Skip Navigation

RFH 2010, Cover Stories, Editorials

Editorial: Two Events Deserve Encores

Wed, Oct 05, 2011

Chocolate event and Colgate/Community connection are worth repeating.

Editorial: Two Events Deserve Encores

In a short span of time, folks here in the Greater Hamilton Metroplex have had the opportunity to be part of two successful events, gatherings we hope will be on the calendar next year about this time.

The first was the Great Chocolate Train Festival, which celebrated a 1955 incident in which an Oswego & Western train went off the rails and spilled its cargo of chocolate bars and chocolate drink powder near Lebanon Street. The other was the first Gate-Town Connection Barbecue on Whitnall Field.

Both were great events; well organized and executed and the proof of their success were the crowds of smiling faces at each. And, both were resurrected from similar events in the past.

The Partnership for Community Development created the chocolate event. They blended some history, kids events, free food and some great music for a great day on the green. It was attached to the already successful Farmers' Market and included a lot of support by Colgate students.

Having top notch music in the person of Tom Chapin was one of the highlights of the event, and certainly something that helped attract people.

There was some grumbling about the number of commercial sponsors, but that is what it takes to stage something of this magnitude in the absence of private funding dedicated to the event.

The Gate-Town Connection was likewise enjoyable. This student-organized gathering on Whiitnall field had many of the same elements of the chocolate festival, but with added the dimension of bringing the college and to community closer. That was a recipe for another success.

Just as the chocolate festival brought folks from outside the area to see Hamilton, the party on Whitnall field brought more local residents to campus. Both of these are good for the village and the university.

Certainly, to bring these events back for another year will take dedication and dollars. We have to hope both will be there, because the two events truly enriched the community. The PCD and Colgate -- especially its student organizers -- deserve the thanks of the community for their work.

Please login to post your comments.