By JILL JOHNSON

Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce

Each year when I sit down to write my Holland Happening column, I take a moment to reflect on my childhood memories: Richie Meche’s Oliebollen and how much trouble her daughter Stephanie and I would get in trying to sneak some before they were ready; the hospitality of the VanDerWerff’s as they greeted you warmly at the door of the Dutch dinner at the First Reformed Church.

Also, the Dutch songs I learned to sing thanks to Carol VanZanden who patiently taught me and hundreds of other elementary kids the words (and dance steps) in preparation for the Holland Happening parade.

Or this picture of the Wester Family, all decked out in authentic Dutch costumes which I particularly enjoy because I know how much their middle son Tim hated to dress up!

But this year, I am excited about Holland Happening not because of the past but because of the present.

Holland Happening is transitioning from an event focused on tradition, to one that takes that tradition and makes it relevant today.

Take our Holland Happening poster. This year’s theme is the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands. It’s a significant and historic anniversary, but at the risk of being offensive to anyone, our theme is, well, a bit of a challenge. I mean really, how do you make that fun?

So we took some liberties with an iconic photo of an American sailor kissing a nurse in Time Square in celebration of VJ-Day, and Dutched it up a little. We love the new Oak Harbor version taken on Pioneer Way and we hope you do as well. It’s a new take on an old classic, just like Holland Happening.

The second thing we are excited about is the selection of our Grand Marshal. We chose Rob Hause. Rob is likely a new name to many of you; he is from Seattle after all. But to those involved with Holland Happening his selection seems the perfect choice!

To say Rob is Holland Happening’s biggest fan is nothing short of an understatement.

He books his hotel room for this event the first day of January each year to ensure he won’t miss it. In fact, Rob’s been coming to Holland Happening since 1986 without missing a year. I don’t know many locals that can say that!

Rob didn’t fight against the Germans, nor is he a founder of the Holland Happening event. He’s just a regular guy who has fallen in love with Oak Harbor and our annual heritage celebration. So when it came time to select our 2010 Grand Marshal, we couldn’t think of anyone more fitting.

This weekend will still boast all the traditions we love; the parade, the oompah band, elephant ears, the carnival and of course the street fair. But hopefully it’s going to feel a little less old-fashioned and sentimental.

That is if I can avoid reminiscing about the wonderful Oliebollen they use to sell at Chris’ Bakery.