I live in two tourist towns…so I understand the trade-offs. In return for delightful restaurants and shops, we share our town with guests. It means that we have to remove refuse from our yards after every weekend, keep the sidewalks clean, tolerate noise and traffic, pay higher taxes, and maintain our homes. But it is an unspoken covenant that we are willing to enter.
However, the St. Michaels Running Festival is not a shared event. As you can see from the brochure that we received two days prior to the event, it is a takeover and St. Michaels residents and the neighboring communities are merely an annoyance to be tolerated.
St Michaels Running Festival Brochure:
THE RACE IS COMING TO TOWN. Saturday May 14th 7AM to 12PM. Route 33 will be closed from 7 AM to 8AM…EXPECT PERIODIC DELAYS AND MINOR STOPS UNTIL 10:00 AM. Heavy foot traffic will occur (in most of St. Michaels and the surrounding area)…Please reduce your speed and watch for runners if you MUST travel during the event. We appreciate your support and patience as we welcome 2,000 runners and their families to our community.
As the brochure makes clear, this is an invasion. Allow me to paraphrase what really happens:
(Recommended) St. Michaels Running Festival Brochure:
The St Michaels Running Festival is coming to town. We are a for-profit business (that can be sold as any business); that generates substantial revenue from taking advantage of the facilities that you pay for. Please stay out of our way.
Response A: We don’t care.
- We will inconvenience thousands by shutting down the only road to the west. See Response A.
- We do not ask for your permission or appreciate your sacrifices. We are aware that we are taking advantage of your facilities paid for by your tax dollars to make our own profit. Please refer to Response A.
- We know that traffic and closures last long past 10 AM. See Response A.
- We know that a small town like St. Michaels cannot accommodate 2,000 racers and their families. Please refer to Response A.
- We prefer that you remain in your homes, so you will not be a burden to our event. Your little errands are of no concern to us. Please refer to Response A.
- If you thoughtlessly choose to venture out, understand that many of you will not be able to park next to your homes, or even get to them. Please refer to Response A.
- Do not use the nature trail, your sidewalks, or your streets for your trivial needs or to go the market. Do not ride your bike. Please see Response A.
- If you selfishly choose to use your town for your little lives, expect to be harassed by our employees. After all, you are an unwelcome nuisance. See Response A.
- We realize that we are taking over the nature trail that is heavily used by residents to enjoy nature and to walk their dogs. Get over it, it is only one morning. Consider boarding your dog or getting rid of the dog, which will solve future problems. See Response A.
- We know that we could offer this race on rural roads that are close to St. Michaels which would allow the merchants to get their revenues at less inconvenience to the thousands of impacted residents. Please see Response A.
- We could also pick an earlier time that is less inconvenient. But please see Response A.
- When we leave, please pick up the refuse in your yard…a dirty town is, well, a downer.
- And St. Michaels residents, continue to maintain your homes and sidewalks, because we will be back next year. You have no choice in the matter. See Response A.
An alternative viewpoint would be to appreciate the generosity and sacrifice of the community rather than treating them as a problem that must be contained. For example:
ALTERNATIVE St. Michaels Running Festival Brochure:
The St. Michaels Running Festival will occur on _________. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the generous residents of St. Michaels and the surrounding community. We realize that this is an imposition and would like to help you as much as possible. Please stop by the race start after 8 a.m.; we have a T-shirt for you (or gift card or tchotchke) to thank you for opening your town to us. We have posted a map of our route on our website (www.Iactuallycare) that shows where and when you can expect the heaviest foot traffic. Feel free to reach out to our race coordinators, they are there to make this as easy as we can for you. Thank you again for opening up your delightful community to us.
Or, see Response A.
Angela Rieck, a Caroline County native, received her PhD in Mathematical Psychology from the University of Maryland and worked as a scientist at Bell Labs, and other high-tech companies in New Jersey before retiring as a corporate executive. Angela and her dogs divide their time between St Michaels and Key West Florida. Her daughter lives and works in New York City.
Chip Heartfield says
This seems like a lot of misplaced upset. First, the Festival partners with a number of local groups, including the Maritime Museum. Second, they promote five local charities. This info is easy to find on their website. As for traffic and road closures, this is for one morning and the traffic by noon is no worse than it is on a lot of weekends when the Maritime Museum or other groups are having events. As in past years, we had several friends come for the weekend to run. They stayed in a local B&B and ate at local restaurants – if that is an invasion, I am quite sure our business owners want more. I do not see any material difference between this event and the many others, such as Sea Glass, Beer Festival and so on that are held in and supported by the community. P.S. I am not a runner, just a supporter of the local businesses that make this such a nice place for people like Ms. Rieck and me to live.
