J. Billy VerPlanck passed away in Hackensack Hospital on Tuesday, June 2, 2009. A mass will be held on Friday, June 5th at 10:30am, St. Clare's Church, 31 Allwood Rd, Clifton NJ. Internment is at Mount Olivet Cemetery,Bloomfield.
Known as Billy throughout the music world, he was born in Norwalk Ct. in 1930 He began his musical career at age fifteen playing trombone with the Jess Stacey Band. He went on to play and write arrangements for all the big bands (Charlie Spivak, Claude Thornhill, Jimmy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet), of his generation, culminating his road days with his idol, Tommy Dorsey. For the next forty years he was one of the busiest studio arrangers and conductors in New York, writing every thing from jingles, films, documentaries, record dates, as well as producing 20 cd's for his wife, Marlene VerPlanck. His passion for music was all consuming and he never wrote an indifferent note in his life.
Known as Billy throughout the music world, he was born in Norwalk Ct. in 1930 He began his musical career at age fifteen playing trombone with the Jess Stacey Band. He went on to play and write arrangements for all the big bands (Charlie Spivak, Claude Thornhill, Jimmy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet), of his generation, culminating his road days with his idol, Tommy Dorsey. For the next forty years he was one of the busiest studio arrangers and conductors in New York, writing every thing from jingles, films, documentaries, record dates, as well as producing 20 cd's for his wife, Marlene VerPlanck. His passion for music was all consuming and he never wrote an indifferent note in his life.
1. Money isn't made out of paper. It's made out of cotton.
2. The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp (marijuana) paper
3. The dot over the letter 'I' is called a 'tittle'.
4. A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.
5. Susan Lucci is the daughter of Phyllis Diller.
6. 40% of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.
2. The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp (marijuana) paper
3. The dot over the letter 'I' is called a 'tittle'.
4. A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.
5. Susan Lucci is the daughter of Phyllis Diller.
6. 40% of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.
04/09: THE YEAR 1908
The year is 1908, one hundred years ago. What a difference a century makes! Here are some statistics for the Year 1908 :
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 14% of the homes had a bathtub. Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in 1908 was 22 cents per hour. The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year .
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Only 14% of the homes had a bathtub. Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles of paved roads. The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in 1908 was 22 cents per hour. The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year .
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year, A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
21/06: Summertime Blues
July and August mark the height of summer, unless you live in Australia. Summer is the month where most locales see an increase in tourism, an industry that New Jersey governor Jon Corzine is trying to destroy. He succeeded in moving it from the 2nd most profitable industry in the state to number three, and is doing his best to knock it further down.
July is the seventh month in the Gregorian calendar, which is not to be confused with a Gregorian chant, although both are pretty boring. The high point of the month is Independence Day, or July 4th, otherwise known as the 4th of July.
If you live in Canada, then instead of celebrating July 4th, you celebrate July 1, or Canada Day. Canada day is sort of like our 4th of July, only more boring. July 14 is Bastille Day, France’s equivalent of July 4.
Julius Caesar was born in July, and they say that is how the month got its name. Somehow I don’t follow the logic!
July is the seventh month in the Gregorian calendar, which is not to be confused with a Gregorian chant, although both are pretty boring. The high point of the month is Independence Day, or July 4th, otherwise known as the 4th of July.
If you live in Canada, then instead of celebrating July 4th, you celebrate July 1, or Canada Day. Canada day is sort of like our 4th of July, only more boring. July 14 is Bastille Day, France’s equivalent of July 4.
Julius Caesar was born in July, and they say that is how the month got its name. Somehow I don’t follow the logic!
01/05: A Village, A Bloomin’
Thanks to Barbara Hares, a gardener of 30 years, Millville’s Village on High will be brightly blooming with a dozen or more floral varieties this Third Friday, May 16, Gallery Walk, 3 to 9 PM.
Blooms enjoyed by gardeners including Creeping Phlox (pink in color), Ajuga, (deep purple), Poppies, Coralbells, Wild columbine (loved by hummingbirds), Astillbe, Wallflower and Confrey as well as multi-colored Pansies will be displaying their beauty in the Village plaza, though realist Barbara cautions, “it always depends on Mother Nature, you know.”
Blooms enjoyed by gardeners including Creeping Phlox (pink in color), Ajuga, (deep purple), Poppies, Coralbells, Wild columbine (loved by hummingbirds), Astillbe, Wallflower and Confrey as well as multi-colored Pansies will be displaying their beauty in the Village plaza, though realist Barbara cautions, “it always depends on Mother Nature, you know.”
