The Lancast

OperaLancaster is really starting to come into its own, thanks to the efforts of some dedicated people like Josh Rinier, the opera's managing director. The non-profit organization has been in existence since 1952 and has presented opera to Lancaster, PA every year since then. OperaLancaster is primarily made up of volunteers, people who are committed to furthering the arts in the surrounding community and to developing their own skills as performers. They perform at various locations such as the Fulton Opera House, the Roschel Performing Arts Center at F&M College, and the Ware Center at Millersville University. Josh talked to us about the misconception that one has to dress to the nine to attend an opera performance. He says it's not uncommon to see visitors come in jeans or casual street clothes. Though opera is one of the older forms of entertainment out there today, it is gradually evolving with the times. Josh hopes to see the age spectrum of their audience broaden with the implementation of new projects such as The Community Opera Series. These productions were developed with the intention of attracting a younger, more diverse crowd. It's casual, more frequent, and affordable. And coming in April 2012, Opera Week will kick off in Lancaster with lectures, singing in the streets, and a grand gala event commemorating their 60th year. Just because OperaLancaster is taking a more contemporary and informal approach doesn't mean they lack in quality. They are the only opera company between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and people travel from neighboring states and counties to participate in their productions. In some cases, professional paid singers are brought in to fill a difficult role. Focusing on fund-raising, development, and impacting the community around them, the organization is shifting into the higher gears. Keep looking for good things to come from Opera Lancaster. To learn more, visit www.operalancaster.org or email Josh at jmrinier@gmail.com. Box Office: 717-872-3811 Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

