BRATTLEBORO — The concerned family and friends of Marble Arvidson are presenting a benefit concert this Saturday at the Stone Church in Brattleboro to help raise funds and public awareness in the search for the missing teenager.
As indicated by the whimsical name for the event - Marble Palooza - they have put the emphasis on hope and fun, presenting a line-up of talented female a cappella singers, some singer-songwriters, blues musicians, and some rock. The concert begins at 6 p.m.
As most of the community is now well aware, Marble Ace Arvidson has been missing from the Brattleboro area since Saturday, Aug. 27, a day before Tropical Storm Irene struck Windham County.
Brattleboro Police have been following up numerous reported sightings of people who looked like Marble, but each time the result has been negative.
The department is working with the youth's family “to pursue any and all leads that come in,” Brattleboro Detective Sgt. Paul Beebe said at a September press conference.
A website, offers updates on the search, as well as contact information for leads.
The idea for the concert originated when Marble's aunts and his mother, Sigrid Arvidson, were brainstorming how to raise money to continue the search.
As one of his aunts, Kathy Pothier, put it, “We recently hired a private investigator, as the Brattleboro police are involved with too many cases and simply do not have the time to devote as much as we would like.”
“One hundred percent of the money from the concert is going to that effort,” Pothier said.
Since the family adamantly refuses to be negative, they certainly do not want the benefit concert to be a downbeat one.
“We want the community to come together, and have a good time,” says Pothier.
The lineup for the concert includes a diverse array of musical artists from six acts. All the artists are donating their services.
Marble Palooza will feature well-regarded a cappella group Spiralia, from Brattleboro Union High School; Message Received, an indy-rock band; singer-and-songwriters Clayton Sabine and Heather Maloney; Bob Stannard, a blues singer and harmonica player; and blues singer and virtuoso guitarist Christopher Kleeman.
For a rare musical treat, Stannard and Kleeman will also perform on stage together.
Pothier notes that other bands came forward to join the festivities, but for time's sake the family decided to limit the event to six acts.
Some of the performers will being selling their CDs; the money raised from this will go to the artists.
Pothier hopes that the town will come out to “take a load off and have a good evening.”
The family also wants the community to come share their concerns and ideas about the missing youth.
They also want to set straight too many rumors circulating about Marble.
With posts on Facebook and Twitter spreading untruths and half-truths, Pothier feels that “it is important to clarify the situation. Rumors abound, such as that Marble has come back and is secretly living at home, or even more disheartening misinformation.”
Although the sisters are eager to get back to their lives, they are also planning another fundraising event for later this month.
“This will be a formal evening at the Blue Heron [in Sunderland, Mass.], including wine, tapas, and a silent auction with incredible donations from places like Simon Pierce,” Pothier says.
Cash and checks at $20 per person will be gratefully accepted at Marble Palooza, but the family is unable to process credit cards. Donations are also accepted online.
Checks may be payable to Find Marble Fund. The mailing address is Find Marble, P.O. Box 882, Brattleboro, VT 05302.