For the 5th year running, Wallingford saves her 4th of July Independence Day celebration.

To be presented to Mayor Dickinson on Monday morning:

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

06/02/2014

Mayor William Dickinson Jr.
45 South Main Street
Wallingford CT 06492

Good morning Mayor Dickinson,

It is with great pleasure that the Wallingford Fireworks Fund presents this check to the Town of Wallingford on behalf of the citizens and business owners of the town in support of the Wallingford 4^th of July Independence Day celebration.

Since 2010, the start of the fifth decade of this grand Wallingford tradition on the school grounds on the west side of town, the supporters of this event have donated their time, money, and efforts, to the preservation and continuation of the event which commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring our nation’s independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Please find enclosed the total sum of $24,959.00 for all the associated expenditures of the show which consist of the cost of the pyrotechnics, as well as all the costs for the town services used for the event, including but not limited to, Police Department overtime, Fire Department overtime, Fire Marshal fees, costs for the Board of Education overtime, as well as other ancillary costs.

It is our hope that in the future the Town will plan ahead for the reinstatement of this community event alongside all of the other community events still maintained by the town proper. We are certain the Administration understands the difference between “just” maintaining a town and supporting a prospering and thriving community and it is with that presumed understanding that consideration will be given again for this event in the future.

Until that time, we will continue our efforts for as long as we are able to perform the work and as long as we have the backing of the community.

Jason Zandri
President – Wallingford Fireworks Fund
http://www.wallingfordfireworks.org/

Volunteers confident Wallingford fireworks will happen - collecting at the Landfill and Recycling on Saturday 5/31 at 8AM

Volunteers confident Wallingford fireworks will happen (was published in the paper).

$150.00 to go at the time of this posting (12:30PM on Friday 5/30). We do have checks left for us down the Stillwood Inn so we are likely even closer.

Wayne and I will be at the resident disposal center on Pent Road (the Town Landfill) and the recycling center on John Street to collect more donations starting at 8AM on Saturday May 31st.

Please come by and see us. The weather looks nice today. If you cannot make it please consider hitting us at Paypal:

Thank you for all the support since March and helping us get this done.

‪

14 minute show at McCoy Field – Home of the Pawtucket Red Sox

This was after the Memorial Day game on May 26, 2014

Down to the final $1,000; we have been extended to Monday June 2nd

This is it folks. We had our meeting with the Council on Tuesday night to report out where we were. I took the opportunity to ask them to cover the $13,000 in city services and we were declined. I followed up with “just” the police at $9,000 seeing as how they are overfunded every year and could easily absorb their own costs.

The Mayor said “NO”.

The Council made no motions so no attempt to change anything was made.

This is the end; with respect to all the increases in general, the costs for the city services now exceed the show itself. We are dictated to carry them as set by the town and they are not obligated to do anything to make it any easier for us despite the fact that they could.

All the checks I have are cleared of the accounts and I have more cash that was dropped off – we have basically $1,000 more to raise.

We have the “OK” to drop the check off on Monday morning as opposed to Friday at the close of business so that gives us the next four days.

We really need the funds in; I know many people like to write a check and mail it so if you need to do that today is the day. I need it to be deposited and cleared before Saturday so I can get a bank check to present to the town on Monday.

If you want to mail it please make it out and send it to:

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

Other than that we do have a Paypal account to accept donations:

Additionally, donations can be dropped at Wallingford Lamp and Shade on Center Street.

We will be collecting at the Landfill and the Recycling Center on Saturday May 31st. from 8AM to about 1PM – you can swing by and drop your donations there as well.

See you at the finish line.

The cash totals are in from the weekend collections – we are still $1,267.25 from our target

All the cash is counted - we are still $1,267.25 from our target.

As a reminder here are the details of what we are now expected to pay (please see our prior blog post where our costs rose):

Fireworks Show 2014		$11,925.00
Police Overtime		$9,004.00
Fire Department / Overtime		$2,400.00
Port-o-lets		$200.00
Fire Marshall		$950.00
Board of Ed		$480.00
R Band and Sound (cancelled)		$0.00
2014 Total Show expense		$24,959.00
Current cash		$23,691.75
To estimated show target		($1,267.25)
Original 2014 Goal		$30,000.00
To 2014 Campaign Goal		($6,308.25)

 

We are not going to make our 2014 campaign goals (which would have allowed us to save the R Band performance as we did last year) and we need another $1,267.25 to simply restore the show.

