March 2009

EVERYONE is Irish THIS month!

Happy Birthday to:

Brian Hess on the 1 st
DeAn Foulk on the 4 th
Rebecca Johnston on the 11 th
Mar-T from the HitzSquad on the 13 th
Nephew ~ Andrew Johnston & Ray Gump on the 14 th
Sally Weinman on the 16 th
Rock Schuler on the 17 th
Annie Harrington on the 19 th
Jane Brainard on the 21 st
Cadence Smith & Kathy McLaughlin on the 22 nd
Erika Jucewicz on the 24 th
Jill Ciancagli, Annie Cuneo, Karen Fleming, & Jill Kulwicki on the 25 th
Danyelle Childers-Loper on the 26 th
Emily Sladicka on the 29 th
Rosabel Selvarajah & Bill Leach on the 30 th

“Birthday greetings bring us cheer and happiness. They remind us of who we are and what we want to be. They also remind us that we are blessed to have so many loving people around us”

- blessings for the year ahead to all of our March Babies!

Well…. Here we are at St Pats and are JUST getting the newsletter up to y’all! Talk about a busy time of the year – since its one of the BEST times to visit our lovely city we have had a wonderful couple of weeks welcoming family and friends to lovely PVB/St Aug.

Kurts mom Chick and brother Wayne finished up their stay here in early February and boy did we have fun. The gig nights were a blast having Wayne sit in with us and jam with our friends! Wayne will be back in May for a few weeks – so keep your eyes on the schedule.

The hilight of course was our Blues and Bluegrass United benefit last month and we raised almost $4000!! Thanks go out to the Bcause We Care Team who worked SO hard to make the event such a wonderful evening:

Event Co-Chair: Amy Johnston / Food Chair: Mom-Mimaw/Peg Woodbury

Music Chair: Kurt Johnston / Bank Chair: Towanna Parker

Raffle Chair: LehAna Childers / 50/50 Chair: Julie Wright

Bar Chair: Kathy Church & Molly Simon / Door Chair: JamieFaye Shanley

Maintenance Chair: Candy Mette / Marketing Chair: Jami Childers

Product Promotion Chair: Marina Vita / Photographer: Murphey Shaw

We are planning on another event on June 5 th at FOP/Marsh Landing lounge, so MARK your calendars.

Kurts cousins Ed and Faye Bailey (Chicks side of the family) came in for a few days and BOY did we have fun getting to know them. They were able to have some time to revisit their old stomping grounds at Jax Beach and then spend the night enjoying our beach party gig at Casa Marina. A nice breakfast included sharing memories w/Kurt and Chick and Wayne as well as getting to know their new extended family here in PVB before heading South again. Hoping to see them again soon through their travels!

Just before Chick and Wayne headed home to PA, we were blessed to be able to catch the Patsy Cline review at Alhambra Dinner Theater. We encourage you ALL to catch this wonderful and realistic drama/music by performer Gail Bliss the next time she is in your area. You can get more info and purchase her CD’s at www.gailbliss.com . It is with a heavy heart that we send news to those who knew the band or saw the show that shortly after the performance we enjoyed so much, Gail’s wonderful piano player passed away suddenly. Our sympathies go out to the entire band and his family.

Fighting back a bad case of pneumonia and a house full of family with the creeping coughs – the four of us headed to Jacksonville to use the Xmas tickets that I bought for the family to see the Gaither Vocal Band. What a NIGHT OF MUSIC!!! Soaring vocals, humor, moving testimony and music that lifted the spirit in HIS name. Do not miss this opportunity if it comes through your town! www.gaither.com

What a way to celebrate the music we share together at PVPC church each week! And shortly after the concert Kurt and Amy and I were blessed to be invited to a contemporary choir vocal seminar by our wonderful music director Dawn Hopkins. The 2-day seminar was enlightening to us all and we all learned SO much. Amy was spirited to new heights vocally and Kurt and I now have more techniques to bring to our vocalizations. Rock on Head Voice and Chest Voice SINGERS!

We were able to use our new voices to shout to the heavens when Amys brother Andrew “Chauncey” Johnston and their mom Jen came into town for the first week of March. A few days of cooler weather gave break to a beautiful week for time at the beach/pool & outside gigs.

Marie Bugg hosted a 14 th Birthday party for Chauncey, just before a wonderful day in St Augustine that included the Alligator Farm, The Lighthouse Tour, Lunch at the MillTop with our friends Sharon and Dan Pillen www.3rdbornlefties.com and a walk of Fort Mantazas and Old St Augustine City. We are hoping that all of you who have not had the opportunity to see our beautiful neighborhood will consider checking it out some time! Info at http://staugustine.com/visit/

We got them back off to PA safely last weekend to discover that Chauncey wants to spend some more time with us over the summer to work along side Uncle Kurt! Since niece Emily is hoping to come for a week or two as well we are now building another guest room in the house to accommodate the Johnston GANG! YEAH!

Our good friend Dave Baker made a last minute decision to come down this past week for a few days to check out St Augustine and PVB. He is looking forward to coming back soon for a more extended visit. In the meantime, he was lucky enough to catch the Hackers Band at Casa Marina for a night that was one the best outdoor nights we have had of recent months. Beautiful weather and a packed house has us all looking forward to a great summer of Casa Marina Courtyard Beach Parties! Join us – www.casamarinahotel.com.

So now that we are all caught up we will wish you all the luck of the Irish for a happy and healthy St Patricks Day and new Spring Time!

Planning a trip up to PA in a few weeks and will have new updates for you in April.

Take care of each other and we will see you soon!

Love and hugs to you all ~ Debrann