Harpists from across the United States and Canada will gather in Archbold this month to celebrate their instruments and the music they create.

The Harp Gathering, now in its sixth year, will take place May 16-19 at the Sauder Heritage Inn. The event will feature workshops, concerts, jam sessions and instrument vendors and builders.

Performers and presenters are Denise and Michael Grupp-Verbon (Toledo), Maeve Gilchrist (Somerville, Mass.), Timothy Harper (Bridgetown, Nova Scotia), Kim Robertson (Milwaukee), Frank Voltz (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and Sharlene Wallace (Toronto).

Richard Ash of Folkcraft Instruments in Woodburn, Ind., and Beth Stockdell of Fayetteville, Ark., are giving additional workshops.

The event was founded by the Grupp-Verbons, who have hosted it every year since. They are both professional musicians — Denise plays the harp and Michael, the guitar — and perform together as a duo called TAPESTRY. Denise said that though the festivities officially begin May 17, early arrivals will find a special treat the evening of May 16.

“There will be a bonus workshop Thursday night, and harpists will greet people by playing music in the lobby,” she said.

Registrants will choose from a total of 19 different workshops offered and may attend up to six. There will be three harp concerts — the evenings of May 17 and 18 and late morning on May 19. A vendor hall will be set up featuring luthiers and instrument dealers. As part of a “harp ensemble experience,” harpists can purchase newly published music pieces, which they will rehearse over the weekend, then perform Sunday morning. Denise arranged the pieces, along with fellow harpist and performer Frank Voltz.

Michael and Denise Grupp-Verbon of TAPESTRY

“Harpists often tend to play alone a lot, because the harp is a bit challenging to move,” Denise said. “This is a chance to play in a group with others. Usually that performing ensemble ends up with at least two dozen harps all playing together, so that’s very cool.”

“Think of a flute choir or a brass-only orchestra, but it is only harps — the sound is glorious,” Voltz said. “I think we have 40 harpists participating this year. Denise has arranged ‘Chopsticks’ and I have arranged excerpts from the ‘1812 Overture.’ We’re [also] working on canons, but you’ll just have to wait and see how that turns out.”

Stockdell is another harpist who will present workshops during the event. She will demonstrate how new technology can enhance the harpist’s musical experience.

“Last year, I attended a harp workshop in Colorado,” she said. “At the conference, there were several people who had iPads. I approached Denise and pitched the idea of doing a workshop on using the iPad, forScore (a sheet music app) and other things about going digital as a musician. I think that in addition to my scheduled time to do my presentation, I’ll have lots of people approaching me with questions. I get that from all my local harp buddies and I’m happy to help.”

Voltz, who has attended the event every year since its inception, said that the camaraderie among harpists is always the highlight of his weekend.

“Since I have the privilege of being invited back every year, I’d say my favorite part of the weekend is seeing and enjoying familiar faces of harpists that I’ve met over the years,” he said. “It is so fun to get reacquainted and find out how each person’s harp journey is going and where it has taken them since the last time I saw them. And of course, I love making new harp friends and meeting new harpists.”

The festival has featured a harp giveaway, known as the “Harp Hunt and Gather(ing),” every year since the festival began, This year, an HG-30 harp by Lewis Creek Instruments of Howell, Mich., will be the grand prize.

The public is welcome to attend any of the three concerts, for an admission fee of $15. For those shopping for harps, music and accessories, a vendor hall pass may also be purchased for $15.

A harpist’s life

Denise has been playing the harp since she was 11. She grew up in central Illinois, and her father was a professor at Illinois State University. The grade school she attended was an extension of the university, and was the place where she first became acquainted with her instrument.

“Somehow, I don’t know why, [the school] had acquired a small harp,” she said. “I had taken piano lessons for about three years, and I went home and told my mother I wanted to play the harp.”

The harp stuck with her for life, and she has been playing with her husband in TAPESTRY for the past 13 years. Michael was a percussionist with U.S. Army Band for several years before he began playing the acoustic guitar. The duo plays for various concerts and festivals, churches, other harp festivals, corporate functions, parties and weddings. They have released three CDs.

Michael composes the duo’s pieces, maintains the website and produces media for The Harp Gathering. Denise gives private harp lessons, and teaches at Owens Community College, playing a large role in the college’s new Music Business Technology degree.

“Everything we do is related to music,” she said.

Voltz has been friends with the Grupp-Verbons for years, and has become an accomplished harpist as well. However, unlike Denise, his introduction to the harp came later in life.

“I was an adult beginner,” he said. “I began playing the harp at age 37. I sold my grand piano to purchase my first harp, so it was a no-turning-back proposition. I studied classical harp technique with a harpist with the National Symphony Orchestra, and then augmented my technique by studying pop with a harpist in New York City, and by studying jazz with a world-famous harpist in Salem, Mass. I was a concert pianist for 15 years before I began playing the harp but my harp career has broadened my musical horizons in so many ways. I play with symphonies and play solo concerts, domestically and internationally. Harpists are a small, close community and I enjoy meeting professional harpists and aspiring harpists along the way.”

Stockdell had a similar experience discovering the instrument as an adult.

“I was going through a difficult time in my life and needed music,” she said. “I hadn’t played an instrument since middle school, so I was basically starting from scratch and wasn’t sure where I was headed. Then the harp just really called to me. Eventually I found my way and I started playing the harp 10 years ago at age 35. Two and a half years ago I was able to go full time as a harpist, which honestly, is beyond my wildest dreams.”

Stockdell said she keeps busy playing for weddings, parties and other events. She incorporates the harp into volunteer work for her local hospice, and contributes to a harp publication, the Folk Harp Journal.

Though fans of modern musical styles may view the harp as an instrument of limited use, Denise asserted that it should not be underestimated.

“You might be surprised. Some music you might hear has harp in it, but you might not realize it. Harp is often used for adding layer and color, and it is used quite a lot in therapy in hospitals and hospices.”

