RREMINDER - Wallingford Fireworks Fund will be collecting at Celebrate Wallingford THIS WEEKEND – October 5th and 6th

The weather looks like it has turned a bit for Celebrate Wallingford this weekend Saturday October 5th and Sunday the 6th.

We will be there regardless; Saturday is the longer of the two days and looks to be the better chance of good weather.

Please come by our 2014 fundraising booth and say hello

Wallingford Fireworks Fund will be collecting at Celebrate Wallingford THIS WEEKEND – October 5th and 6th

The weather looks to be shaping up to be great for Celebrate Wallingford this weekend October 5th and 6th.

Please come by our 2014 fundraising booth and say hello.

Time to return a favor Wallingford – let’s support Stephanie Clock on her efforts in the Susan G. Komen Marathon for the Cure

Hi Wallingford Fireworks supporters. I am writing to you this morning on behalf of an event, a spot in the Chicago Marathon, that Stephanie Clock is participating in.

Most of you do not know who Stephanie Clock is but if you are a fan of the Wallingford Fireworks you should.

She has been an integral part of the people at Gale Development and Campus at Greenhill that have supported our Wallingford Fireworks show over the past two years and granting the fund $30,000.00 in donations in 2012 and 2013.

With her current efforts to run the race she is fundraising and I would like Wallingford to consider helping out her cause.

Her goal as listed on her page is $1,500.00, presently she is sitting at $585.00 and Race day is October 13th.

Here is my ask Wallingford, let’s make donations online and get her over that mark. Let’s support her effort like she supports ours and in the same manner - $10.00 or whatever at a time.

Send me your receipt that you donated (forward me via email the acknowledgement of your donation – Jason@Zandri.net) and I will match all the donations up to $500.00 personally.

So what say you Wallingford? Let’s “pay” the goodwill and the kindness back and all for a good cause.

Thank you for the consideration.

News regarding our fundraising booth at Celebrate Wallingford

Hi gang – first and foremost I wanted to let everyone know we will be at Celebrate the whole weekend like last year and each of the prior years.

If you’d like to make a donation for 2014 we’ll be collecting and if you supported us for 2013 please stop by so we can say “thank you.”

I will be circling back shortly with more details on this over the next couple of weeks.

I would also like to take this time to address a recent issue brought up with our efforts with the Fund and my being the President of the fund and running for Mayor this election season.

Celebrate Wallingford has been run by Wallingford Center INC. since its inception and it’s always been a rule there that Political Action Committees (PACs) as well as Political Parties are not allowed to have or sponsor booths as a permanent presence at the event.

We’ve all seen politicians making the rounds at Celebrate, walking around and talking to people and this was always accepted as a necessary evil by WCI as there really isn’t much you can do with people walking around in public short of them breaking a law.

This year however with my running for Mayor there was some escalating discussion with WCI regarding changing the rules to permit Political Action Committees (PACs) as well as Political Parties to have or sponsor booths as a permanent presence at the event. This was partially predicated on my being there in my capacity for the Fireworks despite the fact that I ran a successful Council campaign in 2011 and ran my booth at Celebrate for the fireworks without issue or “confusion”.

This change was voted on and approved. The pressure was on to make the change effective this year but it is going to be deferred until 2014 as there just isn’t enough time for WCI to undertake all the changes.

In the interest of full disclosure and transparency I am making public my email exchange with the Director of WCI on this matter:

From: Elizabeth Landow [mailto:lizlandow@wallingfordcenterinc.com]
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2013 11:03 AM
To: Jason Zandri
Subject: celebrate

Hey Jason -

Just wanted to let you know that I did decide to postpone letting the two parties have a food booth until next year - we will be allowing it in Celebrate 2014 - but taking the time to come up with proper guidelines.

As we already spoken about,  I have been getting much feedback positive and negative about this - one concern that has been expressed is that you have a booth for the fireworks and the other party is concerned that the booth will be used as a "Democratic" booth and they cannot have a "Republican" booth - and that there will be fundraising done for your party out of that booth.

I explained that is a "FireWorks" booth only and you reassured me that you will be not be campaigning in the booth -  you have (avoided doing) this in the past and respected the fact that the booth was for fireworks fundraising only - you always leave the booth and walk around in order to do your meeting and greeting.

I love having the fireworks booth at Celebrate - I think it is very important - but I do want to make sure that the politics are left outside of the tent - I am confident you will do that because you gave me your word and that is good enough for me - I guess what I am trying to say - is just if you could keep it from becoming a "democratic" hangout - I would appreciate it

Thanks for your help and for listening to me the other day - I do appreciate the fact that you always give me your support!

Thanks so much

Liz

 

-----Original Message-----
From: jason@zandri.net [mailto:jason@zandri.net]
Sent: Monday, September 09, 2013 11:43 AM
To: Elizabeth Landow
Cc: Jason Zandri; attyvinavallone@snet.net; pagouveia@snet.net
Subject: Re: celebrate

Hi Liz,

Thank you for taking the time to have the phone conversation the other day with me regarding all of this.

Please feel free to forward this email directly to anyone that needs to see it as an on the record response for any questions they have from what you've communicated below and I will make the response as part of public disclosure. As to the main concern - I'll address that current point now.

"One concern that has been expressed is that you have a booth for the fireworks and the other party is concerned that the booth will be used as a "Democratic" booth and they cannot have a "Republican" booth -and that there will be fundraising done for your party out of that booth."

