The Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania • Page 13

Feature Page Pottsto wn dp Mercury Feature Page Pottstown, Monday, December 1, 1969 Page Thirteen Roving Reporter Hilltones Talent Search Never Ends By KAREN JOHNSTON Mercury Staff riter Although Llovd B. Tuitle is facutly adviser to a Hill School choral ensemble called the Hilltones, he often finds himself facing some of the problems of a. school football coach. No matter how much talent he manages to amass a given time, graduation always looms ahead. have more good voices this year than ever he Related Pictures Appear on Page 36.

remarked. many of them belong to boys who'll be graduating this Although the 17 faces above the dark blue blazers are subject to change, the Hilltones as a unit possesses a record of longevity to inspire envy from many less stable singing groups. Tuttle, who heads the school's music department, organized the ensemble 15 years ago during his first year on the Hill School staff. He attributes the staying power to its reputation among students as a desirable extracurricular activity. SO TRY OUT Announcement of a single vacancy in the group recently drew 50 students to trv-outs.

Tuttle was not surprised. food we get at many of our appearances and the pretty girls in the audiences probably has something to do with he remarked. perform before lots of organizations here in town, including Kiwanis, Century Club and various PTA he noted. also were part of the program at last football cavalcade at Sunny Scheduled to perform tonight before a mother-daughter banquet at Christ Episcopal Church, the Hilltones also were featured recently at a St. Aloysius School PTA meeting.

was a fantastic Tuttle said. Traditionally a blend of what Tuttle termed and spirituals, the repertoire is undergoing some changes. More contemporary pieces are being used and. more significantly. more arrangements are being written bv the students themselves.

TALENTED started doing pieces arranged by the kids last Tuttle said, I think it's wonderful. Really, the boys this year are so talented. Most have taken our course in music theory and often quite good at writing their own stuff. of the popular things we do are arranged by three or four lie continued. I call a contemporary selection, call old hat." Pieces by Simon and Gar- funckel and Rod McKuen began figuring in the repertoire last year.

think our biggest hit in town appearances this year is Ballad of Richard Tuttle said. of our tenors, James Hutchinson, does it and accompanies himself on the guitar. He really has a beautiful voice. Unfortunately, this is his last year with Hutchinson is student director of the Hilltones and president nf the Hill School Glee Club, in which all the Hilltones participate. I'd say those 17 boys are sort of the varsity of the glee Tuttle noted.

The glee club appeared in concert Nov. 30 at St. Thomas Church, New York City. An annual presentation for Hill School alumni, parents, and friends, the concert was gathering of The Hill School family in and around New according to Tuttle. The Hilltones practice four times a week under Hutchinson's direction.

Aside from teaching notes to the group, Tuttle said his main function at practice sessions is sort of keep the whole thing from becoming a zoo. Later, when the group performs, 1 just sit back and In addition to ensemble and glee club practices, several Hilltones regularly study voice in private lessons with Tuttle. have 15 private he said, about half of them are Hilltones. Most of the boys who study with me eventually become part of the group. It just works out that Standard attire for ensemble performances includes llili School blazers, blue shirts.

Hill School ties, and dark trousers. dress sometimes gets a little brighter toward Tuttle said, we try to discourage it. Actually, the stuff the kids wear while performing is probably the most traditional thing about the The -ensemble's annual loss through graduation often results in another vocal gain. Many Hilltones alumni, go on to sing in college glee clubs and ensembles and one even made it as far as the Broadway stage. working in Las Vegas nightclubs and making tons of Tuttle said.

approve at destined for Broadway musicals or not, the present Hilltones are Brian i Austin Tilghman, Douglas Reigeluth, and James Hutchinson, first tenors; David Wendell, Jon Masland, Richard Bragdon, and Albert Swett, second tenors. And, Barry McCarthy, Robert Dillon, Daniel Bachman, and John Hale, baritones; and Frederick Brown, Timothy Boerner, Kevin Ward, George Hedges, and 'Fully Taylor, basses. Falling Tree Kills Man Area residents were ashed: fashion expert says tvomen would wear rings through their noses if experts said it was in style. Would Here are their answers. Ellen Meyer, 821 Sunnybrook Road: I certainly I even like earrings.

They annoy me and I like the way they look. I really only wear what pleases me. Some women would wear them though. It happened in Africa didn't it? tk Melody DeMichael, 34 E. Fourth Maybe.

