Efforts to resurrect the Poulsbo Marine Science Center and clean up trash from the Puget Sound’s sea floor to the shore’s edge may be guided by more than recent influences.

NEPTUNE (Lat. NEPTUNUS), an Italian god, paired with Salacia, the goddess of the salt water. He had a temple in Rome, containing a famous marine group by Scopas that stood near the Circus Flaminius. His festival, Nep-tunalia, at which tents were made from the branches of trees, was celebrated on the 23rd of July. Neptune is also identified with the Greek Poseidon, god of the sea and earthquakes, who pounds and shakes the earth and sea with his wrath and pleasure. In the Greco-Roman world, his kingdom is the vast sea, populated with creatures of his own design, where he rides a chariot drawn by dolphins.

Poulsbo may have had its own Neptune’s touch led by local activist and civic thunder. On August 12 & 13, the MUDSTOCK festival shook the sea and earth to support the “temple” of marine education near the circus of a sort in its support of the Marine Science Center.

The parallels don’t end there. As the steeds of fancy cars rolled in, bands rocked on, donations poured, sea creatures were marveled at, and tents kept the hot sun at bay — it was obvious how much community support there was. Bacchus (God of Wine and its social and beneficent influences, viewed as the promoter of civilization, lawgiver and lover of peace) may have made an appearance too, as the ‘beer & wine garden’ took in a hefty profit for the cause.

“People were lining up to write checks – on faith – to support the MSC and to be a part of this,” said Bill Austin, President of the sponsoring organization, Bight of Poulsbo. Austin just may have been our “Neptune in painter pants.” wielding a brush in place of an enchanted 3-pronged trident, possessing Olympian metabolism giving him far greater than human endurance to pull off such an effort in short of one month… those close to him know about the thundering temperament as well.

“The Marine Science Center tent was constantly filled with children and even some adults that were in awe of the ‘catch’ in our own waters. I feel that our mission, to raise consciousness and money, was a resounding success,” said Margene Smaaladen, a Helen of Troy herself, secretary of both the Bight of Poulsbo and Liberty Bay Foundation.

“We were able to heighten citizens’ awareness of the plight of the Marine Science Center and now we can work toward forming the necessary partnerships that will enable us to restore a marine science facility. This will be the crown jewel of the City of Poulsbo,” added Smaaladen.

The Bight of Poulsbo and its volunteers thank the following individuals and organizations for making this year’s Mudstock a THUNDERING success.

Sponsors: Aroydy Thai Cuisine, Central Market, Courtesy Ford, Liberty Bay Foundation, Valley Nursery, Jack and Karen Archer, Bill Austin, Craig and Maggie Gresham, Paladin Data Systems, Brenda Prowse, Jay Roof and Margene Smaaladen, Sprint and the Powder Hill Group (Activelight, Boxlight and Cinelight).

In-kind donations: All the great bands, Suquamish Tribe; Fisheries Department and Paul Dorn, Suquamish Clearwater Casino, Tribal Chair Leonard Forsman, and elder ‘Bear’ for his blessing, Marine Science Center volunteers, John Aitchison and EXPERIENCE Productions, graphic artist Wendy Armstrong, Bird Electric, Blue Sky Printing, Mike Cameron, Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce, Bad Blanche’s Constance Swanlund, Coast to Coast, First Lutheran Church Of Poulsbo, Home Depot, Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, Kitsap Printing, Kitsap PUD, Kitsap Sun, Kitsap Transit, North Kitsap Herald, North Kitsap School District, Peninsula Fire Extinguisher, Bainbridge Disposal’s Don Palmer, Tom Pike, Poulsbo Farmers Market, Poulsbo Noon Lions, Rotary Club, Six Star, Sound Reprographics, St. Charles Church, Sundance Trucking, and Viking Fence.