turtle island tales

Mel and Vinnie FL music news Jan 28-Feb27

2012-01-27T23:31:00.002-05:00

Please glance all the way through to specialannouncements.

SAVE THE DATE– buytickets, reserve a table for dinner at The Living Room, take your chances ifyou wait or just show up.

Every Monday 6-9pm Vinnie plays instrumental electric at Havana Hideoutin Lake Worth. Come eattasty tacos, quesadillas, and homemade pie. Beer and wine. Visit with Mel.

Sunday February 19, 2012 The Songs of Phil Ochs in Concert at the Lake WorthPlayhouse, 713 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460. 561-586-6410. Two shows, matineeat 2, evening show at 7pm. Sonny Ochs will be with us. Tickets $20/25 in advance,$26/30 at door. http://www.lakeworthplayhouse.org/concerts.html Mel andVinnie with Megan Eversole,Joey George, Scott Goldblatt, Sean Hanley, Rod MacDonald, Kat Mahoney, PinkSlip, Tracy Sands, Matt Turk and Mike Vullo

Sunday March 4, 2012 Mel and Vinnie play 6-9pm at the Living Room, 1709 NorthCongress Ave, Boynton Beach FL 33426. 561-742-4399, come for dinner or drinks. Inthe south end of the Catalina Center plaza on the west side of Congress atGateway. Thank you 10 friends who showed up Jan 22^nd.

NOTES: Havana Hideout is an outdoorvenue, call or text Mel at 845 399 4630 for updates regarding cancellation. Theshow goes on most of the time, weather passes. If it's cold Vinnie may playearlier. Open mic spots are 15 minutes. Open mics can run early, late and besubject to change at short notice. There are many good local players with newfolks all the time.

DAY-BY-DAYJanuary 28 – February 27

Saturday January 28, private party, Boca RatonAirport.

Sunday January 29, 6 and 7pm. Havana Hideout, 509 Lake Ave,Lake Worth, FL. 561-585-8444. Ric Pattison’s open mic, 6-10pm. 6pm Vinnie’sinstrumental electric 6pm, Mel with Vinnie on electric guitar 7pm.

MondayJanuary 30, 6-9pm Havana Hideout, 509 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL. 561-585-8444. Vinnie plays instrumental electric guitar tooriginal backing tracks. Jazzy blues.

Friday February 3, 6-9pm Mel and Vinnie on the street outside Clay Glass MetalStone Cooperative Gallery 605 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460. 561 588 8344.Evening on the Ave in Lake Worth in the downtown Cultural Plaza, shops openwith many street activities. "VivaL' Amore!" in the Gallery transformed into an old-fashioned Valentine,with wonderful handmade jewelry, sculpture and more, all created to inspirelove and laughter.

SundayFebruary 4, 6 and 7 pm. Havana Hideout, 509 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL. 561-585-8444. RicPattison’s open mic, 6-10pm. 6pm Vinnie’s instrumental electric 6pm, Mel withVinnie on electric guitar 7pm.

MondayFebruary 5, 6-9pm Havana Hideout, 509 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL. 561-585-8444. Vinnie plays instrumental electric guitar tooriginal backing tracks. Jazzy blues.

FridayFebruary 10, 5–6pm Join usat the Peace Vigil in West Palm Beach on Flagler Drive at the Martin Luther King Jr Landmark Memorial

Saturday February 11, 10am-2pm, 2nd SaturdaySidewalk Sale in Lake Worth.

Mel and Vinnie on the street outside Clay Glass Metal StoneCooperative Gallery 605 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460. 561 588 8344.

Sunday February 12, 2-5pm Mel and Vinnie will be on FM Radio stationWLRN 91.3 Michael Stock’s South FloridaFolk and Acoustic Music show. If youlive in the Palm Beaches, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami or the Florida Keys you canlisten to Michael's Folk and Acoustic Music show every Sunday. If you areanywhere else in the world then listen on-line at: http://www.wlrn.org. Completeshows are not archived.

Monday February 13, 6-9pm HavanaHideout, 509 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL. 561-585-8444. Vinnie plays instrumental electric guitar tooriginal backing tracks. Jazzy blues.

Tuesday February 14, noon-12:30 HAPPY VALENTINES DAY Meland Vinnie promote the Songs of Phil Ochs concerts on local DCA radio show LakeWorth Downtown on WPBR1340AM. Joyce Brown, host. Tune in on the internet, http://www.WPBR1340am.com. Shows are archived a day orso later. Listen to our January 10^th hour at DCA - Lake Worth, FL 01.10.12

Friday February 17, 6-9pm Mel and Vinnie on the street outside Clay Glass MetalStone Cooperative Gallery 605 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460. 561 588 8344.Evening on the Ave in Lake Worth in the downtown Cultural Plaza, shops openwith many street activities. At the gallery, Fantastic Florida - TheVanishing Garden of Eden, celebrating the beauty of our state. Featuring a series of works of endangered Florida wildlifeby gallery artist Anthony Burks.

Monday February 20, 6-9pm HavanaHideout, 509 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL. 561-585-8444. Vinnie plays instrumental electric guitar tooriginal backing tracks. Jazzy blues.

Wednesday February 22, 8pm Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune at Stonzek Theatre 709 Lake Ave, LakeWorth. Next to the Lake Worth Playhouse. Q & A with Phil’s older sister,Sonny Ochs.

Thursday February 23, 8pm Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune at Stonzek Theatre 709 Lake Ave,Lake Worth. Next to the Lake Worth Playhouse. Q & A with Phil’s oldersister, Sonny Ochs.

Friday February 24, DOWNTOWN LAKE WORTH BLOCKPARTY Mel and Vinnie 6-9pm. All day activities on Lake and Lucerne Avesas we prepare for 18th Annual Street Painting FestivalMel and Vinnie on the street outside Clay GlassMetal Stone Cooperative Gallery 605 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460. 561 5888344.

SundayFebruary 26, 6 and 7 pm. Havana Hideout, 509 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL. 561-585-8444. RicPattison’s open mic, 6-10pm. 6pm Vinnie’s instrumental electric 6pm, Mel withVinnie on electric guitar 7pm. The streets will look awesome today. Leave timeto find parking.

Monday February 27, 6-9pm HavanaHideout, 509 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL. 561-585-8444. Vinnie plays instrumental electric guitar tooriginal backing tracks. Jazzy blues.

