Miracle on 34th Street–LaComedia

This has been a terrific start of the Christmas season for Young@Heart! On Thursday, December 11, 2014, we enjoyed a very good musical and lunch at LaComedia in Springboro. We thoroughly enjoyed the Miracle on 34th Street. This seems to be a good program for all ages and at the same time never grows old. Perhaps it brings out the “child” in each of us!

The food was as good as always and was perhaps even a step above normal, because of the season.

Of course, we enjoyed good fellowship with each other during the trip down and back and also during the meal. Many of the people weren’t our regular YAH people because we purchased too many tickets and gave some away to staff and friends.

We’re not allowed to take photos during the performance but I was able to get the following of the entire staff during their grand finale.

I think everyone of us would agree that this is a worthwhile musical for any family!

Christmas Program and Luncheon

I may be prejudiced but I think this was the best program of 2014. We used people from our church for singing and playing instruments. Washington Heights has talent! This was planned and managed by Mark and Grace Averitt and Nancy Jensen. They did an outstanding job of putting this program together.

You are invited to follow along with our program via this blog. Just click on the Links to hear the music. Also, you can click on any photo to see it in a larger view.

After our normal opening and introductions, the program began with Mark
Averitt, reading the Christmas Story from Luke 2:1-20.

Next, Christina Comer sang a very nice solo of “I Believe”.

Grace Averitt played a fun piano medley called “Ding, Dong, Merrily on High/Silent Night”.

Following Grace, our Vocal Ensemble sang an “Irving Berlin Christmas”.

Then, Julie Erlandson sang, played piano while her daughter Caitlin Erlandson played the violin. They performed a nice Christmas Medley.

Erica Kwast performed a piece of music that I have been wanting to hear her do since last year. Our 2013 Christmas Program was cancelled due to snow. Fortunately, we were still able to use some of this material for this year. Erica sang a great new Christmas song called, “Where’s the Line for Jesus?”.

Our Brass Trio played a piece called “Lo! How a Rose E’re Blooming”. Since this is an unfamiliar song, we displayed the words for everyone to follow.

Grace Averitt and Nancy Jensen decided that it would be nice to “tickle the ivories” for next number with Grace playing piano and Nancy playing the organ. The music was “Every Valley”. Since this  wasn’t a well known carols, we also put the words on the screen for everyone to follow.

Next, we had our first of several selections by sisters. Sarah Robertson (part of the Britton clan) played her flute, accompanied by her father, Mark Britton, on the piano. Her music choice was “O, Little Town of Bethlehem”.

Mike Krumlauf came back to the platform after playing with the Brass Trio and did a nice rendition of “Every Valley” (from the Messiah) on his Baritone Horn.

Sarah returned to the platform with her sister, Rachel Dudenhofer, that sang a nice duet of “Mary Did You Know?”. Once again, their father, Mark Britton, was able to accompany them on the piano through CD and Thumb Drive technology.

Following the duet with Rachel and Sarah, Rachel Dudenhofer stayed on the platform to finish the program with a beautiful Violin rendition of “Tidings of Great Joy”.

We hope you enjoy listening to this music as much as we enjoyed hearing it live. I believe it was one of our best programs of the year. It was even better because they are all members and friends of our church and many of them have performed for us before.

Following the program, we adjourned to the gymnasium for our luncheon. This was Ham and Noodles, Broccoli, and Sweet Potato Casserole, finished with a Peppermint Brownie. Lisa and the kitchen and dining room staff did their normal outstanding job with this special Christmas meal. Thank each of them.

Dr Chuck Clevenger–Young@Heart Piano/Watercolor Concert

Our November Young@Heart luncheon featured Dr. Chuck Clevenger at the piano. Dr. Clevenger is a noted Concert Pianist and also Watercolor Artist. We were privileged to have Dr. C perform a very nice and unique combination Piano/Art Concert.

Chuck showing off his Watercolor of Charlie Pagnard

The concert featured six watercolor paintings and played music appropriate for 5 of those pieces of art. First, he showed a painting that he did of Charlie Pagnard. We’ve enjoyed Piano/Trumpet concerts by Charlie and Chuck in the past, so this brought some of our friends into perspective. Next, he showed a painting of a Lighthouse on the coast of Western Michigan and played music about the tempest surrounding the lighthouse. He talked about the paintings and gave some great background to each of the paintings, explaining the tie-in to the music. Sorry, the recording of the program did not pick up the talking portion.

He also had a painting of his daughter and of Mont St. Michele, France and played appropriate music for each. He had another painting of his other daughter and granddaughter with appropriate music.

Lighthouse Watercolor

Chuck was assisted by his wife Ronda

Remember – Click on a picture to see it larger

I think it is appropriate to say that everyone enjoyed the concert! Several came to me requesting that he return. Currently, we are hoping that this can be accomplished the middle of next year.

We’ve included a YouTube video of Chuck performing to the painting of his Daughter and Granddaughter. You can see the YouTube version, HERE.

Granddaughter and Daughter
to the tune by Debussy “The Girl with the Flaxen Hair”

You can also hear the entire concert HERE!

Or Perhaps, you would prefer to browse his collection of paintings via his website, Studio-C-Art. I have a number of his note cards and enjoy using those to write notes. I prefer the water scenes and lighthouses but I mix it up, knowing many recipients don’t share my interests. I’m sure you can find something that would match your interests. These would even make great gifts!

Luncheon Program–Chris Thompson

This month we had another musical concert, this time a vocal concert featuring our own Chris Thompson.

