The fireworks have been sponsored by the Kiwanis and Vigilance Hose Company. These two community volunteer organizations provide service and wonderful events throughout the year for residents including the Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Parade, and Carnival.
As many residents recall, it rained nearly every day in June, and this year's Carnival had maybe one day without rain. The groups made no money and when the final accounting is done they probably lost some.
As a result, on Monday at the Council meeting a single request was made by Vigilance Hose to restrict the commercially operated ice cream truck from selling in the Park, as the Kiwanis traditionally sell ice cream along with hot dogs and drinks. The intent was to boost sales and off-set the carnival with proceeds being immediately fed back to the community.
Councilman Heckman made a motion and when no fellow council-member seconded the motion, it died.
While one has to respect competition, I think Council failed in this instance when it chose to support a for-profit business at the expense of two volunteer, non-profit organizations, who give so much to the community, year in and year out.
The thought of no fireworks and no Halloween Parade, which our family and our neighbors have enjoyed so much through the years is disheartening and painful. I wish this matter could be resolved prior to the annual celebration, but have little hope in that happening as there is no scheduled meeting between now and then.
21 comments:
This is a terrible shame, but I completely support the Fire Company and Kiwanis in their decisions. Council should be ashamed of themselves for not supporting their local VOLUNTEER organizations.
Where I do believe in competition, this is one of those cases where the local organization that gives back to the community should have been given special treatment.
That said, I suggest a grass roots effort to get the word out. Bypass the commercial truck and head directly to the Kiwanis booth, and throw in a couple extra bucks or let them keep the change.
Since council refused to act, we the citizens still have the power to buy where we want. Send a message to council by boycotting the commercial truck.
Please see my update.
As always another perspective and more to the story.
I agree that support should go to volunteer organizations, but when the for profit is not brought into the conversation, then offers to contribute revenue, and has a contract to provide concessions, they are not at fault.
Council should have handled this differently, and I think some gentleman should have conversed before going to council about the matter and making it a public debate.
How terribly disappointing that there won't be fireworks this year. And no Halloween Parade?! Surely there is a solution to make these happen. Any suggestions?
Given Ross' recent update, it appears there is more to this story.
It's a shame that the Vigilance Hose and the Kiwanis don't want to allow a business man that helps support the borough park to bring in his ice cream truck which is part of his business on Nazareth Day. In my opinion I feel that the only reason they are pulling out of the fireworks is because the Vigilance Hose represenative did not get his way at the council meeting. Look at how many ice cream vendors are at musik fest, isn't this a free enterprise where competition is good? The only people hurting the community is the Vigilance Hose by pulling out of a tradition of putting on all of these events that have been going on for years. Im sure there are other organazations that would be willing to pick up the funding for the Easter egg hunt, Carnival, and the fireworks.
I feel it is a damn shame that the owner of the ice cream truck only cares about money and personal gain rather than sacrificing a few hours of business (soley in the borough park I might add)in order to raise the money needed and keep the fireworks that the people of the borough love so much...it is down right rude and greedy and is hurting everyone in the borough!...the volunteers in the fire dept. VOLUNTEER their time in order to protect the people of this community while possibly putting their own lives in danger and the Kiwanis raise money in order to benefit the community so why shouldn't the ice cream truck stay out of the park for a few hours....sorry but I personally would rather support a charitable community club rather than help pay for a greedy mans summer vacation!!!!!!!!!
Farfromperfect - you should read the updated post.
The owner was never approached by the kiwanis or vigilance, instead the two groups went to council.
The owner has a contract with the borough, which the borough honored.
The owner offered to donate all proceeds during the time they requested he not be there to the fireworks - and he makes an annual contribution to the fireworks and is a former fireman.
I think he got put in the cross-fire and really shouldn't be taking blame.
I also think council, kiwanis, fire company, and the owner should get together and talk together - sounds like something they haven't done yet.
I completely support the Fire Department. In reading the posts I agree there is more to the story that is not being told.
