The Greentown Grapevine – 2001-01, 08:01

              ' " a paper for the people" January 2001
Public Meeting
Called
A public meeting will be held
Tuesday, January 16, 2001, at 7: 00
p. m. in the Greentown City Building to
discuss a recommendation from- the
Greentown Main Street Association
that the firm of Bernardin, Loclunueller
& Associates, Inc. be contracted to
perform the task in developing a
Comprehensive Plan and Zoning
Ordinance Update for the Town of
Greentown. The fm has given an
initial bid of $ 1 1,789.00 for the Zoning
Update and $ 22,959.00 for the
Comprehensive Plan, for a total of
$ 34,748.00.
The scope of updating the zoning
ordinance is primarily to meet current
State statues in order to fend off
possible legal challenges to its validity.
Secondarily the update will address
obsolete or key missing provisions ( on
and off premises signs, off- street
parking per the American Disabilities
Act, rudimentary landscaping
provisions, and the option for
" use/ development agreements" for
difficult rezoning cases) in order to
ensure a more effective and enforceable
zoning ordinance.
The comprehensive plan is to cover
the incorporated area of Greentown as
well as the two- mile fringe because
most small communities grow through
annexation of surrounding areas and
provide sewer and water utilities to
such areas.
Grapevine Has
Another Birthday -
The Greentown Grapevine is now
seven years old, beginning its eighth
year of service to the Greentown
community. Begun January 1994 in a
" newsletter" format, it quickly found a
niche and grew into a newspaper.
As the slogan " a paper for the people"
says, its existence is by and for the
people of eastern Howard County and
those who care about this area. The
original purpdse of providing a vehicle
For advertisers and a channel of
information on events and issues has
been followed by those responsible for
the paper.
The staff wishes all our readers a
Happy New Year and welcomes your
suggestions on any changes you would
like and comments on favorite features.
Eastern Schools Dedicate
Performing; Arts Center
A Dedication Program preceded the
Premiere Performances of the new
Eastern Howard Performing Arts
Center on December 3, 2000. The
facility adjoins the High School
milding on the northwest corner. It
includes an 806 seat auditorium with
itage and orchestra pit. It also boasts a
: hoir room, practice rooms, both for
~ ndividual instruments and, dance
~ oups, a preparation room for
Jerformers, and storage. The glass-lyalled
lobby has a ticket booth and
- estrooms.
The Dedication included comments
~ y Ran Matas, Principal ; Dr. Lindan
3. Hill, ' Superintendent of Schools;
Xobert Erikson of CSO Architects
3ngineers & Interiors; Larry Koenes of
I'he Skillman Corporation; and Bill
IIeck, School Board President:.
The first on the stage were
itudents of the various music programs
it Eastern. The Girls Choir and Encore
Singers performed " Opening Night".
: allowing were performances by the
String Orchestra, the Concert Choir, the
2oncert Band, the Girls Choir, and the
hcore Singers. The closing number
was " White Christmas" performed by
he Combined Choirs and Orchestra.
I
Karol Evenson, Choral Director,
commented, " I w& very impressed by
the auditorium facility. The building is
absolutely beautiful and the acoustics
are fantastic! It was so nice to have
places for the students to line up and
enter the stage and to be able to space
them on the stage so that each student
could be seen. The students were
thrilled and very excited about
performing in the new facility as were
all of the music faculty. We are . all
looking forward. to the many
performances we will have in this fine
facility."
Jo Ellen Matthews, String Orchestra
Director, said, " The dedication'concert
was a wonderful experience for the 8th
and 9th grade string- orchestra. The
students played ' Ode to Joy' as they
rode the orchestra pit to the stage level,
and it was indeed a joyous moment for
them. it is a tremendous learning and
performing environment for our
students here at Eastern. The orchestra
shell and the layout of the auditorium
make the acoustics perfect for the
strings to perform. I am very proud of
the strings and what they have
accomplished since their beginning in
1998. They are gifted students and
musicians and they are looking forward
to many rewkding performances in the
Performing Arts Center."
Peter Sampson, Band Director,
remarked, " The Eastern High School
Band Department is thrilled to have
such a wonderful performance venue in
our school and community. We were
thrilled in the sound that all the bands
were able to create and bring to the
audience. The auditorium is
acoustically wonderful and each voice .
is able to be heard by every audience
member. The beautiful concert shell
lets the true sound of the ensemble be
heard. After performing in the gym for
so many years, the students were very
excited about being able to play in an
auditorium. When they were asked
about the differences they noticed
during the performances, the students
stated that it was easier to focus on the
niusic in the auditorium and not be
distracted by the audience in the
bleachers of the gym. The students .
also said that the echo in the gym was.
always a problem and they were glad to
not have to deal with that issue in the
auditorium. They are very proud of the
facility and will be for many years to
come."
Eastern High's Combined Choirs and Orchestra provided the Grand Finale to the Premiere
Performances of the Performing Arts Center of Eastern JrISr High School.
. . , . Photoby Rachel Jenkins