Oct. 10--BARNSTABLE -- "Really, bras make news?"
Yes, apparently they do.
Those words, from Barnstable Fire District Prudential Committee member William Jones III, came in the wake of the Barnstable Fire Department being advised by the board to take down a display of bras hung on a pink ladder outside the station.
The display was part of an effort begun Oct. 1 by the Barnstable and West Barnstable fire departments called "Bra-toberfest," a contest to see which of them could collect the most bras -- along with a requested charity donation -- for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Money raised will go to the Susan G. Komen foundation and the International Association of Fire Fighters Charitable Foundation.
Although Barnstable's bras were taken down, West Barnstable's were still on display as of Wednesday.
Barnstable's three-member Prudential Committee, which oversees Fire District operations, discussed the bra display at its monthly meeting Tuesday, Jones said. Because of local newspaper articles and "mixed reaction" from a number of residents, including "some" complaints, the board advised Barnstable Fire Chief Francis Pulsifer to take down the bras, Jones said.
Pulsifer did not return two messages left by a Times reporter on his voice mail Wednesday afternoon.
"If we had five complaints, we had 1,000 in support," Barnstable fire Capt. Richard Ogonowsky said.
But Ogonowsky and others knew the display would draw both positive and negative attention, he said.
"Yes, it's controversial. But we shouldn't fear that, we should embrace it. We knew everyone wouldn't love it."
Jones acknowledged the reaction was mixed between "complaints and compliments" but decided it best "not to stir anything up," he said.
The West Barnstable Fire Department, whose display is at the station on 2160 Meetinghouse Way, still has bras hanging and -- despite some complaints -- Lt. Christopher Greim believes it will stay that way.
"No, honestly," he said, when asked if he could envision a scenario in which the bras would be taken down.
Greim is one of the organizers of the effort, a version of which he saw during a motorcycle ride in Nova Scotia, he said.
"I'm disappointed it's come to that," he said of the removal of the bras in Barnstable.
There has been a "great deal" of support from the community, including a Facebook message from a friend who saw the display and set up an appointment for a mammogram, he said.
"If there's a real message, that's it," Greim said. "All about prevention."
As of Tuesday night, he said, the West Barnstable department had collected about 40 bras and $250 in donations.
Edward Smith, a Prudential Committee member for the West Barnstable Fire District, said in an email to the Times that he has not received any complaints from residents.
"If it is troubling to anyone, I would urge them to call the fire chief," the message read.
Although the Barnstable Fire District Prudential Committee had no problem with the fundraising aspect of the display, it "didn't think it was appropriate for Main Street," Jones said.
The bras may be replaced by ribbons placed on the ladder at the fire station, Jones added.
Despite all the controversy the bras have created, Ogonowsky said the attention is welcome.
"Now all this has done is make people more supportive," he said.
Copyright 2013 - Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.
