Quadra to perform at benefit for Hinesburg rec fields, Friday, Jan. 9, 6:30pm at the Old Lantern in Charlotte

By Sheri Duff

Now that the Hinesburg Review Board has officially approved the applications to construct the Bissonette Recreation Field complex off Shelburne Falls Road, fundraising organizer Tom Ayer feels it’s time for celebration. Fortunately there is already one planned. Quadra will return for a repeat performance at the Old Lantern in Charlotte to benefit the project on Friday, Jan. 9 at 6:30pm. Ayer encourages community members to purchase tickets ($15 per adult in advance, $20 at the door) at Jiffy Mart or the Hinesburg Town Clerk’s office, and plan to attend this 21-plus community event.

“The first concert was such a success and everyone had such a great time,” Ayer noted. “We raised $11,000 and expect to raise even more this year. We still need significant cash to complete the entire project. An estimated $631,000 in capital and in-kind donations will be necessary to construct two full-sized multi-purpose fields, a regulation size Little League/softball field, an access road, and parking. Port-o-lets will be used until sufficient funds allow for bathrooms and a connected storage/concession building,” he offered. “We plan to make the concert an annual event even after the fields are built. It’s a great community celebration and in the future could be an easy way to offset maintenance costs.”

Quadra, the 33-year old band fronted by Michael Trombley, owner of Advance Music, headlines the event. Special guests The Growlers, an acoustic rock and country music band with ties to Hinesburg, will warm up the stage as the opening act.

In addition to the music, the event will feature food, a cash bar, a 50/50 raffle, and a live auction. “There is contingent of local businesses working on the benefit,” said Ayer. “Lantman’s is the presenting sponsor. And Jiffy Mart is a sponsor in terms of help with ticket sales, food, and possibly the 50/50. We will have plenty of food from generous donors such as Papa Nicks, Good Times Café, Subway (Jiffy Mart), the Dutch Mill, La Villa, Rumuntos, and McKee’s Pub, to name a few.” Community members and businesses have generously donated the following auction items: Boston Bruins tickets, a Burton snowboard, a cord of wood with a gallon of maple syrup, a golf greens fee package from Cedar Knoll, Rocky Ridge, and Williston, Boston Red Sox tickets, tickets to Higher Ground concerts, UVM hockey tickets, and much, much more. “Ethan Merrill of Merrill’s Auctions will call the live auction. There will be some great bargains for lucky bidders,” reported Ayer.

“The revenue raised to date is $178,383 toward the project of which $49,000 has been spent for permitting and engineering,” informed Ayer. “We’re pretty pleased with fundraising so far. We’ve already received one grant of $25,000 and have applied for a $200K grant through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.”

Community members can help reduce project costs too. Support this worthy cause with a tax deductible cash donation; a donation of labor, materials, equipment use, or services; and, most importantly, by attending the benefit concert – dancing, celebrating, and supporting the Hinesburg recreational fields on Friday, Jan. 9 at the Old Lantern.

“Now that the fields are permitted, we just have to tie up a few loose ends,” Ayer reported. “The land transfer from the Bissonette’s to the town is imminent,” he enthused. “With a little bit of luck we could break ground as early as this spring.” Now that is cause for celebration.

For questions, more information, or a ticket to the benefit concert, please contact Ayer by email at tomayerhinesburg@gmail.com or call (802) 482-5163.