Chatham Deserves Better

To the Editor:

I’m writing in response to letters suggesting that if elected, Joe Barrette and I plan to cut town events. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Our events, when done well, are one of the things that makes Chatham a strong community and a great place to live.

My comments at the recent debate referred specifically to the Fishawack Festival. I said that I think it should move toward being self-sustaining, and I stand behind that. A good festival can absolutely pay for itself. I believe that one of the primary jobs of the council is to be fiscally responsible, and that includes Fishawack.

Over the past 16 years, I’ve enjoyed Fishawack as both an attendee and an exhibitor. Putting on a festival like this, and doing it well, is a huge undertaking, and the volunteers and Borough staff who work on it each year do a great job. I’ve spoken to several businesses recently, though, who have stopped exhibiting because the fair has gone downhill, both in size and substance. Countless residents have told me the same. That’s something we need to reverse, and we need fresh ideas and a willingness to try new things in order to do that. In my role at The Noe Pond Club, I spend the year planning dozens of events for our membership of 300+ families. In my role at Boxcar, I planned events ranging from large parties for customers to our Fishawack booth. I know what it takes to run exciting events, making them enjoyable and coming in on budget. Whether it’s new vendors, different sponsorship arrangements, or more entertainment to draw people in, we need to revitalize Fishawack both fundamentally and financially. There’s no reason Fishawack shouldn’t be as big as Bottle Hill Day, supporting itself while it grows.

We need to upgrade our events, to keep them relevant and interesting, attracting attendees and vendors alike. Simply “preserving” them at the status quo isn’t good enough - Chatham deserves better.

Sincerely,
April Kabbash