Iowa Woman Effectively Teaches Children the Important of Music

Sharon Burch, a local native to Centerville, Iowa, knew that there were multitudes of chances for the music education field to grow.  Sharon and her husband Bill Burch, a local entrepreneur to the Centerville area and manager of many businesses there, live on the outskirts of Centerville near the Lake Rathbun area.

Sharon has three books to date.

A background on how she got started writing:

Sharon looked at other ways teachers taught their classrooms—they used styles such as flash cards, learning exercises, interactive games, and books to impart knowledge on younger children that they would use for the rest of their lives.  In essence, smarter children in the future.  She sat down and thought of the different possibilities and it hit her:  why not bring all of these concepts into one principle mean of learning.  As she sat, a vision formed in her mind.  The vision, after many hours of thought and development, was Freddie the Frog.

 His last two adventures revolved around the learning of the musical staff and its notes, but in this adventure, the tale is spun a little differently.  Freddie and his best friend, Eli the elephant, find themselves stranded on an island near Treble Clef Island.  They follow mysterious “Wahooooos” through the jungle and try to communicate with the different members of the island.  During this adventure, the two learn about the importance of movement in music, and discover that they landed on Tempo Island.  While they, they learn musical rhythms, such as the quarter note, eighth note, sixteen notes, and rests.  They also learn about repeat signs and various Italian musical connotations, such as presto, largo, adante, and allegro. 

Sharon, with the help of Bill Burch, soon developed Mystic Publishing Company.  To order the books, one can simply go to [order@freddiethefrogbooks.com] or check out Sharon’s website at [www.sharonburch.com].  Also, Freddie has his own website at [www.freddiethefrogbooks.com].  Bill Burch may be contacted at [www.williamburch.com].  Freddie the Frog is a great interactive tool for children to use.  In today’s society, it is important that children learn to appreciate music and art in the world.  If they learn to do this, from such pioneers as Sharon Burch and illustrator Tiffany Harris, we can look forward to a future rich in values that are both beneficial and supportive to higher learning.

Rural Iowa Business Purchased by Georgian Company

Recently, in Keosauqua, Iowa, a small-town business is under new ownership. Barker Company Ltd., which has roots both in Keosauqua and Centerville, Iowa, was purchased by Hill Phoenix, Inc.  Barker’s creates and produced many items, from specialty merchandise that are shipped to grocery stores, to similar products that appear in convenience stores and numerous food service stations. 

The company will now become part of Hill PHOENIX’s specialty products division. Hill PHOENIX officials say they plan to continue operations at the manufacturing facilities in both Keosauqua and Centerville.

Hill PHOENIX is based in Conyers, Ga. The company manufactures commercial refrigerated displays and other refrigeration systems.

Upon news of the purchase, Bill Burch, President of Commercial Resources, Inc. who manages over a dozen businesses in the Centerville area, stated, “Purchases of businesses like this are a common and expected part of industry.  As with all change, it will understandably be met with concern and speculation.  I trust that the quality, work ethic, and attitudes of the community will speak for themselves if Hill Phoenix ever chooses to assess the operation of Centerville’s plant.  Our companies will be excited for any opportunity to work with or support Hill Phoenix in their efforts here.”

Members of Commercial Resources, Inc. and other businesses owned/managed by Burch [such as The Shoppes at Bradley Hall, The Columns, The Continental, Mystic Publishing, and the Exline Country Store] are also excited for the growth of business in the small Iowa town.

Freddie’s Next Adventure

Sharon Burch, a local native to Centerville, Iowa, knew that there were multitudes of chances for the music education field to grow.  Sharon and her husband Bill Burch, a local entrepreneur to the Centerville area and manager of many businesses there, live on the outskirts of Centerville near the Lake Rathbun area.

 Sharon looked at other ways teachers taught their classrooms—they used styles such as flash cards, learning exercises, interactive games, and books to impart knowledge on younger children that they would use for the rest of their lives.  In essence, smarter children in the future.  She sat down and thought of the different possibilities and it hit her:  why not bring all of these concepts into one principle mean of learning.  As she sat, a vision formed in her mind.  The vision, after many hours of thought and development, was Freddie the Frog.

After Freddie the Frog and the Thump in the Night, the tiny frog, Freddie goes in to hibernation.  When he wakes up, he discovers that he is no longer on Treble Clef Island, and is in dark, strange new place.  Everything he remembers is gone: his friends, family, and especially his friend, an elephant named Eli.  Similar to the previous book, Freddie the Frog and the Thump in the Night, Freddie the Frog and the Bass Clef Monster teaches elementary students about music, this time the bass clef instead of the treble clef.  As Freddie makes his trip through this strange land, the things he does and the people he encounters teaches children about the bass clef through an interactive disc that is included in each book. 

