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OSSINING, N.Y. A Friday night waterfront concert series has been brought back to life after the entertainment was cancelled for a year due to lack of funding.
"This waterfront series was always very popular. It's a beautiful site for families to just go to chill on a Friday or Saturday evening as the sun sets, but this year because of budget constraints it was cancelled," said Gareth Hougham, a resident who helped make the concerts happen again in Ossining.
About two months ago, Hougham, along with Joe Clarke, the chairman of the village planning board, and other members of a Waterfront Vision Committee that was formed by the village board of trustees, began asking for donations from local residents and groups to be able to bring live music back to the waterfront.
The fundraisers surpassed their goal of $5,000 by $600 so concerts may be held not only until the end of summer, but also into early fall as well.
Major donors included Cappelli Enterprises and Ginsburg Development, the developers of One Harbor Square, who donated $2,200. The town of Ossining also donated $1,000.
"People in general have really stepped up and hopefully it will be really successful this summer. We want to encourage people to get down the waterfront. It's truly an asset and it's very underutilized," said Clarke.
The first concert of the series on July 8 featured Act Three, a jazz band with vocalist Aaron-Noel Treppada. About 50 people showed up for the concert, which was moved to the Ossining Public Library's basement auditorium due to a heavy rain storm.
This Friday's waterfront performance will be by Cool Shoes, a funk, blues and soul band. More bands ranging from classical to pop, rock and jazz have been lined up for each Friday until the end of August. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m.
Hougham is the president of a non-profit organization, Hudson Valley Arts and Science, which is handling administrative tasks for the waterfront concert series including collecting donation money and hiring bands.
More contributions for the concert series are still welcomed, Hougham said, and they can be made through the Hudson Valley Arts and Sciences website.
"If we can get still more donations, we can be sure to extend it into autumn. The more the merrier," Hougham said.
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