2009

It's been a long haul since June 2007 when we sold out the 100 Limited Edition CDs of the Broad Old River and sent $883 each to Beacon Sloop Club and Clearwater. The second phase of the project was a two-person initiative by Spittoon Studios aka Mel and Vinnie. We continued collecting gifts for funding and were given a big boost by photographers Econosmith when they gave us 6 photographs to sell - framed, matted and signed by Toshi and Pete Seeger. We recruited Rik Palieri to create a story to lead the original album into the additional songs. He tells the listener about Clearwater and Hudson River Sloop Singers. John Guth, the engineer still had the original 8-track recordings from the 1986 set at Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival from which 5 more songs were taken. He did his work for a tiny stipend. Everything else was blatant volunteerism. On August 7th 1000 CDs arrived in time for the New Jersey Friends of Clearwater festival Saturday, August 15th in Asbury Park. You can buy one at Circle of Song. All proceeds go for the restoration and maintenance of the sloops Clearwater and Woody Guthrie. Everything is paid for up front and out of pocket so the entire cost of the CD (except the tax) goes directly to the boats.

This project is a labor of love, artists helping artists who won't give up on this earth. We'd like share with you a musical slice in time on the Hudson River.

2009 Clearwater Festival Great Hudson River Revival celebrating Pete's 90th, the sloop's 40th and the Hudson River's 400th.

June 20 & 21 Croton Point Park, NY

Broad Old River 2 CD RELEASE August 15, 2009

CD Review from Mimi Cross

The cd is WONDERFUL! I love it - we love it. Charles (my son) has been listening to it every night before bed. I am so impressed with the whole effort. Thank you for telling me all about it.

It's so special to have Helyn on there...I wish she could see/hear the cd...what a gift of a person she was. And it's absolutely marvelous that her artwork is the cover - and I love the picture (the whole layout is great) and it's perfect for the cover. I am looking forward to hanging the poster in Charles' room, he told me "Frame it!" Pretty sweet coming from a 3 year old who had 3 posters in his room as of now - and none framed! He knows something special when he sees it.

As much as I love performing at Clearwater the most blissful moments for me on Saturday happened when I sat listening to you all with Charles on my lap.

And he has asked several times since Saturday for the "mud water" song - that's the song that you sang! I sang along and apparently it was Charles' favorite.

I regret very much that I was not able to sing with you all on Saturday - we took two cars (my parents were there as well) and somehow between all of us walking around and having lunch and visiting with friends it just didn't work out, but like I said I loved listening to you all - I think I was actually a little shy in a way too...Would you invite me again next year?!

Very best,

Mimi

Mimi Cross was a main stage performer at the festival. Check out her website.

Packaging review from Pat Korn

Broad Old River 2 Concert Saturday November 7th, 2009

Beacon Sloop Club Pumpkin festival Sunday October 18, 2009 at the Beacon waterfront

CDs available Sunday October 25thPlease join us at 2PM on October 25th, at the Beczak Environmental Center, when UrbanH20 presents River Songs, a live music event featuring original songs celebrating the Hudson River. After the event, ticket holders are invited to attend a complimentary artist's reception featuring delicious food from Kingsbridge's Garden Gourmet, draft beer from the award winning Captain Lawrence Brewery, and wines from Artisan Wines.

River Songs features collaborative performances by Tribes Hill singer/songwriters Rick Nestler, Mel and Vinnie, Marc Black, Madhumita Chakrabartti, Iris Cohen, Andrew V. Craig, Eddie Denise, Phil Dollard, Joe Duraes, James Durst, Fred Gillen Jr., Great Blue, Joe Iadanza, Susan Kane, Judy Kass, Steve Kirkman, Eric Puente, Spuyten Duyvil, Pete Tamburrini, Matt Turk, and The YaYas. They will be joined on stage by noted Hudson Valley storyteller Jonathan Kruk and Victorio Roland Mousaa.

Tribes Hill members may purchase tickets at the discounted price of $14 for adults and $10 for seniors and children up to age 16 online at www.tribeshill.com. Tickets may be purchased at the event at the regular prices of $20/$14. This event is made possible, in part, by the Arts Alive program of the Westchester Arts Council, with funding from the decentralization grants program of the New York State Council on the Arts.

the mind of an organizer

Preserving our history

News Release November 7, 2009

Spittoon Studios

Contact: Maryellen Healy For Immediate Release

Tel: 845-744-5483 cell: 845-399-4630

email: melhealy@yahoo.com web: http://broadoldriver.blogspot.com/

CONCERT IN BEACON TO HERALD REMASTERED CD

BROAD OLD RIVER 2

Vinyl classic resurrected from the 1986 recording at Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival. Five more songs incorporated and remastered with a new story to explain it all.