When Erica Millner and her partner came to live on West King St. in Lancaster, PA, it was difficult to connect with the neighbors on any level. But after bringing the Inside Out Project to the neighborhood, there seemed to be a significant change in that respect. Inside Out is a global art project that displays large black and white images of everyday people in public places. The project is designed in a way that makes it very easy for people to participate all over the world. Images can be uploaded to the project website and prints are made and sent back to be mounted and displayed for the public. Erica approached her friend, local photographer Jenny Schulder Brant, about assisting her in photographing some of the people in her neighborhood. What transpired after that was inspiring, to say the least. People who would never talk to her before started saying hello and bringing people by to see the pictures, which she had pasted to the outside of her house. The art project seemed to act as a catalyst relationally and brought a sense of pride to the people who live there. Erica and Jenny’s art project was one of five Lancaster groups fecatured in a recent Lancaster County Community Foundation lecture called “Aha Moments”. They have plans for many more arts and community-building projects in the future. If you’d like to contact either Erica or Jenny, or find out more about the Inside Out Project, you can do so at one of the following links. www.facebook.com/emillner, emillner@facebook.com, www.jennyschulder.com, jenny@jennyschulder.com, www.insideoutproject.net Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Waking up paralyzed from surgery wasn’t the first time Angie Piazza had faced physical hardship, but she certainly hadn’t anticipated this outcome or the impact it would have on her everyday life. What she thought would be a four week recovery has become a two and a half year process of relearning to do the most basic things, like sitting up or using a pencil. With the help and support of some very special people in her life, she has been able to heal and was motivated to write a book about her experience. Angelina was diagnosed with Morquio syndrome as a child, a disease that effects the growth and development of the bones and spine. It affected her walking and she eventually needed a wheelchair to help her get around. She talked with us about what it’s like living with a disability and how she relates to others around her. Children tend to be more forward and come right out and ask about her wheelchair. Adults are generally much more timid, not wanting to draw attention to a possibly uncomfortable subject. Angie has learned how to “steer” people though. She doesn’t let her disability define her and she has a gift for making people feel at ease when she’s around. You don’t have to be with her long before you don’t even notice anything different. Angelina Piazza is a pretty amazing woman when it comes right down to it, and she is most definitely buoyant. You can read her memoirs in her self-published book “Buoyancy” which will release on December 31, 2011 and be available for purchase on Amazon. If you would like to contact Angelina, you can find her on Facebook or email her at angelinapiazza@gmail.com. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Ken Mueller has worked in various branches of communications for the last 30 years including radio, public speaking, marketing and social media.  He started Inkling Media in 2007 and eventually went full time, assisting local businesses with their social media marketing needs. Ken explains that social media marketing is important because it is so different from other types of media. Radio, print, and television communications exist for the purpose of entertainment and information. Social media exists primarily for relationships, which are ongoing. Because of the relational community aspects of things, like Facebook and Twitter, social media has in many way a much higher impact. Just like social media has completely changed the way we communicate, there also needs to be a totally different approach to marketing these new platforms. That’s where Ken comes in. He services clients by educating them about social media, teaching them how to use it, getting them set up, and helping them build new marketing strategies. In addition to Inkling Media, Ken  also teaches at local colleges on various media/marketing related topics. If you would like to find out more about Ken and what he does, visit www.inklingmedia.net or email him at inklingmedia@gmail.com. You can also check him out on Facebook and follow him on Twitter. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Aimee Ketchum, a pediatric occupational therapist, joined us to talk about early childhood development and her DVD series that she produces under the name of Aimee’s Babies. Aimee’s main goal through Aimee’s Babies is to educate as many new parents as possible about what they can expect for their child’s development. Her DVD introduces parents to baby massage and the developmental phases of the senses, balance and motor skills in early childhood. Why baby massage? Baby massage can positively impact a baby’s motor skills, balance, body awareness, immune system, and sleep. It can also help to calm colicky babies. Aimee encourages parents to be aware; "Early child development is very highly variable, so don’t obsess about chart standards" she says, "What is important is that your child is continuing to reach milestones consistently and not skip any. Each phase is important to their growth and development now and in the future as well." Aimee is currently working on another DVD for toddlers with yoga that is scheduled to release by the end of this year. In addition to her DVD productions, she has four apps for the iPhone to assist parents with baby massage and other developmental topics. She blogs and writes a bi-monthly article for Fine Living Magazine and lectures at hospitals and colleges. Aimee’s Babies was also featured on the Rachel Ray Show and listed as one of Rachel’s top five must-haves for your baby. For more information please visit Aimee’s Babies online and on Facebook Special thanks to Becky Svendsen for being our guest co-host while Keith is on leave to celebrate the birth of his fourth child. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Writing, rehearsing, and performing a play in a 24 hour period might sound more like a reality tv show than something you would see in a theater, but Steve Carlson and Jason Mundok are doing just that. The 24 Hour Plays is a production that began in Manhattan back in 1995, and has since gained increasing popularity across the globe. Carlson and Mundok are bringing it to Lancaster, PA this coming Saturday, November 5, 2011 at The Candy Factory. The process begins with 6 writers who select from a pool of actors. They each write a 10 minute play through the night to be handed to a director in the morning. The directors then assemble their cast and spend the day rehearsing for the 7pm performance. No pressure. Mundok describes the production as “creative chaos”. No doubt it will be, with everyone’s creative juices flowing full speed ahead. The collaborators of the project are Steve Carlson, Jason and Susanne Mundok of Woodstove House, and The Creative Works of Lancaster. Carlson, a junior high teacher, incorporates drama into his lessons regularly and thoroughly enjoys theater. Mundok is no stranger to the performing arts himself, though not specifically drama. He is a musician and member of the local Irish band Fire in the Glen. Additionally he hosts a podcast called Around the Woodstove and has hosted house concerts in his home for the last two years. Together, along with a group of about 35 people, Steve and Jason hope to bring something new and energetic to the Lancaster performing arts scene. Come see for yourself this Saturday at 7:00pm at The Candy Factory, 323 North Queen St., Lancaster, PA 17603. For tickets and more info, click here. Special thanks to Becky Svendsen for being our guest co-host while Keith is on leave to celebrate the birth of his fourth child. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, & Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: An Other Side by Xenyka

Matt and Natalie Thomas of (mattnnat), a husband and wife photography duo, have a knack for capturing people's good side: in image form, that is. Matt and Nat started out four years ago almost by accident when a friend asked if they would take photos at a family member’s wedding. They reluctantly agreed and purchased a digital SLR camera to do the job. Now they make their living by documenting special occasions and making people look beautiful on the other end of the lens. Matt and Nat met while volunteering in Australia. They fell in love, married and moved back to the states. They now make their home in downtown Lancaster, PA. Not only does this couple love what they do, but they love that they do it together. Their strengths and weaknesses seem to balance each other out, they say, and that has proven to be the right equation for success. Something close to Matt and Nat’s hearts is telling peoples’ stories. Pursuant of their belief that everyone’s story is worth telling, Matt and Nat maintain a blog that does just that. Using both text and imagery, the team tries to capture the essence of the individuals and relate their life experiences in a truly meaningful way. This philosophy carries over into their professional work as well. They strive to really capture who their subjects are and bring out the little details of their personalities with a little bit of added flare. Matt and Nat put a lot of emphasis on getting to know their clients before a shoot and creating a comfortable, relaxed environment where the client can be themselves. For this couple, photography isn’t just a profession, it’s a way that they can connect with people on a deeper, more personal level. It’s about capturing love and life. To find out more about (mattnnat), visit them online at one of the following: mattnnat.com, Blog, Facebook Special thanks to Becky Svendsen for being our guest co-host while Keith is on leave to celebrate the birth of his fourth child. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, & Lapp Structures. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

