Mont Pleasant Family Festival

Monday, the 4th was the 2nd Annual Mont Pleasant Family Festival, held at the Orchard St Park. This is the neighbourhood where I grew up, and it was a bit strange to see it as an adult. The Fraternal Order of Eagles has a barbeque, the United Way and the Literary Task Force of Schenectady County sponsored the many free items (books, do-it-yourself ice cream, several fun 'science' experiments and more, Ruth Pelham and the Music Mobile were here as well as the Capital District Community Gardens Veggie Mobile. Also, Graceway Ministries brought a bus with puppet shows and Schwann's Ice Cream brought a truck with free treats and some 'for sale' items, with proceeds going to United Way.

This photo is of Ruth Pelham. She's leading an impromptu band of 'cardboard box guitars' made by the children out of cardboard boxes that soda cans are delivered in and rubber bands. She pre-cut a hole for the sound box, and has the children use the cut-out circle to create the guitar bridge. Then they colour them and have a concert with their completed instruments. Not only can they be played as guitars; flip them over and they double as drums, too!

Ruth rocks! It was nice to see the good turnout.

Music in the Park

OK, so it's really just a sign advertising music in the park!

If you're in the Schenectady area, it can be hard to know when an event is scheduled for the Central Park. It was very thoughtful of the City to put this banner up over the path behind the Music Haven.

The Music Haven is an outdoor concert setting. The building to the left in the photo is basically a stage with a bit of storage behind it. They store plastic chairs in there, and they come out on the lawn in front of the stage when an event is put on.

Special note should be given to Ruth Pelham and her Music Mobile. If there's anybody in the Capital District who deserves a medal for being civic-minded, it's Ruth. Her Music Mobile brings music to thousands of city kids. They make musical instruments, play them together in concert and learn about music as a means of social interaction.

Kudos to you, Ruth!