and still are, with such acts as Cochise, Geier Sturzflug, Helge Schneider, Killerpilze, Wir sind Helden and In Extremo. Early in 2007, the barn's ceiling lining was destroyed by a storm, but with help from unpaid workers, the youth centre had a complete, new paint job inside by the summer. Tierpark Nordhorn Nordhorn's animal park harbours on his premises compounds for exotic and also home-grown domestic animals, as well as a museum, a farm, a traditional pub and a playground. Social institutions Lebenshilfe Nordhorn The Lebenshilfe – an institution dedicated to helping those with handicaps live full lives – was founded as early as 1963. Now, the institution's organs assist, attend and take care of well over 600 people with handicaps. These organs include kindergarten for early assistance, various homes and also various workplaces (such as carpentry workshops), where clients can go with the proper guidance and according to each one's interests and talents. As well, there is the musical band Tabuwta, made up wholly of people with handicaps and supported by Lebenshilfe educational employees and celebrities such as Guildo Horn. In 2005 they recorded their third CD and presented it at the old weaving mill. Vechtetalschule The Vechtetalschule – Vechte Valley School – has existed as a school for those with a very broad array of handicaps since 1989. In 1992 it moved to a new building. It was given its name in 1997. Now, the school has 210 pupils, divided into 27 classes, ten of which are in outlying locations. Employed at the school are roughly 90 employees along with those doing community service (instead of military service), would-be teachers and trainees. Levels currently run at the school are Primary, Secondary I and Secondary II. Notable people Ernst Küppers (1904–1976), swimmer and coach of the Wassersportverein Nordhorn (Waspo) (1953–1965) Otto Geisert (born 1939), footballer Ernst-Joachim Küppers (born 1942), swimmer Bernhard Brink (born 1952), entertainer and musician Michael Schneider (born 1953), recorder player and conductor Silke Pielen (born 1955), swimmer, Olympic medalist Beate Merk (born 1957), politician (CSU), Bavarian State Justice Minister Johnny de Brest (born 1963), artist and photographer Petra Schmidt (born 1963), soprano Paulo da Palma (born 1965), footballer Albert Stegemann (born 1976), politician Jan Fitschen (born 1977), long-distance runner Simon Cziommer (born 1980), footballer Anna-Lena Grönefeld (born 1985), tennis player Twin towns – sister cities Nordhorn is twinned with: Coevorden, Netherlands (1963) Montivilliers, France (1963) Reichenbach