Embrace the Changes to this Year's J4 Celebration

Social media has given people the power to voice their opinions on any subject they choose. Politics, restaurants, the car spotted making a turn without using its signal – nothing and nobody is immune to finding their way onto somebody’s Facebook page when the mood strikes to publicly call them out.

While we all have a right to voice an opinion, the growing trend is to attack before the facts, complaining about things that have no effect on our personal lives, or worse yet, complaining about something that hasn’t even happened yet.

The latest victim of this “cry before you are hurt” mentality is the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park’s famous weeklong “J4” celebration.

As the event draws nearer, rumors and judgment of this year’s event have been circulating on the internet, as people voice their displeasure with the lack of rides and carnival concessions.

There are several Facebook groups dedicated to Martinsburg and the Cove, and they can be wonderful places for people to share memories and keep up with their friends and family, some of whom may no longer live in the area.

Unfortunately, the honorable intentions of the groups’ creators can get set aside by a few who enjoy the negatives in life. As nice as these pages can be, they can also provide a platform for some people to put a rumor or negative opinion out there and simply sit behind their keyboard and watch it grow.

Comments on Facebook ranged from “There will not be a fair this year” to “I heard no money at the park” to pay for it. There are a few people already proclaiming it won’t be any fun, and some have already decided they are not going to attend. All over the rides.

Pump the brakes

Let’s pump the brakes here a minute. It’s true that after 50 years of providing rides to Morrisons Cove’s annual celebration, Bartlebaugh Amusements informed the park in December that it had taken a better offer and would be pulling out of this year’s event.

Bartlebaugh’s did offer to provide rides if the celebration was moved to the following week, but that suggestion was rightfully declined by the park’s board. After all, this is the Cove’s week to celebrate the Fourth of July and the board concluded that keeping the tradition of the week of the fourth was more important than having rides.

A lot things factored into the board’s decision not to move the celebration. With the exception of July 4 weekend, pavilion space at the park is booked throughout the summer and it would not be fair to force those who planned a private picnic to share their space with the carnival.

Many non-profit food vendors have been with the park for years, and moving the date could potentially exclude them from this year’s celebration. Most vendors plan their bookings many months in advance, and are most likely committed elsewhere the week of July 8.

The annual agriculture parade is always the Tuesday before the Fourth of July. A lot of people schedule their vacations around this event, and the entire July 4 week,

Park Executive Director Chuck Gojmerac told the Herald in February that moving the celebration to the following week would simply not feel right.

“We are aware that the July 4th celebration is a tradition here in the Cove,” Gojmerac said. “Too many community members treat this like a homecoming celebration for family and friends who have moved away. Our core commitment is to our community.”

The Herald had the facts

When Bartlebaugh’s pulled out, the park committee immediately got to work replanning this year’s celebration.

The Feb. 28 edition of the Herald notified the public of the forthcoming changes and the park board invited the public to its March 4 meeting to participate in this year’s planning. The meeting was scarcely attended but those who did show up gave helpful suggestions.

With little public input, the park management put together a “J4” week that will have a more local influence.

The return of the “Little Miss Morrisons Cove” pageant, a “Cove Idol” singing competition and local food vendors are just a few of the highlights this year. (See today’s Herald for complete schedule.)

Change happens

The absence of carnival rides should not dampen the enthusiasm for this year’s celebration.

To be fair, there are more people willing to accept the change than not. For every one negative comment, there are three willing to reserve judgement. But even one negative comment about an event that has not yet happened is unfair.

Embrace the change. If you have already decided that this year’s “J4” celebration will be a failure, then please let me know what tomorrow’s lottery numbers are, because the only way you can determine the fate of something that has yet to happen is by the ability to see into the future.

Will this year’s celebration be better? Possibly. Will it be worse? Maybe. But the only way you will know for sure is to attend with an open mind.

Given the exceptional work that Gojmerac and the board have done at the park, they deserve a chance to put this celebration on without being prejudged.