A group of intellectually and developmentally disabled artists from ARC (the Association of Retarded Citizens) will have their chance to shine during the Glasstown Arts District’s (GAD) May 18th Third Friday evening thanks, in part, to the efforts of local artist and community leader James Penland and his “art family” at De Casa Do Felize Artés.
Penland was recently made the recipient of the Greater Millville Chamber of Commerce’s Glasstown Arts District Contribution Award, given to the person who has significantly added to the betterment of the GAD. The artist and his “House of Happy Arts” colleagues (translation of the gallery De Casa Do Felize Artés) will help sponsor a special Arts Trolley from Ocean City’s Grind Garage on Asbury Avenue to Millville’s Glasstown Arts District (GAD) during the Ma
Says Penland, “I’ve always believed if you could put a paintbrush in someone’s hand and allowed them to create they will evolve. The artwork these people create is incredible.”
Penland was recently made the recipient of the Greater Millville Chamber of Commerce’s Glasstown Arts District Contribution Award, given to the person who has significantly added to the betterment of the GAD. The artist and his “House of Happy Arts” colleagues (translation of the gallery De Casa Do Felize Artés) will help sponsor a special Arts Trolley from Ocean City’s Grind Garage on Asbury Avenue to Millville’s Glasstown Arts District (GAD) during the Ma
Says Penland, “I’ve always believed if you could put a paintbrush in someone’s hand and allowed them to create they will evolve. The artwork these people create is incredible.”
Inferno newspaper was privy to a surprise party that was so secret that even our ace reporters were stunned.
Kim Warker invited Inferno editor to Tom Ayres' surprise birthday blitz held at the Thunderbolt Club in Millville. Little did we expect to be punk'd!
When TA and Kim entered the hall, he had a wicked smile on his face and a paper in hand. The paper? A marriage certificate. They were followed by the minister who performed the ceremony in front of a shocked and totally surprised crowd.
The two of them, in an evil plan, punked all invited guests who included the entire 5th floor of city hall, the engineering department, John's Bar alumni and more!
Kim Warker is now Kim Ayres. Congratulations!
Inferno was there first!Does this mean that I am officially paparazzi?
"LIKEABLE ART"
Submissions must be received by May 2, 2008
Art In City Hall issues a call to Philadelphia area artists for the summer exhibition in the historic public corridors of City Hall.
Curator: Cavin Jones, Exhibitions Committee Chair
Theme: Artists are invited to submit artwork that may be deemed “suitable” for public consumption...that you think the non-art-savy public would like. Open to all media and “popular” subject matter; for example, cultural icons, traditionally likeable or tolerable themes...pets, nature, decorative art, pop art...Let's have some fun with this.
Click here for prospectus and application in PDF format
Submissions must be received by May 2, 2008
Art In City Hall issues a call to Philadelphia area artists for the summer exhibition in the historic public corridors of City Hall.
Curator: Cavin Jones, Exhibitions Committee Chair
Theme: Artists are invited to submit artwork that may be deemed “suitable” for public consumption...that you think the non-art-savy public would like. Open to all media and “popular” subject matter; for example, cultural icons, traditionally likeable or tolerable themes...pets, nature, decorative art, pop art...Let's have some fun with this.
Click here for prospectus and application in PDF format
19/02: RANT
By Sebastian
I have a problem with bleeding hearts. That is why I have a difficult time voting for democrats. It seems their answer to every problem is to throw money on it, from the comfort of their upper middle-class homes secluded from the trials that face the working class daily.
I could care less what two people do in the privacy of their bedroom. Just as my sexual peccadilloes are nobody’s business other than that of my partner, I am a live and let live sort of guy when it comes to another’s lifestyle.
However, it bothers me no end when I am waiting in line at the local Wawa to pay for my cup of black, hot coffee and the person in front of me is paying for their groceries with food stamps. And then they are buying several packs of Marlboros with cash.
I have a problem with bleeding hearts. That is why I have a difficult time voting for democrats. It seems their answer to every problem is to throw money on it, from the comfort of their upper middle-class homes secluded from the trials that face the working class daily.
I could care less what two people do in the privacy of their bedroom. Just as my sexual peccadilloes are nobody’s business other than that of my partner, I am a live and let live sort of guy when it comes to another’s lifestyle.
However, it bothers me no end when I am waiting in line at the local Wawa to pay for my cup of black, hot coffee and the person in front of me is paying for their groceries with food stamps. And then they are buying several packs of Marlboros with cash.
