Concert to help pay for YMCA playground

Contributed photo: (From left) Webb Sobolik, Will Clark, Logan Dougherty, Trevor Dougherty and Phillip Barkho are members of the band Without Witness that will play at the YMCA fundraiser at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Contributed photo: (From left) Webb Sobolik, Will Clark, Logan Dougherty, Trevor Dougherty and Phillip Barkho are members of the band Without Witness that will play at the YMCA fundraiser at 7 p.m. Saturday.

The YMCA of Callaway County decided to host a live rock show to raise money for the construction of a playground.

"Rock for Play at the Y" takes place from 7-10 p.m. Saturday at the YMCA, 1715 Wood St. The cost is $10 per person or $15 per family of four ($5 for each additional family member).

Patty Miller, YMCA executive director, said the playground initiative started as part of a long-range plan and has grown into a memorial for a departed employee, Barbara Wilson.

"Barb was really passionate about getting the kids out to enjoy the fresh air and play outside," said Miller, "but we've never had a safe place for the kids to play."

Wilson worked in childcare at the YMCA for about eight years until she passed away in December of 2009.

The new playground will be located in a fenced area on the east side of the building and will feature a slides, swings and a puppet stage and theater area that will be known as the Barbara Wilson Creative Play Area.

"(Barb) loved doing her puppets. We thought it would be a great tribute," said Brandi McGrath, YMCA membership and administrative director.

The cost of the project will total about $55,000 and is primarily funded by the YMCA, private donations and a grant from the playground manufacturing company GameTime.

Miller said plans are nearly complete, but the organization is hoping to raise another $5,000 at "Rock for Play."

"We're hopeful that people will come and support us as we wrap this project up," she said.

All of the equipment is on-site, and the YMCA has projected approximately 30 days until completion.

The entertainment was arranged to cater to local youth and the prices were set to attract families and children.

Tyler Sammons, the youth minister at Hopewell Baptist Church in New Bloomfield, will speak to the audience about the roles mind, body and spirit play in decision making.

The band members of Without Witness approached the YMCA about volunteering their time and talent for a fundraiser.

"It shows great character development, and that's what the YMCA is all about. It's a good match," said McGrath.

Without Witness is comprised of Trevor Dougherty, 15, guitar; Logan Dougherty, 13, bass guitar; William Clark, 12, rythym guitar; Philip Barkho, 15, drums; and Webb Sobolik, 19, lead vocals.

Tamara Dougherty, mother of two band members, said that her sons took the initiative to learn an instrument and most of the boys in the band are all self-taught.

"They're all very good kids. We couldn't be prouder of all of them," she said.

Several band members attend Callaway Christian Church and are active in youth group. According to the band members, their values are the core of the group and the significance of Jesus Christ in one's life is the inspiration for the band name.

Trevor, founder of Without Witness, is looking forward to playing at the YMCA benefit saying, "It's a lot of fun to play for your peers."

"It's kind of cool to be up on stage and look out in the crowd and see all of your friends cheering you on," Trevor said.

The band most recently played at The Blue Note in Columbia and is working on original songs to record an album. For details on upcoming shows, visit: http://facebook.com/pages/Without-Witness.