(l-r) Known for its compelling live show, the hard-touring Trailer Choir is made up of Big Vinny, Crystal Hoyt and Butter.
Santa Claus looks suspiciously like Trailer Choir’s Big Vinny in the band’s fun, new animated video for “Rockin’ The Beer Gut (‘Holla’ Day Version).” The group’s Crystal Hoyt makes an appearance as a sexy Mrs. Claus while the trio’s Butter shows up in ‘holla’-day attire. There’s also an antlered, red-nosed rein-cow. You just have to see it to believe it.
Written by Butter and co-produced with Toby Keith, “Rockin The Beer Gut (‘Holla’ Day Version)” is a hilarious re-working of the group’s country hit, complete with new lyrics and the addition of a children’s chorus. The song is available now at all digital retailers, including iTunes and Amazon.com.
The Show Dog Nashville band is performing it at all of their concerts this holiday season. You can also check out their special ‘holla’-day segment on CMT’s Hazel’s Southern Fried Flicks (check local listings for times and channel).
Known for its compelling live show, the hard-touring Trailer Choir is made up of Butter, Crystal Hoyt and Big Vinny. The three artist/songwriters came together in Nashville one night when Crystal jumped on stage with her future band mates and just began singing.
The group’s growing momentum paid off one night when Toby Keith attended one of their shows and introduced himself afterwards. A short time later, they were opening tour dates for Toby, whose fans embraced the band and their good-time sound. Toby signed Trailer Choir to his Show Dog Nashville label, which released their debut CD, “Off The Hillbilly Hook,” this year. Their music was also featured in the film and soundtrack “Beer For My Horses.”
The program entitled “A Proven Winner!” features the 2009 ECSO Instrumental Competition Winner, Stephen Charles Page, Jr.
The Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of music director, Toshiyuki Shimada, continues the 2009-2010 concert series on Saturday, January 23, 2010, at 8 PM, at the Garde Arts Center, New London.
The program entitled “A Proven Winner!” features the 2009 ECSO Instrumental Competition Winner, Stephen Charles Page, Jr. performing Ibert’s Concertino da Camera on the Alto Saxophone. Also on the program are Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D Major (The “London”) and Stravinsky’s Petrouchka (1947).
The concert is sponsored by the Frank Loomis Palmer Fund and Chelsea Groton Bank. A pre-concert lecture at 7 PM will be given by Gary Chapman. Tickets are available from $28-$52 with senior, student, and military discounts in selected seating areas. To purchase tickets, call the ECSO office or buy them on line at www.gardearts.org.
Sonar Technician First Class (Submarines) Scott Dean was named 2009 Naval Submarine School Sailor of the Year.
For Sonar Technician First Class (Submarines) Scott Dean, his selection as Naval Submarine School’s 2009 Sailor of the Year actually began at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) seven years ago. It’s just been a matter of getting the timing right.
“I joined the Navy because of a strong desire to serve my country, an ambition to be a part of something bigger than myself, and a hope of growing personally, professionally, and academically….At MEPS, I chose Submarine Electronics Computer Field because of my family’s history with submarine service, and the promise of highly technical training in a dynamic and challenging environment.”
“At boot camp, one of my Recruit Division Commanders, who was a Submariner (a Chief Electrician’s Mate), told me, ‘Dean, you … are smart enough and strange enough to make an excellent Sonar Technician!’ My mind was set after that!”
Reporting to the Sonar Training Division of the Pipeline Training Department last September from USS Connecticut, Dean has his own view on sea and shore duty complementing a Sailor’s career, no matter its length.
“Being on a boat provides camaraderie and travel second to none. Being on shore duty affords more time for family and R&R, as well as using different talents. They are both necessary and important. There’s definitely a dichotomy between them – a different mindset, a different attitude, a different focus, if you will. For me, I had some phenomenal leadership on the boat; I learned a lot from them, and do my best to emulate their example.
“On shore duty, I try to maintain the same work ethic I had on the boat. Here at Naval Submarine School, I’m grateful for the ability to use my gifts for teaching and mentoring, talents utilized on the boat, but not to the same scale as within a training command.”
As for his selection, Dean offers “I felt elated! Completely surprised and humbled by being chosen. It is a huge honor. As submariners, it’s ingrained that we will not succeed without the help of our shipmates. And it’s 100-percent true on shore duty, as well. I work with an incredible bunch of men who challenge me on a daily basis. They’ve helped me grow in more ways than I can count, and I’m grateful for the privilege of working with them and learning from them.”
