| Author |
Message |
    
John
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 12:36 pm: |     |
I think Truth has a good idea but I logistics just may not permit its implementation. Crowd control may be one more issue. And so many people crossing Springfield Ave. at once? It would be nice to slow the traffic but, how would the police department handle all this? Yet.. What if events were held around town (the circus in Maplecrest, the fireworks where they are held now and races in and other activities in both Memorial and DeHart)? This is a great way to celebrate the day. First night is held throughout M/SO. The problem is splitting up the events may dilute its attractiveness. So it would have to be done on a grander scale. What is the Civic Association anyway? I've been in town 7 yrs and have always been amazed at what a good job is done on July 4th. Do they pay for the entire event?
There do seem to be a lot of "buts". OK I've rambled too much. |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 12:43 pm: | |
Buzzzzsaw:
The person with the eggplant parmigiana sandwich and the Hostess Snowballs always has the better lunchbox! |
Hobsonschoice
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 1:13 pm: | |
The worst that could happen by moving the 4th of July event to Dehart/Maplecreast is the event would not be well attended or considered a very good event. In the scheme of things, so what? Could go a long way in perceptions by both east and west enders. It is a terrific idea and one that should be considered, if not this year, then next year. By the way, Mr. Ryan is now the Ex-mayor. |
Jur050
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 2:24 pm: | |
I worked for many years on the 4th of July Committee. Although, I haven't served in that capacity for several years, I think moving the day's activities to the other side of town, is an idea worthy of consideration. Great suggestion! |
Nohero
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 2:29 pm: | |
How about spreading the activities around? Keep the circus and the fireworks at Memorial, but hold the kick-off in the morning and the races, eating contests, pet shows, etc. at DeHart. I know this is a variation of what John suggested, but the only reason I think the circus and the fireworks should be near each other is that a lot of people go directly from the last circus performance over to the fireworks. |
Mammabear
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 2:41 pm: | |
Buzzsaw- I feel exactly the same way. Nanny nanny poo poo. Actually, I can't believe this discussion is even going on! Doesn't everyone have better things to do and discuss rather than argue about East vs. West and where the July 4th festivites are?!?? Come on people!!!! What, are you now sick of complaining about our taxes and our schools?!???? |
Njjoseph
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 2:47 pm: | |
Mammabear, I guess you don't care about developing and marketing the east side? The Maplewoodians on this board that are making these suggestions DO care. And if these suggestions aren't even discussed, how would you expect that the festivities would move to the other parks. Or is that not what you want? |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 3:21 pm: | |
Mamabear, There are separate forums for those discussions. There is one called Education and one called Reval.
To some of us, this discussion IS important. it relates to where we live, our property values, our quality of life.
Nohero: I think that your suggestion of spreading it around is a good one. I just don't want to end up having some small, unimportant, unattended function held on this side to placate us. For this to work, it has to be one which those on the west side would WANT to come to.
Jur050 & Hobsonschoice: thanks for your openmindedness and your encouragement. |
Nohero
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 3:35 pm: | |
TheTruth - I agree with you. Usually, there are a lot of kids who come out for the races and the contests. Many of those events are first thing in the morning, with other activities such as the circus taking place later in the day. |
Yvette
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 3:43 pm: | |
I think it's a wonderful idea to use all three parks to celebrate the 4th and the jitney/trolley ride --- maye we can have hay rides from park to park or at least from Memorial to Maplecrest - no major streets there to cross.
How about contests/races at Dehart, rides and food/vendors at Maplecrest and the fireworks at Memorial ---just a thought.... |
John
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 3:57 pm: | |
Mammabear, Thanks for your input. You have a right to your opinion.
NJ, I personally don't have an interest in marketing the East side of Town (I'm in the Tuscan area). I have an interest in Marketing the entire town as one.
Truth, I mentioned getting the CCR and other groups together for another event because I think it would be an easier way to promote Springfield Ave. and the surrounding areas in the short run.
And frankly, I am growing tired of the school and reval discussions so this is a nice break. It is a constructive and enlightening proposal to which I see no reason for anyone to take offense. I'll get back to my Tax proposal soon on the other forum. Then people can take offense if they wish. For, I think, by the time it is finished there will be plenty for everyone to criticize. |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 3:58 pm: | |
And a good one too, Yvette! I'm actually getting enthusiastic about this. |
Lseltzer
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 4:01 pm: | |
Re: Hobsonschoice's comment that we shouldn't be too concerned if this year's event is sparsely attended, you should know that this is a recipe for the event losing big money. They actually do try to get it to break even, although it doesn't always do so. If this idea results in future events with higher ticket prices or fewer activities would that be cool with everyone? |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 4:16 pm: | |
John, you are right, it IS an issue of marketing MAPLEWOOD as one town. However, until we treat it as one town and we all act as if it is one town, it will be difficult to market it that way. Indeed, the East is "different" from the west. Still, it has a lot to offer. Wonderful parks, affordable housing, and some great people. Yet, there are problems as I have discussed in other threads. Those problems will not disappear and if ignored will only get worse, making the WHOLE town a lesser place. I really believe that this concept of having an important town event at least to some significant degree held on the east side will go a long way toward healing wounds and maybe, just maybe we can all begin to resolve ALL of the town's issues regardless of where they are.