Announcements

SPECIAL REQUEST Thesongs of Phil Ochs can again speak to a new generation of young people searchingfor their answers to the meaning of life and the world around them. Help us raise money for 100 seats for localhigh school students for the Songs of Phil Ochs concerts here in Florida. SonnyOchs will visit their schools. Young activists in training in south Florida! Please consider sending something. Tax-deductible donations are being acceptedby the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery 605 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth33463. The gallery is sponsored by the Flamingo Clay Studio, anon-profit arts organization whose mission is to provide affordable studio andgallery space for three-dimensional artists. For more information contactJoyce Brown jclay6@aol.com 215 205 9441.

PBS, American Masters show is making available on the web Phil Ochs: There But For Fortune,the documentary directed by Kenneth Bowser. It isthe biography of a truth-seeking troubadour who stood up for what he believedin and challenged us all to do the same.

The Songs of Phil Ochs in Concert

2011-12-21T00:30:00.000-05:00

Sunday February 19, 2012 The Songs of Phil Ochs in Concert at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave, Lake Worth, FL 33460. 561-586-6410. Two shows, matinee at 2, evening show at 7pm. Sonny Ochs will be with us. Tickets $20/25 in advance, $26/30 at door. Mel and Vinnie with Megan Eversole, Joey George, Scott Goldblatt, Sean Hanley, Rod MacDonald, Kat Mahoney, Pink Slip, Tracy Sands, Matt Turk-special guest and Mike Vullo.

As Occupy Enters Third Month, a Look at How Protesters Are Building a Global Movement

2011-11-17T11:08:00.000-05:00

We want to share this segment of Democracy Now with you for the inspiring interview with Daniel Ellsberg.

As Occupy Enters Third Month, a Look at How Protesters Are Building a Global Movement

September 10th, Saugerties NY

2011-09-02T18:20:00.001-04:00

Mel and Vinnie on Stage 1, 1:15 - 2pm

The Town Of Saugerties is celebrating its 200-year anniversary with a full array of Bicentennial events throughout the year. On Saturday, September 10, The Kids' Family Day event takes place at the Cantine Veterans Memorial Sports Complex, Washington Ave. Ext., in Saugerties, between the hours of 11a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is free to all and open to all families in The Hudson Valley and beyond.

The Sustainable Living Roadshow (SLR) is coming all the way from Oakland, CA. SLR will be providing solar- and bike-powered stages with live music, keynote speakers, interactive workshops and more. They will also bring their original Conscious Carnival, Eco-Art Projects, a Health and Healing Tent, Sustainability Workshops and Speakers, puppet shows, natural building projects, Eco-exhibits and much more. Check them out at http://www.sustainablelivingroadshow.org.

Music performances by Tom Chapin, Spook Handy, Mel and Vinne, Uncle Rock, Rat Boy Jr., Dan and The Rivertown Kids, and more will be joining us for a fun filled day. Children inspiring children through music, art, dance, karate etc.

For more information contact Martina Merced, Kids and Family Day Chair at 845-532-1766 or Mercedmartina@yahoo.com

2011-09-02T18:02:00.001-04:00

MEL and VINNIE
September 3rd Pine Bush Farmer's Market 9 - 1

HOUSE CONCERT/POTLUCK SEPT 9, 2011

2011-08-08T20:21:00.000-04:00

HOUSE CONCERT/POTLUCK

CATCH US IN POUGHKEEPSIE, NY BEFORE WE GO SOUTH FOR THE WINTER

CELEBRATE OUR CD RELEASED THIS YEAR - FEELS LIKE HOME

MEL AND VINNIE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9. POT LUCK 6:30, CONCERT 7:30. WE DO START ON TIME.

DONATION $10 + A NON MEAT DISH OR BEVERAGE OR DESSERT TO SHARE.

RESERVATIONS REQUIRED AS SPACE IS VERY LIMITED. LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS PROVIDED WITH RESERVATION CONFIRMATION IF NEEDED.

SAMPLES at CD Baby for both CDs

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/MelandVinnie

project web page

http://www.melandvinnie.blogspot.com/

and the links in the right column go to our other links.

MYRNA
845-462-1796
MYRNAROSS@JUNO.COM

April 2011 @ The Shed, Florida

2011-06-29T20:05:00.000-04:00

Mel and Vinnie recorded a new CD, Feels Like Home (Spittoon Studios #3) at Ric Pattison's new studio in Lake Worth. 9 originals and two covers. It was first available at Clearwater's 2011 Great Hudson River Revival.

it's available from CD Baby in downloads too.

www.cdbaby.com/cd/melandvinnie

Clearwater Festival June 18 & 19

2011-02-18T16:01:00.000-05:00

What are Mel and Vinnie up to?

We've been playing FL open mics Looking forward to coming back to join site crew for the Clearwater Festival

5 minute NPR radio spot

2011-02-02T19:09:00.000-05:00

Romel Joseph update Jan 2011

songwriter's notebook

2010-11-25T17:50:00.002-05:00

Surprise!

The show Rik and Bec produced from the Broad Old River 2 event last November is showing on the website of LCATV.

Pete Seeger and friends

2010 Great Hudson River Revival June 19 & 20

2010-06-13T19:54:00.002-04:00

Circle of Song tent is even closer to the river this year!

Sunday morning Mel and Vinnie open there at 11:00 am. Come by with your instrument, voice or just your ears.

Each day at Circle of Song there is an open round robin hootenanny song circle.

Saturday 1:15 - 2:30

Sunday 12:30 - 1:15

Sunday 5:30 - 6:30 the closing set at Circle of Song is a Hudson River Sloop Singer Reunion, Rick Nestler is host.

complete schedule at

http://www.clearwater.org/festival/schedules.html

festival home page

http://www.clearwater.org/festival/index.html

So Just Trust Me

2010-05-28T11:58:00.001-04:00

You've given me all of your money....

on what I can do for you....

You're waiting by the banks of the ocean....

So I can bring it back home to you....

But the Sirens are singing so sweetly....

and calling me far away....

The outline of paradise I can almost touch....

But for you I must not delay....

....

So Just trust me....

....

You know I have the best of intentions....

The rules have been written quite clear....

A contract, after all, is a contract....

But in Vegas what happens stays here....

Why would I gamble our future....

For some sheckels, one more ore one less....

The oil is there for the taking....

My Intentions are only the best....

