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WEST LINN TIDINGS
July 18, 2013
By JILLIAN DALEY
Pamplin Media Group
S
ilken, lavender dresses; silver, strappy heels; and glittering ti-
aras dazzle onlookers as the West Linn Old Time Fair court
strides by while fulfilling royal duties.
But, the princesses of the court are more than a glamorous
quartet. This year’s top four — Natalie Bruun, Zoe Craig, Beth Hoots
and Celia Lawrence — serve as ambassadors of their hometown and
perform community service.
“Putting others before yourself, that’s a big part of being a prin-
cess,” Celia said.
The 14-year-olds learned time management and how to write and
deliver a speech. Assessments of their performance of tasks and
their comportment help determine who among them will be named
queen during the opening ceremonies of the three-day 57th annual
fair.
“As princesses we’re striving to be young ladies, not kids, and be
mature,” Natalie said.
Each princess performed about 20 hours of com-
munity service during her eighth-grade year in
school and wrote a speech on her experiences,
which they each presented to the West Linn Rotary
Club in June. A panel judges them on that presenta-
tion.
The teens were judged again at a presentation
this month at Tanner Spring Assisted Living when
they offered up orations on why they would make a
good queen and what their experiences as princess-
es have been like.
Each princess has said her experiences as a role
model to little girls have imparted to her a greater
sense of responsibility and pride, and public appear-
ances such as gracing parade floats have imbued her
with a poise not every teen girl possesses.
“It’s hard to slouch when you’re wearing a tiara,” Beth said. “I’m
not really nervous (at public appearances). It’s just exciting, really.”
The West Linn Old Time Fair Committee assesses the court on
punctuality and preparedness for events.
The scores are tallied, and skydivers with the name of the queen
ride the sky down to the coronation ceremony at the fair. An an-
nouncer reveals the winner, a special distinction this year as it is the
city’s centennial. The outgoing queen places the bejeweled headgear
atop the new queen’s locks.
Terri Jones, city recreation coordinator, said choosing a queen will
be difficult because each girl deserves the crown.
“They’re all really especially exceptional young ladies, and they’re
all from wonderful families,” Jones said.
All of them already have earned laurels, selected from a group of
15 princess applicants in February.
“I know a lot of girls tried out for it, so I really do think of it as an
honor and a privilege,” Zoe said.
Outgoing Queen Bobbi O’Brien said the princesses all merit praise
for everything they’ve learned and accomplished. Bobbi, an incom-
ing West Linn High School sophomore, said she has enjoyed instruct-
ing them on speech and event preparation as well as little things
such as mastering the lady’s wave for parades: “elbow, elbow, wrist,
wrist; touch your pearls and blow a kiss.”
It won’t be easy to relinquish her beloved role as queen, a title
she’s yearned for since age 2, she said. But, a queen knows when to
bow out gracefully and graciously.
“I can be a role model still in the community,” Bobbi said. “I just
wish luck to the next queen, and I know whoever gets chosen will be
great.”
The court’s duties include community commitment
THE COMMUNITY’S COURT
“Putting
others
before
yourself,
that’s a big
part of
being a
princess.”
— Celia Lawrence
PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP: VERN UYETAKE
This year’s Old Time Fair princesses are, from left, Natalie Bruun, Zoe Craig, Celia Lawrence (standing) and Beth Hoots.