MUMFEST... a Swiss Bear/City Partnership

Keith Jernigan, Craven County Health Dept.,
Jeremy Blalock, NBFD,
Mark Stephens, Public Works Director,
 Police Chief Touissant Summers

Jeremy Blalock, NBFD, Lt. Ronnie Lovick, NBPD,
 Mark Stephens, Public Works Director, Police Chief Summers,
Joe Bailey, Security, Danielle Glynn, Swiss Bear,
Bud VanSlyke, Chairman, Boat Show/Outdoor Life

Bud VanSlyke, Chair, Boat Show/Outdoor Life,
Debra Yarbrough, Craven County Health Dept.,
Dalton Gaskins, City Water Treatment Plant,
Danielle Glynn, Swiss Bear, Joe Bailey, Security

As October 13 – 14 draws closer and closer, our days at the office become longer and more hectic, assigning spaces, marking spaces on the streets, inventorying signs, ordering new ones, preparing 300+ vendor packets filled with set-up information, the continual ringing of phones…an endless list! However, it is worth the wear and tear as it insures a well-organized event that vendors appreciate and the festival-goers love.

What also insures a well-organized and well-run event is our partnership with the City, our elected officials and administration. Many of the departments have a role that is critical to MUMFEST. Electric, under Jon Rynne installs the temporary power panels to provide power to the vendors; the Police, under Chief Summers, oversees safety and security; Thurman Hardison’s Parks & Recreation staff provide manpower for delivering and setting up bleachers, trash pick-up through-out the weekend, getting the parks and planting areas in order; Water Resources, under Jordan Hughes' direction, provides water hook-up connections important to food vendors.  Mark Stephens, Director of Public Works, is responsible for overseeing all the rest…everything from hanging street banners, directing vendors to their spaces, putting up signage, barricades, stages, hauling trash, disposing of the vendor’s gray water each day, sweeping the streets. The list is long and the work load is immense.

Additionally, the Health Department inspects every food vendor before they can set-up and Fire Department staff inspect each food vendor’s set-up to insure they are following fire regulations and have fire extinguishers on site.

My objective in pointing this out is not to exhaust readers, but to provide a glimmer on how important this partnership is and the team work it takes to produce MUMFEST.  The public’s safety and enjoyment is paramount and the success of MUMFEST is directly related to the relationship MUMFEST and Swiss Bear has built over the past 32 years with the City, its various departments and its personnel.

When you see City employees working festival weekend, please take a moment  to stop and say thank you. Your safety and enjoyment is in their good hands.

Tell us what you think.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Swiss Bear extends a Warm Welcome to Jeff Ruggieri

Yesterday, I and a number of Swiss Bear Board members had the pleasure of meeting Jeffrey Ruggieri, the new Director of Development Services for the City.

Jeff moved his wife and children to New Bern from the Northport area on the Gulf side of Florida. Originally from New Hampshire, he received his under graduate degree from the University of Rhode Island and his Masters in City Planning from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Under City Manager, Mike Epperson’s leadership, the current Planning Department is being reorganized to encourage redevelopment opportunities in our City. As most are aware, New Bern was seen by many as a City unfriendly to new business opportunities. Under the previous structure, planning has been primarily a regulatory function, i.e., “here are the rules and regulations your project/development/business must meet” versus “how can we work together to make the project work for the best interest of both the City and project owner”.

Jeff is now the department head and Planning and Inspections will work under his direction. The reorganization will be complete when Jeff hires an Economic Development Manager.

We applaud the City’s decision to reorganize that department to have a more proactive focus on community and economic development that will compliment the work of the Craven County Economic Development Commission.

Jeff, we wish you great success in your new position and look forward to working with you.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director