To the editor of The Beacon:
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make the 2026 National Black Bear Festival Art and Photography Show a great success. A big thank you to:
• All the wonderful volunteers who helped receive and hang all the artwork.
• All the artists who took the time to prepare pieces and bring them to the show.
• Sonona Jefferson and the Washington County Extension office staff for organizing and showing the video category of the show and Lt. Stephanie Simpson for judging the videos.
• Debbie Wilkins and Christy Maready, the art teachers at Washington County High School and Pocosin Innovated Charter School for encouraging their talented students to enter the art show.
• The judges Dr. Alice Arnold and Camellia Lee who took time out of their busy schedules to seriously judge our show.
• Lt. Stephanie Simpson and the Police Explorers for efficiently serving the food for our reception. • Cate Harrison Derrick for coordinating the reception.
• Lee Evans for cooking the wonderful barbecue.
• Mark Pardue and the Roanoke River Lighthouse and Maritime Museum volunteers for their help with setting up, tearing down and providing a space for our show.
• The National Black Bear Festival for giving the Washington County Arts Council this opportunity to showcase the art of our students, local artists and artists statewide.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this show possible.
Susan Sawyer
Washington County Arts Council