FUNDRAISER FOR SLOOPS CLEARWATER and WOODY GUTHRIE

AT THE BEACON SLOOP CLUB, on the river at the train station

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2009 at 2PM, $10

The Hudson River Sloop Singers, a musical arm of the Poughkeepsie/Beacon/ Saugerties based Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, were the backbone of Clearwater musical offerings during the seventies and eighties. Some were on the sloop Clearwater since the beginning. This unique folk ensemble spans four decades and grows as another musician joins the crew. This CD captures the sound and feel of the heyday of the group. In addition to remastering the vinyl release "Broad Old River", the original Beach Stage recording of the set in Croton Point Park that June night in 1986 has yielded five more songs that did not appear on the original vinyl, including two sloop singer classics, Sailing Time and The River That Flows Both Ways. Most of the performers on the album will lead their songs during this show. The chorus will include some who were not at the 1986 set. Children of sloop singers will also lead a song. Afterwards there will be an open music session where you can hear sloop singers not featured on this CD and more from those who were.

This day is not just another concert or a party. Rik Palieri explains:

When I was putting together the collection of my Songwriters Notebook TV shows for the Library Of Congress Archives, I had to watch most of the 145 shows before I sent them to Washington D.C. In my collection, there is one show that I archived that was about one of the last Pumpkin sails. It was while I was watching that show, that I realized that while there have been many films and videos done about the Clearwater, showing the Sloop Singers in the background, very few have talked about who these people were. It was that spark combined with the new release of “Broad Old River” that gave me the idea that we should do a new show based on the Sloop Singers.

When I started working with the archives they told me that they think of things in the context of what will be important at least 100 years from now. So this is really what we are doing on November 7th in Beacon, we are preserving our history for future generations, telling our stories so that long after we are all gone that our grandchildren's, grandchildren's, grandchildren, will be able to hear our stories and remember there was once a group of people who were bonded by the love of the Hudson River and a replica of an old sailing sloop and how that boat changed their lives.

In the Clearwater spirit and tradition we ask you bring food or drink to share for the after concert potluck. We’ll provide the cake. Bring instruments to the open session. We never know who or what will show up, but it is certain that Beth Partridge’s famous sloop cookies will be for sale during the show. All proceeds from the concert and sale of this CD directly benefit maintenance of the Sloops CLEARWATER and WOODY GUTHRIE.

###

For more information contact Maryellen Healy at melhealy@yahoo.com or visit http://www.broadoldriver.blogspot.com

the night before the concert photos of cake arrived

FAQ 1

Here's the number 1 most frequently asked question about the BOR2 CD: Can I get one at a discount?

Unless you are a radio station, the answer is no. Why is that?

We told our resurrection committee contributers who gave money out of pocket, not tax deductible that they would both spread the musical message of Clearwater and get more for their money. Sure, they could give the $25-$400 directly to sloop maintenance or invest in someone's CD project but this is something else.

Once we sell all 1000 copies (almost 200 sold already in three months) there will be $15,ooo given for maintenance on the sloops just from the sale of the CDs. Vinnie and I take nothing from this project, we throw in a bit of money here and there and give our time and money out of love and gratitude. Three sloops on the river are close in our hearts, one had only 20 years.

When we sell the last 2 autographed photos that money goes to the sloops maintenance.

The concert last Saturday brought in ticket revenue, donations and we sold CDs. We love the music, the community, the friends, the earth. This is our way of thanking Pete and Toshi for wonderful experiences and memories, helping ensure those sloops are there for others as they were for us.

If you were a royalty holder on the project (writer of a song or photographer) you recieved one free copy each time. Remember first we did the Limited Edition. Each copyright holder waived payment per copy. Thank you.

Contributors each got at least one free CD.

We have copies for radio station promotion and we hope to do some on air promotion next year.

We're not doing consignment because we have enough to keep track of without adding more.

