Museum bandstand to be dedicated to Measers
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Conductor Geoff Richter

In honor of the Measer family's 100 years of service to the Town of Amherst, the bandstand on the Amherst Museum grounds will be dedicated to the family on Thursday, Aug. 23 at the museum, 3755 Tonawanda Creek Road, Amherst.

"It was a natural thing to dedicate the bandstand to the Measers," said Patrick Lucey, president of the museum's board of trustees. "Mr. and Mrs. (George) Measer were always advocates of the museum, donating their time and money every year."

George Measer is a past president of the National Newspaper Association and the New York Press Association. He and his wife, Joan, have three children, Trey, Karen and Kimberly; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Over the years, the Measers have been involved in various political and service organizations in the Town of Amherst, Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and various educational organizations and have produced four generations of volunteer firemen.

"My father always said that we like to give back to the community what we have received from it," Measer said. "I've always operated under that basis, and I hope that with my involvement with so many things, Amherst is a better place to raise a family."

A permanent plaque will be placed on the bandstand reading "Bandstand dedicated to the George Measer Family in recognition of 100 years of service to the Community of Amherst 2007."

"He was very surprised and pleased," Lucey said of George Measer's learning of the dedication. "He was happy to accept it."

"It feels great. It's a fine honor for my family," Measer said.

Following the dedication, the Amherst Symphony will present its annual summer concert in the bandstand.

"The Amherst Symphony has performed here in the past, and they were well-received," said Joseph Weickart, Amherst Museum executive director. "We're looking forward to having them here."

The orchestra will be led by assistant conductor Geoff Richter.

"It's a pops concert, and the general theme is 'A Celebration in Youth,'" Richter said.

On the program will be Mozart's First Symphony, which he wrote at a very young age, according to Richter, as well as selections from "The Music Man."

"All the pieces have something to do with kids starting out in music," Richter said.

"I conduct a lot of bands, but I don't get to conduct a lot of orchestra pieces," he continued. "It's nice to do, and it's a pops concert, so it's meant to be

fun."

The orchestra will be helping to celebrate not only the Measers' 100th anniversary of owning The Amherst Bee but also the 100th birthday of American composer Leroy Anderson, whose concert pieces were often debuted by the Boston Pops Orchestra.

Guest soloist for the evening will be Amherst High School trombonist Austin Oprean, who will be playing "Morceau Symphonique" by Alexandre Guilmant, continuing with the concert's theme of youth.

Admission to the concert and dedication at 6:30 p.m. is free.

For more information, call the museum at 689-1440 or visit the museum's Web site online at www. amherstmuseum.org.

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com