Hawk Mountain Sanctuary outdoor concert benefits Road to Recovery for local artist
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Audio crammed the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary outdoor amphitheater to assist chain saw artist Todd Gladfelter of Schuylkill County and his ongoing restoration from partial paralysis.
An estimated 250 to 300 people today arrived out for the Todd Gladfelter’s Highway to Restoration Reward Live performance on Might 28, raising $15,500 for the Gladfelter-Ross spouse and children.
“It was unbelievable looking at so quite a few friends from the earlier and men and women we did not know who came up to desire us nicely and so lots of musicians who ended up inclined to give up their time to aid us out. It felt like a great team of lovers rooting for you,” explained Todd. “It would make it simpler to get by way of the really hard instances and function more challenging at rehab.”
Just before his fall from a roof in November 2021, Todd was commissioned in late 2019 to generate operates of art for Hawk Mountain’s new outdoor amphitheater. Making use of a chain saw carving approach, he crafted replicas of 32 species of native Appalachian wildlife.
“Hawk Mountain in no way experienced an outdoors instructing room right before this put was established. I truly refer to this as the Sistine Chapel for Hawk Mountain,” explained Sanctuary President Sean Grace, chatting about a live raptor program held at the amphitheater. “Just the appears to be like on the kids’ faces to have that practical experience in this area, just an significant and indelible portion of what this spot is and will always be is Todd Gladfelter.”
He explained Todd is 1 of those men and women that would never ever inquire for assist.
“It’s our task as a local community to display support,” reported Grace. “It’s likely to be a entertaining and rowdy celebration all in celebration of a seriously great point as Todd is on his road to restoration.”
Individuals introduced chairs, blankets and even tents for the rain.
“The amphitheater, with huge wooden posts chain-saw-carved by Todd prior to his incident, was overflowing with spouse and children, pals, hikers, musicians and some others in support of Todd’s restoration,” stated good friend Wendy Kerschner.
The most impactful instant was when Todd took the stage with Dave Kline & The Mountain Folks Band to accompany them with his recently learned harmonica skills. A buddy experienced gifted Todd harmonicas and Kline provided instruction on how to participate in “Angleline the Baker.”
“With his ever present can-do frame of mind, Todd took the stage, delivered a strong instance of how to adapt and triumph over, and been given a standing ovation,” reported Kerschner. “He’s an amazing man! A miracle! His spirit in the encounter of such overwhelming challenges is inspiring!”
Equally as inspiring is his spouse, Cindy Ross.
“She has taken on and embraced new competencies as a caregiver, whilst accepting the aid and guidance of family and close friends to make adaptions to their property and life style so she and Todd can keep on the life of outdoor dwelling and experience they delight in and created for themselves,” mentioned Kerschner. “It was a gathering of form-hearted, like-minded persons, demonstrating support and appreciate to a few who have finished the exact for many others all through their a long time!”
Between those people in attendance ended up buddies Martha and Jay Ressler, artists from Hamburg.
“The emotions that appear to my head are just heat and local community and generosity,” said Martha. “There were so several people there I realized hugs, tears and just generosity, really like and giving, and seriously excellent music.”
“This is how local community must appear collectively this is how men and women can and ought to support each and every other,” Martha ongoing. “This is what becoming alive is about. This is the excellent stuff this is what we are living for.”
Advantage concert for a close friend
Berks musician Dave Kline, a mate of Todd and Cindy, coordinated the musicians for the concert.
“Todd Gladfelter’s Recovery Concert Function was encouraged, inspired and rooted in my like of the male and spouse and family who themselves have devoted significantly of their individual time for the betterment of our local community at massive, but also for veterans in want and for the training of youngsters and households through a link to the excellent outdoors,” claimed Kline.
Prior to his damage, Todd received several accolades, together with a number of championships at the Mid-Atlantic Nationwide Chainsaw Opposition.
He also actively served operate the River Home Veteran’s team outings, cycled, backpacked and paddled around the globe, and also shown his techniques hammering steel in his blacksmith forge.
His work creating his log house was comprehensive in his wife’s ebook, “Log Cabin Years: How Just one Couple Crafted a Household from Scratch and Established a Everyday living.”
Straight away after Todd’s incident, Kline understood his major mission on Todd’s Street to Recovery, the fundraising marketing campaign, would be to arrange a live performance fundraiser to assist offset the tremendous health-related expenditures.
Kline posted a request for musical volunteers on Fb and inside 30 minutes the concert lineup was entirely booked.
“Having taken care of that and getting Todd’s loved ones on board, we arrived at out to artist Jon Bond and Sean Grace and the leadership crew of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and they jumped on board without having hesitation, this means that anything was set to develop a wonderful working day of audio, fellowship and joy at Hawk Mountain exactly where Todd experienced carved far more than 30 beautiful wildlife figures that adorn the phase region,” reported Kline.
