Hawk Mountain Sanctuary outdoor concert benefits Road to Recovery for local artist

Songs filled the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary outside amphitheater to assist chain saw artist Todd Gladfelter of Schuylkill County and his ongoing restoration from partial paralysis.

An approximated 250 to 300 individuals arrived out for the Todd Gladfelter’s Street to Recovery Reward Concert on May 28, elevating $15,500 for the Gladfelter-Ross loved ones.

“It was unbelievable looking at so a lot of buddies from the earlier and individuals we did not know who came up to want us properly and so many musicians who had been keen to give up their time to aid us out. It felt like a fantastic group of supporters rooting for you,” claimed Todd. “It makes it simpler to get by the difficult periods and function more difficult at rehab.”

 

Just before his drop from a roof in November 2021, Todd was commissioned in late 2019 to develop works of artwork for Hawk Mountain’s new outside amphitheater. Utilizing a chain saw carving system, he crafted replicas of 32 species of indigenous Appalachian wildlife.

“Hawk Mountain never experienced an exterior teaching space just before this spot was established. I really refer to this as the Sistine Chapel for Hawk Mountain,” claimed Sanctuary President Sean Grace, chatting about a live raptor software held at the amphitheater. “Just the appears to be on the kids’ faces to have that knowledge in this spot, just an crucial and indelible component of what this area is and will normally be is Todd Gladfelter.”

He said Todd is one of these people that would in no way check with for help.

“It’s our task as a group to exhibit support,” mentioned Grace.  “It’s heading to be a exciting and rowdy occasion all in celebration of a genuinely terrific thing as Todd is on his street to restoration.”

Persons introduced chairs, blankets and even tents for the rain.

“The amphitheater, with substantial wood posts chain-saw-carved by Todd prior to his accident, was overflowing with family members, mates, hikers, musicians and many others in assist of Todd’s recovery,” reported mate Wendy Kerschner.

The most impactful minute was when Todd took the stage with Dave Kline & The Mountain Folk Band to accompany them with his recently discovered harmonica skills. A mate had gifted Todd harmonicas and Kline furnished instruction on how to participate in “Angleline the Baker.”

“With his ever current can-do mind-set, Todd took the stage, shipped a impressive instance of how to adapt and conquer, and gained a standing ovation,” reported Kerschner. “He’s an remarkable man! A miracle! His spirit in the confront of such too much to handle troubles is inspiring!”

Similarly as inspiring is his spouse, Cindy Ross.

“She has taken on and embraced new competencies as a caregiver, even though accepting the support and support of spouse and children and good friends to make adaptions to their home and life-style so she and Todd can carry on the daily life of out of doors living and adventure they love and built for by themselves,” reported Kerschner. “It was a gathering of variety-hearted, like-minded people, showing support and like to a couple who have completed the exact same for many others all over their several years!”

Among the individuals in attendance were good friends Martha and Jay Ressler, artists from Hamburg.

“The inner thoughts that arrive to my head are just heat and community and generosity,” said Martha. “There were so lots of individuals there I realized hugs, tears and just generosity, appreciate and providing, and definitely good audio.”

“This is how local community must arrive jointly this is how individuals can and really should enable each other,” Martha continued. “This is what remaining alive is about. This is the fantastic things this is what we dwell for.”

Profit live performance for a good friend

Berks musician Dave Kline, a friend of Todd and Cindy, coordinated the musicians for the concert.

“Todd Gladfelter’s Recovery Concert Party was motivated, motivated and rooted in my like of the guy and spouse and relatives who themselves have devoted substantially of their possess time for the betterment of our local community at massive, but also for veterans in require and for the education and learning of youngsters and families by a connection to the great outside,” said Kline.

Prior to his injuries, Todd been given many accolades, like many championships at the Mid-Atlantic National Chainsaw Levels of competition.

He also actively helped run the River Residence Veteran’s team outings, cycled, backpacked and paddled globally, and also shown his expertise hammering metal in his blacksmith forge.

His operate developing his log dwelling was in-depth in his wife’s e book, “Log Cabin Decades: How A single Pair Designed a Dwelling from Scratch and Created a Life.”

Right away after Todd’s accident, Kline knew his key mission on Todd’s Street to Recovery, the fundraising marketing campaign, would be to arrange a live performance fundraiser to help offset the enormous health care costs.

Kline posted a ask for for musical volunteers on Fb and inside 30 minutes the live performance lineup was thoroughly booked.

“Having taken treatment of that and finding Todd’s spouse and children on board, we reached out to artist Jon Bond and Sean Grace and the management group of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and they jumped on board devoid of hesitation, meaning that almost everything was set to build a amazing working day of music, fellowship and joy at Hawk Mountain exactly where Todd had carved a lot more than 30 gorgeous wildlife figures that adorn the phase spot,” stated Kline.

