To the Editor:

With great local community press, TV, and radio interviews...we had a great opening night.

I here by, in no official capacity, declare that Wednesday, June 29 was a dam good day!

The Madrid Dam Summer Music opening night was much more than a success. More than three times the amount of people that I had hoped attended, and more important to me...they stayed until the end.

Lacey Rae Stoddard-Peets had each of them taking in her talent and command of the stage. Conversations became small, cell phones went quiet, and the audience allowed her gifts of song and entertainment to hold them.

We had asked the performer to take a break in the middle of the evening. We took a few minutes to celebrate something Madrid. We honored Bert and Betty Bewsick on their 69 years of marriage and also the Moultons for 49 years.

We introduced Zumba to the audience. After the first dance and grasping "what is Zumba?"...the stage, dance area, and audience seating area, filled with people joining in.

Our first “Madrid Moment” was a success.

Lacey Rae Stoddard-Peets returned to the stage with her father Ray, and continued bringing in every audience member. A bit later, her aunt Marcia joined in....and as Lacey closed the evening on her own, I heard some people say...”blue grass is now history, but we are glad there is family music back in our park.”

Another comment was...”I came to see what this dam music thing was about, and it will be good for our little town community.”

I closed the night thanking Lacey, her family, the town, the committee, and said...”we do not have it all, but we sure can celebrate what we do.” And yes, I said it with a few tears of being humbled!

Thank you to all who attended, supported, gave of their time and had a good time.

I wish to say thank you to Dick and Phyllis McDougal who sponsored Lacey.

I also wish to thank the evening event supporters: Madrid Town, Main Street Market, and the UPS Store in Potsdam.

Next week in our series of 10 nights of music in the park is Acapella North. The North Country's award winning ladies chorus.

On behalf of the MDSMS Committee, we thank you for a “dam” great evening.

Anna Campbell

Madrid Dam Summer Music Series Chair