If you've never been to Sandsprit Park on the Intercoastal in South Stuart, then you don't know what you're missing. There's always plenty of parking, a playground for little kids and it seems that you can almost reach out and touch the many boats as they go by. Besides that, the Martin County Parks and Recreation Dept. has an agreement with the big CEO in the sky that it never rains there. And each pavilion has a roof over it in case of ... er ... inclement sun.

The parks department has also made an agreement with the Martin/St. Lucie Mariners Barbershop Chorus that they may use Pavillion #6 on the 4 th Thursday of every month, provided that they perform free for the public on that day. The next Harmony In The Park will be, Thursday, September 25.

The Mariners eat their picnic lunch about noon and, soon after, they begin warming up. In case you are not familiar with "barbershop" music, it is four part harmony, purely American in origin. The four parts are Lead, which carries the melody of the song, and Tenor, Baritone and Bass, which provide the harmonizing chords. When you hear a barbershop song, you can hear and understand every word and some of the chords may make the hair stand upon your arms.

So, we hope to see you on September 25. Just bring a lawn chair and come on over to Pavillion #6 about 12:30, and bring the kids. Everything is very informal. And if dad is a "barbershopper," past or present, or if he would just like to try his tonsils at singing with us, we would just be delighted. Or hey! You might belong to the "Sweet Adelines," who are women barbershoppers. We'd like to sing with you, too.