"Family night", insisting that SOMEHOW moving it down town turns it into some adult drinking, stripper filled drug party.

"Firework buffer zone" … Hey guys, let's set off Fourth of July fireworks over an island that will catch on fire several times afterwards!

Parking: See Fourth of July.

Hose company never always dropped the duck, unless the person who I spoke to recently (who first created the duck drop) is wrong.

And I have attended the duck drop. It was the lamest New Years ever and I didn't go back, so enjoy the duck drop for yourselves.

And I could be wrong, but the three businesses are probably the same businesses that don't want to be apart of any other event

Scott is right about everything. We started the Duck Drop in 2000 to welcome the Millennium as a family event and that is how it should stay.... .not an event to draw people to bars. I personally have arranged for the fireworks show and the 4th of July show for many years. Space is what is needed and a good vantage point to view the show. The Middle School provides both on New Years Eve. Shooting from a barge would double the price of the show and be a ridiculous thing to ask of the shooters in such cold weather. The firemen took over the Duck Drop for the city when no one else came forth and for that we should all be grateful. Moving the show seems a self serving idea for a few and and a good way to ruin a great event.

Katie - i've read your blogs about various happenings in and around this town and I can't find where you have too many positive ideas or comments about our quaint little town so why don't you do everyone a favor - take your negative comments and LEAVE HAVRE DE GRACE!!!! You should think about changing your name to MS. DEBBIE DOWNER.

Just as a little history here, folks: The Duck Drop was originated by Richard Tome who owned the Country Flower Shop. For those of you who are new to town, or too young to remember, the Country Flower Shop stood at the current location of the new 7/11 on Union Avenue (downtown). When Richard started it, with the help of the Hose Company, it was held at Legion Square. After a number of successful New Years' eves, the Duck Drop outgrew the Legion Square/downtown area. Richard moved from town and I believe that is when the Hose Company, with the help of the Chamber of Commerce and a variety of volunteers, continued the tradition. As the event continued to grow, and with the addition of fireworks, the Middle School became the best location. Scott Hurst not only makes good points about safety as to the fireworks, but about not recreating the wheel. It seems to me that there are so many out there, and Katie is just an example, who forget that these events are primarily organized and run by volunteers. Volunteers who spend hours, sometimes hundreds of hours for the huge events, putting on these events. These events don't just happen in a vacuum. There are many considerations and decisions as to how and where a special event happens. Scott Hurst, the Hose Company, and all the people who work to put together the Duck Drop, should be applauded. Be a part of the solution, not just another naysayer.

Katie, I get it you’re a 20 something and you want to go out and have a good time on New Year’s Eve and that is great. Now, fast forward to when you are a mom with small kids and you want to enjoy the evening with your family. The duck drop at its current location provides an area to park and see the duck drop and fireworks from your nice warm vehicle with your family inside. If the event were to move downtown families would have to get out of their vehicle into the cold, walk a good distance and when it was all over with fight with the traffic to get out of town. I know you have not looked at it from that view so just try to see why the current location is FAMILY friendly!

Continuing.....As far as your comment “Firework buffer zone" … Hey guys, let's set off Fourth of July fireworks over an island that will catch on fire several times afterwards!" Did you know that the fire department has a fire boat in the water before, during and after the fireworks for that particular reason? I am going to go ahead and say NO! They also have fire protection for the New Year’s Eve fireworks. Like I said before the duck drop is a FAMILY friendly event and if it is downtown that will not be the case and I point out a comment by Mr. Smith on the Tourism discussion he stated “My logic for moving the event downtown would be to make the event more accessible to people already there at the local restaurants and bars - many have special dinner seatings for New Years Eve. Having the Duck Drop downtown will keep them in town.” That comment alone takes the event in a direction that is NOT FAMILY friendly.

My thanks to the Hose Company for taking on the Duck Drop when no one else would. My family has attended from the very beginning with children and grandchildren who now look forward to this annual family outing. The middle school affords us a very easy way to get in and out of town with enough parking at the surrounding businesses for the attendees. We do not wish to take our children or grandchildren to downtown businesses at midnight on New Years Eve to eat and drink with the partyers. That is not the appropriate time for our toddlers and pre-teens for they would surely enjoy the Duck Drop more than watching people consuming huge amounts of alcohol.

Okay, so it sounds like the Duck Drop has a pretty good set up where it is -- how about a seperate event for the downtown on new years?

You guys have no idea what the you're talking about. I have no idea who Hans-Adam is. He did not show up to the meeting last night. My boyfriend has posted on the Patch maybe twice, under the name of Hal Emmerich and it is now "SAF". Sorry you guys think we're putting down events, if I was I wouldn't show up to meetings or try. I am totally changing my name to Debbie Downer though...