....

so just trust me

Shrimp Ale Oilio

2010-05-28T11:51:00.001-04:00

Shrimp Alle Oilio

I'm dining today with my brother

whose found a new place to eat

he says to me "be a good fella,

and eat some nice shrimps with your wheat"

So we went down to the New Orleans Harbor

and the Matre D showed us our seat

the waiter came by and started to cry

as he told us his resturants new treat

"We now have Shrimp Alle Oilio

It's been Zagat rated you know

Its as good as the Clams Fra Diabalo

cause its pre basted before it comes in the door

Its good for your health and nutrition

to eat fish with some good petroleum

and no doubt its good

for BP who gets

more of our hard earned simoleans"

Econosmith pictures from Broad Old River 2 Concert

2010-05-01T14:18:00.004-04:00

Link to the Econosmith photos from the 2009 Sloop Singer Reunion for the Song Writer's Notebook TV show Rik Palieri has in VT.

http://web.me.com/maryellenhealy/Mel_and_Vinnie/reunion.html

Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami FL

2010-02-09T12:50:00.005-05:00

Here we are in the parking garage getting ready to find the West Wing where Mr. Josph's room is. First up are Vinnie, Mel and Allan.

Next is Birgit, Eugen and Christina.
Allan putting on the style...

RJ Storm gift to Romel Joseph

2010-02-09T12:13:00.003-05:00

This video of the delivery of the RJ Storm violin to Romel Joseph is also on YouTube. Allan Aunapu, Christina Leps (fluent french so we know we got permission to tape and post this), Vinnie Cerniglia, Mel Healy, Birgit Lehmann (Christina's cousin from Germany) and Eugen Karschewski (Birgit's friend on the Flip).

7.0 Earthquake in Haiti

2010-02-09T11:28:00.004-05:00

On January 12th, while we were visiting in FL there was a 7.0 earthquake in Haiti. Through Allan Aunapu we learned about Romel Joseph. Romel is a Fulbright scholar, trained violinist at Julliard who also runs The New Victorian School in Port Au Prince. In January 12th 2000 The Victorian School was destroyed by fire and rebuilt as The New Victorian School. On January 12th 2010, after finishing up a violin lesson and putting his instrument away Romel found himself underground, the first floor went into the earth and he was there 18 hours. His violin lost, his school destroyed and his 7 month pregnant wife Myslie missing. His injuries included crushing his left arm and hand and both feet. He is in a hospital in Miami.

R.J. Storm, in upstate NY heard about this and decided to gift a violin to Romel while Romel was in the hospital. Ralph does work on Pete Seeger's banjo and Pete and Allan Aunapu go back to the first sloop Clearwater sail, Allan was the first captain. Tinya shipped the violin to Allan. He asked us to help him bring it, record it and post it on YouTube.

Where do we put our guitars?

2008-05-18T22:03:00.003-04:00

5/18/08 We got home Sunday evening and repositioned the organ, bench, speaker, pedals and 4 wheel dolly. We secured it with rope and cushioned it with rugs and blankets. Now we know how much room we have for other stuff- not much.

Where the organ was before 1963

2008-05-18T21:55:00.005-04:00

On our way back to Pine Bush we drove past Holy Name of Jesus, the church the organ was at before 1963.

Bill Grogan's Goat

2008-05-18T21:23:00.004-04:00

Terry and Catherine taught us the song they sang as a family so many times so many years ago.

notes from Catherine: Memories of her dad, James B. Cotterall
*The sheet music to our family song, "Bill Grogan's Goat" My father, in his deep voice would sing a line and then the 6 "kids" would repeat the line in playful voices. She remembers: When dad would drive into the driveway from work, my mom would often say"Take your places everyone"....that meant, Suzy or Terry play the organ, one of us would turn off the TV and others would finish setting the table....He loved when Suzy would play "Beautiful Dreamer" and I would sing.....I loved when Suzy played Saber Dance and Ebb Tide. I always dreamed of being able to play, I took lessons but it just wasn't happening.
And then this one: I can't tell you how thrilled we are that our Hammond is soon to have the most perfect home! I have some news to share with you. Dad was diagnosed with a complex aneurysm 3 years ago...( given 6mo.) Dad passed away, February 14th. He was 85 in October. He was totally self sufficient, cooking, driving, cleaning....Every morning he would wake to watch the sunrise from his living room over the ocean.

Will it fit?

2008-05-18T21:11:00.004-04:00

A gift in memory of their parents

2008-05-18T21:04:00.004-04:00

Adding a plaque which says:

Our Family Organ 1963-2008
Gift in Loving memory of our parents
Jim and Mary Cotterall
New Rochelle, NY

Picking up the organ

2008-05-18T20:52:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we drove down to Catherine's sister Terry's house in New Rochelle to pick up the organ. Catherine met us there with her husband Jeff and their three boys. Terry has the experience taking it apart and putting it together.

She also had some helpers there to help get it into the minivan.

May 26-28th New Orleans

2008-05-05T13:16:00.002-04:00

We'll be in New Orleans for Memorial Day and stay through Wednesday. As we firm up timing we'll keep on posting.

An organ (2004) for New Orleans 2008

2008-04-29T01:06:00.007-04:00

James B. Cotterall's 82nd birthday with his six grown children
Mary-Anne, Terry, Suzy, Dottie, Taffy (Catherine) and Michael

the family grows bigger

2008-04-29T01:04:00.007-04:00

Thanksgiving

The organ in 1973

2008-04-29T01:01:00.004-04:00

The organ on Catherine's parent's 25th anniversary.

Back to New Orleans in May 2008

2008-04-29T00:20:00.010-04:00

Back in December 2007 Catherine Apotheker contacted me. She donated the drum set we collected for our first trip which didn't fit in the minivan but made its way down with Bill on another trip. After telling her father about our February trip with the Feel Good Tour he asked if we could use an organ. He got it from a church and it was central in their family life as she grew up. Peter Spring was happy to hear of it knowing exactly where it was needed. It's going back to a church. Her father discussed it with all his children and they agreed it was a good idea. They sent pictures. Vinnie and I plan to bring it down at the end of May. We hope to revisit the Peace Lutheran Song Circle and see Gordon and his BioLiberty project. When I recently brought a lesson on the 'old songs' to the new crew of the good sloop Clearwater I met two young people who have been working in New Orleans. Caitlin asked us to come stay at Common Ground Relief and do some music. She wants us to do a Clearwater program there too.

Peace Summit Burlington, VT

2007-11-08T18:40:00.001-05:00

Totem Pole Rik Palieri asked us to come and talk about how Clearwater uses music as a tool for organizing.

