Confirmed with the Mayor's staff this week, there will be no annual First Night Celebration in Fall River. For over ten years, First Night Fall River has offered residents a fun, safe, family friendly way to ring in the New Year. Notable events included fireworks, circus acts, ice skating, dancing, and an annual wedding. This event drew in masses of people from Fall River and nearby communities. It was an event for which Fall River could be proud: and isn't that what the Mayor claims to want? Pride. Merely sticking the word "pride" on city stationary, press releases, and pins does not accomplish anything because actions speak louder than "pride city wide" accessories.
Some of my thoughts on why this historically great event was cancelled:
-Bob spent all of the city's event money on his "Tribute to John Philip Sousa" (sadly it turns out that John Philip Sousa was not the campaign contributor that Bob thought he was paying back)
-Bob heard I was going to try to rig the first night couples contest so he would have to marry a gay couple
-Bob hates hearing the laughter of children
ANY OTHER REASONS?
26 comments:
spent the money on his campaign and will claim it's the economy!
Hope he enjoyed his spa treatments.
If this is true it is just another blunder in a long line of blunders.
Reason: Even in bad economic times you have to celebrate, party, whatever - to get your mind off of what is taking place, even if it is for one night.
Now for the reason he would cancel. He does not have the type of staff that can handle this.
Yep, that is what it is.
You should start a Letterman
"top ten" format on the blog there is sooo much material!!
I can see not eliminating fireworks as they are costly but how about a toned down celebration in light of the economic times. Perhpas some of the business leaders serving on all these financial task forces could come up with a plan to pull this off with volunteers without a big budget. Who was that lady Maureen months back that used to work for the city and was an event planner ??
Really how much money is required to do this? The funds are endless when it is a political fundraiser, the mayor is having a christmas party at $125 a head!!!!
Shamrock did you ask about that party being called off???
I can see not eliminating fireworks as they are costly but how about a toned down celebration in light of the economic times. Perhpas some of the business leaders serving on all these financial task forces could come up with a plan to pull this off with volunteers without a big budget. Who was that lady Maureen months back that used to work for the city and was an event planner ??
Really how much money is required to do this? The funds are endless when it is a political fundraiser, the mayor is having a christmas party at $125 a head!!!!
Shamrock did you ask about that party being called off???
Why not have our children write Mr Mayor and ask what happened to First Night?! I guess will we all have to take our families and head to Providence or Boston on New Years Eve! I am sure the Honorable Mr. Grinch will quickly write our children back with a reasonable explanation for his antics! All you people who thought Big Ed was a moron are really kicking yourselves in the ass now arent ya! We should have voted in Mickey Mouse for mayor and taken our chances!
Anonymous 12:58 -
I may be a jerk but I am not the jerk that cancelled First Night
General -
It is so pathetic that Bob's staff can't handle planning a party
Anonymous 14:09 -
Maureen Estes was the Lambert staffer that handled first night under his term as mayor.
Anonymous 16:14 -
I agree, the kids should write Bob a letter. It can go a little something like this, "Mr. Mayor, why did you lay off my favorite teacher, why won't the school bus pick me up near my house, why don't we have paper in our classroom, why did you cancel first night?"
he says he is all for the arts, how can he cancel first night?
To anon:
How can he cancel First Night???
Mayor Correia said he was for the arts because that is what the people, or at least some of the people wanted to hear.
He was against LNG, do you remember that? Since he has been in office the Mayor's LNG Task Force, formed under Lambert, has not met ONCE!!! He, nor a staff member went to the hearing at Venus DeMilo!
He was going to build 26 single family homes at Watuppa Heights. As mayor he signed an agreement with the state to build 60 units (at least 60) at Watuppa Heights, with an additional 20 offsite, and we had to put up at least $4million!!!
Mayor Correia was a phony before and he is still a phony.
Has this been formally announced by the administration. If so what about the Christmas parade that took place the first weekend in December? Will there be any celebration or has Bob ruined Christmas too!!
Announced??? We don't tell the public anything but what they want to hear during an election. Then it is all photo ops and press releases . Don't ask any questions folks.
Shamrock, by the way I can no longer post on the Herald site since my comments about Paul Simister along with Tom Paine and Lizzie. Must be a glitch with the system .
It's ok I was providing public information that you can all access on your own.
Make sure you don't post this info on the HN site the mayor may have them called to delet it.
It has to be announced with his excuses included.
EB
Hey General,
What was that article you were looking for in the Herald that disappeared but you have a hard copy of?
Erin B
To ErinB:
Hello it is I, the former General.
I have a hard copy of an article that states the following:
1. Here is the title of the article and date -
10-31-2007 Correia sees collaboration as key to economy
And the following is taken from the article:
Offer tax breaks to companies that would be willing to finance the position of chief financial officer for the city. That person would be available to provide financial advice to companies so they can maintain effective operations.
I cannot get it online....but I know it is accurate because I do have a hard copy.
By the way in that same exact article it states:
Hire a full-time tourism director – funding will come from local hotel taxes.
Use duck boats to go along the Taunton River – up Columbia Street to various monuments and attractions.
