Media
Fiddle Fest takes center stage Tuesday
By MELINDA MOORE
This article is from the nwitimes.com
Photo taken by The Times
"I think it's important to work with professionals to learn how to play different
styles of music," said orchestra director Jill Cooke."We bring in a clinician
every year," she said, adding students "really enjoy the workshops and learn a
lot, too."
The workshop is funded through the Munster Education Foundation with help from People's
Bank and Bank Calumet.
Dabczynski, co-author of rhe String Explorer string method series and numerous arrangements
for school orchestras, will show students how to improvise fiddle tunes.
After students have attended the workshop, they'll prepare for Fiddle Fest, set for 7 p.m.
Tuesday in the Munster High School auditorium, 8808 Columbia Ave. Admission is free.
The performance will showcase the elementary orchestra as well as the Wilbur Wright Middle
School and the high school orchestras. Dabczynski, who plays the violin, will perform with
them.
It should be no problem for him to follow along because they'll be playing music he's
arranged from a book called "Fiddlers Philharmonic," Cooke said. It has
tunes arranged for the orchestra — not just the fiddle. They'll also play some of
his original compositions.
Students will be accompanied by bluegrass instruments such as dulcimers and guitars.
Munster Education Foundation hosts annual mystery dinner
By Adele Mackanos
This story ran on nwitimes.com on Sunday, January 1, 2006
The Munster Education Foundation hosted its third annual mystery dinner
fund-raiser.
The production, Millions for Murder, was written and directed by local talent
Jacqueline Verdeyen.
Verdeyen's humorous script centered around the lead actress, April Walters, played by
foundation President Ann Bochnowski. Owen Moore acted in the role of Bill Adams, the
chauffeur.
The cast included April’s children, Ed (Bud Bernath, Eads School principal) and Emily
(Michelle Stewart, Elliott School principal), and her husband Larry (local architect Dan
Szany, who showed off his thespian talents).
Several guests, including Sandy Boyer and Bob Snyder, had cameo roles, and Carol Moore
as private investigator Kelly Brown solved the mystery.
The evening, laced with lies, secrets and intrigue, included a dinner of fine cuisine
served in the ambiance of Munster’s beautiful Cloister in the Woods.
Guests enjoyed dining on orange ginger glazed chicken on sweet potato pudding,
accompanied with confetti rice and broccoli.
For dessert and to please chocoholics, Chef Jack Mix rolled out a chocolate fountain
with fresh strawberries and other goodies that could be dipped into the decadent chocolate.
Foundation Board members Ann Bochnowski, Carol Moore and Martha Sandoval served as the
Mystery Committee.
Other board members in attendance included Sandy Baker, Sandy Boyer, Dennis Halfacre,
Diane Kitchell, Mike McIntyre, Debbie Milne and Mary Lou Mybeck.
Also on the scene were Munster Town Councilman Dave Nellans, his wife and school board
member Paula Nellans; school board member Carrie and Dr. John Wadas; Superintendent
Bill Pfister and his wife, Linda; Assistant Superintendent Rich Sopko and his wife
Donna; Mike and Mary Ann O’Connor; Maria Kosmakos and Bob Guzik; Nancy and Dr. Jim
Hamblin; Andja Marich; Pat and John Premetz; and Christina Wedow.
Also, Keith and Lynette Yepsen, Larry and Irene Behling, Dave Bochnowski, Bruce Boyer,
Cindy Hall, Bessie and Sandi Halfacre, Judy Argoudelis, Dave Moore, Cheryl McIntyre,
Bill Baker, Amy Troob, Jean Szany, Nancy Koch, Rich and Bonnie Gardner, Patricia Norton,
Tim Milne, Dr. Craig and Judy Tokowicz, John Kitchell, Molly Lawlor, Marja Tatic,
John Mybeck, Candy Phillips, Lesley and Chuck Tomazin, Scott and Sandy Milne, Ray
Rogers, Annette Wolfe, Barbara Perryman, Jerry Moore, Scott and Mary Jo Holly, Dennis
Nierengarten, Debbie and Ruby Peterson, Patricia Jaracz and Dolores Corneiller.
All proceeds from the event will go to benefit the foundation.
Munster Education Foundation hosts I Love a Mystery
Insight with Adele Mackanos and Marge Kullerstrand
"Reunion for Murder," a mystery written by Northwest Indiana's
own Jacqueline Verdeyen of the I Love a Mystery drama theme fund-raisers,
drew a crowd to the Cloister in the Woods in Munster.
