Folk Project Hanakwanzamas Party Sat., 12/13, 8pm The Thomas

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1 NEWSLETTER December 2008 Politics & Food: Annual Meeting Reminder All members are encouraged to join us as we review the year past and look to the new year at the Folk Project Annual meeting on Tue., Dec. 2 at 8pm, 7pm for dinner. Instead of at a board member s home as the usual board meetings, we convene at the Chimney Rock Inn, 342 Valley Rd, Gillette, upstairs room. People who want to eat will pay $15 each (cash bar); the FP will pick up the rest you don t have to pay if you re just coming to the meeting part. RSVP to the Mayor of Music Town, Mark Schaffer, president@folkproject.org. Special Event at the Minstrel Fri., Jan.16 : Peter Ostroushko Special Concerts and the Minstrel combine to present Peter Ostroushko, fiddle and mandolin wizard, on Fri., Jan. 16 at 8pm. Peter s credits include ive consecutive appearances on Prairie Home Companion, Austin City Limits, Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, David Letterman and many more. He has recorded more than 100 albums, and produced 15 solo albums. His latest is Peter Joins the Circus. This is a special event at a special price $15 admission. Folk Project Hanakwanzamas Party Sat., 12/13, 8pm The Thomas It s the best party of the year! Bring your voices, instruments and FOOD AND/OR DRINK TO SHARE (it s a pot luck, not just munchies) to the home of Rick & Cathy Thomas, 12 Upper Warren Way, Warren. (908) Directions: Interstate 78 to Exit 40. Go North, Toward Gillette, on Hillcrest Rd for ~3/4 Mile to flock of red blinking traffic lights. Make the Sharpest LEFT turn at the Lights onto Mountain Ave. Turn LEFT again after 1 Long Block onto Edmunds Dr. Sign also says Wolf Hill Drive. Go 1 SHORT Block and Turn RIGHT onto Wolf Hill Drive. Go to the end of Wolf Hill Drive and turn LEFT onto Upper Warren Way at the T. # 12 Upper Warren Way is the fifth house on the left of the road, with a yellow cat-crossing sign under a black mailbox. A kinda gentle reminder from Jean, your Folk Project Party Maven: Friends, please remember that the people hosting the Evening o' Music are not expected to furnish food and drink enough to satisfy the ravening hordes of folk locusts that show up to their homes; that's YOUR job! If you're not sure what to bring, just follow Miss Manners' rule of enough food or drink for 6 to 8 people as being a reasonable amount; i.e., a pan of brownies, a casserole, bag of chips, a six-pack or bottle of wine. And as a courtesy to the hosts, be sure your Official Folkie 45-Minute (Minimum) Ritual of Leave-Taking includes asking the hosts if they need help cleaning up or if they want you to take food home with you, so they don't have to deal with leftovers.

2 The Minstrel Coffeehouse December 2008 presented by Dec. 5: Chorus Song Night featuring Greg Greenway, Christine DeLeon, Margaret Crowl, and Mike Agranoff A night of songs for the audience to sing. Old favorites, new favorites, gospel, doo-wop, drinking songs, sea chanteys, rounds, what have you. Rediscover the joy of singing with others, which has been largely lost in modern society where we have electronic devices to do our singing for us. You probably already know most of these songs, and if not, you will find yourself picking them up instantly. Our panel features performers with repertoires that inspire others to sing, some well known in the Greater Folk World, and some part of our own Folk Project family. Dec. 12: Open Stage Our almost-monthly opportunity for you to take to our stage. We provide this service to the local acoustic music community, Folk Project members and non-members to perform a 15- minute set of music. The music is diverse and often surprising. Visit for information on how to sign up to perform. Dec. 19: Closed It just gets too crazy the week before Christmas. Shows at 8:00pm Dec. 26: Dave Kleiner & Liz Pagan and Eddy & Kim Lawrence We close out the year with a couple of Folk Project couples. DAVE KLEINER was a founding member of the organization. Together with his wife LIZ PAGAN, he presents a highly entertaining mix of his own clever and well crafted songs and some obscure gems written by his contemporaries in the folk and pop fields. He is a very classy guitarist, and Liz adds vocal harmonies and just enough sanity to keep the pair grounded within reach of reality. Bill Meyer will be joining them on bass, and they inevitably draw upon the vast talent pool of the Project for additional vocal and instrumental backup. It looks to be a great show. Our opener, EDDY LAWRENCE, was also a Folk Project