KlezCalendar

Dear friends,

We've all been reading about the crisis in school funding in Massachusetts, especially in rural and poorer parts of the state. Here's a little thing you can do about the situation and it's going to be fun too. Please pass the word about and come to

"The Great Mohawk Save Our Schools Concert"

on April 8th at Mohawk High School on Route 112, south of Shelburne Falls in Buckland. Even if you can't come, please help us get the word out!

All of the money collected for the concert (performers are all donating their time) will go to Mohawk District schools, but that is only a drop in the bucket left empty when the state cut support of our school district by a million dollars. More important than the money we collect will be energizing our audience to become active advocates for adequate local, state and federal funding of education. Even if you don't live in the Mohawk district, I hope what we are doing here will inspire you to do the same in your school district. Members of the Wholesale Klezmer Band have expressed their eagerness to be part of events like this in other towns too.

Tickets are available at the schools, Nolan's Neighbors in Ashfield, Boswell's Books in Shelburne Falls, Avery's Store in Charlemont, Colrain Supergas in Colrain, and at the door the evening of the concert. For phone or email reservations, please call Mary Link at 413-628-4695 or mailto:marylink@compract.com . If you make phone or email reservations, please be at the concert by 6:45 to pick up your tickets.

We expect it to be a fantastic evening of music and storytelling for the whole family. Performers include: Yosl Kurland with members of the Wholesale Klezmer Band, Davis Bates & Roger Tinknell, Molly Scott & friends, Sarah Pirtle, and Charlie King & Karen Brandow, and the SOS On Demand Theater. Comedian and Mohawk H.S. teacher, Leo Baldwin will MC the event. All performers are generously donating their performances.

The purpose of the concert is to raise funds and voices in support of public education. All income from tickets will go to benefit the Mohawk and Hawlemont District schools. Along with performances will be opportunities to learn about the educational issues facing our district and to write elected representatives to encourage them to better fund public education and our specific schools. Several of our state representatives will be attending the concert.

Please forward this email to help us fill the house!

We look forward to seeing you there.

At our last Hilltown SOS Meeting, the group spoke of what they hope to accomplish with this Concert. Many said they hoped that it would energize the audience to lose their feeling of hopelessness in regards to the financial cuts to education and offer them constructive ways to get involved with addressing the problem. Others hoped it might inspire us to take on a more active role for change. Joe Kurland quoted from the Talmud, "You are not required to complete the task; neither are you permitted to refrain from undertaking it." All hoped that a better understanding of the fiscal crisis in education could be appreciated as a result of the Concert.

We are all so busy in our lives, but let us take this opportunity to gather together to raise a collective voice for education. Local State Reps and Senators will be present at the Concert.

for Hilltown SOS,

Yosl Kurland
Bonnie Graves
Mary Link