Bryan Rutt has always been a writer of some sort, but when he started his blog almost three years ago, he found a reason to keep writing. The blog, entitled, That’s What I Was Going to Say, has afforded him a platform to discuss what he likes and provided him a way to relate to other people, many of them total strangers. Rutt covers all sorts of topics, from baseball to pop culture to creative writing. But a topic he’s begun to explore more and more are the personal struggles he deals with on a regular basis. At first, it took some time for him to get up the nerve to post something so personal. Finally, he decided to take a chance with his post Table for One, where he talks about the difference between being lonely and being alone. Pleasantly surprised by the amount of positive feedback he received, Rutt was encouraged to continue and has openly discussed dealing with such issues as OCD and anxiety. Overall, the response has been very positive and the blog has begun to foster a sort of camaraderie between writer and reader alike. “Sometimes just knowing that you’re not alone is the best medicine…There are people who I can actually reach out to…who understand,” Rutt says. Another topic of great interest to Bryan is music. Growing up with two music-loving parents, he was exposed to a wide array of musical genres and there was always something playing in the background. “New Wave for the New Week” appears every Monday on the blog and features a music review/write-up on something from Bryan’s extensive music collection. He loves having the chance to introduce people to material they may have not heard before. If you’d like to follow Bryan’s blog, (and we think you should), you can find his musings at: www.bryanrutt.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/twiwgts www.twitter.com/twiwgts Special thanks to Becky Svendsen for being our guest co-host while Keith is on leave to celebrate the birth of his fourth child. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, & Lapp Structures. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

For Aaron Gotwalt, there seems to be a constant stream of ideas that flows from him. While most people are saying, “wouldn’t it be great if…” he’s saying, “how can we make this happen?”. When Aaron gets a concept for something, he talks about it as if it’s already a reality. He spoke with us via Skype from his home in San Francisco about one of his ideas that did become reality, the company he cofounded, CoTweet. It started off as an idea for a Facebook application that would let people organize their wardrobes online. He and partner Kyle Sollenberger worked for months making connections with people in the fashion industry and working out a business plan. While trying hard to put all the pieces together, they realized they were having a breakdown in communication when it came to their shared Twitter account. One never knew what the other was doing, or which business contacts the other had responded to, so they set out to build a product that would keep track of all their business correspondence on Twitter. As a result, CoTweet was born. Their product proved to be a great success, and in 2010, the company was acquired by Exact Target in Minneapolis. Another one of Aaron’s recent projects that we discussed is “World Poopin’ Day”. The event was inspired by the Facebook prank of updating someone’s status to “Poopin”. He figured if something so harmless and silly could get so much attention, why not use it to bring attention to the very real problem of sanitation in Africa and beyond. By partnering with charity groups such as Charity Water, Water.org, and Give Love, they were able to create a vehicle to bring awareness to internet users about the need for clean water and direct funding to the organizations devoted to making that happen. “Sanitation is one of those things that needs innovative thinking about how to talk about it,” Aaron says. Now that the baton has been passed to the new owners of CoTweet, Aaron has some time on his hands. The wheels are already turning about what he could do next. But after working 24/7 for the past few years, it seems like a good time for a breather. What’s the next step for Gotwalt? He’s going to go climb a mountain. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, & Lapp Structures. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