Proceeds from the event benefitted the Munster Education Foundation.
Verdeyen utilized her thespian talents and played Abigail, secretary to the
Dean of Fenwick State University, Fenwick, Indiana. Since the dean was unable
to attend, Abigail introduced the speakers at the production.
The celebrity cast of players included: Elliott School principal Michelle Stewart, as the lovely Carla O'Brien, former homecoming queen who is married to Buzz O'Brien, former star quarterback and successful stock broker, played by Mike McIntyre of Peoples Bank. But Carla is bored with Buzz.
Professor George Wainwright, head of the Political Science Department at Fenwick, was played by Bud Bernath, who is really principal of Eads School. The professor is writing a tell-all book about the goings-on at Fenwick.
Dave Shafer, Munster's Clerk-Treasurer, played Hugh Willis, American history professor, unhappy at not getting a promotion, unhappy in his marriage, with several indiscretions in his past. He is married to Janice Willis, played by Jamie Marsh, box office manager at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts in Munster.
Leroy Marsh, head football coach at Munster High School, played Bill Matelin, athletic director at Fenwick State. Bill built a winning team, but at what cost? He knows his responsibilities, and who he owes!
Susan Myers, played by Martha Sandoval of Bank Calumet, is a quiet student on a dangerous path with grade and money troubles piling up. Detective Toni Carlson, played by Carol Moore, is a graduate of Fenwick attending the reunion, who gets called to work by an unexpected twist.
The audience had a great time trying solve the "who-dunnit" mystery, and the actors seemed to have fun hamming it up.
Spotted enjoying the evening were Dave Moore, Joanne Shafer, Cheryl McIntyre, Myron and Linda Nidetz, Ray Rogers, Terry and Nancy Quinn, Tom and Carole Fraser, Dr. and Suchita Shah, Dan and Jean Szany, Dave and Paula Nellans, Sandy and Bruce Boyer, Chuck and Lesley Tomazin, Liz and Sarah Starewicz, Pat Norton, Judith Argoudelis, Alice Altherr, Clair Adam, Jean Chiki, Dianne Kiser, Mr. and Mrs. Mike O'Connor and Nancy Hamblin.
dated January 4, 2004
Munster Education Foundation received $1,000 from Munster Junior Woman's Club. In front, from left, are Dianne Kowalski, foundation board member and club member; Martha Sandoval, foundation president; Lynette Newell, club president; in back, from left, are foundation board members Steven Levin, Myron Nidetz, Carol Moore, Rhonda Damjanovich, Ann Bochnowski, Terry Quinn and Mike McIntyre.
By Melinda Moore
Times Community Coordinator
When sounds of West Africa begin to fill the air at Munster High School, passersby know it's just another meeting of the school's African Drumming Club.
Although the 11-member group, led by MHS choral director Tim Bartlett, just finished its first year, he thinks it has opened the eyes of students and teachers. "Drumming is good for the soul" he said. "It's a wonderlul musical experience and it's also spiritual."
Although most students seem to think the group is cool, "not everybody understands it. For some people it's just noise," Bartlett said. "Dancing, singing and drumming all go together in the West African tradition. It's all an interconnected experience." Bartlett said he has been interested in drumming for several years and had trained occasionally, so he decided to start a group at the high school.
Because African drums are expensive (big ones cost about $250), the club's size was limited to about the number of djembes — 10. Djembes, hourglass-shaped drums, are covered with goatskin and professionally made. Because the skins aren't as tough as leather, hands are used to make music. The group also has two dunduns, cylindrical drums made with cowhides, which allow them to be hit by mallets.
The club met about twice a month during the year, performing mostly for itself but also giving a few demonstrations. Bartlett said he would be interested in having the club play during a summer festival to create more expose and interest in the musical form. He's hoping the club can spend more time together next year.
Although seven members were seniors, there could be competition for joining this fall. "There are lots of kids on the waiting list — that's the impression I've gotten," Bartlett said. "I'm toying with the idea of having some kind of simple auditions for the group."
Club member Ashley Troumouliaris, who will be a senior this fall, joined the group because she thought it would be interesting to learn about West African music and culture. "I had an amazing time with it," she said. "I like that it's so different from any American-type of music. It was really an eye-opener. It was an interesting experience to learn about how different cultures express themselves through music."
That learning included a two-hour workshop from Ryan Edwards, a teacher from Like Water Drum Works of Michigan, where the club's drums were purchased. He also is Bartlett's teacher. Edwards showed drumming techniques and talked about his experiences drumming in Africa.
