An interview with TOM KANE

Editor's Note: Questions addressed to Burkle are italicized, while Burkle's responses are not.

This was the first time we had an event like this on Labor Day. We used to do this on July 4th. This event went very well. I worked with Tom Wood on this for three months. My expectations were a little high. The attendance was a little down. The weather hurt us. On Saturday the rain held off until later at night then it downpoured.

There was a book fair in the Beach Lake fire hall. There were a couple of steak bakes in the area. The problem is that I can't get any ride companies on any other day than Labor Day. The Montana Company from Dunmore, PA, who is the main provider of rides in the area and who came every year on July 4th, couldn't come any other time.

We made $491 from Montana. We get 20 percent from what they get. This isn't meant to be a fund-raiser. It's a chance to bring people into the community. It's the last hurrah of the summer season. When we had [the] July 4th [celebration,] it was a money-making situation. Those days are gone.

A number of years ago, there was a big fight down there and we had to call the Sheriff's Department. One person was arrested and one went to the hospital. Being in the insurance business, I was aware that I could get sued. I had a lot to lose. So, we didn't sign a contract with Montana for the following year on the last day of the celebration, as was customary if you wanted them to return. We hesitated until we could learn what the effects of the fight would be.

Yes, we tried several things in subsequent years. One year we had cow flop bingo and fireworks and we lost $3500 in 1997. Firemen didn't sell the tickets that well. We gave prizes that were too high, like a thousand and two thousand dollars. We lost a lot. Then we couldn't get Montana on the 4th to bring the rides. We lost them.

Yes, but for 20 minutes it cost $4,000. I have a real problem with that. If some local business people want to help us fund fireworks for next Labor Day, maybe we can do it. The businesses do well when we bring in a lot of people. It's not a moneymaker for the firemen. It's a moneymaker for the town and for business. But we can't keep losing $3,500 each year. And there are a lot more communities that hold July 4th celebrations, like Hancock and Liberty and [towns in] Pennsylvania.

I think so, and if we can get some help from the business community, we can make fireworks a regular attraction. Labor Day is always a Monday. It makes sense to have the celebration on that weekend.