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Vol. 5 Edition 12
YOUR Independent Community Newspaper THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017
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Who says you can’t go home? Singer Michelle Wright enjoys a return to Merlin school
and offered advice and on the floor when special positive reinforcement. guests were there,” she She said the night before said. Five of Wright’s nieces Canadian country music her visit to the school, she legend Michelle Wright reached out to family for and nephews currentmay have travelled the advice on what to play, ly attend the school. She world performing to mil- wanting to ensure it was called upon several to come up and sing a Luke lions of people, but the age appropriate music. Wright was surprised to Bryan song with her, usMerlin native certainly learn while sitting around ing an iPad for accompaknows where home is. the Jansen niment. Wr i g h t , family dinIncluded in Thursday’s just a day “Growing up in this ner table show was “Strong,” prior to her little town was really, that her which Wright recorded f u n d r a i s - really good for me. I own “Shut in 2013. Wright asked the ing perforUp and kids to really pay close mance at got a lot of support Kiss Me” attention to the lyrics and The Cha- here.” receives the the song’s anti-bullying tham Capi- - MIchelle Wright thumbs up message. tol Theatre It certainly wasn’t the to benefit the Friends of at the school. Her first song to the kids only message delivered the New Animal Shelter, returned to her old ele- was her 1992 hit “No- Thursday. body’s Girl,” and she of“If you have a dream, mentary school. She spoke and sang to fered encouragement to whether you want to be a singer, the students and staff at the female a doctor, Merlin Area Public School s t u d e n t s “If you have a dream, Thursday morning in the present. whether you want to be work at a “But we’re school or gymnasium. If Wright could have somebody’s a singer, a doctor, work on a farm, it’s going to wrapped the school girl. We’re at a school or on a take work; around her like a blanket, girls from farm, it’s going to take hard work,” she may very well have M e r l i n , work; hard work.” Wr i g h t done so. She said being at right girls?” - Michelle Wright As for perstressed. the school just felt “comforming “Be dedicatfortable.” “Growing up in this lit- and speaking at her old ed. You can’t get discourtle town was really, really school, Wright said she aged. It took me 10 years to get a record deal.” good for me,” she said. “I enjoyed it. “It’s fun for me to be on Wright also fielded quesgot a lot of support here.” Wright didn’t just play this side. I remember be- tions from the students. Continued on page 2 to the kids; she interacted, ing in the gym and sitting
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
Bruce Corcoran/The Chatham Voice
Country singer Michelle Wright stopped by her former elementary school March 9 – Merlin Area Public School – to perform and speak to the students.
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