Troumouliaris, like Bartlett, was pleased with the club's progress this year. "I think that we learned a lot for the first year. We're still beginners," she said. "Dr. Bartlett was thinking about separating the more advanced people and the beginners, having the more advanced work with beginners. But even those who are advanced are really beginners," she joked.
Students learn bittersweet lesson
Munster Civil War program continues though its founder died.
By Sharon Porta
Times Correspondent
To say Ed Woodrick was interested in the Civil War would be an understatement. Family vacations were planned around visiting battle sites, and it was Woodrick who started the program in Munster, having all fifth-graders view a Civil War re-enactment.
But when Woodrick, a fifth-grade teacher at Elliott Elementary School, died last year, there was no talk of discontinuing the program. In fact, enough money had been donated to the Munster Education Foundation in Woodrick's name that the costs will be covered for many more years.
"We absolutely didn't think of stopping the program," said John McCarthy, one of Woodrick's fellow teachers. "It fits well into our curriculum and is a great way to remember Woody." There were other memories to Woodrick at the annual event Monday in Community Park. Students wore t-shirts that read "Woody" on the sleeve. A sapling from Gettysburg also was being planted in the park in Woodrick's memory. "He was certainly a presence at the school," McCarthy said about Woodrick. "Even students who didn't have Mr. Woodrick remember him."
So on a cold Monday, for the seventh year, the fifth-grade classes from Eads, Frank Hammond and Elliott elementary schools got a look at the Civil War. The all-day event is sponsored by a company called "Don't Know Much About History." The morning program began with presentations by Civil War infantry, artillery and cavalry. But this year, the annual re-enactment of the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg was canceled.
"In reviewing the political situation the world is in, we thought it would not be responsibile to have children playing with guns and then laying like they are dead on the field," said Philip Lauricella, organizer of the "Don't Know Much About History" group from Elburn, Illinois. "This is a strange year, and we wanted to show respect to those who have lost their life in the war."
Instead, a presentation was made to the Woodrick family, along with the tree planting.
"We think this gives students a better understanding of what the guys and ladies of that era went through, rather than just reading about names, dates and places," said Jason Kladiva, part of the Civil War re-enacting group from Rochester, Michigan.
Despite the cold, the students were excited about the day. "This is more interesting than being in the classroom," said Margaret Heneghan, 11, of Frank Hammond School. "We are learning from their example, seeing the type of clothes they wore and the tools they used."
Press Releases
Munster Education Foundation to host mystery luncheon
Munster Education Foundation is hosting a mystery luncheon, Reunion for Murder, written by Jacqueline Verdeyen of I Love a Mystery . The mystery will begin at 1:00 on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at Cloister in the Woods, Columbia Avenue at Park Drive, Munster, Indiana. Cost for the lunch and mystery is $35.00 per person. There will be a cash bar.
Guests will enjoy an afternoon of fun and intrigue at the Fenwick State University all alumni reunion, featuring Munster "celebrities" such as Leroy and Jamey Marsh, Bud Bernath, and Michelle Stewart. Members of the Munster Education Foundation Board of Directors will round out the cast. Renew old acquaintances with professors, coaches, athletes and fellow grads.
The Munster Education Foundation, an independent, not-for-profit organization, creates links between the public schools and civic groups, government, business, and interested citizens. Formed in 1992, the Munster Education Foundation supports education through memberships, tributes, donations, and fund-raisers.
Call Carol Moore at (219) 923-3887 for information and reservations.
The Munster Education Foundation will host its 4th annual Spring Spirits, a beer and wine tasting, on Friday, April 19, 2002 from 7 until 10 p.m. at Cloister in the Woods, Park Drive & Columbia Avefiue, Munster, Indiana. Tickets are $40.00 per person.
Guests may sample the wide variety of beer and wine provided by the Liquor Stop, 92l8 Indianapolis Blvd., Highland, as well as delicious gourmet appetizers. Jim Barnes will provide the music. There will also be lovely items for sale in a Silent Auction.
Spring Spirits is the primary fundraiser for the Munster Education Foundation, an independent, not-for-profit organization, which creates links between the public schools and civic groups, government, business, and interested citizens. Formed in 1992, the Munster Education Foundation supports education through memberships, tributes and donations. Visit the Foundation online at www.MunsterEducationFoundation.org.
For additional information, contact Martha Sandoval at (219) 922-2918, or Carol Moore at (219) 923-5167.