By Lyse McGilvery

There are so many generous people in our community that it didn’t take much asking around for people to point out some who do a lot but are not necessarily recognized for their service. I thought you’d enjoy reading about two special folks during this season of sharing.

Andy Kinder, well known to locals for his bright blue Broomhilda’s Cleaning Service van, does his best to give back to his community. He threw a huge birthday party in September requesting “No presents, just funny cards or donations to Valley Churches United.” In that one evening, he collected over $1,000 in checks for VCUM’s local emergency headquarters. Andy also volunteers and gives donations for the VCUM Christmas Project and the Cinco de Mayo benefit at Joe’s Bar for families adopted by VCUM. He said, “A lot of people don’t know how easy it is to find local places to volunteer. People should do whatever they can to help out.”   .

Another citizen who volunteers for our local people and for those in need elsewhere is Barry Tanner, who “loves a community full of music.”  Barry has been organizing musicians for fund-raisers at Scopazzi’s and Joe’s Bar since 2009, including one for the survivors of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, and other benefits for Doctors without Borders and Valley Churches United.  Barry also provides sound equipment for community events like the Fourth of July concert at Junction Park, the Boulder Creek Bluegrass Festival, and for his partner Naomi Sokubi’s fashion show last year, designed to show SLV youth a potential career path.

Barry said, “It’s all about keeping music alive, especially for local musicians who don’t have any readily available venues. With the recording session, they get an opportunity to help their careers, and by working for myself and others, the whole community benefits.”  Barry’s ultimate goal is to bring a music school to Boulder Creek in his newly-opened music store on the corner of Hwy 9 and Forest St.  Besides selling new, used, and vintage instruments, he will offer in-store and in-studio group lessons and individual lessons on many different instruments.  Bring on the music!