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Some human acts just don’t make any sense.
On Tuesday afternoon, I received a call from an upset member of the community concerning the Cinema in the Park event. No, they weren’t upset with the actual event; they were upset because someone decided to steal the screen used by Steve York to show the movies free of charge to the public. According to this person, this is not the first time the screen had been stolen.
What a shame!
According to organizers, more than 500 people attended Friday night’s viewing of “Hotel for Dogs” at Big Spring Park. People from all over the region, not just Neosho, came down to the park to view the family feature under the stars.
The Cinema in the Park, the brainchild of York and Lori Mills, has become a successful Neosho event and tradition. This year, behind the successful movie choices such as family-friendly fare “Bolt” and “Hotel for Dogs,” hundreds of folks have flocked to the park to take advantage of the free movie night.
York and Mills are to be commended for their efforts. They do all of this on a volunteer basis, setting up the screen, projector and sound system on their own budget and own time.
They do this for the benefit of the community.
So, it is understandable that those closely associated with the Cinema in the Park campaign are frustrated with the recent act of vandalism. York left the screen at the park after Friday night’s showing because no one was there to help him take down the screen, which is handmade and was sewn together out of special material.
When he returned Saturday morning, the screen was gone.
This left York in a bind, because that night he was scheduled to show the “Hotel for Dogs” movie to the residents of Medicalodge in Neosho. Fortunately, the good folks at Lowe’s donated materials to make a temporary screen so that York could make good on his commitment to provide some entertainment to the residents at the senior care facility.
So, I ask you, what can we do for York and Mills — two people who have donated so much time and effort to bring a little joy and entertainment free of charge to the public?
First, if you have any information on who may have stolen the screen from Big Spring Park over the weekend, please contact the Neosho Police Department at 451-8000.
Some human acts just don’t make any sense.
On Tuesday afternoon, I received a call from an upset member of the community concerning the Cinema in the Park event. No, they weren’t upset with the actual event; they were upset because someone decided to steal the screen used by Steve York to show the movies free of charge to the public. According to this person, this is not the first time the screen had been stolen.
What a shame!
According to organizers, more than 500 people attended Friday night’s viewing of “Hotel for Dogs” at Big Spring Park. People from all over the region, not just Neosho, came down to the park to view the family feature under the stars.
The Cinema in the Park, the brainchild of York and Lori Mills, has become a successful Neosho event and tradition. This year, behind the successful movie choices such as family-friendly fare “Bolt” and “Hotel for Dogs,” hundreds of folks have flocked to the park to take advantage of the free movie night.
York and Mills are to be commended for their efforts. They do all of this on a volunteer basis, setting up the screen, projector and sound system on their own budget and own time.
They do this for the benefit of the community.
So, it is understandable that those closely associated with the Cinema in the Park campaign are frustrated with the recent act of vandalism. York left the screen at the park after Friday night’s showing because no one was there to help him take down the screen, which is handmade and was sewn together out of special material.
When he returned Saturday morning, the screen was gone.
This left York in a bind, because that night he was scheduled to show the “Hotel for Dogs” movie to the residents of Medicalodge in Neosho. Fortunately, the good folks at Lowe’s donated materials to make a temporary screen so that York could make good on his commitment to provide some entertainment to the residents at the senior care facility.
So, I ask you, what can we do for York and Mills — two people who have donated so much time and effort to bring a little joy and entertainment free of charge to the public?
First, if you have any information on who may have stolen the screen from Big Spring Park over the weekend, please contact the Neosho Police Department at 451-8000.
Secondly, it would be great for the community to come together to help fund another screen to be used for future Cinema in the Park events.
There is no question this event is successful, but York and Mills should not have to foot the bill again for a screen after having their own stolen.
If you would like to assist in funding for a new screen to be used at future Cinema in the Park events, contact Shana Griffin, executive director at the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce, at 451-1925.
Let’s show Steve York and Lori Mills how much we appreciate their efforts.
Rick Rogers is the publisher of the Daily News. E-mail him at rrogers@neoshodailynews.com.
