The Times Leader from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 85

The Times Leader Sunday, February 5, 1989 OnStage3G BooksGG Travel1 4G i Joe Outkiewicz I snrmAV 1 Zaauw LI d) (Ss Ld3lJ dJlMlXlLfz A Getting in SyncH with history 'The. Industrial by Wyoming Valley West student Jeffrey Burda, is one of the winning works on display at the Kirby HOPPING WITH TALENT Student artists have their time in the spotlight By JOE BUTKIEWICZ Times Leader Staff Writer ove over men IGH school Jocks and jockettes; the an nual Scholastic Art Awards have Joe Nardone was In Las Vegas in early January for the annual consumer electronics show. The record store owner woke up one morning, turned on the radio ancVwas surprised to hear "Where Are You Now." the ballad originally released In 1985 by the Wyoming Valley area pop band Synch. The DJ broke in and said the song was a new hit by the band Synch, which the DJ pronounced. Sink.

New? Sink? Nardone made a routine phone call to hisj-ecord store in the Wyoming Valley Mall, and mentioned the airplay to his son Nardone, Jr. Nardone, in turn, relayed the information to Jim Harnen, the remaining member of the pop band Synch. Which rhymes with Grinch. Harnen and manager Thorn Greco weren't surprised; "Where Are You Now" has sporadically been a new song in various markets across the country, since 1986, after Columbia Records signed the band and released a version of the single. "This is not something new," said Greco.

It never was played in (many) markets." In previous interviews. Harnen explained that a music industry payola scandal, connected to the band's old promotion team, helped stall the release of the single. Harnen and Greco said Columbia Records "stiffed" the song, pulling back national promotional efforts. Nevertheless, with the success in the few markets It initially hit, "Where Are You Now" cracked the Billboard Top 100 singles list in 1 986 and peaked at number 77. The song slipped off the chart and the band broke up, but the song wouldn't die.

"People would get a hold of it and dub off copies for sister stations, friendly stations," said Greco. He and Harnen have charted the single's success through markets in Ohio, North Carolina and Michigan. he Las Vegas play has a twist on it though. "Where Are You Now" is getting push from the radio station conglomerate that sparked revival of UB40's "Red Red Wine" and the Sheriff ballad. "When I'm With You." Years after thejnltial, relatively unsuccessful, release of both those songs, each has returned to the airwaves and topped the national charts.

The credit is generally attributed to Nationwide Communications, a conglomerate of radio stations, which has pushed the older, forgotten songs. Last year, the group's Tuscon, station, helped spark the rise of UB40's 1983 version of "Red Red Wine" to number one on the Billboard charts last year. This year, KLUC-FM in Las Vegas, another Nationwide station, began playing Sheriff's 1982 power ballad. The song topped out at number one on the Billboard charts this week. "I always thought it was a hit," said Jay Taylor, music director of KLUC-FM.

Taylor feels that when the Sheriff song came out in 1982, there were many other "power ballads" and the song was lost in the shuffle. "I found it in my music collection I started playing it and I got a tremendous reaction." Taylor said he taped copies of the song, sent them to disk jockey friends. With so MONOMS at the 1MMBY awarding college-level scholarships. Two area students whose portfolios were selected this year are Heather Hogan of Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre and Heidi Strazdous of Dallas Area High School. The Scholastic Art Awards offer more than prizes, according to organizers.

"It fosters creativity," said Robbins. "It recognizes talent. It Most of these students have been particiapting over the years," she said. "It gives me an opportunity to see what everybody else is doing," said 1 7-year-old Tammie Shreve, "How I compare to everyone else." Shreve, a senior at G.A.R. High School in Wilkes-Barre, won a Hallmark Honor prize and a Dorothy Brace Barber Memorial Water-color Awards.

The Scholastic Art Awards are held around the country; this year, there are 68 different regional sponsors. The event is sponsored nationally, by HallMark Cards. Inc. the Strathmore Paper Company and Scholastic, Inc. The latter is a publisher of educational material and the company that founded the art awards in 1927.

According to a Scholastic spokesman in Manhattan, M.R. Robinson began his business by publishing a single classroom magazine in a Pittsburgh area school. In 1923, he started to award writing talent and in 1927. had a poster contest for a magazine cover. The poster contest was so popular, Robinson continued the awards and gradually branched out to now include 14 different media.

"Students who were talented and gifted in the arts, did not receive the recognition that students received for say, atheletlcs," said the spokesman. The awards have been sponsored in the Wyoming Valley for many years, although no one contacted could be specific. The recognition of competition and awards can be dual-edged, explained Richard Fuller, Advisory Committee chairman from 1977 through 1987. "For a very good student who does have artistic talent, who See BEST, page 4G arrived to recognize students who excel in the arts. "Every night, when you turn on the news, you get a sportscaster talking about (high school) basketball stars and (high school) football stars.

No one talks about art stars," said Richard Fuller, former chairman of the Advisory Committee for the Luzerne County Regional Exhibition. The Scholastic Art Awards fill the gap. "It's sponsored for promotion of the arts through education," said Joanna Robbins, the chairperson of the regional awards Robbins, who is an art teacher at Martin L. Mattel middle school in Pittston, said all Luzerne County schools are invited to submit work from students in grades 7 through 12. Each school can submit 10 to 15 pieces selected by art teachers from the student's work.

Of 516 entries received. 254 have been selected for exhibit. This year, the awards are being presented in the newly renovated lower level of the Kirby Center, on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. The exhibit opens today, with a reception and awards ceremony at 1 p.m. The exhibit will be open, Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m., through Feb.

