Music at Debate Square kicks off summer series
Jane Lethlean
Special to the Journal-Standard
FREEPORT After spending the last 16 months not playing in front of a live audience, Bill Petersen directed the Highland Big Band in front of a park filled with people Thursday night in downtown Freeport.
More than 120 people gathered for the first in a series of music events for Music at Debate Square. Some sat in lawn chairs. Some ate ice cream from nearby Union Dairy.
“We got the band together with five people, and as more got vaccinated, the number grew to 15, Petersen said. It has been more then a year since we played, and I spent much of it listening to music in solitude. So I selected music that reflected a year of solitude building up to jazz to celebrate being back into the community.”
The Freeport Concert Band will kick off its 2021 Music Under the Stars summer concert series on Sunday, June 13, 2021 at the historic Koenig Bandshell in Freeport’s Krape Park.
New Hampshire Magazine
We recently tapped into the experts from the Granite State Ambassadors to tell us about their favorite places in the state for pet-friendly, family-friendly, wheelchair accessible and healthy senior fun. These local experts have special knowledge of their regions of the state and their favorite recommendations for guests with specific needs, but first here’s some background on how the Ambassadors came to be.
As do so many great things in New Hampshire, it all began with a casual conversation between colleagues. This one took place a little more than 25 years ago.
Judi Window was executive director of the Southern NH Convention and Visitors Bureau at the time, and was sharing a vendor booth with people representing the state of New Hampshire at the Made in NH Expo. As they chatted, the state primary was ramping up. Flocks of media were arriving at the Manchester Airport where volunteers were on hand to answer questions from reporters about where to go and h
RACINE â Everyone knows Violet âViâ Petersen is around when they hear her heels.
âAsk anybody about her,â said her daughter, Joan Volmut, âand theyâll ask, âDoes she still wear high heels?â
They were a part of Petersenâs everyday wardrobe when she was secretary at Case High Schoolâs Green School in 1966.
Despite being 97 years old, her granddaughter, Allie Olsen, says Petersen still wears them when she can. âSheâs always been a pretty cool grandma,â Olsen said. âShe always keeps up with the clothing trends, whatâs new.â
And always wearing high heels are just one of the many remarkable things about Petersen, who was discharged from Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine on Jan. 19 after beating COVID-19, and will soon be celebrating her 98th birthday on April 4.