Sharon, with the help of Bill Burch, soon developed Mystic Publishing Company.  To order the books, one can simply go to [order@freddiethefrogbooks.com] or check out Sharon’s website at [www.sharonburch.com].  Also, Freddie has his own website at [www.freddiethefrogbooks.com].  Bill Burch may be contacted at [www.williamburch.com].  Freddie the Frog is a great interactive tool for children to use.  In today’s society, it is important that children learn to appreciate music and art in the world.  If they learn to do this, from such pioneers as Sharon Burch and illustrator Tiffany Harris, we can look forward to a future rich in values that are both beneficial and supportive to higher learning.

From Centerville, Iowa, to the rest of the United States, and soon, possibly, the world, Freddie the Frog is slowly making its way into classrooms everywhere.   With the introduction of Freddie, you will find that many students will develop a natural aptitude, and love, for music that they will keep with them for the rest of their lives.

Betterment Made in Small Town

In the arena of senior skilled care, where State of Iowa regulations are forcing many small skilled care communities to close, The Continental Care Center at Seymour, located in Seymour, Iowa are bucking the trend.  Morgan Cline and Bill Burch purchased the community in an effort to prevent its planned closing.  Their leadership combined with the leadership of Beth Owens, the administrator combined with the unusual dedication of a crew pulled together from the deep rural rolling hills of southern Iowa are making for unusual success.

In just two years, this group has done something unheard of.  They’ve taken a community whose fate seemed sealed and brought it back to life.  Since the purchase, Cline and Burch have invested over a half million dollars into the community.  “90% of the investment was to improve care.  We still have a long ways to go to make it look nice but families are very smart about recognizing care as a priority.”

Beth Owens, when asked how The Continental Care Center at Centerville could survive, in a town was on the verge of a “ghost town,” answered:

I can’t speak for others, but here both the new owners and myself as a manager tried to clearly communicate expectations by alerting staff of our high quality of care standards, that systems and policies will be changing, and doing the hard work of making sure things do change.  Bill Burch, Morgan Cline, and the rest of the staff try to lead by example – as a manager I strive to show concern for the residents at all times, spend time listening to residents, staff, and families, make sacrifices where important and I try to work hard to show your concern for the success of the business.  Thanks to the management and ownership working together to set strong goals and establish priorities, we spent money where money should be spent, on important quality of care.  I think this witnessed to the community, residents and staff that we do invest in the best for them.  Since we took over, we’ve done things like installing a new sprinkler system, a new fire alarm system, a new wireless monitoring system, a new stand up lift, a new copier, recruited the best dietician consultant, a fantastic foot doctor, provided new therapy services, recruited the best Medical Director to replace our prior one due to retirement, and improved staff pay.  If our occupancy holds we plan to provide more benefits in 2010. 

Betterment of The Continental Care Center shall continue in the future.  Owens, Burch, and Cline all have such dedication to small-town America that this is just the first step in a long line of steps to improve Main Street America.

Dealing with Changes—From Failure to Success

The small town of Seymour, Iowa, located about 20 minutes from Centerville, Iowa near the Missouri border, experienced change.  The small skilled-care community in the town was on the verge of closure, when Centerville entrepreneur, Bill Burch, the owner of Commercial Resources, Inc., with the help of Morgan Cline, took a project under their hands to revamp the center.  Their leadership combined with the leadership of Beth Owens, the administrator combined with the unusual dedication of a crew pulled together from the deep rural rolling hills of southern Iowa are making for unusual success.

In just two years this group has done something unheard of.  They’ve taken a community whose fate seemed sealed and brought it back to life.  Since the purchase, Cline and Burch have invested over a half million dollars into the community.  “90% of the investment was to improve care.  We still have a long ways to go to make it look nice but families are very smart about recognizing care as a priority.”

Beth Owens, when asked how the staff at the center in Seymour is doing, answered:

They are doing great!  When the staff becomes overwhelmed due to increase in workload, we try to stay focused on the importance of taking good care of the residents.  We have a lot of opportunities to praise them for a job well done and we expect them to be part of the solution.  Most of all, when a dedicated staff like ours are doing their best and asking for help, you do your best to help them!!  Especially the CAN’s.

Similarly, when asked about the comments that have been received from the residents, responded:

They can tell there is a difference.  I hear things about our culture and that they sense a deep level of commitment and care.  I’m a little surprised they don’t complain about some of the things we don’t have looking nice yet, but they don’t seem to care at all as long as we are committed to giving those they love good care.

Finally, when asked about what Owens, Bill Burch, and Morgan Cline are most excited about, Owens responded on behalf of the three:

A lot of things!  Great occupancy, great average response times to resident needs, and we’re really looking forward to some planned renovations that will make the building look more appealing.  The owner’s promised that resident care would come first, staff care would follow, and then sensory upgrades to the building.  The resident care is in place.  The staff pay and benefits are well under way.   2010 should see some nice improvements in the building which will improve quality of life for both residents and staff!  It is going to be a great year!

