Cumberland Advocate: News

Last Thursday, July 17, the Library Board along with Architectural Design Group, Inc. and Market & Johnson, Contractors, revealed the new plans and drawing for the Library expansion project.

Timothy K. Peterson, the architect and Jason Plante, Construction manager for the project, were on hand to answer any questions.

The plans call for use of the existing structure with a new addition growing off the back of the library utilizing the already existing grounds. Minimal exterior changes to the original library are planned. The addition of a window where there is now a stairwell will be the only visual clue to the great changes taking place inside.

The new facility will have its main (and handicap accessible) entrance from the west end, off of the municipal parking lot. The new addition will have familiar look to it since similar construction materials to the original will be used.

There will be a ceremonial ground breaking planned for after the Rutabaga Festival Parade with the actual ground breaking to occur as soon as possible thereafter. The goal is to have the new addition enclosed before winter to save on construction costs. The project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2009.

What happens when a 59 year-old, a 46 year-old, an 18 year-old, and a 17 year-old come together on a stage to create music together? The generation gap disappears, and before an audience stands the “Pipe Dream Blues Machine.”

Manfred Schonauer (59), Steve Vogt (46), Dustin DeGolier (17), and Travis Thorp (18) have been sharing their musical talents with the area for approximately four years, appearing at weddings and parties, at the Pipe Dream Center, and at various community functions throughout the area.

Manfred and his wife, Truan have operated the Pipe Dream Center, located in the former Pipe Lake School in Polk County on Highway G, for the past 21 years. The Pipe Dream Center is a smoke free, drug free, and alcohol free facility where once a month (twice in the summer), musicians and music lovers gather to experience “Boogie Night.” On these nights, Manfred’s students, as well as guest musicians, perform a variety of music from the 50s, rock, blues, jazz, funk, reggae, and mo-town.

DeGolier and Thorp, who also have a band of their own, Trees on the Moon, have a repartee Vogt calls “extensive,” ranging from Miles Davis and Monk to Jerry Lee, Duke Ellington, and U2. Both 2008 graduates of Cumberland High School, the young men both have plans for college in the fall, and plan to major in the arts. DeGolier, who will be attending UW-Duluth in the fall plans to study music, and has won the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, the Director’s Award for Choir, and several scholarships.

Thorp, who also is the coordinator for Trees on the Moon, has won the John Phillips Sousa Award, and numerous scholarships. Thorp is also very active in theater performing and directing, and plans to attend film school in Milwaukee in the fall.

Steve Vogt began studying with Manfred in 1997, and has played on a number of independent releases. Vogt also is the in-house harmonica player at Soloton Studios in the Twin Cities, played in the orchestra pit for Big River at UW-Barron County, played with acoustic band Neurotic Muffin, and released a solo EP in 2000 under the name the Radio Free Comstock Project. In addition, Vogt owns a small recording studio called Naked Soundman Studios and has been a soundman for the past 25 years.

As the younger pair begins a new chapter in their lives with the move to college, the foursome will become two again, but not without one last show!

This Sunday, July 27, at 4 p.m., the Pipe Dream Blues Machine invites you to grab a lawn chair and take a trip to the County Line tavern on County Road G for an outdoor concert to see all four come together one more time. The group planned to have the concert at the Pipe Dream Center, but for fear of overcrowding, asked their friends at the County Line, who have been very supportive over the years, if they could host the show there.

The show, free and open to all, begins at 4 p.m. and is expected to last until approximately 7 p.m.

For more information on the Pipe Dream Center, visit www.manfredsmusic.com.