member some 15 years ago before he moved to upstate New York. He, too, writes clever and funny songs involving interesting characters, unlikely stories, and sometimes plain silliness, accompanied by his blazing flat-picking guitar work and his wife KIM S harmonies and bass. UPCOMING: Jan. 2: JOE CROOKSTON; Jan. 16: A Folk Project Special Concert featuring mandolin wizard PETER OSTROUSHKO; Jan. 23: The amazing voice of ANNE HILLS; Jan. 30: PETER FISCHMAN & DEB O HANLON; Feb. 6: Astounding young fiddler JEREMY KITTEL AND HIS BAND..AN AGRANOFF IMPERATIVE; Feb. 13: The Folk Project VALENTINES DAY SHOW; Feb. 20: ILLEGAL CONTRABAND; Feb. 27: David Massengill & Jack Hardy are THE FOLK BROTHERS; Mar. 6: Maritime singer CHARLIE ZAHM; Mar. 20: Classic songwriter MICHAEL SMITH; Mar 27: Folk Project favorites CINDY MANGSEN & STEVE GILLETTE The Minstrel is an acoustic music concert series run by the Folk Project, a non-profit folk music and arts organization. We use the facilities of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ. We hold shows almost every Friday, year round, and the second Friday of the month is usually an open stage/audition night. The music we present is "folk" music in its broadest sense. That is, in addition to traditional American and ethnic "folk" music (in its purist definition), we welcome music of contemporary, primarily acoustic songwriters, and other types of music more folkie in attitude than in content. Shows start at 8:00 PM; dress is casual. We serve coffee, teas, and baked goods. There is no alcohol or tobacco on the premises. Admission is inexpensive; on our regular Friday concerts we ask $7.00 on your way in, and, if you feel the show was worth it, an additional amount at your discretion on the way out, which goes to supplement what we pay the feature performer. For travel information, or information on shows call or visit our website at To volunteer call Sandie at (908) volunteers@folkproject.org Members Gigs & Friends Jennie Avila: Fri., 12/5: Teen Songwriting Workshop Ages 13-19, 6:30p, Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD. Preregister (301) or: Jim King: Sun., 12/14, 3pm; with the Hunterdon Choral Union and the Hunterdon Symphony, Handel s Messiah. Clinton Presbyterian Church, Clinton. (908) Dave Kleiner and Liz Pagan: Fri., 12/26: look to the left-hand page. We ll be recording the show.; Wed., 12/10: 7pm, live set opening for Woodsongs Concerts movie. Bellevue Theatre, 260 Bellevue Ave., Upper Montclair. daveythek@aol.com for more info. YOGA WITH LIZ: Six sessions: Sat., Jan. 10, 17, 24, 31; Feb. 7, 28, at Morrow Memorial Church, 600 Ridgewood Rd., Maplewood. 9 10am: Beginners/Level 1, $72; 10:15-11:45am: continuing/intermediate, $84. Call Studio Yoga to register, (973) NEW PUBLICATION Lou & Peter s BigSongbook Almost 300 pages long, and a full 1 thick, with slightly larger chipboard front and back covers, the title hand-stamped, all protected front and back by acetate sheet covers. Sturdy spiral binding for convenient lay-flat use. Contains 197 songs with notated melody and complete lyrics, plus illustrations and comments with upgraded versions of our 1989 and 1996 songbooks, The last section of the book contains everything written since 1996, including a few songs which have never been recorded, all newly laid out and illustrated. It IS big: 2 pounds 6 ounces! $35 plus shipping, $3 media rate (delivered 6 days); $9 priority (2 3 days). WI Residents 5%. We ll put photos and sample pages of the book on our website when we get em, but in the meantime, you can take our word for it that it s beee-oooo-ti-ful!! Order now, via , snail mail, Berryman, Box 3400, Madison WI or(608) More info at: Sing None of It! Is a folksy non-commercial public access TV series featuring a surprising variety of guest performers, hosted by Ralph Litwin. All types of (mainly acoustic) music, storytellers, dancers, others. Schedule available at the Folk Project web page. Seen on: Cablevision Morris area, Sundays 7:300pm ch. 21; Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), New York City, Thursdays 2:30pm on Time/Warner Cable ch. 34 and on RCN Cable ch. 82; also broadcast via streaming video on the web at (popup players 34/82 http mms); Comcast (formerly Patriot Media/Somerset, NJ) Fridays 3:30pm, ch. 280; Comcast Cablevision of Northwest NJ, Mondays 3:30pm ch. 21; Service Electric Cable TV Allentown, PA, Thursdays 9:30pm ch. 50; Staten Island Community TV (SICTV) Saturdays 6pm, ch. 34; Fargo Access ( on Cable One Fridays 6:30pm & Mondays 3:00pm Ch. 12 in Fargo, ND; LVTV-3, Adelphia Cable, La Verne, CA at Fridays 6:00pm 3

