Musical tradition begins 30th year

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Conductor Joel Knecht, with the Naugatuck Community Band, leads the musicians Tuesday night at the Naugatuck Green. Musical performances will be held there every Tuesday night during the summer. This year is the 30th year the concerts, which are hosted by the Naugatuck Arts Council, have been held. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Conductor Joel Knecht, with the Naugatuck Community Band, leads the musicians Tuesday night at the Naugatuck Green. Musical performances will be held there every Tuesday night during the summer. This year is the 30th year the concerts, which are hosted by the Naugatuck Arts Council, have been held. -REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

NAUGATUCK — Tuesday nights in the summer have been chock full of good music and great community spirit for the past 29 years.

The tradition will continue this year on the Naugatuck Green as the Naugatuck Arts Council holds its 30th year with concerts on the Green sponsored by Liberty Bank, which recently acquired Naugatuck Valley Savings & Loan.

“We are excited to have a partnership this year with (Liberty Bank), and we look forward to other events they have planned,” said Charley Marenghi of the arts council.

The Naugatuck Community Band held a patriotic and pops concert Tuesday on the Green for more than 100 spectators who watched the show for free. All shows are free and open to the public. Many spectators bring chairs and some bring food and drinks to enjoy a classic summer evening.

Naugatuck resident Kevin Cestari spent the evening with his family. He said the sense of community spirit is what makes the shows enjoyable.

“Everyone comes together and has a great time,” he said. “It’s a time for young, old and in-between to be together and to enjoy music from the old-time bands to the up-and-comers, who will be with the famous Naugatuck High School band.”

Even Mayor N. Warren “Pete” Hess enjoys the shows.

“Concerts on the Green are a great tradition that will be carried on going forward,” he said. “We would really like to expand it and have more activities like that downtown, and we will be promoting more downtown festivals and other venues for cultural events in the downtown area.”

The shows start at 7 p.m. every Tuesday on the Green, or at Naugatuck High School’s Davis Auditorium in case of rain.