Speaking of challenges, Dean recognizes his students are often described as just that, and wouldn’t want it any other way. “Probably the single most challenging and most satisfying aspect of my job is sailorization. Every student comes to our schoolhouse with a unique history, personality, talents, problems, strengths and weaknesses – the work of molding these young men into fleet ready Sonar Technicians is a full-time job.”
While his selection caps a successful 2009, Dean looks ahead to the next chapters in his adventure. “I was honored and humbled to receive this award. I am challenged everyday to continue to grow as a leader and a follower, an instructor and a student, a mentor and a mentored. You can never stop learning, and you can never stop growing.
“In the future, I hope to continue to make a difference, either in the enlisted or in the officer ranks. As I’ve been so often told, ‘Your military career is what you make it to be – so make it a great one!’ I have every intention of doing just that.”
by Lt. j.g. Garry Ferguson,
USS Helena Public Affairs
Crewmembers from USS Helena (SSN 725) lead the march in the South Berwick Christmas parade. The Los Angeles-class submarine, homeported in San Diego, is undergoing extended maintenance including several system upgrades at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Sailors assigned to USS Helena (SSN 725) led a Christmas parade in South Berwick, Maine on November 28. Helena, a Los Angeles-class submarine homeported in San Diego, arrived at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard September 2 for extended maintenance including several system upgrades. Upon their arrival, Sailors have been building a relationship with the community.
“It was a tremendous honor to be asked to participate. Everyone enjoyed themselves and looks forward to more opportunities like this,” said Master Chief Hospital Corpsman David DiPietro, chief of the boat.
“The courtesy and hospitality of the people of South Berwick and Rollinsford was second to none,” said Electronics Technician 2nd Class Jared Denney.
Upon arrival at the shipyard, Helena Sailors hit the ground running, participating in a number of community events, including Veterans Day activities and a “Meet and Greet” sponsored by the Helena Committee of South Berwick on October 28.
The host committee, with 27 volunteer members, has compiled a calendar of events and will work with the submarine to involve Sailors and family members in those activities.
Helena, named after Helena, Montana, was commissioned on July 11, 1987. Her motto is “Proud and Fearless. For more news from Commander Submarine Group 2, visit www.navy.mil/local/Subgru2.
Hundreds of thousands of dogs are turned into animal shelters because their owners don’t know how to deal with behavior problems and couldn’t find a reliable resource to help them. We at the APDT (www.apdt.com) think it is long overdue to dedicate a month where we can bring awareness to the importance of socialization and training, and most of all, to inform the public that training your dog can be simple and fun! The APDT has selected January as the perfect month because so many dogs and puppies are adopted and brought home during the winter holidays. Our desire is to help these new pet parents start off the new year with their newest family member in the best way possible.
The APDT is planning a variety of events in January 2010 to celebrate National Train Your Dog Month. It is our hope that the everyday dog owners will visit the event web site (www.trainyourdogmonth.com), so they can see how easy and fun training can be, and how patience, consistency and a deeper understanding of their dog’s behavior can lead to happier, healthier and harmonious households. We have a wide range of topics that we’ve covered so that pet owners will recognize themselves and their dogs. We will provide a great deal of information that will help using methods that are kind gentle and that have an emphasis on building your relationships with your dogs.
In addition the APDT has more than 5000 members who are willing and able to help dog owners who need help with their dogs. If there is one thing that current television shows about dog training have taught the public its that there are solutions to help dogs with behavior problems and there are alternatives to try before giving up your dog. States Michelle Douglas, CDBC, CPDT-KA, incoming President of the APDT, “We need to raise awareness that training is fun and rewarding for both the dog and the people! I hope that the more people hear about the events around the country, the more they will think about taking a class in some doggy-activity and discover the joys if training. Training isn’t just for people who want to compete in dog shows and people with ‘bad’ dogs, it is for every dog and dog-owner.”
Hundreds of thousands of dogs are turned into animal shelters because their owners don’t know how to deal with behavior problems and couldn’t find a reliable resource to help them. We at the APDT (www.apdt.com) think it is long overdue to dedicate a month where we can bring awareness to the importance of socialization and training, and most of all, to inform the public that training your dog can be simple and fun! The APDT has selected January as the perfect month because so many dogs and puppies are adopted and brought home during the winter holidays. Our desire is to help these new pet parents start off the new year with their newest family member in the best way possible.
