Willow Glen Resident
News
Photograph by Vicki Thompson
Peter Yarrow, from the legendary folk group Peter, Paul & Mary, performs at Willow Glen Elementary School to celebrate the completion of the school's new building and the release of Yarrow's book 'Puff, the Magic Dragon.'
Pete Yarrow brings his magic to school
By Mayra Flores De Marcotte
Magic was in the air at Willow Glen Elementary School.
Glittery paper dragons decorated the cafeteria inside. Outside, blue and yellow balloons lined the second floor of the new building.
An excited hum echoed in the courtyard as children, parents and community members found seats and prepared for a night of nostalgic bliss.
People just arriving formed a line outside the school's administration office and showed their newly purchased copies of the just released reprinting of Peter Yarrow's Puff, the Magic Dragon from Hicklebee's Books as their ticket into the night's celebration. More than 600 people filled the school's courtyard.
Yarrow, part of 1960s legendary folk group Peter, Paul & Mary and co-composer of the beloved children's lullaby "Puff, the Magic Dragon," played a free mini-concert of both his and his group's music on Sept. 14.
"We are giving him as a gift to Willow Glen Elementary to celebrate their new school," says Hicklebee's co-owner Valerie Lewis.
The bookstore owner wanted to contribute something to the opening of the school's new building. Yarrow's book release and book signing coincided with the celebration, so Lewis decided the timing was perfect.
"He was going to be here in the afternoon, and we asked him if he'd be interested in performing at a night event instead, and he was excited to be part of it," she says. "We are thrilled to be able to share him with the school."
The evening's events kicked off with a tour of the new school building that was opened to the community, followed by guest speakers and then the much-anticipated performance.
"The crowd is growing," says Willow Glen Elementary School principal Dale D'Anna, who spoke to the group anxiously awaiting Yarrow's appearance. "It's wonderful to see someone from my own personal history come into my life and be able to share that beautiful voice with all of you who are so special to me."
The audience clapped loudly in response as Lewis walked up onto the stage behind D'Anna.
She handed the principal her very own stuffed dragon.
"Here is your official Puff," Lewis said to D'Anna, "so that when you look at it, you will could think of this amazing community where your school is at the center."
Lewis told the crowd that the bookstore had been extremely busy during the last week, with readers spanning three generations coming in to pick up their copy of the Yarrow book.
"It's a pleasure to be able to share the joy of this music that we have enjoyed," she says. "He's spent his lifetime working for peace and community. He's the man that put his friend's poem to music. Pete Yarrow."
The 69-year-old singer took the stage with a smile and asked the children to move closer.
"I want to congratulate you on your new school," Yarrow says. "My belief is that this is a promise of a world that's less troubled and far more peaceful."
He started off his mini-concert with "If I had a Hammer," the song made famous during the 1963 March on Washington where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech.
"This song is to honor the wonderful school and a great community," he says. "It has even been called a song for the ages."
The crowd, both children and adults moved to the music, singing aloud, holding hands and beaming with excitement.
"When people come together like this," Yarrow says, "they form a community and create a world that is more fair, just, loving and peaceful."
Janice Schmitz has been listening to Yarrow's music all her life.
"The music says so much and it comes from the heart," Schmitz says. "Peter, Paul & Mary do so much, and he's so gentle with the children."
Yarrow's music took on a new meaning that night for Schmitz. As he strummed his guitar and sang with the children, her niece, Chloe, was born.
"I knew she was going to be born close to today so I decided I had to get this book for her," she says.
