Happy Camper for Monday, Dec. 5, 2016

When Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s father was playing basketball in high school, Ed Bales was his coach, the mayor said Saturday at the Christmas with Ed gathering (it’s not a birthday since Ed’s birthday is on Dec. 17) at the Lihue Lutheran Church.

Cynthia Young and Barbara Bales (how many of you remember her as a teacher at the Elsie Wilcox Elementary School?) organized the event to celebrate Ed’s many contributions and service over the past 40 years to Kauai.

Mary Wilson came from helping at the All Saints Christmas Craft Fair (coaches Kevin Cram and Kevin Devitt were having their Kapaa soccer players wash cars as a fundraiser, and Jack Yatsko was flipping burgers), and Larry Rivera is always good about finding a song that fits the occasion — he even made “Charlie’s Song” (written for Charlie Perreira) work.

Tom and April Shigemoto remember Ed from when he was an English teacher at Kauai High School when they were juniors, and Manny Henriques said he thought Ed taught at Waimea High School.

Thank you, Ed Bales — for all the memories, and teachings. And happy birthday on Dec. 17!