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A MAN OF EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER, PART SIX

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A MAN OF EXTRAORDINARY CHARACTER PART SIX The following is an excerpt from the Cobleskill Times Journal, December 1984: SPECIAL CHRISTMAS STORY PERFORMED IN MIDDLEBURGH The first Nor’easter snowstorm of the season had hit Schoharie County with temperatures plummeting below freezing as people scurried in and out of the cold to the warmth of the Fellowship Hall at the Middleburgh United Methodist Church to see the CHRISTMAS STORY performed by the Friendship Club. There was excitement in the air as all available seating was filled and late arrivals stood in the aisles, waiting …… A young woman stepped to the microphone and announced, “Tonight, we are presenting the CHRISTMAS STORY according to St. Luke and St. Mathew,” and so the age-old story was reenacted. The shepherds in the fields, the angels with glad tidings, the three kings on their long journey, and the adoration of the child in the stable. What distinguished this production was the cast itself, some 41 people, ranging in age from those in their teens to those in their nineties. Some walked straight and tall; others entered with slower step with the help of canes. All shared one daily reality, that of coping with a developmental disability such as epilepsy or mental retardation. These developmentally disabled persons receive services from Eleanor Roosevelt Developmental Services (ERDS) and the Association of Retarded Children (ARC) in Schoharie. The friendship Club volunteers are trained by ERDS. As the play continued, there were alternating times of hearty singing and hushed attention as more than one hundred relatives, friends, neighbors and guests participated actively in the event, experiencing joy and pride in the accomplishments of the cast. As the production ended the lights were dimmed and both eyes and hearts were full as all sang “Silent Night, Holy Night.” The room was again flooded with light and the cast called out – “Merry Christmas.” Cast members included: “Terri Dutcher, Mary; Maynard Wevers, Joseph; Rose Ostrander, Ruth Brumaghim, and Nancy Diaz, speaking angels; Henry Krehling, speaking King; John Mace and Howard Reidy, Kings; Ken Cramer and Richard Snyder, speaking Wise Men. Others in the cast were, Angels – Jackie Brown, Debbie Townsend, Delight Niesz, Sabrina Joslin, Margaret Curtin, Terri Puchala, Valeri Parotti, Arlene Whelen, Angie Pitt, Katie Moore, Mary Ann Darrer, and Burnadette Olace; Sheperds – Tim Durrin, Ray Edwards, Bill Cline, Jim Allen, Albert Erland, David Gwynn, Bill Baham, Peter Sadowski, John Zamjohn, Mike Cinquino, David bartholemew, and Ken Dixon. Cecelia Vajo was the choral director, Gloria Kutszcher and Pamela Mace were narrators. The above describes the “Three Kings,” Christmas pageant Howard referred to in his life story.