Council Aims to Save Olde Towne Day

This year's Bedford Olde Town Day was canceled after 10 of 14 organizers left the event's planning committee.

Town Councilors, at their most recent meeting, on Wednesday, Sept. 28, expressed disappointment over the decision, but promised to help ensure the popular annual event remains a Bedford staple for years to come.

"The people who made it what it is have moved on and other people have not stepped up," said Vice Chairman Chris Bandazian.

"Other towns around here continue to run, and I hope we're not becoming so big and so busy we haven't got time to celebrate the foundation of this town in some manner," said Chairman Bill Dermody. "I'm really bothered by the fact we've lost this day, at least for this year, and if we let it go any longer it will become a lost item as far as Bedford is concerned. Maybe we need to come back and look at sponsorship of the event and create some sort of partnership between the town and organizers because I would hate to see this go away."

Bedford Recreation Director Jane O'Brien, who is on the Olde Towne Day Committee as well, said the event has always been independently run, but added that getting sponsorship and funding together has become difficult in recent years.

"We don't want it to go away, but we were forced to put it on a hiatus to see if we can get some new blood," she said. "I thought I'd be inundated with calls from people looking to get involved, but I've only had one person come forward so far."

O'Brien said she hopes to tie Olde Towne Day in with the town and school district and combine the festivities with homecoming weekend at Bedford High School.

Anyone interested in helping may contact O'Brien at 472-5242.