AESI - AESI Helping Bring Elvis Back to Life in Hagerstown!

		AESI Helping Bring Elvis Back to Life in Hagerstown! AESI Sponsoring "Elvis Lives in Hagerstown" Street Festival Sep. 6, 2003 MEDIA RELEASE Contact: Fred Teeter, Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce, 301-739-2015 Jay Frantz, Wright-Gardner Insurance, 301-733-1234 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sep. 6th Second Annual “Elvis Lives in Hagerstown” Street Festival, Hagerstown’s Arts and Entertainment District to Benefit, Tickets Going Fast! (Hagerstown, MD September 2, 2003) – Last minute details and finishing touches are being finalized for the upcoming Second Annual “Elvis Lives in Hagerstown” Street Music festival. The fundraising event is set to take place on September 6th in Downtown Hagerstown. The afternoon street festival will include performances by five Elvis Presley Tribute Artists. Proceeds support the development of the Hagerstown Arts and Entertainment District. According to event co-chairman Jay Frantz, "Tickets are going fast. There are still some seats available at the Chamber of Commerce office. The event is limited to one thousand reserved tickets, and we expect to sell out. Several Elvis fan clubs are aware of this festival, but the chamber office still has some number of tickets remaining...so please call and reserve your tickets fast!" For more information about the event, see: www.elvislivesinhagerstown.com or web page can be easily accessed through the Chamber’s site at: www.hagerstown.org. Frantz urged fans to call the Chamber office: 301-739-2015, extension 100, because seating reservations are expected to be pre-sold only. Jay Frantz is a partner with Wright-Gardner Insurance, Inc. "We're very proud to be a part of this effort, and are glad to be able to participate in helping bring this six-hour street festival to our community. The benefit for the Arts and Entertainment District is important." Frantz co-chairs the event with Linda Irvin-Craig, of the Interfaith Housing of Western Maryland. Irvin-Craig said, "This is our second year to bring the successful fund-raiser to Hagerstown. We're very pleased at the quality of the talent, who provide such a great time for everyone involved." According to Chamber President Fred Teeter, "All indications are that this year's festival will be bigger than ever. As a premier street festival, we raise funds and awareness for the Arts and Entertainment District in Hagerstown. We have five top Elvis Tribute Artists contracted to perform: Jamie Aaron Kelley from Boone, Iowa; David Lee from Birmingham, Alabama; Chris MacDonald from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; David King from Mercersburg, Pennsylvania; and Quentin Flagg from Argos, Indiana." Several companies are sponsoring the event. "Both the City of Hagerstown and the Chamber of Commerce want this second annual Elvis Lives festival to be even more successful than the first." Last year's street festival featured four Elvis Tribute Artists, "We've added a fifth performer, to give even more value to people attending this festival." Linda Irvin-Craig describes the five professional Tribute Artists as all top-notch performers. "Chris MacDonald has been invited to perform at the Graceland Festival in Memphis every year. MacDonald has a full repertoire of Elvis Presley music, and he was a big hit last year. New to the festival is David Lee. Lee is a dynamic performer with an outstanding voice, and he has been performing throughout the USA and Canada. He was named the Canadian Grand Champion for Elvis Fest 2001, and placed third in the world in Memphis at the 'Images Of Elvis Contest.' Jamie Aaron Kelley actually holds a world record for singing all 750 Elvis Presley songs live from memory at Graceland in 1999. Kelley was the crowd's favorite at last year’s street festival In Hagerstown. David King is a local Elvis Tribute Artist with a huge following. His concerts are always power-packed. We're very pleased that King could be a part of this year’s event. Quentin Flagg has wowed audiences all over the Midwest with his powerful voice. He performs the music and style of the young Elvis Presley, from 1956 to the early 60's. Quentin's hip shaking high-energy shows keeps crowds wanting more. This is Flagg's first Hagerstown event. The performers will showcase various periods of the Elvis era, paying tribute to the singer named the 'Entertainer of the Century.' September 6th will be a very exciting day in Hagerstown, and we expect fans to come from several states. This event will continue to grow, year after year." The City of Hagerstown and the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce are hosting this second annual Elvis Lives in Hagerstown street festival. Sponsors include: Accounting Associates, Inc., Associated Engineering Sciences, Inc., Bob & Sukey Rankin, The Bowman Group, LLP, Citicorp, D & D Services, L.L.C., Dentler Brothers Furniture & Bedding, Ewing Oil, F & M Bank and Trust, First Data Merchant Services, Harrell Concrete Construction, Jeter Paving Co., Inc., Northwestern Mutual Insurance, Office Essentials, Patriot Federal Credit Union, Schmankerl Stube Restaurant, The Corner Pub, WARX Radio (The Official Radio Station of Elvis Lives in Hagerstown), Washington County Hospital, Wright Gardner Insurance, and Urgent Care. Special promotions are happening during the event, including the sale of the street festival's official tee-shirt, official poster, and more! According to Jay Frantz, "We'll have posters and tee-shirts, and other Elvis memorabilia. We'll even have flowers and leis available, since this will be a special anniversary of Elvis' famous Hawaiian concert." Proceeds from this event support the development of Hagerstown's Arts and Entertainment District. Hagerstown's Downtown Enhancement Plan recommended the creation of an Arts & Entertainment District in the Public Square area on Potomac Street as a means of bringing people into the Downtown at night and on weekends. The Plan sees the Maryland Theatre as the keystone to an expanding area of public and private facilities devoted to arts and entertainment. The establishment of anchor entertainment attractions would create an environment to attract and sustain art galleries, specialty retail shops and high quality restaurants. Jobs will be created, and continued investment in the downtown Hagerstown area will bring a spirited renewal to the community. Recognized as a premier effort, the Arts & Entertainment District has been praised in newspapers around the state, and is being used as a model for other communities. One significant benefit of the arts and entertainment district is the property tax credit for renovating buildings to create life-and-work spaces for artists or for arts and entertainment enterprises. Two years ago, Maryland established the nation's first statewide program designed to bolster the arts and the development surrounding them. Administered through the state Department of Business and Economic Development, Hagerstown was one of the very first cities selected to benefit from the business development effort. The Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce is the proud host organization for this second annual street festival. The money raised from the event goes to the City of Hagerstown to assist in developing and enhancing artistic business opportunities. Last year, more than $5,000 was raised, not only to help businesses but also to help fund this year's street festival. For more information about the Arts and Entertainment District, see: http://www.hagerstownmd.org/html/arts___entertainment.html. Event Co-Chair Jay Frantz said, "As a premier community event, benefiting the Arts and Entertainment District, we expect this to become a 'must do' for music lovers." Tickets are $25 reserved seating. The stage will be constructed in front of the Maryland Theatre on South Potomac Street, and seating will be arranged both north and south of the stage. The street will be closed early in the morning, and will re-open after 8pm. Frantz added, "Beverage and food venders are also be participating. Non-profit organizations benefiting from the sale of beverages and food include: City Ballet School, Williamsport Lions Club, and South Hagerstown High School. Also this year will be a scheduled 'Meet The Guys' party at the Elks Club, on the night before the festival. The party is set for Friday Sep. 5th from 7pm until 10pm." For more information about the events, visit the Chamber: www.hagerstown.org, or call 301-739-2015. #### Other information: Fan webpage: http://www.elvislivesevent.homestead.com/elvislivesevent.html September 6th, 2002, Gates open at 12:00 noon, and the festival will end before 8:00pm. << back to news