Tombstone Pizza Bandshell dedicated

Summer got kicked off a little early in Medford this year with the grand opening celebration for the Tombstone Pizza Bandshell in the Medford City Park held on May 23.

About 300 people came out for the ribbon cutting and to hear performer Jared Hubbard as he kicked off the opening performance of the Medford Kiwanis Summer Concert Series.

“Like any successful project this is like a puzzle. There are big pieces and small pieces and corner pieces that you need to make the dream come true,” said Sue Emmerich of the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I remember when I was young loading up in our wood sided station wagon and coming down here to see the Medford City Band play on the bandshell. Many people over the years had batted the idea around about building a new Bandshell. And what happened after that was the right people in the right positions with the right passion came together and brought us to where we are today,” she said.

Mayor Mike Wellner was on hand for the ribbon cutting and praised the work done by both the Medford Area Chamber of Commerce and the committee. He noted the need for the shelter grew out of the successful Parkfest event.

“I want to thank the Chamber for going out on a limb with the first Parkfest. Parkfest was really started to see if the community would support live music and after the over 3,000 people showed up, well, we knew the community would be there for this venture,” he said. “We are happy to have the bandshell at this point but will continue to fundraise for additional needs.”

Without the financial support of donors, and especially the support of Nestlé See BANDSHELL on page 10 Pizza Division, the project would not have been able to happen. Medford plant manager Marc Armbrust said they were excited to be able to have the Tombstone name on the stage here. He joined with committee members and representatives from other donor businesses in cutting the ribbon to officially open the bandshell.

Last week’s performance was the first in a summerlong music series that will take place each Thursday evening. Bands and individual entertainers are scheduled each week through September 5. All shows start at 7 p.m. and Kiwanis will be selling beer and soda each week.

Tonight (May 30) Looping Fiddler Georgia Rae will be performing at the stage.

Georgia Rae performs solo, alone on stage with a pedal board and some fancy footwork. She loops the tracks right in front of you and builds each song into flight with beautiful sounds, grooving bass lines, and mystic fiddle solos. People are encouraged to come to answer your curiosities and leave inspired and full of creativity.

Upcoming concerts include the MASH Jazz Ensemble on June 6. On June 13, Jensen, Scott, Grunewald and Shiffler Law Firm is sponsoring Americana folk and country singer songwriter Miss Meaghan Owens. On June 20, as part of the Summer Solstice Party for the Playground Project, local bluegrass group Eclectic Connection will perform and on June 27 local musician Tom Burt will take the stage.

The Medford Kiwanis Summer Concert Series is supported by Hemer-Pickerign Funeral and Cremation Services and the City of Medford Hotel/Motel Room Tax Fund.

Marc Armbrust of Nestlé Pizza Division cut the ribbon on May 23 marking the official dedication of the new Tombstone Pizza Bandshell in the Medford City Park. The ceremony was followed by a performance by Jared Hubbard kicking off the start of the Kiwanis Summer Concert Series.

ELIZABETH WILSON/THE STAR NEWS