Eight musical functions from noon to 5 p.m. provided Keith Brintzenhoff, Crow Hill, Luke Hertzog, Texas Rose Band, Big Valley Bluegrass, The Youngers, Dave Kline & The Mountain Folks Band, a presentation by Todd’s son Bryce Gladfelter, a track by the spring course of Hawk Mountain trainees, the singing of “You’ll In no way Walk On your own,” and a finale jam showcasing Todd, Dave Kline, and other musicians.
“Performing at an function to solely advantage an additional individual is, for me, one particular of the most gratifying thoughts,” claimed Luke Hertzog. “Everyone is there for 1 induce, to assistance other folks. When you see local community and performers exhibit up en masse in these a way, you really understand how substantially good there truly is however lingering in the environment.”
“Dave is a longtime treasured friend with a huge heart,” mentioned Invoice Parker of Major Valley Bluegrass. “When he questioned Major Valley to be a section of this particular working day it was a no-brainer. Becoming on that phase and seeing firsthand the outpouring of assist was outside of mind-boggling. We must all be so fortunate to have as significantly help to a trigger as Todd noticed, and to have a pal these as Dave.”
“Crow Hill believed it an honor and obligation to take part in this fundraising party for our close friend, Todd Gladfelter,” said Matt Wlasniewski of Crow Hill. “It was a incredible outpouring of love and assistance for Todd and his wife, Cindy, from a community comprised of Hawk Mountain workers and associates, nearby musicians, artists and Todd’s family and friends.”
In the course of Crow Hill’s very last music, “Ain’t No Grave,” as if on cue, the rain clouds broke and sunlight lined the viewers in entrance of the stage, he reported.
“This seemed to symbolize the spirit and perseverance of Todd and the viewers applauded and cheered in settlement. As the hawk counters say, ‘It was a fantastic day on the mountain,’” mentioned Wlasniewski.
Deborah Cooper held a bake sale and encouraged people today to sign up for the Highway To Restoration Reward Raffle & Auction scheduled for June 5 at Landingville Fire Home, 1 Firehouse Street, Landingville in Schuylkill County. The auction event features food items, beer, wine and a bake sale, with a silent auction 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are living auction 3 to 5 p.m.
Todd and Cindy had been founding members of The Arts Barn and contributing member. Todd was really energetic on the board and with his welding and chainsaw artwork work.
“When the term went out for help, our awesome artists stepped forward contributing their creative artwork. The faithful Arts Barn followers and volunteers also stepped up to support. Volunteers and artists even participated in a massive mosaic triptych of birch trees in Todd’s honor,” said Cooper.
Uplifting expertise
“It felt like one particular of the most effective days of my everyday living, appropriate up there with my wedding day day and the birth of my little ones,” mentioned Cindy. “So mind-boggling with adore and assist, we have been equally quite blown away.”
Their son’s rap tune for his father and movie of Todd’s healing journey was unbelievably emotional, she stated.
Even though they knew most in attendance, some were being strangers, “It was remarkable to have all this for us.”
Given that the incident, so several have achieved out to assistance.
“I experienced no idea that we experienced impacted their life … and now they have a opportunity to help us. It is actually potent,” explained Ross. “We don’t experience like we’re some kind of rock stars that people must be serving to us like this due to the fact we’ve just been dwelling our lives the way we think we ought to be dwelling. I guess we designed a large effect on folks for the very last 60 many years.”
Most of all, the live performance was uplifting.
“When in the center of the night and he wakes up crying and yelling in ache and he desires to prevent and he’s exhausted of it and wishes it to be above, he can consider about that working day and it’ll give him additional energy,” stated Cindy. “It’s genuinely about the individuals and who are there for us if we will need them, even if it is just contemplating about that they’re there.”
Money lifted at the concert will go towards professional medical costs, therapies, products and other fees.
“We have a little window of his human body to regenerate nerve cells. It’s a calendar year and a half to two years ahead of he’ll plateau and very minor development will come about thereafter,” Cindy said. “So I’m choosing all varieties of people to come in each and every working day to do far more treatment.”
Over-all, what she liked most was the outpouring of enjoy.
“It was like there was electrical energy in the air.”
Kline said the party turned out to be every thing they hoped.
Hundreds sang together, clapped together and donated to guide the loved ones in the monetary facet of the artist’s street to recovery, Kline reported.
“The atmosphere of the day could not have been far more great and the most honest way to explain it is that everybody, audience, musicians, volunteers were all pretty much substantial from all the attractive like and mild shared at this after in a life span afternoon,” explained Kline. “Sometimes it looks as nevertheless the light of the entire universe shines down on these kinds of a scene and the atmosphere that was established on this day was a single for the ages.”
His hope was to help Todd’s spouse and children in a economical way.
“Because of the incredible vibe that grew throughout the day, what happened transcended dollars and turned a thing that was a impressive and affirmative existence encounter that none of us will at any time ignore,” stated Kline.
Perspective a movie of the event entitled, Todd’s Street to Restoration Concert Occasion, on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pptzSri43v8.
To make a donation, mail a verify produced out to Cindy Ross at 85 Pink Mountain Lane, New Ringgold, PA 17960. For extra details about approaching situations and fundraisers, visit Todd Gladfelter’s Highway to Recovery Facebook team.
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