Tricentennial Committee Pitches Mass Public Dinner on Kings Highway

Haddonfield's Tricentennial Committee has pitched borough commissioners on a plan to hold a mass, public dinner on Kings Highway as part of the borough's 300th anniversary celebration this year.

Maureen Eyles, the committee chairwoman, told the commissioners the event is modeled after "spontaneous dinner" events such as Diner en Blanc. Those events involve diners who are given a location, kept secret until the last minute, and then show up with their own tables and chairs to be served a gourmet meal.

Eyles said the Tricentennial Committee wants to use what they are calling the One Long Table public dinner on Sunday, Sept. 9 as a fundraiser to help cap the borough's yearlong birthday celebration.

"I want that photo op," said Eyles, a borough school board member and professional event planner, after the meeting with commissioners last month.

Eyles wants to charge $25 for the event, provide the table, but require diners to bring their own chairs and food. Another option is to enlist local restaurants to sell box meals to diners.

The commissioners expressed concerns about the $25 cost. Mayor Tish Colombi said she thought it might be too much for families to pay $25 each to participate. Other concerns were the cost for police overtime to close Kings Highway for several hours in order to hold the dinner in the middle of the roadway.

Eyles said she would "rework the numbers" and present it again to the commissioners.

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