Young people in Staunton Virginia have been fighting for a place for live music and self-expression since the beloved Kronos Gallery was shut down by city officials in 2009.
Heather Kays of the News Leader reports:
After months of fighting to keep Kronos Art Gallery open and then months of trying to find a new venue to have music and other arts-related events, a determined group of teenagers were again told they had to go home.
Droves of teens dressed as zombies flooded the streets around 9:50 p.m. Saturday, as the police advised Mary Catherine Richardson, who rents Spectrum Studios, that everyone had 20 minutes to leave the premises.
While Richardson says she has the proper business license to operate as a music venue and has personally spoken to officials to get the OK to have such events, police told her Saturday she did not have the proper permit. The officers also made mention of a previous noise complaint the following year at the same address.
However, Sgt. E.J. Salemi said Richardson did not need a permit for the type of event she was having Saturday and the issue was more about the noise coming from the building and the fact there were some teens standing outside and yelling at cars, he said Sunday.
"I think they can get control of this and make it worthwhile as long as they keep everyone quiet and out of traffic," Salemi said. "Provide the resources for the kids, but keep it quiet."
Salemi gave this account: Spectrum Studios, a warehouse located across the street from Staunton Junction, is a busy thoroughfare. As police were following up at another call they heard noise across the street at the venue. "Kids were coming outside. Just being really loud. Yelling at cars as they were going by." Police said they were not aware this was a planned event or that the venue recently had been established for this purpose when they spoke with Richardson about shutting down or risking another noise violation.
Charlene Schillinger, 18, one of the teens who fought to keep Kronos open and find another venue after that venue closed, called police to try to figure out the problem.
After it became clear that there was no permit needed and no noise complaints filed, the embarrassed police chief apologized. Unfortunately, the episode and resulting controversy may have, um, spooked the landlords to the point where they no longer want to allow music events in the space.