Post by Skells on Jun 21, 2009 22:44:16 GMT -6
www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?storyID=91681
HARMONY -- An hour before their set was going to begin at the Summer Solstice Projekt festival, the four members of the Baltimore-based group The Rez were not allowed inside.
The event was shut down Friday afternoon because the festival was found out of compliance with two issued permits.
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office received multiple calls Thursday night and Friday regarding the noise, said Cpl. Jennifer Bailey.
Around noon Friday, Frederick County Commissioners President Jan Gardner said she had received some voice mails overnight, two calls to her secretary Friday and an e-mail, all from concerned residents.
"There is definitely a concern about the noise," she said.
County zoning administrator Larry Smith and Sheriff Chuck Jenkins headed out to the festival Friday to check out the complaints.
The festival had a permit for entertainment to run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jenkins said. The sheriff's office received noise complaints from Thursday night to 4 a.m. Friday.
Smith and Jenkins decided to close the festival down Friday afternoon because it would be safer for patrons and deputies to do it during the day rather than at night. The festival did not have a proper alcohol permit, Jenkins said.
The shutdown left some acts, such as The Rez, stranded outside.
"I think (the shutdown is) kind of crazy," said Carson Korman, bass player. "It's a pretty extreme decision."
The band members, who had come from Baltimore, were waiting around outside the festival hoping to speak to an organizer.
The focus of the festival is art, which included several forms: visual, musical, conversational and environmental. Musical acts and visual artists including internationally known artist Alex Grey were featured performers. Harmony is a hamlet north of Myersville .
The gathering was in its first day out of three scheduled on a 190-acre private farm. The campground opened Thursday afternoon.
Erin Aylor, who owns the land, could not be reached for comment.
Efforts to reach executive producer Dan Ihnken by e-mail and event organizers via a general e-mail address for the festival were unsuccessful.
William Ruehl is a neighbor of the farm, and he said he did not have a problem with the music. He also believes the festival is well-run and very clean.
"It's a shame," he said. "There is an injustice going on here."
Judi Mach of Thurmont had been at the festival for only an hour before it was shut down. She and her husband decided to leave.
"I was looking forward to the whole experience," she said. "This was supposed to be something for the environment, and (the deputies) went out of their way to make it a bad experience."
Staff photographer Sam Yu contributed to this report.
HARMONY -- An hour before their set was going to begin at the Summer Solstice Projekt festival, the four members of the Baltimore-based group The Rez were not allowed inside.
The event was shut down Friday afternoon because the festival was found out of compliance with two issued permits.
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office received multiple calls Thursday night and Friday regarding the noise, said Cpl. Jennifer Bailey.
Around noon Friday, Frederick County Commissioners President Jan Gardner said she had received some voice mails overnight, two calls to her secretary Friday and an e-mail, all from concerned residents.
"There is definitely a concern about the noise," she said.
County zoning administrator Larry Smith and Sheriff Chuck Jenkins headed out to the festival Friday to check out the complaints.
The festival had a permit for entertainment to run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Jenkins said. The sheriff's office received noise complaints from Thursday night to 4 a.m. Friday.
Smith and Jenkins decided to close the festival down Friday afternoon because it would be safer for patrons and deputies to do it during the day rather than at night. The festival did not have a proper alcohol permit, Jenkins said.
The shutdown left some acts, such as The Rez, stranded outside.
"I think (the shutdown is) kind of crazy," said Carson Korman, bass player. "It's a pretty extreme decision."
The band members, who had come from Baltimore, were waiting around outside the festival hoping to speak to an organizer.
The focus of the festival is art, which included several forms: visual, musical, conversational and environmental. Musical acts and visual artists including internationally known artist Alex Grey were featured performers. Harmony is a hamlet north of Myersville .
The gathering was in its first day out of three scheduled on a 190-acre private farm. The campground opened Thursday afternoon.
Erin Aylor, who owns the land, could not be reached for comment.
Efforts to reach executive producer Dan Ihnken by e-mail and event organizers via a general e-mail address for the festival were unsuccessful.
William Ruehl is a neighbor of the farm, and he said he did not have a problem with the music. He also believes the festival is well-run and very clean.
"It's a shame," he said. "There is an injustice going on here."
Judi Mach of Thurmont had been at the festival for only an hour before it was shut down. She and her husband decided to leave.
"I was looking forward to the whole experience," she said. "This was supposed to be something for the environment, and (the deputies) went out of their way to make it a bad experience."
Staff photographer Sam Yu contributed to this report.
