What's next for the Havre de Grace Independence Day Celebration?

This Fourth of July weekend marked the last time Havre de Grace's longtime Independence Celebration Committee will organize the city's popular carnival, parade and fireworks, leaving who will lead next year's celebration a bit of an open question.City leaders and council members, however, praised the many volunteers of the annual event, during Tuesday night's council meeting, and Mayor Bill Martin said afterward he is confident the celebration will be back as usual next year.&quot;It will continue on,&quot; Martin reassured, noting the committee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group and new members are already stepping up. He pointed out his wife is interested in getting involved.&quot;We appreciate those who came before us,&quot; Martin said. Although logistics still have to be worked out, &quot;everything will be fine.&quot;Dennis Bolen, a committee member, told the council he has been involved with the Independence celebration since 1995 and &quot;it's been a pleasure to serve on the committee all these years.&quot;He also thanked the Susquehanna Hose Company and everyone on the dais, and said although &quot;this is it for me,&quot; the council will still see him around.He said he just got a note from someone interested in taking over and is happy to assist any new leaders.City Police Chief Teresa Walter, who recently pressed elected officials and the committee to help keep the event less rowdy after dark, said Tuesday everyone who helped with it – city public works, Susquehanna Hose Company, Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps, Harford County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority and its police, Aberdeen Police Department and Harford County's Department of Emergency Services – did &quot;a phenomenal job&quot; on this year's event.She thanked all the citizens who attended, noting many of them thanked police officers personally and told them to stay safe.Martin said during Tuesday's meeting the event benefited from beautiful weather and a beautiful parade.&quot;All the stars lined up,&quot; he said, adding: &quot;My hat goes off&quot; to the celebration committee.Councilwoman Monica Worrell said leaders like Carolyn Narvell and Charlie Mike will be replaced as &quot;generations come and go,&quot; and she knows &quot;new people will do great things.&quot;&quot;Those who are stepping up in their stead have big shoes to fill,&quot; she said, and Councilman Randy Craig added he is looking forward to the next Fourth of July celebration.Mike said Wednesday he believes the new organizers still have a lot to learn. He said they had wanted to shadow the committee as they prepared for this year's event, but did not end up doing that.&quot;No one's got an idea of everything that we do, whether it's Carolyn Narvell, Dennis Bolen or myself,&quot; Mike said.He said he wants to see the event, and Havre de Grace in general, thrive and the organizers promised to help the new leaders.&quot;I know the big question on everyone's mind is the carnival, and that's the big sticking point,&quot; Mike said, noting that although some have expressed concern about the carnival, it is a major fundraiser for the whole celebration.Scott Hurst, chief of Suquehanna Hose Company, said he offered to take over the fireworks duties on the new committee and was confident about the future of the event.&quot;There's a new committee out there and I think the show will go on. I think there will certainly be some adjustments,&quot; he said.Hurst agreed the carnival continues to be a sticking point, but thought the police chief should respond to any questions about the carnival. He hopes leaders keep adjusting the carnival to keep it as safe as possible, &quot;as generations change.&quot;&quot;Times are different nowadays, with the youth nowadays,&quot; Hurst said, echoing previous concerns about outsiders causing trouble. &quot;I strongly believe the issues that's caused over the years is not Havre de Grace residents.&quot;Hurst said he wanted to be on the committee because Susquehanna Hose is &quot;an integral part&quot; of the celebration.

What's next for the Havre de Grace Independence Day Celebration?

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