Residents@JV

Family Literacy Day

Saturday, September 09, 2006, Washington Square Mall in Evansville, IN, held Family Literacy Day at from 10:00am to 3:30pm, sponsored by the Evansville Literacy Coalition, The Evansville Area Reading Coalition, The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, and the Evansville Courier & Press-Newspaper in Education (NIE). Men’s Home Coordinator Joe, residents Wanda, Michael, and Scott arrived at Washington Square Mall about 1:00pm, just missing Mayor Weinzapfel’s Proclamation of Family Literacy Day. Master of Ceremonies for this day was 105.3fm, Super Hits of the 60’s & 70’s-WJLT’s local DJ Joe Blair. When we arrived, Gina Browne of the Browne Sisters and one of the headlining acts was on stage in the center of the mall singing and entertaining to the delight of the crowd. The musicians performing and accompanying Gina Browne were Eric Scales playing both and alternating between a saxophone and clarinet while Monty Skelton played the piano. Other performing groups included The 21st Century Singers, Suzuki Players, The Metropolitan Academy of Dance, Several Castle High School students known as ‘Knightingales - Knight Sensations that sang many duets for their performance, and The New Hope Music Academy that had there ‘Boom Squad’ to perform. We had seen the ‘Boom Squad’ at the Drums on the Ohio event earlier in the year. They are a group of around 35 or 40 preteen age boys and girls playing an assortment of drums, the younger ones playing cymbals, in various choreographed synchronized dance moves. The ‘Boom Squad’ had a very loud and entertaining show of drum beats. Hadi Funster clowns were up to their antics around the mall bringing balloons and smiles to everyone’s face, ‘Clifford the Big Red Dog’ and Noozie, the waking newspaper making their rounds up and down the corridors of the mall. We did get a picture of ‘Clifford’ greeting Wanda, Michael, and Scott. There were many handouts of free gift give aways and assorted coupons from area businesses and organizations for example, free weekend movie passes for ‘Movies at Mesker’. There were many literacy crafts and activities planned and in progress for everyone throughout the day. An enjoyable afternoon of a good time was had by all who attended the Family Literacy Day 2006 while others were checking out some retail stores at Washington Square Mall.

posted by J V Resident Blog @ 8:26 AM