Lunch at Allen's - of whom I've written many times since this group agreed to perform for us - is the kickoff concert for Marsh Street's fundraising for the next year or so.

We need to upgrade our kitchen with an industrial dishwasher and stove, among other items. As well, we want to provide a larger more comfortable green room for performers. But the latter is way down the list - we more urgently need to obtain a bigger air conditioning unit and acquire some other goodies to help make the Centre a really top notch facility.

It is, after all, a facililty for the community and we want you to enjoy using it for all your events and classes. So we need to work hard to install the right equipment.

I'll let you know what our financial goal is in the next column, but in the meantime I do hope you'll attend the concerts that we will be putting on, (we hope to have another fun one in August - more about that later) and also respond to the fund raising letter that hopefully will reach your door soon.

Lunch at Allen's
Speaking of this group - I've told you a bit about three of the members - wonderful singer/songwriters all. This week, it's about Murray McLauchlan, one of the best-known performers and writers, especially in farming country such as ours because of his well-known Farmer's Song.

Here's a bit about him from his website:
To experience Murray perform is to enjoy creative storytelling, social commentary and wit with a man who clearly enjoys sharing his music and experiences with an audience.

In his late teens, soon after developing the art of songwriting, Murray found himself playing at major music festivals such as the Philadelphia Folk Festival and Mariposa, where he appeared alongside Jim Croce and John Prine. He continued to attract attention on the club circuit, playing such well-known rooms as The Riverboat in Toronto, The Bitter End in New York, The Main Point in Philadelphia, and the famous Earl of Old Town in Chicago.

Before Murray had actually recorded an album of his own, his Child’s Song was already well known after being recorded by American folk star Tom Rush.

Now, 30-odd years later, Murray has 19 albums to his credit on both True North Records and Capitol Records. Murray has won eleven Juno awards, as well as RPM "Big Country" awards and Toronto music awards. His songs have been covered by many other artists as well as being featured in high school textbooks.

Murray has been both a radio and television host as well as the author of a book and in 1993 was appointed to the Order of Canada. His side project with Ian Thomas, Cindy Church and Marc Jordan, Lunch at Allen's has taken on a life of its own with a live DVD and CD released in 2004 on Capitol/EMI and a new studio recording coming soon.

As well, Murray composed a stage musical, Eddie. In the fall of 2006, EMI Music released the album, The Songbook... New Arrivals, featuring songs from the musical.

Murray was born in Paisley, Scotland and is a licenced pilot as well as serious athlete. He enjoys karate, golf, tennis, bicycling, windsurfing, skating, swimming, painting and "pretty much anything that's fun."

So, if you'd like to hear Murray and his friends - Marc Jordan, Ian Thomas and Cindy Church on May 10, please get them quickly, we are close to being sold out! There will be door prizes, the group will have their CDs available for sale and have agreed to sign them at the end of the concert in an informal party - where you will have a chance to meet and chat with each of them.

Wine and beer will be available along with juices, tea, coffee and goodies both before the concert and at the end. We think this is a very special evening and hope that each of you will enjoy it as much as Bev and I have enjoyed organizing it for the Centre - along with the help of the rest of the board.

Tickets are $50 and available at the Centre between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Monday through Friday, at BeMused in Clarksburg, Jessica's Book Nook in Thornbury, Stuff to Read in Meaford, Crow's Nest in Collingwood. Doors open at 7 and the concert starts at 8 sharp.

Jazzmania wrapup
About 50 people enjoyed the Dixieland Dinner at the Centre before joining the tour around Thornbury and Clarksburg for Jazzmania over the weekend. It was a fun weekend for all the jazz lovers, culminating with Goseplfest and a sold out brunch at Lora Bay on Sunday - Well done Georgian Sound! What a wonderful event you put on.

Up next - laughter in the air
Thornbury Community Theatre puts on Exit Who?, a comedy mystery by Fred Carmichael and directed by Marsh Street's  "Prez" Rob Potter, and is produced by Lori Campbell and Bev Byrne.

Tickets are $10 at the door, but only $8 in advance, a sweet deal if I've ever seen one. You can get tickets at Jessica's Book Nook, Stuff to Read and the Crow's Nest. Not a weekend to be out of town! Way too much fun for all.

Annual General Meeting
We have the AGM on Tuesday evening, June 10 at 7:30. The Nominating Committee is canvassing the neighbourhood looking for volunteers who would enjoy being a board member and helping us out. It's a lot of fun at the Centre.

There is always lots to do, and great people to mix and mingle with. The fact that it is a community centre in the real sense of the word - run by volunteer community members who are your friends and serves all your interests, means we need you to help out too. Do think about it, won't you? A few hours a month - and you will have a good time while you "do good!"

Relay for Life
Many of you have already participated in the Relay for Life - a major fundraiser for Cancer Research. We all know someone (maybe even ourselves) who has developed this awful disease. It takes its toll on us and we need to find ways to cure it - more now as we realize that increasing pollution is a major contributor to the increased cancer rates along with other dreadful illnesses such as heart and lung diseases.

Marsh Street will have a team in this important relay - I'll tell you more about it in upcoming columns - but it is a really moving experience. So if you feel like helping with this, call Linda Potter who is heading up our team - 519 599-3649. The relay is on July 18 and runs for 12 hours - 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Please think about helping with this one.

And a final reminder - the tickets for Lunch at Allen's are nearly sold out - so do get yours soon.