As I mentioned to you prior, I ran for Council in 2011 and fundraised for the Fireworks for 2012 out of the 2011 Celebrate booth. I did zero fundraising for that whole campaign (I spent less than $1,000.00 on that election so there was no fundraising to speak of). I have two formal fundraisers planned for later in October so I have neither the need nor the desire to “mix or confuse” the funds being donated at the Fireworks Booth – those funds are all to be for the fireworks in the event that funding is needed for 2014. If someone wanted to make a campaign donation I would hand them my treasurer’s contact information (my sister) and ask that they contact her. This would be no different in my opinion than someone approaching the Mayor in the Recycling Booth (or wherever he might stand that day) and doing the same – I would presume he would pass the supporter along to his treasurer so in my estimation that playing field is equal.

I am content enough in the interest of fairness to allow Mr. Prentice, Mayor Dickinson or any Republican candidate that wishes, full access to the booth so they can walk around and inspect. I have nothing to hide in there.

Steven and Wayne are scheduled to help me in the booth and I will tell them they can wear the Fireworks shirts or any other ones but not my campaign ones in the booth. As long as I am in the booth I will not wear my campaign shirts either.

I would expect the same courtesies from the Republicans as well. As an example – if John Letourneau is selling lamps out of a booth I would not expect it to become a “long term” Republican “hangout”. I am sure 10 to 15 minutes of collective group standing can be presumed to occur “naturally” at an event like this but if it happens more than two or three times it’s going to be assumed to be done intentionally.

The same can be said in my prior example of the Mayor standing at the Recycle booth; let’s collectively agree that we all should keep the times to where the candidates are grouping together accidentally and unintentionally to a couple of occurrences and for less than 15 minutes.

The same would be true at the Registrar’s booth where Chet Miller works; let’s be mindful of the collective gathering there.

I think we can all agree with the considerations above that the playing field is level but if there are still concerns please let me know right away and I will address them directly.

Thank you

Jason Zandri

Fireworks by DIANNE J. MANVILLE

Letter to the editor as published in the Record Journal Friday July 12, 2013

Editor: It was Saturday, July 6th. A hot summer night, clear with no rain in sight. And then they began. The town of Wallingford’s sky was lit up with a super spectacular fireworks display. Seeing the colors paint the sky, feeling that boom inside you, seeing the smiles and glee on the children’s faces, feeling patriotic for the love of our country — that’s what it is all about. All this made possible for the Town of Wallingford by the tireless efforts of Jason Zandri, all the wonderful people involved in helping through the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and all the generous contributions from caring people and organizations.

This was the 4th year that this effort to give the town of Wallingford an awesome fireworks display was successful to keep an ageless joy and tradition alive. No money was allocated for fireworks in the Wallingford town budget, not for the fireworks, the police overtime, the fire department overtime or any of the other town services; the entire burden was on the fund to come through with the money and they did in spades as they were able to restore the R Band performance and add to the show’s grand finale. Jason and his effort through the fund saw to it that the children and adults of Wallingford had the thrill of watching the sky sing “happy birthday” to America. It was all grand and the grand finale was second to none. Blasting away on a hot summer’s night, beautiful fireworks, colorful and bright.

Many thanks.

DIANNE J. MANVILLE, WALLINGFORD

Grand Finale - Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Independence Day celebration Saturday July 6, 2013

See you on the grounds of Sheehan High School and at your Wallingford Fireworks celebration; 237 years of independence. Happy Birthday America.

.

Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Independence Day Celebration; gathering on the west side of town at Sheehan High School after 6PM, Saturday July 6.

I probably will not have a whole bunch of posts or updates today as we did last year when the weather looked a little iffy there for a while.

According to the latest updates there’s barely a threat of any rain.

The show starts around 9:20PM or so but I recommend getting there around 8PM for a good parking spot as well as a good place on Sheehan’s Front Lawn if you’re looking to take in the sounds of the R Band which should start playing a little after 8PM.

We will make a few quick announcements from the Wallingford ShowMobile and then go around the grounds passing out the 2013 program books as well as collecting donations for the 2014 show.

See you there.

Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

www.archives.gov
July 4, 2013

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

---

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:

Column 1
Georgia:
   Button Gwinnett
   Lyman Hall
   George Walton

Column 2
North Carolina:
   William Hooper
   Joseph Hewes
   John Penn
South Carolina:
   Edward Rutledge
   Thomas Heyward, Jr.
   Thomas Lynch, Jr.
   Arthur Middleton

Column 3
Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton

Column 4
Pennsylvania:
   Robert Morris
   Benjamin Rush
   Benjamin Franklin
   John Morton
   George Clymer
   James Smith
   George Taylor
   James Wilson
   George Ross
Delaware:
   Caesar Rodney
   George Read
   Thomas McKean

Column 5
New York:
   William Floyd
   Philip Livingston
   Francis Lewis
   Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
   Richard Stockton
   John Witherspoon
   Francis Hopkinson
   John Hart
   Abraham Clark

Column 6
New Hampshire:
   Josiah Bartlett
   William Whipple
Massachusetts:
   Samuel Adams
   John Adams
   Robert Treat Paine
   Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
   Stephen Hopkins
   William Ellery
Connecticut:
   Roger Sherman
   Samuel Huntington
   William Williams
   Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire:
   Matthew Thornton

From the Editor of the Record Journal - Festive fireworks

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday July 3, 2013

Do you get fired-up over fireworks? What is it worth to you to light-up your town’s night sky to celebrate our nation’s annual Independence Day?

These questions were, in part, explored as part of yesterday’s news story focusing on whether public fireworks displays should be expendable during constricted economic times.

While some aver that “everyone” loves robust public fireworks, the reality is that such events are not each citizen’s cup of celebratory tea.