Sloop Singers in attendance November 7, 2009

Broad Old River 2 Concert Chorus:

Sarah Armour, Peggy Atwood, Dan Berger, Jacob Bernz, Scott Berwick, Sue Cerniglia, Vincent J Cerniglia, Jan Christensen, Lydia Adams Davis, Robert (Diggit) Dermer, Dan Einbender, Sarah Goldhammer, John Guth, Spook Handy, Maryellen (Mel) Healy, Eric Hebert, Rebekah Underhill Hval, Creek Chris Iverson, Travis Jeffrey, Alex Kaminsky, Joe Kaminsky, Paul Kaplan, Geoff Kaufman, Bob Killian, Dorothea Killian, Bob Lusk, Michelle Marcus, Ira McIntosh, Roland Mousaa, Donna Nestler, Rick Nestler, Rik Palieri, Lois Pinetree, Moreen Ivice Rose, Eric Russell, Pete Seeger, Don Shappelle, Peter Siegel, Zenote Sompantles, Steve Stanne, Sarah Underhill, Hillary Zaenchik. In Memory: Geoff Brown, Helen Chrobocinski, Richard Chrobocinski, Rachel Gatland, Carl Schwartz

Sloop Singers not seated in the chorus who participated as audience or volunteer:

Sue Altkin (pre event), Polly Armour, David Bernz, Neal Keller, Dick Manley, Mike Meade, Ann Rommele, Margie Rosenkrantz, Jon Stein

the question

Concert Program

Broad Old River 2 Concert PROGRAM

November 7th, 2009

Opening Ceremonial: The Indian Prayer Roland Mousaa

A Clearwater Tale Rik Palieri

Roll The Old Chariot Along Rick Nestler

Sailing Down My Golden River

Sarah Armour, Jacob Bernz,

Sarah Goldhammer, Rebekah Underhill Hval

Alex Kaminsky,

Haul Make Her Go High Pete Seeger, Geoff Kaufman, Travis Jeffrey

Lake Erie Lydia Adams Davis

The Ghosts Of Ellis Island Jan Christensen

Sailboat Clearwater Geoff Kaufman

Broad Old River Pete Seeger, Rob Dermer, Dan Einbender, Travis Jeffrey

Sailor's Husband's Lament Maryellen Healy

The Tugboat Song Steve Stanne

The River's Tale Jan Christensen

Sailors Prayer Peggy Atwood

Reflection Rik Palieri

Wind On The Water Bob Killian

The River That Flows Both Ways Rick Nestler

Sailing Time Steve Stanne

Cake Ceremony Pete Seeger

There'll Come a Day Bob Killian

Break for refreshment Potluck

Song Circle Jacob Bernz, Sarah Goldhammer,

Rebekah Underhill Hval, Alex Kaminsky Hosts

with Mike Meade assisting

ADD ECONOSMITH PHOTOS

Who do we thank for their part in making this happen?

The support crew for the November 7th Broad Old River 2 Concert

Sue Altkin, Polly Armour, David Bernz, Jacob Bernz, Scott Berwick, Tracy Berwick, Jim Birmingham, Jeannette Bragger, Vincent J Cerniglia, Galen Church, Emily Dermer, John Economos, Clare Francis, Allan Goldhammer, Sarah Goldhammer, Betty Harkins, Hart, Maryellen Healy, Marianna Holzer, Rebekah Underhill Hval, Creek Chris Iverson, Alex Kaminsky, Joe Kaminsky, Bob Killian, Dorothea Killian, Penny Kaufman and their friend Janet, Elfriede Lamhut, Mark Lamhut, Annabel Lindenbaum, Manny Lindenbaum, Dick Manley, Mark McCarrol, John McLaughlin, Elaine Meade, Michael Meade, Ken Miller, Jill Padua, Rebecca Padula, Rik Palieri, Beth Partridge, Ann Rommele, Chic Rommele, Margie Rosenkrantz, Pete Seeger, Maxine Smith, Zenote Sompantles, Kip Touraine and the dock moving crew of the Beacon Sloop Club, Alice Vaughan

Volunteers

Last Saturday a great event happened. It went so smoothly because of all you good folks did. This mass thank you in no way reflects how important each of you individually was to the success of the day on November 7th in Beacon. There were a lot of happy people at the event. After the event they're still remembering magic memories. Vinnie and I are among the happy, it was our pleasure to do our share of what needed to be done to make it happen. We were all part of something bigger than ourselves. Rik has the footage for the 2 part TV show and our sloop singer history is going into the Library of Congress. Through ticket sales, donations and CD sales over $1000 dollars came in in one day. Yesterday we sent our third check for sloop maintenance to Clearwater and Beacon Sloop club. Our BOR2 project is about raising money for sloop maintenance and spreading the Clearwater message through the music. It looks like all our goals were met, thank you.

