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Friday, Jul. 03, 2009

Bad economy won't stop fireworks

Celebrating July 4 without fireworks just isn't an option as far as Rick Corman is concerned.

As a child, Corman watched the Jessamine County fireworks while eating homemade ice cream in his grandmother's yard .

"Then one year I came home all ready for the fireworks, and they told me the fireworks weren't happening this year," Corman recalled. "So we got some fireworks and put on our own show.

"We kept doing that until the year one went off under our feet, and I realized someone might get hurt. Then we got Jody Watkins to set them off for us, and he still does it."

Corman said he has been putting on his fireworks show in Jessamine County for almost 20 years. The fireworks will cost Corman approximately $20,000, but he will not be deterred by a tight economy.

"Every year you try to exceed what you did last year, and this year our show is going to be bigger," said Corman, "The show gives families and friends a chance to get together.

"I get so much enjoyment when I see how much pleasure the show gives people. You should see the smiles on the faces of the kids when the fireworks go off."

While fireworks shows throughout the nation are being canceled or scaled back because of a sluggish economy, many counties in Central Kentucky are committed to putting on good shows.

Those watching the Lexington fireworks display will get an unabridged show.

Penny Ebel, the city's special events director, said Lexington's fireworks show costs about $35,000, but the show has not been scaled back from the regular 19-minute program because the city has a two-year contract with Zambelli Fireworks Internationale.

Lexington's Fourth of July Festival is funded by sponsorships, vendor fees and the Bluegrass 10,000 footrace entry fees.

"We may be looking at cutting back next year," Ebel said. "All budgets have been cut slightly, so as I get into fiscal year 2010, I could have to be very creative to support the events we do."

Ebel added that she thinks the fireworks are something that everyone in the community looks forward to and "if necessary, I would try to look at shortening the time of the show, instead of cutting out the fireworks completely."

Phyllis Mattingly, chairwoman of Versailles' Magical Musical Fourth Event, said that even though the county has "flatlined a lot of contributions to civic activities," the Versailles fireworks display has not been shortened.

"This is something that people want, especially since they aren't traveling as much this year," Mattingly said.

Mattingly said the Versailles fireworks display will cost approximately $10,000.

Louisville, Danville and Richmond are also putting on full-length fireworks shows this year.

Karen LeBach, Georgetown's parade director, said the Georgetown show has even been increased by half an hour, and will cost about $20,000.

LeBach said the weak economy only acted as an incentive to put on a good fireworks show.

"Scott County is a family-oriented community," LeBach said. "As the poor get poorer, the community tries to reach out and give them more free things to do."