Who is Olivia Winant?

Interview by: John Robinson

From what you can usually see, wearing her daily soccer gear, she obviously plays for the Frostburg women’s soccer team; the most improved player recipient as a matter of fact. Which means she must be active and hardworking? But if you take the time to sit down and get to know her, you would find out just how goal oriented and kind hearted she is. The 19 year-old junior from Gaithersburg, MD wasn’t originally going to attend Frostburg, because it didn’t appeal to her. The only reason she came here was because she described the Frostburg soccer coach as being, “very convincing.” When she began her freshman year she decided to be an Early Childhood Education major from the simple fact of her love for kids. As the weeks went on she noticed that she didn’t feel that spark of excitement you get when you’re doing something you love; so she thought of changing her major. As she contemplated other majors she thought to herself, “What else can I do with myself?” Then she realized her interest in the Food Network and her love for traveling. She wondered if she could combine writing with traveling, and she decided upon her major: English with a minor in International Studies.

What really finalized her major decision was what she calls her irritation at American ignorance of what’s going on in the world. She felt if she could visit these places where children are starving, wars are occurring, and the beauty of architecture stand tall, she could bring what she calls the average-ignorant and selfish American into a whole new line of sight of the world around them. As I listened to her love and admiration for her dream, I asked her, who is the one person who made the greatest impact on your life? She said her late grandfather, who was a World War II veteran at the age of 20, was her biggest inspiration. His mindset to be hardworking, patient, and very knowledgeable helped mold her into the young woman she is today. If you ever watch her play you see her talent, but if you look from a different perspective she is following her dream to reach her goal to help others.

http://www.peacecorps.gov/

kenny mckinley dies from self-inflicted gunshot

Denver's wide receiver McKinley died from what investigators call a suicide. He was found dead in his house alone when the incident happened. Investigators are still gathering on why this happened and still how exactly it happened?

Third Time is the Charm: Who is John Robinson III

The Frostburg New Day: Fall '10, Section 3: Third Time is the Charm: Who is John Robinson III

www.j3mag.uniqsole.com/
http://twitter.com/j3magazine

Third Time is the Charm: Who is John Robinson III

Third Time is the Charm: Who is John Robinson III?
Interviewed by: Olivia Winant
ENGL 336.003
You can find John Robinson III at the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity house or on campus promoting the next big campus event. This twenty year old junior was not always this active in and out of the classroom though. In High School, his peers, the very thing he thrives on and prides himself in now, are what made his High School years not enjoyable. It took someone similar to himself in high school, his freshman year roommate, to make him realize everything he was missing. John saw how miserable his roommate was, and how easily he could become like that if he did not do something, and fast! “I forced myself out of my comfort zone,” says Robinson. Joining HallSTAR’s as a freshman introduced him to the many rewards of being a more sociable, productive member of the Frostburg State University community. It began with a trip to Cumberland, Maryland, where he and other HallSTAR members brought young children to and from school, and cared for them after. “What do I do about getting involved?” was Robinson’s next question. Robinson learned from a young age that he would be the person to make the biggest change in his life. He took the first step and did what a lot of students do not, and did his own research! That is all it took to become a member of the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity. A student who was once apprehensive of the social aspect of school, and the issues that come along with it, now surrounds himself with people who better what he can become. John Robinson made a decision to not allow negative people affect him anymore, and with that new attitude, he started making things happen himself! College forces students to ask what they want to do, but how many English majors can say that they have already started their own online magazine? John Robinson can; J3 Magazine. Established in 2009, J3 magazine focuses on aspiring young musicians and artists. John refers to the magazine as, “An inspiration and resource site for young artists.” Meant for young adults and people of all ages, the magazine appeals to both the struggling college student, and in households alike. John has the ambition that so many students lose in an attempt to be cool. John recognizes, and capitalizes on his ability to transform his own life. He would not be who is he today had it not been for the ongoing support and guidance from his mother. Both of his parents have shaped his views on the type of life he leads. He has formed his views on the principles of having respect, being accepting, not being judgmental, and most importantly, being a leader. So, if you want to do something to better yourself John’s advice is, “Get out of your room and don’t give up!”