But 1 think my mother would let me. In fact, when I wantea to get ----------------------Debbie Albright my ears pierced my father said Melody why you get your nose DeMichael pierced too while at I got my ears pierced anyway. 1 might wear a small nose ring. But how would you blow your nose? Something like this could never get aren't that weird. Mrs.

Leon Griffen, Boyertown RD 1: I hope not. I think fashions are bad they go that far. I wouldn't let my daughter wear a ring through her nose either. I even like pierced ears. Occasionally I wear ordinary earrings but not the same thing.

Cindy Stewartz, 506 Wr. High Stowe: No. Now wearing rings on their fingers, toes and ears but they wear them in their no.sts. Mrs. Leon going too far.

I might wear one Cindy Stewartz Griffen if everyone else did but I like it. put a ring in a nose though. The fad might get started if you found enough women to do it, enough people who really want to be different. Mrs. Mychelle Brandford, 716 Wainut I think anyone would wear a ring through her nose.

It's out of the question. It would look horrible. In fact it seems like a rather savage idea -------------to me. There are some pretty Mrs. Mychelle Mary Fegley strange people who might do it Branford though.

It depends on the will do anything just because others do. But I PROSPECTIVE FLORISTS at Western Montgom- Spring-Ford High School, desipu floral arrangements, cry County Vocational-Technical School, Limerick, show an They are using flowers and greens by the students at increasing interest in the horticultural course at the school, the school. Randy Egolf, Pottsgrove High School left and Richard Zieg- A 60-year-old Douglassville man killed Saturday when a tree fell on him, died as a result of massive head injuries according to Montgomery County Coroner Dr. John A. Hoffa.

Fred Steinmetz, Amity Gardens, was dead on arrival at Medical Center North shortly after 4 p.m. According to State Troopers Joseph D. Reeves and George Stenavage, Reading Barracks, who investigated the Amity Township accident, Steinmetz and a neighbor. Jacob Oxenford, Douglassville RD 2, were cutting a tree down on property when the mishap occurred. Police said as the tree began to fall both men made an effort to get out of the way.

The tree struck Steinmetz, Oxenford was not injured American ambulance, Reading took tin' victim to the Pottstown hospital. Born in Limerick, Mr. Stein metz was a son of the late Harry and Mary (Reed) Steinmetz. He was employed for 35 years as a fork lift operator by the Dana Pottstown, prior to his retirement the past year lie was a member of St. James Lutheran Church.

Limerick Surviving are his widow, Florence (Hanley) Steinmetz; one daughter, Dawn wife of Michael Selfinger, Douglassville RD 2. And three sisters Mrs. Annie Mogel, Beach Haven, N. Mrs. Ella Ruger, Somers Point, N.

Viola, wife of Francis Shupe, Creamery; one brother, Harold, St. Petersburg, two grandsons Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday from the L. Funeral Home, 111 Reading Ave Boyertown. Interment in Limerick Garden of Memoi les A viewing will be 7 to Tuesday at funeral home.

Vo-Tech School Changes Horticultural Study Fenny Scherer, 267 Walnut No. I wouldn't wear a ring through my nose even if the girls were wearing them. a weird idea and it HHI would be very uncomfortable. Ellen Meyer sometiraf Penny Scherer things that are uncomfortable but they be dumb enough to put rings in their noses. Debbie Albright, 40 W.

Sixth I might wear one. If everyone else did I might have the courage. Old ladies wouldn't wear them but we younger ones would. You ----------------see all us running around in bell bottoms but you see old ladies in bell bottoms, do you? A fad like that might well get started. Mary Fegley, 864 High I know I wouldn't wear one.

There may be some people who would but not me. It couldn't become a fad. 1 go for new styles but going a little too far. ridiculous. I woud look like a cow running around.

Thomas Ruffin, 549 Lincoln I guess it would be up to them. Most women do what the others do, but not all. it could become a a human instinct to copy. As for me, I don't liKt them. -------------------------They can put rings in their noses if they want to.

li my wii'e gpT wanted to wear one I Kr stop her. Robert Davidheiser, 717 N. Hanover No, I think true that women would wear them if they were told it's the style. Women have minds r.f their own and enough sense to Thomas Ruffin gjvern themselves. But if I Robert were married I wouldn't let my Davidheiser wife wear stand it.