I am the LAST person whom I would have expected to have a positive outlook. But I want to have every reason to stay here and every reason to tell my friends who are looking for a house to consider Maplewood.
Perhaps if the shop owners on Springfield Ave are somehow involved in a program that might actually bring them some short term business and maybe some long term new customers, they'll spruce up the Ave on their own. If this actually happens and they let the opportunity pass then shame on them. Ever since the discussions about redevelopment of Springfield Ave started I have had concerns about whether or not the folks west of Valley would patronize the stores. If we don't get locals to shop there and attract new businesses, all the sprucing in the world won't last. If we can't get them to come to part of the 4th Celebration here, we cannot really hope that they will shop here either. |
Thetruth07040
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 4:21 pm: | |
LSeltzer:
Explain to me PLEEEASE why it should be any less attended or successful if some of it is held in one or more of the parks on the east side of town????
You are immediately assuming that the results would be negative. Perhaps if it were held on the east side, more of the residents THERE would attend.
I applaud your fiscal responsibility but suspect it is rooted elsewhere. |
John
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 4:25 pm: | |
Truth, Well said |
John
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 4:32 pm: | |
You slipped that second post in on me. My comment was in regard to your response to me. Not sure I completely agree with you on the last one. It could be less attended just by the fact that it is dispersed to more than one location. But I still like the idea. |
Octofoil
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 4:58 pm: | |
This is a nice exchange of ideas and attitudes. Lets keep it going! It really demonstrates one of the main values of the Internet-communication.
Another bit of logistics to be considered: the area in which the circus is usually located at Memorial is quite easy for them to get their trucks and motorhomes and such into. DeHart would be almost impossible for them to get that stuff into, while Maplecrest would be difficult but not impossible.
On a different tack: I've always (for 20+ years), and still do, think of Memorial as being approximately in the center of town; have never thought of it in terms of "east" versus "west". That many now apparently think of it as "west" is most likely another product of the reval. And consequently speaks volumes about the possible beneficial aspects of having a major social event such as the 4th celebration in an area that will emphasize Maplewood as one town, not "west" or "east".
If the physical limitations or other considerations make the 4th of July celebration an impossibility, then by all means, lets do something else! |
Dytunck
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 5:12 pm: | |
Truth,
I like these ideas. And I agree with your point about the east side being different. I don't think there's anything wrong with having different "parts" of town, or different neighborhoods. I keep hearing all this "one Maplewood" crap. Let's have two Maplewoods!
You hear about SOHO, Chinatown, Little Italy, the Financial District, the Village, East Village, TriBeCa, Midtown, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Clinton, Turtle Bay, Murray Hill, Morningside Heights, Washington Heights, Chelsea, Tudor City, etc. in NYC. That's OK with everyone. We don't hear ONE NYC. Recognizing different neighborhoods and/or ethnicities is fine by me.
But Truth, beating up on LSeltzer isn't the way to get your idea accomplished. You need to take action. Get a proposal put together and present it to the proper authorities. Recruit some knowledgable folks and execute your ideas.
Don't exclude folks from South Orange!! Invite them!!! Invite Irvington. Invite Newark. Invite Union and Millburn. (Charge 'em all more of course).
When you sell your idea, if you get resistance, (and you will) don't attack the person. Find out what their objection is and try to understand it. Only then can you overcome it.
Dytuunck |
Lseltzer
| | Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 5:16 pm: | |
>>I applaud your fiscal responsibility but suspect it is rooted elsewhere.
First I resent the implication in this statement. I'm not sure exaclty what it is but I'll do you the courtesy of assuming you're sincere in your beliefs if you do the same.
>>Explain to me PLEEEASE why it should be any less attended or successful if some of it is held in one or more of the parks on the east side of town????
You are immediately assuming that the results would be negative. Perhaps if it were held on the east side, more of the residents THERE would attend.
You seem to be assuming that east side residents are not attending the events in Memorial Park. Where did you get this data? This seems like pure assertion to me.
I have nothing against Maplecrest Park or DeHart, but I am positive that many people, particularly those with little kids, would find the idea of dragging their kids from the circus (presumably behind DeHart, and there's not much room there for anything else) to the other events which, presumably, would be at Maplecrest Park. That's not a trivial walk and the sidewalks and streets are relatively narrow, and the police would have to control the traffic on Boyden and Springfield.
Compare that to the current venue, where you can go anywhere, including the village, without even crossing a major street. BTW, the section of Springfield Ave that people would be walking through doesn't exactly have much business that such people would want to use right then, unless they want to buy a car or get some printing done. Then again, DiPietros isn't that far out of the way.
Bottom line: The proposed combination of venues is much less convenient for attendees, much less attractive to those who would wish an easy walk to lunch and other shopping (the Village vs. Burger King), and (I have no hard data on this, but neither do you and this is my sense of the matter) less convenient parking and other transportation. One transportation advantage I'll concede is that the east side locations are on the bus routes from Irvington and Newark, so the events would be much more convenient for them.
>>>>I applaud your fiscal responsibility but suspect it is rooted elsewhere.
Getting back to this point, apart from doubting my motives, do you simply not care whether the festivities lose lots of money? Do you expect the organizers to have a similar attitude? |
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