Don’t trash local businesses

Commonwealth Journal

May 16, 2008 05:43 am

— Dear Editor:
It seems the crowds lining U.S. 27 each month for Somernites Cruise continue to grow each year.
This continues to be a double benefit for our community as visitors bring money to leave with our businesses and local residents get an evening of free entertainment.
But the spectators may be “killing the goose that laid the golden egg,” by trashing the businesses and highways that are so necessary in bringing this event to the community each month.
Imagine you operate a business along a portion of the cruise route. On Saturday night, hundreds of community members invade your parking lot and sit for hours, watching the stream of classic and custom vehicles as they cruise the strip. When all is over and everyone has gone home, the business operator sometimes face a mountain of trash left on the parking lot, costing them time and money.
To add insult to injury, many of these business operators have sponsored the cruise, making it possible to even host the event.
As time goes on, we’re going to find business operators losing their patience with the general public. They may begin to block their lots from Cruise spectators, discontinue their sponsorships and form a negative opinion of the Cruise activities. At some point in the future, our community may be looking back, saying: “I wonder why they don’t have the Cruise anymore?”
We would ask spectators to remember they are guests when they line these streets and everything they do can have an effect on the future of the event.
Don’t damage property and/or lawns. Most importantly, pick up your trash and take it with you.

Sincerely,
Randy Calhoun
President
Somernites Cruise Inc.