The clock is ticking.

You can donate by mail; make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to:

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

The main issue now with getting checks via mail is their clearing in time to present a check to the town by the deadline date.

We also accept donations by PayPal

Every dollar helps us reach that goal – we are only going to get there with your help.

We will be at the REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING on TUESDAY May 27, 2014 to report out to the Town Council – if you have the time to make the meeting please consider coming down.

Thank you for all your support to date – a little more gets us over the line with effectively no time to spare.

We have successfully done this in each of the prior four years (since 2010) – I know we can do this again.

Saturday collections are up – Come visit us at the Yalesville Dunkin Donuts or at the Wallingford Landfill

We just got Wayne set up at 6:30AM and Kelly will be at the Landfill starting at 8AM and Charlotte will be there to take over at 11AM. We plan to be at both locations until at least noon and hopefully until 1PM (as long as the heavier rain holds off).

As of yesterday’s blog post we still needed about $4,700 to cover the full cost of the show including all of the town services – costs that have gone up sharply this year. (We will be following up with the Town Council regarding this on Tuesday.)

Further, until 11:59PM on Monday May 26th (Memorial Day) I will personally match every donation made up to $2,500.

Since then we have collected $920 more in donations; with my $920 on top of that we have $1,480 of the $4,700 we need.

$3,220 remains to be raised and we will be at it this morning.

You can donate by mail; make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to:

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

We also accept donations by PayPal

Every dollar helps us reach that goal – we are only going to get there with your help.

We will be at the REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING on TUESDAY May 27, 2014 to report out to the Town Council – if you have the time to make the meeting please consider coming down.

Thank you for all your support to date – a little more gets us over the line with effectively no time to spare.

WORKSTAGE CONNECTICUT LLC DONATION is in; additional pledges made - $4,700 remains to be raised

In our most recent post "The Fund has been set back an additional $1,459.00 - we are now back to needing just about $7,000.00 again" we have outlined expanded costs being brought to bear by The Fund; namely more man hours being forced upon us as "required" by the town in the form of Fire and Police services for the show - where the Police Department overtime has gone up 12.5 percent and the fire department overtime has gone up 20 percent (and not from salary increases but rather more man hours being brought to bear for the work that needs to be done).

While those details still hold we have some new updates to pass along.

First and foremost I want to acknowledge Workstage, Gale Development and Campus at Greenhill for their $10,000 donation that cleared to our account today – that makes the totals mark as listed (as we were counting their pledge in).

Additionally I want to thank the businesses and individuals that stepped up today to make donations online. All of those additional donations have gapped us to the point where we are now “just” $4,700 short our new goal of $24,959.

On Saturday May 24^th we are going to be collecting at the Dunkin Donuts in Yalesville from 6AM to about 1PM (Wayne will be there most of that time); we will also be at the Landfill. I am trying to line up a volunteer for the Recycling Center as well but we are short a couple people this weekend.

 
We can gap $4,700. I think we can gap it before the end of the day tomorrow and certainly before the weekend is over.

Starting at 5PM today – Friday May 23^rd until 11:59PM on Monday May 26^th (Memorial Day) I will match every donation made up to $2,500.

Donate via Paypal and I’ll match the donation

Donate at our collection points on Saturday and we’ll count it up and I'll match that too.

Let’s roll Wallingford, let's roll and get this done.

The Fund has been set back an additional $1,459.00 - we are now back to needing just about $7,000.00 again

We've had a set back today. A discussion with Jim Bowes yesterday and the Mayor's office today has revealed to us a much higher than expected costs for the town services from the Police and Fire Departments.

We will be at the REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING on TUESDAY May 27, 2014 to report out to the Town Council – if you have the time to make the meeting please consider coming down; I will be discussing this new development there.

