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Cause for celebration

Dear Editor:The 2007 Carbondale Music & Lobster Fest was a big success this past weekend. Our sixth annual celebration of local music was bigger and better than ever. Over 100 talented local musicians came out to play in eight venues downtown while a huge crowd came out to enjoy 1,000 fresh lobsters brought to town by Jeff and Gail Brodsky.The CRMS Preschool Lobster Crawl and fundraiser went great. The dunk tank was very popular in the hot weather. Ro Mead and her CCAH volunteers came out in force and did an excellent job of running the beverage tent while raising money for local arts projects. Steve Skinner at KDNK and Julie Pontin at KUUR were a big help in getting the word out. It was so cool to have our local public radio station send out live broadcasts of the music during the day.Thanks to all of the musicians, volunteers, sponsors and, especially, the town of Carbondale staff. We created this unique event with the town in 2005, and it has grown to be an amazing community celebration of local music and lobster. Special recognition goes to the Town Recreation Department run by Jeff Jackel and his new recreation coordinator, Rebecca “Beckles” McCarthy.Beckles worked tirelessly to make the lobster part of the fest happen as smoothly as possible. Quite an effort to serve 1,000 lobsters in a small town.We were lucky to have Jessie Rochell come back and help with the event again. Couldn’t have done it without her and all the lobster helpers: Matt Wagner, Mike Emerson, Jack Bowman, Santana Schumer, Jason Schumer, Stacy Evans, Marie, Matt Kramer, Lu, Dave Ritchie, Eric Brendlinger and Danielle Boyle.The sound was excellent in all the venues thanks to: Louis Girardot, Bob, Drew Stofflet, Steve Koch, Bob and Troy Barmore, the Harleys, Jeff Britt and the Whittingtons. A real group effort with some nice sound equipment.And, thanks to all our special sponsors: Ed Podolak and Towne Center, Main Street Spirits, Tom Bailey, Carbondale Vineyard, High Point Brewery, Lynn Kirchner, Pour House, Peppinos Pizza, Dos Gringos, the Lift, the Granna café, Village Smithy, Phat Thai, Black Nugget, Jacober Construction, Blue Tent Marketing, Jennifer Perez, all the ticket outlets and everyone else that helped make the event such a good time.Steve Standiford, Steve’s GuitarsRebecca McCarthy, recreation coordinatorCarbondale