Streeter Seidell is a comedy writer and (mediocre) drummer living in Brooklyn, NY. During the day he edits the front page of CollegeHumor.com but when the sun goes down he takes his place at the helm of the Indablog. He maintains a personal blog at StreeterSeidell.com and wants to make sure you know he once wrote something for the New York Times and that it was, in the words of his mother, "Amazing! You're so talented!"
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Thursday August 21, 2008 at 09:00 AM |
So often with big music festivals you hear major opposition from some old coots who don't want no damn hippy shindig in their damn town. They don't want the noise, they don't want the people and they don't seem to care about the influx of cash to their area. It's happened since music festivals began decades ago and it continues to this day. However, old folks don't always hate music festivals. In fact, I came across one elderly couple who are begging that one be allowed.
It's a sad story, really. Well, not sad yet but it could be. Barbara and Ted Beckingham live in upstate New York. They don't have pensions and they get by on social security payments. The only thing they really have is a nice 100-acre farm in the town of Springfield. Here is the story from Syracuse.com
In the spring, the owners of Madison Square Garden came to the rural
town of Springfield, in Otsego County, with plans to launch a three-day
music festival each summer, like Woodstock, Lollapalooza or Bonnaroo.
The concert site would sit atop the Beckinghams’ farm and another,
larger farm next door.
But the Springfield Arts and Music Festival idea has generated so much controversy that Barbara Beckingham, 75, fears opposition from local residents will kill the deal.
“They’ve got their 401(k)s and their pensions and all those other things,” she said, her voice breaking and her eyes tearing up behind sunglasses. Looking toward the farmhouse and barn, she added: “Social Security of $800 a month just doesn’t cut it. This is our retirement.”
The Beckingham farm sits at the epicenter of a bitter fight that is tearing apart this small town population 1,350 that arcs along the northern shore of historic Otsego Lake. The promise of a $15 million investment and an annual influx of 75,000 music fans has pitted those who want economic development against those who want to keep this rural town rural.
Both sides see green, be it cash or countryside.
So, what do you think? Should the town have a right to stop the festival? Should the Beckinghams sacrifice for the rest of the town? Weigh in in the comments.
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Thursday August 21, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Yes this is sad ! BUT.............i have here a story for you about the Greatest METAL Open Air Festival in the world and this is a very cute and funny Story.
Waken a very very little village in Germany.It s in the north of Germany and the live there is not so like it is in a big town.All the things getting more slowly and everyone knows the other there.It is very calm and easy there.There are liviing around 1800 people But one time in the year they have some visitors there.A HEAVY METAL FESTIVAL.Normaly everyone would say this gets not together BUT it works.It works sooo good that some years ago a Filmaker had do a documantery about this Named "FULL METAL VILLAGE".This is a very fine and cute documentation and i want show you some little parts out of this.
Different people different live style BUT at the end it gets not one against the other.These people (the metalheads and the people from the Village) doing this TOGETHER and this is cool.
Here another Video where you can see the Metalheads are banging there heads to the music of the Village Firefighter corp band who plays some traditionale music.This is every year a part of this Festival and NOW IT COMES........IT IS A HIGHLIGHT Of a Heavy Metal Festival.
1800 People in the Village and something around 75000 metal fans and it works.One had respect to the other and they have now all the years a big party..........TOGETHER .-)
When you have the chance to watch one time the orginal full length ducomentary named FULL METAL VILLAGE......... DO It, because this is a cute and funny story !
Thursday August 21, 2008 at 02:26 PM
this is really sad. i know these people. i was at woodstock. I am one of the original hippies. These are really great people and just want some peace as we all used to have. the farm they have lived on and raised great kids on is a home. they never had much. they lived through hell. I love the music festival idea, but not at this farm. It will ruin the area. I am a city person, but to see this area torn apart is sad for our country and the music scene also. These people just want to sell their farm and live out their lives, they don't want to disrupt the entire community and hurt the friends they have had their entire lives.. They live on an $800.00 a month pension.That is all our government is giving them for their whole life of work. Unfortunately no one can afford to buy their wonderful home and farm and make a living, so they have to sell out? I am still into all kinds of music, I know how great it would be to have a festival, but..... at what cost?
Tuesday September 09, 2008 at 07:42 PM
There are two sides to every story. Beckinghams were offered several times to buy their farm and they refused seeking the best offer. Their right to do so. Unfortunately the sale of these properties, would cause homes in this area to lose value. The town is very small, rural and quiet, with Amish people who chose to settle here for religious freedom. They said they will leave if the concert comes. Most of the community doesn't believe this is right for our community in a town of 1350 people to bring in 75,000 people. MSGE stands to make a lot of money, and would invest 15 million. I wouldn't feel too sorry if they didn't come. Everyone makes choices in the world. My home is MY investment also. We shouldn't lose our homes at the expense of others. Take time and do some homework before bashing the opposition. The water on this land is a feeder stream to Otsego Lake. In addition, it then feeds to the Susquehanna River. There are endangered species on this land and it is in a flood plain. The area is one of the few things we have to offer to people who may be tourists to this town, it's not for sale. There are other issues at play here.
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