Highland Falls mayor trying to figure it out
How do you — or can you — plan a major celebration when you’re in the middle of a pandemic?
Highland Falls Mayor Joe D’Onofrio, who chairs the planning committee for the annual Independence Day celebration, is trying to figure that out.
“Every day I struggle with what to do about the 4th of July,” he said Monday. “It is 68 days away.”
Typically by now the committee — a very small one albeit — would have met a half-dozen times, would be in the midst of fundraising, and would be making plans for activities and events. Because of Coronavirus restrictions, those meetings haven’t happened since February; the committee has only communicated via email. This year will be the 52nd annual celebration.
D’Onofrio says the committee has locked in its usual fireworks display (Legion Fireworks) and has contacted bands and West Point about the traditional parade participants. In both cases, he said, those entities are willing to participate “if possible”.
“We just don’t know where we — where the country — is going to be two months from now,” he said. “We can expect we’ll still be ‘social distancing’, but will some of the restrictions be lifted? We don’t know.”
He said he is imagining a Fourth of July where events will be scaled back.
“God willing, we can pull off parade and fireworks only,” D’Onofrio said, noting that in both those events people staying apart from each other is possible. There is plenty of room on Main St., he said for instance, that everyone could watch the parade. The same goes for the fireworks, mostly likely without food or a DJ at Roe Park to encourage people to come to that area only for the light show.
There is currently $15,972.46 in the Fourth of July Committee’s account; that consists of monies left over from last year and both town and village budget contributions.
“So, a parade and fireworks are also going to depend on raising $10,000,” D’Onofrio said, noting that the parade and fireworks would cost about $25,000 altogether. “Unfortunately, I don’t really think that this is the right time to be asking people for money.”
But he also said he can’t imagine “waking up on the morning of the Fourth in Highland Falls and there’s no celebration to be had”.
D’Onofrio is currently looking for input and suggestions … he can be reached at Village Hall (446-3400) or via email.
Those wanting to donate can make checks payable to Fourth of July Committee, and send to PO Box 200, Highland Falls, NY 10928.
In Cornwall, it was noted at last week’s Village Board meeting, there are questions about whether the town’s annual Independence Day celebration will happen, Mayor Brendan Coyne said. Like D’Onofrio, he said at this time of year the planning committee is typically in the process of raising funds, but it’s difficult to ask people for money if they’re unemployed.