She added that harpists often play several instruments, and are versatile musicians.

“Harpists don’t just like harps. We’re musicians, so we like everything.”

For more information about The Harp Gathering, visit www.harpgathering.com, or call (419) 478-4177.

Tags: Beth Stockdell, Frank Voltz, Kim Robertson, Maeve Gilchrist, Michael and Denise Grupp-Verbon, Richard Ash, Sharlene Wallace, Tapestry, The Harp Gathering, Timothy Harper

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 at 11:03 am and is filed under Music, Star.
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Pat Dailey’s “River of Stars” is not a Christmas song, yet it lends its title to this year’s collection of local holiday music benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The “star” connection is obvious. Make-A-Wish uses a bright blue star as its logo. Toledo Free Press uses a star in its masthead (a tribute to the owner’s connections to Texas). With two CDs containing 44 tracks, the river of local music stars is well represented. And the star is a shining symbol for the wish kids and families that benefit from the organization’s great work.

The song’s connection to Christmas is not as obvious.

This is the second year for the “Holiday Wishes” project and the second year Dailey and his manager Tom Brady have generously contributed a track. Last year’s Dailey song, “Here Comes The Cold,” was a natural fit. Another of his few winter-themed tracks, “Here In The North,” is one I hope to include next year. When I heard “River of Stars,” from Dailey’s “Squeaky Clean” collection, it immediately struck me as a perfect choice to set the tone for this year’s collection.

It begins with a light, sparkling twinkle of sounds that segue into gentle guitar. The first words Dailey sings may not have been written to evoke Christmas, but they certainly serve as a grand place to begin this year’s musical journey through the holidays: “I remember a night, so long ago/under a river of stars,” Dailey sings, with all the confidence of a master storyteller. And while Dailey may have envisioned Put-in-Bay harbor when he wrote the lyrics, they could just as easily describe a special night in the Bethlehem sky.

The song seems to be about an earthly relationship, but it culminates in imagery that clearly paints a picture of faith: “And so I row, row, row my boat once more/Until I find you waiting on a distant shore/With outstretched arms and upturned hands/You lead me into the harbor and back to the sand.”

It is a spiritual image of hope and comfort that captures the feeling of Christmas without needing a single direct word.

Musical treasures

There are many surprises and musical treasures on this year’s CDs. Jon Hendricks contributes an original song, “The Gift,” that sounds as if it could be found on a Frank Sinatra holiday CD. Listening to the track for the first time with Dave Mariasy at Audio Matrix Recording Studio was transporting. Music is mostly listened to through tiny earbuds, computer speakers or car stereos. To listen to Hendricks and a single piano through Mariasy’s high-tech studio speakers was akin to hearing music for the first time. It was a revelation. Hendricks’ voice simultaneously weaves tensile strength with an aching fragility.

A new tradition

For Christmas 2011, Toledo Free Press produced “Holiday Wishes,” a CD of holiday songs performed by Northwest Ohio musicians. The CD was a 25-track compilation and raised more than $25,000 for Make-A-Wish. It was underwritten by Toledo Transmission and UAW Local 14, so every dollar raised, through sales at Panera Bread locations, went directly to Make-A-Wish.

Although Toledo Free Press had produced two previous CDs, one collecting historical recordings and one from a Toledo songwriting contest, neither approached the scale or complexity of “Holiday Wishes.”

The 2011 CD included contributions from such Northwest Ohio stalwarts as Dailey, Jamie Farr, Mannheim Steamroller, Sheri LaFontaine, Candice Coleman, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Crystal Bowersox and Alyson Stoner. It also featured new recordings from Kerry Patrick Clark, Jeff Stewart, Kyle White, Ramona Collins, TAPESTRY, Chrys Peterson and Hepcat Revival, Voodoo Libido, Mighty Wyte and Jameil Aossey, among several others.

With tremendous media support from FOX Toledo, WPOS, 101.5 The River and many of our media friends, the CD sold out and even before 2012 started, we were thinking about a second volume.

Rather than start in late July, as we did in 2011, the 2012 compilation process started in January. Lexi Staples gave us a copy of a track her father, the late radio personality Dennis Staples, recorded of Dr. Seuss’ “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” That required tracking down permission from Random House Publishing, Warner Bros. Studios and the estate of Dr. Seuss. With all those rights now granted, it is a great honor to include that track on this year’s CD.

Another late performer is remembered as the Johnny Knorr Orchestra, led by Johnny’s son, Jerry, plays “Auld Lang Syne” for the 2012 CD. Johnny died in August 2011.

LaFontaine has allowed us to include “Toledo, My Hometown” on this year’s collection. It is a contribution that raises the bar for all the participating artists. “Toledo My Hometown” is a seasonal staple on The River, and it is an honor to have it on this year’s CD. The tune has added poignancy as we wish LaFontaine well in her new city of Nashville, Tenn.

There are several artists returning from last year. Stewart and White perform a revelatory version of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over).” The great Chip Davis allowed us to use Mannheim Steamroller’s “Fum Fum Fum.” Coleman did double duty, singing “Santa Baby” with Chris Brown’s band and “Merry Christmas Baby” with Buck69. Peterson and our friends in Hepcat Revival cover Harry Connick Jr.’s “Pray On Christmas.” Voodoo Libido, Skoobie Snaks and The Wanna Bees all contribute rocking tracks. The Polka Floyd Show took “Run Like Hell” from Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” and “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” and created a mashup that has already attracted regional attention.

VH1 favorite Tatiana Owens wrote and recorded a stunning new song, “Winter Holidays,” that could be played alongside any modern classic.

Local media veterans Jerry Anderson, Fred LeFebvre, Mary Beth Zolik and Rick Woodell recorded dynamic readings on par with Farr’s interpretation of “A Visit From St. Nicholas” from last year. We wish Zolik a speedy recovery as she undergoes treatment for cancer.

