​Abilities come in many variations and each person responds to challenges in his or her own way. Calvin Pope of Palmyra, Missouri is a person who continuously overcomes challenges of his disability to do what he loves.  

Pope was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident nearly 30 years ago and now uses a wheelchair. His injury did not affect the use of his upper extremities, so he is able to continue working in his wood shop. He has adapted to focus on small projects that are attractive and functional like Shaker boxes and turkey calls. This allows him to sit and still enjoy his hobby.

Pope trusts his experience will help others who may feel challenged by their own disability. He is able to channel his creative energy, enjoy his craft and reap immeasurable satisfaction.

At a recent gathering of the Quincy Woodworkers Guild, Pope demonstrated how to make Shaker boxes. The process involves cutting wood into very thin pieces on a bandsaw, then sanding them to specific thicknesses using a disc sander. The wood pieces are then placed into hot water for a period of time to make them flexible. Pope then bends the wood strips into oval boxes using base plates. He then repeats this process to make lids. 

"This kind of project requires very little space and very few tools. For someone who is new to woodworking, it is an easy project for them to start with," says Pope. 

The Quincy Woodworking Guild is a group of men and women who share their talents and interest in woodworking. Member's projects include a wide-range such as crafts, carving, cabinet making, scroll-sawing, bowl turning, building and restoring furniture and more. The group is designed to help members develop their skills, share projects, ideas, processes and techniques. 

Meetings take place the first Monday of each month and are usually held at a member's workshop and the group will take field trips to special locations. Guests and new members are welcome. 

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For more information, email quincywoodworkersguild@gmail.com.

Submitted by Matt Hopf
Fifty years have passed since Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins made history with the first lunar landing, and though man hasn’t walked on the moon since 1972, space travel continues to captivate the minds of young and old alike, whether watching the Space Shuttle Discovery liftoff or hearing Capt. James T. Kirk order warp speed!

One of the premier community bands in the country will honor the journey from the Wright Brothers' 12-second flight along a North Carolina beach to man walking on the moon in less than 66 years.
The Quincy Concert Band will present “One Giant Leap” at 2:30 pm, Sunday, Oct. 27, in Quincy Junior High’s Morrison Auditorium. Conducted by Dr. Trent Hollinger, the QCB will present pieces that are inspired by manned space flight and the continued desire to explore the far reaches of space.

"Composers have been inspired by the sky, constellations, planets, and the moon for centuries” Dr. Hollinger said. “The music in this concert captures everything from the power and excitement of man's technological breakthroughs in space to the beauty and tranquillity we experience on a moonlight night."

A highlight of the performance will be Robert W. Smith’s “Twelve Seconds to the Moon,” which will explore the journey of mankind from the Wright brothers first flight to man’s first steps on the moon.

The QCB will open with James Stephenson’s “To the Sky,” a fanfare that highlights that accomplishments of civilization.

Robert Buckley’s “Sea of Tranquility” provides a glimpse of the landscape Armstrong and Aldrin saw when they climbed down the lunar module’s ladder and took the first steps on the moon.

The QCB will close with “Symphonic Suite from ‘Star Trek,'” celebrating the continued desire of man going boldly where we have not gone before.

There is no charge for admission, however, donations are accepted to help the band cover expenses.
The all-volunteer QCB features musicians come from all walks of life — educators, engineers, journalists, plumbers and blacksmiths.

This summer, the QCB received second place in the Community Band Division for the America Prize — the second time in four years. It also is a semi-finalist in the Community Ensemble division of the American Prize’s Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for Performance of American Music.
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For more information on the band, visit quincyconcertband.org. It can also be found on Facebook by searching for Quincy Concert Band.

Arts Quincy would love to have your nominations for students to feature in this new column, Student Spotlight, sponsored by WGEM. Email a photo and information to office@artsquincy.org or call 217-222-3432 for details. We look forward to featuring student artists in all disciplines from Adams County.

The word audition is enough to strike fear and trembling in many musicians, singers, dancers and actors. Like any job interview, there are things you can do to help you deal with this process. While, of course, it's important to perform well, there are other things that can help your audition be successful.

Quincy University and the Great River Watercolor Society (GRWS) will host the 2nd annual Shade Tree Mid-Summer Paint-Out on Saturday, July 27 starting at QU’s campus.

The Quincy Park Band, under the direction of Keith Wiemelt and Director Emeritus Pam Potter, kicked off its 71st season of summer concerts in Madison Park on Memorial Day.