Palombo cited manpower, budget cuts; says businesses will lend support
PETERSBURG — It appears as if the Easter Bunny may be visiting Upper Township after all.
Committeeman Sam Palombo announced during a Township Committee meeting Feb. 24 that plans are in the works to hold the event April 6. No location was announced.
“Last meeting I had announced that Upper Township’s Easter egg hunt was going to be canceled due to budget cuts that the township has sustained. These events are incredibly important for our community as well, including young people, their parents and myself as the father of a 1-year-old. Events like this matter a lot to me,” Palombo said. “Luckily the past week I’ve had very positive conversations with small-business owners as potential sponsors for the event and it looks like we’re going to be able to have funding to continue that event.”
Palombo said he would continue to meet with potential event sponsors and that after the hunt is organized, he would move on to a possible Independence Day event.
Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen said he has been working with the Upper Township Division of EMS to try to put something together for Easter.
“Hopefully I’ll have something for you by either the next meeting or the meeting after that, but something that will piggyback Easter because I have a family too and it’s extremely important for our community to still have these wonderful events,” he said.
Palombo had announced Feb. 10 that the township had canceled its annual Easter egg hunt. Last year, the hunt was March 23 at Amanda’s Field off Route 50 in Petersburg.
Palombo said he and recreation director Larry Cole “had to make the difficult decision together to unfortunately get rid of the Easter egg hunt.”
He said financial and manpower issues led to the cancellation.
Palombo said he would love to see local businesses get involved so that they benefit from sales and exposure during such an event.
He also said hosting the event is taxing on the township’s workforce, noting members of the Parks and Recreation Department, Department of Public Works and Upper Township Division of EMS all take part.
“It’s a lot of resources,” he said.
In addition, the annual Upper Township 4th of July Celebration held at Amanda’s Field is in jeopardy. In the past, the event has featured live music, food trucks, craft vendors and interactive games, as well as fireworks to wrap up the festivities.
Palombo said they are having difficulty finding a vendor for the busy date and may instead hold a “summer bash” a week before or after the holiday, when fireworks would be cheaper and more readily available.
In response to a story reporting cancellation of the Easter egg hunt, Nappen called it “fake news” in a Facebook post.
“We are going to have one possibly two great Easter events for the township. Still finalizing the details,” the post stated. “We just aren’t having the exact same event as the last administration, which was a complete financial loser that about 100 people (maybe) came to. Ours will be more of a sponsored/fundraising type of event … candy, bunny, kid-friendly, etc.”
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
