NEW SWEDEN — The Arootsakoostik music has long since ended, but positive vibes from the July 8 concert are still reverberating through an appreciative community.
Contributed photo
Arootsakoostik co-organizers Travis Cyr, at right, and Matt Beaulieu recently presented members of New Sweden’s Thomas Park Committee with $1,000 to assist with repairing the park’s famed amphitheater.
“The success of the Arootsakoostik Music Festival was best experienced by attending the event and appreciating the wonderful music and friendship that was shared. However the success of this event goes so much further,” said David Spooner, a member of the Thomas Park Committee in New Sweden.
Providing an opportunity for Aroostook folks to enjoy over 20 bands was just the start.
Not only did Event Organizers Travis Cyr and Matt Beaulieu and the 600 spectators restore the park to better than pre-concert conditions (a gesture that Spooner says the town surely noticed and appreciated), they asked Thomas Park Committee members to meet with the organizers for a chat about the event.
When Spooner and the other committee members attended the meeting, they were surprised to be presented with a check for $1,000 to assist with the costs of restoring the park’s amphitheater — the single largest donation the committee has received in the restoration of the band shell since the restoration project began.
“Without the support of groups like the Arootsakoostik organizers, there is no way that we will be able to save this historic structure; we are so thankful to Travis and all of the folks who make the Arootsakoostik Music Festival the great event it is,” Spooner said.
“Their financial contribution is only part of the story,” he added. “They have done more over the last six years to bring new people into our wonderful park than any other and that is wonderful.”
While Thomas Park clearly means a great deal to the town’s residents, it has nestled a place for itself in the hearts of repeat performers and spectators of Arootsakoostik.
“We feel honor and gratitude to the good people of New Sweden and everybody who has supported us, believed in our intent and allowed us to grow,” said Cyr, adding that the group takes a lot of pride in their event and, resultantly, have a lot of pride and respect for the park.
“It is a very special place to a lot of people who have memories there; we feel blessed to have been able to help with donations in the past but this year was real special to all of us,” Cyr added, expressing the thanks of himself and Beaulieu to members of the Park Committee and all the good people of New Sweden for their support. “We hope to be able to continue to preserve and showcase the beauty that is Thomas Park.”
The Arootsakoostik donation brings the Amphitheatre Repair Project about a quarter of the way to raising the $10,000 needed to provide crucial repairs to the historic structure.
Though Thomas Park Committee members are certain that the amphitheatre’s continued use this summer is perfectly safe, they do feel it’s necessary to repair the building this autumn before winter’s heavy snow takes its toll on the structure once more.
As Spooner explained, the apex of the amphitheatre’s dome has sagged over the last couple of winters, and the group’s concern is that another season of heavy snow could have further negative impacts on the structure.
Those wishing to contribute monetarily to the Thomas Park Music Bowl repairs can make checks out to the Thomas Park Restoration Fund and send it to the New Sweden Town Office; those wishing to lend a hand can e-mail Spooner at DWSpooner@gmail.com or call the New Sweden Town Office at 896-3306.