On one hand, significant crowds gather en mas se to behold the spectacle and, hopefully, renew the solemn covenant between America and her citizens. On the other, there are those who grouse vociferously that after all the sturm und dr ang of ofttimes painful municipal budget-cutting, taxpayer dollars are going up in smoke (literally) for a misguided interval of fleeting jubilation.

High-end fireworks displays can be dazzling — perhaps triumphant. Less ambitious presentations may prove a tad lackluster. Quite understandably, then, if a municipality embarks upon spending, say, $25,000 to illuminate the July 4 th evening sky, it had better thrill event-goers (i.e. provide plenty of bang for the buck).

Whether publically funded by taxpayers through town budgets or paid for by dedicated efforts of private fundraising, the “show must go on” mindset is prevalent.

Fighting political wars over expenditures pales in comparison to historic wars fought for freedom. If it helps uplift spirits during difficult times while stroking passions of national pride and unity, all should avail themselves of patriotism’s fervor.

July Fourth fireworks: expendable in tough times?

As published in the Record Journal Tuesday July 2, 2013
 
By Kimberly Primicerio
Record-Journal staff
kprimicerio@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2279
Twitter: @KPrimicerioRJ

WALLINGFORD - Fireworks are a Fourth of July fixture in many communities across the state. People look forward to seeing and hearing the colorful explosions in the sky on a warm summer night while with relatives and friends.

But with some municipalities dealing with difficult budgetary issues, there are often conversations about whether the fireworks shows should be publicly funded.

 

The city of Meriden faced a tough budget season, but it is still paying $25,000 for a July 7 fireworks show. In Wallingford, budget issues are the reason Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. doesn’t include money for fireworks in his fiscal plan. Instead Wallingford residents and private companies fund the event like they have in the past. Town officials and residents have mixed feelings on municipalities spending money on fireworks. Some say it’s a feel-good summer activity, while others think the money could be spent on more important things.

 

“We did it to benefit all our families that go out and see the fireworks,” Meriden City Councilor Kevin Scarpati said about the council approving $25,000 for the firework show. “We’re still being conscientious.”

 

Scarpati said in years past, $40,000 had been spent on fireworks, but such an amount is no longer feasible.

 

“We still want to have this for the residents,” he said. “We had a difficult budget year, we had to cut back, but we can still put on the fireworks for the taxpayers. It’s something they can be proud of. We didn’t want to let it go.”

 

More than 40 people, many Meriden residents, left comments on the Record-Journal’s Facebook page about the city paying $25,000 for a firework display. Some were in favor, but others thought spending money on fireworks wasn’t a good idea, considering the programs and jobs that were cut from the city’s budget.

 

Ashley Ramos said: “Priorities are all messed up. Education & kids need to come first.”

 

Christina Sanderson Taylor said: “The money could have gone to better use in the city. Summer program for the kids, saving Engine 3 and the schools in town just for a few examples.”

 

Kimberly Howe Tighe said: “Sadly I think it’s better spent elsewhere.”

 

And Andrew Marinelli said: “We should celebrate our nation’s independence.” Peter Verselli said: “Spend the money for the fireworks because it is for ALL the residents and not just a few.”

 

The city has a $185 million budget, Scarpati said. Residents pay their taxes, but don’t always see the benefits. A fireworks display shows taxpayers that they’re still cared about and that the city still does something for them.

 

In 2009, after Dickinson stopped allocating money for a fireworks display, Town Councilor Jason Zandri and a few others started raising money.

 

“When there are bad times, it’s more of a reason to have social events that are free,” Zandri said.

 

Fireworks and other types of free community events are the kind of things that make a town a community, Zandri said. He said if a town is in a good place financially, it should do it. “It gives off a sense of coming together,” Zandri said about the Wallingford fireworks. “It draws 10,000 people together.”

 

Zandri said he thought Meriden did the right thing by continuing fireworks in the city, but if the city is serious about cutting funding for the event next year, it should find a dedicated group of people willing to collect donations. The process of collecting money for such an event takes time, he said. He also pointed out that $25,000 isn’t enough money to save jobs, or even pay for the schools’ textbooks.

 

Privatization of the fireworks is an option that can be explored in the future, Scarpati said.

 

Rachel Ranis, a professor emeritus of sociology at Quinnipiac University, said Fourth of July fireworks bring people together.

 

“People love fireworks,” she said. “It gives them a sense of nation. They’re sharing an experience together.”

 

Old people and young people enjoy the event that provides everyone with joy, Ranis said. A whole community benefits from the fireworks, not just a small portion, she said.

 

“More people notice this,” Ranis said.

Fireworks Display - from the Town of Wallingford website

As originally posted at http://www.town.wallingford.ct.us/Events/eventView.asp?EventID=238

"In the event of inclement weather, the decision to cancel the display will be made by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Local television and radio stations will be notified of the cancellation."

We will also post it on the blog here as well.

Fireworks Display

Wallingford

Saturday, July 6, 2013
9:00 PM

---

Sheehan High School
142 Hope Hill Road
Wallingford, CT 06492

---

The Town of Wallingford will be hosting the Annual Fireworks Display near the grounds of Mark T. Sheehan High School on Saturday, July 6, 2013. The display is scheduled to start after 9:00 p.m. There is no rain date. In the event of inclement weather, the decision to cancel the display will be made by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. Local television and radio stations will be notified of the cancellation.

Public parking will be available at Moran Middle School, Sheehan High School, Highland Elementary School, and in the paved parking lot of Our Lady of Fatima Church. Parking in fire lanes, on sidewalks, or on the grass is prohibited.