Appalachian Film Festival: Bonecrusher

After attending the Historic Palace Theatre for the Appalachian Film Festival, I was at a loss for words. The film Bonecrusher had given me a completely different outlook on the working families of America. The film was presented by Michael Fountain and was the winner of the 2010 Jack Spadaro Documentary Award. The film portrayed the lives of citizens living with extreme work conditions and in poverty, a life I believed didn’t still exist in modern day America. The film centers around a man in Russell County, Virginia named Luther Chaffin. He earned the name Bonecrusher over the years of being a coal miner. Coal mining is a physically draining job that has given Luther chronic health complications. The film does not carry out as an ordinary film may, focusing on the community and culture but rather the strong relationship Luther has with his son Lucas, who is also a main character in the documentary. Lucas is on the path to becoming a long-term coal miner as well, as a part of the family tradition. Lucas states, “Once I realize I can do it, it just gets in your blood. Its all you want to do.” This concerns Luther because he does not want Lucas to obtain the same lifestyle outcome has he has. The film, not focusing on mainly the hardships of coal mining itself but rather the strain on the family relationships it can bring, in my opinion, was quite moving. It is tough hard to deal with the fact that the job that they have is the reason for repetitive sicknesses and health problem Luther obtains over the years. The hardship is the fact that it is their lifestyle and switching jobs or quitting is not an option. Quoted from Lucas, “Coal Mining is all I’ve ever known, my dad done it, just about every uncle I’ve ever had has, my grandfather and my great grandfather.” It depicts how these men were brought up to focus on masculinity and they develop a respect for the job and the job their past generations held. Regardless to the harsh dangerous that come along with it. This film helps a viewer not only portray only themselves in the situation but also the ones closest to them in it as well. I feel that every few months, when a tragedy may occur in a coal mine far from us, the around the clock news coverage about the safety and status of the workers may be the only time we may begin to understand the hardships these families go through. The problem is, after that coverage, the news vans clear out, the stories are over and these communities still continue going on with their tough lifestyles and we may not understand the severity of it. This film describes the painful lifestyle of these workers go through and not just during the time of a disaster. We tend to see these generations just as a victim of this disappearing culture.

The Wonders of the Applachian Region

This past Saturday, it was a typical day but only for those who didn’t travel to the Upper Quad to partake in the fifth annual Appalachian Festival. The festival pays homage to the regions landscape, history, culture, food and musical traditions. The population at the festival mostly consisted of Caucasians in the middle adult to the elderly range. However, there were a lot of programs to participate in that attracted people of all different ages and ethnicities.
One of the first acts I saw was band called “Highland Grass” which is a bluegrass music group. Bluegrass music is a sub genre of country music and is quickly gaining popularity in the mainstream media. Bluegrass music has roots in English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish and made its way to the United States. Bluegrass music involves one or more instruments playing the melody and improvising the music to their liking. The other musicians accompany the person who is leading the melody. Popular instruments for this type of music are the guitar, banjo, fiddle and an acoustic guitar. All of the musicians of this group were very in tuned with their instruments and showed great artistic poise. The group talked about their reputation spreading all throughout the Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia area for the last 30 years. Another performance I was able to see, which was one of my favorites was the “Barnstormers With the RockCandy Cloggers.” Clogging is a type of folk dance. Clogging roots come from traditional European dancing and also Cherokee dancing. The dancers wear extremely hard soled shoes to produce a musically and loud sound. The dancers strike their heels, their toes and sometimes both in unison against a hardwood floor to create beautiful music. The band said they perform in the area at schools and they provide clogging workshops. I noticed that the ladies wore very long and heavy red dresses. Their hair was pinned back and they also wore very long stockings. The musicians said that since they play their instruments so fast, it makes the cloggers have to perform more steps in fast intervals in beat with the music. It was also very informing to know that clogging has been a social dance in the Appalachian Mountains as early as the 1700’s. After I was musically inclined, I decide to take a walk around the rest of the fair.
The Amish had a couple of tables that contained all sorts of delectable goodies. The Amish are from the traditional Christian church but made up of a sub group of Mennonite churches. I noticed that the women wore bonnets and very plain and simple clothing. Their dresses were so long and their shoes were also plain. Their clothing is a part of their culture. The Amish culture has a very strong religious base and they value community. Some customs that they have is to refrain from the use of electricity and the outside world. Their table had all types of different cookies, pies and candies. There was also an old fashioned soda wagon located right off of the path. Some of the drinks served were old fashioned root beer, birch beer, orange soda and sarsaparilla. When I saw this wagon and the drinks being served, I immediately thought of the old time West, with cowboys and parlors. There was also a butter churning bucket that people could take turns churning. There was also plenty of samples of hot and cold cider. There was plenty of other food such as a wide variety of barbecue, hot dogs and baked goods.
Afterwards I walked into the tent that stretched about three lanes. Inside the tent was mostly middle aged women and their friends or husbands; selling all sorts of different crafts. Some of the crafts included handmade pot holders in colorful colors. There was also plenty of handmade jewelry that displayed the makers artistic abilities. One of my favorite tables was selling old alcohol bottles in a new way. The glass alcohol bottles had been melted and flattened and the color of the glass shown through and made pretty prisms that usually only see after a rainbow. This table also had plenty of jewelry but made out of bent glass. There was also lots of handmade baskets and quilts on display. I noticed that some of the quilts had a story outlined in the quilts. Some of the patches had symbols, numbers or letters. Quilts could be used to pass down history from one generation to another. All of the handmade crafts in the tent were very pretty.
There was also a very colorful arts bus that unfortunately only allowed children in. However, I was able to sneak in and observe what the kids were doing. The kids were making different crafts such as making lye soap and dying materials. There was also the everyday crafts. After I got off the bus there was a petting zoo. There was a lot of different animals ranging from bunnies, goats, birds etc. I was very tempted to take a bunny home. Animals in the Appalachian area are very important to the ecosystem. They help maintain the balance of life. We all know there are bears in the area and the community would rather have the beers hunting in the mountains than roaming onto the campus. After the animals there was an area with a lot of different games and toys out. However, the toys and games weren’t the kind you would find in a toy store off of Main Street. One of the games involved two people, one on each side standing on a wooden block. They held a rope between them and tried to pull the other one off. Other games included checkers but made out of wood and plenty of rope. The toys were very refreshing and quite entertaining.
Overall, my stay at the Appalachian Festival passed some time and it was worth the hike to the Upper Quad. It was great to hear some different music that I’m not accustomed to listening to, watching clog dancing, eating homemade goodies and participating in different activities. At the end I realize how special Frostburg is to be located in these beautiful mountains and the history behind everything is quite interesting.

