Post by Todd B on Jan 3, 2008 22:57:22 GMT -5
www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080103/NEWS01/489589638
Article published Jan 3, 2008
Making plans for next year
IDA - The Christmas in Ida Festival has thousands of supporters from as far away as New York and Florida.
Add the Ida Township Board and the volunteer fire department to the list.
Wednesday night, the township board granted 5-0 permission to the festival committee to use the township hall parking lot off Lewis Ave. and set off fireworks for the 2008 festival scheduled for Dec. 5-6. The board also okayed blocking off parking lanes along Lewis and closing the main artery through town for the night-time parade, the main attraction during the festival.
The road closing still must be approved by the Monroe County Road Commission, but that is a formality and also should get the county's nod, said Dale Zorn, executive director of the festival for the Ida Civic Club, main sponsor of the festival.
Recent concerns about public safety and large crowds flocking to this village of about 5,000 residents every first weekend in December had some club members worried that a permit might not come easily this year.
But the board granted the club's requests with little discussion. When Supervisor Ron Iott asked for anyone in the audience of about 55 people to comment about the permit, no one spoke up. Among those present were almost a dozen firefighters and fire Chief Paul Metz.
Before the vote, Mr. Zorn thanked the board and the 20-member fire department for the 25th anniversary of the festival last month that drew an estimated 28,000 people.
"We reach out to a bigger community," he said about growing interest each year. "It takes a lot of people to put on the festival. It wouldn't be possible without the cooperation of everyone."
Mr. Iott agreed.
"It's great the way it all comes together," the supervisor said after the meeting. "Wherever you go, you hear people talk about the parade. A lot of communities would just die to have something like that."
Even he gets calls occasionally from an outside community wanting to know how to get people involved in a night-time parade.
Jeremy Potter, an instructor at Ida Middle School, told the board that about two dozen of his students wrote about their fondness for the festival. He said one student said relatives from Florida attend each year. Comments ranged from "it's the only night people come to see Ida" to the "parade makes our little town special."
"The kids like the idea... that for one night, we got a pretty special thing," Mr. Potter said.
One of the main concerns for organizers and the township is a 30-by-60-foot tent that was set up in front of the fire hall for corporate sponsors of the Disney entertainment and other attractions. An estimated 4,500 people attended the concert headlined by Keke Palmer, according to the production company, Mr. Zorn said.
Both he and Mr. Iott said they would prefer moving the tent to another location so as not to block the stage behind the fire station. Disney's Jingle Jam Tour concert that was free to the public. The event cost $40,000, but sponsors helped defray the expense, Mr. Zorn said.
"I think a 45-foot tent would have served their purpose and kept it open," Mr. Iott said. "I understand when you're working with big (entertainment) like Disney, you go along. ... Perhaps they could move it to a different spot."
Chief Metz said the fire department has never had a problem with the festival. Its main concerns were security and protection from terrorist attacks and maintaining proper access and exits to the downtown for emergencies.
"In today's world, homeland security is a big thing," the chief explained. "You want to have a safety plan in effect and make these provisions or you're in big trouble."
Each year on the Wednesday before the festival, the committee walks through the village with the sheriff's department to discuss the road closings.
For next year's festival, the club is providing charts and maps to firefighters showing locations of generators, vendors, heating equipment and an estimated 35 tents used throughout the village. Each tent is numbered and the chart lists details such as whether a diesel-powered heater or a blowing gas heater is inside. The information would come in handy in case of a fire or other emergency during the festival, Chief Metz said.
He said firefighters only had one emergency call during last month's festival compared to about five calls in 2006. He said neighboring fire departments from Bedford, Summerfield and London-Maybee-Raisinville are stationed in different parts of the village to assist with any emergencies.
Mr. Zorn said the committee already is talking with Disney about holding a concert at the next festival.
"This show is a big draw for us and is wholesome family entertainment," he said.
A survey by the committee showed the festival generated between $180,000 and $225,000 in extra business for the community. Countywide, the economic impact is even greater, Mr. Zorn said.
According to the survey, visitors will spend from $400,000 to $750,000 for gasoline and to stay at area motels.
"This is an event every community would love to have," he said.