3 4 All Venues That s Fit To Print Albert Hall/Sounds of the NJ Pines: Country/bluegrass/folk every Saturday. 125 Wells Mills Rd. (Route 532), Waretown. (609) or Acoustic Café: Our Lady of Mercy Church, 2 Fremont Ave, Park Ridge, NJ, 8pm, (201) , Coming Jan. 17: Modern Man Borderline Folk Music House Club: House concerts, contact Sol Zeller (845) , Wed., 12/12: Steve Suffet, Anne Price 2pm Bluegrass & Old Time Music Assoc. (BOTMA): Every 3rd Sun. from Sept. thru May, Embury United Methodist Church Hall, 49 Church St., Little Silver, NJ. 1-5pm. $4 for BOTMA members / $5 for non-members. Info : Café Z: Third Saturdays: open mic, 7pm concert. $5 inc. refreshments, Zion Lutheran Church, corner of Elm and Esterbrook Aves., Rahway. (732) ; Sat., 12/20: Annual All Open Mike Extravaganza Chantey Sing: Seamen s Church Institute, 241 Water St., 2nd fl., NYC 8pm. Coffee With Conscience: 1st United Methodist Church of Westfield, 1 E. Broad St. 8pm info , Concerts4Causes@aol.com; Sat., 12/13: Cheryl Wheeler Community Theater at Mayo Center for Performing Arts: 100 South St., Morristown, NJ, for tickets/info call , shows at 8pm Crossroads Coffeehouse: 8pm, Crossroads Community Church, 104 Bartley Rd., Flanders. (973) or (908) ; Delaware River Folksong Fellowship: Song circle the 2nd Sunday at the Friends Meeting House in Mount Holly, NJ, Dull Music: Folk Friday in Maplewood: Informal 2nd Fri. sing-along session for all ages. Starts 7:30pm, hosted by Lisa Novemsky. Ethical Culture Center, 516 Prospect St., Maplewood. Call (973) to confirm date, for directions Godfrey Daniels: 7 E. 4th St., Bethlehem, PA (610) , Good Coffeehouse: 53 Prospect Park W. at 2nd St., Park Slope, Brooklyn, doors open at 7:30, music at 8pm, (718) or events/coffeehouse; Fri., 12/15: Bev Grant and the Dissident Daughters; 12/12: Pat Wictor w/ Cheryl Prashker Hand Made Music: Open mic 3rd Saturday, The Community Presbyterian Church, 145 Carletondale Road, Ringwood, jim1962@verizon.net; On Hiatus The Hillside Cafe Coffee House: 45 Hillside Crescent, Nutley. Doors open at 7:30, show at 8pm. (973) or jrlds@comcast.net, Sun., 12/21: doorjam songs for Advent & Christmas 4pm, free-will offering to the church inc. supper afterwards Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club: Fair Lawn Community Center, th St., Fair Lawn 8pm. (201) Sat., 12/6: Work o the Weavers, John McKay MoFiddles/Menzel Violins: 4260 Town Center Way, Livingston, NJ, Bluegrass & Old Time Music Jam 1st Thursdays 7pm, RSVP to (973) or mo@mofiddles.com, $12; Thurs., 12/4: Marty Cutler & Kenny Kosek banjo/fiddle duets Music Showcase: Monthly, at Luna Stage, Bloomfield Ave., Montclair. info:michael@something-artsy.com. 6:30pm; NEWIndie Music at the Mission: West Milford Presbyterian Church, 1452 Union Valley Rd., West Milford, (973) , Sat., 12/13: Steve Forbert Outpost In The Burbs: at the Unitarian Church of Montclair, 67 Church St., Montclair (973) Doors open 8pm, concert at 8:30. Next concert; Fri., 12/5: Jimmy Webb People s Voice Cafe: Workmen s Circle Building, 45 E. 33rd St., btwn. Park & Madison, NYC, 8pm, or (212) ; Sat., 12/6: Charlie King & Karen Brandow; Sat., 12/13: The Folk Brothers (Jack Hardy & David Massengill) Pinewoods Folk Music Club: 444 W. 54th St., #7, New York, NY 10019, (718) , The Place: House Concerts, RSVP to jamask8@comcast.net or (973) for info; Sun., 12/7: Gathering Time Princeton Folk Music Society: Christ Congregation Church, 50 Walnut Lane, Princeton, 8pm, (609) $15/Members $10/$3 kids under Fri., 12/12: Don White Sacred Harp Singings: Much info at 2nd Sun.: 2pm, St. Paul s Church, 199 Carroll St, Brooklyn. (718) ; 3rd Sun.: 2:30pm, St. Bart s Church, 109 E. 50th St., NYC. (212) ; 4th Sun. (except July & August): 2pm, Montclair Friends Mtg, Park & Gordonhurst. (973) ; 1st Sat. (except July/August): 3pm, Living Room, 154 Ludlow St., NYC Sanctuary Concerts: The Presbyterian Church, 240 Southern Boulevard, Chatham. Most concerts 8pm, Sat., 12/6: Seldom Scene, Steve Lutke/ Appalachian Uprising Second Saturdays Coffee House/Open Mic: Summit Unitarian Church, 4 Waldron Ave. Sign up at 7:30pm, shows at 8pm. If you are a singer/songwriter & would like to host one, call (908) Concerts4Causes@aol.com; Sat., 12/13 Second Saturday Music Cafe: (formerly Mine Street), First Reformed Church, 9 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ, , Sat., 12/13: Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues South Street Seaport Sea Music Concerts: South Street Seaport Gallery, 3pm, NYC. (212) Stony Brook Friends of Old Time Music Jam: Mannion s Pub & Restaurant, 140 West Main Street, Somerville. Starting around 