by Elaine Rassel This week has been a very busy week for me. Monday, the City Council met. I was hoping it would be a short meeting as there was a Pops Concert in Remsen at 7 p.m. that night. The Council meeting was a very fast one as we were out of there in 16 minutes!
Then it was on the road to Remsen. There were 17 high school student in this program that was in the auditorium there. There were five students that gave their auditions to us before the chorus group performed.
Tuesday was the day for the fifth through twelfth graders to give their band performance. The fifth graders really did well and are on their way to just the beginning of their band careers at MMCRU.
I couldn’t help but notice that there were band members that also found time to be in band and still in sports!
Thursday night it was back on the road to Remsen. The Middle School students were giving their Pops Concert in the gym. There were three girls that gave solos before the Concert began. All of those performing had no words in front of them. The fifth grade voices were well presented while the other grades had low attendance voices. For awhile all the middle school kids had to sing or be in band or both. There would be close to 100 voices back then. Now, it would appear that if they choose not to sing or be in band, then they don’t have to. There just aren’t that many in the 6th grade and 7/8 grades that sing. When they go to high school, if they haven’t sung 7/8 grades, then they won’t be interested in high school choir that accounts for the less amount of kids in high school chorus. When my granddaughter, Ashley was in chorus, there were close to 70 students out for music. Now there is a considerable less amount. I don’t think they realize what they are missing out on. When they are 50+ ages, chances are they won’t be able to jump a hurdle but can still sing or play an instrument.
Bill Harms (married to Ruth Wilkens) passed away on March 5 and his gravesite burial was on Friday, March 12. May his memories comfort his family at this time. May he rest in peace until we meet again. (This family has lost Bill’s mother (Millie Harms), and Ruth’s parents, Fred and Bonnie Wilkens to death_all recently.
Did you see where “Peanuts”, star Snoopy, famous for being a highly imaginative dog that is liable to go off on loony flights of fancy, has some strict rules in his world in his new TV series?
No adults can be heard there, just trombones. No technology past the 1970’s can be used and the inside of his doghouse can never be shown. The creators of the new animated series “The Snoopy Show” had to learn and respect all the rules as they got stories ready that were true to the original strips and various previous shows. These new stories are taken from almost 18,000 strips that cartoonist Charles M. Schulz left behind.
Remember as a kid when you read about the kite that was eaten by trees, Lucy’s psychiatric booth that cost a nickel and Snoopy flying missions on his doghouse. These will still be in the new show. Creators of this new show of Snoopy believe that Snoopy and all the Schulz characters are what the world needs today. One part they relay is when Charlie Brown overcomes his nerves at speaking in front of his class. How many times would this situation apply to today’s kids? If Charlie Brown can overcome his nerves, it might be helpful to today’s kids. I hope this new show will be available to us rather than on certain channels.
Remember the last concert of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens. and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson before the trio died in a 1959 plane crash? If you don’t remember, ask your grandparents! The Surf Ballroom where they performed is located at Clear Lake, Iowa. The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the designation of the Surf Ballroom as a National Historic Landmark on January 13. It is Iowa’s 27th National Historic Landmark, joining a list the includes the American Gothic House in Eldon, the gold-domed State Capitol and the Sergeant Floyd Monument in Sioux City.
National Historic Landmarks are buildings, sites, districts, structures and objects that have been determined to be nationally significant in American history and culture. Director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs has stated that the Surf Ballroom is a national treasure. “You can almost feel the energy and hear the echoes of all the concerts over the years. The soundtrack of the 20th century is played live, right here in Clear Lake, Iowa.”
Officials have noted that the Surf is the most well-preserved venue remaining on the 1959 Winter Dance Party Tour and represents the nationwide dance-party tour phenomenon, a trend that helped establish touring as a legitimate business within the music industry.
Holly, Valens, and Richardson performed at the Surf Ballroom and then decided to fly to their next show rather than take their tour bus. They died early on the morning of Feb.3, 1959, when their small chartered airplane crashed near Clear Lake shortly after takeoff. Their deaths were a shock to many that had just heard them shortly before at the Surf.
I happened to tune in to “The Walton’s” the other day. I often wondered how the store keeper, Mr. G. ever found his wife as they seemed to be the opposite of each other. This program was “Matchmakers”. Cora Beth had come back to the community and ended up staying at the Walton’s (for what was supposed to be a short time). John Boy offered her his room. When she didn’t come back downstairs a few hours later, John Boy went to see if everything was okay. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw she had rearranged his room and packed up some of his things in a box. She was this kind of person_a person in charge! A few weeks later, she still hadn’t left the Walton’s, however by this time the grocery store owner was becoming interested in her. Knowing Cora Beth by what she was or was not doing at the Walton’s, Mr. John Walton went to call on Mr. G. He told Mr. G. that they had been friends for many years and he didn’t like what he was seeing as far as the interest Mr. G. had in Cora Beth. There was a moment or two of silence and then Mr. G. said, “I have been here for many years and I have been lonely. I would like to have a life like yours but there was no one around to share it with. Please don’t think the worst about Cora Beth, as I have found a happiness that I never had before she came back.” Yes, they did marry and yes, she did direct him around, but he wasn’t lonely anymore. We all know someone that is a “person in charge” but that is just who they are. If we always let them direct us, then they will continue to be in charge. And, there are always those that would rather be followers instead of leaders.
Keep in your thoughts and prayers those who have lost a loved one to death, have health problems, or are experiencing loneliness. Count your blessings.
I will leave you with this taken from PEANUTS—Girl says to Charlie Brown, “Our class is going on a field trip to the art museum today. That means we ride about ten thousand miles on a bus, and we all get sick. You know what I think? Field trips are invented by the school custodians to get us out of the building!”