Friday, June 10, 2011

KINGSTON FIREWORKS 2011

Ok, I am having a problem understanding this whole June 26th thing. Did something significant happen in Kingston in our vast history on June 26? 
Sure, I'm being snarky, but how is we are celebrating our Independence a full nine days early?

If it's an issue of event competition between municipalities, what's wrong with Sunday July 3rd? Saugerties will be on the 4th! Don't get me wrong, I like a party like everyone else, but this tradition of "Last weekend in June" has it's limits.

This would be a good time to also say thanks to the brave souls at Mainetti, Mainetti & O’Connor for financing the event, as odd as it is. The big news, other than the date, is the lack of vendors and live music. Gone are the days when Starship and Scorpions take center stage at a free event in Kingston. 
 
Granted, all the events in the past cost a heap of money, compounded by the task of trash collection and cost of law enforcement. It did seem to entice a gathering of folks we don't regularly see at Council meetings.
 
The business owners have chipped in for the $4,000 estimated overtime costs for the police department. That's as much of a donation for the community as a safety precaution for their commercial property. Very smart!

Kate Cook, the city's event planner said in the Freeman, the vendor fees once covered those costs. She added: “The business owners want to bring back the waterfront to a different environment and not so much a carnival atmosphere.”

In regards to the scaled back expense of the once infamous three day celebration, Alderman Bob Senor is right... Our city just cant afford to spend precious funds on such events when we are painfully short on DPW and REC employees. His quote in the paper: “I too am disappointed, but this just comes back to a sign of the times, there is no money.” 

But one thing we can control Bob, is the date. Lets push our Independence celebration to Sunday July 3rd... OK?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent idea of having the festivities on July 3rd. Who will show up at 9:45 Sunday night to see fireworks when they have to be at work in the morning? Makes perfect sense to have it on the July 3rd that is why they wont do it.

As for music and entertainment, I am sure the local bars and restaurants will supply it. After all they want the people eating and drinking in there establishments not outside.

Anonymous said...

The one week before goes back to when TR wanted to have the biggest party around. But that was when it was a 3 day festival. Since the fireworks has turned in to more of an obligation than an event, we might as well just move it to July 3rd and be just like all of the other towns around.

If you want to see what TR's vision was go to the Athen's Street Festival one week AFTER the fourth and you will see one hell of party, and a great money making event for all involved.

Clark Richters said...

The Food vendors prices were too high.. And why can't we get the Local (Rock and Roll) bands...or some karaokeee ...DOWN THERE!


Kingston, NY (first capital of New York) and we should be celebrating this event on the 4th, but i'll take the 3rd.

Anonymous said...

I think July 3 would work just fine. Makes sense to have fireworks the night before a holiday so that more people can attend. Not having an issue of getting up early the next day might really bring a crowd down to the Rondout. I personally do not miss the food vendors. It was very hard to find a healthy alternative amoung the lot of them. Won't miss the fighting and the beer pits.Perhaps there are local bands who would be willing to showcase their talent and play for free.

Anonymous said...

I guess the police, firemen and DPW and bands won't volunteer to help their own City?

Anonymous said...

"Odd as it is" says it all. The element that tends to attend these things is lousy, the ability to get out of there is ...lousy....the trash is lousy and moreover it is en expense the city cannot afford. I screamed about this for years but no one paid any attention to me, preferring to attack me personally(and I also included St. Patrick's Parade which is promotes tons of trash also)...now, it is an accepted truth. Funny how things change...sponsoring it is kind of off-base when there are so many other worthy causes in Kingston...however we can also look at this another way, which is why then are the St. Patrick's Day Parade crowd favored over the Independence Day crowd? "Simple demographics that elect people, plainly put." Overall significance in history is certainly not comparable between the two!!

joe frank said...

The fact of the matter is that vendors are allowed, local vendors only. So this means that Church groups and local businesses can have food booths.

This means that there will be overtime for Cops, DPW and Fire. But the money raised is supposed to cover Cops only. Why can't there be a provision in the law that makes the organizers to allow have to pay for DPW and Fire if the planned attendance is over 3,000 people?

Here is the most interesting point..doesn't the law firm who is paying for the fireworks represent disgraced Cop Tim Matthews? Where is the transparency in this? How can the City of Kingston even think about asking for [or accepting from] money from a law firm which is dealing with a large police case?

Anonymous said...

This should be on July 3rd not June 26th. But that's how backwards the City is. Now corrupt cops to.

Anonymous said...

The reason for having it on the
26th is that the 27th is not a holiday. Therefore no overtime DPW or rec to clean up the mess.

Shannon said...

Robinson & Shannon from 92.9 WBPM will be playing dance and rock classics at the Rondout Gazebo, starting at 7:30 PM. WOOOO!!!!! Get DOWN with your BAD SELVES!

lisa said...

personally i am grateful for the fireworks....dont care when they are...both my kids have grown up with fond memories .....lets also remember saugerties has there works on the 4th...so it beholds both towns to have a little space between events

Anonymous said...

We're luck that there are any fireworks at all - and many residents actually look forward to it every year. Something is better than nothing - and having them on July 3rd is foolish. Nobidy would go that close to the Sauerties festivities....

Anonymous said...

Don't be so sure about the live music thing. There will be a great band in front of Dermot Mahoney pun. The Big Heavy. Blues rock and funk. Good live music!

Anonymous said...

Umh...haven't the 4th of July display ALWAYS held the SUNDAY before the actual day? And we STILL had to go to work and school on MONDAY the next day after. ..Wondering where I have been the last 15 years. Maybe I'm mistaken? I'm pretty sure there will be enough drunken boaters and drivers patronizing=benefiting the few businesses and restaurants on the strand next weekend.. Is that what everyone is worried about (SNARKY)? This way they still get the benefit of 2 weekends of business (one will just not have fire works….)
Having it the weekend before has enabled people to attend the surrounding communities fireworks. And to use that the 3 day weekend get away, but also see their own town’s fire works. Maybe if you want, you could move to NP they always had it the weekend just before the exact date. But once the tripping field "disappeared" it really hasn't been as enjoyable.
Boy when it lands on Wed. you guys will REALLY be confused. Grow up a little. Your lucky you are having ANY.