BBQ & Music comes to the MARC

BBQ & Music, a summer fundraiser to benefit Christmas on the Square, was held at the MARC on Friday, Aug. 2. About 60 people attended.
The evening featured a music performance by Mt. Vernon native and Nashville recording artist Liz Moriondo, who put on a concert for those in attendance. She played songs by Three Dog night, The Rolling Stones, Martina McBride, Stevie Wonder and Tim McGraw, as well as her own original music.
At the end of the evening, Moriondo said she wanted to help make Mt. Vernon “beautiful” at Christmastime.
“This is my hometown, and I love my hometown,” she said. “I’m proud of where I came from. One of the things that I love is coming back at Christmastime, and this is a benefit to raise money to make Mt. Vernon what it is at Christmastime, to make it beautiful.”
Richard Witt said he came to the event to hear Moriondo sing.
“We know Liz from church, so (we wanted) the opportunity to see her sing,” he said. “We don’t get many chances to, so it was nice.”
Dianna Ross, who coordinated the BBQ & Music, said the event raised $600, which would go towards putting LED lights on the historic courthouse during Christmas on the Square.
“We’re changing over to LED lights for the courthouse,” she said. “Last year, we were able to (change) part of them, and this year we’re wanting to finish doing the lights.”
Altogether, about $1,700 is needed to complete the project.
Another BBQ & Music fundraiser will be held at the MARC on Nov. 2. Moriondo said she will return, and if people want to hear her play a specific song at the event, they should let her know.
“If you send me a request by Facebook, I will do my best to oblige,” she said.