At the same time NONOS is battling NIPSCO (see related story above), it’s in a different dispute with the organizers of the Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival.

The Lakeshore Festival & Events board of directors has rejected NONOS’ application to have a float in this year’s Oz parade, as well as a booth at the fest. NONOS had a float in last year’s parade.

LFE President Karen Spallina said the board determined that NONOS doesn’t match the mission or purpose of the festival. NONOS’ message is a negative one, she said, focused only on criticizing one company.

“We’re trying to have a very positive, upbeat message,” she said, adding that the board has rejected many other organizations that have a political or otherwise negative message. “This is not a political festival,” she said.

NIPSCO is one of the main sponsors of the Oz Fest. Spallina said while she would never want to have any festival participant criticizing one of the sponsors, the mere fact that NIPSCO is a sponsor is not the reason why the board rejected NONOS. She also added that some involved with LFE also support NONOS’ campaign, but the family-oriented event is not the place for NONOS’ message.

“We think the Oz Festival committee made a big mistake,” said NONOS spokesman Wedndell Carlson.

NONOS’ message is not negative, Carlson said, since the group’s mission is to try to protect the quality of life in a rural residential community. The group is not opposed to odorization stations, he added, but believes such facilities should not be located in residential communities.

In a press release, NONOS also questions whether the LFE’s decision is tied to NIPSCO’s sponsorship of Oz. “Since NIPSCO is one of the sponsors of the event, apparently, there can be no questioning of a decision made by NIPSCO,” the statement says.

The statement also says that NONOS received positive feedback on its float in last year’s parade. Spallina, by contrast, said last year’s parade chair had some misgivings about allowing the group in, and that she, too, felt the group’s float signs were inappropriate.

Posted 8/20/2004