Whether it is in love or war—or in astrophysics or astrology, for that matter—there is both scientific research and folk wisdom to contend that Timing is Everything. This edition of Voices on the Green explored that premise through a rich – and well-timed– mix of personal storytelling, scientific lecture, popular song, and poetry. If you didn’t have the good timing to be there live, or just want to relive it, check the videos below.
The Butler Frogs
Musicians
David Moore, Chuck Clough, and Ronnie Hirschberg founded The Butler Frogs in 2010 to play each other’s original music, their musical heroes’ covers, and to have a great time playing live music. David is a Northern Irish lad who packed his guitar, and headed to America to try his luck at living the dream. Chuck, who grew up in Concord, has acted in and produced several off-off Broadways plays and independent feature films. Ronnie, from Burlington, Vermont, founded a songwriting-improvisation balance with his band “Chuck.” and continues to sing with the Butler Frogs.
Ajay Gallewale
Storyteller
Ajay Gallewale, a fourteen-year Lexington resident, recently performed in WGBH’s nationally broadcast storytelling show, “Stories from the Stage,” season 3, episode 1, “Summertime.” He is new to storytelling, but is enjoying it so much that he contemplates becoming a full-time politician, a con artist or both.
Bob Coyne
Storyteller
Bob Coyne has lived in Lexington for 43 years and has been a member of First Parish for 20 years. He has served on the church Finance Committee for 14 years, the first three years as church Treasurer. Bob has a degree in Finance from Northeastern University and remains active in Aligned Vision, a Chelmsford company he co-founded in 1988. An inveterate teller of informal stories, Bob is looking forward to his first trip to the stage that is Voices on the Green.
Elizabeth Walsh
Singer
Elizabeth, our favorite soprano (see earlier shows), stepped in at the last minute to join this show. Once we got the gist of Bob Coyne’s story, we knew we had to pair it with Joni Mitchell’s quintessential song about Woodstock and timing. We knew that Elizabeth would be perfect to sing it and the band worked with her to get it ready at the last minute!
Bob Armstrong
Speaker
Bob Armstrong directs the MIT Energy Initiative, an MIT-wide initiative linking science, technology, and policy to transform the world’s energy system. A member of the MIT faculty since 1973, he headed the Department of Chemical Engineering from 1996 to 2007. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and co-edited Game Changers: Energy on the Move with former Secretary of State George P. Shultz. He is a long-time resident of Lexington.
Our Partners for this Show
Kaveesh Pathak and Anya Rao
Ricki Pappo
This evening’s proceeds were shared with two local groups working on the issue of climate change. LexGWAC, has been educating and raising awareness about global warming for many years, promoting actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and safeguard the health of our planet for future generations. Sunrise Lexington, a chapter of a new national movement, is created and led by high school students who recognize how they and future generations will be deeply affected if climate change is not urgently addressed, and who are taking social and political action now.
Cheryl Meadow
Storyteller
Cheryl Meadow has been an active community volunteer since moving to Lexington 12 years ago with her family. In 2009, she and her husband, Merrill, founded Munroe Saturday Nights, the performing arts series of the Munroe Center for the Arts. Cheryl has also served as Chair of Digital Communications and Web Master for Lexington’s 300th Anniversary Celebrations and has sat on the Boards of the Lexington Education Foundation, the Lexington.
Cheryl has asked that we not post her video publicly. Her story was very personal and we respect her wishes. You should have been there.
Erik Svenson
Storyteller
Erik Svenson is a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft and has been there for 26 years currently working on the Office 365 Cloud. But his main passion, other than his wife and three children, is music. An amateur French horn player, he plays in numerous area orchestras and other ensembles. He is the founder of Esprit de Cor, an all-French horn ensemble. He can be found on occasional Sundays playing here at First Parish. This was Erik’s first public storytelling event and his horn, which he played beautifully, was a wonderful transitional object.
Mia Roop
Storyteller
Mia Roop, a Lexington native, was raised by Lennie, the first “tennis bra” patent holder, and Selma, a professional ballerina. She grew up working in their bookstore, “The Book Rack,” which gave her an appreciation for stories and storytelling. For the last 35 years she has been working in high tech sales for Lotus, SPC, Symantec, Nuance, and most recently, Claris. Mia is married to a fun and spirited guy who couldn’t resist her timing. She also has two wonderful children, and two big fantastic dogs.
Regie O’Hare Gibson
Poet
Regie, our host, closed the show by reciting, from memory and with special meaning both for him and for our theme, a poem by K. Foreman.
