1-26-12 Founders Day planning in full swing
Latest Headlines Thursday, January 26th, 2012CAPON BRIDGE — Even with the best-laid plans, things are bound to go wrong.
That’s what happened last September at the fourth annual Founders Day Festival in Capon Bridge. Peg McMaster, festival director, and members of her organizing committee thought everything was ready for the opening of the festival.
An estimated 3,000 people attended that Saturday, the opening of the two-day event. Many of them were upset the Army’s UH 60 Black Hawk versatile helicopter didn’t show up — as festival organizers had promoted and, indeed, hoped.
It turns out the Army ran out of fuel for the helicopter.
The Army, festival committee member Guelda Wolford said Thursday at the group’s first meeting in advance of the 2012 event, “had said it would be here, up until the very last minute. That was a big disappointment.”
Committee member Len McMaster said due to budget constraints, “it’s going to be the same issue this year.”
While the helicopter is again hoped for — and fingers are crossed — committee members discussed a set of wide-ranging plans for a fifth consecutive successful event, which is hosted by the Capon Bridge Ruritan Club.
On the balance sheet, the figures looked good, Peg McMaster said. The event spent $249.99 more than it took in for the 2011 event, “which was actually very good.” McMaster said the group had hoped for $8,000 from the West Virginia Governor’s Community Participation Grant. In past years, the committee had applied for $10,000 and received the lower amount. In 2011, none of that grant money was received.
“I’m very pleased that we ended up in this position,” McMaster said.
The committee enters the 2012 event cycle with a little more than $3,500 available. The 2011 weekend event was staged for $18,153.24.
While many of the entertainment acts, including clowns, musicians and other artists, are not yet signed for this year’s event, McMaster said historical impersonator Doug Riley has agreed to return for a second year.
Last September, Riley played the role of Mark Twain one day and Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson the next. The latter role seemed to be a big hit with the re-enactors and festivalgoers alike.
As Jackson, McMaster said Riley “likes to do a church service for the troops on Sundays.”
Committee members noted that many spectators wanted their picture taken with Riley when portraying Jackson.
Len McMaster summarized a list of ideas from attendees for new events for 2012 and beyond. The ideas were taken from responses in surveys distributed to festivalgoers. Among the desired events: an apple pie contest, a moon bounce, pony rides, an art show, horse shoes and a talent show. There was no confirmation on Thursday that any of these ideas would be a part of this year’s festival.
The survey also detailed the distances people traveled to get to Capon Bridge. Approximately 70 percent of those who attended the festival drove 30 miles or less — from places such as Baker, Romney or Winchester, Va. Nearly 15 percent of people drove from 31 to 40 miles away. The festival attracted visitors from Glouchester Point, Va., Blacksburg, Va. and Wilson, N.C.
One idea mentioned in the survey was to have a second shuttle bus transport people from the Capon Bridge Middle School parking lot to the festival, located on the grounds behind the Capon Bridge fire hall. Committee members generally agreed they could make that happen this year.
Along the same lines, another change is the possibility of having volunteers from the Deputy Reserve Program, under the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, assist with parking. Having someone in uniform could help calm tempers that sometimes flared, members said.
Peg McMaster said he has spoken with John Alkire, chief deputy for the sheriff’s office, about the idea. McMaster even suggested the festival could pay the group to encourage program members to help. But even that idea comes with a hitch.
“It’s not a simple matter of paying them,” McMaster said. “The money doesn’t go to them.”
Instead, the money goes to the program, and McMaster said Alkire noted, “ it’s not to get volunteers.”
The committee is looking for someone to coordinate the festival’s Business Expo. The volunteer position serves as the liaison between the festival and representatives of for-profit and nonprofit entities who want to place a booth on festival grounds. For more information, call McMaster at 304-856-1118 or visit www.cbfoundersdayfestival.com.
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