This year’s CD will include a number of exciting new artists, from young country singers such as Connor Rose to emerging rockers like The Sanderlings.

Not that every wish comes true; a few notable Toledo entertainers did not bother to respond to requests, even with a “no.” The Danny Thomas estate declined permission for a track, and Sony Legacy would not provide gratis rights to a Teresa Brewer track we were hoping to include.

But even with those very few disappointments, we still had so many quality submissions we had to start saving them for 2013. Great tracks by Arctic Clam, Krystal Monique, Mitch Kahl, Tim Ellis, Andrew Z’s Morning Crew and a few others are waiting in the wings.

The MVPs

The best news for the project was the return of three people who are behind the scenes, but integral to the process; indeed, without them it would not have happened last year and would not happen this year. Christopher Stoll, engineer at Audioflare Productions at Zeta Recording Studios, donated studio time and his finely attuned ears to the project. He earned MVP status this year, recording tracks ranging from Irish folk to German choirs. Matt Feher engineered the CDs, ensuring the discs are produced to the highest standards. Larry Meyer navigates the legal and publishing issues to make sure every “T” is crossed and every “I” is dotted.

Special thank-yous this year go to GM Powertrain Toledo, UAW Local 14, WNWO, 101.5 The River, A&D Glass & Mirror, Levis Commons and Panera Bread. All proceeds will go directly to Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana to benefit children in the 21-county Northwest Ohio region.

Make-A-Wish development officer Ellie McManus is a dream to work with and is a constant inspiration and reminder of Make-A-Wish’s mission. Toledo Free Press Sales Manager BJ Rahn has also been an invaluable help.

I am personally grateful to have strengthened some friendships and made new ones. I may never have met McManus, Clark or E.J. Wells without this project, and my life would be a bit dimmer without their creativity.

Summertime project

The project has also inspired an offshoot. For summer 2013, Toledo Free Press will produce a CD of upbeat summer party songs for the American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio to use as a vehicle for summer safety information. If you are a local musician interested in getting your Beach Boys vibe on disc, contact me before we get too far into January.

Thank you again to every musician and person who donated their time and talent to this project. If you would like to see the recipients of your labor, join us at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at The Blarney Event Center for our second annual “Holiday Wishes” benefit concert. There will be food, friends and a lot of smiling faces at the public event.

In the meantime, I am going to start working on convincing Ramona Collins to record “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” for the 2013 collection …

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@

toledofreepress.com.

Tags: 101.5 The River, A&D Glass & Mirror, Alyson Stoner, Audio Matrix Recording Studio, Audioflare Productions, Candice Coleman, Chip Davis, Christopher Stoll, Chrys Peterson, Crystal Bowersox, Danny Thomas, Dave Mariasy, Dennis Staples, Dr. Seuss, E.J. Wells, Ellie McManus, FOX Toledo, Fred LeFebvre, Hepcat Revival, Jameil Aossey, Jamie Farr, Jeff Stewart, Jerry Anderson, John Lennon, Jon Hendricks, Kerry Patrick Clark, Kyle White, Levis Commons, Lexi Staples, Lighting The Fuse, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mannheim Steamroller, Mary Beth Zolik, Michael S. Miller, Mighty Wyte, Panera Bread, Pat Dailey, Pink Floyd, Polka Floyd Show, Ramona Collins, Rick Woodell, Sheri LaFontaine, Skoobie Snaks, Tapestry, Teresa Brewer, The Grinch, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, The Wanna Bees, Toledo Transmission, Tom Brady, UAW Local 14, Voodoo Libido, WPOS

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 21st, 2012 at 7:39 am and is filed under Featured, Lighting The Fuse, Opinion.
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The local Make-A-Wish Foundation has more than 90 pending wishes to fulfill, which means it’s time to step up and help this inspirational and invaluable organization. Christmas may be more than 130 days away, but it’s time to start listening to holiday songs that will help the kids depending on Make-A-Wish Foundation.

For Christmas 2011, Toledo Free Press produced “Holiday Wishes,” a CD of holiday songs performed by Northwest Ohio musicians. The CD was a 25-track compilation that raised more than $25,000 for Make-A-Wish Foundation. It was underwritten by Toledo Transmission and UAW Local 14, so every dollar raised, through sales at Panera Bread locations, went directly to Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Although Toledo Free Press had produced two previous CDs, one collecting historical recordings and one from a Toledo songwriting contest, neither approached the scale or complexity of “Holiday Wishes.”

The 2011 CD collected 25 tracks, with contributions from such Northwest Ohio stalwarts as Pat Dailey, Jamie Farr, Mannheim Steamroller, Sheri LaFontaine, Candice Coleman, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Crystal Bowersox and Alyson Stoner. It also featured new recordings from Kerry Patrick Clark, Jeff Stewart, Kyle White, Ramona Collins, TAPESTRY, Chrys Peterson & Hepcat Revival, Voodoo Libido, Mighty Wyte and Jameil Aossey, among several others.

With tremendous media support from the late, lamented FOX Toledo, WPOS, 101.5 The River and many of our media friends, the CD sold out in its Panera Bread locations, and even before 2012 started, we were thinking about a second volume.

Rather than start in late July, as we did last year, the 2012 compilation process started in January. Lexi Staples gave us a copy of a track her father, the late radio personality Dennis Staples, recorded of “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” That required tracking down permission from Random House Publishing, Warner Bros. Studios and the estate of Dr. Seuss. With all those rights now granted, it will be a great honor to include that track on this year’s CD.

Pat Dailey has also generously granted use of another track. “River of Stars” is a gorgeous, soaring song that, while not strictly about the holidays, touches on many elements of the season’s most universal themes of spirituality, connection and unbridled hope.

