The September membership luncheon at the Marvin House featured guest speaker Robert Plyler, arts critic for The Post-Journal.
Plyler, a Pittsburgh native, retired after teaching social studies and English for 33 years at Maple Grove High School. He has also been an adjunct faculty member at JCC and Mercyhurst College. Since 1978, he has been the arts critic for The Post-Journal, and he writes a weekly column on the arts called "The Critical Eye." He covers the arts in Chautauqua County, Toronto, Buffalo, Erie and Pittsburgh.
In his presentation, "The State of the Arts," Plyler discussed how fortunate area residents are to have the number of varied arts that are available in the area. In addition to productions at numerous theaters and on many local stages, area residents can also see concerts and programs from scores of local schools and churches. Chautauqua County's proximity to Chautauqua, Warren, Fredonia, Erie and Buffalo also make access to the arts a very affordable and worthwhile activity.
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Beth Trosper, President of the Marvin Community House, is shown with Robert Plyler and Jane Winter, a Marvin House board member. Plyler is the arts critic for the Post Journal, who spoke at the September meeting on “The State of the Arts.”
Plyler views 200 varied performances each year and critically assesses each one. He emphasized that every performance is not great, and it would be a disservice to the performers, as well as to the audience, if he were not truthful and accurate in his observations. He also encouraged everyone to help support the arts locally with their attendance.
Door prizes were given to Marcia Bliss, Connie Flowers, Linda Hall, Jana McDermott, Helen Peterson and Karen Thompson. In recognition of their September birthdays, C.K. Hennon, Judith Stevens and Beth Trosper were each given a special cupcake and decorative candle. Sue Schifano greeted the guests and Grace Dorman gave the invocation. Bernie Elkin and Janet Gibson were the cashiers.
The next Marvin House luncheon will be at noon on Thursday, Oct. 18, with a panel discussion, "A Conversation on Breast Cancer." Brenda Munella, a certified women's health nurse practitioner from JAMA's Women's Health Office, will discuss the various issues concerning the disease. Mary Rappole, a retired certified women's health nurse practitioner and a Zonta Club of Jamestown member, will be giving information about "Lily's Hope," a Zonta project that offers wigs and heads coverings to women with illness-related hair loss. Jane Winter, a 25-year breast cancer survivor, will share her story on "having a second chance at life." Anyone attending is encouraged to wear something pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.