Speak Softly and Carry A Big Book

Devon Hill originates from Baltimore and did just what advisors typically recommend. After taking various courses, Devon has decided on getting a degree in Political Science. However, Hill has taken so many other classes that they just sit there on his transcript with no purpose. This sounds like a very common theme with potential graduates. After taking over a year off and currently holding a Junior status, Devon hopes to graduate in May. This past summer he came to the realization that the behind the scenes work of politics has destroyed his idealistic tendencies. Besides what’s going on in Devon’s academic life and most importantly his future, it’s always interesting to hear what actually makes Devon him.
As Hill sat down, a very hefty book was right by his side called A Brief History in Time by Stephen Hawkin. Hill innocently commented, “I always have a book with me.” Other than textbooks most students, let alone males don’t carry around extra reading material. He enjoys doodling and writing short stories about random things in his spare time and even holds a job on campus. His job entails sitting in a little cubby at the Information desk in Tawes. Devon comes off as a very laid back guy with a lot happening in his mind when on the outside he is quiet. He often finds himself, “…zoning out and piecing together another person’s back story in his mind.” Devon also showed off his cross that he wears around his neck everyday which used to belong to his father. Although his father passed away a few years ago, Devon still feels a connection to him. He was proud to say that his speech has a lot to do with how his father raised him because he doesn’t speak in the stereotypical Baltimore slang. This news junkie who enjoys arguing with his roommates for fun is available for all those ladies wondering and Hill feels, “being single is boring.” Very philosophically Devon wrapped up the day by expressing how everyone deserves to have their story told and it gives more perspective about the world. So, hopefully this piece can give more perspective to a fellow reader.

Trident Initiative Appalachian AdVentures

Appalachian Festival


Friday, September 17, 2010 was the second day of the Trident Initiative. The room was filled with a sound that made you feel like you were at home. There were instruments; like the accordion, the violin, and the viola. All around you were pictures and posters on the wall; one said warrior, the next said event planning (for more information go to www.wariorsentertainment.com.) In addition to all of the wonderful music and surroundings, there was an aroma that made your mouth water.
The people at the festival were very kind. They asked several times if you were hungry and if you wanted a plate to eat. There were plenty to eat; Titamisu, mushroom Ravioli, Basmluli rice, sauteed zucchini, and so much more. "It was delicious," Eddie Custer said as he was finishing his last bite.
The festival had good reviews, a woman was eager to tell of the cause of the festival, Pam Rose said, "what makes the Appalachian festival special is the beauty and the heritage of everything. The theme this year is humanistic life and having a good time." T

Appalachian Festival Bag Piping and a Fiddle

                                                                                   

