This stinks.

On Wednesday, organizers announced that Stinkfest, the annual
celebration of leeks in East Bradford that draws thousands of
people to the Tuna Valley each May, will not be returning for a
sixth year.

Officials also publicly announced the impending dissolution of
the East Bradford Business Association, a conglomerate of
businesses which banded together on Bradford’s east side.

Both actions revolve around the ill health of former association
president Mike Smith, who has also been forced to step down as
president of the Bradford Area Small Business Association.

“It was like a large neighborhood block party,” Smith said of
Stinkfest. “It was a tremendous family get-together down East Main.
It had the same atmosphere as the Italian Festival. People just
came down, had a good time and supported the local merchants and
the town.”

Smith said his health was a main reason the association decided
to cancel the event this year, adding he’s been traveling back and
forth to Buffalo, N.Y., for the past couple of months.

“I’ve been basically told to stop doing some of these things,”
Smith said. “I need to get rid of the extra stress. I was the
problem solver for (Stinkfest). Anytime there was a problem, I took
care of it, even though the city thought I was a bully.”

Smith said the association has talked to a few organizations
about taking over the event, but none of them have been interested
in picking it up thus far.

According to the event’s lead organizer Kathy Colman, if the
community hadn’t shown so much support for Stinkfest, the event
would never have gotten off the ground.

“The East Bradford Business Association is eternally thankful,”
Colman said. “Without the help of the community, monies would not
have been able to be donated back into the community from the
event.”

Officials said about $20,000 has been raised for donations over
the past few years from Stinkfest.

“We would really like somebody to take it over,” Smith said.
“Sure it’s work, but, on the other hand, it’s one hell of a good
thing. It’s a great party and well disciplined. We also turn quite
a bit of money over to local organizations.”

Stinkfest has grown each year the event’s been held, with Smith
indicating more than 6,000 people – from as far away as Canada –
attended.

“The first couple of years we sweat it,” Smith said. “When it
hit like 4,000 people, I was ecstatic. That was my goal. It just
kept growing from there.”

The event – the bulk of which was centered from near the
Hollenbeck-Cahill Funeral Homes Inc. to the intersection of East
Main and Kendall Avenue – featured food, fun and entertainment,
including vendors selling leek cuisine, craft vendors, outhouse
races – which instantly became a favorite, leek dip contest, rides
and activities for children, including a Kiddy Land, a Lil’ Stinker
contest, and for the first time last year, a wedding.

Meanwhile, Colman said paperwork will be filed with the
government to officially dissolve the East Bradford Business
Association.

Officials said any organization interested in taking over
Stinkfest, even if it was to be relocated, should contact Colman,
who is willing to turn over all the information to get started.
Colman can be reached Monday through Friday at The Era’s business
office.