Sep. 19—CUMBERLAND — Last weekend’s Heritage Days included a mix of young couples, retired folks, out-of-towners and locals, city officials said of the event’s success.
At a work session Tuesday, Cumberland City Councilman Rock Cioni said he met people from states including California and Colorado at the festival.
Council members Laurie Marchini and Eugene Frazier gave Heritage Days glowing reviews.
“I thought it was fantastic this year,” Frazier said. “This is one of the best ones I’ve seen.”
Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss said some visitors at the event expressed interest in moving to the area.
“It was a fantastic Heritage Days,” he said.
During a public meeting that followed Tuesday’s work session, Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization President Ed Taylor said Heritage Days included “a lot of good” aspects.
However, he said leadership of the event should change.
The Allegany County Historical Society has organized Heritage Days since 2019.
On behalf of his organization, Taylor told the mayor and City Council that CHCO board member Peggy Keene, as well as representatives from other groups, should be appointed to a planning committee for Heritage Days.
“Every group … should have a seat at the table,” Taylor said.
Morriss said the historical society is a nonprofit that determines its own bylaws and formation of any committees.
On Wednesday, ACHS President Dave Williams said the organization roughly five years ago was asked to accept and match a state grant to oversee planning and function of Heritage Days.
That request came from the Western Maryland Heritage Association, which includes several local museums and other groups.
“ACHS was tasked with using the awarded funds to elevate the historic content presented on Washington Street and increase the number of attendees,” Williams said and added ACHS did so at the risk of its own funds.
Today, ACHS manages and directs Heritage Days and the Wills Creek Muster “with a small work group of experienced event professionals, accredited historians and key stakeholders around Prospect Square,” he said.
That effort resulted in an estimated 14,000 visitors, and “record sales” from some of the show’s 120 vendors this year, Williams said.
“Seeing is believing,” he said.
In other city business:Several folks participated in the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting.
Robert Parks said the large metal planters downtown shed rust and need to be coated. Additionally, “I would like to see the dog park taken care of,” he said. Morriss said the canine area “is on the list” for improvement.
Let’s Beautify Cumberland! co-chair Ed Mullaney asked for parking to be prohibited on the Cas Taylor Bridge to preserve the “beautiful” structure.
LBC! member Chris Myers said he supported Mullaney’s request.
Charlotte and Paul Lapp talked of their work with LBC! and praised the small group of volunteers for what they accomplish. “We enjoy everything we do,” Charlotte Lapp said.
City Council candidate Dana Tinnen said Cumberland should establish an annual $150,000 youth fund of which $70,000 would be used to hire a recruitment adviser. “We need to invest in our youth,” he said.
Margie Hartman talked of feces on the sidewalk downtown and asked if the city’s surveillance cameras are working. “Over $16 million dollars has been spent and there we are,” she said of the Baltimore Street renovation project. Morriss said non-emergency numbers for police or fire departments should be called to report such problems.
Max Green, president of the West Side Neighborhood Association and a candidate for the Allegany County Board of Education, talked of public safety issues, illegal drug activity on Patterson Avenue and traffic at Moose Curve. “We’re working on your issues,” Morriss said and suggested video camera doorbells might capture images of illegal activity to help police investigations.
Teresa McMinn is a reporter for the Cumberland Times-News. She can be reached at 304-639-2371 or tmcminn@times-news.com.
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