The business owner wants to complain about being asked to not sell ice cream in the park on one day. He does not say that this is a separate business from his concession stand that he runs in the park. Even if this business owner contributes to the fireworks I am sure it is a small donation meaning the rest of the bill is left to the fire department.
This is a VOLUNTEER Fire Department. Appreciation should be shown to those who volunteer, often putting their own lives at risk for those within their community.
The fire companies have carnivals to raise monies to assist in paying the fire department bills and to purchase equipment needed. If it rains during the carnival thousands of dollars can be lost leaving the fire department short of funds.
Fund raisers are a big part in raising monies for any department. This assists in keeping the local fire tax to a minimum. I would urge all tax payers to make sure that the fire tax they are paying is benefiting their local fire department. Some borough offices will sometimes allocate this tax to their street departments, police departments etc. which is WRONG and should be deemed a form of embezzlement.
To move the location or the dates of the carnival is not that simple. Carnival's are booked a year in advance and may not be available on the next chosen date. To move the location due to an incontinence to 1 business owner who runs a concession stand is ludicrous. The carnival should be held within the community in which it benefits. It gives the community a chance to meet those who risk their lives and to also help contribute to their local fire department while also having an enjoyable time.
The business owner actually runs two business’s. One is the concession stand in the park, the second would be a mobile ice cream truck. Seems to me that the ice cream truck could travel in another area for one day so as to not take away from the Kiwanis. The business owner says he contributes to the Fireworks. I would have to ask how many times he has supported this event. Some business owners feel that if they make one contribution one year that they are exempt from assisting in the future.
If the community wants the fireworks and other community events to continue then they need to go to the next borough council meeting and support the Vigilance Fire Department. At any time tax payers can request to see the Borough Budget and know how their tax money is actually being spent. Doing this could be a real eye opener to many tax payers.
I completely support the Fire Department. In reading the posts I agree there is more to the story that is not being told.
The business owner wants to complain about being asked to not sell ice cream in the park on one day. He does not say that this is a separate business from his concession stand that he runs in the park. Even if this business owner contributes to the fireworks I am sure it is a small donation meaning the rest of the bill is left to the fire department.
This is a VOLUNTEER Fire Department. Appreciation should be shown to those who volunteer, often putting their own lives at risk for those within their community.
The fire companies have carnivals to raise monies to assist in paying the fire department bills and to purchase equipment needed. If it rains during the carnival thousands of dollars can be lost leaving the fire department short of funds.
Fund raisers are a big part in raising monies for any department. This assists in keeping the local fire tax to a minimum. I would urge all tax payers to make sure that the fire tax they are paying is benefiting their local fire department. Some borough offices will sometimes allocate this tax to their street departments, police departments etc. which is WRONG and should be deemed a form of embezzlement.
To move the location or the dates of the carnival is not that simple. Carnival's are booked a year in advance and may not be available on the next chosen date. To move the location due to an incontinence to 1 business owner who runs a concession stand is ludicrous. The carnival should be held within the community in which it benefits. It gives the community a chance to meet those who risk their lives and to also help contribute to their local fire department while also having an enjoyable time.
The business owner actually runs two business’s. One is the concession stand in the park, the second would be a mobile ice cream truck. Seems to me that the ice cream truck could travel in another area for one day so as to not take away from the Kiwanis. The business owner says he contributes to the Fireworks. I would have to ask how many times he has supported this event. Some business owners feel that if they make one contribution one year that they are exempt from assisting in the future.
If the community wants the fireworks and other community events to continue then they need to go to the next borough council meeting and support the Vigilance Fire Department. At any time tax payers can request to see the Borough Budget and know how their tax money is actually being spent. Doing this could be a real eye opener to many tax payers.
Nazareth has given Kool Treats a great opportunity by renting them the Nazareth Pool concession stand for $13.00 a day. This information was written in the minutes from the May meeting. So, when tradition has been that on the night of the fireworks, a charitable organization sells ice cream in the park, they start talking about free enterprise. The Kiwanis Club rasies money for children's causes and gives part of their profit from that night to the fireworks.So Kool Treats, where is your sense of community and appreciation to your community. My support goes to the Nazareth VOLUNTEER Fire Co.
