By Peggy Mackenzie
The Baker/Biker’s Lament: A musical fundraising event to help The Crazy Baker get back on his feet. The Irish Pub, Sunday, Aug. 18, 3-9 p.m. Minimum donation – $10.
On July 20, Hall Hitzig, aka The Crazy Baker, was riding in the annual Wheels of Hope bicycle ride. As he was crossing a bridge, his bicycle went out from under him and he landed on his hip, fracturing his acetabulum, the bone forming the cup of the hip socket. He was flown to Charlottesville, VA for surgery to piece the bone back together.
Since then his wife Amy reports he is getting stronger each day, but can put no weight on his right leg until the bone mends in approximately four more weeks. This will be followed by many weeks of progressive weight bearing and physical therapy to regain his strength. It will be a few months until he is able to begin working as The Crazy Baker, and a long winter of rehabilitation and indoor stationary cycling before he is pedaling his bicycle along the mountain roads he loves. Hall has set his goal to ride the 100-mile Gran Fondo New York in May 2014 to inspire his recovery process!
To cheer him on and help out with the bills, an impromptu musical fund-raising event has been planned for Sunday, Aug. 18 at The Irish Pub starting at 3 in the afternoon and continuing on to 9 p.m. Several musicians have come forward to perform, promising an event well worth the $10 entrance fee, in addition to being a cause worthy of support for Hall.
The musical lineup will begin with Patrick O’Flaherty at 3:30 p.m.. When he is not touring, Patrick plays several instruments and sings in both Gaelic and English at The Irish Pub. He will be followed by Lewisburg native Cory Lee McQuade’s acoustic blues and folk music finger-picking guitar and old time clawhammer banjo at 4 p.m.
Gary Roper, who begins his set at 5 p.m., has been performing professionally since the age of 17. His music covers a broad spectrum of musical styles ranging from Dylan to Springsteen, as well as his own originals. Look for Terrence Zimmerman to perform at 6 p.m. He plays old time and bluegrass music with various musicians that range from local legends to national flat picking champions. Zimmerman’s guitar and banjo mastery has earned him the title “twelve fingers Zimmerman.”
The Hitzig Brothers (sons of Hall Hitzig) and Katharine Wray Fountain, three members of Brown Chicken Brown Cow String Band, Irish fiddle and Grass Country Style music will be performing at 7 p.m. And lastly, Tim Pence, a native of Monroe County and a member of Poteen, is an Irish fiddler extraordinaire and will be playing throughout the evening.
So, put this musical event on your calendars and come out to The Irish Pub on Sunday, Aug. 18 and join your friends in support for The Crazy Baker’s efforts to get back up on his feet so he can bake and bike once again!
