Obit - Ron Osenenko -Woodstock Music Store

I have posted too many obituaries here in the past few years. This one is a personal shock. I considered Ron to be a good friend. I loved hanging out at his store and chatting. He recently showed up at my Phil Ochs performance at the Colony Cafe. It was the first time he had heard me perform and he was very enthusiastic. He took some great pictures of me that night. He was the kind of store owner you love to buy things from because you really believed he tried to give you a good deal. I say that as someone who grew up in retail.
I'm in shock. I will post more details when I hear about them.
Bob

Driver dies after crash on Route 28
By Kyle Wind, Freeman staff
12/28/2007

WEST HURLEY - A co-owner of the Woodstock Music Shop and brother of the Middletown Times Herald-Record Executive Editor Derek Osenenko died after a one-car crash on state Route 28 Wednesday evening.
State police at Ulster said that at about 7:30 p.m., Ronald J. Osenenko, 58, of Woodstock, lost control of his car while eastbound on Route 28, drove through a snow bank, struck and drove through a wire fence, and collided with a small tree.
Osenenko was taken to the Benedictine Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police said the autopsy, which was performed Thursday afternoon, indicated Osenenko lost control of his vehicle due to "medical reasons," but specific results of the autopsy were not immediately available.
No other cars were involved in the accident, police said, and no other injuries were reported.
"He was a great guy, he had a great sense of humor, and he loved this town," said Derek Osenenko, who co-owned the Woodstock Music Shop on Rock City Road with his brother since Ronald Osenenko moved back to the Hudson Valley in 2003.
According to his brother, Ronald Osenenko ended a 25-year career in marketing when he moved to Woodstock from South Florida. Prior to pursuing opportunities in Florida, he worked for Citicorp in New York City and Texas Gulf in Stanford.
He moved back to the region to be closer to his brother and sister-in-law Joanne and to return to his lifelong love of music.
Osenenko played the guitar since his early teens, his brother said.
The Woodstock Music Shop specializes in unique string and percussion instruments, accessories, and vintage vinyl LP records.
"People came (to the Woodstock Music Shop) to play, chat, listen, and share stories," said Derek Osenenko, who described himself as "more of a listener than a player" and "not nearly the musician my brother was."
In a statement by Derek Osenenko on the shop's Web site, he said his brother should be remembered "for his love of music and his musicianship."
While his family in the area is small, Derek Osenenko said his brother will be missed by numerous friends he made since returning to the Hudson Valley and patrons of the music shop. And he will, of course, miss his brother too.
"There is emptiness now I've never felt before," Osenenko wrote in the statement on the shop's Web site. "I could not have had a better brother."
Born in Queens, Osenenko "spent the first half of his life in New York City," according to his brother, and he graduated from Long Island University with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
According to obituary information provided by the Lasher Funeral Home, he spent many years honing his photography and graphic design as well, and Osenenko was described as "a skilled, creative photographer and a fervent reader, largely of books on architecture, photography, and music."
Private funeral services will be held Monday, followed by burial at the Woodstock Cemetery, according to the funeral home.
©Daily Freeman 2007

Fw: Peace On Earth

From: office@ashokan.org
Jay Unger and Molly Mason


We've been playing a tune of ours called, "Peace On Earth," a lot lately to
help reduce seasonal stress and focus on the important things in life. We
decided to send it to the people on our email list, so we recorded it in our
home studio.

You can hear an MP3 at
http://www.jayandmolly.com/resources/music/peace_on_earth.mp3, or download a
higher resolution MP3 at http://www.jayandmolly.com/mp3_downloads.shtml.
"Peace On Earth" was inspired by "Old One Hundredth," a 16th century melody
associated with Psalm 100. We hope you'll enjoy it, and we wish you a warm
and happy Holiday Season with time to focus on the things that are important
to us all--friends, family and the opportunity to serve others.

Season's Greetings,
Molly & Jay

Unions Assist Folksinger/Storyteller Bruce "Utah" Phillips


Unions Passing Resolutions to Honor, Assist Folksinger/Storyteller Bruce "Utah" Phillips

From: George Mann
email:
georgeandjulius@att.net
phone: 212-923-6372

The great folksinger and storyteller Utah Phillips (
http://www.utahphillips.org) has had to retire from performing due to chronic and serious heart problems that have plagued him for years. In recognition of his great love for and work on behalf of the union movement and working people of the United States, several union locals have passed resolutions honoring Phillips and attaching donations for his "retirement fund." Unable to travel or stand the rigors of performing a two-hour concert, Phillips has seen his main source of income vanish just when his medical problems are demanding more money for treatment and medications.

