Fox Lake's Venetian Night back on

Don't scratch Fox Lake's Venetian Night off the calendar just yet.

Days after Fox Lake officials announced the Aug. 1 event had been canceled, village officials - led by Mayor Ed Bender and Trustee Nancy Koske - announced that volunteers, organizers and business owners have stepped forward to donate time and money to keep the event alive.

Bender said Mario Martinez, owner of Dockers Restaurant and Lounge at 33 W. Grand Ave., is one of several Fox Lake business owners to commit to helping fund fireworks over Pistakee Lake at the end of the Venetian Night boat parade. He added management at Famous Freddie's Roadhouse, 510 Park Ave., is also involved in helping to get the event moving again.

Bender said other businesses have pledged donations to help cover the $7,000 price tag for the fireworks, too. Donations are still being accepted at village hall, 66 Thelen Drive.

"We are extremely happy this event has been saved," Martinez said. "The village needs community events like this, and having one like this that takes place on both water and land is extremely attractive to us."

The street party starts 6 p.m. Aug. 1 in front of Dockers, from Pistakee Lake Road west to the lakefront, about 1 mile west of the Metra train tracks at the corner of Nippersink and Grand avenues.

Event organizer Katie Koske said the boat parade will leave Famous Freddie's about 7:30 p.m. and head north to Dockers on Pistakee Lake. After the boats arrive at Dockers, at about 9 p.m., the fireworks will kick off.

"We are very excited to have this event up and running again," Katie Koske said. "It's a great community event and something for everyone to enjoy. Everyone can benefit from it."

Last year was the first time the village hosted Venetian Night, billed to be an annual event.

But Nancy Rogers, head of Fox Lake's parks and recreation department, announced last week the event was canceled due to budget constraints. She didn't want to ask local businesses to donate again so soon after the Fourth of July fireworks, given the economy.

Venetian Night comes about four weeks after businesses ponied up about $20,000 to help fund the Chain O' Lakes fireworks on the Fourth of July.

Bender praised the efforts of Katie Koske and Venetian Night co-chair Chris Valenziano.

"They have redoubled their efforts to make it a great community event," he said. "They, along with the businesses, should be commended for their hard work."

Valenziano said the cancellation never sat well with her, and decided to push forward to see if the donations could be raised.

"There are a lot of people and businesses that love the event who didn't want to see it go away," she said. "They should all be applauded for making it happen."