Dear Folks,

     I was raised to be pretty independent and self-reliant and have found that I need to unlearn some of that and ask for help sometimes. Our big fundraiser, Walk-a-Palooza is essential to the continuation of our little concert series. My goal is that the series is yet another place where our wonderful Mt. Airy/Chestnut Hill/Germantown community gathers and gets to know each other and builds the bonds and bridges that make community. I think we've been pretty successful at that and I'd like to see the series continues.

     You could help in several ways. First, pass the word about the event, via email or word of mouth, and invite friends, neighbors, or relatives to come and enjoy the music and the fun. There is no admission cost. If they have a good time, they can contribute and maybe start coming to the series.

    Secondly, you could print out the attached flyer, or come by the shop and get larger, more readable versions and put them up in your church, your gym, your favorite restaurant, etc. and help get the word out.

     Thirdly, some of the musicians helped come up with a wonderfully neighborly way to feed ourselves during the concert. We'd like to have a Palooza pot-luck.  If you are so inclined, bring some food to share. It would be great if things were home-made and if you included a card describing the ingredients so our friends with allergies can eat safely. It would probably be best if there was a mixture of fruits and breads and proteins and desserts but I trust the god of the potluck to make that happen. I would love to get an email or call if you're bringing something so I have some idea as to whether or not I need to supplement. Maybe some folks could bring drinks (no alcohol) to share. We won't have facilities for heating food and we'd love to keep our waste to a minimum. We'll put a kitty out on the table with proceeds to go to the concert series.

      Fourth, if you can't come, please consider making a donation to the concert series. I'm not sure when C.C., our cat, learned to use the computer but when I found that she had added to our poster a picture of herself and marching orders, I left her "imprint". I'll leave you with her directions, which may be a little hard to read on the smaller posters.

"I've taken over the fundraising for this affair, so I'm doing the hard sell. At our concerts, performers get all the donations. Printing and labor cost Greg and Cynthia $1500 for the 23 concerts this year. How about if you help? You can contribute any amount and the concert or send a check payable to Walk a Crooked Mile Books Concert Series" to our address below. FEED THE KITTY!  I'll be watching! "  C.C.

       Finally, the "reward" for reading this to the end. The pictures from Cynthia's daughter Emily's wedding, on July 2, have mostly surfaced and, as promised, I'm releasing a few pictures at a time. This first one is of me gathering folks at the reception to give a group blessing to the couple. At least that's the official story. I must admit it looks more like I'm doing a stand up comedian act at a Borscht Belt club in the Catskills. The white shoes are the clincher. The second one is of me and Cynthia as we marched out of the church after the ceremony. Isn't she a lovely mother of the bride. 

More to follow later in the week.

Greg and Cynthia