7:30pm. (609) or visit 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month Sunday Night Music Club: The Uptown Coffeehouse: Soc. for Ethical Culture, 4450 Fieldston Rd., Bronx, NY, 5pm, $15/$3 kids <12. (718) ; Sun., 12/7: Karen Savoca with Pete Heitzman Walkabout Clearwater Coffeehouse: United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Ave., White Plains, (914) ,.WalkaboutClearwater.org; Sat., 12/13: Peggy Seeger, Peter Siegel Watchung Arts Center: Powerful Women of Song Series, Watchung Arts Center, 18 Sterling Road (on the Watchung Circle) Watchung, NJ, 8pm, (908) ; Sat., 12/13: The Improvables 8pm. Sun., 12/14: Beacon Hill Jazz Band 3pm; Sat., 12/20: Tomika Ono (jazz) 8pm NEW Suburban Roots Concert Series: The Claddagh, 297 Bay Ave., Highlands, 7pm, (732) ; Lotsa Jams listed at 5

4 Breaking News... Spring Festival Performers Announced! For our first full festival at Star Lake on April , the Festival Committee proudly announces: Small Potatoes, a Minstrel favorite, the duo of Jacquie Manning and Rich Prezioso, from Chicago, playing from Celtic to Cowboy. They call themselves eclecto-maniacs, and, boy, are they right! Harvey Reid, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and a giant of the steel strings. 20 recordings on Woodpecker Records, a master performer on guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo, and autoharp. One of the true treasures of American acoustic music, according to Acoustic Guitar Magazine. The Dave Rowe Trio, Maine-based trio with rich harmonies, lyrical fiddle melodies, and a songbag full of original songs, traditional material. A certain bluegrass flavor, with more than a dash of the Maritimes thrown in, says Sing Out! FP performers at Spring Festival will be announced in the next newsletter. Folk Project Spring 2009 Festival April 17 19, 2009 Star Lake Camp, Bloomingdale, NJ All Tuned Up and No Place to Go? On December 19, there is no Minstrel Coffeehouse. Not to worry. Margaret Crowl is having an Un-Minstrel party at her house in Somerset that evening. Please contact Margaret for details, directions, etc. MaggieNJ42@aol.com or Tern Swings! on Jan. 31 A Swing Concert for listeners and a Swing Dance for dancers In January, we have a rare 5th Saturday, so Swingin Tern and Special Concerts are partnering to present Tern Swings!, a swing dance and listening event with Reeds, Rhythm & All That Brass, an 18-piece jazz-swing band in the classic mode of Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman. There will be chairs set up for sitting and listening, and the Ogden Memorial dance floor for movin n grooving. Performing with the band will be FP favorites Jeff Rantzer, Hen3ry Nerenberg, Ev Simpson and Jay Wilensky. Plus a dance class from Swinging with Simone will present a swing dance routine to The Jersey Bounce (by Myron C. Bradshaw, Edward Johnson and Bobby Plater; lyrics by Buddy Feyne who used the nom de plume Robert B. Wright as this song was written during an ASCAP strike; first recorded by Bennie Goodman and later by sella Fitzgerald) 8pm at Ogden Memorial Church, Chatham, $15/advance, $20/door. 7

5 FP Calendar: December /Mon. 2/Tue. 3/Wed. EVERY Monday: Maplewood International Dancers, 7:30pm. New location: Recreation House, 124 Dunnellen Road. (973) EVERY 1st & 3rd Tuesday: Stony Brook Friends of Old Time Music Jam, 7:30pm, Mannion s Somerville. EVERY Tuesday: Northwest NJ Acoustic Jam, 7pm, Westside United Methodist Church, Hopatcong. (973) EVERY Wednesday, Straight Morning Drive, featuring Straight Drive 15 minutes after the 7:30am station break. 6 9am, WDVR-FM and EVERY Wed.: Morristown Int l Dancers, 7:30pm, Mountain Lakes. (973) EVERY Wednesday: Princeton Country Dancers, 8pm, Suzanne Patterson center, Princeton. (609) , EVERY Wednesday: Down Jersey with Jim Albertson, 7:30pm, WSNJ am1240, am1440 and 4/Thurs. Alternate Thursdays: Scandinavian couple dancing, 7:30 pm, Bound Brook. See skandinoje.org for dates/info. MoFiddles at Menzel Violins: Marty Cutler & Kenny Kosek, 7pm, Livingston. (973) /Fri. 6/Sat. 7/Sun. 9/Tue. Minstrel: Chorus Song Night with Greg Greenway, Margaret Crowl, Christine DeLeon and Mike Agranoff Outpost in the Burbs: Jimmy Webb, 8pm, Montclair. Swingin Tern: Tori Barone/Avant Gardeners EVERY Saturday: The Guitards (Tom Picard and Gary O'Neill), 3p, A Taste of Portugal, 44 E. Cherry St., Rahway. Hurdy Gurdy: Work o th Weavers, John McKay, 8pm, Paramus. (201) Sanctuary Concerts: The Seldom Scene, Steve Lutke/Appalachian Uprising, 8pm, Chatham. Dark Star Orchestra, 7pm, William Paterson University. Watchung Arts Center: Anais Mitchell, 8pm, Watchung. (908) People