Oktoberfest Activities, Benefit Concert Aim to Keep Saline Aglow - Acoustic Routes Concert Series To Feature Local Musicians Serving Saline

SALINE, Mich., (Sept. 26, 2013) – Saline area residents and visitors have much to look forward to this weekend as the community welcomes in autumn with its 9th Annual Saline Oktoberfest events on Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28. But as the crisp autumn air then turns to the chill of winter, one of the things people enjoy most about driving into Saline is the welcoming glow of the twinkling white lights adorning the city’s trees along Main Street. Sadly, that glow is at risk of being dimmed this year unless the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce can raise the $55,000 needed to restore the lights to more than 50 trees. So, the organizers of Saline’s Acoustic Routes concert series have teamed up with some generous local musicians to perform a benefit concert during Oktoberfest weekend to help fund the Chamber’s Keep Saline Aglow tree lighting campaign. The benefit concert, featuring local classic rock band Nucleus with an opening set by the 2013 Saline High School Talent Show Winner Noelle Caprarese, will take place at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Mangiamo Italian Grill, 107 W. Michigan Ave. in Saline. 

The upper level concert venue on Mangiamo Italian Grill’s beautifully restored second floor would typically provide an excellent view of Saline’s glowing holiday lights in the winter. However, to date the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce has only received about $7,500 in donations toward the estimated $55,000 cost of purchasing and professionally installing new lights that are now needed on 50 of the 87 trees that have been lit in Saline since 2008.  Most of the downtown area’s famous tree lights were removed this spring due to wear and tear to the electrical wiring and required tree trimming. 

According to Chamber of Commerce Director Art Trapp, the last time the lights were strung in 2008 the Chamber received funding from a number of large donors to have the lights professionally installed. The heavy-duty holiday lights they use typically last about three to five years.  Trapp said, “This time, however, that funding is not available, so fundraising efforts such as the Acoustic Routes concert during Oktoberfest are essential to our cause to Keep Saline Aglow.”

There are several ways that concerned citizens can get involved to help Keep Saline Aglow:

·       Light up the night by attending the Acoustic Routes benefit concert on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 8:00 p.m. at Mangiamo Italian Grill, 107 W. Michigan Ave. in Saline.  Headlining the show will be the energetic, Dexter-based classic rock band Nucleus. Playing an engaging mix of some of their original acoustic and Southern rock compositions as well as cover songs from some of your favorite classic rock artists, Nucleus is sure to light up the night with their outstanding vocal harmonies and rockin’ instrumentation.

Opening for Nucleus will be the charming local music talent and 2013 winner of the Saline High School Talent Show Noelle Caprarese. Caprarese writes and performs both original pieces and a diverse mix of cover songs reflective of her generation. 

Both Caprarese and Nucleus are donating their time and performance to help Keep Saline Aglow. The cost for the benefit concert is $10 at the door, with all proceeds donated to the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce for the Keep Saline Aglow fund.  For reservations for this and all of the performances in the Acoustic Routes concert series, call Mangiamo Italian Grill at (734) 429-0060. Also find “Acoustic Routes at Mangiamo Italian Grill” on Facebook for more information.   

·       Saline’s 9th Annual Oktoberfest also promises tons of family fun as well as the opportunity for attendees to voluntarily donate to the Keep Saline Aglow fund.  Hosted by Saline Main Street, this free community event takes place on Friday, Sept. 27 from 5:00 – 11:00 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 28 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.  There is something for everyone at Saline’s Oktoberfest, and this year is no exception.  Featuring live German, Rock, and Folk music for all ages, fun family activities, a Volkswagen Vintage Car Show, plenty of delicious authentic German and American food, and much more – Oktoberfest is the fall kick-off event you don’t want to miss!  Look for the Keep Saline Aglow donation boxes in the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce booth.  For more details, visit www.salineoktoberfest.com.

·       You can also help keep Saline’s trees glowing by making a tax-deductible donation directly to the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce and/or by sponsoring a tree for a year.  A plaque on the tree will recognize your support.  For more information, visit www.salinechamber.org/lights.

“We urge everyone to come out and enjoy the bounty of fall at Oktoberfest in Saline this weekend, as well as to consider making a donation to help Keep Saline Aglow this winter,” said Art Trapp.  “We are very grateful for the support of this great community.” 

Strong community engagement, nationally ranked schools, rich cultural and recreational opportunities, and proximity to big-city amenities - they all contribute to a high quality of life in Saline – a vibrant community in southeastern Michigan that blends historic small-town charm with leading-edge opportunities. Over the last 10 years, CNN/Money Magazine has recognized Saline three times as one of America’s top 100 best places to live.  Bloomberg BusinessWeek named Saline “The Best Place to Raise Kids” in Michigan in 2012.  And Newsweek/The Daily Beast ranked Saline High School among the top 300 best high schools in the nation in 2011 and 2013. Visit us in Saline and discover why “It’s Good To Be Here!”