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Events draw crowds, critics Downtown events draw detractors Date published: 9/20/2009
BY EMILY BATTLE
James Monroe High School's football field was transformed yesterday into a palm-tree-filled concert venue, as JM alum Mark Newton brought five bluegrass bands together for an event to raise money for the school's athletic program. Eight JM graduating classes set up tents at the event for their reunions, and hundreds of other visitors set up lawn chairs on the football field to hear the show. The question of how this and other special events--such as the Oktoberfest that Capital Ale House has planned for later this fall--should be planned and communicated to neighbors has been a hot topic this fall. Mayor Tom Tomzak said yesterday that Newton's Homecoming Pickin' Party event was an important example of volunteerism. "There's not one tax dollar in this event," he said. "This is money that will not have to come from the city of Fredericksburg. I hope we can all learn from this example, and I hope we all follow this example." Tomzak has talked a lot recently about the importance of bringing special events to the city--not just for their fundraising potential, but to help make downtown a more vibrant tourist destination. At times, the planning of some of the recent events that have come to town has drawn criticism. When the Pickin' Party was trying to get permission from the city to put a beer tent in Maury's playground for yesterday's festival, residents of the surrounding neighborhood said they were concerned that the event was too close to their homes. They said they didn't feel they'd been notified of the event early enough in the planning stages. Newton said he went to visit with neighborhood association leaders and tried to ease some of their concerns. The city also has gotten criticism for allowing Capital Ale House to close the 900 block of Caroline Street on Saturday, Oct. 3, from noon to 10 p.m. for its Oktoberfest event. Several of the merchants on that block came to a council meeting earlier this month to ask that the event be moved to the Sophia Street parking lot where Finally Fridays are held. Among their concerns are that the event uses a taxpayer-owned asset--a city street--to benefit a single business and that they weren't given proper notice of the plans. For some, the idea of public-view alcohol consumption on Caroline Street is a problem.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 9/20/2009
Is isn't NIMBY to move the event one block to the lot where all other events like this are held. It would be NIMBY to demand the event not go off but no one is doing that. The merchants aren't the only ones to suffer-what about all of us residents on these blocks? And what about the comments about the Christmas parade and First Night-there isn't alcohol served in public on the street. It's a family community atmosphere. I know nothing about the Mark Newton event, just Okt.fest.
there are so many small-minded whiners and NIMBY'S in the burg! With times as they are now you would think folks would get behind things that have even a hint of positive potential. Benny Walker says 2 months notice isn't enough for his antique shop to prepare, who's he kidding; I'll bet he can the number of customers he's had over that time on his fingers and toes, he's simply against somebody else trying to make a living.
are good for the process, but only if we have a plan in place that includes them too. All you have to do is listen carefully, no matter how loud the complaints get, and plan around their needs as well as your own.
Too much noise for some can and will be music to others. If you don't like the news change the channel. To much noise, PLAN to be somewhere else more to your liking. If the crowds, heavier traffic, and too many strangers in town are a turn off, CHANGE THE CHANNEL to your liking. TV GUIDE?
If you live next door to an airport, guess what? You have the noise from air traffic. If you live next door to I-95, guess what? You hear traffic noise. The people who live around Maury Stadium, guess what? You hear crowd noise and music from events. But during the rest of the year (95%) I bet you don't hear them complaining about the nice beauty of Maury School and the green space surrounding it. Mark Newton's event was professionally planned and plenty of advance notice was given.
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