I don't understand how two sides presented a position, the Council made a determination - and one of the two sides is getting beat up.
Folks - be mad at Council - they made the decision.
This entire situation was not handled properly, however it is unfair to blame the business owner in light of his not being approached up front and his offer to contribute all proceeds.
Also, to airforcemom18, the individual in question is a former fireman who was seriously injured fighting a fire.
And to the best of my knowledge - we don't have a fire tax.
Finally, if you look at our borough budget the biggest eye opener is how they get so much done spending so little. This is not a tax and spend group - visit the school district for big, bloated budgets.
Arguing about this and bashing one side to make the other look good does little, the parties involved need to sit down and talk.
hey Ross Nunamaker saying things like,
"however IT IS UNFAIR TO BLAME THE BUISNESS OWNER in light of his not being approached up front and his offer to contribute all proceeds."
might just be a little bias when followed up with
"Arguing about this and bashing one side to make the other look good does little, the parties involved need to sit down and talk."
not to mention the fact that you nor do I know for a fact that the "unfairly treated buisness man" was not approached, or had offered to contribute.
You had also forgot to openly mention that the same "unfairly treated buisness man" also rents out the pool snack stand for three and a half months during the summer, so there is two sources of for profit buisness from the same "unfairly treated buisness man."
Correct me if im wrong but as a borough resident for thirteen years, there is no contest, greedy buisness owner, or three (including the lions club) VOLUNTEER, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
I am completely ashamed of our corrupt council in failing the whole taxpaying borough of nazareth. you can expect a lot of protests.
Remember:Non profit organizations(fire dept.;kiwanis;lions;rotary)We work hard every year on fundraisers to give back to our community...Keep these events to non profit organizations...Our park is named NAZARETH BOROUGH PARK not BOELL PARK....There not the OWNERS....WE ARE....
Why is the truck on the streets if it's part of the PARK?
Why is the concession stand called Kool treats; It's on borough property...
It's about time this town sees what's going on...
oh yeah: Family relative on Borough council too...that helps
I agree with the fire departments decision to support the Kiwanis and cancel the fire works display on Nazareth day. They didn’t ask this man to shut down the concession stand. They only asked him not to sell his ice cream at the park that day, because the Kiwanis a non-profit organization would be selling ice cream. This man should not be allowed to drive his truck through the park. Even if he said he would donate the proceeds to the fireworks display. That is not the point. The Kiwanis proceeds not only help the fire department but they help support many other programs as well. So by cancelling the fireworks and standing by the Kiwanis the Members of the fire department are showing their support for the entire community.
The fire departments decision to cancel other events is a separate issue and is not connected to the fireworks. Still it wasn’t an easy decision. They rely on the donations and the support of the community to make these events happen. While the support seems to be there for these events, the funding for them is not and this will ultimately end these events. The fire department can not afford to solely fund these events and rely on donations from the Kiwanis and other organizations to make them happen. However they cannot only depend on these programs. They need support from you the community. The people want these events but how many of you actually donate to them.
So hopefully now you can see why the department has chosen to back an organization that has backed and supported them for so many years.
I ask you to stand behind your fire departments decision. Support your local Kiwanis. And if you want programs like these to continue I urge you to donate.
Lastly this man only chose to offer to donate is proceeds after the backlash started. Yea he was a volunteer firefighter. That only makes this situation even sadder. He of all people should have known from the beginning that the Kiwanis needed the money more than he. He should have agreed to take his truck out of the park. The council shouldn’t have had to bring this to a vote.
We also should be asking the council why wasn’t the vote seconded. Do they care more about business owners than non profit organizations? Maybe some one could shed some light on that.
If the Vigilance hose and Kiwanis are so upset about the mans ice cream truck then why don't the pull all their stands at nazareth day. I guess you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out. Im sure both organizations will be making enough money at the block party.
Save the Fireworks not the Fire Department.
