This event was so overwhelmingly great that I can't think of what I even want to say about it. So I'm just going to include this link to the news coverage of the event and share some pictures and other people's words here. Thank you so much to everyone who came out. It was great to reunite with old friends.
Bill Sheehan and his Denver, CO family celebrated Billapalooza with everyone. His daughters were able to use FaceTime to show Mr. Sheehan all the love, support and music that was happening in his honor.
Lake Shore is a family. Yesterday, we came together not only to help one of our own, Billy Sheehan, but to draw comfort from being together again. My regret is that I didn’t have a chance to hug each one of you. So many times. I would catch a glimpse of one of you out of the corner of my eye, but never make it over to you to see how you’ve been doing. I regret that, but know that you understand the situation and that you realize how much your presence meant to me.
The coming together of the Lake Shore school family in an effort to help a teacher is unprecedented. It demonstrates the values taught within our classrooms at Lake Shore: loyalty, compassion, hard work, cooperation, a sense of community - and a desire to “light up the darkness” for those in need.
The turnout for Billapalooza, as well as the planning and execution of this event, illustrates that creating good citizens and empathetic human beings is a lasting effect of a good education. Most you who volunteered or attended have no idea what you earned on a given test, but you certainly know how to make the world a better place. As a community and as a country, aren’t these the values we hope to see in ourselves and in others?
I feel that all of the threads of all of my classroom lessons came together through Billapalooza. Those of you who attended, as well as all of you who were with us in spirit, made the world a better place yesterday. Please continue to help where help is needed and to love life - and each other - as much as possible every day. That’s what Bill did. With our help, that is what he will do again.
I love you all and will never be able to thank you enough for your support.
Now, get out there and continue to LIGHT UP the darkness! -Joan McDonald
You could spot Melissa [of the band Wheelhouse] and I in the background when Channel 4 was live at
6 o'clock yesterday! Sorry Ed Drantch... you blinked, but this was the only clip I could get where we were both looking!
6 o'clock yesterday! Sorry Ed Drantch... you blinked, but this was the only clip I could get where we were both looking!
Billapalooza was fantastic. Though I never had the opportunity to have Mr. Sheehan as a teacher, I do know of the influence he had on people that knew him, especially his students. The teachers (in my generation) of Lake Shore not only gave the gift of knowledge to their students, but they filled them with love and support. Leading by example, they have etched things in me that could never come from a book, or be written on a chalk board. A sense of respect, togetherness and general sense of love for each other. To always have an optimistic look on life, to carry myself with a smile, and if at first you don't succeed, try until you're satisfied. And above all, selflessness. These are all things I couldn't fathom upon graduating high school, but rather things I can appreciate as I discover them inside of me. Today was an example of all of this, and then some, rolled into one. The community they are, and have had a part in making is beautiful. With that, thank you. I had a blast. -Mary Hirsch
Retired Lake Shore teacher, Peter Palmisano, and his band "Burned" reunited to close the festival.
If you missed the event and would still like to donate, you can do so by mailing checks here:
Please write checks to "Friends of Bill Sheehan" and mail to the
Lake Shore Federal Credit Union
8766 Erie Rd
Angola, NY 14006
Billapalooza was the pep rally... now it's time for the real game. There will be a lot of work ahead and Bill Sheehan and his family will need all the help and support they can get. But I believe there will be progress. We may not be able to put much faith in the Buffalo Bills, but we can trust TEAM BILL SHEEHAN!
Please write checks to "Friends of Bill Sheehan" and mail to the
Lake Shore Federal Credit Union
8766 Erie Rd
Angola, NY 14006
Billapalooza was the pep rally... now it's time for the real game. There will be a lot of work ahead and Bill Sheehan and his family will need all the help and support they can get. But I believe there will be progress. We may not be able to put much faith in the Buffalo Bills, but we can trust TEAM BILL SHEEHAN!
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