We thank you for putting the project and our needs before your own. For providing the sloop singers and the audience with awesome hospitality from start to finish. For figuring out how to best implement my vaguely articulated vision of how this would work. Some of you set aside your plans Friday night and showed up as close to 7am on Saturday as you could and never stopped finding what else needed to be done. Some of you paid to see the concert or bought more CDs. For all the things you brought paid for out of your own pocket. For the miles you traveled and the hours you gave before the event. Our heartfelt thanks.

Sloop Singers

Thank you for being with us on November 7th

Thanks for coming on time, for being prepared, for reading the emails, for asking your questions before the event, for doing more than visit, eat and sing, for thinking about the question and sending in written responses, and for thanking us after the event. We are among the happy people. It was our pleasure to provide you with an opportunity to reconnect in comfort. Many more volunteers put our needs before their own to provide us and the audience with awesome hospitality start to finish.

It doesn't mean we didn't see the exceptions. It doesn't mean that some could do better when they are guests in a facility like the Beacon Institute. It doesn't mean everyone is happy. But we were all part of something bigger than ourselves. Rik has the footage for the 2 part TV show and our history is going into the Library of Congress. Through ticket sales, donations and CD sales over $1000 dollars came in in one day. We sent our third check for sloop maintenance to Clearwater and Beacon Sloop club.

There are misconceptions about the day that we'd like to address.

It was not our (Mel and Vinnie's) intention to produce an audio recording, the sound crew was working on sound enhancement for the TV show clips.

There was not and is not a plan to issue a video of the concert. Rik used our BOR2 project as a way to get at sloop singer history. You came to be part of a concert of those songs and had a chance to tell what this has meant to you. Our BOR2 project is about raising money for sloop maintenance and spreading the Clearwater message through the music. It looks like all our goals were met, thank you.

Beacon Sloop Club Holiday Sing - December 11, 2009 8pm

Sunday December 13, 2009 8-9pm WTBQ radio

2010

The Broad Old River 2 CD and the Broad Old River vinyl are now available in a brick and mortar shop in Lake Worth FL.

Top Five Records on 10 South J Street, just off Lake Ave.

If you're in South Florida in Palm Beach County check out John's shop for buying/selling LPs, 45s and CDs.

Clearwater's Great Hudson River Revival 2010 June 19 & 20

Circle of Song tent is even closer to the river this year!

Come by with your instrument, voice or just your ears.

Mel and Vinnie open on Sunday at 11am, join us for river sing alongs.

Sunday 5:30 - 6:30 the closing set at Circle of Song is a Hudson River Sloop Singer Reunion

Each day at Circle of Song there is an open round robin hootenanny song circle.

Saturday 1:15 - 2:30

Sunday 12:30 - 1:15

Broad Old River 2 CDs available Sunday in the Clearwater Store.

Big news!! The half hour Song Writer's Notebook show is ready to schedule to air on Lake Champlain Public Access TV.

November 18, 2020

Songwriter's Notebook Episode 069 coproduced by Rik Palieri and Mel and Vinnie is aired on LCA TV and linked on line for a while.

2011

Release: Free screening Song Writer's Notebook

Free Screenings

Song Writer’s Notebook

CONTACT: Spittoon Studios – 845 744 5483 Vinnie Cerniglia

melhealy@yahoo.com

Back in November 2009, we were able to gather a whole batch of old Clearwater friends to do a concert together and do some interviews about the Sloop Clearwater and The Hudson River Sloop Singers. We were lucky that so many old friends came to join in the fun. Months later after lots of editing and with the combined energy of Koza Productions, Spittoon Studios & LCA TV - VCAM we put together a half hour video featuring Pete Seeger and friends.

The concert celebrates the release of the Broad Old River 2 CD. Four decades of sloop singers and family came together in Pete’s 90^th year at the Clearwater Beacon sloop club to sing the songs together again. The video tells how a group of people can come together and make a dream come to life. Screening will be followed by music. CDs will be available for purchase. $15 from each CD sold benefits maintenance and restoration on the sloops Woody Guthrie and Clearwater.

