CWU Hastings House Annual Barbeque

The summer is coming to a close, but on September 14, 2009, there was still one more barbeque at Hasting House before the sweaters and jackets start to appear. Close your eyes and picture a perfect and warm September evening. Now imagine the enticing smells of barbecued chicken, hotdogs and hamburgers, popcorn and cotton candy. Hear the happy and carefree voices of children playing together and people talking and laughing, all in a festive mood. Guests and their children, neighbors and friends, and the staff from Hastings House come together in the parking lot to celebrate the changing of the seasons. 

Tables and chairs are scattered about. Under the trees Mark Wissmar and his staff are grilling the meat. Laura Desmond is spinning the cotton candy that looks like puffy pink clouds and Eyleen Colon and Ana Rodriguez are popping fresh yummy popcorn in an authentic popcorn machine. Alfreda Lane, Renea Eliassaint-Brezault and Lilian Perez are running a raffle with a variety of prizes and toys for the guests. Renea mingles as she keeps an eye open and helps with the fun factor. The children are enjoying the bubbles and jump ropes as much as Yasmina Prucien and Susan Basemera. Some of the kids are playing hopscotch and drawing on the asphalt with pastel colored chalk. Denise Reynoso and Layrasha Robinson (granddaughter of Renea) entertain the children with their artistic face painting as Sharon Molino applies tattoos on the arms of the children and a few of the adults. (The tattoos are not painful.)

Now picture a bright red VW van that more than one person comment on its resemblance to the Scooby Doo Van. Emerging from the van is Tim McHale and his guitar. Tim is the founder of the Boston Minstrel Company. Tim is an ordinary looking guy, but with an extraordinary ability. He and the members of the Boston Minstrel Company bring people together and make some very big fun. They play at shelters, prisons and other venues and some of the members have been recruited at their songfests. As the other members arrive, they set up the microphones and as soon as they hit the first note of the sound check song, “One Love, One Heart”, it was obvious that something unique and adventurous was about to happen. Immediately, the excitement of the vibe went up with the decibels. 

The Boston Minstrel Company is distinctive as a result of the groups’ ability to turn pretty much everyone in the audience into entertainers by inviting them to participate in the music and everyone does, whether young or old or in between. They do it with their voice or with the variety of instrumental pieces that Tim brings in his big black bag. One can’t help feeling the exuberance of the group that translates into merriment, as they scout the audience and it doesn’t take long for the children to start shaking the maracas, ringing the cowbells, or standing on a chair to reach the microphone to belt out a tune. And not just the children! Imagine Angelo Brantley singing the theme from “Sponge Bob Square Pants.” Who knew? 

The surprise doesn’t end there. Two of our younger guests join in for “LaBamba” and really get the crowd going with their enthusiasm and liveliness. A couple of the Moms have no trouble at all in convincing the audience that the man in the song went bad and was kicked to the curb. One Mom sings so convincingly that she is invited to join the Boston Minstrel Group on a permanent basis.

As the evening winds down, the last ice cream is served and the sky begins to turn pink in the setting sun, everyone gathers in a circle holding hands and sing the last song of the evening, “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.” Summer ends, but the memories begin.

A special thanks to Senior Case Manager Laura Desmond for coordinating this event; to Victoria Walker, Coordinator of Rolling Stock, for booking the Boston Minstrel Company; to Mark Wissmar, Director of Food Services, and his staff for the cuisine; to Tim McHale and the Boston Minstrel Company for entertaining Hastings House; and to Dana Shuttleworth, Tim Dart, Rob Boyd, and Guy Germain for their help with the facility; and to all the volunteers who made the event a success.

Sharon Molino
Business Coordinator
CWU Housing Programs