Published: 10/04/2007 Cousins tapped to head Homecoming next year By Stephen Tait Staff Writer
NEWBURYPORT - Frank Cousins, the Essex County sheriff and a Bromfield Street resident, will lead the 51st annual Yankee Homecoming celebration in 2008, officials announced yesterday.
The decision spikes rumors that this year's 50th anniversary would be the event's last. In fact, Dennis Palazzo, the chairman of the event's board of directors, said, no major changes are in store for next year. "The consensus is we want to keep it going," Palazzo said. "We think it is a shot in the arm for the business community, and we feel it is well received by the residents of not only Newburyport but surrounding communities as well. "There are some changes that need to be made," he said. "But nothing drastic right off the bat. But there are some things we would like to revamp. We really haven't discussed anything right now, but in the future we would like to tweak some of the events." Yankee Homecoming attracts thousands to the city each year and is the cornerstone of Newburyport's extensive summer celebrations. Of the original 30 communities that started celebrating Yankee Homecoming events 50 years ago, Newburyport is the only one to continue. But in recent years, the event has started show the strains of old age. Some in the city say its time has passed, that 10 days of celebration is too long, and that it creates traffic problems in town. And many of the people who support the event every year are growing older and are not as active in public life. Volunteerism is always a problem and is growing worse each year, Palazzo said. Palazzo said he thinks Cousins will help to turn the volunteer problem around. "We're excited about it," Palazzo said. "Frank is very dynamic and has a charismatic personality and he brings a lot to the table. He has a way about him to get people to work for him. And in this day of age with dwindling volunteerism, that is important. If it weren't for the volunteers, Yankee Homecoming wouldn't happen." The homecoming board voted unanimously Tuesday night to make Cousins the chairman of the event. The chairman is charged with organizing the event, helping to raise money and attracting volunteers to help with the event. Cousins has a long history with Yankee Homecoming. In the 1980s, when local resident Richie Eaton served as the event's chairman, Cousins was the chairman of the parade, one of the most popular events.
"That was the year it rained the whole time," Cousins said with a laugh. The sheriff said he also enjoys attending the fireworks, watching the parade and often participates in the annual 5k road race. (In 2006, Cousins ran the race in 32 minutes, 28 seconds. But this year, the sheriff shaved off about four minutes, completing the race in 28 minutes, 31 seconds.) "I think it is a good way to showcase the good things that happen in Newburyport. And there is something there for everyone," he said. "It is a honor for me to be asked." Palazzo did say that when an event reaches its 50th year, "there are some things that no longer work." He said there are ideas to change some programming, like making Old Fashion Sunday a larger event that serves as a grand opening and making the parade "less commercial" and "more like a hometown thing." But he emphasized that nothing is "etched in stone" and that no changes will be major. "The rumor that we are going away and we are ending it is definitely not true," he said, adding that the wish of George Cashman - the original chairman who died before this year's 50th anniversary celebration - was that homecoming never end. "We don't want to end it, in George's memory if nothing else," Palazzo said. Palazzo said Cousins and the board will meet in coming weeks to get started on what ideas everyone has for the next event. Cousins said he already had a few phone calls yesterday from volunteers, just hours after being informed he was the new chairman. "Here we are 10 months out from a festival and it is already off and running," Palazzo said.
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