Thank you, Mr. Shivelbine

Gratitude should never be kept to one's self.

I'm a firm believer in sending thank-you cards, saying thank you and meaning thank you.

Some would say it's just procedure and that thank-you cards are pointless except to follow some societal obligation that wastes stamps, time and effort.

I say poo.

I don't know the last time someone thanked Bill Shivelbine and his guys and gals at the store on Broadway, but I'm doing it now.

Thanks guys. Thanks for all you do.

It's hard to overlook the music store with that giant rotating "Shivelbines/Magnavox" sign. It's also hard to overlook the "Shivelbines" attached to almost every event in this town.

That name is synonymous with music. Standing in the store, you can watch seasoned musicians pick up guitars and start strumming and singing quietly or a young teen who just joined the school band pick out a trumpet.

The name is also synonymous with generosity. They're major donors/sponsors of the weekend's River City Music Festival. And they're donors of a lot more. Several of the bands in the area have been helped by Shivelbines, either in dealings or usage of equipment.

That gorgeous guitar (a Zuni Custom Guitar made by Michael Blank in Alto Pass, Ill.) on the front of this magazine was lent to me by the kids at the music store. Only the best from Shivelbines. I ran up to the local music store to just borrow a Fender or some other interesting six-string for a quick photo shoot. I didn't mind getting a standard instrument, but Bill just said "give her whatever she wants."

So I took the sparkly green one and drove like I had a child out of her car-seat in the back of my vehicle. The $9,000 instrument lives in a glass case with three sisters. The knobs are made of antler and the wood for each guitar comes from right across the river.

I told Matt Sanders, who aside from being the former A&E editor, has been in bands since he was 14. He just replied, "Yep, that's just how he is." Apparently Shivelbine's once let Matt and the band borrow an amp when theirs went out before a show. That's just how he is.

Shivelbine's has lent a musical instrument petting zoo at ArtsCape, sponsored the Storytelling Festival, donated merchandise to United Way and lessons to March of Dimes — and that's just this year. They've participated in Old Town Cape activities and helped musicians from school-age to old-age get their rock on. The list goes on and on.

So thanks Bill, Chase, Scotty B. and the rest of you for trusting me and helping everyone.