Dear editor:

The 2011 Bluegrass Festival was a smashing success, boasting excellent weather throughout the weekend. We continue to grow due to the tremendous and endless efforts of a dedicated, thoughtful and music loving group of volunteers from the community (if in doubt, check out the list below). Their efforts are greatly appreciated and the reason our Festival continues to prosper.

We had the support of many great sponsors and received assistance from the BTBIA relating to pre-festival warm-up events and facilitating the raising of our street banner, (even if meant being up at 5:30 a.m. to meet the man with the hoist from Country Signs Tottenham). We partnered with the South Simcoe Arts Council in their very creative endeavour to involve elementary schools in a drawing contest. The winning artwork found its way onto restaurant placemats. With the help of the Town of New Tecumseth and its Arts Fund, we continued to offer local elementary schools our ‘Bluegrass In Schools” program. We received gracious help from our new sponsors, Brayford Sod and Midhurst Property Services in restarting our ‘Paint the Town Bluegrass Blue’ as a pre-festival marketing campaign. We always invite more businesses to get involved and make downtown Tottenham attractive for the thousands of the two-week visitors. It’s all about your business, so sign on, dress it up, and say “Welcome to Tottenham”. Let’s Paint the Town Bluegrass Blue!

In short, it takes a lot of people to make a little Festival BIG. To the sponsors, advertisers, committee members, and all the brain trusts in this community, thank you!

Check out how the world sees our little festival at www.tottenhambluegrass.ca, or on Youtube, Facebook designed by Laura Fox-Kavchak at www.facebook.com/TottenhamBluegrass (lots of smiling children performing) or take a peek at www.squidoo.com/bluegrassfestivalsinontario to see the great rating we get as an Ontario festival. On behalf all of the Directors of the Tottenham Chamber of Commerce, a big thanks and see you again next year.

Jerry Switzer, chair Chamber of Commerce 2011 Bluegrass

Thank you to: Committee Directors — Helen Mabee & Jerry Switzer, 2011 Bluegrass Committee members: Al Benner, Steve Blanchard, Kent Broome, Terry Calvert, Alanna Cornish, Peter Deveau, Joy Duffy, Barb Duncan, Dennis Emmett, Laura Fox-Kavchak, Kevin Fox, John Hollands, Jill Jones, Bill Kippen, Wendy Kippen, Mike Kirley, Joe Laird, Helen Mabee, Jim Mannell, Mike Mayers, Cathryn Mc- Gregor, Terry O’Connor, Marilyn Pearce, Mike Pare, Bill Perry, Bruce Proudfoot, Jim Purvis, Larry Reesor, Joanne Reesor, Glen Schlueter, Brian Simms, Dave Simms, Elvis Spurrell, Jerry Switzer, Wilf Trahan, Richard White, Lee Whyte, Ralph Wilding, Bill Zerback,

• Chamber of Commerce Directors Alex Zong, Pres., Eric Van Loo, Jess Prothero, Helen Mabee, Jerry Switzer, Kristen Haire, Dave Fleming, Sylvia Fleming, Caren Galindo- McBain, Peter Finnie, Darlene Rupke

