Here is a town that values it’s residents and their quality of life. CMA should follow suit.. Take a read.
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Gary Engelstad, Mayor
Bradley Beach Summer Festivals
In an attempt to get one step ahead of the rumor mill, I wanted to explain what transpired at our Mayor and Council meeting last night. As many know, Bradley Beach has engaged the services of a private organization to operate and coordinate our two summer festivals on Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends (Lobsterfest). This was a two year agreement for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. That organization recently reached out to us with requests to make significant changes to the agreement, including their getting out of the Memorial Day weekend, which we determined was just not feasible. For that reason and for the growing concern that these events, especially Lobsterfest, have outgrown our beachfront, we decided last night to terminate the agreement. We wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors as they have been a first class partner with Bradley Beach over the years.
So, while these festivals will not be taking place this summer, we are strongly committed to having our annual Memorial Day parade and Memorial Day ceremony. We are exploring whether there is interest in having the parade on Main Street and thus allowing visitors to get to our beaches first thing in the morning if they want to. The previous Memorial Day arrangements also provided the necessary funding for the parade (mostly costs to bring large bands in), so we will need to look at alternative sources for the approximately $7,000 necessary to cover the anticipated parade costs. There may be opprtunities for donations to be accepted, we’ll be exploring numerous options.
These festivals have had their ardent supporters and also their detractors as well. Change is hard but we can guarantee one thing that will not change – Bradley Beach will, as always, be a first class beach community that guarantees a wonderful family experience this summer. There will obviously be more to follow. I’m not on this site as much as I should be, so the best way to get back to me is through email at garyengelstad@gmail.com.
Thanks very much!
Gary Engelstad
Mayor
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Ocean Grove: a really cute small town at the Jersey Shore.
Here is a town that values it’s residents and their quality of life. CMA should follow suit.. Take a read.
—————————————————————————————————
Gary Engelstad, Mayor
Bradley Beach Summer Festivals
In an attempt to get one step ahead of the rumor mill, I wanted to explain what transpired at our Mayor and Council meeting last night. As many know, Bradley Beach has engaged the services of a private organization to operate and coordinate our two summer festivals on Memorial Day and Labor Day Weekends (Lobsterfest). This was a two year agreement for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. That organization recently reached out to us with requests to make significant changes to the agreement, including their getting out of the Memorial Day weekend, which we determined was just not feasible. For that reason and for the growing concern that these events, especially Lobsterfest, have outgrown our beachfront, we decided last night to terminate the agreement. We wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavors as they have been a first class partner with Bradley Beach over the years.
So, while these festivals will not be taking place this summer, we are strongly committed to having our annual Memorial Day parade and Memorial Day ceremony. We are exploring whether there is interest in having the parade on Main Street and thus allowing visitors to get to our beaches first thing in the morning if they want to. The previous Memorial Day arrangements also provided the necessary funding for the parade (mostly costs to bring large bands in), so we will need to look at alternative sources for the approximately $7,000 necessary to cover the anticipated parade costs. There may be opprtunities for donations to be accepted, we’ll be exploring numerous options.
These festivals have had their ardent supporters and also their detractors as well. Change is hard but we can guarantee one thing that will not change – Bradley Beach will, as always, be a first class beach community that guarantees a wonderful family experience this summer. There will obviously be more to follow. I’m not on this site as much as I should be, so the best way to get back to me is through email at garyengelstad@gmail.com.
Thanks very much!
Gary Engelstad
Mayor