s Voice Cafe: Charlie King, Karen Brandlow, 8pm, NYC. (212) Roxbury Arts Alliance: A Christmas Carol, 11am/4pm, Roxbury. or (201) EVERY Sun.: Music You Can t Hear On The Radio, 7pm, WPRB 103.3FM; The Place House Concert: Gathering Time, 3pm potluck, 4pm concert. RSVP (973) or jamask8@comcast.net. Uptown Coffeehouse: Karen Savoca with Pete Heitzman, 5pm, The Bronx. FP Board Meeting: 7pm dinner, 8pm meeting, Chimney Rock Inn, 342 Valley Rd., Gillette. RSVP to Mark for dinner, president@folkproject.org 10/Wed. Dave Kleiner & Liz Pagan, 7pm, Bellevue Theatre, Montclair Wed./10 Dave Kleiner and Liz Pagan, opening set for Woodsongs Concert movie, 7pm, Bellevue Theatre, Upper Montclair. daveythek@aol.com for info. 11/Thurs.NJ Songwriters Circle monthly meeting, 7pm, Dave Kleiner s. (973) /Fri. Minstrel: Open Stage Good Coffeehouse: Bev Grant & the Dissident Daughter, Friction Farm, 8pm, Brooklyn. (718) , Shea Center for the PErforming Arts, Wm. Patterson University., (973) or Good Coffeehouse: Pat Wictor, Cheryl Prashker, 8pm, Brooklyn. (718) Borderline Folk Music Club: Steve Suffet, Anne Price, 2pm, New City, NY. (845) Princeton FMS: Don White, 8pm, Princeton. (609) /Sat. FP Holiday Party; The Thomas, 8pm 12 Upper Warren Way, Warren. (908) A pot luck (bring more than munchies) Second Saturday Coffee House: open mic, 8pm, Summit. (908) Second Saturday Music Cafe (formerly Mine Street): Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues, New Brunswick; ; Music at the Mission: Steve Forbert. 8pm, West Milford. (800) Coffee with Conscience: Cheryl Wheeler, 8pm, Westfield. (908) Watchung Arts Center: The Improvables (family performance), 8pm, Watchung. (908) People s Voice Cafe: The Folk Brothers (Jack Hardy, David Massengill), Karen Brandlow, 8pm, NYC. (212) /Sun. Sacred Harp Singing, 2pm, Brooklyn. (718) Hunterdon Choral Union (inc. Jim King) and the Hunterdon Symphony Handel s Messiah, 3pm, Clinton. (908) 713) 1360 Watchung Arts Center: Beacon Hill Hazz Band, 3pm, Watchung. (908) North Jersey English Country Dancers, caller Mary Jones, 2pm, Ridgewood. (201) /Mon. Newsletter deadline. Send stuff to newsletter@folkproject.org 19/Fri. Minstrel: Closed 21/Sun. Sacred Harp Singing, 2pm, St. Bart s Church, NYC, (212) /Sat. Swingin Tern: New Callers Graduation Night/Squeezology Café Z: Annual All Open Mike Extravaganza, 7pm, Rahway. (732) Watchung Arts Center: Tomoko Ohno (jazz), 8pm, Watchung. (908) /Sun. Hillside Café: doorjam songs for Advent & Christmas, 4pm, Nutley. (973) /Thurs. First Annual Rockwood Park Jew-Jam, 6pm, Howard Beach, NY. info: BobRosensweet@Optonline.net 26/Fri. Minstrel: Dave Kleiner & Liz Pagan, Eddie & Kim Lawrence 28/Sun. Sacred Harp Sing, 2pm, Montclair Friends Meeting. (973) North Jersey English Country Dancers, caller Tom Arnesse, 2pm, Ridgewood. (201) /Wed. Swingin Tern: New Years Dance: Susan Taylor/Raise the Roof

6 Where's a good place for Jewish Folkies to go on December 25th? First Annual Rockwood Park Jew-Jam! Thursday night Chanukah candle lighting at 6:30pm. Program from 7 'til 9 features Californiabased folksinger Mark Levy with eclectic Jewish folk music and holiday songs. Price of $18 includes entertainment and a glatt kosher buffet meal by Crown Royale Catering. There's also a cash bar. Jamming to follow with Rabbi Harry Berkowitz on keyboard leading the Jew-Jam ensemble. Rockwood Park Jewish Center, th Street, Howard Beach, NY. Info: BobRosensweet@Optonline.net Dark Star Orchestra Rex Caravan East Tour Sat., 12/6, Shea Center for the Performing Arts, William Paterson University Giving homage in a continually evolving artistic outlet, the Dark Star Orchestra recreates historic Grateful Dead set lists with compelling accuracy. Each night, the Chicago-based band decides on performing one show from the over 2,500 that the Grateful Dead originally performed during their 30 year tenure as fathers of improvisational rock. Box office: (973) , Roxbury Arts Alliance: A Christmas Carol Sat., 12/6, 11am/4pm Roxbury High School Musical version performed by the Yates Musical Theatre For Children. Info: or (201) Pelvis Partial Page by Pelvis Burlapp Wow! Isn t great to be alive during such an exciting time? I m talking about 7:34. It only happens twice a day, and yet it seems new every time. OK, now it s 7:35. Cool. Burlapp s Bagg I was wondering what to wear to the holiday parties this year. Are jeans still hip? How about the Mormon look? Do brown shoes make it? Is fur OK if the animal was found in your driveway?when will acne be back in style? Where do folkies find those retro clothes? Fanny packs: accessory or ironic statement? Please