In response, Local 1180 of the Communications Workers of America (NYC), and both the Detroit and the James Connolly (Upstate New York) Branches of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) have recently passed the the following resolution:

Bruce "Utah" Phillips is a truly unique American treasure. Not just a great folksong writer and interpreter, not just a great storyteller, Utah has preserved and presented the history of our nation's working people and union movement for audiences throughout the world. His recorded work keeps these songs and stories alive. He has spoken up against the injustices of boss-dominated capitalism and worked for peace and justice for more than 40 years.

Now Utah finds himself unable to continue performing due to severe heart problems. We wish to honor and recognize his great talent, spirit and love for the working people and the union movement of the United States. Therefore, we move to pass this resolution in gratitude for all he has done and will continue to do in his work and life. We also wish to contribute $____ to Utah Phillips in appreciation and in solidarity as he and his wife, Joanna Robinson, deal with his health and the loss of his ability to work.

This news is being released with the hope that other unions, anti-war and labor-affiliated organizations will respond in kind by passing this or similar resolutions in appreciation for all Utah Phillips has done for the cause of unions and peace.

Another way that organizations and individuals can help is by purchasing some or all of Utah's vast catalog of songs and stories. All of his CDs and more information are available at his website,
http://www.utahphillips.org, and Utah has begun posting podcasts up there that you can download and listen to! You can also order his CDs online (credit card sales) through http://www.cdbaby.com, b ut be advised that prices are cheaper and more of that money will go into Utah's hands if you order directly from him. More info on his website.

Here's the address for CD orders and to send a donation:
U. Utah Phillips
No Guff Records
P.O. Box 1235
Nevada City, CA 95959
(530) 265-2476
Utah has given so much of himself to the labor and peace movements. It is great news that some unions and many have chosen to give something back to him, to allow him and his wife, Joanna Robinson, to rest easy, work on his long-term health, and not have to worry about where money will come for the medicine and bills he has to pay. Please forward and post this release widely!

In Solidarity, George Mann

Fw: Youngest Cajun accordion player

I generally don't like to post too many video's but what the heck. 
Romo

Phil Ochs night 12/14/07

Had a wonderful night at the Colony Cafe with the group "Flames of Discontent". They are - the event organizer John Pietaro on electric banjo Laurie on lead bass and Angelo on the drums in back.
Ron Osenenko from the Woodstock Music Shop took some photos - they are at http://bobluskphotos.blogspot.com/
Sonny Ochs, Phil's sister was there and a lot of old folkies.  It was great doing Phil's songs.

Fw: Bearfoot Concert Fundraiser for Native Youth-January 8

from Liz Toleno

Hello, everyone!
We hope you can join us for a special treat--the Alaskan Bearfoot Band in concert fundraising for  Dancing with the Spirit: a bluegrass music program for kids
in Native villages in Alaska and Canada Tuesday, Jan. 8, 7:00 pm at St. John's Episcopal Church, 209 Albany Ave., Kingston, NY 12401
$10 per person, students K-12 free
Silent Auction starts at 6:00 pm with Alaskan salmon hors d'oeuvres
www.dancingwiththespirit.org
www.bearfootband.com

PRESS RELEASE
              Bearfoot, an amazing young Alaskan band, will be performing to benefit a bluegrass music program for Native American youth in Alaska and Canada.  The concert will be held Tuesday, Jan. 8th at St. John's Episcopal Church in Kingston at 7 pm with a silent auction with salmon hors d'oeuves starting at 6 pm.
             Bearfoot features harmony singing, twin fiddles, exquisite mandolin and guitar solos and solid bass playing bluegrass, blues, jazz, old-time and folk music.  This young Alaskan band started when they were 14-17 years old as 4H Music Camp counselors.  They won the Telluride Bluegrass Festival a year later in 2001.  They've gone on to travel the United States, Canada, and Ireland--and have done 65 Bluegrass Camps for Kids along with their concerts.  They have 3 CD's to their credit and a website www.bearfootband.com
         The concert will benefit Dancing with the Spirit, a new bluegrass music program for kids in Native villages in Alaska and Canada.  Thru camps and school programs, young people take classes in fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin, and bass—plus sing, dance, and form bands.  Music can bring success and hope to villages struggling with alcoholism, drugs, and suicide.  The Rev. Trimble Gilbert from Arctic Village says, "In the old days we fought tribal wars with arrowheads.
It's a different type of war now—against drugs and alcohol.  I believe we can win with music."  Dancing with the Spirit is a program to connect youth and elders through music.  Music builds confidence, self-esteem, and the closeness of a family.  Students can spend hours and hours playing guitars and fiddles, singing and dancing.
      The Dancing with the Spirit program hopes to get instruments in the hands of young Natives, teach them to play, train village musicians as teachers, write a music curriculum, and package the program so that it can be easily duplicated nationally and internationally.  The program's website is www.dancingwiththespirit.org
        Bishop Mark MacDonald, former Bishop of Alaska, and now the first Indigenous Bishop of Canada, will be at the concert--along with the Rev. Belle Mickelson, director of Dancing with the Spirit.  Belle will be teaching this music to Kingston youth at St. John's Episcopal Church Jan. 3-6.   Tickets for the 7 pm Bearfoot Concert on Jan. 8th are $10; K-12 students are free.  The 6 pm silent auction will feature Alaskan arts and crafts and Alaskan salmon dip.  Tax-deductible
contributions can be sent to Dancing with the Spirit, Episcopal Diocese of Alaska, 1205 Denali Way, Fairbanks, Alaska  99701
       For more information on these events, call the Reverend Duncan Burns at St. John's Episcopal, 845-338-3731 or email the Rev. Mickelson at bellemickelson@gmail.com.
 