Also, agree. There should be a separate event downtown at this point ~

SAF, first of all, don't include me in your posts any more as if you're speaking for me. I don't need people to be mistaken about me anymore than they already are. People have been volunteering... for a very long time. Before you've been born. HDG has made a lot of progress that you've never seen. They're working with little money to make all of these events. Thought you got that through your mind last night. Don't ask "What about you people", because they've done more than you.

I can clearly see there are many close-minded people among us.

Also, now that I think about it, its funny that this HDG Business person says that the "pair" of us put down a HDG event... when I can't even remember saying anything 'bad' about the Graw Days. I think I offered a "awesome idea" about the tent, and gave a suggestion of using pin up girls during the car show.

I think maybe a group of people should start putting together a fun extra event downtown for New Years, like a first friday.

There seems to be a bit of confusion about the "Duck". In 1999 Eddie DiMauro and I agreed that the city had to do something to celebrate the Millennium. Having much experience with fireworks, we went to the City and asked the city to give us half the money if we could raise the rest, which we did in less than a month. (Lots of begging!) The show was on. Richard Tome, a long time friend, called and said he had always wanted to drop a duck since we are the Decoy Capital of the World...and the fun began. The duck was constructed in a week's time between Christmas and New Year's Eve at Richard's shop by my husband, John Narvell, Tom Davies, Eddie, Richard, and possibly others. I thought they would kill each other before it was done. Richard conned Ed Grainger and other great guys from the fire company into dropping the Duck and "2000" in 8ft. tall numbers from our ladder truck with about a few hundred feet of rope. Surprisingly it all worked and 2000 arrived with duck calls and a bang! In 2001 we had no money. In 2002 the July 4th committee contributed. In 2003 a mystery donor funded the fireworks. All the while Mr. Grainger and his fellow firemen dropped the ever evolving duck, The Duck is now funded by the City through the HdeG Rec. Committee. I continue to plan the fireworks with the help of my husband, and Parks and Rec. director Karen Green. Our great firemen lovingly assumed the Duck when Richard Tome retired.....and that is how this all came about!

Those that love and enjoy the Duck Drop will keep coming back and that's what matters. Those that rather a fast passed downtown event this isn't for you so DONT come! It's that simple! There are plenty of open minded people in our town they just choose to respect others hard work and lend constructive criticism not bash their hard work on the Internet.

Oh lawd, we're not bashing people's hard work. I appreciate the work, even though I might not care for or like the event. And I want to help, or else I wouldn't be posting or starting to look into different meetings or events I can pop my head into. While I *now* understand that Havre de Grace wants the Duck Drop for themselves (AKA not to draw in more tourism), it makes more sense why not to change it. But, you have to understand that the Duck Drop is starting to draw in people not from around here. I read an article VIA Examiner here:

http://www.examiner.com/article/new-year-s-eve-havre-de-grace-maryland-superior-to-times-square-new-york

Long story short, an outsider said it was a great night but he also gave some cool pointers, which it sounds like will happen in the future to make the Duck Drop better. Another point is that, whether HDG wants it or not, the Duck Drop could be a potential easy money maker for the town. If they don't care for that, then fine...

But as an outsider, I saw that potential to make this huge event for everyone, that would still be family friendly, IE First Friday. HDG has it easy sitting between NJ, Baltimore and being right off of 95 and to believe it or not, the Duck Drop is one of the only "Big" New Year Eve events going on around here. It'd be the only spot to come by, really. So I don't know. Maybe one day a group of people can start from new and say "How can we have a party on main street and the duck drop going on the same night"

Some kind of cool collaboration deal. Kind of like the idea I heard about for The Graw Days. Having a night time event later on under a tent with food vendors and music. Something that would be beneficial

Honestly? My opinion on this is just "why bother?". There's no need to change it, because there's nothing wrong with it to begin with.

Love the idea Capt Steve! We have friends that come in to town, rent rooms, celebrate downtown and then go to the drop! Great time! No drunk drivers because the school is within walking distance of downtown, Best of both worlds support downtown and have a great finale to our evening!

I'm trying to get information on the Duck Drop for 2012-2013. I will say this though: Many have touted this as a "Family Friendly" event. Is the duck drop at midnight??Who the heck keeps their toddlers/preschoolers out until midnight???! That's equally irresponsible. Annapolis has their fireworks at 7pm. I wanted to see the duck drop that i've read so much about. My kids will be at home with a sitter at midnight.