Park band bringing Mardi Gras spirit

Also, Ascension lands grant for free mammograms and diagnostic imaging

This year's annual Kokomo Park Band Winter Concert, sponsored by Comprehensive Planning Corp., will bring the vibrant spirit of Mardi Gras to Kokomo. The event will take place at the Kokomo High School Auditorium at 3 p.m., Sunday, February 23. This festive celebration of music is inspired by the New Orleans Carnival season, known for rich foods, lively parades, dazzling costumes, and, of course, incredible music. The program celebrates the diverse music of New Orleans, from traditional jazz to toe-tapping Cajun folk songs and dances. Audience members are invited to dress festively for the occasion; beads will be provided.

For those who require transportation to and from the concert, C.A.M.'s Howard County Connect van service will be available. Rides can be requested by calling 765-431-1874 on the day of the concert, starting at 1:00 p.m. The van is equipped with a wheelchair lift to ensure accessibility for all.

While admission to the Kokomo Park Band's "A Mardi Gras Carnival" concert is free, the event will serve as a collection point for essential hygiene items and monetary donations to benefit Coordinated Assistance Ministries (C.A.M.).

During intermission, the Indiana University Kokomo Flute Choir, under the direction of Trudy Whitford, will perform in the lobby. The group, in its seventh year, performs for various community events and is open to university students and community members. Cookies prepared by Baked Knightly will be available for a suggested donation of two for $3, with the proceeds going to C.A.M., a local non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families in need. They are seeking donations of shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, shaving cream, razors, 3-in-1 body wash, and feminine hygiene items. Cash donations also will be gratefully accepted.

The concert, originally slated for March, was moved to accommodate a very special occasion. Maestro Jay Gephart will be conducting his Purdue Wind Ensemble at the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.—a tremendous honor! This exciting opportunity follows Jay's recent recognition at the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, where he received the National Band Association’s Al & Gladys Wright Distinguished Legacy Award for his exceptional contributions to music education.

Trombonist John Huntoon will perform “Slidin' Down the Mississippi” by Clifton Taylor. Huntoon, a seasoned trombonist, has performed with the Kokomo Park Band for 34 years. Currently serving as Principal Trombonist with both the Anderson Symphony Orchestra and the Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, John brings a wealth of experience and artistry to every performance.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, John's musical journey began with piano lessons from his father, followed by his introduction to the trombone in the fifth grade. He honed his skills, earning a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Millikin University (Decatur, IL) and a Master's degree in Trombone Performance from Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH).

John's professional career has taken him to various stages, including Principal Trombonist with the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra and trombonist for the Southwest Brass Quintet (Phoenix, AZ). Since moving to Indiana in 1991, he has been an active force in the local music scene, teaching low brass in Indianapolis-area public schools and serving on the faculty at Anderson University from 1998 to 2017.

Beyond performing and teaching, John has also contributed significantly to church music programs. He has assisted with the music and choral programs at First Baptist Church (Indianapolis), where his wife, Diana, is the vocal soloist, and has served as music director at Central Christian Church in Anderson.

Other selections in the concert include “Fanfare from ‘La Péri’” by Paul Dukas; “Cajun Folk Songs II” and “Arcadiana” by Frank Ticheli; “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans” by DeLange & Alter; “Like a River” by Robert Sheldon; “Bayou Breakdown” by Brant Karrick; “Basin Street Barbeque” by Howard Rowe; and “Louis Armstrong’s Legend” by Gazzani, featuring Neil Broeker, clarinet, and Bruce Knepper, trumpet. “At a Dixieland Jazz Funeral” by Jared Spears will highlight the Retired Rum-Runners Traditional Jazz Band.

This Kokomo Park Band concert is produced in cooperation with The Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation, Center Township Trustee, Community Foundation of Howard County, the Arts Federation, and the Indiana Arts Commission with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts. The majority of the band's funding depends on donations from individuals. Contributions may be sent to Kokomo Park Band; PO Box 6039; Kokomo, IN 46904-6039. More information can be found on Facebook and its website, www.kokomoparkband.org.

Ascension lands grant for free mammograms

The Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo Hospital Foundation received a grant from the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust to provide free 3D screening mammograms and diagnostic imaging to low-income, uninsured, or underinsured Howard and surrounding county residents.

Funding is available now through December 31 and will provide education, screening mammograms, diagnostics, and necessary follow-up care.

Early detection is the best prevention for breast cancer, and by focusing efforts on a comprehensive solution, uninsured community members will have access to a potentially lifesaving service. To determine eligibility for a screening mammogram, call Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo Health Access at 765-456-5415.

Kokomo Women's Center Supervisor Kelly Keisling said, "We are incredibly grateful to the Indiana Breast Care Awareness Trust for their generous grant, which will provide life-saving mammograms to women in our community, ensuring access to vital care for those who need it most."

Since the Breast Cancer Awareness special group recognition (SGR) license plate was first made available in 2002, over $7 million has been distributed by the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust (IBCAT) through competitively awarded grants to organizations throughout Indiana for innovative projects for breast cancer screening and diagnostic and support services not otherwise available to medically underserved populations in Indiana.

In addition, nearly $150,000 has been awarded in scholarships to high school seniors who have lost a parent to breast cancer or have a parent currently battling the disease. The mission of the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, Inc. is to increase awareness and improve access to breast cancer screening, diagnosis and support services throughout Indiana.

Indiana residents may purchase an Indiana breast cancer awareness special group recognition license plate by visiting any Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch, online at IN.gov/BMV, or on a BMV Connect kiosk for an annual $40 fee, $25 of which is a direct tax-deductible donation (to the extent of the law). The plate may be purchased for display on passenger motor vehicles, motorcycles, trucks with a declared gross weight of not more than 11,000 pounds, and recreational vehicles.

The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness SGR license plate was the brainchild of the late Nancy Jaynes, a Plymouth (IN) High School family and consumer sciences teacher. Nancy lost her battle with breast cancer in March of 2008. Her vision that the license plate be a traveling billboard and reminder about the importance of early detection of breast cancer is alive and making a difference to thousands of Hoosiers.

For more information or to make a direct donation to the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, please visit www.BreastCancerPlate.org.