The Appalachian Festival was filled with a variety of different events, musical, artistic, historical and poetry. I chose to attend two different types of musical events. The first was, Morbhana, a traditional Gibson Fireside bag piping group that performed Celtic music, Scottish and Irish songs. The name Morbhana comes from the Scottish song, “Chi mi na mor- Bheanna, which means, “ I will see Big Mountains.” They are also part of the Garrett Highlands Pipes and Drums. The group was composed of three bag pipers, Annie Bristow, Kenny Braitman, Marci McClive and a tenor Drummer, Lynn Farnsworth.  The music they performed during the festival told stories, and included fast pace and slow music. My favorite song was Amazing Grace. Their attire was a traditional bag piping Scottish outfit which was appealing along with the music. They were a group of elderly adults who just loved playing bag pipes and really wanted the audience to be a part of the performance. One audience member was very eager when asked for their input yelling, “Amazing Grace!” The audience input made the performance a more personal experience. The next event I attended was The Time Travelers, a group from Romney West Virginia. This group is especially meaningful to this area, playing songs that referred to Cumberland, singing coalmining songs. Unlike the bagpipes, this group sang Acapella, and included a stand up bass played by Chuck Sherry, a Guitar Harp and a Harmonica played by Michael Hasly, a Mandolin played by Pam Francis and a Fiddle played by Lauren Smith. All of the members sang the songs, singing about the struggles of work, religion and the missing home. The group encouraged the audience saying, “We like to see people singing along.” They played songs from Bruce Springsteen and songs the audience was familiar with so that they could join in and sing too. This group was more relaxed, and focused on playing their music rather than their attire, dressed in casual Hawaiian shirts and khakis. The fiddle player looked like she could have been in college or a recent graduate, which also appealed to the audience. With each member playing a different instrument, it made the performance more enjoyable to watch. From their superb performance, this group really loved singing and had a stronger performance than the bag pipers, including the audience more and because they sang, the audience could sing along, making it more enjoyable to listen to. One audience member said, “ I like that they are up beat.”  Their music told a story about the history of this area, one that many audience members might not have known about before the event.  The event itself was run very efficiently and timely, with each group setting up and moving off the stage for the next performance in a timely manner, making the audience not impatient for the next event to start and easy to stay for the next event. The weather was perfect for celebrating the Appalachian landscape set around the campus. 

Appalachian Festival Presents: Scales and Tails

“How many of you someone who has killed a snake?” Audience members young and old raise their hands, as they peer at the largest snake in North America. “Scales and Tails” presented by Justice and Seth, Wildlife Biology majors at Frostburg State, present various wildlife animals and their tales of how they ended up with them. At this year’s Appalachian Festival, there were several presentations dedicated to protecting the area’s natural resources.

As the audience members begin to take their seats, Seth pulls out a Great Harvest Owl, a top predator. Its large yellow eyes peer out at the audience, making everyone silent. It can only turn its head 270 degrees, and has large eyes because it is a nocturnal bird and needs to be able to see at night very well. It can live on average 13 years in the wild, and well into its 20s in captivity. The youngest members of the audience begin to get excited, as the owl begins to make sounds and tries to fly away. Justice begins the presentation by asking if anyone can identify what is wrong with the large owl. She tells the audience that this owl is missing a wing. A farmer shot it because it was stealing chickens to feed its family. The Great Harvest Owl is a protected animal, so this was illegal on the farmer’s part. The owl is then put on a post and hooked by a leash because the next owl they bring out is an ideal lunch for the Great Harvest Owl.

As Justice brings out the next owl, the Great Harvest Owl begins to get excited and begins to open its mouth, eager for the possible chance to get a hold of it. Justice asked the audience what type of owl they think the one in her hands is. The owl has brown and white feathers all over, with what appears to be bars on its stomach. That is how this owl got its name. The Barred Owl, also known as the Southern Gentleman for his mating calls, is a native to this area. Nocturnal with dark eyes, this bird is here all year long. It weighs two pounds, which is very surprising because it is very large, but Justice explains that it is all fluff, and without its feathers the Great Harvest Owl would be almost skeleton. This owl came to them when he was very young. He tried to fly too early, and fell out of his nest. Some hikers found him on the ground crying, so they took him back to their home in Baltimore County. They taught him how to tie his shoes, brush his teeth, as well as make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He lost his ability to survive in the wild. This bird made the audience members very curious.

“Do they hibernate?” asked one woman. “No they are wild animals and they stay in the trees and hunt what they can during the winter”, answered Justice. “What is his diet?” asked another audience member. “He has to hunt on his own. Rodents, moles, and all the things we don’t want in our homes. That is why owls are good. He is strictly a carnivore. They eat the bones, fur, everything. They then regurgitate this into pellets. They also eat crayfish. If they eat a lot of them, their feathers begin to turn pink, which is really cool,” answered Justice.

