MILTON OUTDOOR                                    

                          PERFORMANCE CENTER                    News Articles

                  MILTON, VERMONT

BACK TO MOPC HOME PAGE                                                                             PREVIOUS ARTICLE     INDEX      NEXT ARTICLE 

RE-PRINTED WITH PERMISSION                                                                     VISIT MILTON INDEPENDANT NEWSPAPER

April 19, 2007

The sky was dark, but the mood wasn't at MOPC Groundbreaking

By ROB TICHO | Milton Independent Staff Writer
miltonreporter@yahoo.com   

A pair of golden shovels dug into the muddy April soil at the Bombardier recreation park in Milton on Monday, April 16 for the Milton Outdoor Performance Center’s ground breaking ceremony. About 50 people gathered in the unseasonably cold weather when the dirt started to fly on this exciting town project.

Milton Outdoor Per-formance Center Co-chairs Karen Edwards and Lonnie Poland recalled how the idea for the performance center came to them over a cup of coffee while working on community projects through the Cornerstone Community Church and the United Church of Milton. With the support of their churches the two embarked on a campaign and raised the $20,600 needed for the project through fundraisers and donations. The two took time to thank the many individuals and organizations that were responsible for raising funds and praised the efforts of the numerous volunteers.

United Church of Milton Pastor Jeff Cornwell addressed the crowd and said “the best days are still ahead for this town.” He brought his own shovel remarking that the group is digging in and making an investment in the community.

On behalf of the town, Selectboard Chair Jim Manley called the event an “excellent example of town people coming together for the benefit of the community.”

The performance center is due to open for the July 4th holiday. It will be a shell-shaped metal structure with a raised stage. Capable of suspending all types of performance equipment such as lights and backdrops, it is designed for a variety of uses.

   Milton Select board members joined  the Milton

   Outdoor  Performance Center Co-Chairs in a

   ground breaking ceremony on April 16. The

   performance center construction is set to begin 

   shortly and end in time for July 4.