There will be no parking along Hope Hill Road and some of the side streets where posted. Through traffic on Hope Hill Road will be prohibited when all of the parking lots at the schools are full, or at 8:30 p.m., whichever comes first.

The fireworks will be visible from the grounds of any of the schools where public parking is available. Spectators should plan to arrive early; well in advance of dusk is strongly recommended.

Given the size of the crowd and the close proximity of spectators, the use of any type of fireworks, including the use of sparklers, is prohibited on any Town property. Please note that alcoholic beverages are also prohibited. In addition, the Police Department routinely receives complaints about the use of silly string and snappers by children in the crowd. Accordingly, we are requesting that parents supervise their children's activities so that the fireworks display remains an enjoyable family event.

At the conclusion of the event, there will be two NORTHBOUND lanes of traffic on Hope Hill Road from the northern most driveways of Sheehan High School and Moran Middle School to ROUTE 68. There will be two SOUTHBOUND lanes on Hope Hill Road from the southern most driveways of Sheehan High School and Moran Middle School to the intersection of PARKER FARMS ROAD. Officers will be on site directing traffic throughout the event.

Long range forecast is looking good right now; High of 87, Chance of rain just 10%

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that as we get closer things do not destabilize. So far, so good.

The GRAND FINALE collections for the 2013 show cleared the $3,000.00 mark for the full Atlas match; we have $6,000.00 in value for the finale

If you have been following along you have already seen the blog post titled “An opportunity to increase the GRAND FINALE to the 2013 show and a chance to QUADRUPLE the impact of your donation” (but if not please take a quick look via the link).

Since June 6th we had engaged Atlas PyroVision Productions who the town had contracted with to do the 2012 and now the 2013 fireworks display.

In my discussions with them I told them The Fund tried to find a corporate sponsor last year to increase the size of the Grand Finale and we were unsuccessful. This year was the same too – no corporation came forward to be the Grand Finale Sponsor in 2013 so they decided to help out.

Atlas PyroVision Productions agreed to match dollar for dollar all the donations that came into the Fund as part of the Grand Finale drive up to $3,000.00.

I decided to help that effort to get us to that high water mark by matching donations on the spot up to my entire Town Council pay for the quarter (roughly $1,500.00).

As of yesterday with all the deposits in we sat at a little over $2,000.00; adding my $1,500.00 to that takes us to $3,500.00 so with that we will get the full Atlas match.

Congratulations Wallingford; in 2013 you have done the following:

-- Saved the 2013 4th of July Independence Day fireworks celebration

-- Restored the 2013 R Band musical performance

-- Added to the 2013 Grand Finale collection an additional $3,500.00 which gets us $6,000.00 worth of fireworks for the Grand Finale

-- Set the savings account of the fund with a $2,000.00 surplus for additional expenses (as they come - we are paid in full right now); the remainder will roll to 2014 (if fundraising is needed).

Wallingford - you should be proud four times over. I said "let's roll" at the end of February and you rolled and we have done more than ever before.  

See you Saturday July 6th for the fireworks.

 

FINAL Collections for Saturday June 22nd - Wayne and I will be at the Recycling Center and the Landfill to about noon. This is the FINAL COLLECTION for the GRAND FINALE to the 2013 show.

Wayne and I will be out collecting this morning Saturday June 22nd for the FINAL COLLECTION for the GRAND FINALE to the 2013 show.

You may have already seen the blog post titled “An opportunity to increase the GRAND FINALE to the 2013 show and a chance to QUADRUPLE the impact of your donation” but if not please take a quick look via the link.

We have to send in the money on Monday (originally is was yesterday but I got the extra weekend out of them) and we are $200.00 left to deposit to get to the $1,500.00 target which would add a total of $6,000.00 to the Grand Finale with the two donation matching efforts that are ongoing.

At the same time, please feel free to mail those donations in or donate via Paypal.

Below is the link to Paypal or you can mail your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

Bucks for the bang; Meriden City Council finds money for July 4 fireworks

As published in the Record Journal Thursday June 20, 2013

By Dan Brechlin 
Record-Journal staff dbrechlin@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2266
Twitter: @DanBrechlinRJ

MERIDEN — Fourth of July fireworks will go on this year, as the City Council unanimously approved spending $25,000 for the show earlier this week, using taxpayer money for the second consecutive year.

In 2009, Meriden stopped funding fireworks and the event was moved from Hubbard Park to Westfield Meriden mall under private sponsorship. Just a few weeks before July 4 last year, city officials were notified that the mall would not hold the event. To save the fireworks, the council appropriated $20,000 just before the holiday.

This year was similar, with the council using expected funds from a surplus to fund $25,000 worth of fireworks.

“It’s such a tradition for Meriden in an iconic location over there in Hubbard Park and people enjoy it,” Mayor Michael S. Rohde said. “The money was available, so the councilors just decided it would be a good idea.”

Some residents have asked why the city is spending the money and why donations are not sought instead. Fireworks in Wallingford are funded through private donations, having been removed from the town budget in an effort to cut costs.

Republican City Councilor Dan Brunet said it may make sense to take a closer look at the fireworks issue, but he doesn’t see an issue with the expenditure.

“So many people actually attend the annual event,” Brunet said. “This year it went a little under the radar and it was too late to pull for donations.”

Councilor Steven Iovanna, a Democrat, agreed that the popularity of the fireworks made approving the funds an easier decision. Still, rethinking how they are funded could be something to address in the next fiscal year, he said.

“It would be good if we could find another single donor or group of donors to cover the cost or at least defray the cost,” he said.