LaFontaine has allowed us to include “Toledo My Hometown” on this year’s collection. It is a contribution that raises the bar for all the participating artists. “Toledo My Hometown” is a seasonal staple on The River, and it is an honor to have it on this year’s Make-A-Wish holiday project.

There are several artists returning from last year, but we’re keeping the collaborations and song choices under wraps until the recordings are complete. I will say that if the plans come together as hoped, we will be able to offer a CD that will raise the bar for future efforts. Suffice it to say that Stewart, White, Coleman, Peterson and our friends in Voodoo Libido and Hepcat Revival are among those talking to us about this year’s CD, and there are some exciting things on the way.

We are also working on a couple of historical surprises; if we do this right, each year’s CD will serve as an archive of Toledo’s musical history, even as it captures year-by-year changes in bands and styles.

This year’s CD will include a number of exciting new artists, from young country singers to veteran rockers. I am honestly not sure how we’re going to contain all this music on a single disc; it’s a wealth of riches.

Not that every wish comes true; we were hoping to include a track from Weezer’s 2008 EP “Christmas With Weezer,” but although bassist and Northwest Ohio native Scott G. Shriner was receptive to the idea, we were turned down by the group’s management.

The best news for the project is the return of three people who are behind the scenes, but are integral to the process; indeed, without them it would not have happened last year and would not happen this year. Chris Stoll, engineer at Zeta Recording, donates studio time and his finely attuned ears to the project. Matt Fehr engineers the CD and ensures the disc is produced to the highest standards of quality. Larry Meyer navigates the legal and publishing issues to make sure every t is crossed and every i is dotted.

My friend Eric Slough is no longer with the local Make-A-Wish chapter, but development officer Ellie McManus is a dream to work with and is a constant inspiration and reminder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s mission.

To that end, there is always room for more support. If your company is interested in making this year’s CD bigger and better, contact me or McManus at elliem@makeawishohio.org. Our area Make-A-Wish kids try to retain the hope and inspiration of the holiday season every day of the year. It’s a blessing and privilege to be able to contribute to their dreams and at the same time spread the joy of the holiday season.

It may be the heat of August, but if you pass my car in Toledo and hear Christmas songs, you’ll know there are scores of people working on a project to benefit some of our region’s most remarkable kids.

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: 101.5 The River, Alyson Stoner, at Dailey, Candice Coleman, Christopher Stoll, Chrys Peterson & Hepcat Revival, Crystal Bowersox, Danny Thomas, Dennis Staples, Dr. Seuss, Ellie McManus, FOX Toledo, Holiday Wishes, Holiday Wishes II, How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, Jameil Aossey, Jamie Farr, Jeff Stewart, Kerry Patrick Clark, Kyle White, Larry Meyer, Lighting The Fuse, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Mannheim Steamroller, Matt Fehr, Micheal S. Miller, Mighty Wyte, Panera Bread, Ramona Collins, Random House Publishing, Scott G. Shriner, Scott Shriner, Sheri LaFontaine, Tapestry, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Free Press, Toledo Transmission, Tony Thomas, UAW Local 14, Voodoo Libido, Warner Bros. Studios, Weezer, WPOS, Zeta Recording

This entry was posted on Friday, August 10th, 2012 at 12:00 am and is filed under Lighting The Fuse, Opinion.
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More than 100 harpists and harp enthusiasts are set to travel to Sauder Village for the fifth annual The Harp Gathering.

The festival runs from May 18-20 with an optional extra day May 17 at the Sauder Village and Heritage Inn near Archbold. The event, which features exhibitors, workshops and concerts, was started by the music duo TAPESTRY.

Denise Grupp-Verbon is the wife/harpist of the musical duo with her husband/guitarist Michael. The couple decided to start their own festival, now one of the three major harp festivals in the country, after their own experiences with harp events.

“When we played festivals over the years, we thought, ‘Well, we could do that,’” said Grupp-Verbon, who has played the harp since the fifth grade.

TAPESTRY

Grupp-Verbon said she had always wanted to host an event at the Sauder Village and Heritage Inn. “It’s a beautiful space, even when you’re in the public spaces, you could probably see a place where you could sit and relax,” she said.

The couple started organizing the Harp Gathering in December 2006 and the first festival occurred in May 2008. Now the event gets attendees from all over the country and Canada.

Registration for the festival is “never closed,” Grupp-Verbon said. Last year, one couple from Independence, Mo., “had just decided the day of, ‘Let’s go to The Harp Gathering.’ They called the inn, there was one room, and they flew their plane to the gathering,” Grupp-Verbon said.

The festival’s three concerts are open to the public for $15. At 7 p.m. May 18, TAPESTRY kicks off the show, followed by Frank Voltz. At 7:30 p.m. May 19, Timothy Harper will play before Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter. At 11:15 a.m. May 20, the Harp Ensemble will play, followed by Martha Gallagher. Gallagher and Frankfurter are new to the festival, Grupp-Verbon said, adding that she tries to keep variety in the mix every year.

The Harp Gathering also features a harp giveaway contest. The harp, courtesy of Lewis Creek Instruments and Harps, is valued at more than $4,000. Grupp-Verbon will draw the winner and said, “I’m the first one to see the card and you can imagine how cool that is.”

The event includes several educational workshops with topics like “Copyright Mysteries Solved” put on by Grupp-Verbon at 12:30 p.m. May 18, “Jazz Techniques” led by Voltz at 3 p.m. May 19 and “Getting Your Music Out into the World” with Lynne at 9 a.m. May 20.

One of the great things about the Harp Gathering is reconnecting with friends, Grupp-Verbon said.

“I have made friends that I would never have known if we hadn’t been at the festival at the same time,” she said.

Many of the harp lovers and friends come back year after year. “We have a lot of people that have been every year and they’re looking to, ‘Oh, when’s next year?’” Grupp-Verbon said.