I am not a community member of Nazareth but visited it throughout the years and have been drawn to the ridiculous nature of these blogs.
The way I understand it you have a business man with a contract to sell ice cream at a park, the Kiwanis club a non profit organization who will also be selling snacks, and the vigilance hose fire company who will be providing fireworks. As far as I can tell this sounds like a great event.
The part I don't understand is that the president of the Vigilance Hose Fire Company had a problem with the ice cream truck and when his opinion was not shared by council members he pulled the fireworks. He continues to be selfish even after the ice cream business says that all of their proceeds would be donated to the Kiwanis Club, what a selfless act. Obviously this is a personal issue and he is destroying a community on his power trip.
I think the fire company and especially the president need to grow up and represent Nazareth as a community with caring and selfless people, families, business owners, and volunteers.
Oh yeah and Justme, Is Norm not a citizen of Nazareth, also? I would hope that he would personally take some ownership in order to relay the important relationship he feels he has with not only the park but it's surrounding community.
When you think of home you thing of the traditions throughout the community. Fireworks in Nazareth are one of those deeply embedded small town traditions. This reeks of small town politics. For your own personal interest you're depriving the entire population of the town. The selfish interest being the president of the fire department wanting his way or no way and causing the town to deprive of this tradition. Norm Boell has a signed contract and towns are run by laws and contract not by one persons self interest. Norm Boell is even willing to donate his proceeds for the continuation of this tradition.
Just wondering if the Kiwanis and the Fire Company want all the other vendors that sell hamburgers, hot dogs, and french fries to be forced out as well or is it all about Norm's truck.
We all scream for ice cream.
I'm Norm's younger brother. When I graduated from grad school and received a job offer in the Lehigh Valley, it was Norm that convinced me to live in Nazareth. When I was there, I was thrilled with my decision upon seeing the type of community that it was. Just watching the parades go past my apartment near the picturesque circle was like something out of a Rockwell painting.
I also witnessed firsthand everything Norm put into that community. He ran two local businesses, employed probably a dozen local residents and, while juggling all of that, he coached several sports teams, was active in community organizations/the church and volunteered for the very fire company that he is embroiled in controversy with (which he served as an officer in).
Towards the end of my time in your community, I witnessed first hand one of the most extraordinary sacrifices when I received a phone call on a hot summer night that Norm had been seriously injured when a saw accident resulted in an injury to his leg that was within a fraction of an inch to claiming his life. It left him unable to actively run his business at its busiest time of the year.
I witnessed something there as well. It was the fire company and community service organizations such as the Kiwanis that came together and assisted Norm’s family. It was a beautiful aspect of a horrific moment. I also know that it is the fire fighters that are in Vigilance Hose today that still climb roofs and run into burning buildings.
I moved away from Nazareth to marry but still work in the Lehigh valley. I’m in Nazareth from time to time to visit Norm’s family and other friends I made in the community. I don’t know the local politics or what caused what were good relationships to turn so ugly. But I still know the character of my brother and it pains me to watch he, his family and his businesses be attacked in these blogs and to hear of boycotts of his business. The relationship with the men I know he called his “brothers” is openly hostile and these men (that are no doubt heroes) did not respect their retired brother enough to talk to him face to face before taking the matter to the Council who themselves could not bar his company because to do so would breach the very contract they signed with him. I know Norman Boell as well as anyone reading this and I know with all my soul that, for Norman, this is not about the money. He probably donates as much as he would make in that park back into the community anyway.
As I type this the parties are meeting to work this out and I hope they are successful. I have no doubt that Norm will again offer to donate the proceeds and his employees services (an offer he has made and had thrown back in his face). As I said, I know his character and I know he will do the right thing. I just hope that everyone calms down and does what is best for the community and not for their egos.
As for blogs, I actually would like to applaud the author of this blog for eventually posting both sides of the story. However, in this age of instantaneous communication knee jerk reactions and anonymous attacks in comments have replaced investigative journalism and reasoned debate. If news papers die (which they are certainly in the process of doing) more blogs must be careful to investigate both sides of a story.
Post a Comment