Saturday November 10th
CONTOIS AUDITORIUM, inside Burlington City Hall 149 Church Street.
How can music transform conflict into peace? Musicians effectively promoting peace through their art and lives give their perspectives on the union of music and politics, then perform - during a community potluck dinner at Burlington's City Hall!
1:00 Community Potluck (continues through panel and showcase)
1:00 Panel, Music for Peace: RIK PALIERI; MEL & VINNIE; JOSEPH GAINZA, American Friends Service Committee, INGRID HELDT, KENRIC KITE, ORCA Media
2:00 Music for Peace Showcase: RIK PALIERI, MEL & VINNIE, INGRID HELDT and others
www.bigheavyworld.com/indiecon
All IndieCon events are FREE and ALL-AGES. If you're a performing musician or music fan, you'll probably find a showcase, panel, or documentary film in the IndieCon program to get psyched about. IndieCon 2007 is the third independent music conference produced in Burlington, Vermont by Big Heavy World, a crew of volunteers who work to support Vermont's musicians and preserve Vermont-made music.

Broad Old River Resurrection Committee-new project

2007-06-21T16:25:00.000-04:00

June 21, 2007

Today is the first day of summer and the 21st anniversary of the 1986 recording at Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival of the Hudson River Sloop Singer set at the Beach Stage. That set and a few tunes recorded in John Guth’s studio became Broad Old River, the Hudson River Sloop Singer record in 1987. I wrote a song in 1982, The Sailor’s Husband’s Lament which was recorded in that set and on the record. In March a small group of us decided to get the record onto CD by the 2007 Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival which was last Saturday and Sunday.

Last weekend we sold the entire run of 100 Broad Old River 20th anniversary limited edition CDs at Clearwater's 2007 Great Hudson River Revival at Croton Point Park in Croton on Hudson NY. It includes a 20 page booklet with color photos and one song per page lyrics. It is a home digitized, light scribed, hand cut, printed production. All proceeds go to the two wood sloops-Clearwater and Woody Guthrie.

The Circle of Song tent on the way to working waterfront had 4 beautiful flags made for me by Claire Francis. Two say Clearwater with a sewn gaff gig sloop-Clearwater, two say Circle of Song using the topsail sun theme. She has another set which will debut at the Aug 5th Newburgh Beacon Swim. They say River Pool at Beacon and have the proto pool design with a turtle on it. The Circle of Song seats were full all day long. Each day from 12:30-2 we had an open round robin. Sunday so many song leaders came by a few people didn’t get to play a song (and it was a one song limit).

Hudson River sloop singers had a reunion set on Sunday at 5pm at the waterfront circle of song tent. It started off with a group of 13-Pete Seeger and 12 of us Hudson River Sloop Singers. As the audience grew so did the sloop singer roster to 26 participants. Other sloop singers listened and sang along from the audience. Another sloop singer took pictures and posted an album of the festival weekend.

There will be a 1000 run of a phase 2 Broad Old River with bonus track(s) planned to be available by the Beacon Sloop Club October 14th Pumpkin Festival. The engineer has started the digital remix. For that to happen we need money. Please consider if you can send a check toward production costs (ballpark $4000) to Vincent Cerniglia, 1213 Burlingham Road, Pine Bush, NY 12566. Write Broad Old River or BORRC on the memo line. I’ll send you an annual email of how much money we send to Beacon Sloop Club and Clearwater as a result of this. Thank you for your support.

We'll be setting up a Circle of Song on the Beacon side for the Newburgh to Beacon Swim across the Hudson River for River Pool at Beacon Sunday August 5th. Let Mel know if you want to participate, it’s a small venue under a popup at the river’s edge entertaining the setup crew and the supporters of the swimmers and kayackers. The event takes place at slack water and the Coast guard stops traffic in the channel while the swimmers and boats cross. Beacon NY is home to the sloop Woody Guthrie.

Mel and Vinnie

Step It Up 2007

2007-04-15T17:45:00.000-04:00

April 14,2007
The message Step It Up 2007 is to cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050-2% a year. Here we are with our banner. Photo: © George Potanovic, Jr. • http://www.potanovic.com/

Going forth

2007-04-15T17:31:00.000-04:00

Saturday April 7, 2007
Back in March on the Saturday before St. Pat's I was able to put the slideshow in my palm pilot and bring it to Donna and Rick Nestler's annual event. Individuals watched and talked to us amid the proceedings. Today, we had a chance to show pictures from our laptop and talk to friends at Stephen's birthday in Olivebridge, NY.

Drums

2007-04-03T22:49:00.000-04:00

4/3/07
Back in February, we couldn't fit the drums in the minivan when we got a last minute passenger from NY so we did get Bill to take them last night. Catherine will be pleased to know they're on their way to a new home. Let's follow Bills blog http://www.feelgoodtour.blogspot.com to see where they go. He and Al leave for Mississippi next week.

A month later

2007-03-20T14:44:00.000-04:00

3/19/07
Today's mail brought a thank you from the Buras EC. We left warm clothing and infant toddler instruments there. The letter went on to say that residents in Plaquemines Parish have amazing stories of disaster and rebuilding to tell and are grateful when people take the time to listen to their stories. "The Hulse family is one of many familites who lost everything and they really enjoyed talking with you during your stay." Read their story in our blog. The Buras EC gave us meals and use of cots in a shared heated tent for the night.

The City of New Orleans has initiated a "Good Neighbor" program. Thousands of residents—many of whom are elderly and disabled--are facing the possibility of having their homes repossessed by the City, if their properties are not gutted, mold abated, and boarded up. Instead of providing the needed resources to those who need assistance, the local government is referring residents to non-profit organizations like Common Ground. Lower Ninth Ward residents have faced tremendous obstacles in their efforts to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent levee failures. Following the storm, a military occupation and a curfew prevented residents from returning to rebuild the Lower Ninth Ward. The City has been painfully slow in restoring basic services to this area, such as water, electricity, and phones. Many residents view the government as standing in the way rather than helping people return home.

I carry my Palm Pilot now to show pictures and tell people about the trip. It's simple and effective. Some ask for the blog address for more information. Is there any other way to reach critical mass except one at a time? Is there some small way you too can help?

Leaving Camp Liberty

2007-02-24T20:04:00.000-05:00

2/18/07
Sunday morning it was time to go. The United for Peace women who recently arrived at Camp Liberty brought out the raffle quilt for us to see. It's beautiful 3 dimensional art. You can use the link to buy tickets on line.

We signed the wall and took some last pictures.

The United for Peace women took the box of animals with letters to deliver since our time had run out.

Vinnie was happy to relinquish the wheel to Mel who drove from Slidell to just outside Roanoke, and then let Al drive to his house. From there Bill navigated while she drove us to his house for the night. Blizzard, Bill's cat was happy to see him.

