No one wants to help
What happens if your community expects it’s annual major Fourth of July celebration, yet no one steps up to help plan it?
The celebration must be pared down.
Those are the words of Highland Falls Mayor Joe D’Onofrio this week as he announced that it appears the Independence Day celebration in Highland Falls — “our signature event for so many years” — will be pared down to just a concert/reception honoring the parade grand marshal on the evening of Wednesday, July 3, and then a parade and fireworks on Thursday, July 4.
“I’m really saddened,” he said Monday, “but I’ve held four meetings already this winter and spring and no one showed up to help. It’s disappointing.”
D’Onofrio, who has chaired the committee for most every year since the mid-1990s, said he can’t do it himself.
Typically, the three-day celebration includes the popular bed races and a ‘block party’ on Main St. featuring music and several contests; several concerts; canoe races; and fun and games at Roe Park between the parade and fireworks.
The Firecracker 5K run and walk (on the morning of July 4) will go on as planned.
To make more happen, D’Onofrio said, there would need to be significant fundraising done in the next 11 weeks, as well as persons or groups stepping up to take on one or more of the usual events.
Without that happening, expect just those three things.
“The Fourth of July is a time when everyone should come together to celebrate America’s birthday,” D’Onofrio said. “But like with any party, there is planning that has to be done in advance.”
Anyone who wants to get involved can call him at 446-3400.
D’Onofrio said he will have another meeting of the planning committee on Saturday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m., at Village Hall.
