HAMILTON TOWNSHIP women seek township support for fireworks display fundraising
Display location:HAMILTON
City: HAMILTON
State:New Jersey
Date: 2010 Hometown Celebration
Details: HAMILTON TOWNSHIP – Local residents Teresa Thomas and Jamie Herman may soon learn more about fireworks than they ever cared to know.
That’s because they plan to spearhead an effort to raise money for a fireworks display at next year’s Hometown Celebration and possibly for years to come, reviving a township tradition that was eliminated from this year’s event due to budget cuts.
Thomas and Herman are scheduled to address Township Committee 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2 at Town Hall in Mays Landing. According to their estimates, they must raise between $15,000 and $20,000 to pay for the fireworks and police protection.
Thomas, a resident of the municipality for 15 years, is a member of the Hamilton Township Republican Club. Herman, a business owner and Realtor, has been a Mays Landing resident for more than 30 years.
They both own residential property near Lake Lenape.
Thomas said Tuesday, July 28 that one of their first steps will be to ask the governing body for permission to pay for insurance for the special event. In their discussions with Township Administrator Ed Sasdelli, the cost to add coverage for one day’s worth of fireworks is $125.
She hopes the township will take formal action on this matter in the form of either a resolution or an ordinance.
“We’re not asking them to do anything more,” Thomas added. “We are probably asking them to do less, as we will take on as much of the burden as we can, as far as administrative tasks go.”
So far, Thomas and Herman have opened a bank account that has been designated as a non-profit. They have also discussed fund-raising opportunities, such as soliciting donations from area businesses and having a movie night at The Cove. However, they say they are at standstill until they find out if the township would provide support for their efforts.
“We don't want to do this without a commitment from the township,” Thomas said.
Thomas and Herman first discussed the idea of funding fireworks nearly six weeks ago, right around the time when the Hometown Celebration was going on.
Herman said Tuesday, July 28 that her family and friends enjoy the fireworks which have long been a part of the township's annual festival; they were saddened when a lack of funding prohibited the spectacle from taking place this year.
“This means more to me than just fireworks,” she said. “It is a neighborhood tradition. I would hate for Mays Landing to lose this.
“We just started throwing out how to do this,” Thomas recalled. “Someone had to take the ball and run with it; we have done that.”
If they get the township to provide insurance for the event, Thomas and Herman will move forward with trying to get more involvement from residents, businesses, and whoever else is willing to provide assistance.
Given that this is their first year coordinating this initiative, they expect some hardships. However, they say they are in it for the long haul and would be willing to take it on again if need be.
“I just love this town,” said Herman.
City: HAMILTON
State:New Jersey
Date: 2010 Hometown Celebration
Details: HAMILTON TOWNSHIP – Local residents Teresa Thomas and Jamie Herman may soon learn more about fireworks than they ever cared to know.
That’s because they plan to spearhead an effort to raise money for a fireworks display at next year’s Hometown Celebration and possibly for years to come, reviving a township tradition that was eliminated from this year’s event due to budget cuts.
Thomas and Herman are scheduled to address Township Committee 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 2 at Town Hall in Mays Landing. According to their estimates, they must raise between $15,000 and $20,000 to pay for the fireworks and police protection.
Thomas, a resident of the municipality for 15 years, is a member of the Hamilton Township Republican Club. Herman, a business owner and Realtor, has been a Mays Landing resident for more than 30 years.
They both own residential property near Lake Lenape.
Thomas said Tuesday, July 28 that one of their first steps will be to ask the governing body for permission to pay for insurance for the special event. In their discussions with Township Administrator Ed Sasdelli, the cost to add coverage for one day’s worth of fireworks is $125.
She hopes the township will take formal action on this matter in the form of either a resolution or an ordinance.
“We’re not asking them to do anything more,” Thomas added. “We are probably asking them to do less, as we will take on as much of the burden as we can, as far as administrative tasks go.”
So far, Thomas and Herman have opened a bank account that has been designated as a non-profit. They have also discussed fund-raising opportunities, such as soliciting donations from area businesses and having a movie night at The Cove. However, they say they are at standstill until they find out if the township would provide support for their efforts.
“We don't want to do this without a commitment from the township,” Thomas said.
Thomas and Herman first discussed the idea of funding fireworks nearly six weeks ago, right around the time when the Hometown Celebration was going on.
Herman said Tuesday, July 28 that her family and friends enjoy the fireworks which have long been a part of the township's annual festival; they were saddened when a lack of funding prohibited the spectacle from taking place this year.
“This means more to me than just fireworks,” she said. “It is a neighborhood tradition. I would hate for Mays Landing to lose this.
“We just started throwing out how to do this,” Thomas recalled. “Someone had to take the ball and run with it; we have done that.”
If they get the township to provide insurance for the event, Thomas and Herman will move forward with trying to get more involvement from residents, businesses, and whoever else is willing to provide assistance.
Given that this is their first year coordinating this initiative, they expect some hardships. However, they say they are in it for the long haul and would be willing to take it on again if need be.
“I just love this town,” said Herman.
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