40th Anniversary Wrap-up

The 40th anniversary celebration is complete and life in the Village will soon return to normal.
Bobbie Bateman must be singled out from the rest of the 40th anniversary committee. Bateman put together all of the entertainment events for the celebration. Her crowning glory was the Hollywood Night.
The DeSoto Club was decked out just like in days gone by. All of the ladies were in their finest gowns and the men in formal wear. The band was contracted by Steve Fetcko. He gathered together a supremely talented mix of instrumentalists from inside and outside of the Village. Fetcko played keyboard, Steve Suter on trombone, Bill Morgan on clarinet and sax, Pat Henry on trumpet, Leland Beach on drums, Bill Hunttinton on bass and Hose Horniak on guitar.
The vocalists were on par with the instrumentalists. Dan Utter, Kenny McKay, Jack Iafrate, Carolyn Bodensteiner, Maureen Morgan and Janet Fortune lent their vocal talents to the celebration.
Iafrate was a hoot as the master of ceremonies.
Bodensteiner's When Sunny Gets Blue was my personal favorite. It was a show stopper.
Yesterday, the Jessieville Lions Chorus, the Fountain Lake Cobra Chorus and the Chanticleers provided a memorable afternoon of choral favorites. Blue Skies was a big hit. Many of the children have graced the Woodlands stage before and it was good to see them again. Victoria Carpenter, Camille and Caroline Eisenhauer, Debra Hurley and Hannah McFarland previously appeared in The Music Man presented by the Village Players.
Several of the Jessieville students will be participating in Seusical the Musical this week.
The second half of the concert featured the Fountain Lake Jazz Band and the Jessieville Lions Combined Concert Band. They were both terrific. Fountain Lake gave solo nods to all of its graduating band seniors.
Every one of the chorus and band directors involved in the concert deserves a big hats off. Good job.
Following the concert was the thank you presentation by Heifer Project International acting CEO, Charles Stewart. Tom Gallagher introduced the guest speaker. Stewart's speech was moving and inspirational as he thanked Villagers for giving over $450,000 to Heifer in the 20 years the local Heifer Club has been in existence. He also recognized two couples instrumental in bringing Heifer to the Village. Bette and Merrill Clark and Fae and Chuck Brunsen received a dedicated service award.
The Coronado Library hosted the last public event of the 40th anniversary celebration. The little library was rocking as patrons came by to share in wine, cheese, fruit and good conversation. The library payed special tribute to Village pioneers.
Don't forget the Cedar Mountain Singers concert coming up on May 3 and 4 at the Woodlands. The Dixielanders will be sitting in with the chorus on a couple of tunes. Also, on May 2 is the Hot Springs Concert Band/ice cream social at the Woodlands. On May 16 is the ASO Youth Orchestra concert at the Woodlands.