Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com
Published - Saturday, May 10, 2008
Saved by the Shell: Event raises money for Winona Volunteer Services
 Winona State student Adam Shea, 19, of St. Charles, sings his version of Bob Dylan's "Song to Woody" during the "Saved by the Shell" fundraiser Friday at Lake Park. Six local musician groups played to be named crowd favorite and collect donations for Winona Volunteer Services. (Photo by Andrew Link/Winona Daily News) |
With the sun setting over Lake Winona, six local bands prepared to take the stage Friday night at the Lake Park Bandshell in Winona to raise funds for Winona Volunteer Services.
During each performance of mostly high school and university students, a collection jar was passed around the audience — the proceeds going to the community services organization. The band with the most money at the end of the night would be named crowd favorite of the event called “Saved by the Shell.”
The dulcet tones of Adam Shea, Winona State University student and second on the bill, echoed over Lake Park, where about 50 people relaxed with friends.
“It’s a heck of a day out here,” said Donny Wasinger, a senior at Cotter High School. “The weather is perfect for it. We were freaking out about rain.”
Wasinger and fellow band member Cody Damgaard, a junior at CHS, helped organize the event. They created an online social networking buzz with
100 confirmed guests, sent out press releases and made a radio appearance on KAGE 1380 AM.
“It was pretty stressful trying to put it all together,” Damgaard said. “Overall, it’s pretty cool.”
Wasinger and Damgaard headlined the event with their band, Pontius Pilate and the Fus Bos.
Steev Fleet, guitarist and vocalist with the band Insoluble, enjoyed the atmosphere.
The performing space was wide open and the nice day helped, said Fleet, who attends the Riverway Learning Community in Minnesota City, Minn.
Melissa Baer, a sophomore at Winona Senior High School, and Ross Nixon, a freshman at WSHS, were a last-minute addition to the lineup.
“It was a last-minute thing, but it worked out nice,” Melissa said.
Melissa’s mom, Karla Baer, came to support the good cause.
“It’s good to see kids using their bands to raise money for a good cause,” Karla said.
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