Last year, Lake Orion Lion’s Club broke with tradition by holding their annual Jubilee the weekend before the Fourth of July.
This year, the Jubilee won’t even be downtown.
According to Lion’s Club President Jack Patton, the club is looking to hold what he calls their biggest fundraiser of the year at Canterbury Village, pending proper permits.
‘We’ve been doing this for 50 years, so it’s kind of a shame,? Patton said, noting they were forced to move because of the streetscape project planned for this summer.
‘I’ve got to look optimistic. We’ve got no choice in it,? he said.
Patton said he couldn’t comment on whether the change will be permanent or not.
Police Chief Jerry Narsh called the change in venue a ‘double whammy? to businesses that benefit from the downtown Jubilee.
‘Progress sometimes is painful,? he said. ‘In this case, it is not only painful for the businesses to have the downtown torn up, but it’s painful in that a very popular event that has to be diverted away from the downtown as a result of that progress.?
Village Manager Paul Zelenak said he’s unsure of how moving the Jubilee will affect the downtown, noting ‘Obviously, some businesses do benefit by it whether it’s by people who shop or frequent restaurants or exposure to service organizations.?
In the past, construction was sometimes halted to allow for the Jubilee to remain in the village, according to Patton. He said former Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel wrote it into the contract during downtown sewer maintenance several years ago.
But, says the village manager, interrupting streetscape construction ? which includes tearing up streets, sidewalks and trees ? would prove difficult and costly.
Zelenak said, for example, ‘For someone to say, ‘now that you’re in the midst of constructing your house, we want to have a party in the house,? you have to stop and make everything airtight and everything perfectly safe for it. The contractor might say ‘are you kidding me??
According to the police chief, Fourth of July fireworks will remain downtown.
‘I’ve confirmed that with Mr. Cyrowski of the Fireworks Association,? Narsh said.
He’s also expected a cost savings with the Jubilee out of town.
‘There are costs incurred with staffing any event, so by not having a four-day carnival in town, the police department will save some funds that were budgeted for having extra staffing on those nights,? said Narsh.