Islanders in Off-Island News

Former MVRHS football player leads pre-game prayer between Penn State and Nebraska

Those following the scandal at Penn State over accusations of sex abuse and perjury may not know that Ron Brown, who led the prayer before the game between Nebraska and Penn State last week, is a Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Alumni.

According to the September/October issue of “Brown Alumni Magazine,” the Nebraska Cornhusker’s assistant football coach, “was adopted at age two and raised on Martha's Vineyard.”

See the two attached videos for footage of the pre-game prayer and a post-game discussion with Brown as to its importance.

Edgartown Girl Chosen to Walk in the Macy's Day Parade

Alley Ellis, an eighth grader at the Edgartown School, has been accepted to perform as a Camp Broadway® Kid in the 85th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 24, 2011. Camp Broadway auditioned kids in five states to perform in the parade. Ellis was selected out of thousands of kids for this honor.

Ellis will walk with the 120-member musical theatre ensemble for the entire parade route along with the Zhu Zhu Pets float and accompany a VIP guest. Broadway’s Artistic Director, Tony Parise, has created special choreography for the production number that will be performed live in front of Macy’s Herald Square store, and will be broadcast nationally on NBC-TV.

Ellis has been performing on the Island since the age of 4 with many different performance groups. She studies voice with Joanne Cassidy, dance at RISE, and acting with IMP.  Most recently, Alley performed a leading role in the Edgartown School's Bluebeard.