In the morning Bill made coffee and Mel made oats with apricots, walnuts, yogurt and maple syrup that she left at Bill's for the return trip. Another last picture and Mel drove back to Pine Bush.

What a nice surprise when we pulled into the driveway! Our neighbor Ed Fisher had cleared the driveway with our snow thrower. He is resourceful. We hadn't discussed the what if it snows scenario. And it was heavy icy wet snow. The entry into the house had been shoveled too. Thank you! Namaste.

Common Ground First Annual Solidarity Awards

2007-02-24T19:12:00.000-05:00

2/17/07
We returned to this event after dinner. Mel videotaped, listened and learned. She followed the work of Malik Rahim on Democracy Now and here he was in person and in context. Collective good was in the room.

Common Ground Relief seeks to honor community leaders who have worked vigorously and diligently to rebuild the culture and community of New Orleans. Join us to pay homage to these local heroes at the Solidarity Awards dinner at 7 pm on February 17 at St. Mary of the Angels School., 2225 Congress Street (near N Galvez), in the Upper 9th Ward, New Orleans.

There will be a special screening of the music video “Cry for New Orleans”. The touching and heart stirring song is recorded by Cyril Neville and his wife Gaynielle, and written by Reverend Goat Carson and Jude Johnstone. Award Winning Filmmaker, David Floeter, has produced the music video.

All of the recipients have labored diligently to help restore New Orleans.

French Quarter

2007-02-24T18:56:00.000-05:00

2/17/07
Getting to the french quarter was a comedy of errors. Mel decided to film it and Vinnie put it out on Google video unedited. There is a link to it-Road Warriors, the silly tour- under 2007 Feel Good Tour Video in the column to the right. Vinnie, Al and Rich are all punsters.

We finally parked and walked through Saturday afternoon Mardi Gras. There were bands playing in the mostly empty bars, bands playing in the street, lots of beads, costumes and people drinking.

Bill wanted us to experience New Orleans food. We got into the car and (no surprise) got lost. We found ourselves at Peter Springs and he was in. He suggested an upscale bar-b-que a few blocks away with varied menu and reasonable prices. Mel remembered Gordon asked for a mocha coffee and surprised everyone by ordering a mixed hot chocolate and coffee to go. Who says they won't have mocha coffee in a bar-b-que bar?

Common Ground Relief Celebrating Community Spirit and Strength

2007-02-24T18:44:00.000-05:00

Saturday, Feb 17th , from 11am till 5pm, Common Ground Relief is hosting “Operation Transformation, a Celebration of Healing and Rebirth” a day long, free of charge extravaganza of luxurious makeovers, healing workshops and upscale clothing give-aways at St. Mary of the Angels School, 2225 Congress Street, in the Upper 9th Ward, New Orleans.

Featuring music by the renowned Ken““Afro” Williams Drum Circle, songs and poetry by Reverend Goat Carson, organizer of The White Buffalo Day Celebration, and children’s entertainment by the Living Folklore Clowns, this celebration promises to be exciting, hope filled and meaningful.

Expect to be amused by Mardi Gras clowns, dance to second line brass bands, experience a drum circle, be fascinated by the Mardi Gras Indians, and touched by the relevant and passionate films.

Over 1,000 boxes of clothing have been donated to outfit men, women & children currently living in homeless shelters in the 9th ward. Residents will be given makeovers as well. Rebecca Floeter of Santa Fe, NM is arranging for the clothing and make-up donations.

The workshops given offer hope to a community that has lost so much. Workshops will be given on depression and coping skills, presented by Susan Bergeson, president of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, consultations and professional makeovers with internationally recognized life coach, Selena Rodriguez, as well as a workshop called “Freedom Through Releasing” with Jeannie Whyte. Award-Winning Filmmaker, David Floeter will be present filming a documentary on Operation Transformation as well as hosting a media room to show films relevant to the community.
Schedule
11am - Workshop on Depression and Coping Skills
12pm - Freedom Through Releasing Workshop
2pm - Wardrobe Giveaways & Makeovers Begin

The Ride to Common Ground Relief

2007-02-24T18:36:00.000-05:00

2/17/07
7 of us in the car down to Common Ground. Gordon described his experiences in the military, Rich did too. We got to Common Ground and Gordon set up his laptop and projector in a side room showing movies until the evening program when he moved into the main room providing visuals. We ate lunch to the drumming circle. We missed most of their celebration because the majority of our group wanted to go into New Orleans to the French Quarter for Mardi Gras.

Breakfast on Saturday

2007-02-23T11:53:00.000-05:00

2/17/07
Our full last day started off with two trips to the food store. First we stopped to get breakfast food and flowers to bring to Yvonne Brown's house in Slidell. Rich got an opportunity to meet her. Last night she took her grandson to his first Mardi Gras parade . When he woke up Rich was playing the piano and then serenaded him with her fiddle. He enjoyed us singing to him.

We had to eat and run to make another trip to the food store to get provisions for the Camp Liberty kitchen and be back by 10am to pick up Gordon. Vinnie drove 7 of us down to Common Ground Relief at St. Mary's of the Angels in New Orleans. Today was the First Annual Solidarity Awards celebrating local heroes who have struggled to rebuild communities and cultures in New Orleans. We left our instruments back in Slidell knowing that we'd be in and out of crime ridden areas today and that there'd be wonderful music wherever we went.

Slidell Mardi Gras Ernie and Jean

2007-02-22T19:37:00.000-05:00

2/16/07 Friday night
We took showers at Camp Liberty and left to visit Ernie and Jean. We couldn't get out of town until the parade went by. We got out and watched the last float go by in the dark.

Jean had a great homecooked meal waiting for us. After we ate we had a song circle in their heated house. Their neighbor Joe was there. He encouraged the guys each time a song ended by telling them "That Sucked!" Ernie gave Bill a donation and the Feel Good Tour gave us money for the gas home.

Slidell errands

2007-02-22T19:31:00.000-05:00

2/16/07
We returned Yvonne's cake pan and arranged to come back in the morning to have breakfast with her.

We stopped at the library to pick up a box from Bill's wife Lynn. Children wrote letters and they were attached to stuffed animals.

St. Tammany JHS

2007-02-22T19:27:00.000-05:00

2/16/07 Friday
From New Orleans we made it back to Slidell to find St. Tammany Junior High School just moments before school let out for the week. Hannah Rucker, Principal was happy to receive the instruments. The elementary school is nearby door in trailers.