“Can you guys see his red eyes?” asks Seth. “If you want to impress someone one day, you can tell them that only males have red eyes,” replied Justice, in reference to the Eastern Box turtle she pulled out. She then goes on to tell his tale. And then they pull out what seems to be the best for last. A long black snake is pulled out of a bag, and you can hear the audience members respond, with the little boys in the front getting more excited by the minute. The Black Rat Snake is the largest snake in North America. It is nonvenomous, and their jaw is not attached so they can open it and fit the rats in it’s and swallow them whole. These snakes go back to the same den every year in order to mate. Because they do not know what den this snake came from, they cannot release him back into the wild. He would freeze to death. Seth then takes the snake around for the audience members to touch his skin. The tiniest audience members are so excited, as they run up to the snake, which seems to be choking Seth.

“Scales and Tails” was a great presentation, and all the audience members walked away enlightened about the wildlife in the area and the ways humans are hurting the animals.

The Appalachian Festival: Lori Senese Bringing "Basket" Back

Shana Knight
Eng 336.003




On Saturday September 18, 2010 at the upper quad of Frostburg State University, many students and locals came together to celebrate the Appalachian festival and the history of Western Maryland. The Appalachian festival was packed with many craftsman, musical performers, and good food. Many of the people who attended agreed that the festival was worth going to because all of the crafts and food there was original and you couldn’t find it at your local department or grocery store. According to the locals, they’ve been coming to the festival for years. Local Judy says “I love the apple butter and my daughters love the apple cider, we get it every year.” There were many crafts at the festival that were worth seeing, and buying. One stand in particular stood out to many, handmade baskets by Lori Senese.

Lori Senese, a friendly local from Cumberland Maryland is passionate about what she does. Lori gladly expresses “I’ve been at the festival all day.” She says “I have been making baskets for 20 years.” She had a wonderful display table full of tasteful baskets. Her baskets were original, something that you couldn’t find at a store. Lori had baskets that have a mosaic base. The mosaic part of the baskets had pictures in them, which caught many eyes. Many people who walked by were amazed by her work. Lori Senese explained that she was “self-taught.” She gets her ideas for her baskets by sometimes looking online for new patters, but she says she comes up with most of them herself. Lori describes her baskets as “functional, because you can put a lot of stuff in them.” She was right; she had baskets to but wine in, baskets to put bread in, and what ever you want to put in them. They make great gifts.

Lori explained basket weaving process as time consuming. She said “It has to be something that you really want to do.” However she said baskets don’t take long, but the mosaic takes a couple of days. “The glue has to dry for a day then you have to shape the pieces of glass, and then let them sit another day.” She explained. Lori just really looks like she enjoys basket weaving, it’s her thing. In fact, she had her son sitting right next to her weaving a basket. “I’m in the process of teaching him, this isn’t his first basket though” she said as she laughed. Her son, unlike his mother said “this isn’t my thing, but I enjoy making them.”

So what is Lori doing now with her basket making gift? She has a website Http://lsenese.etsy.com and is also teaching classes. She is giving classes at Mountain City Traditional Arts, located on Main Street. “There are classes there for everyone” she says. If you aren’t into basket weaving and don’t know what you want to do, then you can take a class to find something that you enjoy doing. Loris passion for basket weaving struck many of the people who walked by as amazing. She loves what she does just like all of the other crafts people and musicians who were at the festival.

Appalachian Festival: Would You Survive?

For those used to the urban and suburban lifestyle, attending Frostburg State University requires a transition to a more subdued and laid back Appalachian culture. That culture was on display this weekend at the 5^th annual Appalachian Festival. Described as a “celebration of the region’s natural landscape, history, culture, food, musical and artistic traditions,” the event attracts exhibits and performances showcasing the area’s unique atmosphere.

            The warm, calm Saturday afternoon seemed perfect accentuated by the folk performances taking place in front of the Compton Science Center and Sowers residence hall; the music permeates the entirety of the upper quad where the presentations and displays are set up.

            One such presentation, “Would You Survive? Wilderness Survival,” reminds attendees of the more rugged, active, outdoors activities available two and a half hours from Maryland’s main population centers. Presented by naturalist Liz Neroni who works in New Germany State Park in Garrett County, the event was attended by an active audience of both students and locals. Surprisingly, not every student there was attending for academic purposes. 

            Linnard Corbin, a junior, when asked why he was attending said, “This is good stuff to know. I want to go hiking eventually and it’s definitely good to know how to survive.” Kendra Roberts, another junior who grew up in the area and was attending for class, still said she found the presentation helpful and interesting. At least three others, likely locals, found the exhibit so essential that they were recording it.

            Neroni, who was well versed in survival techniques, gave a dynamic and engaging presentation. Going through the essentials of the survival kit she had built, that would be raffled off later, she noted “there’s so much you can do with fishing line it is unreal.” Aside from its obvious uses, it can be used to hang ornaments indoors and to set up traps and tie various things outdoors among other things. 

