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Exhibit celebrates
heritage By Jane Lethean Posted Sep 06, 20100 @ 06:00 PM Lean, Ill. - As a smaller museum, the Lena Area Historical Museum is celebrating the heritage of music in a big way. Tucked away in the village of Lena, those who organize and direct the museum have something big going on Oct. 17 — a traveling exhibition called “Celebrating American Roots Music.” This exhibit is on loan from The Smithsonian Institution and is made possible by the Illinois Humanities Council. The exhibit will tour six Illinois communities through January 2011. The mere fact that it is in this back yard is exciting to one of the curators, Sharon Welton. Welton is proud that Lena is able to feature an exhibition of this stature. New Harmonies “Celebrating American Roots Music” is an interactive tour that takes people on a musical journey of the history of American music. It is a cultural history of the musical landscape of America. It offers a story of the diverse mix of people interacting with a world where cultures and customs met, mixed, and mingled to create new sounds. It is a distinct look at the cultural identities of the people who carried on their customs through sound. Welton said this exhibit is coming to Lena because the museum met the criteria of having a population under 8,000. “It’s very exciting for our group and our town to have an exhibit like this,” Welton said. “It’s something I’d never have imagined us having — a Smithsonian exhibit in our small museum.” Welton said the exhibit is “very professional” She attended a workshop in May to be able to set up the interactive exhibit. The display includes real musical instruments and a special kiosk set up with headphones to allow the listener the chance to listen to their music of choice. Roots Music The mere name “roots” is the core of this exhibit, which includes blues, country, jazz, folk, gospel and Cajun. The exhibition tracks the unique history of many people reshaping each other into one incredibly diverse and complex culture — American. It also promises a fascinating, inspiring, and toe-tapping listen to the American story of cultural exchange with its multimedia components. As a unique traveling exhibition, it is full of surprises about familiar songs, histories of instruments, the roles of religion and technology in shaping new sounds. It offers the continuity of musical roots from the colonial period to modern day punk and Hip-hop. The exhibition is comprised of six freestanding structures containing interactive components and artifacts mounted in cases. “This is a walking tour and it shows how many people in their music were often escaping some form of religious persecution,” Welton said. “Not only do we have this national exhibition, but we also have taken it upon ourselves to have our own local exhibition of local musical history from this area, which is a separate exhibition at this museum. Meeting the Criteria One of the stipulations the museum must meet to qualify for this exhibition is to hold three separate events to celebrate the history of what this exhibition means. While the museum has limited open hours, organizers have said they will accommodate special groups and school tours by appointment. Upcoming events include: Chautauqua — This will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Historical Society barn. This will be a rousing concert featuring gospel and folk music. There will also be a special appearance William Jennings Bryant, who will play “Roots music.” The cost for this event is $5 for adults and $2 for children. Guitar camp — this will be held Sept. 18 at the museum. It is a workshop for grades 2 to 6 p.m., with a recital concert to follow. The recital will take place at 6 p.m. that day. Pre-registration is required. The cost is $5. Barn Dance — at 7 p.m. Oct. 2, an old-fashioned barn dance will take place at the barn. Also featured will be a caller for the traditional dance music. Watch and learn for $5. Oktoberfest — at 7 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Lena Community Center, The Greg Andrews Band, known for their Polka music, will perform. Get on the dancing shoes, have some beer and brats all for the cost of $5 in advance or $7 at the door. Copyright 2010 The Journal-Standard. Some rights reserved
Celebrate the music
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Newspaper Column “New in the Old Testament” (This week Immanuel Lutheran is welcoming a new “vicar,” student pastor Brian Weaver from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Weaver, a native of Texas, will certainly bring new ideas to the congregation. We are also in a new school year and there are many new things in our lives. What does the Old Testament say about “new”? See if you can determine the answers to “New in the Bible” without checking the Biblical reference.) 1. I was the first “newborn” in the Bible—in fact I was the first person “born” in the Bible. Who am I? (Genesis 3:1-2) (a) Abel, (b) Cain, (c) Seth, (d) Abraham, (e) None of the above. 2. I was called a new “king” in Egypt who began to oppress God’s people many years after the death of Joseph and his family. By what other name am I called? (Exodus 1:8) (a) Pharaoh, (b) Solomon, (c) Nebuchadnezzar, (d) Cyrus, (e) None of the above. 3. This “rule of law” about something new would exempt a person from military service. What was this law? (Deuteronomy 24:5) (a) Person with new property, (b) Person with a new vow to serve in the Temple, (c) Person with a new wife, (d) Person with a new ox, (e) None of the above. 4. I was bound with two new ropes because this was supposed to keep me from attacking my captors. By the way, it didn’t work. Who am I? (Judges 15:13) (a) David, (b) Gideon, (c) Solomon, (d) Jeremiah, (e) Samson. 5. This was returned to Israel after being captive for more than half a year. Several “new” things were needed for its return. What was it? (I Samuel 6:7-10) (a) Ark of the Covenant, (b) Temple brass, (c) Urim and Thummin, (d) Brass serpent on a pole, (e) None of the above. 6. This new place was built during the reign of Solomon and was dedicated with great pomp. (I Kings 6:37-38) What was it? (a) Ark of the Covenant, (b) Solomon’s palace, (c) The Temple, (d) City of Bethel, (e) None of the above. 7. I wrote that there was “nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10) (a) Solomon, (b) Koheleth, (c) the Preacher, (d) the Teacher, (e) All of the above. 8. I, Isaiah, wrote about this person and talked about singing a “new song” to Him. Who am I talking about, under the inspiration of God? (Isaiah 42:10ff.) (a) Solomon, (b) Solomon’s son, (c) Solomon’s grandson, (d) the Servant of the Lord. 9. This was the place where I, Jeremiah, sat during some of my prophetic preaching and teaching. What place was this? (Jeremiah 26:10, 36:10). (a) the new Temple, (b) the new Ark container, (c) the new King’s palace, (d) the new gate at the Temple, (e) the new pulpit. 10.In my prophecy in the book of Ezekiel I talked about many new things. One of the key things that God told me His people would receive was this. (Ezekiel 36:26) (a) new Temple, (b) new Ark, (c) new heart, (d) new feet.
