After Budget Cuts and Months of Lobbying, the Scotch Plains Concert Series Resumes Tonight

The Cultural Arts Concert Series will kick-off tonight with a bang – or perhaps a smoother sound – as Doug Clarke and the Rutgers Rebels, a jazz quintet, takes the stage at the Alan Augustine Village Green on Park Avenue in Scotch Plains at 7:30 p.m.

The band covers the hits of jazz greats Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer and many others, but also infuses its own style and sound into the music. Members of the jazz group have individually played with many professional artists, including Norah Jones, Les Paul, Jim Hall and Tal Farlow.

Tomorrow's free concert is the first of five that will take place throughout the summer on the Village Green. The next concerts are:

• The Westfield Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, July 22;
• The John Powers Band on Thursday, July 29;
• The Eric Harrison Crash Chorus on Thursday, Aug. 12;
• And the RB Express from NYC "Doo Wop" on Thursday, Aug. 19.

Additionally, for National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 3, another free concert will feature Hudson Sound, Space Jamz, and Midlife Crisis.

Based on this schedule, it is hard to believe that the concert series was on the verge of elimination in April, after cuts in the Department of Parks and Recreation's budget were announced. At the time, the loss of the summer concert series seemed imminent.

"As much as I love the cultural arts concert series, I think it's kind of a luxury that is one of the first things to go," Mayor Nancy Malool had said.

The concert series' organizers said they were not surprised when they learned of the budget cuts.

"When the budget came out, I wasn't shocked [that the concert series had been cut]," said Steve Goldberg, both a member of Scotch Plains' Cultural Arts Committee, which organizes the series, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Scotch Plains Management Corporation, which funds programs in the town to support local businesses. "I was resigned that [the concert series] wouldn't happen."

However, Scotch Plains Councilman Kevin Glover soon expressed concern about the decision.

"It troubles me that, when we run into difficult times, the first thing we look to do is cut the arts," he said. "I don't think that's smart. [The arts are] a part of who we are.

"Once discontinued, I had a fear that [the concert series] would never be revitalized," he later added. "People's taxes are going up every year. It is important for the municipality to give something back, to bring joy to people and raise spirits in these difficult times."

Glover said he saw the concert series as a way draw residents to the township's downtown area.  "We have invested as a community to further develop our downtown. The first thing we need to do is make people know we have a downtown and then [make them] come to our downtown," he said.

"I'm hoping that by bringing in these groups, we will attract people beyond our borders. We've already got the makings of a pretty good downtown, and this will go a long way to bring more awareness and recognition."

Glover took it upon himself to try to save the summer concert series by reaching out to local businesses for partnerships. After weeks of lobbying, Glover obtained sponsorships from PNC Bank, Investor Savings Bank, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch, Beckerman and Company, and John's Meat Market.

"Kevin Glover was persistent," said Antonio Gonzalez of PNC Bank. "We're right in town, two blocks away, and we've seen the concerts. It was clear [the series] was in need, so we thought it was right to help out."

Vinny Losavio, the owner of John's Meat Market, which will advertise and provide funding for the final concert, said he felt similarly. "Anything we can do to help the town, we try to do. My father always helped the town; he would have never said no."

"The past concert series we've had have had good groups and good turnouts, but this year, we want to load that Village Green all the way to the back," he continued. "We want to really expose our town to people who haven't seen it. There are plenty of shops around here that most people don't know about."

Glover also spoke with the Scotch Plains Management Corporation's Board of Directors, which sponsored the concert series after certain provisions were made. The most prominent of these provisions gave the SPMC the right to set up a hospitality tent at the concerts, where member businesses can distribute pamphlets and coupons to concertgoers.

"[The sponsorship was] a reasonable way to appropriate money," Goldberg said. "We can promote the Management Corporation and give businesses the opportunity to show the community what they have."

Dominick Verdic, also a member of the SPMC's Board of Directors, agreed. "All we're asking for from the community is body support," Dominick Verdic, a member of the SPMC's Board of Directors. "We want [community members] to come out, enjoy the music, and enjoy the night…. Foot traffic brings business. This is a great way to help people see what we have in the downtown."

But even after receiving sponsorships from five local businesses and the SPMC, the total amount funded fell short of Glover's original goal of $6,000 to $7,500 dollars. As a result, Glover, himself, made a donation to recover the difference, and became the seventh and final sponsor.

Now, after months of work and planning, the concert series is ready to begin. Business owners in the area expressed enthusiasm.

"I hope that people are going to come in and buy a slice or a soda," said Angelo Zanfardino of Alfonso's Pizzeria. "In the past, families have always come here before the concert. It's always good to have people in town."

Perhaps the most excited and enthusiastic community member is Kevin Glover himself. "I was just trying to do the right thing," said Glover. "Through my efforts and with the help of my friends, we were able to pull this together."