Prior - these were the costs for the event that we were working from:

Fireworks Show 2014		$11,925.00
Police Overtime		$8,000.00
Fire Department / Overtime		$2,000.00
Port-o-lets		$200.00
Fire Marshall		$950.00
Public Works		$0.00
Board of Ed		$425.00
R Band and Sound		$0.00
2014 Total Show expense		$23,500.00
To estimated show target		($5,378.00)
Current cash (and Campus pledge - not yet received)		$18,122.00

We received updated information from the Police and Fire Departments regarding man hours and costs and they have increased DRAMATICALLY over 2013:

Fireworks Show 2014		$11,925.00
Police Overtime		$9,004.00
Fire Department / Overtime		$2,400.00
Port-o-lets		$200.00
Fire Marshall		$950.00
Public Works		$0.00
Board of Ed		$480.00
R Band and Sound		$0.00
2014 Total Show expense		$24,959.00
To estimated show target		($6,837.00)
Current cash (and Campus pledge - not yet received)		$18,122.00

So that’s the update right now.

Between now and the deadline I will post regular updates.

I personally think it is ridiculous the radical change in the costs to the overtime we are being forced to pay but it's pretty much dictated to us as a "must have" requirement.

The costs for the Police Department overtime have gone up 12.5 percent and the fire department overtime has gone up 20 percent. These increases are NOT salary driven (all salaries went up less than 3 percent) and are CLEARLY more man hours being forced upon us as "required" by the town.

This can still be done. We've been pushing a bolder up the hill for three months and it has slipped.

We have eight more days and we're going to keep pushing.

You can donate by mail; make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to:

Wallingford Fireworks Fund
c/o Jason Zandri35 Lincoln Drive EXT
Wallingford, CT 06492

9 Days remain - $5,400.00 more to raise

A few more checks arrived and a couple of hand delivered donations came in as well so with that we gained on the total show expense of $23,500.00 – we now sit at needing $5,400.00 more to cut a check to the town of Wallingford for the show.

The R Band performance has been deleted from our costs in order to reduce the overall expenditure; if we somehow manage to collect an additional $3,700.00 for their cost, the cost of the sound system and the set up, as well as the associated overtime costs for Public Works we CAN restore the performance but with only 9 days remaining that is not likely.

We will be at the REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING on TUESDAY May 27, 2014 to report out to the Town Council – if you have the time to make the meeting please consider coming down.

Presently here is the cost line up:

Fireworks Show 2014		$11,925.00
Police Overtime		$8,000.00
Fire Department / Overtime		$2,000.00
Port-o-lets		$200.00
Fire Marshall		$950.00
Public Works		$0.00
Board of Ed		$425.00
R Band and Sound		$0.00
2014 Total Show expense		$23,500.00
To estimated show target		($5,378.00)
Current cash (and Campus pledge - not yet received)		$18,122.00

So that’s the update right now.

Between now and the deadline I will post regular updates.

In the meantime – if you’ve already supported us, thank you. If you have another few dollars to send in now is the time. The money CAN be raised in the remaining time if people are willing to donate.

It’s 54 more $100.00 donations. Or 108 $50.00 donations. $20.00 more from 270 of you closes that gap.

10,000 people are estimated to be at the show - $1.00 a piece does it.

You can donate by mail; make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to:

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

We also accept donations by PayPal:

 

Let’s roll Wallingford, let’s roll.

13 Days remain - $6,000.00 more to raise

Just wanted to update everyone from yesterday’s collection efforts on Saturday the 17th; we managed to pull in about $700.00 collecting in the morning and $300.00 in checks came in so with that we gained on the total show expense of $23,500.00 – we now sit at needing $6,000.00 more to cut a check to the town of Wallingford for the show.

As a result of the overall shortfall the R Band performance has been deleted from our costs; if we somehow manage to collect an additional $3,700.00 for their cost, the cost of the sound system and the set up, as well as the associated overtime costs for Public Works we CAN restore the performance but with only 13 days remaining that is not likely.

Presently here is the cost line up:

Fireworks Show 2014		$11,925.00
Police Overtime		$8,000.00
Fire Department / Overtime		$2,000.00
Port-o-lets		$200.00
Fire Marshall		$950.00
Public Works		$0.00
Board of Ed		$425.00
R Band and Sound		$0.00
2014 Total Show expense		$23,500.00
To estimated show target		($6,017.00)
Current cash (and Campus pledge - not yet received)		$17,483.00

So that’s the update right now.