fill me in, Pelvis! Fashionably Late Dear Fashionably Late: This letter was so obviously a plant by the writer of this column that I won t honor it with a reply. If only real people would send real questions to pburlapp@aol.com, then we could have an honest exchange of opinions! December Tidbits Real December Holidays: Dec. 6: National Gazpacho Day and Mitten Tree Day (WOW! Two-for-one!) Dec. 11: National Noodle Ring Day (call your favorite linguini) Dec. 13: Ice Cream and Violins Day (which should I eat first?) Dec. 27: National Whiners Day (What? Again?) To see more bizarre holidays go to Join the Folk Project Cut out this handy dandy membership form and mail it, with your membership fee, to Pat Rolston, membership@folkproject.org or 50 Wesley Place Box 120, Mount Tabor, NJ (973) Choose at least one: New Renew Doo be doo Name Address Home Tel. Work Tel. E mail 1: E mail 2: Do you play or sing music: [ ] For fun [ ] Occasionally perform in public [ ] Professionally or semi-professionally Basic Individual $20/year $ (You ll receive this personal monthly newsletter.) Supporting $25/year $ (Personal monthly newsletter PLUS our eternal gratitude) Family membership* $ (Additional family $3 each per year) Multiple Year Membership $ number of banjo-tossing years X type of membership. You do the math. DONATION to Folk Project (Tax deductible! We are also eligible for Corporate Matching Donations and banjos.) $ NEW! Please check one: Total amount enclosed: I d like to receive a print newsletter $ I d like to save trees and receive an Enewsletter Make your check payable to: The Folk Project *Family membership is one basic or supporting membership plus $3 for each additional family member/banjo. Please list the names of additional family members: Words of the Weak As this tumultuous year winds down to its comatose end, let s reflect on the wonderful things we ate, the lovely scabs we pried from our aging bodies, the important things we forgot, the unimportant things we worry about, the meaninglessness of the braille signs at the parkway tollbooth, and the good fortune we share as members of this fine and furry community we call folk

7 Folk Project Board Meeting November 2008: Board Meeting: The Summary On Tuesday, 11/11, The Directors of the Folk Project met at the Morristown home of Chris Riemer. Present were Lois DeRitter, Scooter Ferguson, Jim Gartner, Ed Roffman, Bobbie Rosengarten, Mark Schaffer and Ruth Wolfish (Trustees), Mike Agranoff, Connie Crawford, Lori Falco, Andy Koenig, Elizabeth Lachowicz, George Otto, Liz Pagan, Sandie Reilly, Chris Riemer, Pam Robinson, Pat Rolston, Jean Scully and Bob Safranek (Other Board Members) and Alan Kugel, Ken Rolston, Judy Bubar and Scully the Wonder Dog (Guests). Absent were Jim King, Evelyn Maurer, Brad Pryor, Rick Thomas and Rivka Willick. We made no decisions of note this evening, but did discuss some items of business. Mark Schaffer reported that attendance has been very disappointing at the Woodsongs Concerts, which feature a live local performer as an opening act for a filmed concert on the big screen. An eight-week pilot has been running locally at the Clearview Cinema in Hackettstown. We ve been helping book the local acts, since as a vehicle to promote the Project, and a way to get some gigs for our members, it seemed like a good idea. However, with only a handful of people in the audience so far, we ll probably discontinue our involvement. Mike Agranoff will be making a number of changes in coffeehouse management, one of which will be to drop the word coffeehouse from the name. From now on, we re calling it simply The Minstrel. In other news, we heard that: The Minstrel had a decent month in October, with an average attendance of 82.8 for regular shows and 70 including Open Stages. Mike has also observed a general decline in the number of performers and the size of the audience at Open Stage. The rent will be going up shortly, and a price increase may be in the offing. Subscriptions to the enewsletter are holding at about 100. There have been a few new sign-ups, but also a few reversions, with people asking to go back to paper. People who are renewing on paper are opting to stay with paper. The champions of this initiative feel it s the right move for many reasons, and will keep promoting it in the months ahead. The newsletter deadline (which remains the 15th of each month) will be strictly enforced from this point forward. If copy that s expected fails to arrive on time, the editor will run a blank space with the guilty party s name and telephone number. Swingin Tern s Facebook page seems to be attracting younger