            She moved on to navigation, asking if anyone in the audience knew how to properly use a compass. She was surprised by how many did commenting “usually I don’t get anyone who knows how to use it. What’s the point of having it if you don’t know how to use it?”

            Continuing, she implored interested parties to keep up with proper maintenance of their survival kits. “You can’t expect it to take care of itself.” This prompted an audience member to mention the space blanket he noticed in the kit, noting that if left unopened and unused it can actually melt and become useless. To inform every one of the multiple advantages of a properly kept space blanket, she shared a story of a young man who had become lost in Yellowstone National Park a few years ago. At night, he would use the blanket for sleeping, and during the day he would climb a tree and spread the blanket at the top using its reflective properties as a signal for rescuers. Thanks to the ingenious plan, he was eventually rescued.

            Finally, Neroni displayed the poncho she packed into her kit continuing a theme of items with multiple uses. Aside from its conventional use, it can be used to line the ground and collect water. Water that can be poured into a bottle with a built in filter, a novelty many of the students admit they did not know existed.

            Belying the expectation of unengaged Frostburg students, a number of attendees swarmed Liz Neroni to ask follow-up questions and participate in the raffle. When all was said and done, Ms. Neroni quietly noted that it had been a good crowd.

- Devon Hill

Time Travelers saving folk music

“Right now we’re going to take a trip back in time. Who remembers Sherman and the Time Traveling Machine? Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Time Travelers to the stage.” Those are the words of Gregg Latta (MC), as he welcomed the West Virginia Group to the Sowers stage. The Group consisting of four members, Chuck Sherry on stand up base, Michael Hasty on guitar and harp, Pam Francis on mandolin, and Lauren Smith on fiddle, are traveling singers committed to preserving folk music.

The Time Travelers, dressed for the weather, took the Sowers stage in Hawaiian shirts and shorts. As they began their performance to the mostly senior citizen crowd, lead singer Pam Francis says, “We like to see people singing along if you know the song.” The first song performed by the Time Travelers was When the Sun Goes Down. Looking through the crowd you may have found a foot tapping to the beat or a head nodding back and forth, but, not a soul singing along. In fact, this folk song was even unfamiliar to the bands triple threat, Michael Hasty. Hasty, in the first performance, clearly forgot his queue to take the lead from Pam. Pam covered the first few words for Michael until he was able to reclaim his place in the performance. Before the Time Travelers started their second song, mandolin player Pam Francis looked at Michael Hasty and sarcastically says, “Now here’s a sing-a-long I bet everyone knows.” In this encore performance Hasty does not miss a note.

In the effort to preserving folk music, the Time Travelers give us a dose of history when they sing an acapella selection. “Which is how music started, with out any instruments,” according to lead singer Pam Francis. The Time Travelers sang their acapella selection, Talk about Suffering, with great harmony. The precision of their harmony blocked out the fact that there were no instruments being used. Their great harmony also erased any objections to music without instruments not being as good.

The Time Travelers finally got the crowd to come alive with their rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s Mary Don’t You Weep. The Time Travelers triple threat, Michael Hasty is the lead singer and plays both the guitar and the harmonica at the same time. It is truly an amazing performance. As you look through the crowd, if there wasn’t a foot tapping or a head nodding, there was someone singing along. A young lady in the crowd had leaned over to me and stated, “This is way better than the bag pipes.” After the performance there is a standing ovation, but, the Time Travelers try to quiet the crowd as they still have one last song.

“We’re going to end with our ending song, West Virginia, We Love. It’s only proper, we’re from West Virginia” Said Pam Francis. As the Time Travelers played their ending song and the crowd filed out, there was not one frown, but, just smiles that went on for miles.