Back to Peter Spring

2007-02-22T19:21:00.000-05:00

2/16/07
From the Y Cafe in Buras we drove back to New Orleans to Peter's instrument warehouse. Rich, Mel and Vinnie had a chance to see it. Remember that Rich had heard about Peter's project in Wisconson before he left. We heard about it from Brian at the EC Going Home Cafe in New Orleans.

Second Harvest truck arrives

2007-02-22T18:37:00.000-05:00

2/16/07 Friday morning
We had a wakeup call that a truck was here to unload. There was time to grab a quick plate of food and then Al, Mel and Vinnie helped Angelina, Sean and the kitchen crew unload pallets into the kitchen dry goods, the refrigerator truck and the freezer truck. There is no reclycling in Louisianna. The cardboard is brought out back to a firepit to burn, spoiled food is put in the dumpster.

Over breakfast I listened to a volunteer explain how they get the work done at the EC. It is an unstructured approach to community life that functions. People step up to the plate, work gets done in whatever way the person doing it decides. This young man had run his own business in an "efficient" model of delegation before he came down to help after Katrina. It was an adjustment for him to work in an open model. But he's been there for months now. There is an obvious joy and consciousness in the community here. He shared his discovery that "I had to stop being an asshole" and give it a chance. He realized he'd never been exposed to anything like it before.

Back to the EC Y Cafe

2007-02-22T17:15:00.000-05:00

Thursday 2/15/07 after the concert at the school

Al, Vinnie and the breakfast cook played pool.

Mel, Rich and Gordon each found the sunny spot on the cement and got to know something about each other. We were next to the portable satelite wireless rig that Gordon brought to the EC. He told us about his experience with veterans for peace and the impeachment tour. He brought a bus and equipment to Cindy Sheehan and helped her name Camp Casey. When Katrina hit Gordon came to New Orleans and has been here since. He got here before the government as did other citizens who got in their cars and drove down to help. Where was the disaster aid? Citizens shipped water to them. They found ways to work together.

Rich needed blankets, seems he missed the part about staying down here overnight and to our delight we were pointed to Butter Bean, a heated army tent. Vinnie found us to come eat. Back out into the cold wind we went.

We had a music circle with the volunteers after dinner. We sat near the one heater in the dining area. Sean is also a drummer. They said they didn't have song leaders in the crew currently. Al stayed up and played all night with a group.

Boothville-Venice Elementary School

2007-02-22T16:45:00.000-05:00

2/15/07
After lunch we headed over to the school where we had instruments to leave and a concert planned. Vanessa Williams, Principal arranged for two shows in the gym. Rich does children's music and nursing homes for a living and he has a wonderful fast paced show. Gordon and Sean from EC were videotaping and Sue took still pictures. Bill was the MC. Rich and Mel led songs. Al and Vinnie were the sidemen. The children were very polite, thanking us and asking for autographs. They don't have a music teacher yet.

One family's story over lunch

2007-02-22T15:30:00.000-05:00

2/15/07
Gail had pictures of their house which had water up to the second story. Her husband wants to relocate but their 17 year old needed to come back. It is helping him to be back in school here. They're in their late 50s, they left Port Sulpher in their pickup truck with $15,000 left on the loan and one suitcase of clothes. They lost their shrimp boat, crab boat and nets. Their assets preKatrina were -$17,000.

Gail said in Port Sulpher water went up to bell tower of the Catholic church and people held onto the rope for survival. The area was closed off for weeks, people were let back in by boat initially. Some boats were abandoned on their property and the husband was recently arrested for having stolen property. A year and a half later they have no income, no loans and their remaining boat is in worse shape having been vandalized where it was stored. The yard gave notice that it will now charge $500 to keep boats. It was eight months before they got their FEMA trailer. They stayed in one room with their son-in-law during that time. They weren't making ends meet before the hurricane and now they have done all the paperwork possible but have nothing to look forward to.

She describes the 6 million gallon oil spill and the pollution. There was a tidal surge and then more rain flushing it all out into the gulf. They applied for both personal and business loans from SBA but have been turned down due to inability to repay.

They say their Parish (local governemnt)isn't helping them and that's the way it is in Louisianna. They want to rebuild but to get a building permeit you need $4-5,000 for plans to withstand high winds. People aren't being allowed to rebuild here. They see price gouging. The cost of driving their son to school is high. They think the government wants the families out leaving the oil companies and the sports fishermen. They told me of a meeting tonight at the high school to hear comments from the residents. They want you to know that they don't see any of the money people gave for Katrina Relief.
Namaste.

Jan2007 Conditions in Plaquemines Parish, LA

2007-02-22T14:08:00.000-05:00

Conditions in Plaquemines Parish, LA
January, 2007
By Mischa Byruck
Emergency Communities Director of Development

Plaquemines Parish follows the Mississippi River south from New Orleans to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico. The eye of Hurricane Katrina first made landfall here on August 29, 2005, commencing the worst natural disaster in modern U.S. history. The Parish suffered 125 mph winds, a twenty foot storm surge and twenty-seven levee breaks. Eight different oil spills dumped 6.5 million gallons of oil on the parish and the towns of Buras, Port Sulphur, Empire, and Pointe a la Hache were all virtually demolished.

A few months later, Hurricane Rita slammed the parish again, flooding homes and delaying the recovery process by months. No structures were left undamaged, and almost every home was rendered uninhabitable because of the mold that grew as a result of the prolonged flooding. The Parish was home to over 16,000 residents before the storm. Roughly 5,000 have returned.

Plaquemines parish is a rural area between five and fifteen feet below sea level, bordered by levees, great mounds of earth that hold back the Mississippi on one side, and a network of bayous and tributaries on the other. Most of the residents are either fishermen or work in the offshore oil industry. Many are elderly or retired; their families have been here for generations. It is the kind of place, rough and self-sufficient, where you don’t live unless you love it.

Virtually all residents still live in FEMA-owned trailers, which are mostly stacked side-by-side in immense, dehumanizing parks. Though they live cramped in with their families,they are also isolated,without communal space to entertain and separated from their friends and loved ones by the hundreds of miles of the post-hurricane diaspora.

The physical environment is one of total devastation—collapsing houses, oily fields, and debris on every lawn. Wrecked and molded cars are stacked in the ditches by the side of the road. Crumbling walls, empty foundations and strewn cinder blocks
make it seem like mere weeks have passed since the storm. There is a severe shortage of services. There are gas stations, liquor stores, hardware stores and a few crab shacks, yet the nearest grocery store, laundromat and movie theater remain over an hour’s drive away.

