YARDLEY, PA- The Lower-Makefield Community Center was at capacity with standing room only, left for the late stragglers on April 20, 2016, as the bi-monthly Board of Supervisors meeting came to order. The topic on everyone’s mind was the discussion of the 9/11 evening ceremony at the Garden of Reflection.

In recent weeks a disagreement had occurred between two separate groups wishing to use the space for separate ceremonies at different points on the anniversary of 9/11. The core of the dispute centered around a permit that had been issued to on January 4 to Supervisor Judi Reiss.

Reiss had lost her son on 9/11 and is a member of the Garden of Reflection Preservation Committee, she was granted a permit to reserve the memorial from  7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10 through 9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11 in order for her group to hold events.

The group had planned quite and contemplative ceremonies such as a candlelight vigil on Sept. 10, and an afternoon ceremony the next day with a  ringing of the bells and reading of the names of those who had died at the World Trade Center. Others have shared Reiss’s stance that the day should be one of simple and quite contemplation.

However, another group lead by Valerie Mihalek and other family members of survivors, wished to planned a larger more participatory ceremony the night of Sept. 11.

The disagreement began because Mihalek’s group had held a Remembrance in Light Ceremony on the evening of Sept. 11, in the past, but did not hold a ceremony last year.  Reiss then applied for a lengthy permit for the 2016 events, so that the community would not be without some form of remembrance ceremony. Due to the fact that Reiss held a permit until 9 p.m. on Sept. 11, causing a scheduling clash between the two groups, months arguing and disagreements came to heed at the public meeting.

Those in support of Mihalek’s ceremony, said that it was a fitting way to remember the day, while other from Reiss’s group said that her ceremony was too much of a production and was over-involved.

Reiss’s group planned to hold a remembrance that afternoon, creating an issue  of how long Mihalek’s group should be allowed to set up for their event. Reiss said she was willing to scale back her permit until 4 p.m., but Mihalek argued that did not leave enough time for her volunteers to go home and freshen up before their evening ceremony.

Four hours of back and forth commentary between the two groups and their supporters ensued, often becoming very heated and emotional. Supervisors were often interrupted by shouts from the crowd, and a fifteen minute recess was held in order for everyone to compose themselves before a final compromise was drafted by Supervisor David Fritchey.

Ultimately, Mihalek’s group was granted to set up a podium, platform, and plants on the evening of Sept. 10, in order to reduce the amount of time needed on Sept. 11. It was unanimously agreed to amend the original permit, thus granting Mihalek a 4 p.m. set up time.