John Painter grew up in Reading, PA with an affinity for the Reading Railroad and music. With an ethnic background of German and French, English and Scott, he tuned his ear to many sounds. The whistle of the train and the clacking of the wheels was one kind of music which helped him develop his innate sense of timing and rhythm. The instrumental sounds of the German bands and the big band sounds that passed through the city lured him into his desire to make his own music.

At a young age in elementary school he started and stayed with the clarinet. His dad provided extra private lessons to help him achieve the level of ability he desired. With this extra encouragement he joined the bands in school. In high school and when attending Albright College, he was a member of the Ringgold Band in Reading and became very familia with John Philip Souza and R.B. Hall. One of his favorite pieces was the "fireman's piece" where he would at one point stand up, look around, and yell "FIRE!" at which his friend would stand, yell "WHERE?". He would answer, "OVER THERE!" and the band would step up the pace quite rapidly with the lights and sirens going. Every kid from preschool to senility would be charged up when the piece was completed.

Once he moved to Maine for his internship, medical practice, and family raising, he let the music slide, taking up his clarinet only once in a while. When his son, Andrew, began in the Bridgton Community Band following sixth grade, it took him only two weeks to dust off his instrument and get involved again. When Amanda joined, he felt he'd arrived; the joy of playing with his children was a great gift of life. Playing second string in the German Band gave him an all-time thrill -- Alpine hat, suspenders and all!

The Clarinet Choir was a truly enjoyable experience. Dick Albert introduced the bass clarinet to him, and he loved the sounds and the extra resonance that the instrument added. He practiced until he felt he was making a good contribution. The fulfillment of music was a wonderful joy to him.

John's volunteer work on the Narrow Gauge Railroad as a conductor and sometimes brakeman or whatever task was needed (including a run on the Polar Express in Portland) was a dream come true. Being host on the Downeaster train was another delight.

John had many other interests like singing in the choirs in the Casco Village Church and the UCC in Bridgton. He ran in the four-mile races in both towns and in other races for charity. The three half-marathons made him very proud of himself. He did well in life. There is a schlorship fund being raised by the Sen. George Mitchell Scholarship Research Institute.

We are dedicating the July 22, 2009, concert to Kern Cate who played oboe with our Band for many years. As each summer approached, Kern would look forward to joining up with the Bridgton Community Band once again. Unfortunately, he passed away this spring.

Kern took piano lessons while growing up in Knoxville, TN. After moving to Ohio in 1954, he decided he wanted to play the oboe. He rented an instrument and took lessons from Ferdinand Pryor of the Cincinnati Symphony. Mr. Pryor ordered Kern's Loree oboe and when Cincinatti Symphony members augmented the musicians in the Middletown Symphony, they were told to check out Kern's outstanding instrument. Kern played in the Middletown Symphony until moving to Maine in 1978. His son, Leonard, on French Horn and daughter, Rebecca, on violin often played in the symphony with their father.

After moving to Maine, Kern studied oboe with Clinton Graffam of the Portland Symphony and played in several Adult Student Programs for the Marston-Katzschman Club of Portland.

Kern played in the orchestra for the Lake Region production of Oliver and the American Ballet East's production of The Nutcracker at Merrill Auditorium. He often provided music at the First Congregational Church, and he accompanied their presentation of Vivaldi's Gloria.

For several years he played with the Westbrook Band in the Winter and with the Mountain Valley Band in North Conway, New Hampshire.

Kern tried to make time for practice some part of each day. He made his own oboe reeds and often made them for other players. His grandson, Brian Schnell, and granddaughter, Sarah Schnell, also play the oboe, and they have played with their grandfather in the Bridgton Band. Brian now has Kern's oboe and his reed-making tools and is planning to audition for a music scholarship in Chicago.

Kern enjoyed his association with the Bridgton Band and looked forward each year to the summer concerts and the R.B. Hall Day held at different towns in Maine. The past few years his wife, Carolyn, would join Kern in the Band playing the bass drum.

We are dedicating the August 15, 2007, concert to Betty Dabczynski who had played French horn with the Bridgton Community Band since 1998. She played her French horn with us last summer at the age of 89, and as her picture depicts, she loved every moment! What a beautiful smile she always wore. She was a lifelong summer resident of Waterford.

Betty was a member of the very first Eastman Wind Ensemble that Frederick Fennell started at Eastman (Rochester, NY). She was also Dr. Fennell’s personal secretary, and they became good friends, remaining so even after their respective tenures at Eastman.

A lifetime music educator, Betty even had the opportunity to be an itinerant music supervisor in rural one-room schools of Hunterdon and Warren counties of New Jersey. It was at that time she met her husband, Henry, who was also a local music teacher. They had two children, and you might surmise that there was no way these two were ever to escape the world of music. Their daughter, Deborah, currently of Harrison, plays cello for the Portland Symphony Orchestra. With the prodding of Ron Hatch and a few hours of “catch up” practice, she will play baritone in our Band on occasion. She will be playing with us this evening! Betty’s son, Andrew, is a professor of music at Brigham Young University in Provost, Utah, and he joins us whenever he is able. Last, but hardly least, is Betty’s granddaughter, Liz, who is off to Brigham Young University as a freshman and who will major in guess what? No debate…..music!! She also enjoys playing trombone in our Band, and I bet especially so when Grandmother Betty was on the bandstand with us.

We will be performing several pieces at the August 15, 2007, concert which Betty would have played on numerous occasions with us, one being by Frederick Fennell.A special “thank you” to Betty for her dedication to music which in turn led her to our musical family!