The local schools, all run out of trailers, have roughly 800 students between them, and offer only a few extracurricular activities. Many students commute fifty miles to school each day. Without activities to occupy their time, many of the children are turning to petty theft, interracial violence, drugs, even random vandalism, to
assuage their boredom.

Homeowners, in a more vulnerable position than many have ever been, find themselves taken advantage of by out-of-state contractors on a daily basis. They are depressed and lonely, disconnected from their pre-Katrina lives and with little to ease their pain.

Despite these hardships, people are coming back, for jobs or family, or just out of habit, but more often because their land is all they have left.

Y Cafe in Buras

2007-02-22T13:34:00.000-05:00

Thursday 2/15
We were greeted warmly by volunteers at the EC in Buras who know Gordon and Bill. They are set up in the old YMCA structures, mostly roof not much walls. Tents inside the open buildings. They have free services-a kitchen and dining area, library, children's area, distribution center, laundry, computer/internet . Vinnie, Al and Bill played music in the dining area while Mel brought in the toddler instruments for the children's area. We brought the last of the warm clothes here and residents were choosing hats and gloves. Everyone is cold, it's damp, windy and below 30 degrees at night. Olivia
(opratt@emergencycommunities.org) came over to Mel to get contact information and to give a promotional packet. They need diapers-all sizes, baby wipes, baby food, small furniture, skin so soft, feminine hygiene, bleach, blankets and more. Make a person to person contact before shipping things to be sure you're sending what they need. The links on this blog give you choices of groups to support. Volunteers are needed everywhere too. Olivia asked for money so they can buy local and help rebuild the local economy. She brought over Gail and her husband who had pictures of their house. I ate lunch with the the residents and listened to their story.

Down to Buras

2007-02-21T20:18:00.000-05:00

2/15/07 thursday
Gordon drove his camper, Rich his minivan and we took the Odyssey down to Buras after another great breakfast from Gordon. As we passed through New Orleans the hurricane damage was more evident. we got to see levees up close as we went south to the delta. Smudge pots were out for the oranges. oil facilities and wreckage increased as we went south..

Very cold

2007-02-21T20:07:00.000-05:00

2/14/06
Some thought a fire in the cabin would be warmer then other options. In reality, we were not prepared for the conditions, temperatures below 30 degrees with wind at night. Rich Baumann arrived. We introduced ourselves with a song circle in the kitchen using the oven for heat. This photo of Rich is not at the Camp Liberty. It's at Jean and Ernie's house Friday night.

Going Home Cafe

2007-02-21T17:15:00.000-05:00

2/14/07
At this emergency communities project in New Orleans Brian, an electrician gave us information about Peter Spring in New Orleans who has also been collecting and giving instruments to the schools. Peter came over to meet Bill. Bill, Al and Sue went to see his instrument collection while Vinnie and Mel continued to played music for/with residents and volunteers. It was real cold in these large open spaces that offer free food. The volunteers showed us where to move the car in this tough neighborhood.
A side story is that Rich Baumann the sixth in our project with Bill Hudson already knew of Peter Spring. We hadn't met Rich yet. Before the trip Rich was on the local radio in Wisconson to promote his million closets project and a local musician called in to tell him about Peter. Peter is rebuilding music education in a very poor New Orleans public school. Hands on. The Steven Spring foundation is in memory of his son, a gifted jazz musician. Peter wants to teach the recipients to play the instruments he gives them and send videos back to the donors. He lovingly restores pianos and more. This was a blessed event.

Which disaster to help?

2007-02-21T16:43:00.000-05:00

2/14/07
After the school visit we went to the library to find out more about the tornado. Bill Larsen helped us locate the neighborhoods and the Red Cross shelter location. The area was limited access so we set out to find the nearby EC cafe in New Orleans. We were annointed by the wizard to be followed by foolishness and frippery all of our days. We brought Rich Baumann back for his blessing on Friday, he hadn't joined us yet.

Low Brass Instruments needed for JHS band in Slidell

2007-02-20T12:02:00.000-05:00

2/14/07

First thing we went over to Mrs. Scotts music class at Boyet JHS in Slidell. We were greeted with chocolate valentines. We left instruments, the class next door came over for a few songs led by Mel. Mrs. Scott used the teachable moment to explain improvisation talking about Vinnie's guitar and Al's recorder. The Times Picayune sent a photographer.

Song Circle and a gift

2007-02-20T11:07:00.000-05:00

2/13/07
Arriving on a Tuesday in Slidell we got to participate in the Peace Lutheran church weekly song circle hosted by the North Shore Ramblers. Yvonne brings her fiddle. Volunteers from all over the USA in La for Katrina relief came to listen and sing along to the bluegrass, gospel blues and folk music offered.
I met a local woman who lost her guitar to Katrina and brought one in for her.

First, A Gift for the School District

2007-02-14T12:58:00.000-05:00

2/13/07
Bill, Al, Vinnie and Mel went into Slidell. We met Bill Larsen at the library. Mel left diagnostic tools for the St Tammany Parish School district. Al left a bag of sweaters for Mandeville. We met the fire chief in the parking lot at the library. We stopped by the fire house where they were doing inventory. Then we went by Yvonne Brown's house. She had delicious chocolate cake waiting for us. We went food shopping, Gordon cooked us gumbo for dinner.

twisters

2007-02-13T13:08:00.000-05:00

2/11/07
Sue arrived in Pine Bush Sunday morning to catch a ride with us. Mel had breakfast ready, a cooler packed for the road and Vinnie had the van packed. We left at 9:30am for Roanoke VA. We got to Al's house at 6:30pm. We had some strategizing to do with Al about the packing up tomorrow. We left for Bill's house, 40 minutes away in Moneta. We went out shopping for dinner. He made us a fine meal with birthday cake for Sue. Al went home for the night.
2/12/07
Bill made coffee, Mel made oats with apricots, walnuts, yogurt and maple syrup. We left Bill's at 9:30am on Monday morning and went back to Roanoke for Al. It was a good thing Mel brought a few space bags to compress bed rolls and clothing donations. Five adults, donations, our instruments and gear is a lot of stuff in a minivan. Also a good thing we had a car top carrier. Al brought a mascot along for us who we named Blotch.
2/13/07
We got into Slidell Monday night/Tuesday morning 12:30am their time. At Camp Liberty Gordon welcomed us with coffee and offered us use of a cabin, "Meg's house". There is solar electric for light and charging. In another building we had use of a shared bathroom, kitchen and wireless internet.

