When did they change the July 4 policies?

Heard that the Boy Scouts are rethinking whether to participate in Forth of July concessions next year.  Thirty something years selling to the community for the community. I guess it’s the trend. Walmartization of Memorial Field. 

Back when I was one of the scouters supervising troop 3 scouts who were providing food and drink during hours when the circus was not in operation, we had a monopoly and our troop leader served as a member of the 4th of July Committee which planned the event.  This year, it was not even evident that the scouts were among all the food vendors present.  

Joan, you are a Maplewood marvel. Is there anything you haven’t done in this community? I’ll bet you could have presented some real context to the the BOE meeting last night that effectively fired a beloved principal. 

FWIW, Troop 5 was strategically placed behind most vendors. I get that they don’t pay a firework fee, however, I doubt any vendors use all profits to send boys to camp. I doubt outside vendors teach our 

boys, and soon girls, the value of planning and decision making. 

In the end, a short term gain becomes a long term decline of community. 

Thank you.  I haven't had a child in the school district since 1997 so I really don't have sufficiently current experience in the school district to make a valid recommendation to the BOE.  

I can understand the July 4th Committee's wanting to encourage fee paying vendors who could offset the cost of general admission for those of us attending.  However, I would hope this would not be to the detriment of community partners looking to enhance the event.  The monopoly Troop 3, and later the girl scout troop which took over when Troop 3 folded, enjoyed back in the day would not seem to meet the current marketing plan for the event.  Regarding placement of Troop 5's station on July 4th, I agree that more should have been done to at least make a community fund raiser more visible to attendees who would want to support a troop that continues to be such a positive force in our community.  In comparison, Maplewoodstock placed Troop 60's fundraiser location at the bottom of the hill right near the stage in easy view of the audience. the 4th of July Committee could have done something similar. 

ETA:  Perhaps the Troop 5 fund raiser can focus on something other than food next year.  A non-violent variation on the Shoot the Geek image you post above might have possibilities as an amusement park game attraction.   

The committee needs to decide what they want the celebration to be.  

A more commercialized boardwalk/amusement park setup or a less commercialized small town celebration?

The latter, please. 

The most recent 4th of July Celebration was a topic of conversation at the most recent TC meeting.  Impression I got is that the TC is in favor of a scaled back celebration for next year and intends to work with the Civic Association towards this goal.

joan_crystal said:
The most recent 4th of July Celebration was a topic of conversation at the most recent TC meeting.  Impression I got is that the TC is in favor of a scaled back celebration for next year and intends to work with the Civic Association towards this goal.

 That would be good news.