Use the state’s historic tax credit program to restore buildings in downtown and other parts of the city.
Call on existing businesses to create in-house learning centers that would allow them to take classes during the workday. He would advocate for a job training tax-credit.
It is starting to look like we are gearing up for the election year!
The trash program has been claimed a success, now tourism is going to flourish with this committee all of a sudden?! Then you cancel first night?
In the meantime, the mayor continues to fundraise while the school dept falls apart.
Evidently our comments have hit a nerve. I was not sure why the simister comments were an issue as there are so many patronage examples posted. I don't know the man and came upon his name accidently while looking at campaign contributions and he happened to be in the paper the day before. Perhaps it has to do with his alleged recent appointment to the fire board?
I have not been able to post since, maybe it is a technical glitch!!
I did abide by the pool rules and stated facts. I don't know if Lizzie is still able to post but I see you are!
See you on the blogs or if anyone else has been "censored" you can email me at:
foureyes09@hotmail.com
ErinB
sorry the email address is
foureyes08@hotmail.com
I must have been in hurry for
the 2009 elections.
EB
Seems the Old Curmudgeon doesn’t like Trick or Treaters either. The annual Halloween block party on New Boston Road had to be nixed last month when, from what I was told, Bob refused to pay for the police detail the city provides for the event. Pretty silly if it’s true, since the cancellation notice in the Herald News said police would patrol that area to let party goers know there was no party.
So, Shamrock, I’m going with “Bob hates hearing the laughter of children” as my choice for the #1 reason Bob has said “Bah, humbug” to First Night.
I bet most if not all of you complaining about this never attended!
Sorry to disappoint you, but in my case, you would lose that bet.
Me too and the halloween party,
Does anyone know what it actually costs to put on the First Night????
Interesting work happening at Diman in the past. This is the
2006 report. Perhaps our city attorney (75K part time)he may now be the chair, could get some help for the city at no or little cost:
GREATER FALL RIVER VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMITTEE
Gabriel Andrade, Chairperson – Fall River
Thomas Branco, Somerset
James Clarkin – Fall River
Larry Couto – Fall River
Edward Hill – Swansea
Paul Jennings Westport
http://www.dimanregional.org/extras/annual_report_2005-2006.pdf
VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS REPORT
Starting with the Heating, AirConditioning,
and Refrigeration shop, they installed air
conditioning for the Westport Senior Center and the housebuilding project, as well as
refrigeration repairs throughout the school.
The Automotive Collision Repair program provided its services to both Diman and the
surrounding communities. Somerset had their police cars, SUV, trailer, and motorcycle repaired
while Fall River’s fire vehicle was repaired as well. In addition, the department buffed aluminum
blocks made by the Machine Shop for the annual Mayor’s meeting.
The Automotive Technology Automotive Technology shop both maintained and repaired
hundreds of automobiles for the municipalities and residents therein during the 20052006
school
year. The AM shop program is NATEF/ASE Certified.
Diman’s Building Technology program was involved in numerous community service programs
throughout the school year. Repair to the bleachers at the Bank Street Armory, installation of a
climbing wall at Case Junior High, and signs for the Henry Lord Middle School and the
Somerset Police and Fire Departments were some of the accomplishments completed by the
shop.
The Culinary Arts program was busy serving the staff and public throughout the 20052006
school year. In addition to serving daily breakfast and lunch offerings, the CA Department
provided community service by preparing turkeys for the Salvation Army during the
Thanksgiving holiday. The CA program is nationally certified by the American Culinary
Federation.
The Dental Assisting program participated in the giant community Health Fair held on May 17,
2006. In addition, nine juniors passed the Radiation Health and Safety Exam and 11 juniors
passed the Radiology exam administered by DANBY.
The Drafting department was prodigiously engaged in activities for Diman and the sending
communities in the 2006 school year. The kitchen cabinet layout and the Diman Press Box were
two of the many jobs done by the Drafting department.
The Electrical department has had an impressive year that included a tremendous amount of
community service work for the sending communities. Project locations included: Town of
Westport Senior Center, Westport’s Harvest Festival, Fall River’s Central and Stanley Street Fire
Station, City Hall, and First Night celebration to name but a few.
The Electronics department had a gold medal winner in the SkillsUSA competition during the
2006 school year (Senior Steven Rioux). The ET program offers students certification/licensing
opportunities by NARTE, ETA, ETPA, and the FCC.
The Graphic Communications program was busy for the 2005/2006 school year helping civic
organizations including, but not limited to, the Bank Street Armory in Fall River, the City of Fall
I just had a thought about a month ago on wsar I heard barry richards ranting about another town cancelling halloween , it may have been lakeville or dighton. Did anyone hear that? It would be funny to hear his take NOW on the mayor cancelling first night and
Halloween. He would probably stutter as much as hurricane but I'm sure he would spin it !!
well now the mayor is going to have a children's christmas party
funded by local businesses he has contactd at no cost to the city.
Keep blogging the silent majority is reading.
http://www.venusdemilo.com/banquet.htm
at $125 per head less cost x 1000
people how much do you think the mayor will net if he follows previous mayors and donates the money to the senior christmas party ? 50k+ ??
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