|
| Fireworks show will be best ever, organizers say By Stacy Trevenon--[ stacy@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 4:03 PM PDT Fireworks will make a dazzling comeback this year, promised Russell Bissonnette, commander of the American Legion Post 474 in Princeton. "We want this to be the best thing that's happened in Half Moon Bay," he said. Last year's show - organized by another group - was cancelled due to a shortage of funds, said Bissonnette. But, he added, following a series of fund-raisers and a steady stream of donations, the legion plans to make up for it now. "We're back. It feels so good to have the community support us," he said. "The legion is happy and excited about the production of fireworks this year. "This year it's important to give the best show Half Moon Bay ever had," he said. This year's show features a $21,000, 28-minute fireworks show, with explosives purchased from Zambelli Internationale. It will eclipse previous Fourth shows, Bissonnette said. The quality won't differ much, but there will just be more of it. "It's pretty much the same, just the quantity is different," he said. "Twenty-eight minutes of constant rockets." Over the past year, Bissonnette said, more than $42,000 was raised through fund-raisers held at the legion grounds in Princeton and also at venues including Sam's Chowder House, Long Saloon and the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. The total also includes donations from legion members, private contributors and the Beach House. That falls a little short of his goal of $50,000, which would have included seed money for next year. Bissonnette said a devoted planning committee made up of himself, legion board member Bob Rausch, legion Women's Auxiliary member Michelle Robelet and legion and former fireworks committee member Harry Ysselstein, supervised the fund-raising and planned the fireworks show and safety measures. "As a committee, we are looking to law enforcement to help us," he said. "It costs more money, but we're looking for a safe event. We want people to smile over it, not to have casualties." Funds will go into keeping the show supervised and safe, Bissonnette said, and he is aware of past problems with illegal fireworks. He estimated that $3,200 will go to the San Mateo County Sheriff Office and $2,500 will go to the California Highway Patrol, for traffic control and public safety. An additional estimated $300 will go toward San Carlos Airport personnel who come to the Half Moon Bay Airport to monitor air space in the area during the show. In addition, he added, funds will go to house and feed the extra personnel, to laborers to set up the equipment and for advertising. |