Robert says
You talk the talk. They could run other routes that DOESN’T INCLUDE SHUTDOWN ROUTE 33. Business are infected. But you are worried about the money
Angela Rieck says
To me, the difference with the other festivals is that we are allowed to participate and enjoy the events. As you can see from the brochure, their goal is to keep us sequestered until the event is over…that is the crucial difference.
Chip Heartfield says
Not sure what you mean: anyone can enter, the Maritime Museum and other local groups are sponsors, local folks volunteer, local businesses owned/operated by local citizens benefit, other events temporarily shut down St. Michaels Road for parades, etc. The reality is you are no more “sequestered” than in any other case where there are temporary road closures and anyone including you can participate and enjoy.
Steve Shimko says
Race organizers are more than willing to have your participation. Just pay the entry fee. No different than events such as the chocolate festival, which, by the way, sold out of tickets so if you were one of those who wanted to go but did not have a ticket, you were excluded. Same goes for the wine festival. And the beer festival. And the various events at the CBMM.
Dennis Boltz says
Can’t the town simply refuse to grant access to this organization for their event? I’m sure any revenue the town would lose is a “drop in the bucket” compared to the revenue generated by other more favorable events held during the year. I think it should be decided by a vote by the citizenry.
Angela Rieck says
I have to admit that I am ignorant about how this comes about…but I agree. Perhaps the citizenry is fine with being put out for a couple of hours…we are a generous group of people. My dismay is directed at the inconvenience and the tone of the brochure.
Dennis Bought says
Elected town and county officials obviously approved hosting this event therefore evidently they have no more concern about the inconveniences than the racing festival organization. Obviously not concerned about their constituents feelings and well-being.
Angela Rieck says
I have to admit that I am ignorant about how this comes about…but I agree. Perhaps the citizenry is fine with being put out for a couple of hours…we are a generous group of people. My dismay is directed at the inconvenience and the tone of the brochure.
Christopher Rigaux says
This is hilarious. Well written, Angela. Good luck on getting a rsponse.
Angela Rieck says
I am glad that you got a chuckle from this…if we don’t laugh, then, well….
William Poe says
AMEN
Angela Rieck says
Thank you
Rev Julia Hart says
We moved here permanently in 2012, after inheriting my Mother’s house in 2011. My husband Jeff has volunteered as a Monitor every year that the Race has been run. He loves seeing neighbors and friends. This year our new next door neighbor ran.
I remember early on before it was bought by the current concern, we were told the following at a pre-race celebration for workers. These running events in Talbot and Dorchester bring in approximately 10 million dollars to our region. I was surprised. And yes, money does go to charities, and the events are an economic joy to all the businesses. In other words everyone wins.
Peace,
Gerald Newell says
When you chose to live in St. Michaels, you agreed to participate in and support the many public events that take place every year. You certainly have the option of visiting your other home in Florida whenever an event that you don’t “like” is being held. Being part of a community has certain obligations that come with residence. 1/2 a day of inconvenience to you is a small price to pay for the joy you claim for living in St. Michaels. Whether you acknowledge it or not this event does benefit the town, though it may not benefit you personally. Retirees in St. Michaels seem to want to control all of the everyday occurrences in town, to their personal pleasure. Please be gracious and accept the minor inconveniences that you must “endure” as a citizen. Also, if you need to go somewhere during the event, consider going before or after the event is held. I am happy for you that you only have something this trivial and mundane, as this event, to worry about.
DANNA MURPHY MURDEN says
The business people make very little off of the runners. Yes they do donate to organizations in town but it is a drop in the bucket to the amount of money that these private people make to inconvenience the rest of us. (I know what some of the churches have received) Yes the road is closed for a parade but no one is privately making money off of parades. And yes I am tired of picking up the trash out of my yard not to mention being yelled at to slow down when not going fast. ( just because someone has the power play for the day ) Oh and my neighborhood they run till 10:00. I tried many years ago talking to the owners to see what percentage they donated to organizations. You can guess where that got me. But my bigger gripe than this is The Bay Bridge Walk was free to all once a year. Families had babies in strollers it was a grand affair but guess who got involved. And now it cost a lot of money to run across the Bridge and that wonderful family event is gone. Oh they do donate a lot of money but a whole lot more goes into Private Pockets. I am with you A all the way!