Raising the money through donations is difficult, said Wallingford Town Councilor Jason Zandri. For the last four years, Zandri has been among a small corps of people fundraising for the town’s fireworks.

“There is nothing easy about what I’m doing,” Zandri warned, noting that each year the goal has only narrowly been met.

Wallingford has secured The Campus at Greenhill as a $15,000 sponsor for the last two years. The rest of the funds are raised through private donations and at a dinner.

Zandri said many will question if the fireworks are worth it because it is something people want, but do not necessarily need.

“When things are bad, we need these types of things,” said Zandri, who is running for mayor. “The community needs these types of activities to keep the community looking on the bright side.”

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. has said that budget issues are to blame for the absence offireworks funding.

“I don’t dislike fireworks ,” Dickinson told the Record-Journal last month. “I think they’re fun, actually.”

But the cost of fireworks could make them a questionable expense.

“It’s a difficult decision because, at the end of the day, it’s just fireworks,” Iovanna said. “On the other hand, it’s an important thing. Everybody has always gone as kid and brings their kids now. And it’s a huge patriotic thing.”

Rohde agreed, noting that it is an important event for the city. In his resolution, Rohde noted that the holiday “should be appropriately celebrated in keeping with the expectations of our residents.”

“It ranks with the lights in the park at Christmas and the Daffodil Festival,” Rohde said. “Those are things that put Meriden on the map. It’s free and allows people to enjoy with their families. I think all of that factored in with the decision.”

Collections for Saturday June 15th - Wayne and Steve will be at the Recycling Center and the Landfill to about noon. Let’s increase the GRAND FINALE to the 2013 show and right now you can QUADRUPLE the impact of your donation

You may have already seen the blog post titled “An opportunity to increase the GRAND FINALE to the 2013 show and a chance to QUADRUPLE the impact of your donation” but if not please take a quick look via the link.

In summary, I have pledged my entire Town Council pay for the quarter – up to $1,500.00 – as part of a donation matching effort and at this point we are sitting just a hair over $1,000.00. With that I am committing an additional $1,000.00 to The Fund so out total to date for the Grand Finale for the Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Independence Day Celebration is $2,000.00

There's more to the story - Atlas PyroVision Productions who the town had contracted with to do the show has offered to The Fund to match whatever additional amount we send them towards the Grand Finale so they are currently pledging an additional $2,000.00 against this planned donation at this point.

As we keep moving the needle over this weekend I will continue my matching and they will as well. We can very easily get the total up to $1,500.00 which adds $6,000.00 to the GRAND FINALE.

We have until June 21st. We’ll be out from 8AM to Noon (or a little after that) at the Wallingford Landfill and the Recycling Center to collect the additional donations for the Grand Finale to the Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Independence Day Celebration – we hope you can stop by.

Otherwise please feel free to mail those donations in or donate via Paypal.

Below is the link to Paypal or you can mail your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

 

The Rock Hill KKids donation takes the weekend totals to the edge of $1,000.00 for the GRAND FINALE push

Cheryl DiBennedetto and Angela Buccheri co-advise Rock Hill's K-Kids which is a group of third, fourth, and fifth graders. This year the group has done many projects including: a Pennies for Patients campaign, a book drive for Read to Grow, Inc, and a Relay for Life team.

The final project of the year was an ice pop sale for the Wallingford Firework Fund.

In the weeks leading up to the sale students made posters and announcements. The day of the sale students counted and delivered pops to classrooms. The suggested donation was a dollar but many families exceeded that with very generous donations. The advisors assumed the money raised would go towards next year's celebration since the fundraising goal had been met. They were not aware of the Grand Finale campaign until fourth grader Hadley Rogers told them excitedly in school Friday morning.

With that, they made their $273.00 donation Saturday morning at the collection station I was working at the Wallingford Landfill and helped push that total and the total collected at the Recycling Center by Wayne Montefusco to $718.00.

With Paypal donations sitting at $243.00 the current balance toward the Grand Finale is now $961.00.

I pledged last week that I would match up to $1,500.00 all donations made to The Fund out of my Town Council pay for Q2 (that is the entire amount I earn for the quarter). So that adds an additional $961.00 for a new total of $1,922.00

In discussions I had with Atlas PyroVision Productions, who the town has contracted again this year to do the show, they agreed to help us with the effort - they are willing to match The Fund donations toward the add on to the Grand Finale dollar for dollar as well (up to $3,000.00) so right now the add on to the Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration sits at $3,844.00.

I am really excited over the response since we just got started Friday morning!

I am setting the bar - Wallingford can hit $1,500.00; that taps out my entire match at $1,500.00 and Atlas' for their $3,000.00.

So the reality is - we have "just" $539.00 to go to make a set target. (But we'll keep collecting above and beyond that).

Weather permitting this will be our best show ever!

So with that let's mail those donations in or donate via Paypal.

Below is the link to Paypal or you can mail your tax deductible donation to:
Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

Rock Hill KKids make a donation towards the Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Independence Day Celebration Grand Finale

The Rock Hill KKids made a donation this AM. I’ll have more on this in another post over the weekend but in short it was a $273.00 donation that I am going to match so that makes the donation $546.00 and with Atlas matching the donation from The Fund this donation is $1,092.00 in total going towards the Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Independence Day Celebration Grand Finale!

Rock Hill KKids, what can I say? You do in fact, ROCK!

The sun is out; Wayne and I will be at the Recycling Center and the Landfill to about noon. Let’s increase the GRAND FINALE to the 2013 show and right now you can QUADRUPLE the impact of your donation.