The Harp Gathering begins at 5:30 p.m. May 17. On-site registration is $425 for harpists. For a breakdown of the costs of individual events and the full schedule, visit http://harpgathering.com. Fees do not include a hotel room. Sauder Village is at 22611 State Route 2, Archbold. For more information, call (419) 478-4177.

Tags: Denise Grupp-Verbon, Michael Grupp-Verbon, Tapestry, The Harp Gathering

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 at 10:07 am and is filed under Music, Star.
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Two area libraries are giving patrons an opportunity to learn more about the Titanic tragedy through exhibits and an event.

“You don’t really realize what happened around the sinking, all the ships out there, all the information they had,” said Rebecca Stanwick, an intern at Toledo-Lucas County Public Library who organized the exhibit there. “The big thing we’re trying to promote is not just history, but the information the library has available.”

The display is slated to be in the humanities department at the Main library, N. 325 Michigan St., from April 9 to May 31. The “Titanic Sinks!” display will contain five cases highlighting the library’s extensive periodical collection from 1912.

Stanwick, a graduate student in the University of Toledo’s English department, organized the display so it tells a story. “I do want the exhibit itself to tell the story of what happened; I don’t want it to be just random tidbits,” she said.

The exhibit includes a timeline “so you can trace what exactly happened the night [the ship] sank, who got on a boat, who didn’t get on a boat,” Stanwick said. “Titanic Sinks!” also contains information on William Harbeck, a filmmaker from Toledo, who died in the sinking. At the time of his death, Harbeck was traveling with a woman who may have been his mistress, Henriette Yvois. This resulted in confusion when his wife, based in Toledo, came to claim his body as some officials thought Yvois, who had also died, was Harbeck’s wife, Stanwick said.

“He has this huge, kinda weird connection and history involving his life and it all came out when he was declared dead from the sinking,” she said.

Stanwick’s “personal favorite” part of the display features some of the 15 couples who were honeymooning aboard the Titanic. Another part highlights the finding of the Titanic in the 1980s. The library also received 15-20 new books on the ship.

“Titanic Sinks!” is free and open during library hours, noon-8:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 5:30  p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Way Public Library has a display with periodicals and other items of the time period now through April 20 in the lower level gallery. History buff and Rossford resident Judy Sikorski orchestrated much of the display, said Mary Meyer, programming/public information specialist at Way.

The main attraction at Way is an event planned for 6 p.m. April 13. Musical duo TAPESTRY starts the evening with harp and guitar and will play for an hour.  The 1958 film, “A Night to Remember,” based on the book by Walter Lord, will start at 7 p.m.

“People my age remember it used to be on TV all the time,” Meyer said. “We did not want to show the newer version, because we know so many people have seen it and it’s not as historically accurate.”

Also on April 13, a 1908 Brush car will be on display outside the library before traveling to “Tea on the Titanic” the next day. The April 14 event, put on by Historic Perrysburg, Inc., is at the Carranor Hunt and Polo Club, 502 E. 2nd St., Perrysburg from noon-3 p.m. The unsinkable Molly Brown, played by Perrysburg resident Patrice Spitzer, will make an appearance at the historically themed tea party.

The Way Library movie showing is free and includes refreshments. Library hours are 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday seasonally. Way Library is at 101 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. The library has also added more than 20 new books on Titanic to its collection.

In addition, Way has Titanic offerings for children.

“We’ve always been aware that children are fascinated by Titanic. Our children’s librarians say there’s quite an interest in it,” Meyer said.

The library will host a Fun Library After School Happenings program 4:30-5:30 p.m. April 19 for second through fifth graders. Students will learn facts on the Titanic’s sinking and the finding of its remains, Meyer said.

A home-schoolers’ book discussion of “White Star: a Dog on the Titanic,” is set for 1:30 p.m. April 9 for ages 8-12. To register, call (419) 874-3135 ext. 116.

Tags: Tapestry, Titanic. Way Library, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, William Harbeck

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 5th, 2012 at 2:11 pm and is filed under Community, Education.
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A nine-course meal, ballroom dancing to music of the era and a silent auction will be featured as part of an upcoming re-creation dinner commemorating the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic.

The event is set for 6 p.m. April 14 at Central Park West, 3141 Central Park West Drive, and will commemorate those lost (including several from the Toledo area) as well as celebrate the continuing disaster relief efforts of the American Red Cross. Tickets are $100 per person. Captain’s table tickets are sold out. Proceeds from the event will go to the American Red Cross, Greater Toledo Chapter.

“People are showing a lot of interest in this event,” said Jason Copsey, communications specialist with the American Red Cross. “They recognize how unique it is and, with it being the 100th anniversary of the sinking, it’s an opportunity to not only support a local organization, but also to have a memorable and historically themed evening.”

Actor Dave DeChristopher will portray Captain Edward Smith and the dinner will be a close approximation of a meal actually served on Titanic, Copsey said.

Silent auction items will include historic memorabilia, an autograph from a Titanic survivor, movie items and gift baskets donated from several local sponsors .

Local music group TAPESTRY, consisting of Denise Grupp-Verbon on harp and her husband, Michael, on guitar, will perform live music from the era as guests arrive.

“We have gathered a few selections from a Titanic songbook and we will also be featuring Celtic music selections since the Titanic sailed from Ireland,” Denise said. “We hope people enjoy it — although I’m happy to say we will not be going down with the ship. I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone that is not fascinated by the story because it’s just such an extraordinary story of survival.”

A scene from "Titanic 3D," courtesy Paramount Pictures.

The evening will also include:

• A performance by local singer-songwriter Mark Graff
• Titanic prints signed by local artist Rudolph Schroeder
• Titanic personal caricatures by local artist Jim Beard
• Hand-rolled cigars
• Ballroom dance performance and instruction by Paulette’s Studio of Dance
• Photos by Kurt Nielsen of Kurt Nielsen Photography

The event is sponsored by Toledo Free Press, Louisville Title, Midwest Terminals and Hollywood Casino Toledo. FOX Toledo is the event’s media partner.