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I hope you can come to this show!
Liz

Fw: Dan Fogelberg

From Drew Ferraro
 
I don't know if any of you are aware, or care, but I thought I would pass around the word that another hero has moved on.
 
Dan Fogelberg died Sunday morning at 6:00 at his home in Maine.  He was 56.
 
There are a lot of heros we all have;  some matter to us more than others.  I remember the moment I heard that John Denver had died.  Shock is all I remember.
 
Even though I knew that Dan discovered that he had advanced prostate cancer in May of 2004, I always wondered...... more so in the past day or two, if he would make it.  Still, it is a shock.
 
Amongst the things he said recently, was to stop being afraid to have yourself checked by your doctor.  In his case, he referred to a prostate exam, but it refers to all of us, man or woman: Don't neglect your health, do the right thing, whatever it is; fear won't save you.  Action will.
 
To a slightly different twist, I happed upon one of his lyrics that I know I heard before but forgot to listen:
 
"Death is there to keep us honest / And constantly remind us we are free".
 
But he was, apparently known -recently- for saying something else that hit home too:
"You've got to just follow your heart and do your best work … There is no doubt in my mind or heart that everything I've done is exactly what I intended to do."
 
Value your heros, there are things that we can learn and emulate.
But do not worship them - if you worship them, you will miss out on becoming a hero
to yourself. 
 
Be good to yourselves.
The future really is now.
All we have.....is now.
And then it is gone.......
 
Peace,
Stay in Tune,
~  Andy/Drew
 

LUSK ANNUAL MUSIC PARTY

On Saturday, January 26, 2008 the Lusk family will have our Annual Mid-Winter Folk Music Party at 61 Wurts Street, Kingston, New York. It starts at 6:00 p.m. and runs until people leave, which is usually pretty late.
All kinds of music and musicians are welcome, but no amplifiers please. Usually there is a healthy mix between folk singing, fiddle music, blues and bluegrass, with several different jamming spaces available, so people can find their niche, or float from one to the other. It's not a big food party, (it's a music party!) but we have the basics - you won't go hungry - and you can bring a dish to share if you wish. Also, this is an open party, so feel free to spread the word.

No illegal drugs please, although moderate alcohol use is fine. All smoking must take place outside, (preferably down the block, over the river and through the woods.)

For directions and more info go to http://bobluskmusicparty.blogspot.com/ Any questions please call (845) 338-8587, but no rsvp is necessary. If you call the night of the party we may have trouble hearing the phone!

You Are Invited To:The 10th Annual COCKTAILS & CAROLS!!! in the Historic Rondout

You Are Invited To:The 10th Annual COCKTAILS & CAROLS!!! in the Historic Rondout

Yes, Folks, it's that time once again for:

~You are invited ~

Date: Saturday, December 15, 2006

Time: 4:00 ~ 8:00 P.M (or ???).

Starting Place: 90 Ravine Street~Kingston

We will carol from: Liz's<Jerry's<Bob & Penny's

Herman&Andy's<??????

10th Annual Cocktail Party ~

Singalong ~ Getogether

~ Get all warmed up for the Holidays with

The Rondout Caroling Crew!

Bring your holiday music

Or sing along with ours ~

Messiah scores welcome (We've been saying this for years.

One year, we actually had some!)

RSVP ~ for caroling route

please join in the fun of this wildly popular, progressive singing, cocktailing party (and still have time for your other Saturday night activities!)
the first stop is Liz's house at 90 Ravine St (between Spring St and W.Pierpont St.) from there, we will progress to other great homes in the neighborhood, singing as we go.
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