I put up a blog post Thursday night titled “An opportunity to increase the GRAND FINALE to the 2013 show and a chance to QUADRUPLE the impact of your donation” and in that time we have already collected via Paypal $220.00.

I have pledged my entire Town Council pay for the quarter – up to $1,500.00 - as part of a donation matching effort so that makes the total $440.00.

Atlas PyroVision Productions who the town had contracted with to do the show has offered to The Fund to match whatever additional amount we send them towards the Grand Finale so they are currently pledging $440.00 against our donations.

In basically 24 hours we have moved the needle $880.00.

We have until June 21st. We’ll be out from 9AM to Noon (or a little after that) at the Wallingford Landfill and the Recycling Center to collect the additional donations for the Grand Finale to the Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Independence Day Celebration – we hope you can stop by.

Otherwise please feel free to mail those donations in or donate via Paypal.

Below is the link to Paypal or you can mail your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

An opportunity to increase the GRAND FINALE to the 2013 show and a chance to QUADRUPLE the impact of your donation.

I spent some time exchanging emails with Atlas PyroVision Productions who the town had contracted with to do the show. This is the same vendor that the town used last year. The emails lead to a phone call and a conversation regarding the Grand Finale.

The Fund tried to find a corporate sponsor last year to increase the size of the Grand Finale and we were unsuccessful. This year was the same too – no corporation came forward to be the Grand Finale Sponsor in 2013.

With that, we ended up this year as we did last year with what I will call a packaged grand finale. It is a nice finale and it fits within the constraints of the cost of the overall budget of the show - $11,600.00

So working with Atlas PyroVision Productions to see what we could do about upping the end of the show they came up with the following offer: whatever we can drum up in donations from now to June 21st (as Monday the 24th is the last day they can make program changes) they will match donations dollar for dollar.

In the spirit of that effort I am personally going to do the same out of my own pocket so that your donation has FOUR TIMES THE IMPACT. I will match your donations dollar for dollar.

If you go online today at the Paypal link below (or mail in your donation) and donate (as an example) $25.00, the end result of your donation becomes $100.00. As you donate $25.00 I will put in a matching amount into the Fund for a total of $50.00. When that donation is sent to Atlas PyroVision Productions as payment on the upgraded Grand Finale, they will add their $50.00 to it and the total donation will become $100.00.

I have a maximum of $1,500.00 to do this with but I would love to have a problem of running out of money to match with; at that point alone the finale would be $6,000.00 worth of fireworks as your donations and my match would be matched by them to total $6,000.00 (in this example).

So let’s do this Wallingford; we have 15 days. Let’s see just how much more we can drive into the Grand Finale for the 2013 event!

Below is the link to Paypal or you can mail your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

VIDEO – The Wallingford Fireworks Fund makes the donation to the Town of Wallingford

Below is the video clip from the May 25th Town Council meeting where Steve Murray, Wayne Montefusco, and myself made the donation to the Town of Wallingford for the Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration.

The money collected and donated not only covered the cost for the Independence Day Fireworks celebration (including all the costs for the town services and overtime) but it also covered the costs to have the R Band perform. Those costs are the fees for the band itself along with the additional overtime for Public Works and use of the ShowMobile and the sound system rental and setup.

This is incredibly important to note; the Fund has never been able to save the R Band performance before. The performance in 2012 was made possible by funds remaining in the Park and Recreation budget the the Council restored for that use; prior to that the last time they performed was the last time the event was paid for by the town which was 2009.

That was all made possible by you Wallingford. Pat yourselves on the back and keep up to date on the blog for any other updates between now and the Independence Day Fireworks celebration (just 34 days away at the time of this post on June 2, 2013).

Winners and Losers this week in the Record Journal

As published in the Record Journal on Saturday June 1, 2013

For the fourth consecutive year, fundraising has made the annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration possible. In 2009, the mayor stopped including funds for fireworks show in the town budget. In response, Town Councilors Jason Zandri and Craig Fishbein formed the Wallingford Fireworks Fund, a nonprofit organization, to raise money for the event. Fishbein has since ended his participation with the group, but still advocates for the show. Zandri continues to work with a small group of volunteers that collected the approximately $30,000 that’s needed for the show.

Donations ensure Wallingford’s July Fourth fireworks

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday May 29, 2013

By Andrew Ragali
Record-Journal staff
aragali@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224
Twitter:@AndyRagz

WALLINGFORD — For the fourth consecutive year, fundraising has made the annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration possible.

The fireworks show is scheduled for July 6 at 9:15 p.m. Fireworks will be launched from the knoll by Moran Middle School and will be viewable from the grounds of Sheehan High School and Highland Elementary School.

In 2009, the mayor stopped including funds for fireworks show in the town budget. In response, Town Councilors Jason Zandri and Craig Fishbein formed the Wallingford Fireworks Fund, a nonprofit organization, to raise money for the event. Fishbein has since ended his participation with the group, but still advocates for the show. Zandri continues to work with a small group of volunteers that collected the approximately $30,000 that’s needed for the show.

The group began its fundraising effort in March, when Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. informed Zandri that the fireworks show would again be left out of the budget. Since then, the group has raised $29,548.

Zandri said a minimum of $24,000 is needed for the show. An additional $3,300 will be used for the R-Band, an orchestral group that will play music during the fireworks.

The expected $3,000 surplus will be set aside for next year’s show. Zandri, a Democrat who is running for mayor, said the money won’t be needed if he is elected because he would include funds for the fireworks show in the budget.

Town Council Vice Chairman Vincent Cervoni congratulated Zandri and his fellow fundraisers. “If people feel strongly about something, they will contribute to it,” Cervoni said.