8 musical functions from midday to 5 p.m. included Keith Brintzenhoff, Crow Hill, Luke Hertzog, Texas Rose Band, Large Valley Bluegrass, The Youngers, Dave Kline & The Mountain Folks Band, a presentation by Todd’s son Bryce Gladfelter, a music by the spring class of Hawk Mountain trainees, the singing of “You’ll By no means Walk On your own,” and a finale jam showcasing Todd, Dave Kline, and other musicians.

“Performing at an function to exclusively advantage yet another individual is, for me, one of the most gratifying emotions,” reported Luke Hertzog. “Everyone is there for a single trigger, to assist other men and women. When you see group and performers clearly show up en masse in these types of a way, you genuinely know how a lot superior there truly is nonetheless lingering in the globe.”

“Dave is a longtime treasured friend with a large coronary heart,” reported Invoice Parker of Big Valley Bluegrass. “When he asked Major Valley to be a portion of this exclusive working day it was a no-brainer. Remaining on that phase and viewing firsthand the outpouring of help was past overpowering. We must all be so lucky to have as a lot guidance to a result in as Todd observed, and to have a mate these as Dave.”

“Crow Hill thought it an honor and duty to participate in this fundraising event for our good friend, Todd Gladfelter,” stated Matt Wlasniewski of Crow Hill. “It was a incredible outpouring of really like and assist for Todd and his spouse, Cindy, from a group comprised of Hawk Mountain team and associates, community musicians, artists and Todd’s household and friends.”

Throughout Crow Hill’s final music, “Ain’t No Grave,” as if on cue, the rain clouds broke and daylight included the audience in front of the phase, he stated.

“This appeared to symbolize the spirit and willpower of Todd and the viewers applauded and cheered in settlement. As the hawk counters say, ‘It was a superior working day on the mountain,’” claimed Wlasniewski.

Deborah Cooper held a bake sale and inspired folks to signal up for the Highway To Restoration Profit Raffle & Auction scheduled for June 5 at Landingville Fire Home, 1 Firehouse Highway, Landingville in Schuylkill County. The auction party includes food items, beer, wine and a bake sale, with a silent auction 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and live auction 3 to 5 p.m.

Todd and Cindy ended up founding associates of The Arts Barn and contributing member. Todd was really lively on the board and with his welding and chainsaw art perform.

“When the word went out for aid, our remarkable artists stepped forward contributing their inventive art. The faithful Arts Barn followers and volunteers also stepped up to assistance. Volunteers and artists even participated in a huge mosaic triptych of birch trees in Todd’s honor,” said Cooper.

Uplifting experience

“It felt like a single of the very best days of my daily life, suitable up there with my wedding day and the delivery of my young ones,” mentioned Cindy. “So overpowering with appreciate and support, we had been both of those really blown absent.”

Their son’s rap tune for his father and video clip of Todd’s healing journey was extremely psychological, she claimed.

Even though they realized most in attendance, some were strangers, “It was remarkable to have all this for us.”

Considering the fact that the accident, so lots of have arrived at out to support.

“I experienced no concept that we had impacted their life … and now they have a probability to aid us. It is really impressive,” said Ross. “We never feel like we’re some sort of rock stars that people really should be serving to us like this for the reason that we’ve just been dwelling our life the way we consider we should be living. I guess we made a large impression on folks for the past 60 several years.”

Most of all, the concert was uplifting.

“When in the center of the night and he wakes up crying and yelling in suffering and he would like to cease and he’s weary of it and wants it to be around, he can believe about that day and it’ll give him much more strength,” reported Cindy. “It’s definitely about the men and women and who are there for us if we have to have them, even if it’s just wondering about that they’re there.”

Funds elevated at the concert will go toward medical bills, therapies, tools and other costs.

“We have a small window of his overall body to regenerate nerve cells. It’s a year and a fifty percent to two decades prior to he’ll plateau and very little progress will take place thereafter,” Cindy reported. “So I’m using the services of all varieties of folks to come in every single day to do much more therapy.”

Overall, what she appreciated most was the outpouring of appreciate.

“It was like there was energy in the air.”

Kline explained the function turned out to be everything they hoped.

Hundreds sang alongside, clapped alongside and donated to assist the family members in the fiscal factor of the artist’s street to recovery, Kline claimed.

“The atmosphere of the working day couldn’t have been more excellent and the most truthful way to describe it is that all people, audience, musicians, volunteers had been all literally substantial from all the beautiful like and gentle shared at this after in a life time afternoon,” mentioned Kline. “Sometimes it would seem as however the mild of the complete universe shines down upon this sort of a scene and the ambiance that was designed on this working day was a single for the ages.”

His hope was to assistance Todd’s family in a financial way.

“Because of the remarkable vibe that grew during the day, what happened transcended cash and turned one thing that was a strong and affirmative everyday living expertise that none of us will ever overlook,” said Kline.

View a movie of the party entitled, Todd’s Road to Recovery Live performance Occasion, on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/observe?v=pptzSri43v8.

To make a donation, mail a check created out to Cindy Ross at 85 Pink Mountain Lane, New Ringgold, PA 17960. For a lot more information about approaching situations and fundraisers, pay a visit to Todd Gladfelter’s Street to Restoration Fb group.