Luv Fest

It is a major surprise if a dozen friends and relatives can keep a secret for a month.
But how about a thousand folkies and almost a year?

Last Saturday, September 23 (2000), Sherry and Steve Panzer (of house concert

fame) and Reba and I were invited for lunch at the West Virginia farm of

Maureen Harrigan and Steve Workings (of Country Roads Festival fame). This

was acclaimed to be a friendly get together for chitchat, just a nice

little get together. When we arrived, Maureen was trimming a bush near the

barn. She jumped up to greet us and started chattering about a dog just

having a litter of puppies in the barn and we had to hurry to see

them. Reba asked how many puppies, and Maureen paused a second and
said 6 (she hadn't anticipated that question).

So we rushed into the barn and were greeted by 60 or so of our favorite

performers, family, employees, and non-folkie friends. Banners were

everywhere, wishing us a happy 44th anniversary and proclaiming the event

to be a Luv Fest. More people came throughout the afternoon and evening,

and on Sunday afternoon too. All in all, close to 150 people came.


The organizers: Rachel Bissex, Sherry Panzer, and Maureen Harrigan.	This banner hit our eyes as we walked into the barn	All the performers signed this sheet which now backdrops all VMC concerts.

We then learned that Rachel Bissex, Sherry Panzer, and Maureen came up with

the idea at FA in Cleveland. They set up an invitation list on Yahoo with

all the details and then proceeded to put the whole thing together.


Tom P-R, Sherry, Mo, Cheryl Hoenemeyer, Richard Berman, Rachel & Eliot Bronson	Kate McDonnell	Dalis Alen, Sherry, Annie

Among these wonderful friends who could make it were Dalis Alen and Vaughn Hafner (Kerrville Folk Festival), Micah Soloman (Oasis), Jake Jacobson (Circle of Friends Coffeehouse), Scott and Paula Moore (Moore Music in the House), Kate McDonnell, Cheryl Hoenemeyer, Annie Wenz, John Flynn, Tom Prasada-Rao, Leslie Tucker, Steve Key, Richard Berman, Robin Bullock, Mary Sue Tuoy, Jerry Bresee, Bill Danoff, Steve Clark, and Alan Rowoth.


Reba with Vaughn Hefner, owner of Kerrville Festival.	Mo, Sherry, and Rachel with Vic and Reba	Vic Sherry and Rachel

We also had Elizabeth Tralka, Duffy McDonald, and Clare Drake-Brockman, from Heyman Mailing Service. Two of our sons were there with their families as was Etta Zukerman, Reba's 87yearold mother.


Ellen & David, and Ricky	Andrea, David, Reba Rick and Ellen	Etta on stage with her harmonica.

Maureen had prepared a fair amount of food and the guests contributed

potluck. Sunday morning brunch was prepared by Rod Smith, who is the

soundman for Vic's Music Corner, President of Folkal Point, and member of

many bands. Rod is an extraordinary person and chef.


The versatile Alan cooks breakfast.	Maureen is famous for her celebration cakes.	The audience had loads of fun.

Two of the highlights of the musical portion of the weekend were Etta's

playing a strong harmonica piece to the delight of all, and Elizabeth and

Duffy (twins) performing a song together with marvelous harmonies.


Clare, Elizabeth and Rachel	Elizabeth, Vic, Rachel,Alan, Annie Wenz, and Clare	Elizabeth & Duffy as a duet.

This was a fabulous event heightened by the total secrecy before

hand. There were several occasions when the cover almost was blown but

Maureen was there to rescue the situation.


44+ flowers for our anniversary	Kate's beautiful dozen roses.

We thank the folk community for the warmth and good nature bestowed on us

then and daily.

Love,

Vic & Reba

[Alan sez: This was truly a wonderful weekend. There is no way for us to fully
thank Vic and Reba for all they do for this music, but it sure was fun trying! They are surely the foremost folk fans in this great land of ours.

If you are new on the planet and don't know the Heymans, you ought to check out Vic's home page at www.victorheyman.com and take a gander at some of the stuff that they are into.]

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