Montauk Pioneer - May 8, 2009

With Budget Cuts, Chamber Sponsored Projects More Important to Support Than Ever

One of the treasured memories of every summer is the traditional Fourth of July celebration with family and fireworks. Almost everyone can remember being a child and looking forward to the fireworks. The magic of looking up into a dark summer's sky and seeing the bright multi-colored explosions left us speechless with amazement, a feeling we shared with family and neighbors. Never did we ever think of the cost or how it was being paid for. But that was then and this is now. Montauk is scheduled to have another amazing Grucci fireworks display on Sunday, July 4, at Umbrella Beach just west of the IGA. Originally, there was $5,000 in the Town of East Hampton's 2009 budget to help offset the cost of the fireworks that thousands of visitors and residents watch and enjoy with their families.

However, Laraine Creegan, the executive director of the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, now reports that the Town has removed the $5,000 from the budget. At this time, Creegan says the fireworks are not in peril of being canceled, but the Chamber will have to raise money from fundraisers for the fireworks.

Creegan was at The Old Harbor House last weekend for a fundraiser that raised money for the Chamber to help pay for the Monday Concerts on the Green in Montauk. She said that the cost of the fireworks for 2009 has gone up from around $20,000 to $26,000 this year. So with the $6,000 increase and the $5,000 the town will no longer pony up, the Chamber has its work cut out.

At last count, donations are only around $3,300, so the financial hole facing the Chamber is really $23,000 at the moment. The Chamber is being stretched this year trying to raise money for its various programs due to economic conditions in our country and around the world, but Creegan believes in the work of the Chamber and its effect on preserving the character of Montauk. She was literally selling chances for raffles to raise money for the Monday Night Concerts while she was wondering out loud how the chamber was going to marshal the efforts to raise the money to pay the Grucci invoice due July 10. Then she smiled and said, "We [the Chamber and the people of Montauk] will get it done."

The present contract with Grucci is for five years and runs until 2010. Two years ago, the fireworks were rained out twice, once during the Fourth of July and then again in October, making the third time the charm as they were set off during the last day of the Chamber-sponsored Fall Festival in Montauk. Then last year, due to calendar decisions the fireworks were scheduled for the Fall Festival and went off wonderfully. Now, once again they are scheduled to blast off on the Fourth of July.

Meanwhile, at the Harbor House, a large crowd, well over 100, paid a $10 door fee and many bought chances to support the Monday Night Concerts on the Green. While the night featured local musician Nancy Atlas, whose band The Nancy Atlas Project is considered the "House Band of the Hamptons," it was the band the Lone Sharks that showed up in force and played with enthusiasm of the cause for free. Little children danced as parents and neighbors sipped beers and other beverages in the spirit of community and a good cause. Another fundraiser for the Monday Concerts is planned, the question is how many fundraisers can the Montauk Chamber of Commerce hold before the resilient residents of Montauk become over saturated?

Someone at the fundraiser at the Old Harbor House said, "If they can get entertainment like this for them, I will go to them all."

Creegan said anyone interested in contributing money for the Fourth of July fireworks or the Monday Night Concerts on the Green can call her at the Montauk Chamber of Commerce at 631-668-2428. She also wanted to thank all those who showed up at the Old Harbor House and made it such a success on so many levels. She wanted to thank, Nancy Atlas with Johnny Blood, Gene Casey, the Lone Sharks and Caroline Doctorow for contributing their time and talents to the noble cause, as well as the whole community for showing up, money in hand, to show their emotional, as well as financial, support for the Montauk Chamber of Commerce's Monday Nights Concerts on the Green.