Flemington: Uncle Pete Says Salsa Night Is 1 Hour Short

FLEMINGTON – “Uncle Pete” Vazquez, the father of the borough’s Salsa Night celebration, is asking for permission to keep the party going after 10 p.m. Salsa Night is an evening of Latin American food, music and dancing on Main Street, scheduled for Friday, July 17 this year.

He told Borough Council, the party just gets rolling at 8:30 or 9 p.m. and he asked that it be allowed to continue to at least 11 p.m. To rally support for this idea, Mr. Vazquez had sent out an e-mail that said, “The one time a year that we all get together for this event is always dampened by the fact that it must end at 10 p.m. to adhere to local noise ordinances … We’ve worked very hard to bring this event to where it is. It would be shame if we couldn’t enjoy it to its fullest.”

Mr. Vazquez is the former owner of Uncle Pete’s Latin Cuisine on Main Street.

The event was held on Main Street in the area of the Mine Street intersection.

At last week’s council meeting, it was suggested that the event be held on Fulper Road, where it would be less likely to disturb people who are trying to sleep. But Mr. Vazquez said that part of the joy of the event is the Main Street venue. “To push it off to a side street” would dampen that good feeling.

Resident Lois Stewart asked if the extended revelry is “fair to people who have to get up at 5 a.m. for work at a Saturday job.” She also noted that the noise does not end right at closing time, because it takes time for the crowd to disperse and for the cleanup to be done.

The pros and cons of moving the party to various parts of Main Street were also discussed.

Councilwoman Erica Edwards reminded Mr. Vazquez that borough ordinance requires noise to end at 10 p.m. and that part of the reason for borough events is to help businesses, a purpose that would not be served by extending the hours. She asked him to take the feedback from the meeting back to his committee for further discussion.

Councilwoman Brooke Liebowitz had one more item of feedback. She said, “I love Salsa Night, and I don’t want to make it difficult for you.”

Salsa Night is one of several borough-sponsored events planned for 2009. The others are: Music on Main Street, Thursdays, May 28, June 11 and 25, July 9 and 23, and Aug. 6 and 20; Giro di Jersey bicycle race on Thursday, June 17; Music in the Park, Saturdays, June 27, July 25 and Aug. 22; and Autumn Fest, Saturday, Oct. 24.