Saturday, April 24, 1999

Grandson's band serenades woman for 97th birthday

---

BY MARIE McCAIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Virginia Gesting listens to the high school band on her front lawn. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        SPRINGDALE — What do you get when you cross 67 teens, at least 20 pounds of brass, two charter buses and 680 miles?

        For Virginia Gesting, it translates into a happy 97th birthday.

        The Springdale great-great-grandmother went outside Friday to find members of the Tri-Township High School marching band — from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan — serenading her from her front lawn.

        Her grandson, Dick Stafford, 51, is a band director for the Rapid River, Mich., school and brought the students here to participate in today's opening of Paramount's King's Island.

        He thought it would be an added treat for the band to play a concert for his grandmother, who turns 97 on May 1.

        “I just thought it would be something special for her,” he said. “It was always something she liked. Music is in our family.”

        While listening to such songs as “I Will Follow Him,” “Alamo March” and “Walking On The Sun,” Mrs. Gesting smiled widely and held one of her great-great-grandchildren in her lap.

        Mr. Stafford began planning the surprise about a week ago and OK'd the miniconcert with city officials and Mrs. Gesting's neighbors.

        “This was the best thing I ever had in my whole life,” she said, adding that her life has been filled with music. “My husband was in a band, and he encouraged it (in their home).”

       

---

Interventions don't help only the alcoholic
Tristate schools act upon threats
Teens: It could happen here
What do you think
Counselors' plea: Open hearts to kids
Light rail could bore through Mt. Auburn
Millennium lot cleared, awaits tower
Crime victims find a friend
Prosecutors' victim/witness assistance programs
Cyberspace threats tracked down
Grandson's band serenades woman on 97th birthday
Justin's birth parents sue their attorney
Y2K highlights our dependence
Campbell Co. official, under probe, resigns
Drunken-driving suspect on bond
Teens arrested in pellet shootings
Ballet's 'Butterfly' turns heartbreak into beauty
GET TO IT
Jazzy soloist shines as CSO alters image
Cemetery ties Lebanon to pioneer times
Chief wants road spikes to slow fleeing suspects
Church will honor retired Rev. Booth this Sunday
Court looks at police probe
Court orders retrial in sisters' murder case
Fernald to have new DOE manager
Foundation honors tree program
Grandparents find help raising kids
Man hurt in crash fleeing police
Mason water, sewer fees rise
Police find 26 guns in car; 5 arrested
Rielage is Ohio's fire marshal
Scouts collecting food, clothes Sunday
TRISTATE DIGEST