When I started my volunteer "singalong" program at Kuser Park 9 years ago, I found that there are many local area citizens who love to remember the "MUSIC WE GREW UP WITH;" which just happens to be the moniker I chose for this weekly summer Sunday concert series. As I explained to my friend, former Mayor Glenn Gilmore back in the early 90's, when I volunteered to do this weekly program, I am not a professional vocalist, but according to Miss Louise Baird, my Hamilton High School vocal music teacher, I am among those fortunate enough to be gifted with what is called "perfect pitch." I have been singing for well over 75 of my 80 plus years from our countless around-the-piano family singing when I was only 4 or 5, all through my grammar and high school years, and even when I formed a group of 3 other buddies from my company in the U.S. Army where we sang for hours and hours during my time in the army. The accompanying photo was taken by a member of my partner Jack Pyrah's family. We were, singing along to "In the Garden:" ("I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the song I hear falling on my ear, the son of God discloses....and He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am his own..": The young lady standing with my partner Jack is Miss Kathleen Fennimore. She got out on the dance floor as I was singing "Far Away Places" at our program yesterday afternoon, and as I sang she was dancing and "signing" the lyrics (hand signs for the hearing impaired). It was one of "those moments" for all who were there as Kathleen visually interpreted each word I sang.

2014: BACK FOR 2 MORE WEEKS BEFORE THE TEMPS DROP

A number of folks have suggested a September series as a continuation of my 8 week summer 2014 series of music sing along programs, SO here we go. I have cleared it with Recreation Director Marty Flynn and Ms. Nicole Zoller and if the weather holds, we will do one last set of musical programs at the Kuser Park gazebo. September can be a lovely month of the year when there is no rain in the forecast. I am hoping that we will be favored with 2 nice crisp fall afternoonS with low humidity and comfortable temperatures. However, experience has taught me that September can also be a month with numerous rainy days. In that event,rainy programs will be cancelled with no rain date. Bring a folding chair, sweater or blanket and come for one last FALL FLING!

2014: SONNIE BATTISTE AND TOM IN A DUET

Weather permitting, the 6th week of my 8 week Kuser Park Gazebo volunteer music sing along concerts will be performed on Sunday evening August 10th from 6 to 8 P.M. The program is free to all area residents from Trenton, Hamilton, indeed any area within traveling distance of beautiful Kuser Park in Hamilton. The graphic was taken by Trenton Times photographer Mary Iuvone who spent some time speaking with those 40 or so lovers of easy listening* music who were in attendance. Sonnie, Nancy, and "Barb" have all come forth when I ask for them to take the "open mike" and sing along. 

*Easy listening: Pretty melodies, understandable lyrics, no screaming vocals, nostalgic sentimental journeys back to the era when music was music. 

2014: SUMMER TIME, SUMMER TIME, SUM SUM SUMMER TIME!

 

Here's my summer 2014 schedule of volunteer community music programs. Mark your calendars and come out for some great music on a great summer afternoon or evening!. We'll be singing the songs of Patti Page, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Joni James, Rosemary Clooney, and other vocalists who brought us music with an uplifting message and you can even understand the lyrics! Hope to see many of my "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY" readers and my web followers from here on glover320.blogspot.com and my Facebook posts!

See you there!

2014: TO KICK OFF THE MONTH WHEN OUR MILITARY IS HONORED....

I hope to see some of my many visitors to this website on Monday evening as we continue on the Hamilton Historical Society's effort to bring LOCAL history to our area. We'll be seeing just a few of the many news articles from WWII which deal with the Hamilton, Trenton and Mercer County area. Blackouts, air raids, rationing, flattening those tin cans and saving cooking grease for what was known as "The War Effort." We will also sing along to many of those familiar songs from the big band era. Hope to see 'ya there! It's free and open to the public.

"PASTIMES FROM PAST TIMES:' AN ON-SCREEN PRESENTATION

Above is a press release from today's Times of Trenton announcing a program I will be doing for the public
at the March meeting of Hamilton's Baha'i community; The on screen presentation will bring memories to many who will be attending. There will also be a short musical interlude during the presentation. Hope to see a few of my local visitors at the program. The program will be held in the LOWER level of the Hamilton Library in room No. 3.

1982: EVEN AFTER 32 YEARS, KUSER FARM IS STILL HOME

Those who have been following my writings over the past 30 plus years will recall that I have COUNTLESS memories of growing up with the Kusers from the age of 12 right up to the sad day when Edna and Fritz Kuser could no longer handle the responsibilities of managing that wonderful old homestead. My family's encounter with the Kusers began way back in 1938 when my older brother Bud began working for the Kusers as a young boy doing chores such as raking leaves, cleaning up fallen branches, and as he matured, painting, repairing, and ultimately becoming an operator of Fritz Kuser's "Simplex-Acme" portable 35 millimeter motion picture projectors. I followed in my brother's footsteps when Bud entered the Navy in World War II. After all these  years, Fritz and Edna Kuser's "Kuser Farm" is now known as Hamilton Township's "Kuser Farm Park." For me it has become a spiritual  getaway for me where every nook and cranny holds a memory. I will be ever grateful to my dear friend, the late Maurice "Maury" Perilli for counseling fellow Democrat Edna Kuser as to the best way to leave their beloved home to the area citizens as a park, and to former Mayor John "Jack" Rafferty for making it happen. Psychologically, I would assume that my devotion to this place is why I have been bringing my nostalgic music program to Kuser Park Gazebo each summer for the past 8 or 9 years. These musical presentations certainly do not draw standing room only crowds; no high profile local celebrities, no high profile politicians, just common folks such as I who are devotees of music from an era when music was music. At age 80 approaching 81, I don't know how much longer I will be able to maintain my singing voice, but I will go on until my vocal chords are no longer at my command.  

2013: MY FINAL MUSIC CONCERT AT THE HAMILTON LIBRARY

Tomorrow eventing will be the final program in the Hamilton Library's Community Outreach program at the Ben Mundt gazebo on the Hamilton Library lawn. Advanced thanks to all those wonderful music lovers who attended and joined in on this refreshing sing along program!

2011: I MADE A MISTAKE.....I MADE A MISTAKE.....I MADE A MISTAKE

I SHOULD PROBABLY SIT AT MY DESK AND WRITE 500 TIMES ON AN UNLINED SHEET OF PAPER, "TOM GLOVER MADE A MISTAKE! TOM GLOVER MADE A MISTAKE!" DO NOT BLAME THE LIBRARY.....BLAME TOM FOR THAT DARN APOSTROPHE. BY THE WAY, I DIDN'T USE MY SPELL CHECKER.

MISTAKES? YUP.....MORE TO COME!

Anonymous said...

Not even worthy of a comment there Tom. For that matter the "spell check" is often wrong and some usage is/was optional. What was "kosher" in 1900 is now looked upon as unique.
I had a boss who would send every written comment back if it had a semi-colon in it. He alone did not approve.

You could argue that the "Kuser's" was a reference to the collective influence of the family and in that case you would be quite correct.

Ed Millerick

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Strange how some people can "nit-pick" on such a minuscule error, Ed.