• On-site Bluegrass volunteers (non-service club members): Joe Alfred, Jessica Allan, Jamie Allan, Jordan Allan, Nancy Allan, Mel Ashick, Ken Ashick, David Aspenlieder, Trish Austin, Lisa Austin, Linda Baker, Bob Bamforth, Craig Beatty, Sierra Beatty, Pete Black, Lucas Boers, Sandra Bolant, Kevin Branch, Cara Branch, Doreen Brown, Terry Brown, Victoria Bunn, Wayne Burney, Yvonne Butt, Tavia Canning, Dave Copestick, Paul Chambers, James Clark, Terry Cleland, Natalie Cosman, Barb Coutney, Wayne Coutney, Doug Cowie, Trish DeMille, Tellina Demoe, Rosie Deveau, Tammi Downing, John Doyle, Al Dresser, Aileen Dresser, Christina Duffy, Sharron Duggan, Pam Dunstall, Richard Dunstall, Kaitlyn Dunstall, J Emery, Anne Emmett, Theresa Erny, Keiran Ezediel, Rob Farrah, Sue Farrah, Samantha Finley, Garth Franklin, Bill French, Will Gunn, Marian Gunter, Chloe Gunter, Brianne Hager, Bruce Haley, Dave Harbin, Mickey Harbin, Dave Harkness, Genny Hayes, Eric Hipkin, Randy Hipkin, L Hodgson, J Hodgson, Lyndsay Hodgson, Connie Hollingshead, Debbie Hotson, Shelby Hotson, Marilyn Hubbard, Gary Hubbard, Mike Jensen, Diane Kentner, Al Kentner, Elizabeth Kirley, Jane Kitching, Lloyd Lawton, George Laranger, Ray Leblanc, Cyril Leet, Shannon Leet, Calvin Lengille, Marjorie Loiselle, Richard Longen, George Loranger, Ed Loucks, Loretta Loucks, Tom Malone, Claudia Mancini, Jim Mannell Jr, Connor McAuley, Joe McCarron, Doreen McCarron, Cathryn McGregor, Susan Mendies, Katelyn Miller, Art Miller, Melissa Mouck, Mom & Dad Mouck, Anthony Mrasek, Bob Murdock, Pat Murdock, Bo Neiderhuber, Sharon Neiderhuber, Nadia Nicholls, Bob Nicholls, Tamara Niepage, Marion Pattison, Jess Pattison, Craig Pattison, Marilyn Pearce, Doug Pearce, Edy Petrik, Pete Petrik, Kim Pinarello, Ren Pinarello, John Purtill, Cindy Purtill, Dona Pooley, Dave Pooley, Corry Prihoda, Susan Proudfoot, Levi Quinton, Jack Ravelle, Jean Ravelle, Billy Reuthien, Bill Richardson, Eric Robbins, Beverley Robbins, Chris Roberson, Robert Rountree, Diane Rountree, Jennifer Sanders, Ashley Shannahan, Peter Shmagola, Marie Simms, Fred Snell, Elvis Spurrell, Matt Spurrell, Cliff Stacey, Lindsay Sutton, Diana Taseckas, Sandi Tessier, John Tessier, Jack Tracey, Christina Votule, Bill Wallace, Tanya Walsh, Gary Walsh, Julie Ward, Jeff Waye, Sue Whalen, Danny White, Michael White, Richard White, Santina Wilkie, Ray Wing, Michelle Woodhouse, Mom & Dad Woodhouse, Robin Wyatt.

• Community Partner Organizations: (SSR) South Simcoe Railway Heritage Corporation, (BTBIA) Beeton Tottenham Business Improvement Association (Sara Toth, Brenda Horan, Bo Neiderhuber) (SSAC) South Simcoe Arts Council (Jan Atkinson, Lynda Mitchell Reynolds), Simcoe County Bluegrass and Old Tyme Music Association, New Tecumseth Soccer (L. Hodgson, Joanne Hodgson, Jessie Patterson, Marion Patterson, Kevin Branch), Tottenham Firefighters (Willie Greg, and company), Branch 329th Army Cadets (25 boys and girls and Officers), Tottenham Oldtimers Slo-Pitch League, Blue Sky Bluegrass and Country Club, Tottenham Royal Canadian Legion Branch #329, Tottenham Lions Club (Eva Bradley, Mary Brown, Stacy Cliff, Lise Decaire, Allan Donn, Arlene Donn, Marjorie Dumayag, Nick Giannopoulos, Rachel Giannopoulos, Ollie Kauppinen, Susan Kauppinen, Mary Lafazanos, Joe Laird, Brenda Laird, Andy Patterson, Doug Pearce, Les Stevens, Sharon Spurrell, Lloyd Tawton, Betty Trehan, Ralph Wilding, Shirley Wilding, Evelyn Wadden), Town of New Tecumseth Parks & Recreation Department, (Ray Osmand, Mark McCauge, & Dan MacDonald and his great Gate Staff– Jerome Strader, Ian Robinson, Kaitey Klempner, Craig Wursten), (CRIC) Community Recreation Improvement Committee, (Mary Nordstrom, Steve Nordstrom, Tony Mrasek, Diana Taseckas, Peter Shmagola, Sharon Duggan, Tottenham Pathfinders (Jamie Allen, Jessica Allen, Jordan Allen, Nancy Allen, Amber Banks, Craig Beatty, Margery Beatty, Sierra Beatty, Betty Burton, Tavia Canning, Tammy Downing, Keiran Ezekial, Chloe Gunter, Eric Gunter, Marina Gunter, Dakota Hope, Debbie Hotson, Shelby Hotson, Bianca Infante, Corinna Luellmann, Celyn Ouellet, Catherine Pearce, Doug Pearce, Marilyn Pearce, Sarah Rowley, Anouk Sander, Lyndsey Sutton, Robyn Sutton) & the Students Volunteers from Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School.