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit, member- supported corporation whose mission is to preserve and protect the Hudson River. In 1966, folk music legend and environmental activist Pete Seeger, in despair over the pollution of his beloved Hudson River, announced plans to “build a boat to save the river”. At the time, the Hudson was rank with raw sewage, toxic chemicals and oil pollution; fish had disappeared over many miles of its length. Seeger believed a majestic replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries would bring people to the river, where they could experience its beauty and be moved to preserve it. Inspired by that vision, the 106-feet-long tall ship Clearwater was built and launched in 1969. The sloop was among the first vessels in the U.S. to conduct science-based environmental education aboard a sailing ship, virtually creating the template by which such programs are conducted around the world today.

Song Writer’s Notebook TV series is archived in the American Folk Life collection of the Library of Congress.

Mel and Vinnie are Spittoon Studios. Vincent Cerniglia plays old school blues guitar. Maryellen Healy sings from the heart. Together they sail, fundraise, compose, organize, educate and archive for Clearwater spreading a message you can sing and dance to.

2013

2015

May 3, 2015

RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Mel and Vinnie Present: “Sing Out”

A Concert Tribute to Pete and Toshi Seeger and benefit for the Beacon Sloop Club restoration of the sloop Woody Guthrie

Sunday May 3rd, Rain or Shine 2PM-6PM

Scottish Rite Masonic Center and Gray Mockingbird Community Garden

2000 N D Street Lake Worth Florida 33460

Contact: Maryellen Healy (Mel) 845-399-4630 spittoonstudios@gmail.com

Admission: $5 Cash at the door, children under 12 free!!

“Sing Out” is a family fun event for kids of every age, including a concert and potluck supper –bring a delicious covered dish (non-delicious dishes are discouraged).

Other Activities include:

** A half hour video, “Broad Old River : Pete Seeger and Friends, an Oral History of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater” will be shown with a Q&A session after with Andy Mele, former Executive Director, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater”

** Tours of the Grey Mockingbird Community Garden. If you haven’t visited this tranquil little Lake Worth gem then this event is your opportunity!

**After the event from 6PM till they kick us out there will be a story and song circle in the garden for everyone! Please bring instruments, drums, whistles, kazoos and of course your beautiful voices lifted in song!

Pete & Toshi Seeger were married almost 70 years. He was an iconic singer-songwriter best known for his contributions to the American folk music revival and his activism for social justice. He received three music Grammy Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award among various other honors, during his lifetime. She was a potter, photographer, filmmaker, dancer, driving force and organizing partner in a variety of projects with her husband.

“Sing Out” will include musical tributes to Pete Seeger performed by area musicians including:

· Allan Aunapu - was enlisted to rig and captain the Clearwater on its maiden voyage in 1969 from Maine to NY Harbor, the start of a long friendship with Pete and Toshi Seeger. His songs and stories will captivate you.

· Bob Lusk - A veteran of both the Irish and American folk circuit, Bob is an experienced balladeer. His powerful baritone moves from rousing "pub song" favorites to tender love songs as he accompanies himself on guitar, cittern, banjo, and concertina.

· Fifi - Dorothea Killian was a backup singer to Bruce Springsteen in the 60s, a Hudson River Sloop Singer and active with the NJ sloop club, Monmouth County Friends of Clearwater. She is best known as a mime and puppeteer.

· Kat Mahoney – With a powerful voice and a unique style Kat has an abiding love for acoustic, folk and Americana music.

· Katherine Archer – an exciting live performer, her remarkable voice, signature guitar, mandolin skills and lucid songwriting create an intimate and powerful bond with her audience.

· Marie Nofsinger - AKA the “OUTLAW SONGWRITER” is an Award winning songwriter, national touring performer and recording artist, she will take you on a journey into the soul of America

· Mel and Vinnie - Maryellen Healy and Vincent Cerniglia are friends of the Seeger family, members of the Hudson River Sloop Singers, sailors of the sloop Woody Guthrie and remain active in projects Pete started. They wrote the Lake Worth anthem “It Feels Like Home to Me”

· Robert Killian – Robert sang his song "There'll Come A Day" on Tomorrow's Children, Pete Seeger's Grammy award winning album with the Rivertown Kids. He founded the NJ Monmouth County Friends of Clearwater and helped start the FL Aquarian Quest program.

· Ron and Bari Litschauer – Founding members of “The Roadside Revue” band. Bari owns The Amp Shop & Music Parlor, a music store she founded in 1994. Ron’s studio, Acoustic Music Productions, has been in business since 1987.

· Tracy Sands - a traditional Irish singer and contemporary Irish vocalist, her beautiful vocals with both Irish ballads and contemporary songs will warm your soul

Contact: Maryellen Healy (Mel) 845-399-4630 spittoonstudios@gmail.com