A personal note from Stuart McDowell, Chair. of the Performing Arts Dept. at Wright State University, invited ‘Round Town’ to the opening of ‘The West Side Story’.  It’s a foregone conclusion that if Wright State is staging the show it’ll be the best performance of ‘West Side…’ you’ve ever seen.  And if Stuart says it’s wonderful – it’s positive  it’ll be the best.

Gloria, (Mrs. Stuart) was at the door of the theatre – obviously looking for an arrival. “Stuart said to wait here for The Singers…”  “Are these Singers performing in the play tonight?”  “Oh, yes,” said Gloria.  “They have a very important part in tonight’s performance…

So, the audience found their seats…

“Oh, look, there’s Gloria and she has Mitch & Bea Singer in tow.  “Those are the ‘Singers’ she was waiting for!  We   thought she meant ‘carol-ers’!” The house lights dimmed and out came Stuart from the wings and onto the stage.  A wide red ribbons stretched across the front of the stage and the gentleman accompanying Stuart  was WSU President David Hopkins – wielding a large pair of scissors.

“Mitch & Bea Singers have long been one of WSU’s most generous benefactors.  Tonight we’re dedicating our Theatres’ new stage – given by Bea and Mitch.  Mitch, do you have your scissors ready?  (A wide red ribbon was stretched across the Singer’s box and Mitch brandished his scissors.)  On the count of ‘three’ Mitch will cut his ribbon and President Hopkins will cut the ribbon here on the stage!  On, two….and on ‘three’….” The ribbons fell!  

What an ‘opening’ for the most wonderful evening on “The West Side…”  It’s hard to believe this musical premiered in l957 with music by Leonard Bernstein,  lyrics by a 27 year old Stephen Sondheim, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. Many in the audience last Thursday evening had seen the original production in New York – and all said the WSU’s was better!  

Centerville provided a super-star to the cast – Andrew Mitakides – that’s Jane & John’s son!  Andrew’s a sophomore acting major – and played the role of ‘Schrank’…. The police detective.

Dr. Ben Schuster was one of the most enthusiastic members in the audience.  Ben’s Secretary of the WSU Foundation – Board of Trustees.

The Miami Valley Hunt’s Blessing of the Hounds was Sunday at Woodland Trails south of Eaton, Ohio.  One hundred and twenty five subscribers, guests, land-owners, and fifty or so horses turned out for a picture-book autumn day. Mary Alice McFarland provided the most delicious and beautiful hunt-brunch.  Mary Alice and Mac are landowners in the Urbana hunt-country where the MVH kennels are located.  

Morley Thompson, Jr. MFH  of the Camargo Hunt (Cincinnati) brought his champion grey hunter, Stonybrook.  Selma  & Irv Harris were also there from Camargo.  The Whalen family provided the St. Hubert medals presented to each rider and spectator. Bill Whalen, and son Adam Schantz Whalen distributed medals at the close of the ceremony. The Kettering Orchestra’s four French Horn’s music enhanced the scene on the lake. Looking through the A-frame alter toward the red, gold, and russet foliage was breathtaking!  Honorary Huntsman and Joint-Master Diedre Koik’s and her hounds were attentive and well behaved.  The day was memorable.

Jan Tye (Class of ‘74) made her annual trip to Dayton from Ft. Myers, Florida (her home of 27 years) to visit her mother, Joyce Tye who still lives in the house on Ridgeway Road where she and her husband, the late Dr. Jim Tye, raised Jan, her sister Judy (Mrs. Steve Herbert) (Class of 1970) and her brother, John.  While in town, Jan spent time with her old friend Dan Howell (Class of 1974) who only recently moved back to Oakwood after more than 25 years in Cincinnati. Unbeknownst to Jan, her mom and Dan had arranged to fly her lifelong best friend Beasy Coyne (Class of 1974) up from Sanibel Island, Florida, to surprise Jan. Then, unbeknownst to both Jan and Beasy, Dan arranged for another close friend, Dr. Dennis Keyes (Class of 1974), to fly in from his home in Charleston, SC, and surprise both Jan and Beasy. These four lifelong friends spent the long weekend clubbing at night, drinking Cosmos at the Oakwood Club and the Pine Club, going to the last Oakwood game, and eating Sand-tarts.  Finally, Denis also came to Dayton to celebrate his father’s 85th birthday with his parents, Jack and Mary Kay Keyes.

Dr. Frank Shively’s 94th birthday carried a special surprise when he opened the October 9 issue of the Oakwood Register to find his photo captioned with a congratulatory Happy Birthday. (He’ll have yet another surprise when he sees this photo taken as he discovered his photo in the paper.)

But he had another birthday surprise on October 12 when, dining at the Dayton Country Club for dinner, which he does almost every night,  a huge chocolate cake covered with 94 candles was carried into the room. A chorus of voices from the dining room staff, along with Club Manager Walter Schaller and the entire room full of diners burst into a rousing, enthusiastic HAPPY BIRTHDAY as all rose to sing out to Dr. Shively!

Jay Leno had a late-nite show on ‘Funny/Odd Street Signs’ several months ago. Said-signs were ‘fer-real’ and were sent in by viewers from around the US.  Well, ‘Round Town’ found a local sign that could be top on Leno’s List.

Next time your driving north on Oakwood Avenue, and you cross Irving Ave. and it becomes Brown street, and you cross Stewart Street, and you’ve got the new ‘University Place’ building on your right…slow up!  There’s a sign on your right – a big green one – with a ‘Rubicon Park’ logo at the top, and an arrow pointing straight ahead: ‘Miami Valley  Hospital’ followed by ‘Woodland Cemetery.’  Maybe if they’d reversed the order of the  destinations ahead it would not have been so thought-provoking. When ‘Round Town’ was standing on the side-walk taking a picture of the sign, several very young, very attractive UD students paused to see what was going on.  The sign was pointed out and:  “That’s hilarious!” and they laughed their way along Brown Street.

Kay Kegerreis, Joyce Young, Elaine Stein, and Shelly Goldenberg were around a table having a great chat. Kim Goldenberg said they were enjoying their home in Bellbrook…one topic led to another and  ‘Round Town’ added: “Let me tell you about a super sign I just discovered on Brown Street…so  “Miami Valley Hospital….. Woodland Cemetery’ …followed.  When Kim stopped laughing he said:  “I’ll bet Tom Breitenbach (President of MVH) would laugh too.”

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