Pinball Massacre is a successful freshman video game project for the Mac and iOS platforms from PostageVFX. The creative team of Joseph Krzemienski, Courtland Ellis, and Riley Hearn share about what kind of things go into making a game a reality and what tricks they used to make Pinball Massacre stand out from other pinball games. It all started when Riley, who worked to create the objects in the game, approached Joe and Courtland with a skeleton of a pinball game to see if they would like to tie it into their Stabb Gunner graphic novel. Jumping at the opportunity, they began designing the  visuals that would overlay the board as well as a tie-in to Stabb Gunner. The game isn't just themed to match the graphic novel, it's actually a plot point in the story functioning as a pinball tournament on the scale of the superbowl, according to the team. Joe describes the overlaying theme of Stabb Gunner as a revenge story with elements that you won't see anywhere else, such as a chainsaw sword and a character that wears a stuffed bear as a costume. Courtland draws inspiration for the art in the series from his many influences, some of which are behind the animation in Ben 10, Samurai Champloo, and many more. As for the coloring, Joe says he takes the colors to where they hurt to look at and then dials it back from there so that the world feels saturated with color. If you'd like to read Stabb Gunner you can catch the first issue at The Fictory Comics. You can download Pinball Massacre on iTunes. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, & Lapp Structures. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

When Erik Ewing started the Definition Collective, he envisioned a place where people could come and be heard. He wanted to create a “church” that was less about the program and more about the conversation. After 18 years in traditional church ministry, he started to think that maybe church could look different and that maybe some of the traditions of the past century weren’t as life giving as they claimed to be. After meeting regularly with good friends and family and easily falling into spiritual conversation, the group decided it was worth starting something new to foster this idea of candid exchange. Erik doesn’t really consider himself a pastor, but more of a facilitator or “custodian” of the DC’s gatherings. He sees himself as an equal participant in a setting where everyone’s viewpoint is valid and everyone’s contribution is valuable. The Definition Collective isn’t just about discussion, though. In the wake of recent flooding in the area, some of their group could be seen pulling waterlogged debris from houses to the curb and helping with clean-up in a local park. “Community is a huge thing for me and for what the Definition Collective is and stands for…we’re really trying to focus more on that idea of being a part of the community,” says Erik. Another way the DC looks to connect with the community is through a monthly arts initiative they call “Live at the Hub”. On the first Saturday of every month from October to May, they host a live music event and feature local artwork on display. The goal is to foster a communal space for people to not only experience others’ art, but to also to be inspired to create their own. Erik has many ideas for what The Hub could be, but it all revolves around community actively contributing, creating and learning together. It seems that might be what this “church” thing is really all about. The Definition Collective meets on the third floor at 25 E. Main St, Manheim, PA on Sunday mornings at 10:30. To learn more about the DC or “Live at the Hub”, you can contact Erik or visit the website at the information listed below: erikewing@yahoo.com 717-575-1087 www.definitioncollective.com Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, & Lapp Structures. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

Lancast photographer Quin Baker joined us this episode for an impromptu discussion about current events happening in and around Lancaster, and elsewhere. A self-taught free-lancer, Quin is one of the newest members of our crew. She lives in down-town Lancaster and joins us weekly behind the scenes to capture images of our guests and contribute some of her humor and artistic flair. To read more about Quin and see some more samples of her work, visit her tumblr page at http://quinbaker.tumblr.com/. Some of the topics we covered this week are: The recent flood waters in Lancaster County The recent earthquake on the East Coast Food Stamps and Fast Food Apple, Google, and cell phone technology Health and Nutrition in culture Tell us what you think about any of the above topics and let us know if there's anything you'd like us to cover in future episodes. As always, thanks for listening to and supporting us here at the Lancast! Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: June Sonata (Juni Sonate) by Christoph_Burghardt