<ANSWERS: (1) b/Cain; (2) a/Pharaoh; (3) c/person with a new wife; (4) e/Samson; (5) a/Ark of the Covenant; (6) c/the Temple; (7) e/all of the above—all are names for Solomon; (8) d/the servant of the Lord; (9) d/the new gate at the Temple; (10) c/new heart. SCORING: 10 correct – This quiz wasn’t new to you; 9 correct – You have a good handle on new things; 8 – some things are old and new; 7 or less – take a new look at the Old Testament.
The Rev. Willis R. Schwichtenberg (Pastor Switz) is Senior Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Freeport, Illinois. His E-mail is wschwichtenberg@immanuellutheranfreeport.com.
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Ready to spread their Wings:
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Struggles with painLocal woman perseveres despite physical trialsPhotos
Jane Lethlean Anna Marie Sieberns, 25, of Freeport lives a full life, despite suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Diagnosed at the age of 5, she has climbed many mountains. She looks forward to completing her college degree in the near feature.By Jane Lethlean Posted Jun 01, 2010 @ 03:05 AM Freeport, Ill. — For the past 20 years, Anna Marie Sieberns, 25, of Freeport has had her struggles with pain. She remembers the day she first developed the pain that has taken hold of her life. At the time, Sieberns was just 5-years-old. She was in kindergarten and awoke one morning with severe hip pain. She had recently fallen on the ice. Her parents, John and Nina Sieberns took their young daughter to the hospital. The pain went away. Life resumed. Two weeks later, the pain returned. It had spread to other joints in her body. Sieberns said she remembers horrific pain. Her parents took her to a specialist at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, Wis. The diagnosis was juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, also known as (RA). This is an autoimmune disease in which the joint lining becomes inflamed as part of the body’s immune system activity. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the most serious and disabling types, affecting mostly women. At that time her future was unknown. The disease can be progressive. It manifests itself differently in each person. “I have been on steroids ever since I was diagnosed,” Sieberns said. “It stunted my growth. I have osteoporosis and it has affected my bones.” Sieberns smiles, despite her trials in life. She said having arthritis makes life tougher, but this young women said she has enjoyed life to the fullest. She takes medications to help get her through the difficulties. One medication, methotrexate, is often used to treat patients on chemotherapy. She has never lost her hair, which happens to many people using this drug. The drug is designed to stunt the growth of the cells that create the disease. There are some side effects, but Sieberns said she has tolerated the drug well. She also takes a more common drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis — Enbrel. Enbrel is a drug used to treat autoimmune diseases like this form of arthritis. Sieberns, who is only 4’ 10” tall, said she knows her limits, but this hasn’t stopped her from living a normal life. She has regular bone density tests. She said she feels fortunate to never having broken a bone. Living The Good Life “I have good days and bad days – I know my limits,” she said. Sometimes I get down, but I am lucky – I’m an upbeat person. “This is my life – the hardest thing is when I have to go off of my medication to prepare for surgeries,” she added. Sieberns has had both of her hips and knees replaced. She said “my feet are crooked as a rainbow.” She faces more surgery on her curved left foot. Walking isn’t easy for her. Her joint replacement surgeries went well. She said the doctors told her, statistically, patients suffering from RA do better with joint replacement surgeries than other people. “I’ve dealt with a lot of pain in my life, but having had the surgeries has been such an improvement in my life,” Sieberns said. “I focus on the positive.” Sieberns credits her sunny personality with having the support from her parents and younger brother, David. She is attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, working on a degree in biology. Her aspiration is to become a psychologist — she loves helping others. Sieberns said, despite having RA, she has good life. She said she had a doctor tell her this case of RA was the worst he had ever seen. It was not until she was an eighth grader she was put in a drug trial program, to help offset the effects of the disease. “Prior to that, I couldn’t even put my hands together to pray,” she said. “The drug Enbrel changed my life — I pray a lot these days.” Life’s Definition Sieberns said she refuses to let the disease define her life. She still feels like a lucky person – she has love and happiness in her life. This young woman lives her life to the fullest. She will soon undergo surgery on her ankle. After that, she looks forward to a strong future.
“Having this disease is more than an ache or a pain — it’s my way of life,”
she said. “Sometimes I punch life harder to see what I can do — I refuse to
let rheumatoid arthritis define who I am.” Copyright 2010 The Journal-Standard. Some rights reserved
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