Last Wednesday I welcomed the sunrise in Peace Park. What a beautiful place to sit and listen to the quiet of Fonthill. As the morning progressed the town started to awaken. First, the occasional car drove by, followed by a steady stream of dog walkers along the sidewalk. By 7 a.m. Town Hall staff started to arrive and there was a noticeable increase in traffic alongside the park. My quiet time of reflection was over.
Just a short time later two red shirts appeared in the distance. Liz Triano and Dave Swan arrived at the park ready to complete the engineering and painting of the lawn chair guidelines for the Fonthill Bandshell concert. Swan is 88 (89 in August) and Triano just turned 80 and they have the energy of 20-year-olds. By the time Town staff finished the cutting and trimming of the grass in the park, Triano and Swan were organized and ready to swing into action and get the task at hand completed. No fancy computerized surveying equipment, just great instinct around what works and what doesn't.
Bandshell volunteer Gayle Baltjes-Chataway says that what originated through the pandemic concerts has now become a regular fixture.
“Liz Triano and Dave Swan answered the call to become the line engineers and painters each week. Out early on a Wednesday morning painting on the grass at Peace Park in Fonthill to guide the hundreds of lawn chairs that get set up in anticipation of another night of live music at the Fonthill Bandshell,” says Baltjes-Chataway.
The red-shirted family of volunteers monitors the park all day Thursday to help people find seating and set up chairs.
“Look for the Bandshell volunteers when you arrive, and they'll be happy to help you find a spot to enjoy the performance. The concerts are every Thursday through September 7.”