• Sponsors & In Kind Partners: Arts Music Store*, Brayford Sod, Canadian Tire, Country Signs Tottenham, Crabby Joe’s Alliston, E.W. Mobile, Faris Mini Excavating, Feehely Gastaldi Switzer Law Firm, Foodland*, Future Doors*, Herbert's Boots & Western Wear & Trading Post, Home Hardware*, Ian Witherspoon, Lee Sheds, Man of Yorke*, Midhurst Property Services, New Tecumseth Taxi*, O’Connor Family Yogurt Trailer, Premier Equipment, RBC Staff, RV Warehouse, Trillium Ford Lincoln, Tottenham Trailers, Town of New Tecumseth Councillors, Parks & Recreation Department, Watermark Graphics, (*Denotes Gold sponsor).

• Partners Helping With Festival Program: A Novel Idea, Affordable Optical, Back To the Rack, Beeton Autobody, Bernardi Garden Supply, Century 21 Heritage Group, Curves Tottenham, Dairy Queen Tottenham, Firehouse Pizza, Focus Community Develop, Gigi's Green Bean Cafe´, GSI Taxi, Helen Mabee/Prudential Lorimer, Lloyd's Mennonite Furniture, Mary Catherine’s Hair Salon, McGoey Insurance, Nescenti's Esthetics Day Spa, New Tecumseth Glass, Orr & Assoc Insurance, Paper Moon, Procyon, Lloyd's Gallery, New Tecumseth Taxi, Pizza Pizza Tottenham, Prudential Ronan Realty, Pyne Hills Veterinary Clinic, Remax Chay Realty/Chris Brennen, Rod Abrams Funeral Home, Royal Bank Tottenham, Rustic Roots & Co, Schomberg Farm & Garden, Sparkle Laundromat, Stone Motors, The Barber Shop, The Cork & Vine, The Naked Vine, Cedar Kitchen, Tom Smith Towing, Tottenham Animal Clinic, Tottenham Feed Service, Tottenham Garage, Tottenham Paint & Paper, Village Inn, Thornton.

• Musicians Playing Around Town: Rosewood, Jean Hoevenaars, Anne Delong, Haydee Grant, Ellie Sheridan, Water Proof, Kevin Macmillan, Jenny Keresztesi, Chris Ingram, Peter Harbocian, Jan Purcell & Pine Road, Jan Purcell, Garry Greenland, Dickson Raynard, Simcoe County Ramblers, Randy Brethor, Doug Cornish, Gene Gouthro, Jill Jones, Django Catz, Tom Malone, Jerry Switzer, Evan Switzer

• Musicians & Opening Ceremonies: Michelle Woodhouse & Melissa Mouck & Honour Guard by 329 Medical Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (Tottenham)

• Musicians Playing Elementary School Program: AL Benner, Bruce Proudfoot, Sherry O’Connor, Sharon Neiderhuber, Kent Broome, Kevin MacMillan, Water Proof, Kevin Macmillan, Jenny Keresztesi, Chris Ingram,

• Sound Presented by Jim Mannell Sr.

• Pre-Festival Warm-ups: Fiddling Joe Contest & Children’s Line Drawn Restaurant Placemats Sara Toth, Bo Neiderhuber, Brenda Horan of the (BTBIA) Beeton Tottenham Business Improvement Association, Jan Atkinson, Lynda Mitchell Reynolds (SSAC) South Simcoe Arts Council, Town of New Tecumseth and the Tecumseth Council Arts Fund

Thanks for your gracious support.

The 2011 Tottenham

Bluegrass

Festival Committee