ANSEL VANHORN

On Saturday, June 25th the VanHorn family traveled to Real del Mar, Mexico (just north of Puerto Vallarta) for a peaceful beach vacation with their daughters and close friends and their families.

On Sunday, the guys enjoyed a round of golf and afterward headed to the beach to boogie board & play in the surf with the kids. Ansel was boogie boarding when a wave came down on him, causing him to crash head first into the sand.

Ansel didn’t realize exactly what had happened at first until he tried to turn himself over as he was face down in the water. Right then he realized he couldn’t move in order to turn right side up to breathe. He felt at that point the best thing to do was take one more deep breath. He thought to himself, this is where it ends. And a feeling that’s hard to describe followed. Peace. Quietness. Serenity. Nothing else but that.

Thankfully the guys noticed something wasn’t right with Ansel. They saw him floating in the ocean. He had drowned. The adults were able to pull him out of the water. They immediately began CPR and never stopped working and by the grace of God were able to revive him. But they didn’t know what else lied ahead.

Ansel was transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital in Mexico where doctors proceeded to intubate him and continue to pull the fluid from his lungs. He was conscious and it’s where they discovered he couldn’t feel anything from his neck down. A spinal specialist was called in and they began running numerous tests.

It was determined although nothing was severed , Ansel needed surgery to relieve the pressure on his spine. Late Sunday night the surgeon removed his C4 and took some bone from his hip to replace his C4 vertebrae. And they placed a plate to hold it in place attaching that with screws into his C3 and C5. Ansel came out of surgery early Monday morning.

Many people worked diligently with doctors in Mexico to coordinate with neurosurgeons at St. Joseph Hospital in Phoenix and arranging for a medivac back to Arizona.

On Tuesday evening, Ansel and Sheryl landed in Arizona and were transported directly to St. Joseph/Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. Praise God! Doctors at BNI confirmed a successful surgery in Mexico! Ansel spent 2 solid weeks in ICU at BNI and then moved to inpatient rehab there after. Mid September he returned home and the work has continued towards his healing.

He works everyday with a team of outpatient therapists, his incredible and devoted wife and family and large support system of friends.

His full independence is near, new milestones are hit everyday and he’s been named THE MIRACLE MAN because everyone has seen the grace of God and His power.

Faith, family, friends and grit. It’s the ingredients that is what brings new hope and progress to Ansel’s healing journey everyday. And he’s unstoppable! His goal is to regain full independence and return to work late summer as the Head of Acquisitions at the Laughton Team.

JUDE JOHNSTONE

Born in Bar Harbor, Maine, Jude Johnstone began writing songs at about age 8. At 18, she was “discovered” by Bruce Springsteen’s saxophonist, Clarence Clemons. After spending some time in New York and New Jersey under his wing, in 1979, she moved to Los Angeles, where her songs quickly became sought after by other artists.

She has been covered by Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler, Johnny Cash, Stevie Nicks, Mary Black, Jennifer Warnes, Trisha Yearwood and more, including a #1 song for Yearwood’s debut album called “The Woman Before Me” which earned her a BMI award.

Her songs then appeared on 8 other Yearwood cds. She also penned the title track to Johnny Cash’s 1997 Grammy winning album “Unchained.”

Jude has released 8 cds of her own that run the gamut from Celtic, Gospel, Americana, to Jazz, Blues, and even Big Band. She has been featured on the CBS Early Show, and NPR Radio’s “Morning Edition.” Her songs have also been on several television shows including “Nurse Jackie”, “Army Wives” and “Lie To Me.”

Jude has opened shows for Jackson Browne, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Richard Thompson, Shawn Colvin, Chris Hillman, 10,000 Maniacs, David Crosby and many others and toured Europe under her own name numerous times.

If Jude Johnstone is not yet a musical household name, she sure as hell should be.

Henry Carrigan, No Depression

Turning emotional pain into art is a tricky business. Sometimes I wonder if the end result is worth it. Jude Johnstone makes a good case that it is.

Rodney Crowell

Jude’s fertility, in regards to songwriting, is truly awe inspiring.

Bonnie Raitt

There are certain artists whose songs go so deep it’s like they’re heart surgeons…Jude Johnstone has been able to do all that, and more, for so many years, it’s almost like she has a patent on it.

Bill Bentley
The Morton Report

Jude Johnstone’s ability to fashion the stuff of life seasonedemotions into handsomely crafted, lyrically attractive song fare is as remarkable as it is reliable”

Duane Verh
Roots Music

…She’s patently a master at capturing the heart’s dark and desperate moments, just as she’s capable of encouraging belief in its resurrection.

Mike Davies, Roots and Branches/The Beat

Gemma McIlhenny was raised in West Philadelphia and attended Overbrook High School as a Fine Arts Major. Under the instruction of her mother and The Philadelphia Arts League Gemma developed a love of theater and acting, performing in various productions around the city. During her teenage years she volunteered in various community service based artistic endeavors. The primary focus was to allow inner-city youth a safe environment to express themselves through the arts . She later majored in Fine Arts at Philadelphia Community College before pursuing a career in law enforcement. Since then, Gemma has taught dance and drama with 'The Mount Airy Learning Tree'. She can be seen on network television shows such as her recurring role on New Amsterdam (NBC). As well as FBI (CBS), East New York (CBS), Power Book II: Ghost (Starz), Inventing Anna (Netflix), and many other film productions.

*Photo Credit Maggie Shirk Photography*

Peter M. Caliendo, Former USA Baseball National Team Coach and Skills Development Coach.

Pete brings unmatched experience and expertise to the development of baseball skills to players and coaches. His vast knowledge and worldwide presence has earned Pete immeasurable respect within the baseball community. His devotion to the game of baseball is greatly admired by those who have crossed his path.

Pete started his baseball career at the World Famous Mickey Owen Baseball School where he started as a student, then became a counselor and at the young age of 17 began his coaching career with the 12 u program. During this time he met, who would become his great friend and mentor Dick Birmingham. Dick was instrumental in Pete’s start in baseball as a coach/instructor and continual development as a coach. Later Pete because the Director of Baseball instruction for the 12 U Baseball program along with coaching the high school age teams. Along with his student/counselor/coach responsibilities Pete studied at the Mickey Owen Umpire School under minor league umpire, Carl Lewton and he umpired over 100 games each summer. After 10 years at Mickey Owen Pete started a satellite program in the Chicago land area called Baseball Schools USA, a division of Mickey Own Baseball School. He set up over 25 schools throughout the Chicago land area which averaged over 60 players a camp. In the next expansion program Pete headed up two other states for Baseball Schools USA. These schools were standardized with special technology, standardized wording, drills, fundamentals and lots of fun games to keep the consistency of the program.

Pete is currently the President of Caliendo Sports International, a worldwide baseball company that trains individuals, teams, coaches, parents and deals in professional baseball operations worldwide. Pete's company takes teams, coaches, players and parents all over the world to experience international and cultural experience. Training volunteer coaches has been a specialty of Caliendo Sports International for over 35 years. Pete is a large proponent of a national certification program for volunteer coaches for the purpose of long term development of players. His 35 plus years of training coaches around the world continues by being a volunteer as Vice president of the International Sports Group a non profit organization which host coaches training programs around the world for over 25 years.

As a skills development coach, Pete has provided hundreds of youth coaches training programs throughout the world. To support this knowledge base, he has produced 5 baseball instructional tapes (“Coaching Made Easy”) used as a benchmark resource by coaches across the country. Along with his partner in Canada he has developed an on line coaches certification program. Pete presented twice at the National High School Coaches Clinic as well as 14 additional high school Association Clinics in the USA and has presented in 20 separate countries.

For over 7 years Pete taught a one week coaches certification class in Mexico for the Mexican Baseball Federation in Mexico City. He currently ran a one week certification class in Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Baseball Association.

As of 2009, Pete is heading up the Great Lakes Region for (NTIS) USA Baseballs National Team Identification Program for possible national team players. The Great Lakes Region consists of 5 states, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Tryouts for potential national team players are held in each state at the ages of 17u, 16 u, 14 u, 13u and 11 under. Pete administers workouts throughout the states to identify possible national team players.

As Director of Baseball Operations and Coach for the Schaumburg Flyers, a professional independent team based in Illinois, Pete had over 26 players sign with major league organizations. The Flyers made it to the play offs in their opening season. As Player procurement Director for the North Shore Spirit, Pete put together the full roster of 22 players that went on to the Northeast World Series.

Internationally renowned, Pete served as the Director and Coach of The Pan Am Baseball Association, a pilot program started by the former CEO of USA Baseball Dick Case. This organization won 3 gold and 3 silver medals for the USA in the Pan Am Games, including the Gold over Cuba. From the six year program of 16 year old players it had produced over 22 players in the major leagues. After the six years USA baseball made the program an official USA Baseball 16 u national team program. His experience also includes coaching the Belgium Baseball Federation National Team and the 1999 Team USA, a team with professionals that competed in Australia's Intercontinental Cup the year before the Olympics in Australia. Pete also served as Director for USA Athletes International's Baseball Operations. While living in Europe, Pete became an associate scout with the Toronto Blue Jays for International Scout for the Blue Jays Wayne Morgan.

In January 2011 Pete received the American Baseball Coaches Association Meritorious award. The ABCA is the largest baseball organization of college and high school coaches in the U.S.He attributes his success in life to his parent’s upbringing of him and his brother Paul. “My parents made the ultimate sacrifice coming to the USA at a very young age from Italy, not knowing anyone so that my brother and I would have a better life”. His continual support comes from his parents Sam and Vivian, Brother Paul and beautiful wife Beverley who is always there to encourage him and assist him in any way. Jordan his step daughter has been a big part of his life in watching her grow up to be a bright young beautiful women. He continues to receive encouragement from his aunt in Italy and says without family no man can accomplish anything.

Pete is currently the President of Caliendo Sports International, a worldwide baseball company that trains individuals, teams, coaches, parents and deals in professional baseball operations worldwide. Pete's company takes teams, coaches, players and parents all over the world to experience international and cultural experience. Training volunteer coaches has been a specialty of Caliendo Sports International for over 35 years. Pete is a large proponent of a national certification program for volunteer coaches for the purpose of long term development of players. His 35 plus years of training coaches around the world continues by being a volunteer as Vice president of the International Sports Group a non profit organization which host coaches training programs around the world for over 25 years.

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