Summerfest Strikes Up Wednesday-June 25, 1981

Second Annual Outdoor Concert Series Confronts Proposition 2½ Budget Cuts on Town Common

Beginning Wednesday evening, area residents will have the opportunity to enjoy free outdoor music on the town common courtesy of the second annual Summerfest program. Each Wednesday at 7 p.m., the Summerfest program, sponsored by the Norwood Arts Council, will present band concerts by performers from throughout the area. Several different styles of music, including country, bluegrass, big band, and ethnic, will be presented. All events will run from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays at the town common, and in case of rain, the performances will be shifted into the auditorium of the Aaron Guild School. Organizers say the schedule is trimmed down from last year, which had Saturday performances aimed at youngsters. Due to a lack of funding, the Saturday schedule, which had included plays, mimes, clowns, and the like, has been completely eliminated.

Arlene Mollo, publicity chairman for Summerfest, said the success of last year’s initial program prompted the group to continue its efforts, despite the total elimination of town funding. Vic Babel, another member of the organizing group, explained that the program received $5,000 from the town last year, but municipal funds were entirely cut due to Proposition 2½ fiscal restraints. This year, in order to continue the performances, the group has directly solicited funds from area businesses. So far, $3,000 has been raised and more is expected. Vic Babel noted that the selectmen recently voted to provide police for the events at a cost of about $520. The group is also expecting a grant from the Norfolk County Board of Tourism, although it remains uncertain whether the county will contribute the full $5,000 it kicked in last year. Several small businesses and individuals have also approached organizers offering money to help fund the program.

The committee anticipates it will need about $6,000 for this year’s program, a sharp drop from the approximately $13,000 spent last year. “Next year, we should be in much better shape. We’ll have a good following. It will be self-sustaining,” Vic Babel said, adding that the committee would put on other events if they have the funds. “If any money is left over, we’ll have some kind of activity in the winter and fall and spring, and we’ll be able to get things going in the summer much more organized”. Within the next two weeks, schedules of all Summerfest events will be mailed directly to residents.

Organizers said a small group of people have been working on planning this summer’s schedule, each handling a different operational area. Gerald Miller, one of the Summerfest organizers and also the program director for the recreation department, said he thinks the program has become well established after just one year. “We’ve created what we wanted to create — a symbol, a logo… we’ve created a name people can relate to,” Gerald Miller said. Jane Lennon, who coordinated the event programming, said the entertainment was selected based on what people said they enjoyed most from last year, with four of this year’s performers making repeat appearances.

Jane Lennon noted the entertainment—mostly ethnic, country, chorus, or band music—was selected to appeal broadly to family audiences. Rock music was deliberately avoided because of its narrow audience and the potential for trouble associated with rock concerts. In addition to the musical performances, local restaurants will set up booths at some of the events to sell their products. Some of these food concessions will intentionally match the active theme of the music, such as serving German food when the German band takes the stage.

Summerfest 1981 Schedule of Events:

• July 1: Jim Hall and Tulsa Queen (Country and Western music)
• July 8: Nine Twenty-Niners Banjo Band (Music, comedy, and sing-along)
• July 15: Bill Hall and the Northwind Bluegrass (Bluegrass music)
• July 22: Lindsey Henes, Brian O’Donovan and Friends (Irish music)
• July 29: Jerry Seeco Swing Band (Jazz)
• Aug. 5: Twintide and Bato Bard (Dutch music)
• Aug. 12: Canton Baystatemen Chorus (Four-part harmony featuring many area residents)
• Aug. 19: Boston Sangerchor and German Band (German folk and party music)
• Aug. 26: Norwood Square Dancers
• Sept. 2: Frank Gubala Orchestra (Ethnic music from all over)

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger