President’s Letter
Folknotes 07/16/25
Hello Everyone. In this Folknotes:
Sad News
Leo Coffeehouse Summer Schedule, Open Mic, July 20, 2025
Looking Ahead: Porchfest IV, Saturday, August 16, 2025
Reference Information/Links (Below my sign off)
Sad News
I learned late last week of the passing of our friend, and QCB member, Jean Balassone. Karen Schrock, a close friend of Jean’s, shared this great photo, from David Heink, of Jean checking out someone’s hubcap banjo, at what looks to be an outdoor concert. Karen tells me that Jean loved playing the banjo and took banjo lessons from Kitty McIntyre at Famous Old Time Music for many years.
On behalf of the Queen City Balladeers, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Jean’s family and friends. She will be missed.
From Jean’s family:
We are sad to announce that on the morning of July 4th, Jean passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, after a battle with leukemia.
A memorial service to celebrate Jean’s life will be held in the Pinehurst Room at Cooper Creek Event Center (4040 Cooper Rd, Blue Ash, OH 45241) on Sunday, July 27th from 10a - 12p. Light refreshments will be provided.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate to a charity of your choice. We thank you all so much for being a part of Jean’s life.
If you have any questions about the services, please reach out to David Heink, Mikey Hurd, or Libby Stryker. Enquirer Obituary
Leo Coffeehouse Summer Schedule
Open mic, with sound system, 5:15-9:00 PM, Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Leo Coffeehouse will be definitely be open at Zion United Church of Christ on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of June, July, and August, from 5:15-9:00 PM. We plan to open on the “in between” Sundays at the same time if there is demand and if we have a key holder to open the church. For planning purposes, just assume that we will be open every Sunday. I will let people know weekly, through this newsletter and on Facebook, what’s going on at Leo the following Sunday.
On the 1st Sundays we will have song circles downstairs and up.
On the 3rd Sundays we will have an open mic, with the sound system set up, if sound volunteers want to practice using the soundboard, or without the sound system, if the sound crew needs a break.
The sign up sheet will go out at 5:30 PM and performers will start playing at 6:00 PM.
Scheduled Summer Song Circles: June 1st, July 6th, August 3rd
Scheduled Summer Open Mics: June 15th, July 20th, August 17th
In Between Sundays: Plan on us being open unless I write to tell everyone that we are taking the Sunday off.
Looking Ahead: Porchfest IV
Saturday, August 16, 2025
A group of us from QCB will be opening this event with songs most of us know. Join us and sing along as part of the audience.
From the hosts, Brian and Cheryl Ferry:
Party @ our house! Join us for our FOURTH annual day of free music by and for friends and neighbors @ “the Pillars”. (That's what folks used to call our house back in the 1910s).
Bring a chair/blanket, water bottle, any other drinks you might want (we'll have beer to share), snacks/food (to share if you’d like) - a taco truck will be on site for you to purchase food, etc.
Music starts at 2p and will go until about 10p. New band every hour or so. We'll be sharing about the bands as they're confirmed.
Spread the word, bring friends, hope to see y'all there!
4141 Floral Ave, Norwood, OH. More information here.
That’s all for this Folknotes, I hope to see you soon.
Neil Harrell
President, Queen City Balladeers/Leo Coffeehouse
Facebook:
QCB/Leo Coffeehouse Membership
We are keeping our standard annual QCB membership dues at $20.00 for a family, or for a single person plus a guest. Last year, knowing that the pandemic cut into our contingency funds, as we continued to pay overhead expenses with no income, some members donated larger amounts to QCB. We very much appreciate the support of all QCB members at all levels.
We are exploring setting up our website to allow the payment of different levels of dues support. For now, if you’d like to pay the standard dues, you can pay them online here or by a check at Leo. (We’ve discontinued our P.O. Box, I will have a mailing address in the next newsletter for those who wish to mail their membership dues.)
If you would like to donate more than the $20.00 standard dues, you can do so by check, or through our website. When you get to the page with the box to relay instructions, just note that you are paying a larger amount for your dues.
For visitors who prefer not to become a member, a donation of $5.00 (cash) per person helps us pay the rent for our non-profit organization. Donations can be slipped in the box at the welcome table outside our performance room, Founders Hall. If you can’t afford that, pay what you can afford or nothing at all. We will welcome you to join us either way.