DeTour Area
By Barbara Buschbacher 297-8075 bbann@sault.com

The countdown for the last few days before Christmas has begun. What a busy time it has been this month with school Christmas programs, choir concerts, and Christmas plays. If you were looking for something to do this past weekend, DeTour was the place to be. The DeTour Area Community Choir presented their annual Christmas concert and also, Dave Rhinard directed a delightful holiday pageant of which there were three performances. Both programs were presented by the E.U.P. Fine Arts Council.

For the pageant, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," produced by Susie Rhinard, all three performances were sold out. The play depicts a hilarious story of the efforts of a woman and her husband to put on the annual Christmas pageant. The cast of adults and children performed well above their roles.

Cast members included the Werner family of Sault Ste. Marie: Professor Marshall Werner, his wife, Dr. Rebecca Werner, and their children, Josie, Gabbi, and Cece. Area cast members are Cameron Livingston, Alex Bloom, Kaden Barbeaux, Jake Dudeck, Dylon Clark, Alexis Scott, Dawn Hamelink, Susie Schultz, Olive Warner, Cindy Verruso, Deb Fountain, Brandy Clark, Scott Bosley, Mikayla Scott, Tyler Soule, Alyssa Wilson, Bob Vaught, Jay Dudeck, Skylar Pardee, Kaalin Goetz, Savanna Mickelson, and Murray Fountain. The Angel Choir members are Alora Barbeaux, Mariah Reed, Millie Reed, Lily Rairigh, Jordan Scott, and Riley Schultz. The Shepherd Choir is made up of Leo Dudeck, Gunnar Fountain, and Anthony Hamel.

"A Swingin' Christmas" was the theme for this year's choir concert directed by Jean Bloom and accompanied by Anna Aben. Members of the soprano section include Paula Bardsley, Helen Hine, Amber Mandrell, Nancy Mordecai, Jan Nye, Sandy Pumphrey, and Jackie Sagear. In the alto section are Connie Baldwin, Jennie Brissow, Cindy Dudeck, Linda Fisher, Sharon Goetz, Donna Stoetzer, Sandy Straksis, Mary Volkers, and Olive Warner. Members of the tenor section are Bob Bloom, Gerald Goodrich, Don Stoetzer, Millie VanDepolder, Bob Vaught, Nelda Vaught, Anne Westlund, and Moira "Pat" Wilson. In the bass section are Allen Gravel, Murray Fountain, Charlie Hine, Bill Mordecai, Frederick Payment, David Rhinard, and Garrett Vermeulen.

Music was provided by 2007 scholarship recipients Korin Goetz and Sara Reed. Vocal soloists are Amber Mandrell, a student in DeTour School, and Sandy Pumphrey, a resident of Drummond Island. The Christmas Lullaby was performed by the Drummond Island Ensemble, including Paula Bardsley, Lynn Botke, Gerald Goodrich, Helen Hine, Doris Krahnke, and Sandy Pumphrey. The DeTour School music teacher, Jessica Kietzman, performed a clarinet solo.

Garrett Vermeulen was named 2007 Volunteer of the Year by E.U.P. Fine Arts President Sandy Wytiaz. Congratulations to Mr. Vermeulen.

If you wish to become a Fine Arts Council member, contact the council for dues information at P.O. Box 202, DeTour Village, Michigan 49725. Membership is effective January 1 to December 31.

Wishes for a speedy recovery to Annalee Buschbacher, who recently underwent surgery at Michigan Northern Hospital.

A thought: If your heart is full of love, you always have something to give.