City donating $14,000 to ‘Music Under Stars'

7/5/2002

The City of Toledo is donating $14,000 to help sponsor “Music Un|der the Stars” at the Toledo Zoo.

Mayor Jack Ford and Councilman Gene Zmuda, who announced the donation, said the 54-year-old program had too proud a tradition not to support it.

The mayor said $4,000 came from his office budget, and the rest was drawn from a fund established last year when Coca-Cola Bottling Co. gained exclusive vending rights at city-owned properties.

The series of eight concerts and eight rehearsals costs $88,000 to $100,000 to stage each summer, said Keith McWatters, the concert band manager. The Toledo Concert Band, under the direction of Sam Szor for the 50th consecutive year, will begin its season at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the zoo amphitheater. The concerts are free to the public.