Music Teacher Tries Her Hand at Entrepreneurship

Sharon Burch, a local native to Centerville, Iowa, knew that there were multitudes of chances for the music education field to grow.  Sharon and her husband Bill Burch, a local entrepreneur to the Centerville area and manager of many businesses there, live on the outskirts of Centerville near the Lake Rathbun area.

 Sharon looked at other ways teachers taught their classrooms—they used styles such as flash cards, learning exercises, interactive games, and books to impart knowledge on younger children that they would use for the rest of their lives.  In essence, smarter children in the future.  She sat down and thought of the different possibilities and it hit her:  why not bring all of these concepts into one principle mean of learning.  As she sat, a vision formed in her mind.  The vision, after many hours of thought and development, was Freddie the Frog.

Freddie the Frog’s beginnings in Freddie the Frog and the Thump in the Night tell the tale of Freddie, a mischievous frog that lives on Treble Clef Island.  With drawings created by Tiffany Harris, the story follows Freddie as he makes his way across Treble Clef Island, each letter of the musical staff representing a different part of the island.  On his last note in the staff, Freddie meets Eli.  Eli is an elephant.  Freddie and Eli become the best of friends and they travel across Treble Clef Island, looking for adventure, and, along the way, learning even more about music fundamentals that will help children become more musically inclined in the future. 

Sharon introduced her story of Freddie soon after its creation to her class of elementary music students at a local public school in Centerville.  She immediately saw the results and the way the students began asking for Freddie at the beginning of every class.  Soon, students couldn’t get enough of Freddie. 

Sharon, with the help of Bill Burch, soon developed Mystic Publishing Company.  To order the books, one can simply go to [order@freddiethefrogbooks.com] or check out Sharon’s website at [www.sharonburch.com].  Also, Freddie has his own website at [www.freddiethefrogbooks.com].  Bill Burch may be contacted at [www.williamburch.com].  Freddie the Frog is a great interactive tool for children to use.  In today’s society, it is important that children learn to appreciate music and art in the world.  If they learn to do this, from such pioneers as Sharon Burch and illustrator Tiffany Harris, we can look forward to a future rich in values that are both beneficial and supportive to higher learning.

Concerts at the Continental—mesmerizing

On Sunday, November 15, 2009, a concert was held at the Continental restaurant and fine-living home on the historic Centerville Square in Centerville, Iowa.  The concert, a part of the “Concerts at the Continental—A Series for Weekend Afternoons” was held at 3:00 and featured Dr. Sam McClure, playing the violin, and Patrice Edwolt, playing the piano.  They played selections from Brahms, Stravinsky, Kreisler, and Grieg during the performance.  The Continental, maintained by local Centerville entrepreneur William Burch [www.williamburch.com], was the perfect venue for the event.  Funded by Morgan Cline, a close friend and business associate of Burch, the Continental features all the makings of a New York-style ballroom located on Main Street America.  Sharon Burch, wife of Bill Burch, also helped develop the event and commented that it was an overall success and a great addition to the already rich traditions of the Centerville region.  The Continental, which also houses executive suites perfect for those who enjoy luxury, was also an excellent place for the artists performing to stay.  Offering a full menu and bar, the restaurant at the Continental Hotel has items for every meal of the day.  Also, within walking distance of the restaurant and hotel are many other attractions that one cannot miss when traveling to the Centerville area.  The Shoppes at Bradley Hall [www.thecontinental.info] offers an excellent shopping experience.  Another great shop nearby is the Columns [www.thecolumns.com].  It is located just off the Centerville Square in a refurbished Neo-Classical white house, equipped with columns that give it its name.

Dr. Sam McClure is the Associate Professor of Violin/Viola and the Director of Orchestras at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, a town about an hour away from Centerville.  He earned his degree from Michigan State University and has performed with several nationally and internationally acclaimed musicians.  He has also traveled to Italy, France, the Czech Republic, and Austria to play.  He earned degrees in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music and Ohio University. 

Patrice Ewolt, who originally hails from Northwest Iowa, completed her undergraduate degree in Clarinet Performance and Music Education at the University of Northern Iowa and has taught in the Iowa Public School System for several years.  She completed her Master’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music and her doctorate from the University of Maryland.  She currently teaches at Central College in Pella, Iowa, but has also taught previously at Grinnell College, Truman State University, and also Southeast Missouri State University. 

The concert, as mentioned, was an overall success.  The Concert at the Continental Series shall continue to be a success and shall bring musical history that spans the globe to the small town of Centerville Iowa.

