Harrisburg’s media circle was in full flutter this morning after Mayor Linda Thompson’s office sent out an e-mail scheduling a “4th of July Kipona Press Conference” for 11 a.m.
Kipona — on July 4? For the usual press gaggle, this is the stuff that passes for big news. Was Thompson changing the city’s annual “Celebration of Sparkling Water” from Labor Day to Independence Day?
As it turned out, it was all just an error, which most of us assumed (we had plenty of time to share our thoughts as the presser began the usual half-hour late). Thompson was befuddled by the question until one reporter explained that her own press advisory said this.
But she sloughed it off and moved on to the business at hand: the annual INDEPENDENCE DAY celebration/carnival/sweatbox in Riverfront Park from July 4 to 7. This year, for four days, Harrisburg gets to hear local music, watch fireworks, eat chicken on a stick and get detoured around Front Street. Cost to the city: $96,000.
“It’s all in the budget,” Thompson said.
She then added there’d be a $5 charge this year. But, wait no, that’s wrong. Check notes, reverse course. The festival is free — free — except for the Wine Village, she said.
Wine Village?
In a new twist, the Hershey-Harrisburg Wine Country will set up a separate area where participating wineries will offer their quaffs, she said. That’s what will cost 5 clams, plus ID.
“You won’t get in without ID,” she stated several times.
Question time was next, and a reporter immediately asked her to confirm a rumor that her close aide, Brenda Alton, the Parks and Rec director, who was standing next to her, was planning a run for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor.
“This is not the place to discuss politics,” she said, quickly cutting off abc27 reporter Dave Marcheskie.
The press conference ended with one reporter asking what the official title of the Independence Day event would be. This question recalled another media dust-up from a couple years back when Thompson, for her first July 4 as mayor, changed the event’s name from “American MusicFest” to the “Harrisburg Jazz and Multicultural Festival, hosted by Mayor Linda D. Thompson.”
“It’s just July 4th,” she said. “You can call it whatever you want.”
After almost four years, and on her way out as mayor, Thompson clearly is not going to abide the gaggle any longer.