During our “Early Bird” prelude period our conversations were enhanced by the piano music of Fred Scheffler and Nathan Brandt. You can hear their music HERE.

Following our announcements and recognition of Birthdays (there were no anniversaries this month), Chris Thompson provided an excellent vocal selection of gospel music. He chose music that was familiar to most of our people and often invited us to join in.

You can listen to the entire concert HERE! This is somewhat flawed where the audio soundtrack messed up.

I’m also including links to YOUTUBE videos of two of the songs that Chris performed.

I'd Rather Have Jesus

No More Night

During our November luncheon we will feature Chuck Clevenger as a concert pianist and artist. Yes, we will be combining these two art forms into a treat for our ears as well as our eyes. This looks like it could be a great program. I’m looking forward to how it will be done!

SCIOTO HILLS DAY TRIP

October 9th. we took a group of 33 of our Young@Heart people over to Scioto Hills Camp to enjoy a luncheon program. They typically have this program, “Seasoned Saints”, twice a year in the spring and fall. So we scheduled this trip for a nice Fall Color drive and an opportunity to enjoy some good music and comedy.

There was some color but it was a rainy, gray, overcast day! So, while the color was there, it wasn’t the great brilliant color that we think of when we think “fall color”. Here is a sample photo that I took from the patio where we had our luncheon. I was a true fall day but not a brilliant one!

The photo above is the dining hall of the camp where we ate. It does a good job of illustrating the cloudy sky.

The camp director and leader of the “Seasoned Saints” program is Scott Bruns. Scott introduced our program and gave an update about the camp. I was surprised to find that they have a full-time staff at the camp of 8 to 14 people, depending on if we count wives in the number. I think it is fair to do this since they help with the meals, and so on, throughout the entire year. The kids camps are their primary focus but they have year around activities such as “Seasoned Saints” and various church groups. In fact, our church is sending down a group of men for a Men’s Retreat, late this month.

To start, we had a very nice luncheon. Actually, it was very tasty and I have requested a couple of the recipes to use in our Newsletter. Watch for them! We had one of the larger groups and were acknowledged as the group traveling the furthest.

Joy Jones was our featured soloist. The last time we went to Scioto Hills, fall of 2012, we heard Joy and two of her sons sing. They weren’t able to join her, this year. She has a nice voice and we enjoyed the gospel music.

One of my greatest fears when planning our programs for Young@Heart is that we would have a last minute cancellation of our performer due to illness, etc. That is what happened to Scott for this program. We were supposed to have a male singer and comedian and he had to cancel two days prior to the program. We were fortunate to have Joy available.

If you’d like to know more about the camp click on this link.

If you’d like to know more about Joy and her boys check out their website, here.

Fall Trip to Mackinaw and Points North–Day 5

All good things must come to an end, they say. Certainly, our time in Michigan, and in particular the Mackinac area, has come to an end!

This morning we departed from our evening home at the Court Plaza Inn and Suites and this evening from our home on the road, the Lakefront Lines bus. Both provided home away from home comfort and were exceptionally nice for us. I don’t think anyone had serious complaints about either the hotel or the bus. The closest that we came to complaint for the hotel was that one of our ladies’ key kept getting cleared. Similarly for the bus, we were a couple of days without a microphone The microphone was a big deal, since our step on guides needed to use in and I occasionally wanted to give instructions. However, our driver was able to get a microphone sent from his office and it arrived on Wednesday.

We could not have asked for nicer weather. It was cool but not cold. It was sunny with no rain at all. We did have some fog in the mornings but that quickly disappeared and actually added to the ambience of our trip.

Our food was always good and the environments of our eating places were all very nice. When I asked about the trip highlight, most responded “the Grand Hotel, on Mackinac Island”. That was certainly a meal worthy of writing about. I’ve never had a trip where someone thought a meal worthy of more than honorable mention. The total experience at the Grand is something to behold. Experience it, if you can!

I am very happy with our driver, Marvin Thomas. He did a very good job and fit right in with our group and quickly became one of us.

Also, our Destination Managers from Diamond Tours, Kathleen and Margaret, were always there when we needed them, whether we knew it or not. Actually, it was comforting to see them somewhere to meet us and see that we got where we need to be and got the best treatment.

And our travel mates were also exceptional. We all got along well and came away being better friends with those who we traveled with.

So, all in all, this trip was what memories are made of. Thank you Lord!

Now, for some shut eye in our own bed! Home Sweet Home!

Fall Trip to Mackinaw and Points North–Day 4

To start the day we drove a short distance to the Soo Locks Tour dock and boarded the boat to go through the locks.

The boat captain and crew did a very good job. The girl on the microphone did the tour guide talking and also hauled the rope for mooring the boat in the locks. We didn’t sink, so I think they did a very good job.

Of course, there were plenty of boats and other things to see throughout the tour.

Finally, we headed into the lock and tied up, the gates closed and the water quickly rose enough to get us through to the other end. The water was filled by natural flow of the water and not pumps. The entire process only took about 20 minutes.

After the boat ride, we returned to Sault St. Marie for lunch on our own. We chose a place overlooking the park and later took a walk through the park enjoying the fall color and items of interest, such as this propeller from the first steam schooner to use the lakes. Unfortunately the boiler exploded blowing the boat to smithereens! I think thing 4 people died in that one, so it could have been worse.

After leaving Sault St. Marie, we went to Iroquois Point Lighthouse. While we were there, made an opportunity to take our group photo.

As is all too often the case, we had a good evening meal at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Mackinaw City.

		Lighthouse Restaurant VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL