By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

When Jeannie Goza of Ramona owned a bar and grill in town, she bought a Karaoke machine to liven the atmosphere. That experience led her to become a DJ in places similar to hers.

After she closed the eatery 14 years ago, she became aware that smaller places like hers found it too expensive to hire a disc jockey.

A friend who had experience as a DJ invited her to entertain at a bar in Herington.

That was her first venture into a business she later named “InDshadow.”

“I’m a shy person,” she said, “and I hid behind the microphone.”

Using makeshift equipment, she provided musical entertainment at a reasonable rate. She was busy almost every weekend and sometimes worked wedding receptions.

Over the years, she upgraded equipment including new speakers and lights.

“I don’t know how many sets of microphones I’ve replaced,” she said.

A mother of six grown children, Goza had a motorcycle accident in May that led to three weeks in intensive care and temporarily put a stop to her business.

She gradually is getting back to it but does not plan to do it as often as before.

She has been the DJ at Lincolnville’s Octoberfest dance the past two years and announced the parade this year.

“I have a passion for DJ’ing and watching people have a good time,” she said. “I really enjoy it. I don’t drink, but I like to be around people. My dream is that, when I turn 80, I will walk into a room and be a DJ.”

Goza has been active in the Ramona community, serving as vice mayor for a time. She has been involved in Christmas, Halloween, and other special events and is planning a chili contest at Ramona Community Building for the third time later this year.