7/18/2012 - South Side Leader
     

SPRINGFIELD — An estimated 10,000 visitors attended the Springfield/Lakemore Rock the Docks Festival July 6-9, thanks to the efforts of township employees, volunteers and local businesses, according to Springfield trustees.

Trustees identified some of those volunteers and recognized and thanked them for their efforts at the July 12 board meeting.

“There were quite a few residents, employees and businesses who contributed to the success of Rock the Docks,” said Trustee Dean Young.

Young thanked merchants of Gala Commons for allowing residents to park at the plaza, FirstStudent School Bus Transportation services for providing free bus shuttle services for visitors to the event, Wayside Furniture for donating $2,500 toward the fireworks show Saturday night and FirstEnergy for pledging $500 in support.

He added many other local businesses made donations in support of the event. In addition, the Volunteer Auxiliary Springfield Police (VASP) and Road Department employees also helped to ensure the event ran smoothly.

Township officials describe VASP as a team of trained residents who help police with nonenforcement duties such as traffic control and senior checks, freeing police to work on more serious incidents. The group was formed in 2008 and currently has 16 active volunteers, according to Linda Denton, VASP coordinator.

Denton reported to trustees the organization logged 323 hours during the three-day Rock the Docks event. She said VASP members were stationed at the east and west end of Canfield Road, where the event took place, performed duties such as car and lake patrol, ran the dunk tank, offered pontoon boat rides and ran a 50/50 raffle.

“They are the eyes and ears of the police department and they did a great job,” said Young.

“We could not have put this on without VASP,” added Trustee Bruce Killian.

Trustee Deborah Davis also commended the Road Department for keeping the park clean. Employees filled one large receptacle with trash from the event Saturday evening.

“They did a fine job,” she said.

In other business, trustees approved the $17,447 purchase of equipment and its installation from Fallsway Equipment Co. for two police vehicles.

The next Springfield trustees’ meeting, originally set for July 26, has been canceled due to the summer schedule. Trustees instead will meet Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall, located at 2459 Canfield Road.

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