To the Editor:

As promised, this letter summarizes and highlights our continuing progress on our journey to “impact our home communities via inspiring public outdoor performances.”

It offers certain facts about our 2016 season, which wrapped up this past Sunday, Aug. 7. A press release offers more details and also refer to the series Facebook page for more facts: Norwood Village Green Concert Series. All donors will receive a complete balance sheet in our fall mailing.

Attendance averaged 1,247 for each of the 17 events. Included in this attendance were 650 elementary students from Norwood-Norfolk, Madrid-Waddington, and Potsdam Central Schools. Two hundred students from Herman-DeKalb, Massena, Potsdam, Canton, Edwards-Knox and Lisbon Central Schools provided some of the performances, and workshops and performances were included for Crane Youth Music campers.

The three top attended concerts were the Gibson Brothers (4.500), Donna the Buffalo (3,458) and Tom Chapin (2098). Total attendance for the 17-event season was 21,207 exclusive of the CYM programs.

The series signature “Pass the Bucket” garnered a whopping $14,614.23. This was a record breaker surpassing last year’s record of $12,278.49. The three top “pass the bucket” events were The Gibson Brothers ($4,374.80 – a record breaker in itself), Donna the Buffalo ($2,2470), and Tom Chapin ($940.50). The average “pass the bucket” was $860 for 17 events.

Restricted donations included a $15,000 for specific programming, $1598 for replacing the monitor system with a self-powered speaker system, and $585 for band shell maintenance and cleaning.

The series received 3 specific grants: 1. St, Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency - $5902 to complete its new lighting system, 2. The Sweetgrass Foundation - $2,500 in support of its acoustic music presentations, and 3. National Grid - $1000 in support of its youth music programming.

The series received $21,045 in checks of $25 or more from individuals, businesses, and organizations. The series fiscal year ends on August 31st and checks are still welcome and being received for this purpose. Checks may be made payable to the Norwood Village Green Concert Series, 3 Bicknell Street, Norwood, NY 13668

As of this writing the series has received a total of $61,244.23 from the private sector for its 43rd annual season.

As President and Founding Program Director for the Norwood Village Green Concert Series it always is satisfying to know that the series is supported by so many people. Thank you. Plans for 2017 are well under way.

Joseph M. Liotta

President and Founding Program Director

Norwood Village Green Concert Series