Poetry Paths exists to facilitate connections through poetry and art, according to founder Kerry Sherin Wright. We had a chance to catch her vision for the program while recording the show at the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. The college is one of Poetry Paths’ first “site partners” throughout the city to house permanent works of art that are built around original pieces of poetry. We were present for the official unveiling of their piece, a ceiling mural created by collaborative artist group Root 222 and featuring the masterful writing of poet Mary Szybist. Also joining us in the first half of the show were Mary Colleen Heil, President of PCA&D, and Tracy Cutler, Chief Communications Officer at Lancaster County Community Foundation. Together they told us about how each of their organizations plays a role in promoting the arts in Lancaster and how they are all supportive of the overall vision to see this become an increasingly viable part of the culture here. For the second portion of the show, we talked with all of the artists who collaborated on the piece, which features the poem by Mary Szybist entitled “All Times and All Tenses Alive in this Moment”. Mary, an English professor from Portland, Oregon, told us the piece is about “trying to work with faith and doubt simultaneously”. The poem is arranged in a sunburst pattern to suggest that all the phrases in the poem are modifiers of the main idea. The reader is then able to begin at any point in the poem and still grasp the depth and meaning in the words. From a visual aspect, the solar form became part of the design almost right away. Since the poem was already arranged in the shape of a sun, the design came together fairly quickly. The group spent about 6 days working on the mural, with a good chunk of that time dedicated to painting the text.  Root 222 is made up of Anthony Mark, Schon Wanner, and Derec Hettinger. The guys were roommates while studying at PCA&D. They seemed to have an almost supernatural artistic connection between them, and it continues to run strong, years after they’ve graduated. They don’t spend too much time worrying about who will do what on a project. They just go with it, and everything tends to fall into place. All four artists agree it is a thrill to have their work displayed so permanently for the public to enjoy. As Schon puts it, “At the end of the day, you’re still a little kid that says, ‘can you put this on the fridge?’ This is like the biggest fridge in town.” You can email Kerry Wright at Kerry.sherinwright@fandm.edu and Mary Szybist at szybist@lclark.edu. Check out Root 222 at their website www.root222.com or root222@tumblr.com. We want to give a special thanks to PCA&D for letting us use some of the photos taken during the event for this post. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

Michael Hoober, the man behind the Rumschpringe Film Festival wears many hats, but everything he does focuses on bringing positive change to Lancaster. Rumschpringe is one such venture and the event is approaching its fourth year of existence this fall. This year, the festival will feature 62 short films in 6 categories, totaling more than 14 hours of content. Michael told us about some of the films that won last year’s festival and what new things we can expect to see there this fall. This year's festivities will be held over two weekends, September 30 thru October 2 at the  Stahr Performing Arts Center, and October 7-9 at Tellus 360.  For this year's festival, Hoober plans to have a larger screen and possibly a new projector, and is hopeful that the fall weather will be a bit more appealing than 2010’s June heat. The event is still in need of sponsorship and Hoober is hoping to gain some ground with the assistance of MOOSE, the Mayor’s Office of Special Events, and Kickstarter, an online fundraising program. The name Rumschpringe comes from a German word which literally means “to jump around”, but locally, it has traditionally represented the period of time in an Amish adolescent’s life where they go out and experience the world  before making a decision to settle down and officially join their community. So for Michael, the word is more of “a movement of sorts in adolescence”.  Hoober’s mission through Rumschpringe is to reach out to Lancaster’s “disaffected youth”. He envisions creating a more loving and accepting community for all races, religions and lifestyles. In addition to being a film festival coordinator, Michael is also a therapist, a teacher and a counselor in his professional life. He talked in depth with us about some of his work and his vision to see a lot less damaged and hurting people in our community. He is in the process of developing Rumschpringe ADVR (Applied Developmental Vehicles and Research). He wants to take traditional counseling and make it relevant for the real world. His new office will be housed at 237 N. Prince St, Suite 202 in Lancaster. If you want to find out more about what Michael does as a therapist, or how you can sponsor his upcoming festival, you can visit his website, www.rumschpringe.com or email him at contact@rumschpringe.com. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design & In HIS Name HR. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser

This episode we talked with local composer Rusty Banks. Born in 1974 in Alabama, Rusty comes from a very musical family. He picked up his first guitar at age ten, and by junior high, he had discovered classical style guitar. By the time he went to college, he knew composition was his niche and he worked hard to distinguish himself as a composer. Banks likes to incorporate pop music into his compositions and he uses modern affects like cd playback and multiple cell phones to create sound delays. We asked Rusty about the different approaches one could take to writing a piece of music and he told us about his own processes for producing a finished product. Often, he writes a piece for its sound rather than thinking of it in mathematical terms. Most of his creative processes are deadline driven and he says if it was not that way, he might never completely consider a work “finished”. Banks’ music has been performed not just locally, but all over the globe. Having such a unique style, he says that sometimes you need to take the music to the people. His works have been performed in New York and Los Angeles and as far away as Italy and China. We got to listen to two of Rusty's compositions, "Babbling Tower to Tower", and "Slit" as performed by his wife Christy. To hear additional samples of Rusty’s work, visit his website at www.rustybanks.org. His music is available for purchase on Amazon and iTunes, and you can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter. Daniel Klotz filled in as co-host for Keith Slesser this week. Support for this episode provided by Winding Way Books, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design & In HIS Name HR. Theme music: Invisible Walls by Revolution Void Break music: Original Piece by Keith Slesser