Storm wreaks havoc across the region

Our spring storm came a little earlier this year, but it created blizzard conditions and dumped lots of snow on our area on Monday -- up to 30 inches in Deadwood, and even more in other areas.

By the time Lorraine Collins took the above picture on Tuesday, blue sky and sunshine was evident from time to time. Thanks to Lorraine for sharing the above photo; it's looking southwest from the Collins residence. You'll find more storm images in our YPA Photo Gallery!

So Rare

Great entertainment can, indeed, be "so rare." But for area big band music lovers, any scarcity of good music will come to an end on Tuesday, April 28, when the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra appears at the Belle Fourche Community Center. The 7:30 p.m. performance will be the final event in the 2008-09 Center of the Nation Concert Series -- and what a way to conclude the season!

"So Rare," of course, was one of Jimmy Dorsey's great hit tunes -- albeit a bit later in his career, long after he and brother Tommy had split up. Their careers date back to the very beginning of the big band era. Jimmy Dorsey was born February 29, 1904 in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, where his father was a coal miner. His younger brother Tommy would be born the following year. Their first significant gig was with the "Scranton Sirens." By the mid 1920's, they joined the Paul Whiteman band and their careers took off; they also developed their own "on again-off again" Dorsey Brothers orchestras.

Both the Dorseys could play a multitude of instruments -- but Jimmy was best known for his alto sax work, while Tommy was a superb trombonist. The Dorseys died relatively young and have been gone many years -- Tommy in 1956 and Jimmy in 1957.

It's a testament to their talents that tribute bands about for both Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, and these bands usually retain the styles and arrangements of their namesakes while adding a bit of fresh material. It'll be interesting to see what this group, led by Bill Tole, will do with Dorsey's music. Here's a link where you can learn more about the current Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.

For transportation from Yellowstone Place, call 642-6668 by 1 p.m. on Monday, April 27th; rides cost $6.00, payable to the driver (please remember that the driver does not make change); rides will depart 218 Yellowstone at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28th!

Hudson Hall site of meeting

Topics ranging from shingles to a planned neighborhood school are expected to be discussed on Tuesday, April 14th, when the YPA Board of Directors meets for its regularly-scheduled quarterly meeting. The 7:30 p.m. gathering will take place in Room B of Hudson Hall in downtown Spearfish. Hudson Hall is located at 222 West Hudson Street. All owners and residents are encouraged to attend the meeting.

Meier farm -- sale in the offing?

News reports abound this week that the Spearfish School Board has selected the "Meier property" just north of Yellowstone Place as the site for a new East Elementary School building.

Here's a link to the Black Hills Pioneer story on the subject.

YPA board president Lorraine Collins has agreed to contact school superintendent Dave Peters to express our interest in keeping abreast of school plans as the project unfolds -- hopefully having some input to planning of the campus in a way that might minimize potential problems between the school and Yellowstone Place.

Of course, it's not a done deal, since the school district and Meier's must reach an agreement on the price of the land. We'll try to post any updates as they're made available.

Counterpoint comes to Belle!

Who needs an orchestra?

Renowned choral maestro Robert De Cormier leads an eight person mixed choir for the next installment of the Center of the Nation Concert Series at the Belle Fourche Community Center.

Counterpoint takes the stage at 7:30 p.m., next Monday, March 16th in a performance that will include choral chamber music from around the world. The program will include classical works, the folk music of Stephen Foster and a host of spirituals and work songs all of which helped launch Robert De Cormier into legendary status.

Among the music you can expect to hear: Stephen Foster's Camptown Races and John Henry; traditional folk tunes like Frankie & Johnny and Walk Together Children. Add a dab of spiritual and classical music from the likes of Benjamin Britten and Maurice Ravel, and you have the ingredients for a delightful evening!

Join your friends and neighbors for another fun evening in the 2008-09 concert series as Robert DeCormier brings Counterpoint to the northern Black Hills.

For transportation from Yellowstone Place, call 642-6668 by 1 p.m. on Friday, March 13th; rides cost $6.00, payable to the driver (please remember that the driver does not make change); rides will depart 218 Yellowstone at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, March 16th.