Rob Blood, principal owner and CEO of Lark Hotels, which includes the newly renovated Summercamp in Oak Bluffs, the former Wesley Hotel, has stepped up to help make the end of this summer season as spectacular as the past 40 by donating $15,000 to help with the cost of the fireworks show over Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs on Friday, August 19.
Mr. Blood has his own vivid childhood memories of the fireworks. “I first came to O.B. in sixth grade with a babysitter who had a house on the O.B. harbor. We happened to be here during the fireworks, and I can still close my eyes and put myself there,” he wrote in an email. “I haven’t been back to the fireworks since then, but hope to be here with my family this year … if there’s room at the hotel!”
The previous main sponsor, Black Entertainment Television, ended its major support last year at the conclusion of its three-year commitment. The Oak Bluffs Firemen’s Civic Association, organizers of the event, had to come up with more than $40,000 to fund this year’s pyrotechnic display. A social media campaign led by restaurateur J.B. Blau last summer brought in more than $11,000 from the community, but the civic organization was charged with raising the rest.
James Maseda, president of the OBFCA, said they are close to the halfway mark as far as funding is concerned. “This year we’re trying a mailing campaign. We sent out about 3,000 letters about two or three weeks ago, so we’ll see what that brings in,” Mr. Maseda said. And, he added, there is a silent auction at the Barn, Bowl and Bistro planned for this Sunday.
The OBFCA sells T shirts weekends in July and August to support the fireworks effort, and they ask local businesses for help during the busy summer season. Mr. Maseda said he’s grateful for the community support. “We have at least a three-year window, thanks to Summercamp stepping up,” Mr. Maseda said.