Split Estate at the Appalachian Film Festival

By: James Knapp

The Appalachian Film Festival, which took place at the Historic Palace Theatre in Frostburg on September 17th, screened documentary films that depicted the hardships and difficulties that result from life in Appalachia and similar regions. One of the films, entitled Split Estate, exposed the intrusive drilling practices of the unchecked oil and gas industries.
Deborah Anderson’s film Split Estate, which centers upon the activities of oil and natural gas companies operating in and around the Rocky Mountains, showed the devastating effects that the industry has caused both environmentally and for the residents of the area.
One way in which the industry has invaded residential boundaries is by an often overlooked part of landowning called Mineral Rights; the concept of mineral rights is that even if a resident owns a plot of land, another resident or corporation can buy the rights to the resources under that land. This practice goes back to when a king was able to lay claim to precious metals, such as gold and silver, that may be hidden under someone else’s land. In the film, a New Mexico resident said “The industry has the mentality that it’s ours (the industry’s) and you’re (the resident) in our way.” The resident had experienced the intrusiveness of an oil company first hand, as they had bought the mineral rights under his property and began drilling with almost no regard to his presence; the company even went as far as to pile refuse material in his personal cemetery.
A couple in Colorado purchased a 40 acre plot of land in 1993, later to discover that they did not own the mineral rights to their land. As a result of this oversight, an oil well was drilled a mere 200 feet from their front door. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for this to happen because about 85% of Colorado residents don’t own the mineral rights to their land; and as stated by John Kerry in an interview included in the film, “The energy policy has been to drill, drill, and drill some more.”
Aside from the oil and gas companies’ intrusive approach to acquiring the resources under privately owned land, the film also exposed their disregard for environmental concerns of the region. As a result of the Bush Administration’s energy policy, oil and gas companies became exempt from numerous EPA regulations including the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. Due in part to a widely used drilling technique called “fracking,” which involves fragmenting the rocks underground so that natural gas can be siphoned, natural gas has seeped out into rivers and streams in the Rocky Mountain region, and some water sources, even those used for drinking water in residential areas, have been contaminated.
In the final minutes of the film, a map of the United States appeared on the screen to show that as the hunt for oil and natural gas continues, the fuel industries are gradually beginning to move farther East; even as far as Pennsylvania. When one audience member was asked what he thought of the film and the information it had presented, he replied only with the word “scary.” This is to say that as an Appalachian community, it is frightening to believe that something as abhorred as the events chronicled in Split Estate, could soon be so very close to home.

Several Art Forms Entice Attendees at Festival

“It’s a celebration of all the different types of art that Frostburg has to offer,” says Asia Taylor when asked why she attends Frostburg State University’s Appalachian Festival every year. “I just love going from table to table, in the hopes that I will learn something new about American history. There is something interesting here for everyone.” This year did not disappoint. From Thursday to Saturday, there surely was something there for everyone, as the upper half of Frostburg State’s campus was filled with several stations and tents, each contributing a different subject matter for the attendees to observe. There were several musical performances, dance lessons, a display of baby goats for children to feed, handmade jewelry displays, screen-printing, weaving tables, the glorious smell of apple butter brewing in the center of all the festivities and so much more for the attendees to choose from. It was truly a celebration of many art forms.
The displays featuring homemade and handmade items drew the larger crowds. When asked what he was creating, John Simpson explained that “bowl hewing” was the only method of making bowls before technology came into existence. Carefully spooning out a chunk of wood for what would become his next handmade bowl, Simpson looked up to the eager crowd and exclaimed, “Careful! Wood can come out flying before you know it.” Aside from the entertainment aspect of watching Simpson create a bowl with a small tool in his hands, the crowd was more pleased with how peaceful and focused Simpson was as he displayed his craft so effortlessly.
“I’ve been doing this for a couple years now,” says Jackie Snelson, as she explained the process of her craft—basket weaving. “I enjoy playing with the colors to see how they’ll come out,” she said as she grabbed one of her multicolored baskets from the bunch. When asked why she makes baskets, Snelson looked up smiling and said, “I just love to make them.” This was the common response among the crafty men and women who sat at their display tables carefully performing their crafts for the people to see.
Aside from the crafts, musical performances were a big show stopper this year. One performance included multi-genre singer Loretta Hummel, who was eager to explain why she attends the festival every year. “I love the music here,” she said when asked what she loves the most at the festival. “I sing Gospel, Bluegrass and Country music but I love Bluegrass the most,” she said smiling back Amy Fabbri, the woman performing on the stage.
By the number of displays and attendees at this year’s Appalachian Festival, it is safe to say that this is what brings the residents of Frostburg and the students of Frostburg State University together. It’s the celebration and appreciation of traditional art that allows generations to ignore their differences and embrace what they have in common, which is the love of art. One student said, “These old folks can make stuff that I take for granted every day,” as he picked up one of John Simpson’s handmade bowls and smiled.”

