In a matter of four days, the State Theater of Havre de Grace has raised more than $26,000 from supporters, including $6,000 during and after a Monday night City Council meeting where supporters overfilled chambers to advocate for the reopening of the historic venue.

The State Theater of Havre de Grace, at 325 St. John St., is one of three entertainment venues in the city and has been hosting shows and events without a permit since the end of January. It’s now about $7,000 away from its $32,000 goal to complete a water connection and other repairs that led city officials on July 1 to order the venue’s temporary closure.

City officials stated in a June letter to the theater’s owners, Jared and Katie Noe, that once the work is completed, the venue will be given a permanent use and occupancy permit and can reopen. The Noes said they filed an appeal to the city requesting a three-month extension to allow them to complete the work.

The city did not initially shut down the theater when its temporary permit expired earlier this year because the city wanted to work with the Noes to keep the business downtown. City officials said their patience wore thin due to “inaction” to complete the missing work, which led to the shutdown.

The Noes believe the shutdown is retaliation from Mayor Bill Martin, due to Jared Noe’s criticism of the administration’s budget at a recent city council meeting. Martin and the city denied that claim.

The Noes called for supporters to attend the city meeting Monday to advocate for the three-month extension and urge the council to take action. Speakers ranged from performers and people in the entertainment business to business partners, friends and fans of the theater. Nearly all seats in the council chambers were filled, with attendees even lining the hallways of City Hall, waiting for their turn to speak.

Performer Mark Schwinzer emphasized how important the theater is to the arts community because of how inviting and accepting the space is for people who are different.

“I have anxiety and several other issues, and they are one of the only places that made me feel comfortable,” Schwinzer said. “This is very important to me and watching this many people come out here, it is very important to us.”

Alex Andersen, a Havre de Grace resident who has been battling terminal cancer for the past five years, gave heartfelt testimony emphasizing just how instrumental the theater is in helping him mentally escape his cancer.

Tears streamed down the faces of some attendees as others wiped their eyes and fought back tears.

“I would really appreciate it if you would just give three months so I can go back to the theater because sometimes I don’t feel too good and I can have a few hours where cancer doesn’t ruin my life,” Andersen said. “It means the world to my wife and I.”

Other speakers mentioned how friendly and inviting the space is and acknowledged a need for arts and entertainment in the city. Director of Administration Chris Ricci read emails the city sent to the theater’s owners and provided the city’s part of the story after public comment concluded.

He and Martin said the council does not have power in the matter and that the theater’s reopening will be entirely up to the Board of Appeals. Ricci said a timeline for when the Board of Appeals process would conclude is unknown.

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