February Events
Armchair Travelers Book Club
Armchair Travelers Book Club will meet Thursday, February 5th, at 12:00noon in the Lushbough Room at the Sturgis Public Library. We will be discussing Romance Novels.
Our March 5th discussion will focus on books about Women from the Bible.
Armchair Travelers is co-sponsored by the Sturgis Area Arts Council and the Sturgis Public Library. Open to all interested readers, the group usually meets on the first Thursday of the month in the library’s Lushbough Room at noon.
Dave Martinson’s Big Band Concert and Chocolate Tasting
Get your calendar out and save the afternoon of Sunday, February 8th, for the Big Band Concert along with our annual Chocolate Tasting event. The Band, under the direction of David Martinson, is presenting another wonderful big band concert that afternoon. In addition, during intermission you can enjoy the yummy taste of homemade chocolate delights made by local chefs. Make sure to mark it down now so you don’t forget!
The concert will be held at 2:00pm in the Sturgis Community Center Theater.
Admission price for this afternoon of music and chocolate is $20.
Bring someone you love – or give YOURSELF a little love – and join us for this afternoon of music and sweets.
Did you know? ….. A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with playing jazz music during the early ‘30s until the late ‘40s. Big Bands evolved with the times and continue to this day. A big band typically consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians and contains saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section.
Beginning in the mid ‘20s, big bands came to dominate popular music. At that time they usually played a form of jazz that involved very little improvisation. Orchestras tended to stick to the melody as it was written and vocals would be sung in tune with the melody. Swing music began appearing in the early ‘30s and flourished around 1936, when big bands rose to prominence playing Swing music and held a major role in defining swing as a distinctive style.
There was a considerable range of styles among the bands. Many reflected the individuality of the bandleader, the lead arranger, and the personnel. The popularity of many of the major bands was amplified by star vocalists. Big Bands played a major role in lifting morale during World War II. Many band members served in the military and toured with USO troupes at the front.
And after the Big Band Concert – Pancakes!!
The Ft. Meade Museum will be holding their annual fund-raising Pancake Supper this same evening (Sunday, February 8th) after the Big Band Concert. You can make a whole day of it! Come have your dessert first – and then head over to the Sturgis Senior Citizens Center for some warm fluffy pancakes on a cold February evening.
The Senior Center is located at 919 Harley-Davidson Way – just a couple of blocks east and across the street from the Community Center. They’ll start serving pancakes at 4:30pm. There will be pancakes and all the fixings. Donations for the meal are happily accepted and monies raised will go to support the Ft. Meade Museum.
Our February Meeting
Our February Sturgis Area Arts Council meeting will be held Thursday, February 12th, at 2:30pm in the Lushbough Roon at the Sturgis Public Library. One and all are invited to join us and see what we’re doing to support the Arts here in Sturgis. Just want to hang out with us for a bit – awesome – we love new faces! Have an interest in being on our board? Tell us and we’ll be happy to give you a spot.
History at High Noon
Our February 20th program, presented by Tim Velder, will be “Neva Esmay: A prairie girl who reached new heights.”. Neva was born in Draper, SD, in 1918 and attended rural schools in the prairies north of the Black Hills before finishing high school at Newell. She got a teaching certificate at Spearfish Normal School, but later became a licensed pilot for Clyde Ice at the Spearfish airport in the WWII years. She married Cliff Pluimer and later served as Butte County Superintendent of Schools in the early 1950s, and worked at the Butte County courthouse in various roles.
History at High Noon is a program on the third Friday of the month (October and November, January through May). We meet at noon in the Community Room of the Sturgis Public Library.
We are always looking for ideas. If you would like to tell your family’s history or have something history-based, please contact Richard Moeller (running2win@gmail.com, 605-939-3789), Ross Lamphere (rosslamphere@gmail.com, 605-490-3110), or Diana Hayes (605-347-3007). History at High Noon is co-sponsored by the Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society.
March Events
Armchair Travelers Book Club
Armchair Travelers will meet on Thursday, March 5th, in the Sturgis Public Library’s Lushbough Room at noon to discuss books about Women of the Bible. A list of potential reads will be emailed to current members. If you wish to have a copy, please notify Dorothy Pulscher (dapulscher@gmail.com).
Armchair Travelers is a book club open to all interested readers. It is co-sponsored by the Sturgis Area Arts Council and the Sturgis Public Library.
Our March Meeting
Our March Sturgis Area Arts Council meeting will be Thursday, March 12th, at 2:30pm in the Lushbough Room of the Sturgis Public Library. Come see what we’re all about! We love new faces and new ideas. One and all are welcome to join us 🙂
History at High Noon
Our March 20th History at High Noon Program will be: “First Sturgis City Council”.