Appalachian Festival Assignment

Brandon Kelly
Appalachian Festival
ENGL 336
Fall 2010

“Step-heel-step, Step-heel-step,” being chanted by two of the dance performers as I arrived at the event. The main show host, by the name of, “Rock”, has been flat footing also known as “clogging” for the last thirty to forty years. The other performer has been dancing for about fifteen to twenty years. Flat footing is a type of dance where the feet are positioned close to the ground. On the other hand, clogging is referred to when your foot is lifted off the ground. Most viewers have mistaken these forms of dancing for tap dancing. After the performance I was able to learn more about Rock and his affection on dancing. He explained that while growing up he was taught square dancing and that he never became interested in flat footing until he was in his early twenties. Placing his hand on my shoulder Rock says, “The key to dancing is to be a part of the band, and to be the drummer”, which simply means to feel the music within your feet and become one with it. As they were performing I understood that the dancer has to interpret the music with their feet as the female performer did the “mashed potato” dance from many years ago.
Throughout the show audience members were invited onto the stage if they wanted to participate in the dance. I joined them as well. We all did a dance where the participants stood on one foot and placed the other leg behind them spinning it around in circles. The audience shouted and cheered us on as we put on a show for by standers. The dance was confusing at first, but was quickly attained by the “first timers”. Laughing loudly, an older woman from the audience shouted “Danget if I wasn’t so lazy I’d be up there with you guys, but I’m a couch potato”. The two band players in the background were playing banjos throughout the performance. They played a major role in the flat footing performance. At the end of the performance the female performer said to the audience “people think it’s something magic, but it’s not,” encouraging spectators to join the next performance.
Rock shared with me that performers should do what he calls a “flash” for the audience. A flash simply gets and keeps the audiences’ attention by mixing different types of dance moves within the performance that way the audience is not watching repetitive movement. It gets the audiences’ appeal and is a helpful tactic. Clogging is a folk dance and the only thing one can do wrong is to be off beat. I learned some vocabulary while I there as well. For example, I picked up on the differences between a “three sound beat”, along with a “walking step”, and a “four sound beat”. Between the three dance styles, the only one that happens to be extremely different is the walking step considering you have to add heel movement in the dance.
Overall the Appalachian Festival was a great experience. I visited a number of events, but the performance by the dancers intrigued me the most. They shared a lot of information, which helped me to understand the dance easier. I think one of main reasons I liked this event more than the others is because they interacted with the audience. Getting the audience involved with the activity helped them to embrace and build a stronger connection with the performance.

A Festive Frostburg Friday

By: Ed Custer

ENGL 336.003

Many people would agree that they enjoy the comfort of music playing in the background during a meal and the crowd during the Appalachian Festival was no exception. In the Upper Quad of Frostburg State University presentations on ‘local business’ by guest speakers, Frostburg professors, and Frostburg students took place. The crowd enjoyed a complimentary lunch and entertainment by The Barnstormers who were accompanied by The RockCandy Cloggers. The RockCandy Cloggers (Rock Howland and Candy Ranlet) who are better known for their clogging routines, have joined The Barnstormers (Slim Harrison and Tom Jolin) for a number of concerts and festivals across the area. All members of the musical group even dressed to fit the era of the music they were playing. Junior Bobcat, Chelsie Yutzy said as she enjoyed her mushroom ravioli and rice, “It’s going to be tough to pull myself away from the excitement of the music and get to my next class on time.” The music of choice for the noon lunch Friday, September 17th was traditional American folk music. The band belted out their historical tunes by playing the guitar, banjo, fiddles, upright bass, mandolin, jaw harp, hammered dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, concertina, fiddlesticks, and spoons. As the crowd continued to show their appreciation for the music with loud but, well deserved applause, the guitarist with a smile on his face, nudged his partner who was playing the violin and said to the crowd “He gets a swelled head if you clap too much,” and they continued to play.

Not only did the music keep the mood light but, everyone in participation couldn’t have been any more kind. As I sat at a table and enjoyed the crisp, seasonal changing breeze and the live entertainment, many in charge encouraged me to grab a plate as well and make myself comfortable. One anonymous bystander had this to say when I questioned him on the success of the presentations, his reaction to the entertainment, and the friendly visitors, “I wish they had some Captain Morgan to go along with this bash!” The man and I shared a couple laughs as we filled our juice glasses at the beverage table.

Pam Rose, a women involved with the actual presentations said, “I am surprised by the energy the young people bring to the business world.” Ms. Rose expressed her wishes for a more ethical and community based approach for local businesses and she also encouraged that “It’s not all about the money.” Some of the organizations who participated in the event included The Trident Initiative, which is a Frostburg State University oriented program for students interested in the world of business and The Counselors to America’s Small Business (SCORE), which is a much larger organization that joined the festivities to share a portion of what they are about and what they can do for the business minded individual.

Aside from the students achieving a more solid grasp on business as a possible major, some current business students presenting a few of their ideas and projects, and the up-beat music, during the lunch there were certain signs of a joyous occasion had by all in attendance. With the availability of great food, the appreciation of well known friends, and new acquaintances, the event proved to be a hit simply from the view outside. The festivities were filled with laughter and a few care-free dancers showed off a few of their move. The Appalachian Festival was off to a very promising start for this year as events continued through the rest of Friday and Saturday in the town of Frostburg, Maryland.

http://www.frostburg.edu/trident/overview.htm
http://www.score.org/ask_score.html