ARLINGTON — A 30-year tradition of Arlington’s Fourth of July celebrations could be going away, unless someone steps up to take it over.
For years, the Arlington Heights Fire Department has conducted its annual breakfast at Haller Park, but assistant fire chief Branden Bates explained Feb. 22 that their firefighters decided to serve breakfast at their own fire station instead.
“We’ve been a part of the Fourth of July festivities for years, and it’s been a great time, but we wanted to focus on our own community,” Bates said.
“Travis Hots, our chief, is also the fire chief over at Getchell, and he’s seen their success in showing off their station, and letting kids see the fire trucks and ambulances, so that the community knows what they have to offer,” he added.
Bates noted that the firefighters’ breakfast would not take place July 4, but added that a new date has yet to be selected.
Dave Duskin, of the Rotary Club of Arlington, pointed out that the breakfast has served as an important part of Rotary’s ticket sales for the Great Stilly Duck Dash. As such, Rotary’s Board of Directors has supported acquiring equipment to continue the breakfast, if a nonprofit comes forward to put it on.
“So far, we have no commitment,” Duskin said. “If anyone knows of an organization or organizations that might be interested, please let us know.”
The Arlington Education Foundation is still exploring, but is not convinced it would have the manpower to do the event. The firefighters typically committed more than 20 people to the breakfast.
Duskin is even open to one or more commercial for-profit businesses, or a mix of for-profits and nonprofits, offering a “Taste of Arlington” breakfast, although that would need someone to organize it.
The breakfast served around 1,200 people last year.
Duskin reported that parts of the Arlington Heights’ equipment is for sale, including eight grills used to cook the breakfast.
“We have not made any sort of offer, though, since we don’t have a commitment from a group to run the breakfast,” Duskin said.
