By Anita Curtis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

The Highland Springs chorus recently put on its spring concert for residents and guests, including a perky soft shoe dance by resident Bette Lobb.

Resident Noni Meaney, who says she missed singing, organized the chorus with the help of Highland Springs Community Resources Coordinator Barbara Blachly.

All in the family
Visiting choral director Erin Jaynes explains that when her mom—Highland Springs resident Margaret Anding—asked her if she would direct the choir, she told her, “‘If you sing, I’ll do it.’ So that is how a dental hygienist became a  choral  director,” says Jaynes. Now she volunteers each Saturday morning to meet with the Highland Springs singing group, assisted by resident and professional musician Gene Lawrence and pianist Gail Humphreys, whose mother, Hazel Selby, also lives at Highland Springs.

“We all love it here,” says Humphreys. “In fact, I am on the priority list and plan to move here someday myself.” In the meantime, Humphreys stays in touch through music and shares her talents with the chapel ministry on campus.

“We want to share our music and welcome others to come and join us,” says Meaney. As she introduces the concluding arrangement, “Consider Yourself,” she suggests to guests in the audience, “Consider yourself at home, as one of the Highland Springs family, as one of us—just like the lyrics in the song.”

More than music
The choral selections brought hearty applause and included solos by Barbie Sherman and Peggy Watkins.

After Watkins sang “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man of Mine,” Tom Watkins stood and waved to the audience, making sure everyone knew he was that lucky man. Effe Donato and George Vrla sang a lively version of “Side by Side” as Barbara Baker and Ed Kleiman continued the upbeat tempo with “Getting to Know You.”