24. And for the first time, the regional awardsexhibit is being sponsored by The Times Leader. The works have already been through two judging panels, with selected pieces winning Gold Keys awards. Finalist Blue Ribbons, Hallmark Medallion awards, certificates of merit and sponsorship awards presented by local businesses and groups. Among the latter group presenting awards are the Wyoming Valley Art League; Llewellyn McK-ane; the Ken Pollock Award, sponsored by Frank Clark; the Dorothy Brace Barber Memorial Wa-tercolor Awards, sponsored by Sue Hand's Imagery; Cider Painters of America; Marquis Art Frame; Paul May and Catherine Grossman.

Free land Junior Settlor High School Lisa Hoffman, Terry McDermott. Allen Shoemaker. John Sessock. Lori Lynn Stcfanik, Eric Zmttrovich and Cynthia Zynel. rreotend Junior High School George Fedor.

G.A.R. Senior High School Joseph Grigas. Bill Hoffman. Walt Rice and Tammie Shreve. Gat of Heaven Shaun Brdarlc, Andy Johnson and Shannon Stair.

Grebey Jnnlor High School Jennifer Corradlni, Eugene Kaschak, Robert LaBerta, Daniel Pop and Liza Rashko. Hartaan Junior High Michael Mussollne and Pam Vine. Haitetoa Senior High SchoolCraft Jennifer Furedi. Christine Grier. Melissa Marko, Michele Peak, Molly Resetar, Nicole Rossi, Glna Smith.

Michele Tlmcho and Valerie Yamulla. See WINNERS, page4G The 1 988 Shcolastlc Art Awards will include work from students around the county. Here is a list of students whose art work will be exhibited. 4 Bishop Hafty High School Michael Gabriel, Rayne Petroie. Daniel Keith Sarosky and Makt Terasawg.

Biaheo Bote HI School Megan Collins, Rene Cannon and Molly Bonner. CeafhMn High School Heather Hogan. Heather Johns, Michelle Pohutsky, and Deborah Young. Creatwood Senior High School Rachel Acrt, Maria Higglns and Klmberly Krasnay. Dlllu Senior High School Lisa Hite, Kerry Burke, Todd Barket.

David Zachary, Stacy McCuen, Andrea Brinoia, Justine Plieckl. Held) Strazdus and Kurt Lupinskl Dallai High School Lynn Baluh. Aria Pferson. Terrl Bartelson and John St. Clair, Dallas Janior Middle School many stations adding the song to their play lists.

Capitol Records subsequently re-released the single. Dn a story 'in USA Today on Friday. Jan. 27, Taylor, and Guy Napoleon, national program director for Nationwide, said they think the same may happen to "Where Are You Now." "This Synch record has the same potential," said Taylor during a phone interview. "Two years ago some stations were playing it and it Just fell apart (but) it's got staving power.

Columbia (records) doesn't ucation it's a vehicle for (students) to go on to further study," said Robbins. Senior students submit portfolios of work that are used in Boscov's; and The Times Leader. Finalists and Hallmark winners are entered into the national judging in Manhattan in March. "It provides funds for higher ed want to re-release it," he said. "They don't A modern dance troupe is landing in Wilkes-Barre want it to interfere with the current I think they're going to have to." Tavlor said he doesn't think the success of the first two songs indicates a new trend By PAUL GALLAGHER to dig up old songs that, never achieved chart success.

"The way I look at it, it's just a few diamonds out there," Taylor said. "Radio programmers can't just reshuffle old records," he said. It won worK. it kind of a fluke or phenomenon." production at the Kirby Center, the Dance Alloy also hopes to expand the abilities of local dancers. Two classes are open to the public; both will be for Intermediate or advanced dance students.

On Monday. Feb. 6. at 4 p.m., Elsa Limbach, artistic director of the Dance Alloy, will hold a class at the Wilkes-Barre Ballet Theatre on South Main Street and at 6 p.m. the company will hold a class at the David Blight School of Dance on South Main Street.

For more information about the class at the See DANCE, page 4G in Wilkes-Barre." says Scott Timm, a dancer with the Dance Alloy and the company's manager. He adds that he sees the company's performances in the area as a complement to the Wilkes-Barre Ballet Theatre and Ballet Northeast, the two ballet companies usually associated with performances in the Wyoming Valley. "We'd like to give a richer, more varied diet." says Timm, who has been with the Dance Alloy for five years. "The more you see, the more you enjoy." Through several classes being offered in addition to the company's dance company In the Wyoming Valley. The Dance Alloy will be appearing for the second time in as many months at the Kirby Center on Tuesday night in an original program titled "Traveling Dialogues." which will feature four new works.

The seven-member company is based out of the Carnegie In Pittsburgh. Formed In 1976, it has i always performed contemporary. 1 rather than classic works. Now, the company is bringing Its work to Wilkes-Barre. "I don't think there's a whole lot of people working in modern dance Lead singer Jim Harnen is all that is left Times Leader Arts Editor There's more than choreography that's new for the Dance Alloy.

There's Wilkes-Barre. There's the cultural program that brought them to this corner of the commonwealth. And there's a new artistic connection to the Wilkes-Barre Ballet Theatre. The cultural program Is called the Second Season Initiative. Through It, members of the Pittsburgh-based Dance Alloy are hoping to establish a second home for the contemporary of the various incarnations oi ayntn.

Greco says that's enough. The two are continuing to negotiate a new recording deal; and that's where they are now. Joe Butklewlcz Is ajeature writer Jor The Times Leader..