The dinner is part of a Titanic memorial series that includes an April 15 commemorative issue of Toledo Free Press, displays in Toledo-Lucas County public libraries, Rave Motion Pictures’ presentation of James Cameron’s “Titanic 3D” and an artifact exhibit at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich.

Copsey said he hopes guests have a memorable evening.

“This will be a unique event. It’s not often you get to have something like this,” Copsey said. “It was Red Cross volunteers providing care to the people rescued from the site as soon as they got back to the harbor in New York City. All services the Red Cross provides are made possible by the generosity of the community. An event like this is a great way to show your support of the Red Cross while having a special evening.”

For more information or to order tickets, contact Jason Copsey at (419) 329-2619.

A Titanic Anniversary — in 3D

How fast can 15 years melt away? It was nearly that long ago, in 1997, when James Cameron’s “Titanic” debuted. As pop culture film events go, there has been nothing to rival it since its 1997 splash.

“Titanic” is one of the highest-grossing films of modern times, with more than $600 million in box office domestically and $1.8 billion worldwide. The film also won a record-tying 11 Oscars (including Best Picture and Best Director), four Golden Globes and more than 60 other industry laurels. “Titanic” redefined Hollywood’s approach to storytelling, digital effects and budget priorities.

On April 4, “Titanic” is returning to theaters, this time in a 3-D conversion overseen by Cameron. It will be the first time in a generation the film will be on the big screens it deserves; if you’ve only seen “Titanic” on a television or iPad/iPod screen, it’s worth the trip to the cinema, even in 2-D.

A longtime amateur historian of the great lost ship for many years before the movie, I devoured books and library clippings about the doomed luxury liner and the more than 1,500 people who died when it struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912, and sank in the wee hours of the following morning. People who become fascinated with Titanic lore are said to have “Titanic Fever,” and since about 1990, I have had an overwhelming case. There is something primal about the tale of hubris and disaster, fate and coincidence, life and death, that Titanic represents. The real-life story has elements of mystery, romance, adventure, opulence, poverty, hope and tragedy. Cameron’s film may not perfectly capture all of these elements, but as the movie started and the footage of the ship began, it overwhelmed me.

Seeing the ship I had studied and read so much about in black and white come alive, in full color with people walking the decks and waves parting as it cut through the Atlantic, was breathtaking. It was my most vivid imaginings realized.

I once briefly met the late Millvina Dean, the last living Titanic survivor, and heard her describe a ceremony in which one candle for every victim was lit and set afloat on the Mississippi River. The first time I saw Cameron’s film, all the stories and interviews and impressions converged into a wellspring of emotion and empathy, but it was Dean’s warm hug that enveloped me in that dark theater.

When “Titanic” debuted, much of the Western world was still reeling from the car accident death of Princess Diana, and I maintain that global grief was focused onto Cameron’s film and explains the swell of love and devotion moviegoers experienced. For a while, “Titanic” and Titanic were everywhere. I lived in Washington, D.C., at the time and had access to international newsstands, so I buttressed a collection of books with magazines celebrating the phenomenon all over the world, in scores of languages. From December to the following summer, “Titanic” and Titanic dominated popular culture.

My interest led to a friendship with Jennifer Carter, the first woman to travel to the ocean floor to see Titanic’s broken hull. She and her husband, the late composer Joel Hirschhorn, maintained contact and we shared many stories of discovery. While living in Pittsburgh, I contributed to the history when the family of victim Mary Miller Corey shared letters that revealed she was nearly nine months pregnant when she died on Titanic. That had never been reported, and once the letters were documented, copies were filed with the Titanic Historical Society in Massachusetts.

It is jarring to realize “Titanic” is 15 years in the past. I’m not fever-driven on the topic like I once was, but I still keep up with news and the occasional pop culture reference.

Toledo Free Press is working on a special issue for April 15, the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Ship of Dreams. We will tell the stories of people with local ties to the disaster, preview the many great events planned around the 100th anniversary and profile local painters, writers and musicians who have been touched by the story of Titanic and integrated it into their work.

The cornerstone of our remembrance is a nine-course Titanic re-creation dinner, April 14 at Central Park West, a fundraiser for the Greater Toledo Chapter of the American Red Cross. That event is described in detail on Page 9; for Titanic buffs and people who appreciate the Red Cross, it will truly be a night to remember.

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: James Camerson, Lighitng the Fuse, Mark Graff, Michael S. Miller, Red Cross, Tapestry, Titanic

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 4th, 2012 at 9:20 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Featured, Film, Uncategorized.
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April 14 is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic. To commemorate those lost (including several from the Toledo area) and to celebrate the continuing disaster relief efforts of the American Red Cross, an evening re-creating a Titanic dinner will take place at 6 p.m. April 14 at Central Park West.

The evening will feature a nine-course meal, ballroom dancing to music of the era and several silent auction items.

Tickets are $100 per person. Captain’s table tickets are sold out. Proceeds from the event will go to the American Red Cross, Greater Toledo Chapter.

The evening will include:

• Live era music by TAPESTRY.
• Song memorial by Mark Graff
• Titanic prints (pictured) signed by artist Rudolph Schroeder
• Titanic personal caricatures by Jim Beard
• Hand-rolled cigars
• Ballroom dance instruction by Paulette’s Dance Studio

The event is sponsored by Toledo Free Press, Louisville Title and Midwest Terminals. FOX Toledo is the event’s media partner.

The dinner is part of a Titanic memorial series that includes a commemorative issue of Toledo Free Press, displays in Toledo-Lucas County Public Libraries, Rave Motion Pictures’ presentation of James Cameron’s “Titanic 3D” and an artifact exhibit at Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Mich.

For tickets, call (419) 329-2900.