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Exline Old Country Store and Antique Exchange – 6th Anniversary

Exline, Iowa – The Exline Old Country Store and Antique Exchange (www.exlinecountrystore.com) celebrated its 6th anniversary of the store opening on October 31st. About 7 years ago, local native Morgan Cline suggested that his hometown have an “old country store with all the good stuff” that he remembered when he was a boy. Locals rallied and supported the effort with the opening of the store coming about a year later. Now, six years later they had their 6th birthday party! Local entertainment was provided by Rodney Randall on the harmonica and Jim Traxler playing his guitar and singing. A good time was had by all. Since the anniversary falls on Halloween each year, a pumpkin carving contest was held. This year there were 12 entiries, which is a record! Special sales were offered within the store and door prizes were given at the end of the day to thank the community for the support and business they have given us throughout the year.

The Exline Old Country Store and Antique Exchange was only the beginning of a number of projects developed by Morgan Cline in Exline. In addition, Cline moved a one room school house to the main street area and renovated it as a replica of the original schools. Then there was the tiny E.E. Withrow building which he did the same thing making it the community betterment office. The list goes on to include renovation of local homes in poor condition, the development of Ponds and Prairies (www.pondsandprairies.com), Coal Miners Commons, and the Exline Hose Company No. 1 Museum.

There is much more than meets the eye in the area. Many are unaware that Brigham Young was named the head of the Morman Church about 1 ½ miles south and east of Exline at a place they called , “The Ring of Rocks.”

Thanks to Cline’s investments and his vision, The Exline Old Country Store and Antique Exchange is now on the map and drawing tourists from far and wide.

Senior Care at its Best!

The Continental Care Center at Seymour, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation community in Seymour, Iowa, continues to raise the quality-of-life bar in the long-term care arena. On October 27th, 2009, the residents and staff joined forces to make popcorn balls in preparation for the upcoming Halloween night festivities. Lorie Jellison, Assistant Administrator/Activities, who organized the event stated, “It was an amazingly fun time! The staff and many of the residents pitched in and made over 100 popcorn balls for visiting Trick-or-Treaters.” Facility Administrator, Elizabeth Owens commented, “Senior living activities are often one of the most valuable segments yet often prove one of the most difficult. Quality of life has a great deal to do with length of life. It distracts attention from other less pleasant facts of life and reminds our residents and their families that there are still bright spots that we can capture and enjoy together.”

The Care Center in Seymour is, at first glance, a typical senior living community; however, when inspected more closely, visitors find there is more at work here than first meets the eye. Lorie Jellison explained, “The current owners are local and they purchased us when we had basically lost hope. Everyone said it was over and that our community was going to be closed!” however, the naysayers had not met Morgan Cline or Bill Burch! Morgan and Bill purchased the business and, to use a rather trite saying, breathed new life into it, helping us become once more a community in the truest sense of the word. Bill and Morgan’s philosophy is that our primary responsibility is the physical and emotional well being of the residents; then…we will turn our focus on making improvements to the physical plant. According to Jellison, one of the first major improvements Morgan Cline and Bill Burch instituted was a wireless call system that allowed calls for assistance from residents to be monitored. Lorie states, “Everyone knows that when Bill walks in, his first question after saying hello to everyone is, ‘What was the average call response time during the past 24 hours?’ If the answer is more than 3 minutes, Bill starts asking questions!. Bill made the following comment, “We are beating the odds. There are a few basic reasons why we have been able to do what we are doing in a town of less than 500 people. Everyone is dedicated to providing the residents of The Continental Care Center in Seymour with the best possible care, period! We have fun but we take systems and direct care very seriously. Everyone dislikes waiting, whether you are the one waiting or the person waiting is someone you love. Our per-patient-per-day staffing ratio is higher than any care facility in our region. So, when you combine the staff-to-patient ratio and the insatiable desire of our employees to respond to our residents’ calls as quickly as possible, our response times are typically four times faster than the competition and sometimes better.

Now..combine the care initiative with the fun activities that we try to pattern after those our residents probably enjoyed when they lived in their own homes and the result is a wonderful quality of life. We constantly strive to improve the quality of our residents’ lives, and as a result, families are often willing to drive long distances to make sure their loved ones receive the best care available. The Continental Care Center at Seymour comprises as much as 10% of our local population, something that is unheard of. Bill further states, “…and we are not finished!!”

It is obvious that the staff and residents of The Continental Care Center at Seymour have come up with the winning combination that results in everything from hard-to-beat response times to homemade popcorn balls for the local children. I might add that when the children took home the popcorn balls made by the residents of The Continental Care Center at Seymour, parents knew they could allow the children to enjoy the treats with their only concern being sticky fingers on the furniture! Only at The Continental Care Center at Seymour does one find the care of the residents to be so comprehensive and complete!

http://www.seymourcare.com