Posted by: Noel Jones
This Friday night, from 6-10pm, there will be a film festival featuring 8 filmmakers from Easton and Bethlehem, including West Ward neighbor and four-time Emmy Award winner Maciek Ulbrecht. Also featured in the festival will be Easton's Gershon Hinkson, who lives downtown, and is one of the organizers for the event. The festival will be at the old Simon Silk Mill in our
neighborhood, located on 13th Street and Bushkill Drive. The event will be in the courtyard, and the ground is a bit uneven, so be sure to dress warmly, and wear comfortable shoes!
In addition to the films, the event will also include art by area artists, a cash bar and samples of foods from Easton restaurants for $5 or less.
The Silk Mill is walking distance for many of us in the neighborhood, but if you prefer to drive, you can park for free at the Northampton County Government Center garage and parking lot at Union and Washington streets, and ride a shuttle to the site.
The event is 21 and over, and be sure to dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes.
Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance by calling 610-250-6610 or e-mailing Mayor Panto's assistant, Ronnie, at rkosa@easton-pa.gov. You can request up to four tickets. There should be enough tickets to go around, but if anyone has trouble getting tickets, or if anyone has extra tickets they are not using, please post a comment here so that we can help all our neighbors make sure they get in!
Posts
10 comments:
Very exciting! Will there be media covering the event? It would be helpful to get this broadcast within and beyond the Lehigh Valley.
Tickets are already sold out. Anyone have spares?
Asked for tickets weeks ago. The city rep told me ticket were available and would be sent to me. Still haven't received them. The ticket process seemed unnecessarily burdensome. Had to send the city our names, address, phone numbers and email. Seems onorous. And inefficient. Why couldn't we just get them at the door? The way that have it set up now, if there are no shows, those who are interested won't be able to get in. Duh.
I was informed that we have to pick up our tickets from Ronnie at the Alpha Building.
I had no problem with getting my tickets and understand that since only 800 were allowed on the site i was glad I put my request in immediately. I had no problems getting 4 tixs and we are looking forward to the event.
I drove by there tonight on my way home and they have the buildings lit. It really looks neat.
I also know that there are so no shows amd you can get your name on a waiting list. If you want to go I would call in the morning and who knows, with the potyential for a chilly night some poeple may turn their tickets in or call and say they aren't going.
I requested tickets on September 21st -- 19 days ago. Pretty early and told they were still available. I don't recall learning that the tickets were to be picked up at City Hall. Perhaps that fact could have been better publicized or communicated through email from the Mayor's office. As for picking up tickets at the Alpha building -- that works for people who are around during the day. I work in NJ from 8 am till 7pm. Again, what's wrong with tickets at the door? Or to be picked up at local establishments? My guess is that the Mayor's office wanted to control it so that they could build a mailing list. They asked for just about everything vital but our social security numbers. What's next -- picture ids?
as a member of the committee I can tell you the answer. Due to the fact that alcoholic beverages are being served, the LCB placed considerable restrictions on the one-day special event license including that no one, that's right no one, under the age of 21 may be allowed in the event so we needed to make sure that thie restriction was followed. Other restrictions included not being allowed more than one entry point plus making us scan every person's license when they come in. And yes, a list is being generated so that people who attended this year will be advised of next year's event.
Looks like the rain is holding off and it should be a great event. Our committee worked very hard in the last 6 weeks to pout it together. Thanks to all who helped.
I hope everyone had a great time tonight!! I know I did!!
During Mayor Panto's address, he spoke about the Urban Land Institute tour of Downtown Easton and the West Ward! It sounded like it was a great success!
Anon 4:51--
What does carding people have to do with demanding that residents come to the mayor's office to get tickets instead of getting them at the event?
If they have to show I.D. at the door, the issue is of 21 and over is taken care of. No one has answered why people were made to go to City Hall, as if the mayor's office were a box office. The City has more important things to do with administrative hours, so why create the additional inconvenience for residents who wanted to attend? And why ask for addresses without explaining that the tickets will not be sent, but that the resident has to come get them, despite giving his/her address?
I don't mean to split hairs here, but I am losing patience with apologists for the City, and the City itself, offering nothing but obfuscation in the way of "answers" to legitimate questions from residents.
For another good example of this, check LeFemme's post on R&R blocking resident driveways with their truck. Two members of the City give completely nonsensical non-answers in an attempt to look like they are responding to resident concerns when they are not answering the question at all.
Although not as vociferous as some of the commenters I do agree that the ticket procurement process was unnecessarily burdensome and that the LCB issues are irrelevent.
Here is what happened to me:
Ordered tickets from mayor's office via email, as instructed by an email prompt from them...I guess being on the Planning Commission qualified me for special treatment.
Picked tickets up in person, was asked name but provided no ID.
Walked from my home to the event, passed three volunteer security people before entering gates, entered event and showed ticket. Ticket was not collected and I was never asked for photo ID either at any point along the entry route or by the alchoholic beverage sellers inside.
Seems like the whole LCB thing was simply "following the rules", wink-wink, without actually following them.
If they wanted to build a data base they should have just said so and let people decide if they wanted to participate or not. I kind of felt like we were involved in some official state secret by having tickets to what should have been an open process.
DRL
Post a Comment