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| 6/5/2009 4:47:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| BAGPIPERS Dwight McConnell, Brian Solum and George Brown are hoping to get others to join the group. Photo by Irene Grahek |
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Around town with the bag pipers
by Irene Grahek
Remember "Ely Pipes and Drums" a few years ago, their participation in 4th of July parades, celebrations, and military functions?
The group was small in number, but great in popularity when chartered in 2003. Members of the Pipers came from Ely and the area, including Joe Linneman, pipe major-director, Dwight McConnell, Patrick Cheney, Sue Ferguson, Val Beale, Candy Sorenson and George Brown of Tower. George Burger played snare drum and Glenn Salo of Embarrass was bass drummer. Most of these folks received their training by attending workshops in Fort Francis, Ontario from instructors with extensive experience.
Sadly, some pipers have moved away or retired, but there are still two pipers who will not give up on their passion. George Brown and Dwight McConnell are keeping the music alive and recently attended a workshop held in Ely with Brian Solum of Bemidji.
Brian, a top of the line piper and instructor, was in Ely to perform at a funeral and managed to fit in a workshop for these enthusiasts. They worked on tone quality, better techniques, and practiced some music.
If there are any "would be" pipers out there, they would be welcomed with open arms, whether they are new at it or more advanced. You are invited to join this group, and who knows, maybe Ely Pipes and Drums may come alive again. Dwight or George would be happy to talk to you!
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Ran across some newspaper misprints, thought you might enjoy: Mr & Mrs .....left Thursday on a 10 day trip. Their daughters are starving with relatives.
The General Chairman of the committee has asked members to bring a $2 woman or a man's gift.
The court Monday generally up held an old voting law, but said the provision allowing 8 year olds to vote applied only to federal elections.
Quote of the day I would not want to be a long term politician, but I'd lie to serve one more term.
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Remember the story of the "ultimate husband" last week? .... well that guy didn't learn his lesson. There is an addition. This time he decided to wash bathroom shower and window curtains. Well they were plastic, how could he damage them? Instead of wiping them down as suggested by his wife, he put them in the washer with a large amount of detergent.
How's this for a mental picture within minutes the washer erupted with a mountain of soap suds, then groaned and quit. "Helpful Hurbert" (not his real name) began jumping around, catching the suds as they belched out of the machine as quickly as he could, but nonetheless, he was standing ankle deep in white foam. All of this work was done as in a silent movie, so he could keep his blunder from his wife, upstairs in the house.
Finally the mess was cleaned up and the washer re-started, but this time, it ran only a short time, the motor started to smoke and get hot, and was quickly turned off.
The next step was to have the motor checked, but being Saturday most repairmen are not available, so he took matters into his own hands and began dismantling the machine to find the answer. The hose was completely filled with hardened soap, thereby not allowing proper draining or filling of washer and causing excessive pull on the motor.
This story ends with a sigh of relief, after a good hose cleaning, the machine started easily up and running again. This good hearted husband didn't have to buy a new machine and he decided to stick to dusting furniture and working in the garden. I think he made a good decision!
On a personal note, I understand perfectly what this poor guy went through. My typewriter had a nervous breakdown (it seems quite touchy lately) but with some patience and down home therapy, it is up and running again! You never know what you can fix, even if by accident!
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