Lucerne >> Despite a low turnout at the event , the Northshore Activity Center — formerly the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center — has no plans to discontinue hosting any future Grateful Dead dance parties.
Organized by Frank Vastano, the Lucerne community center saw a equipment swap meet in the afternoon, where musicians could trade amps, guitars and drum sets. As evening rolled in, the music turned up a notch and the dance floor opened so the party could begin.
Late into the night, Vastano spun old Grateful Dead tapes and projected vintage music videos into two screens flanking the stage. A former Oakland resident and a certified Deadhead — the name for fans of the classic band — Vastano attended many Grateful Dead parties across the Bay Area when he was younger, but not once in his 13 years in Lake County has he seen one of those celebrations organized here. He decided it was necessary to remedy the situation.
The event wasn’t without reason, but served as a joint fundraiser for the Northshore Activity Center and a benefit to raise some funds for an operation for Vastano’s dog, Bowie (he’s come to call the dance parties Bowie Benefits and he hopes to raise funds for other pet owners in the future). While it was the first time they’d attempted a swap meet, Saturday night was the second Grateful Dead night at the center, the first being last Halloween. The event had a positive response the first time around, with the center raising $180. When every dollar counts, it wasn’t an insignificant sum.
“It brought in the most money of any event last year,” Vastano said. “We’re talking cash here.”
So Vastano had high hopes for Saturday’s event. Although it didn’t live up to his expectations in terms of attendance, he remained in high spirits throughout the night. For hours he danced to the Grateful Dead, picked up the guitar and drumsticks for play-alongs and enthusiastically switched around videos of live performances.
“Frank doesn’t get discouraged because he loves this,” said Joanna Lavorato, a friend of Vastano’s who helped run the dance party.
“I’m one of the biggest Deadheads in the county,” said Vastano. “There are a lot of people who love the Dead. Those are the people I’m trying to shake out and get them to come out. You get a group of Deadheads together and everybody’s got something to talk about.”
If all goes according to plan, Vastano will put on a second Grateful Dead dance party next month and many months following. He’s hopeful they’ll pick up speed, giving the community center some much-needed funds. “There was reason to do this and there’s reason to do this again,” he said. “They really do need all the help they can get. I’m happy and ready to do it again next month.”
Center director Rae Eby-Carl has always been enthusiastic about the event’s potential. “I thought it was marvelous the minute he [Vastano] told me what he was going to do,” she said. “It gives people a chance to come out.”
And since the Northshore Activity Center often has to hammer out event details on their own, the dance parties are a nice break from so much planning. “This gives us the opportunity to have someone doing a fundraiser for us,” Eby-Carl added.
In recent months the center has gone through not only a name change — which took effect back in July — but an image change. As a result, they’re happy for anything they can get in the financial department. In an effort to transform the venue into a community meeting ground, staff made the decision to cease referring to themselves as a senior center and embrace the title of activity center instead. “I think it better represents what we do here,” said Eby-Carl. “We’re just trying to give people a social center for the Northshore.”
Part of that plan is provided Lucerne residents with an avenue to express themselves. Aside from Saturday’s dance party, which included a pick up band — musicians could simply walk on stage, sweep up an instrument and begin playing — the center also hosts a monthly open mic night. “We have a lot of really gifted people in the community and we want to give them a change to perform as much as possible,” Eby-Carl said.
There is also talk of a potential partnership with local entities, such as Marymount College. Though it’s nothing more than conversation at this point, the center’s staff hope to possibly organize tutoring and some kind of internship program. It’s just one of many ideas to foster their reach. “We need to bring some enthusiasm,” said John Brosnan, the chair of the board for Northsore Activity Center.
Brosnan’s goal is that one day the center will serve as the primary venue for discussing issues important to the Northshore community. Lucerne’s location is ideal, after all, considering it falls in the center of district 3. If plans come to fruition, the community may see town halls within the center’s walls.
The enthusiasm and dedication of people like Vastano are invaluable to the effort to further these plans. Brosnan was happy to hear that the Grateful Dance parties will continue, whether the attendance is there or not. “Tenacity is what it’s going to take,” he said.
Keep an eye out for next month’s Grateful Dead dance party at the Northshore Activity Center in Lucerne.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