Between now and the deadline I will post daily updates.

In the meantime – if you’ve already supported us, thank you. If you have another few dollars to send in now is the time. $6,000.00 over 13 days sounds like a lot but it really isn’t.

It’s 60 $100.00 donations. Or 120 $50.00 donations. $20.00 more from 300 of you closes that gap.

10,000 people are estimated to be at the show - $1.00 a piece does it.

You can donate by mail; make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to:

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

We also accept donations by PayPal:

 

Let’s roll Wallingford, let’s roll.

Gale Development / Campus at Greenhill pledges $10,000; $7,000 more needed by May 30th

This is it folks; where the donations really matter the most.

Campus at Greenhill as stepped up for 2014 with a $10,000.00 and offered to partner with The Fund to save our event. This brings their three year total partnership donations to $40,000 with $15,000 donated in 2012 and $15,000 donated in 2013.

Once this donation is received (expected this week by wire transfer) we are still technically $10,000 short for the show.

With that, we are not going to be able to fund the R Band performance. In 2010 and 2011 there was not enough in donations to fund them for the show. They did play in 2012 and 2013. If somehow we raise additional funds in time we will add them back in but as it stands we are unlikely to have the money to cover their costs, the costs of the sound system and the overtime for Public Works to set up and remove the ShowMobile.

Reducing that expense puts us at $7,000 to go and 13 days to do it (from this blog post on 5/17).

This morning we are going to be at the Landfill, The Recycling Center and the Yalesville Dunkin Donuts so if you can swing by with a donation that would be great.

Additionally you can donate by mail; make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to:

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

We also accept donations by PayPal:

So the bottom line is this – our biggest deficit to overcome was 2011 where we needed $5,000 in the last two weeks.

This one is $2,000 more than that in the same time.

This is Wallingford so we are just going to get it done with your help.

Let’s roll

Wallingford Fireworks discussion on The Bobby O Show

My discussion with Robert O’Connor on his show regarding the Wallingford Fireworks.

It’s about 30 minutes long and gives you some of the history and the details regarding the cause this year.

Our deadline for the donation to the town is May 30th (20 days from this posting) – we still need about $17,000.00 to have the base show.

It’s up to us – donate if you can.

Here is the blog post for the Dinner Fundraiser on Thursday the 15th.

You can mail your tax deductable donation (we are a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization - tax id# is 27-2576599) to:

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

We also accept donations online via Paypal

As a reminder of all the costs we have to bear:

Pyrotechnics (fireworks)  $11,925.00

R- Band                       $2,090.00
Sound                          $1,100.00
Public Works               $  400.00
Port-o-Lets                   $  200.00

The above costs are $15,715.00 and the fireworks are $11,925.00 for a total of $27,640.00

I am still waiting on the costs for the Fire Marshall, the Board of Ed person for Sheehan and the overtime for the Fire Department and the Police Department as the Fund is responsible for those costs as well.

In 2013 those costs were:

Board of Ed                                   $  425.00
Fire Marshal                                  $  950.00
Fire Department Overtime            $2,100.00
Police Department Overtime        $8,250.00

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND FAMILY FUNDRAISER DINNER THURSDAY MAY 15, 2014

CAMPUS AT GREENHILL WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS FUND

FAMILY FUNDRAISER DINNER

ZANDRI’S STILLWOOD INN – 7:00P.M.

1074 SO. COLONY RD., WALLINGFORD

THURSDAY MAY 15, 2014

TICKETS: $25.00 EACH / CHILDREN UNDER 12 $12.50

We are a registered 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization; our tax id# is 27-2576599

 

Family Style Baked Chicken, Ziti and Meatballs, Tossed Salad, Italian Bread – Cash bar

SPECIAL PERFORMANCE

Jeff Kenniston and Trent Gerbers of Addison Station

 

For more information, please contact:

Jason Zandri - (860) 614 6069 Jason@Zandri.net

Or visit our blog http://wallingfordfireworks.blogspot.com/

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