PHS students communicate the meaning of Christmas in two languages

By Rusty Nixon 
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

PLYMOUTH - One of the exciting things about Plymouth FOP #195's Shop with a Cop program is the way it brings widely different sections of the community together to help kids have a Christmas they wouldn't have a chance to have otherwise.

Last Saturday was no exception and for a second year Spanish students from Plymouth High School pitched in to do their part. The students volunteered their services to help translate for Spanish speaking families during the shopping trip.

"Most of the kids also volunteered last year and they loved the program so much they wanted to be part of it again," said Delia Gadziola, Spanish/ELL teacher at PHS. "Haley Jaggers worked to set the whole thing up last year and helped out again this year."

"This can be kind of overwhelming for third year students so we have mostly our fourth year students and some of our students who speak Spanish."

For the students who participated - Alejandra Renteria, Mónica Renteria, Dayana Ortiz, Moy Lopez, Yesenia Garcia, Leticia DelReal, Paola Moreno, Diana Figueroa, Maria Lupe Rodriguez, Matt Libersky, Stephani Moran - helping kids and helping their community were the key component.

"A lot of our kids don't participate in sports or other extra curricular things and this type of thing is sort of a niche for them," said Gadziola. "They believe in this community and they want to make a difference. This gives them a chance to get out and demonstrate their leadership ability."

Wanna be Steve Carell? Plymouth grad will get the chance

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

PLYMOUTH - Steve Carell is one of the hottest names in Hollywood right now, and a local actor will have a chance to share that "persona" in an upcoming film.

Plymouth grad Tyler Langdon has signed on to play the part of Steve Carell - star of "The Office", "The Daily Show", and numerous hit feature films - in an upcoming movie with the working title "Burt Wonderstone". Tyler will play the part of Carell as a 19 year old budding magician. The film features Steve Buscemi as Carell's partner in magic, Jim Carrey as their arch nemesis as well as James Gandofini known for his work on "The Soprano's" and Olivia Wilde from "House".

"I think if he (Carell) had been in the room when I went in for the final audition I might not have been able to perform," said Tyler with a laugh. "It felt really good when he got the footage of my audition and told the director and producers that I was by far his first choice.

"It's really an unbelievable opportunity and I'm really excited. I'm going to be able to be on the set every day with some very talented people and watch them work and learn from them. Maybe even more exciting is that I'm going to be able to attend the premiere with them and walk the 'red carpet' with them. That's a really exciting thing."

The Warner Brothers film will be Tyler's first major feature film since beginning his career about two and a half years ago. It's a major accomplishment in such a young career. A year ago he was chosen to be part of an online "American Idol" type competition for up and coming actors and since has been able to work in some independent films and other projects.

"It was really something to sit in the same room waiting to audition with people like Seth Green and Will Forte - people who's work I've really admired," said Tyler. "Now to be able to be on the set with actors that know so much and can teach me so much about the process of being an actor is an opportunity that I am going to make the most of."

"The way the cards have fallen so far I can only say that I've been unbelievably fortunate in my career."

Freyenberger gives NFL films a Plymouth flavor

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Next time you watch "Inside the NFL", or "ESPN Match Up" you might want to scan the credits for a familiar local name.

Josh Freyenberger has taken his love of photography and his love of sports and combined them into an exciting start to his career. The 2007 graduate of Plymouth High School has spent the last two years working behind the camera for the NFL Network.

Last year as an intern Josh shot 13 games - including the NFC Championship and Super Bowl - as part of the camera crew for the network. His talent led to a full time job offer and this year he works on three national studio shows each week.

"Last year seemed a little more exciting I think, this year it's a little more like your job," said Josh. "Of course there are those days when you realize just how cool it is to have this job. The other day I was talking about Notre Dame football with Joe Theisman and then it struck me a little bit later just how many times do you get to talk Notre Dame football with Joe Theisman? It's times like that you realize just how unbelievably lucky you are to have a job like this."

Upon leaving PHS Josh admits he wasn't completely sure where he was headed career-wise. A little over a year of classes at IUSB failed to give any real direction. Then friends Dylan and Ethan Hayn encouraged him in another direction.

"I was taking business classes and it was alright but I just didn't think that's what I wanted to do with my life," said Josh. "They asked me to come down and visit them at Full Sail University in Orlando and the next thing I knew I was enrolled."

Film school was just the thing for the aspiring cinematographer. As they say in the movies - the rest is history.

"I've always been an avid photographer," he said. "I love anything that has to do with cameras. I always have. It's really kind of funny because I found out that my dad loved photography too but when I came along and he had a family he decided it was too expensive and sold his equipment and gave it up."

While NFL Films is a great place for somebody of Josh's interests, there are other things the aspiring photographer would like to achieve as well.

"I'm young and I would love to travel and see the world as part of my work," he said. "Working on a project for National Geographic - or some other kind of international shoot - would be really special. I would love to be able to that.

"It's really kind of an exciting time to be involved in the field. I have access to a lot of high end equipment that lots of people could only have dreamed about years ago. It's not that hard to get really great footage without spending a lot of money or being part of a network."