But some women would do it. There are always a few odd types around Diane Shallcross, Valley View Apartments: No. Women don't always wear in style. You don see everyone wearing coats do you? It took me four years to get up the nerve to wear earrings. Nose rings would be uncomfortable and funny looking.

They would get in your way while you were eating. And you do much with them in terms of style anyway. Carole Boughter, Maple Garden Apartments: No. Women stupid enough to wear rings in their noses. It hurts.

It I ooks funny. And it might be Diane Shallcross cx too. I wear one even if everyone else did. Some women would though, it enough high fashion models and rich people started it. ole Boughter There was a time in America when the only way one could become a florist, landscapes or nursery operator was to attend a four-year college course or by starting at the very bottom of employment in the field of choice.

All that has changed now, because of facilities like the Western Montgomery County Vocational-Technical School, Limerick. It surprises many when they learn there still are people favoring a non-farming career related to the soil, but enrollment records in courses of that nature reflect an ever- increasing student interest in those fields. FOUR AREAS The horticultural course at the Limerick School offers four distinct and different areas of training, each leading to post- high school employment in retail floriculture, landscaping and landscape maintenance, nursery operation and greenhouse management. Additionally, there are a number of other areas of instruction provided for students in the school's 10th, 11th and 12th grades also focusing on a horticultural career. And with the increasing time being provided by high standard of living, and renewed emphasis being on America a career in any of the aspects ot horticulture offers the holder I i 1 a a general classification, a presented by school officials, includes: Greenhouse Management.

Two 15 by loot greenhouses are used by the school for this course In it the pupils are laughf to install automatic greenhouse controls, potting in fertilization arid a unique science of creating artificial seasons. My changing the lighting on the plants, instructors say, can trick the plant into thinking it is a different time of Through this method poin set I las are orced to bloom earlier for Christmas sales. Retail Floriculture This is the phase of instruction designed to train the pupils for all operations performed in retail florist shops. I ising the flowers grown in the greenhouses the students learn to design artistic flower arrangements, funeral sprays, wedding designs corsages arid other floral pieces Some of the arr angements are sold at the school and at the greenhouses, which blends into the other instruction on sales techinqucs and cost accounting for florist shops. Nursery Operation In this course of instruction students learn to manage and ope rate ornamental nurseries, starting by propagating ornamental cuttings on an automatic misting bench.

Then the young plants are transplanted into a redwood lath house where I hey remain and flourish for another year After the year they are transplanted again into field plots for subsequent sale. Part of the course provides instruction on I he use of fer- i I i a i insecticide and fungicide, plus he proper methods of pruning Landscape Maintenance and Fstablishment The proper techniques for land scaping homes and businesses is presented in this facet of the course Methods are learned and practiced for maintaining turf, shrubbery and small trees, and instruction is given for seeding lawns, landscaping small areas and pruning shrubbery and trees. In addition to the four specific courses students are given instruction in plant breeding, seed production, soil science and botany. OUTSIDE SCHOOL In the final year at the vo tech school, he is placed outside the school in a hortl- culturally related occupation or at the school in its land laboratory. This facet is conducted under a supervision and provides the pupil with further occupational training.

The students arc placed in greenhouses, florist shops, nurseries, golf courses and other related endeavors. Doris Powell. Pottstown RD 2: I'd wear one if it had lots of great big diamonds in if. It would hide my red nose when I have a cold. But it become enough Walter Warrick diamonds to go around.

I know if my husband would let Dons Powell me. But I do whatever I want to. I wouldn't wear one without diamonds though. a craft in which the demand far outpaces the supply. Flowers and greens are basic to America, yet the advance ol civilization and its macadam covering of thousands of square miles of soil for parking lots and streets will serve to increase their demand.

FOR DEMAND Students at the Western Montgomery County Vocational- Technical School are being trained to fulfill that demand. Tenth and 11th grade students at the school spend half then- class time on horticulture and these sessions are divided into three facets. One is on horticultural theory, featuring textbooks, lectures, review of trade publications, demonstrations and films, and field trips. The other two facets focus on on-the-job instruction through working on class projects. An outline of the four different sub-divisions of hor HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS a there any chance at all of you netting around mure than just once a year" Walter Warrick, Pottstown RD 2: I suppose they would.

Nothing becomes a fad really ugly, although if women wore rings in their noses it might be kind of handy. I guess 1 shouid be in favor of it since I sell rings. My wife would never wear a ring in her nose, though. Of course 1- I might..