Lee Stroschine will tell about the men that made up the first city council for Sturgis. (when the city was incorporated in 1888)
History at High Noon is a program on the third Friday of the month (October and November, January through May). We meet at noon in the Community Room of the Sturgis Public Library.
We are always looking for ideas. If you would like to tell your family’s history or have something history-based, please contact Richard Moeller (running2win@gmail.com, 605-939-3789), Ross Lamphere (rosslamphere@gmail.com, 605-490-3110), or Diana Hayes (605-347-3007).
History at High Noon is co-sponsored by the Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society.
Easter Cantata Choir Rehearses for 17th Performance
It is the time of year for Sturgis-area singers to prepare for the 17th performance of its annual Easter Cantata. The choir began weekly rehearsals in February in preparation for the two upcoming performances, one on Palm Sunday, March 29th, and the second on Tuesday, March 31st, at 7:00 pm both evenings at Grace Lutheran Church, 1061 Sherman Street in Sturgis,
This year’s cantata, Upon This Rock, composed by Pepper Choplin, is told in the voice of Peter, Jesus’ disciple. As the narration about Peter unfolds, it is evident that he was a passionate person. This works leads the listener through his experience with Christ. As the story unfolds through Peter’s eyes, the audience is led to ask, “What is our passion? What is our call? Who do we live for?”
Come experience the Easter message sung by the 64-voice choir conducted by Marlene Kotab with a portrayal of Peter by Randy Bender. Embrace the message of Upon this Rock. There is no admission charge, but your free-will offerings are always appreciated to help cover expenses.
April Events
Armchair Travelers Book Club
Armchair Travelers will meet on Thursday, April 2nd, to discuss book about Afghanistan, an opportunity to do some international traveling. The librarians will have some of the library’s stash at the front desk if you want some help choosing a title.
Armchair Travelers is a book club open to all interested readers. It is co-sponsored by the Sturgis Area Arts Council and the Sturgis Public Library.
Our April Meeting
Our April Sturgis Area Arts Council meeting will be Thursday, March 12th, at 2:30pm in the Lushbough Room of the Sturgis Public Library. Come see what we’re all about! We love new faces and new ideas. One and all are welcome to join us 🙂
History at High Noon
Our April 17th History at High Noon program is titled: “Bitten, kicked and stomped!”
Soap Opera narratives did not get invented in Hollywood. We had our own right here in the Northern Hills. David Super tells the story of Deadwood veterinarian Dr. Charles Leslie, his marriages to two women from Sturgis, and more.
History at High Noon is a program on the third Friday of the month (October and November, January through May). We meet at noon in the Community Room of the Sturgis Public Library.
We are always looking for ideas. If you would like to tell your family’s history or have something history-based, please contact Richard Moeller (running2win@gmail.com, 605-939-3789), Ross Lamphere (rosslamphere@gmail.com, 605-490-3110), or Diana Hayes (605-347-3007).
History at High Noon is co-sponsored by the Sturgis & Meade County Historical Society.
May Events
Auditions Set For “Cinderella”
The SAAC Drama Committee is calling all local singers and actors to the auditions for this summer’s musical performance of “Cinderella.” This is a musical for all ages. There are many smaller chorus parts, if you are interested in just dipping your toes into the world of musical theater. It is a lovely and familiar story with songs that many grew up hearing on the TV presentation that first began in 1957 as a live CBS broadcast with Julie Andrews, and then in the1965 version starring Lesley Ann Warren.
The auditions are Sunday and Monday, May 3rd and 4th, at 6:00pm, at Grace Lutheran Church, 1061 Sherman Street in Sturgis. (If these dates don’t work for you, please call to express your interest. We will make it work!) You will be asked to read a portion of the script and sing as part of your audition. Our director is Thomas Golden, an experienced actor/director, who has been associated with our theater for many years. Rehearsals are Monday-Thursday 6:30-8:30 p.m. and begin Tuesday, May 5.
We are also looking for set builders and painters. Please call Gary at 605-890-2189, Marlene at 605-347-1375, or Chris at 605-347-1795 if you could help in any way.
There are three stage versions and we are producing the Enchanted Version. Here are some of the available parts. Consider what role you would like to play as you join the Cinderella cast:
- Cinderella
- Fairy Godmother
- Stepmother
- Grace – Cinderella’s awkward stepsister
- Joy – Cinderella’s sullen stepsister
- Christoper – a charming prince
- Lionel – his royal steward
- Queen Constantina – his mother
- King Mazimillian – his father
- Charles – a cat who will become a coachman
- 4 White mice – who will become horses
- A Dove – ho will become a footman
- Many Villagers, Merchants, Maidens, and Palace Guests.
The show will be presented June 18-21 at the Sturgis Community Center Theater. (Thursday-Saturday at 7:00pm and Sunday at 2:00pm) Ticket prices are $20 for adults and $10 for students.