People are losing their fingers and toes!” It was a phone call that Richard Berg received in 2005 from a stranger about the houseless people staying on China Hat Road that changed the trajectory of his life. At the time, he was president of the congregation at Nativity Lutheran Church in Southeast Bend. Berg wasn’t sure what to do, but he knew he had to do something. So, he and fellow church members collected firewood and brought it to the folks living in tents by the butte. That day, the Wood B

Through ANIM, Afghanistan is reminding its people that music is the language of their ancestors expressed through the soul and has the ability to unite all mankind through inspiration, transcending all languages, races, religions, and genders. Arson Fahim, a conductor for the AYO, observes that “In Afghanistan, there are still a lot of prejudices and divisions between different ethnic groups. I see music as one of the best ways to unite them; I see this every day at the school. I see Hazaras, Pashtuns, Tajiks, and others all come together like brothers and sisters. Music has brought us together. We don’t even think about our differences.”

Commentary Getting the Short End of the Blowstick By Sandra Kowalski usic departments across the nation have faced slashed funding for years despite proven studies showing the positive impact sustained involvement in in-strumental music has on the strong relationship across middle and high school math proficiency. Then there are the immeasurable effects of how music programs affect student motivation; it creates a sense of accomplishment when they become proficient with a musical instrument and