LETTER TO THE EDITOR
This year's Bluegrass for Hospice 2010, held on Saturday, October 23, was a great success! Thanks to the community for helping make this event as successful as it was — and I can't say that enough. From just under $8,000 last year, this year’s event made double that and more. The total money raised was $17,601.45!
Thanks to Johnny and Lorraine Armsworthy, Tina Williams, her son Jim, and Barbara Robinson for getting 138 wonderful door prizes and silent auction items; to Betsy Voss for donating the McCormick Spice basket and cooler; and also to the businesses who donated the items and the Amish/Mennonite community for their generosity.
Thanks to the media — The Enterprise, Gary Dean and Sarah Miller of the County Times, Southern Maryland This Is Living and WMDM — for the articles, interviews, ads, and announcements.
Thanks to the candidates of St. Mary’s County: Richard Fritz, Tommy McKay, Bill Mattingly, Mary Washington, John Bohananan, Jr., John F. Wood, Jr., Elfreda Mathis, and Arthur Shepherd. They support Hospice and I hope you considered them when you voted on November 2.
Thanks to Harry Lundenberg Seamanship School for parking cars, Bubby Knott for allowing us to use the Flat Iron Farm, Herbie Smith and the staff at the Flat Iron Farm for setting up and making sure we had everything we needed. You made the arena a perfect setting. And thanks to Tony and Paul of Thompson’s Catering for the great food. It was awesome! There were a lot of compliments received on the food this year.
Thanks to the great team of volunteers: Michelle Armsworthy for all that she has done — there’s no way I could have survived on that day without her; Debbie Johnson and Kellie Lewis for the great work they did on 50/50 raffles; and Denise Bragg for selling the Spice Basket raffles and the $500.00 raffles. Congratulations to Sherrie Read from Berkley Springs, West Virginia who won the $500.00 raffle. Thanks for donating half of it back to Hospice, and thanks to the other folks who donated their 50/50’s back to Hospice!
Thanks to a great team of organized Hospice volunteers: Lauri Busco, Jeanne Davis, Vince Merz, Irvanette Hall, Cindy and Tony Beakes, Julieta Booz, Joan and George Springer, Eve Love, Kathy and Don Lefevre, Jimmie Parker, Kathy Franzen and Beth Joseph, who I enjoyed working with so much on this years event. Thanks for the support and faith in me to do this, Beth.
Thanks to Kerry, Jesse and the staff at the Printing Press for providing all of my printing needs and for their patience, Wayne Mass Signs in Chaptico for the vinyl banners, the Wawa store in California for providing back stage refreshments, and to everyone that went out and sold tickets.
Thanks to all the bands that donated there time: David Norris, The California Ramblers, Jack Tippett, Spoon Creek, Bottom County Bluegrass, the members of my band, Eastern Tradition, and Recent Addition (St. Mary’s County is well supported with local Bluegrass talent), Gracie Myles of Gracie’s Guy’s and Gals Dancers for bringing a talented group of young dancers (they were a big hit), and the man that worked hard tweaking the knobs all day, Troy Jones for providing the sound, and the Grascals who did an exciting show that was well worth the wait.
Last but not least, I’d like to thank the following businesses for sponsoring the Bluegrass For Hospice 2010: C & C Plumbing & Septic, Inc.; Jan Barnes; Barbour/Brooks Team; the Team of Choporis/Crispell and Margaret Taylor of Century 21 New Millennium; College of Southern Maryland; Community Bank of Tri-County; CSC; Broadwater Woodworking, Inc.; and St. Mary’s County Art’s Council. I’d also like to thank the following supporters of the event: Aloft Solutions; Gary at ABC Liquors & Lounge in California; PNC Bank-Southern Maryland Branches; Toyota of Southern Maryland; Friends of Kenny Dement; J.F. Taylor, Inc.; Compliance Corporation; Tippetts Construction; Trampus Guitars; and Honky’s Tiki Hut. Other supporters included: Blue Heron Services, Inc.; State Farm Insurance-Phil Riehl agent; LaGrande Resort RV, Inc.; W.M. Davis, Inc.; Brad and Linda Gottfried; Ford and Linda Dean; Dot Bell of Bell Boys Bus Service; Clark’s Flooring, Inc. of Lexington Park; Joan & Stanley Williams; Carroll’s Equipment in Dameron; Sal Raspa for Board of Education; and John and Vicki Weinke.
Thanks for all the food donations that went to help the Southern Maryland Food Banks. It was delivered to the Helping Hands in Hollywood. We have a generous community here in St. Mary’s County.
Once again, THANKS to each and everyone who attended and helped make the Bluegrass For Hospice 2010 a great success. Look out 2011!
Jay Armsworthy
Hollywood, Md
Bluegrass For Hospice: Promoter/Event Coordinator
Hear Jay Armsworthy's Bluegrass On The Bay
Wednesday, 6:00 - 8:00 pm (Live) on
www.worldwidebluegrass.com
Wednesday, 10:00 - 11:00 am (Pre-recorded) on WWSM-AM 1510
Thursday 9:00 - 10:00 pm (Pre-recorded) on WNNT-FM 107.5