The show will go on.
Alison L. Mead

New Sponsor Ignites Oak Bluffs Fireworks

<p>The fate of the iconic annual August fireworks show in Oak Bluffs is no longer in jeopardy: Summercamp, formerly the Wesley Hotel, has made a three-year financial commitment to the event.</p>

The show must go on — and it will. The fate of the iconic annual August fireworks show hosted by the Oak Bluffs Firemen’s Civic Association is no longer in jeopardy. Summercamp, formerly the Wesley Hotel, has made a three-year financial commitment to the event.

The fireworks display over Ocean Park features spectacular pyrotechnics and raises money to help injured firefighters and EMTs, but it has also faced financial trouble more than once.

Costing about $40,000 to $50,000 each year, the show hit a financial bump in 2012 when the association was unable to support the display alone and nearly cancelled the event. Black Entertainment Television (BET) stepped in with a sizable donation, which they continued for three years. Last year was the final year of BET’s contribution, and the fate of the spectacle was once again in flux.

A little over a month ago, Summercamp offered to fill the funding gap, with a donation comparable to BET’s. President of the Oak Bluffs Fireman’s Civic Association James Maseda said the donation covers about a quarter or third of the cost.

Rob Blood, founder, CEO and principal of Lark Hotels which bought the Wesley Hotel in May of last year and transformed it into Summercamp, said the decision to contribute came down to the show being such an important event for the community.

“Being new to the community and finding there was an opportunity to be involved, for us it makes sense,” he said. Mr. Blood said seeing the fireworks when he was in sixth grade is one of his iconic childhood memories from that time.

“I can’t imagine after 40 years the fireworks not happening,” he said.

Mr. Maseda said they had put in the deposits for the August 19 show in January, intent on going ahead this year whether they had a sponsor or not.

“We felt pretty confident and then when [Summercamp] came through it locked it in,” he said. “We’ve been very fortunate and the community has been a great help.”

Oak Bluffs fire chief John Rose agreed.

“I just think it’s really amazing that they stepped up to help out the association and fireworks in our time of need,” he said.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/12/2016 - 21:57

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BS OB

Glad to see that Lark is stepping up to the plate after insulting the history of the town changing the name of the historic Wesley to such a lame name. Maybe now if they truly want to be a part of OB they will come around and respect our history and respect the last of the what was one of five grand hotels in OB.

SAW New York

Lame name vs. No fireworks? Just doesn't seem to be an issue to me.I respect the new owners rights to change the name! It's different (Summercamp) but times change. Get over it.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/12/2016 - 22:41

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Cathy Gallagher Oak Bluffs

Thank You !

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 05/12/2016 - 22:47

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Deborah Contreras Gould OB and CR

Hey, SummerCamp people - thanks for appreciating how valuable the fireworks event is to Vineyarders and visitors, alike. Nicely done and thank you!!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 05/13/2016 - 01:00

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John Wesley cottage city

Well done. Does that have anything at all with you not having to add a sprinkler system into a 150 year old building that has balloon framing (look it up) after spending millions on renevations? Meanwhile we still wait to get coffee at moca Motts because the same building inspector wants them to upgrade to 2016 standards? I'm sure the gazette won't print this but it would be great to know. #shameonOB

gina Menemsha/nyc

A disturbing comment .. but why would a successful hotel organization invest so many dollars in a less than up to Mass 2016 code of fire safety?? How could the structure qualify for Insurance??

MikeD WT

That's odd
Really?
Not sprinklered?
150 year old wood framed building, doing a substantial reno not having to bring it up to code
How did that happen
It's a life safety issue
Was it some way grandfathered?
Hmm

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 05/17/2016 - 19:14

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

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MikeD WT

I should have started with a thank you Lark for stepping up to help an Island institution go on.
Many fond memories of the OB fireworks as a young child

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 05/18/2016 - 13:30

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Dirty Beag LA

Thanks to Rob Blood. These are the highlight of summer for many and what a nice way to give back to OB and the island.

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