dancers, and the Caller Workshop series has been a great success. Thanks to Bob Isaacs for putting the workshops together. In January, there will be two Special Concert events. A Special Concert at The Minstrel featuring fiddle and mandolin wizard Peter Ostroushko, and a dance and listening event (co-sponsored by Swingin Tern) with Reeds, Rhythm & All That Brass. Planning is underway for Spring Festival 09, which will feature Small Potatoes, Harvey Reid and the Dave Rowe Trio. The committee has decided not to cut back quite so sharply on scholarships, but the details are still TBD. See next page for Good of the Order. GOOD OF THE ORDER/COMMUNITY NEWS This is a place to share news about memorable events and challenges you have faced in the past month with your Folk Project Community. Please send details for inclusion in this column to Eddie Roffman, eroffman@optonline.net. Pam Robinson says thanks for all of the help, support, caring and get well cards that she received as she recovered from her recent surgery. We were glad to see her looking good and feeling better at the November FP board meeting. With software support from her nephew Cody, Pam has been developing a Facebook page, and using it to publicize FP activities. Siobhan Scully s marching band recently placed 4th overall in the Northeast Regional High School Marching Band Competition in Allentown. Siobhan recently celebrated her (sweet) sixteenth birthday. Her mom, Jean, is preparing for Siobhan s next rite of passage: getting her driving permit! Andy Koenig performed a concert with the Early Music Players at the St. Francis Residence in Denville. During this concert he set aside his electric clarinet, to play an excellent guitar solo. Thomas Lachowicz is succeeding at boarding school in Missouri. He looks terrific in his dress uniform! He appreciates the cards and letters from Folk Project friends. FP members can ask his mom, Elizabeth, for his address. Please be sure to send cards for his 13th birthday, coming up on December 8. Connie Crawford s brother is taking a 2 month leave of absence from his job for an amazing adventure, crewing on a sailing yacht from France to the Caribbean. They recently left the Mediterranean Sea, passing through the Straits of Gibraltar and are now crossing the Atlantic. What a trip! Sandie Reilly is finishing up her season of mountain bike competition. Cloaked in sweat, blood, dirt and enthusiasm she has progressed through the season, taking 3rd place in her racing class. Enjoy details of her experiences on her blog at: Rebekah Nerenberg, daughter of longtime FP members Henry and Carol celebrated her Bat Mitzvah in early November. She did an amazing job, leading a 2 hour service in Hebrew and English. Henry composed and sang a beautiful choral setting for the ancient Priestly Blessing that was part of the service. Mark Schaffer emceed for the recent Chad and Jeremy concert in Chatham. He remembers listening to their music on his first date with his first girlfriend. Mark and Frank Sole recently toured the Blue Ridge Mountains. He and Robin shared a vacation fall vacation weekend with Eitan and Karen Grunwald. He and Robin spent another long weekend in Ashville, catching up with old Folk Project friends living in the area. Do you have an item to share? Send details of your significant events, interesting experiences or other news to share for inclusion in next month s FP Good of the Order to: eroffman@optonline.net Winter Weekend 2009 Theme o the Year: Fiddling While Rome Burns We have a date: Fri. Sun. Feb We have a place: Somewhere in lower upstate New York Thirty ODD folkies convene at a private home to share food, chitchat, music and communal vibes. Registration limited to 25 on site; day trippers welcome. Contact lizpagan@verizon.net (or (973) , days or before 8pm) to register or for more details

8 Feets Don t Fail Me Now! Blue Ribbon Cloggers: Meets in Pluckemin, Tuesdays, 7pm. Call Paula Fromen (908) or Heidi Rusch (908) for info. Center Contra: Gender-role free contra dance in NYC. LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th St., Room 301, 7:30pm. Usually 2nd Fri. Open to all. (971) , (347) , or or AmericanFolkDanceNYC@yahoo.com Country Dance*New York: dances every Saturday, English country dance every Tuesday, at the Church of the Village, 201 West 13th St. and 7th Ave., NYC. Soft soled shoes only. (212) ; Sun., 12/7: Yuletide Cotillion 3pm; Sat., 12/20: Winter Solstice Party 7:30pm see web site for details. Lambertville Country Dancers: Soft soled shoes only! Contra/English country. Info: (609) or Maplewood International Dancers: New location: Recreation House, 124 Dunnellen Rd., Maplewood. Mondays 7:30pm, $5. Beginners welcome, partner not necessary, refreshments served. Days (908) , eves (973) Morristown International Dancers: Wednesdays, Mountain Lakes Comm. Church, 48 Briarcliff Rd, 8:30pm, 7:30pm beginners. $4 member/$5 non-member (973) or (973) , North Jersey English Country Dancers: 2-5pm, Unitarian Church, Cottage Place, Ridgewood, potluck, $8/members, $10/non-mem. (201) , (201) /14: Mary Jones Calls; 12/28: Tom Arnesse calls Palisades Folk Dancers: Twice a month on Sundays, 3pm, Church of the Atonement, Engle St. & Highland Ave., Tenafly. GinnyandHallB@cs.com. Philly Family Folk Dances: Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd, 3820 The Oak Rd, East Falls, PA. 2nd Sundays, 2-4:30pm (215) Princeton Folk Dance Group: 7:30pm, Riverside School, Riverside Drive, Princeton. Tuesdays (except school closings) (609) Princeton Folk Dancers: 8pm Fridays, Susan Patterson Center, Stockton St. & Monument Dr. (behind Borough Hall), Princeton, Princeton Country Dancers: Suzanne Patterson Center, Borough Hall, Princeton, Wed. (and some Saturdays) 8pm, beginners 7:40. Pickup band musicians welcome. Usually $6. (609) or (609) , pcdinfo@aol.com. Band info only: (609) or srl@mail.princeton.edu performerlisting at Special Community Dance, PCD English Country Dance series: Dance 8-11, intro/basics at 7:30. $8 ($4 seniors & students). Call for info. Scandinavian Folk Dancing: Bound Brook. Alt. Thursdays, See skandinoje.org for info. Swingin Tern: Sat., 12/6: Tori Barone & Avant Gardeners; Sat., 12/20: New Callers Graduation Night & Squeezology; Wed., 12/31: New Year s Eve dance with Susan Taylor & Raise the Roof Valley Contra Dance Society: 7pm, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, UU Church of The Lehigh Valley, 424 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA. $9/$5 students. (610) ; 12/13: Diane Hartzel/Cantabile; 12/27: Chris Page/TBA More on dancing at the Country Dance and Song Society Sat., Dec. 6: Tori Barone & Avant Gardeners Laura Light fiddle; George Paul piano, accordion; Dave Weisler keyboards, guitar; Dan Sebring guitar The Avant Gardeners make hey while the sun shines. Always on the cutting edge, they scythe scores of ripe riffs. Accordion to the Farmer s Almanac, expect a bumper crop of hot tunes and tasty licks. Bloomin Barone harvests a cornucopia of contras, sowing swings and reaping rapture. Sat., Dec. 20: New Callers Graduation Night & Squeezology Jody Kruskal Anglo concertina, percussion; Sam Zygmuntowicz fiddle; Marnen Laibow-Koser piano, viola; Bob Jones bass After-Dance Holiday Party at Doug & Brian s Directions will be at the dance. Don t know much about Squeezology Don t know much about contradance Don t know much about a hey for four Don t know much about a music score. But I do know Bob taught his students well And their contra calls will be swell What a wonderful world this will be. Wed., Dec.: 31, 2008: New Year s Eve Susan Taylor & Raise the Roof Dance in the New Year with Swingin Tern from 8pm to 1am. pot luck at 6:30pm.Contras, squares and couple dances. $20 if purchased by 12/24; $25 at the door. See page 7. 1/3: 25th Anniversary Dance, FP caller/grand Picnic; 1/17: Jeff Walker, Walker Famil Band Non-dancing children must be supervised at all times. Beginner s workshop, 7:30pm; dance at 8pm. $10, $5 with student I.D. Soft soles only. Presented by the Folk Project. Ogden Memorial Church, Chatham Contra and Square Dancing to live music. All dances taught. No partner necessary. Located on Rte. 124 (Main St.) in downtown Chatham, northern NJ. From NJTP (exit 14) or GSP (exit 142), take Rte. 78 West to exit 48. Take Rte. 24 West to exit 7A (Chatham) onto Rte. 124 which is Main St. Ogden Memorial on right just after 4th light, across from Bean Curd Restaurant. Use Elmwood entrance. From Rte. 287 (exit 35) take Rte. 124 East 6 miles into Chatham. Ogden Memorial on left just before 1st downtown light. By train: Morristown line to Chatham station, go 1 block north. (973) or (973) or Folk Phone, (973) TERN ON THE NET! find us at dance.folkproject.org 15

9 Box 41 Mendham, NJ Newsletter submissions: Liz Pagan 32 Williamson Ave., Bloomfield NJ 07003; deadline is the 15th Address corrections and changes: Pat Rolston 50 Wesley Place Box 120, Mount Tabor, NJ (973) Folk Project Officers: President: Mark Schaffer Vice President: Evelyn Maurer Secretary: Rick Thomas Treasurer: Chris Riemer Trustees: Through 2008: Lois DeRitter, Bobbie Rosengarten, Jim Gartner Through 2009: Scooter Ferguson, Ruth Wolfish, Jim West Through 2010: Jim King, Ed Roffman, Mark Schaffer