Dickinson, a Republican who has yet to announce whether he will seek his 16th term as mayor, has said that budget issues are to blame for the absence of fireworks funding.

“I don’t dislike fireworks,” Dickinson said. “I think they’re fun, actually.”

Money received from the fireworks fund will be appropriated to various departments, Dickinson said. Costs for the event include $11,576 for the fireworks show, $10,900 for emergency services overtime, $180 for bathrooms, and $400 each for the services of the Public Works Department and the Board of Education.

About $3,500 was raised at a dinner last week. About $5,000 was raised while asking for donations at local businesses, including Dunkin’ Donuts and Stop & Shop. A $15,000 donation came from The Campus at Greenhill, a Wallingford office complex on Route 68 that’s run by Gale Development Services. The Campus at Greenhill also donated $15,000 last year. “They want to be a good community partner,” Zandri said.

Because of the donation, the event will be titled Campus at Greenhill 2013 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration.

Fishbein called the office complex a “great partner in raising money” for the event. The fireworks show “is always an event I’ve supported,” he said, adding that it’s “unfortunate the town doesn’t see fit to fund it.”

Fishbein said about 12,000 people show up for the show every year.

Zandri thanked his father, Geno Zandri, for countless hours of work collecting donations.

TONIGHT - (May 28, 2013) The Fund will be presenting the donation for the 2013 event to Wallingford at the Town Council meeting

Tonight at the regularly scheduled Town Council meeting I will be asking to waive Rule 5 in order to present to the town (on behalf of The Fund) the donation for the 2013 Independence Day celebration which includes all the costs for the event (the fireworks, the town services, overtime for police and fire, etc.) as well as all the costs for the R Band performance which we were also able to save.

The meeting starts at 6:30 and I am expecting to be able to waive Rule 5 fairly early if you wanted to stop by and just see the Town Council vote on accepting the donation.

Thank you again Wallingford for helping us to get it done.

CONGRATULATIONS WALLINGFORD; You’ve saved the 2013 Fireworks and restored the R Band Performance

All the checks are deposited and while there are still a few bills left to pay there’s enough money remaining in the “remainder” bucket to cover everything INCLUDING the R Band performance which the Fund has never been able to do before. The performance in 2012 was made possible by funds remaining in the Park and recreation budget; prior to that the last time they performed was the last time the event was paid for by the town which was 2009.

I had two checks made out today from the bank before they closed at 2PM.

The first one is for the fireworks event itself which covers all the costs for the show and whoever the town contracts with (The Fund does not pick the fireworks vendor – Wallingford does that on its own). These costs include the fireworks themselves and all the town services; The Fund pays for everything:

In addition to that, we were able to keep our costs to a minimum and with that savings and the stretch fundraising we did this weekend off the Dinner Fundraiser take, we were also able to cut a check for an additional $3,300.00 to cover the costs of the R Band and the sound system rental and the costs associated with using the Wallingford Show Mobile.

A lot of things had to come together to make this possible and it all comes back to people willing to get involved and help us; from the volunteers collecting to John and Jane Wallingford coming out to make donations to the buckets and coming to the dinner to support the cause.

It was the businesses who have supported us this year (and some for four years running) by taking ads in the program book and pledging at higher sponsorship levels. (Over the next few weeks I am going post all of the sponsors and donators here on the blog).

It was Gale Development and the Campus at Greenhill making the pledge to be the Naming Convention Sponsor for the second year in a row and coming through with that donation in the nick of time.

It was all these things together; no one thing was going to save the show all by itself but any one thing missing could have prevented it from becoming a reality.

Once again, Wallingford pulls all at once and gets it done.

Congratulations Wallingford; we hope you enjoy your show – scheduled (weather permitting, there is NO RAIN DATE) for Saturday July 6th, 2013 at nightfall (around 9:15PM) shot off from the knoll by Moran Middle School and viewed from the grounds of Sheehan and Highland Schools.

We’ll see you there.

Donations are coming in online via Paypal – we have less than $900.00 to go

As of 10:30AM this morning we are just $900.00 from the goal.

Wayne is out collecting at Stop and Shop and that in combination with whatever comes in the mail today and online might get us over the top

Please consider mailing your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

Additionally – you can make your donation to PAYPAL as well.

Collections will be at Stop and Shop and the Landfill only this morning

Well the weather is sticking it to us today; we wanted to collect at all three locations but the volume is going to be too low at the Recycling Center with the rain to make it worthwhile. My father is heading over to the Landfill but if the traffic is too low he’ll be gone by 10AM.

Stop and Shop is going to be questionable; we’ll head over and see if we can set up and stay dry. If that works out we’ll be there from 9AM to 1PM

I am really hoping that between he collections this morning and with the checks that people mail in and the payments coming in via Paypal we can gap the remaining dollars we need to hit our $30,000.00 goal and make it to the stretch point to save the R Band performance the night of the show as well.

As of this morning we are just $1,400.00 from the goal; let’s go Wallingford – let’s get over that line.

Please consider mailing your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

Additionally – you can make your donation to PAYPAL as well.

STRETCH GOAL – Let’s restore the R Band too

With the target in site let’s ante it up a little further Wallingford.

As you know, the Wallingford Fireworks Fund has never been able to restore the R Band performance at the show. We’ve never had enough money left over after paying all the other bills. Last year they played because money left in the Parks and Recreation budget was available for this use and a lot of people enjoyed the performance.

Unfortunately, there are no funds left in the Parks and Recreation budget this year for a repeat performance.

Having said that, I am going to see if we can’t make the stretch goal over the weekend to restore them too.