"I think being a part of things like stage crew and band in high school really helped me to see the creative side of my mind and that really helped me. Growing up in a small town really helps put all this in perspective for me."

"I'm going to enjoy all this while I can. I'm still single and there's a lot of things I'd like to see and places I'd like to go. We'll go with the flow and see where it takes me."

Faces in the Crowd

Our roving camera captured lots of faces at last Friday's boys basketball home game with Peru...was yours or maybe someone you know one of them?


Click here to check out our Facebook page to find out.

Christmas Spectacular this weekend

PLYMOUTH - The Plymouth High School Music Department will present the third annual "Christmas Spectacular" production in the PHS auditorium on Sunday, December 11th at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets for the event are available at the door for the price of $5 per adult and $3 per child, student or senior. This year's show is called "Santa's Wild Wacky Workshop!"

The show will feature over an hour of Christmas and Holiday musical selections presented by the Chorale, Counterpoint, Crimson Connection, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. There will be nearly 250 PHS students involved in the production of the show.

The show takes the audience on a musical journey during the three days before Christmas when all is extremely busy hectic in Santa's Workshop and the elves are nowhere to be found. Join the PHS Music Department for a wonderful afternoon of entertainment and Christmas music.

Teaming up to help others

PLYMOUTH - During the month of December, the Plymouth basketball program, Oliver Ford and PHS Operation Leadership Students will be pitching in to help the Community Center.

On December 2, 6, 9, and 21st during PHS Boys Basketball games Oliver Ford and the PHS Operation Leadership Students will be collecting canned goods at the North Entrance of PHS in an attempt to Fill a Focus.

Community members who donate 6 items, consisting of boxed or canned non-perishable foods, grooming supplies, or paper products will receive a certificate for a $15 oil change through Oliver Ford. The collection of these items will begin 30 minutes prior to the start of the JV game on each evening and continue through the 1st quarter of the Varsity game.

Come see the Pilgrims battle Rochester, St. Joe, Peru, and Whitko and help support those in need in our community.

Plymouth grad kicks off tour as part of a new Christmas compilation

Plymouth grad Denver Bierman with fellow grad Adam Beck

By Rusty Nixon
Director of Development and Alumni Affairs

NASHVILLE, TN - The weather outside may be frightful, but the music of the season is delightful with a new dual release of Christmas Favorites from Jesus Daily Facebook, featuring Plymouth's Denver Bierman and the Mile High Orchestra.

Jesus Daily - the most highly engaged Facebook page in the world - has released two new digital Christmas compilations available on iTunes. One - "An ePOP Christmas” - features 25 Christmas songs by 23 top and emerging new artists including notables Everlife, The Tractors, Alison Krauss, and Gary Chapman, alongside some of today’s best emerging artists - Chris Sligh, Story Side: B , Stephen Speaks and Denver & the Mile High Orchestra.

The second release has a more traditional approach and is entitled "An Inspiring Christmas”. It also contains 25 favorite Christmas classics, offering with a traditional sound that features Christian artists Gary Chapman and Wintley Phipps alongside notable Worship leaders from Churches all over the country including Rick Muchow from Saddleback Church and Charles Billingsley from Thomas Road Baptist Church and - of course - two more songs from DMHO.

"Our lead trumpet player, Keith Smith, was hired by Jesus Daily as a staff producer for the groups musical projects," said Denver. "He brought them the idea of making our music part of the Christmas compilations and they thought the message along with our nostalgic sound was a perfect fit for this project."

As part of the two compilation release, Denver will also appear on a television special with several of the other artists that will be broadcast on TBN later in the month.

"It's wonderful for us to have the opportunity for our music to get some exposure to some people who may never have heard it before," said Denver.

Denver and the rest of the Mile High Orchestra will embark on their enormously popular "Christmas Tour" this weekend. It's a bittersweet time for a family man who is also a performer.

"This is the biggest tour of year for us because our sound becomes mainstream," he said. "Our style is part of everybody's memory of what Christmas sounds like. It comes to the forefront of American culture from November to January.

"We love sharing with our fans, sharing our music and our faith which is the reason for Christmas but man it is terribly hard to leave home for the tour. It's why we've  (wife Amy and children London and Boston) already started celebrating at my house. We've watched all the Christmas specials and maybe it sounds silly but we always build a gingerbread house and we're going to do that tonight. Then Dad leaves to go to work for Christmas. It's hard but it's exciting at the same time."

The tour has several big stops including a chance for hometown fans to see the band at a special performance at Moraine Valley Church in Palos Heights, IL just outside of Chicago on December 17. The performance will be broadcast live on the Moody Radio Network to nearly 500 radio stations across North America.

Tickets for the show are available online at http://www.itickets.com/events/275503.html or can be ordered by phone at 800-965-9324. All the band's Christmas Tour dates are available at http://www.denvermho.com/

To check out "An Inspiring Christmas" go to http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/an-inspiring-christmas/id482951712. "An e-Pop Christmas" is at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/an-e-pop-christmas/id482980971