Tags: Central Park West, Jim Beard, Mark Graff, Red Cross, Tapestry, Titanic

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 at 9:58 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Fundraiser.
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The great ship Titanic slipped beneath the waves forever just before 2:30 a.m. April 15, 1912, claiming more than 1,500 lives. The upcoming 100th anniversary of that historic loss has inspired Toledo Free Press to link a number of local events in observance, including a re-creation dinner on the exact anniversary.

As an amateur Titanic historian for many years before the 1997 James Cameron movie, I devour books and library clippings about the doomed luxury liner and the people who died when she sank. Those who become captivated by Titanic lore are said to have “Titanic Fever,” and it is a fascination that rarely fades. There is something primal about the tale of hubris and disaster, fate and coincidence, life and death, that Titanic represents. The real-life story has elements of mystery, romance, adventure, opulence, poverty, hope and tragedy.

I once briefly met the late Millvina Dean, who was then the last living Titanic survivor, and heard her describe a ceremony in which one candle for every victim was lit and set afloat on the Mississippi River. The first time I saw Cameron’s film, all the stories and interviews and impressions converged into a wellspring of emotion and empathy, but it was Dean’s warm hug that enveloped me in that dark theater.

I spent some weekends when I lived in Washington, D.C., seeking monuments, gravestones, exhibits and other historic Titanic markers.

My interest led to a friendship with Jennifer Carter, the first woman to travel to the ocean floor to see Titanic’s broken hull. She and her husband, the late composer Joel Hirschhorn, and I shared many stories of discovery. While living in Pittsburgh, I contributed to Titanic lore when the family of victim Mary Miller Corey shared letters that revealed she was nearly nine months pregnant when she died on Titanic. That had never been reported, and once the letters were documented, copies were filed with the Titanic Historical Society in Massachusetts.

There were more than 50 Titanic passengers heading for Ohio; fewer than half survived. In their memory, and to preserve the legacy of Titanic on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of its loss, Toledo Free Press is working with community partners on the following events.

• The April 15 issue of Toledo Free Press will feature stories on local passengers, profiles of local collectors and Ohio’s ties to the great ship. Local collectors and historians should contact us at news@toledofreepress.com to participate.
• Toledo Free Press is working with the Toledo-Lucas County Public libraries to organize displays and book lists in participating locations. The Main Library is working on collecting its many Titanic resources for a major display.
• We are partnering with Rave Motion Pictures and Paramount Pictures to offer tickets and movie memorabilia to mark the release of Cameron’s “Titanic 3D,” the weekend of April 6. Watch the Toledo Free Press Facebook page for details on the giveaway and collector displays on-site.
• The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn will host a Titanic artifact exhibit. Opening March 31, the 10,000-square-foot exhibit features more than 300 artifacts — 250 of which have never been displayed in Michigan. There will be extensive room re-creations and a full-scale replica of the Grand Staircase. More on that collection in an upcoming issue.
• The main event of the observance is the April 14 “A Night to Remember” Titanic dinner and ball. A nine-course dinner re-creating the Titanic dining experience, live music from the era by TAPESTRY and ballroom dancing will be featured at the event, with all proceeds donated to the American Red Cross Greater Toledo Chapter. The Red Cross was in New York City when the Carpathia brought Titanic survivors to shore. Honoring the Red Cross with this formal event is a way to pay tribute to the mission and spirit of the organization.

The dinner and ball will take place from 6-11 p.m. April 14 at Central Park West, 3141 Central Park West in Toledo. With a nine-course meal prepared by the chefs from The Pinnacle, special seating at the captian’s table and a Red Cross silent auction (which will include a Titanic lithograph autographed by the late Millvina Dean, the last living Titanic survivor) and Titanic memorabilia dating back as far as the 1930s, the evening will truly be “A Night to Remember.” More details are forthcoming; boarding passes for the limited-seating event will be on sale starting Feb. 26 at the Red Cross “Oscar Night” fundraiser at Owens Community College.

No observances can adequately honor and tell the stories of those lost on Titanic, but these educational and social events offer a modest opportunity to pause and reflect on one of the last century’s most enduring and tragic events.

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: Lighting The Fuse, Michael S. Miller, Millvina Dean, Tapestry, Titanic

This entry was posted on Friday, February 17th, 2012 at 12:00 am and is filed under Lighting The Fuse, Opinion.
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Husband-and-wife duo TAPESTRY entered new instrumental territory for its rendition of “Greensleeves,” the opening track of “Holiday Wishes.”

Harpist Denise Grupp-Verbon and guitarist Michael Grupp-Verbon decided while in the studio to include additional instrumentation to their usual sound.

TAPESTRY

Using a synthesizer, the pair added finger cymbals, wind chimes and other string and percussion sounds to the harp and guitar they had already recorded.

“We took a little change from our formula arranging style,” Michael said. “We were originally going to do acoustic harp and guitar; that’s it. Once we got into the studio, bouncing around ideas, we thought we’d go ahead and put together additional arrangements and it just kind of blossomed from there.”

Denise said she is excited about the new direction.

“We were thrilled with it,” Denise said. “We had a lot of fun doing it and it came out sounding better than we hoped. It’s inspired us to start thinking about the possibility of doing an entire Christmas CD of TAPESTRY.”

The duo had already been working on “Greensleeves” when the opportunity to contribute a track to the Make-A-Wish Foundation benefit CD “Holiday Wishes” came up.

“It was actually kind of fortuitous that this was a holiday project because this was something we were working on anyhow, so this just accelerated getting that song put together and ready to go,” Michael said. “It certainly did push us in a direction we were looking to go anyhow, so it definitely was a fun thing to do and we’re very happy with it. This is the perfect place for it to debut.”

