grant might like to join us for dinner! (Yes, we were tourists– map, questions and all!) After winding through a lovely neighborhood with lots of white buildings and bright doors, we spot a gold colored pub on the corner called “The Sun in Splendour” with a Fish and Chips special, a flat screen showing the Olympics, and a warm and welcoming authentic atmosphere. After friendly conversations with locals then the Canadians and the Norweigians at the next table, we walk through Notting Hill’s Portobello Street, and at 10 o’clock, part at the tunnel for the Red and Green lines. 6 hours of  pictures, talking and nearly non-stop walking! Should have had my pedometer.

So weather or not, this Sunday in London is one for the scrapbook.

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Energized knowing the competition would begin today, I put on my running shoes for a quick run on a gray but pleasant day. I ran about 15 minutes back to the Stafford Station and Westfield Mall (the hub of the activity and entrance for the Olympic Park) where one little experience happened after another.

The mall was packed with even more colors on clothes representing home countries. Pink-shirted official Olympic personnel sat high in chairs with megaphones, directing the flow of traffic; essentially a mix of lifeguards and crossing guards, ever so properly polite. Those fans with tickets funneled into the park’s entrances.

I walked to the end of the largest mall in Western Europe — felt like almost a mile — past the packed Team GB (Great Britain) store and Hollister clothes/surf store. Had I known I was going to meet non-Olympians but clearly “beauty and brains” Rob (in school for marketing) and Fraser (studying engineering) I might have re-thought the no-makeup work out look. But the picture was fun and they were good sports. (I asked if they surfed, and they said it was too cold in England!)

Back to the walk.

The far north end is the athlete and media entrance. With no credential, yet, I chatted with several men with collections of Olympic pins.  Two were from the U.S. and have been to 11 Olympics. (More on that story another time.) Suffice it to say, I gained a greater appreciation of collectors who enjoy the story behind each pin.

Venturing back I spotted a tall man in a blue spandex suit with the British flag. His girlfriend Louise was competing in handball tonight, and he would be part of an enthusiastic cheering section. 

Then, I made a right turn at the area that asked that you have “tickets out and ready.” I did not have any, but wanted to check with the pass office on whether my pass had been approved. That took me all the way in to the Olympic Park’s edge, which was spread out, not crowded, and well organized. The pass was not ready, but they were quite courteous, which I’m coming to expect here. 

Inside the mall, after a taste of India for lunch and a Yoo Moo yogurt (the Kate and Will special – vanilla with strawberries and blueberries), and a Starbucks (in the only country in the world whose tall latte is two shots of espresso) I saw someone else outside a store “modeling” while holding three stuffed toy dogs. I asked  if he was being dared to do it.  No. The tall young man dressed in Serbian Olympic Team attire said h was holding the dogs while the store clerk retrieved her camera for a picture.

When he detected my American accent, George Markovic offered that he went four years to Ohio State University, which he loved. I asked when he would be competing, to learn he had already raced in the 400-meter at the pool. While he offered he swam his best, he was knocked out of the race, and felt okay about it.  Now, he was looking forward to eating things that were bad for him. We exchanged contact information, and I hope to talk with him more about what it’s like to train so long and hard, then be out of it the first day. He seemed to have a very good perspective, grateful to be an Olympian.

And really, that was the big take away of Saturday. Because as significant as winning a medal is –and certainly that is the goal — setting the sights on that, working toward that, and giving your all on your day… is all you can ask of yourself, or of your Olympic representatives. George is working on his Masters Degree, and is hanging out with his best friend and family. So it appears he’ll be fine. He just needs a little dietary freedom to eat some junk food.

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