Bands splash up support for former area swimmer
LOCAL SCENE with Tom Lounges

Font Size:

| Friday, March 23, 2001 | (No comments posted.)

A former Calumet Region resident and a 1993 graduate of Munster High School who relocated to California to pursue a career in the medical profession will feel some hometown love tonight when two of the area's top club bands perform a special concert to raise money to buy her a handicap-accessible van.

Courtney Miller, a former swimmer at Munster High who was injured in a diving accident that has left her wheelchair bound since her senior year, will benefit from a special dinner/dance from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Wicker Park Social Center in Highland. Donating performances will be Timepeace and Soul What. A minimum door donation of $5 is being requested and there will be a special Vegas Night Raffle at 10 p.m.

All monies will go to help Miller.

"Our goal is to raise as much money as we can to purchase the specially equipped van that (Courtney) needs to move on with her life," said East Chicago percussionist Jesse Hernandez, who will perform with Timepeace at the show and who helped to organize the event.

"Courtney has been working very hard to get her life back together and to make her body as strong as possible through physical and occupational therapy," said mother Joan Miller, who still resides in the region.

"She will be graduating early next year and is ready to start a new chapter in her life. Driving would give her back a feeling of independence that she's not had for the last seven years. It would make a big difference in her quality of life and enable her to work."

Those who cannot attend but who wish to help can make a donation to: Joan M. Miller Special Account, Sand Ridge Bank, 2611 Highway Ave., Highland, IN 46322. For more information on tonight's dinner/dance call (219) 924-4945. For information about the special Sand Ridge Bank fund, call Mary Shelton at (219) 972-7364.

* The Indiana Blind Children's Foundation, along with the Indianapolis Colts, will present their third annual fund-raiser, "Making Waves," Sunday. The swimming event takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Indiana School For The Blind Aquatic Center (7725 N. Collage Ave.) in Indianapolis. NFL Player Bradford Banta will host the program, which will feature a number of current and former Colts.

For more info, call (317) 767-7558.

* Bassist J.D. Leap of the Hobart-based band Trauma is organizing a benefit concert for a needy area family. The event will take place at Port Offshore Lounge (5714 Central Ave.) in Portage on April 8.

Already confirmed to perform are The Heathens, Tamallicka, Greg Bruner and Trauma. Those wishing to lend a hand can contact J.D at (219) 962-6563.

* These ears are still recovering from the advance three-song CD from the Oak Lawn-based band No One, which will release its first full-length national CD on May 22 via Immortal Records (home of Limp Bizkit). The songs "Chemical," "My Release," and "It's Real" would seem to indicate that these lads will soon follow in the footsteps of their hometown buddies, Disturbed.

Since showcasing for major labels at Champ's Rock Club in nearby Burbank and landing their deal a few months ago, the quartet (composed of former members of Black Talon and Loudmouth) have been holed up writing and recording. In a word, these cats are HEAVY! Check them out online at: www.noonemusic.com.

* Crown Point native, Jeremy Williams, who last year thumbed bass guitar for that town's Mr. Marc Band before relocating to Michigan to study at Saginaw Valley State University, has spent much of his free time during the school year writing original music. Williams will spend his spring back in "Da Region" recording his songs at Redline Studios in Crown Point.

The project, for which there is neither a band name nor album title as of yet, also will feature region musicians Mike Zunica on violin and guitarist Will Rashin (both members of the local band, Free Raine). Williams describes his music as a blend of ska, punk, blues and hard rock.

* Congratulations to my good buddy Brian "Hit Mix" Middleton of B96 and his wife Kathy on the birth of their first child, Cory Keith Middleton. The infant's grandfather is veteran broadcaster Keith Middleton of local radio station WCGO in Chicago Heights. No confirmation to the rumor that Cory was born with a set of headphones on and a microphone in his hand.

* E-mail Tom Lounges at: beatboss@aol.com.

Back to story No comments posted.

Please note: Comments from readers will be screened and may not be posted immediately. If you don't see your comment perhaps:

It wasn't clear, concise or focused on the topic in the story.
It was a personal attack, vulgar, explicit or degrading, used actual or implied profanity or contained potentially libelous statements.
It accused someone of being guilty of a crime.
It promoted violence or illegal acts.
It contained telephone numbers or street addresses, or e-mail addresses and links to Web sites other than nwi.com or government agencies.

In no way do these comments represent the views of The Times or Lee Enterprises.

Passionate views, pointed criticism and critical thinking are welcome. Name-calling, crude and profane language and personal abuse are not welcome.

Reader comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined. They may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.

If you feel a posted comment has violated these guidelines, please email our New Media team the commenter's name, the comment and a link to the article.

For more information please read our Terms of Service.

Back to story No comments posted.

Post a comment Once your comments are approved, they will appear here.

Marketplace

Sections

Services

Other Publications

Search