Tags: Holiday Wishes, Make-A-Wish, Tapestry

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 at 2:00 am and is filed under Community, Make-A-Wish.
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Since early August, I have been listening to holiday music. Not because my Microsoft Entourage calendar is ahead of itself; I have been working with scores of local artists to compile a CD to a benefit for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Jamie Farr, Alyson Stoner, Crystal Bowersox, Mannheim Steamroller, Pat Dailey and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra are a few of the contributors who have donated their talents to the CD, titled “Holiday Wishes: NW Ohio Artists Unite for Make-A-Wish.”

I have been thinking about producing a holiday CD of local artists for a couple of years, but had not seriously pursued it until late this summer, during a meeting with Eric Slough, executive director of Make-A-Wish’s Northwest Ohio Region. Slough mentioned his organization’s annual fundraiser, coffee mugs featuring art by a local Make-A-Wish child that are distributed in Panera Bread locations. As we were talking, the proverbial light bulb went off in my head and I pitched the notion of compiling a CD that would feature local artists; the art normally wrapped on a mug could be used for the front cover. Slough pitched the idea to Development Officer Ellie McManus and their board of directors; we met with Panera Bread; and in early September, we received a green light.

While I contacted artists and matched them with songs, Slough secured funding for the project from General Motors/UAW Local 14, ensuring there would be no costs charged to Make-A-Wish (and that 100 percent of the $9.99 retail price of the CD will go to Make-A-Wish).

My wife Shannon has long worked with Make-A-Wish, and I have seen firsthand the literal miracles the organization is capable of. Raising two blessedly healthy boys adds to my appreciation for the Make-A-Wish mission. That standard meant I would not compromise on the quality of the CD, and I set my sights on the stars.

Then, the first three artists I contacted turned me down. That initially shook my confidence and had me doubting I could make the CD a reality.

But immediately, Jeff Stewart, Kyle White, Kerry Patrick Clark and Ramona Collins all jumped in with great enthusiasm, and we’ve never looked back.

I have faced very few projects with such enthusiasm — and such ignorance. I had no idea just what I was asking of the musicians, producers and engineers, in terms of time and effort. There will be another time for a more thorough thank-you list, but it is important to note that without Christopher Stoll of Zeta Recording Studio, David Mariasy of Audio Matrix Recording Studio, producer Mighty Wyte and attorney Larry Meyer, who guided us through the licensing maze, this never would have become reality.

There will be two dozen tracks on the CD, ranging from a harp solo by Nancy Lendrim to a Stones-y blast through Chuck Berry’s “Run Run Rudolph” by Voodoo Libido. Dave Gierke of Toledo School for the Arts helped secure Tower Brass, the Toledo Jazz Orchestra and Crystal Bowersox. Many of our media friends — 13abc’s Lee Conklin, K100’s Harvey Steele, Clear Channel “Voice of the Rockets” Mark Beier and FOXToledo’s Laura Emerson & Shaun Hegarty — stepped up and contributed vocals to spoken word tracks. Chrys Peterson of WTOL 11 brought Graceland to Zeta Recording with Hepcat Revival and channeled Elvis on a blistering version of “Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me.”

I will not give away all the surprises on the CD, but mixed with classics recorded by Tapestry, Sheri LaFontaine, Kate Jordan, Chris Brown and Candice Coleman, and a chorus from the Toledo Museum of Art are original, newly recorded works by Reedius Maximus, Clark, Jameil Aossey and Charles Lane, and Rugby.

I was humbled by the lengths the artists went to. The Toledo Symphony Orchestra recorded “Sleigh Ride” during a September concert in Findlay, and captured a playful, majestic performance that redefines the song. Farr went into Marc Graue Voice Over Studios in Burbank, Calif., and performed a lively “Visit from Saint Nicholas” that will be cherished by many generations of Toledoans. Dailey and Sylvania native Chip Davis, founder of Mannheim Steamroller, generously and speedily donated tracks to the cause. Jeff Stewart recorded a Johnny Cash-inspired version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” then unselfishly opened the track to a singing chorus of local Make-A-Wish kids.

There will be a number of ways to purchase the CD. Regional Panera Bread stores will sell the album, starting around Thanksgiving. There will be a public kick-off concert at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at The Blarney Bullpen; those CDs will be signed by some of the artists, and special packages donated by Alyson Stoner will be available. If your company is interested in buying bulk copies as a corporate gift, please contact Eric Slough at EricS@makeawishohio.org.

The Thanksgiving issue of Toledo Free Press will contain a complete guide to the CD, with behind-the-scenes stories and photos from several of the recording sessions.

Since early August, I have been listening to holiday and Christmas music. People are asking me if I am sick and tired of hearing these holiday songs.

The answer is an emphatic no. I love every one of these songs, what they represent, and the kids who will be helped by them. I’m already thinking about 2012. I can’t believe no one asked about “White Christmas” this year, and I know exactly who I am going to ask to record it for next year …

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Email him at mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: Alyson Stoner, Audio Matrix Recording Studio, Blarney Bullpen, Candice Coleman, Charles Lane, Chip Davis, Chris Brown, Christopher Stoll, Chrys Peterson, Chuck Berry, Crystal Bowersox, David Gierke, David Mariasy, Eric Slough, General Motors, Harvey Steele, Jameil Aossey, Jamie Farr, Jeff Stewart, Johnny Cash, Kate Jordan, Kerry Patrick Clark, Kyle White, Larry Meyer, Laura Emerson, Lee Conklin, Lighting The Fuse, Make-A-Wish, Mannheim Steamroller, Marc Graue, Mark Beier, Michael S. Miller, Mighty Wyte, Nancy Lendrim, Panera Bread, Pat Dailey, Ramona Collins, Reedius Maximus, rugby, Shaun Hegarty, Sheri LaFontaine, Tapestry, the Toledo Jazz Orchestra, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo School for the Arts, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Tower Brass, UAW Local 14, Voodoo Libido, Zeta Recording

This entry was posted on Friday, October 21st, 2011 at 12:00 am and is filed under Lighting The Fuse, Opinion.
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