Who's Paying for Rye's 350th Anniversary?

Birthday parties can be costly, especially in a recession, but that hasn't stopped the Town of Rye from throwing a slew of 350th anniversary events that will be mostly paid for by taxpayers.

While town officials said they haven't received any complaints yet, they said many residents are embracing the historic milestone as an occasion worth celebrating, even if it costs about $50,000.

"I haven't heard comments from any taxpayers whatsoever," said Dave Thomas, the Town of Rye's coordinator for the 350th anniversary celebrations. "The events aren't really that expensive and they're not that lavish."

All this year, Rye will celebrate the anniversary of its founding in 1660. The Rye 350 committee, a group of residents and local officials who helped organize the events, threw a kick-off gala in March. Other events include the Rye Historical Society Gala on May 8, an annual fundraiser that the organization pays for out of its operating budget; Port Chester Fest on May 22, which features live bands, performance and international food; Colonial Day at Rye Town Park on June 26; Rye Brook Day, a celebration of the village's 28th birthday; and Summer Fest 350, which will take place at Rye Recreation Park on September 5.

Thomas said much of the $50,000 cost will go toward paying performers for various events, providing food and drinks and creating promotional items, such as bumper stickers, blankets and buttons. The town is also publishing historical pamphlets, filled with information on Rye and its various community, civic and government organizations, Thomas said.

City of Rye Mayor Doug French said the city is not paying much to participate in the anniversary, because private organizations like the Rye Historical Society have partnered with the Town of Rye to throw several events, such as the Colonial Day at Rye Town Park.

"The city may have some expenses in conjunction with Rye Town [Park] but those should be minimal," French said. 

Sheri Jordan, executive director of the Rye Historical Society, said her organization is grateful that the Town of Rye has been willing to collaborate with them and provide a venue for showcasing an important part of history through the re-enactment on Colonial Day.

"It seems to me very important to celebrate our colonial heritage and remind everybody of what we fought for," Jordan said. "If you can do it in an engaging way by having people showing you what it was like to live back then, I think it tends to have more of an impact. It's better than just a dry lecture."

The Rye Historical Society is also sponsoring a time capsule project. The capsule will be buried for 50 years. The organization is asking for submissions from various organizations and people within Rye. Jordan said the time capsule, which will cost close to $4,500, will pay for itself because participants have to pay to contribute an item to the project.

Other entities taking part in Rye's 350th anniversary have also looked for ways to offset costs.

Rye Brook Mayor Joan Feinstein said the village considered not throwing its 28th birthday party at Crawford Park because of the fiscal constraints that many local governments are currently facing.

The party, which typically has about 1,000 attendees and features games and food, will cost $15,000-$20,000, though the net increase to the village's budget is only $5,000, according to Rye Brook Village Administrator Chris Bradbury.

Feinstein said residents were upset about the village's initial decision not to throw the birthday party.

"The one [budget] item that the trustees and myself got a lot of reaction on was the birthday," she said. "I myself am very big on tradition."

Feinstein said in the past the village hasn't charged for food at its birthday celebration, but with the economic challenges it faces, it is considering charging $3 a person.

"Trying to being fiscally responsible, we are going to do things that we've never done before," she said.

Bradbury said Rye Brook will try to solicit donations from corporate sponsors, though he admits that will be difficult considering the village has lost corporate sponsors for its birthday party in recent years because of the economic downturn.  The village may not charge for food if it gets enough corporate backing, he said.

Thomas said the Town of Rye  is considering charging admission for the clam bake it will hold the night before Colonial Day. He said the town has not solicited any donations and does not have a formal process for doing so, although it will gladly receive help from any person or sponsor who is kind enough to donate. 

"We haven't solicited, but we'd love to have some [donations]. With these economic times, if people want to donate, then we welcome that," he said.

Feinstein said $50,000 is a lot for the town to spend, but that tradition is important to many residents, even if they aren't fully aware of the costs.

"I don't think taxpayers know what is being spent on the event," Feinstein said. " I personally think it's a lot of money."

 "I'm tortured over $5,000 in our budget," she added.

Still, Thomas and others involved in the anniversary celebration said 350 years is worth commemorating.

"What sets Rye apart is the tradition and history we have, and events like these bring our community together," Rye Mayor Doug French said. "People like to share the stories and experiences of the generations that came before them -- that is what ties our generations together."

"We want to be able to share the town's history with the people that live here," Thomas said. "I mean, we could just put out a notice in the paper, but that wouldn't be really good."

Thomas said the celebration will help unite different parts of Rye Town, which includes the villages of Rye Brook and Port Chester and part of Mamaroneck.

"The town is 7 square miles, but it's like four different countries," he said. "I think you have to look at it in the context of community and if it helps bring different parts of the community together, then it's worth it."

More simply, Thomas said, the recession shouldn't stop people from celebrating.

"There have been times that I've been out of work, he said. "But I never forget to celebrate my birthday."