Organizers: Fishawack 'Did Very Well'

This year's Fishawack Festival was unquestionably a success, according to Festival President Chris Tomaino.

"It all depends on the weather to cooperate, to push it to the top," he said today. "The food is there. The people are there. The entertainment is there. As long as the weather cooperates, it makes it just a great day, and it did. And the number of people [who came] showed that."

This year's event featured more food and business vendors than ever before. Organizers had never put vendors along Railroad Plaza by Chatham Station but did so since there was no car show this year. According to Tomaino, the arrangement "worked out better than we thought it would."

The amount of vendors reached capacity before the event.

"There was no dead space," Tomaino said.

Starting this year, Fishawack will be an annual event. The borough hosted an awards ceremony honoring its volunteers, and Tomaino said he hopes such an event takes place at the festival every year.

The Fishawack Run, which kicks off the festival, was already an annual event.

Through sponsorships, vendor fees and children's activities, Fishawack raises money that is put toward a scholarship for a graduating senior and toward community organizations such as the Chatham Emergency Squad, the borough Fire Department, the Senior Center of the Chathams, the Chatham Community Band and the borough Police Benevolent Association.

This year, about $10,000 was raised throughout the festival.

"We did very well," Tomaino said. "I can't say it was the best year we've ever had, [but] because of our sponsorship, because of our generous sponsors, it makes every year even better."