Now hear this Wallingford supporters of the Wallingford Fireworks event – Please consider helping us a little more; get us over the line on the fireworks and let’s stretch for restoring the R Band too.

Saturday May 25th we will be at the Wallingford Landfill and the Recycling center from 8AM to about noon as well as Stop and Shop from 9AM to about 1PM; stop by with your donations.

If you can make it – please consider mailing your tax deductible donation to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

Additionally – you can make your donation to PAYPAL as well at the button at the bottom of this post.

This is Wallingford and we can do anything.

Let’s roll.

Campus At Greenhill Naming Sponsor Donation HITS – we are in striking distance of our 2013 goal

With the Dinner Fundraiser over and the announcement to the 140 people in attendance of the Campus at Greenhill Donation hitting our account this morning, we are now just about $2,500.00 short of our 2013 goal of $30,000.00

Diane will be collecting tomorrow (Friday 5/24) at Dunkin Donuts in Yalesville.

On Saturday the 25th (weather permitting) my father will be at the Landfill and Wayne will be at the Recycling Center from 8AM to about noon. Charlotte will be at Stop and Shop from 9AM to about 1PM.

This weekend is it – we can gap that $2,500.00 with these last collections.

Hope to see you there

7 Days, $15,907.00 to the 2013 goal. TONIGHT is the DINNER FUNDRAISER

We are just 7 days from the 2013 collection deadline. Our 2013 goal was to raise $30,000.00 before the final Friday in May (the date set by the Town Administration for when the funds must be donated for the event).

Right now we are still $15,907.00 short.

TONIGHT Thursday May 23rd is the Dinner Fundraiser.

We will also be collecting over this weekend (weather permitting) at the Landfill, Recycling Center and at Stop and Shop.

Next week is the final week of collections and we’ll be at Dunkin Donuts during the morning rush.

At this point it is highly unlikely we are going to hit our targets and save the event for 2013.

But until 5PM on Friday May 31st we are going to keep at it.

Please come to the Dinner Fundraiser – you’re going to eat well, have fun, and enjoy some really good music.

And you never know, maybe with some goodwill and a few deep pockets, perhaps the show can be saved after all.

See you tonight!

8 Days, $16,207.00 to the 2013 goal. TOMORROW is the DINNER FUNDRAISER

We are just 8 days from the 2013 collection deadline. Our 2013 goal was to raise $30,000.00 before the final Friday in May (the date set by the Town Administration for when the funds must be donated for the event).

Thursday May 23rd is the Dinner Fundraiser; we will also be collecting over this weekend (weather permitting) at the Landfill, Recycling Center and at Stop and Shop.

Next week is the final week of collections and we’ll be at Dunkin Donuts during the morning rush.

At this point it is highly unlikely we are going to hit our targets and save the event for 2013.

But until 5PM on Friday May 31st we are going to keep at it.

Please come to the Dinner Fundraiser – you’re going to eat well, have fun and enjoy some really good music.

And you never know, maybe with some goodwill and a few deep pockets, perhaps the show can be saved after all.

See you there!

20 days remain, $18,000.00 on the collection drive to go / Collections this weekend washed out by the rain

Good morning Wallingford.

I wanted to update everyone as to our current status of the cancelled Wallingford Fireworks and Independence Day Celebration and let people know that the push is still on to restore this event for 2013.

There are just 20 days left as of today (May 11th) and we still need to raise an additional $18,000.00 to reach the 2013 fundraising campaign goal of $30,000.00. This is per the Mayor’s timeline for when the funds are due – the last Friday of the month of May which this year is the 31st.

This collection effort is for the entire cost of the event – the fireworks themselves and all the municipal services overtime for the police, fire and Public Works departments; none of the costs are being carried by the Town of Wallingford, we either fundraise all of them or the event does not go on.

While we are behind in the effort to date, we are still pressing forward. We are Wallingford and we will get this done.

I am still working on securing the pledge from Campus at Greenhill and Gale Development; if they come in as pledged which is at the same levels as last year it’ll put us a lot closer to the finish line. In the meantime we keep driving this “as is” and we will be back out collecting.

We had planned to be out this morning at the Recycling Center and the landfill but the rain stopped that.

Your individual donations have always been critical but never more than this year; the long winter hampered our March fundraising efforts. We did play a little catch up in April and are now at just about $12,000.00 even. Given just that and averaging forward over the remaining 20 days, we will fall short by about $14,000.00 unless the mail in donations make-up the difference.

Please make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri
35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can also donate below via PAYPAL if you choose. See the link at the bottom of the page.

We have advertising rates for our 2013 program guide available as well as formal sponsorship of the 2013 event at varying levels; if you or anyone you know can and wish to support us at those levels please drop me an email at Jason@Zandri.net and I will forward you the information.

The 2013 Sponsor Book will be handed out at ALL fundraising events (the first printing is set to go at the end of next week on May 17th), this includes the annual dinner fundraiser and any other events we'll be having until the July 4th fireworks show. (If there are still copies remaining for Celebrate Wallingford 2013 we'll hand them out there as well).

As of today we have set the date for the Dinner Fundraiser at the Stillwood Inn for Thursday May 23, 2013 with a SPECIAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCE from MIKEY WAX (scheduled to appear).  

If you have any capacity and / or desire to continue to help us with the efforts in keeping this grand Wallingford family tradition alive please do not hesitate to contact me directly. Spreading the word to friends and neighbors that might support the efforts is always welcome as well.

Thank you again for your past support and our ongoing efforts.

Jason Zandri

President – Wallingford Fireworks Fund

http://www.wallingfordfireworks.org/