Shortly after we got onto the cots a "gully washer" thunderous storm went on for quite a while. An F2 tornado passed over us and touched down in New Orleans in several spots. A life was lost, rebuilt houses destroyed. We're on our way into Slidell to the library and firehouse. It's warm enough for shorts today.

Friday Night in Newburgh

2007-02-10T00:03:00.000-05:00

2/9/07

A bunch of us went to North River Listening Room in Newburgh to hear Rod MacDonald, singer songwriter and friend of Clearwater. How fun to join him on stage with Peggy A, Karen H, Betty Boomer as if 25 years hadn't passed!

Sue met us there with donations of natural and organic food for the road from Dick at Nature's Pantry in Newburgh. A case of liters of smart water, rice crackers, trail mix, walnuts, fig newmans, licorice, sandwiches, oranges, apples, bannanas and coffee soylatte.

Dr. Dave

2007-02-08T22:03:00.000-05:00

2/8/07

The banjo needed a bridge. Vinnie stopped at Alto Music in Middletown NY on the way home to buy a bridge. They sent him back to Dr. Dave who tuned up the neck, shaped and cut a bridge to fit and installed it, at no cost. Link to his PhD dissertation at www.strongmilitary.com. It's about using group practice of Transcendental Meditation to reduce society's collective stress.

Thursday Bounty in Westchester County

2007-02-08T20:52:00.001-05:00

2/8/07

Catherine offered us this drumset last week. She got it over to the ECC at Sarah Lawrence College where Suzy works . Suzy collected warm clothes for kids, natural material rhythm instruments, two recorders and a flute, a banjo, two guitars and a wood xylophone that has come full circle through me to the camp we worked at and now down to kids in New Orleans. Erika works with Vinnie and she brought in a keyboard.

A Decision to Ride With Us

2007-02-08T20:48:00.000-05:00

2/7/07 Sue decided to get time off and travel with us to see for herself and help. She is a good spirit to have along with us.

Wednesday's gifts

2007-02-08T20:02:00.000-05:00

2/7/07 A package came in the mail from Ramblin Dave in Sarasota Fl. He
sent 10 Chicago Blues Harmonicas-key of C. Also CDs of live music from the Green Dolphin Grille in Roanoke when he went looking for Al Coffey last November and found him under the Dr. Pepper sign. Almost. There was mojo for Vinnie to travel with, their friendship goes way back.

Tuesday

2007-02-07T09:53:00.000-05:00

2/6/07
We are going to work while we organize. Yes, a bit busy here.
Bill H is working on details to stop in Memphis on the way down. We'd like to drive down highway 61 (looking for the crossroad) outside Memphis on the way to Slidell.
Yesterday evening Bill Larsen from the St. Tammany Parish Library in Slidell returned my call about needs. It's been going down to the 30s there at night and it's damp. The goodwill closets are slim pickings in some areas. He will be getting me an address to ship warm socks, sweaters and jackets. We'll bring some things with us too. He's also looking into "homes" for most of my professional resources and library since I'll be taking a break from my early intervention after August. I'll bring down a box of infant/toddler/preschool learning toys and gather information about contacts to ship more after the trip.
Al returned my call today and shared the boyscout approach to packing the essentials for the trip. Thank you! We'll be roughing it to a degree (like sailing on the Woody during Pumpkin Sail). Vinnie, Al and I put our heads together about the gear and travel logistics complete with contingency plans. They have a banjo, my infant toddler instruments(in case we couldn't get the time off), 2 trumpets, 2 clarinets and an accordian and the Feel Good Tour Tshirt supply.

Monday gifts

2007-02-05T16:49:00.000-05:00

2/4/07
Madeline brought an electric guitar and amplifier. Allan gave a small steel drum.

Room for it all

2007-02-05T10:18:00.000-05:00

2/3/07
On Sunday we picked up a car top carrier from our neighbors Lynn and Sean. Thanks!

February Beacon Sloop Club meeting

2007-02-03T10:26:00.000-05:00

2/2/07 We had our first real snow in Pine Bush on Groundhog's day. It started as we left for the Beacon Sloop Club meeting. It was more wet than snow in Beacon but there was 2-3" here.
A large group of kids from the Rifton Bruderhoff opened the meeting singing Pete's songs for us-Rainbow Race, Garbage, The Hammer Song and more. Talk about the healing power of music; hearts were touched. A roomful of teary eyes on smiling faces.
We were surprised (and happy) to receive two contributions "for gas". One anonymous the other from Dick.
Steve, our Woody sailor friend gave us a small violin.
Dan gave us a small guitar.
As instruments are dropped off we'll tell you about them.
We'll also post pictures of the instuments of love before we leave.
Here are the first ones.
Peace now,

Healing Power of Music

2007-02-01T22:42:00.000-05:00

2/1/07
The Healing Power of Music

Do you have an unused instrument sitting in your attic, basement or closet? You could send it down to kids in the areas hardest hit by Katrina, Rita and the tornados. We’re taking the minivan down to the Gulf Coast.

We leave early on Sunday February 11th Bring donations to us at the February Beacon sloop club meeting tomorrow night, to our home in Pine Bush or call or email to work out another way to get it to us.

We know Bill Hudson through the sloop Clearwater community. Bill has been working on us to join him and Al Coffey on the Feel Good tour www.feelgoodtour.blogspot.com from the start. Bill came through the valley last week and asked again. Short notice but perfect timing. This trip is cobbled together on a collective shoestring of resources from the four of us.

There is also a need for kid’s jackets and sweaters. They asked for easy to play instruments for the special needs classes, like tambourines, drums, sticks and shakers.

Mel's webpage is www.homepage.mac.com/maryellenhealy .
We'll send notes from the road here to www.melandvinnie.blogspot.com

The Beginning

2007-02-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

1/30/2007
Our friend Bill Hudson http://www.bill-hudson.com/ was doing his recycling and had an idea of musicians going down to the area devastated by hurricane Katrina, twisters, Rita... It's called the Feel Good tour. (in the right column near the top under learn is an 06 video interview.)

Even if it is not on the front page or in the news these days folks still need help! Bill asked Mel to sign on since she's a song leading organizer. He and Al Coffey have been going down to Louisianna and Mississippi figuring it out on their feet.

Two days ago (Sunday 1/28/07) when he asked again the timing was right. Mel and Vinnie are collecting instruments to bring to school kids and packing up the minivan to spend a week with Bill and Al cheering up the weary. Bill says much of New Orleans is wireless so we can send you notes from the road.