Wallingford Town Council Meeting and agenda item regarding the 2015 Independence Day Celebration

The portion of the Council meeting that is applicable to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund begins at 19:20 if you don’t want to sit through the entire meeting.

Here are the nuts and bolts – at this point there is no hard and fast decision rendered by the town.

We will fundraise this year with the intention to have the Town of Wallingford host the show on the school grounds, where they have been for decades, through a donation from the fund, as it has been done since 2010.

The Fund is not planning to raise more than the actual cost of the fireworks themselves for 2015. Traditionally this has been about $12,000.00 and we are estimating $15,000.00 this year. We would expect the Town of Wallingford to front the costs of the city services.

If the Town of Wallingford chooses at budget time to not fund enough overtime into the budgets of Police, Fire, Public Works, and the Board of Education janitorial staff then the show will not take place as a function of a donation by the fund to the Town.

At that time, we will look for other possible locations in Wallingford to privately host the show ourselves.

We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it – after the budget has been voted on and then signed (or vetoed) by Mayor Dickinson.

As an aside and as part of the discussion, in order to host the event, be it by a donation to the Town of Wallingford proper or by the Fund doing it on its own, the event will likely NOT be held on July 4th. The more likely date at this time is one week later on July 11th.

Please take the time to watch the video and take in all of the discussion – it answers a lot of questions but in the event you still have more please feel free to reach out to me directly at Jason@Zandri.net

Fundraising for “The Fund” Saturday June 14th and Sunday June 15th at Wallingford Stop and Shop

HAPPY FLAG DAY EVERYONE

We are fundraising today, Saturday June 14 and tomorrow Sunday June 15 to cover the remainder of our expenses for 2014 at the Wallingford Stop and Shop.

In order to cover the $25,000.00 cost of the show for 2014 we needed to draw out our entire account and we have bills due (food costs from the dinner fund raiser, thank you letters to send, monthly checking account service costs, etc.).

We are planning to be there from 8AM Saturday to about 1PM and then from at least noon to 3PM on Sunday.

Any remaining funds beyond our current bills will be kept for the 2015 event.

If you’ve already supported us we thank you so much. If you have a couple more dollars to give we can use it, everything helps.

Beyond that the information for the show itself is as follows:

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION - SATURDAY JULY 5^TH

ON THE GROUNDS OF SHEEHAN HIGH - SHOW STARTS AROUND 9:15PM

WEATHER PERMITTING – IF IT RAINS AND THE TOWN CALLS THE SHOW IT IS CANCELLED; THERE IS NO RAIN DATE

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.

‪

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

Upcoming “shake the pail” efforts for the Wallingford Fireworks 2014 event

Hey gang - good morning.

Here is the run down the next few weeks of where we have locations for collecting donations.

The message here is really two fold – we want to let you know where we will be in the hopes that if you’re interested in supporting the effort you can swing by and make a donation. At the same time, we can use some more volunteers if folks have that interest as well; we have more work than people right now so if donating your time is something you’d like to do as well please let me know.

The May 30th deadline set by Mayor Dickinson is just six weeks away and we still need to collect an additional $22,000.00 to lock in the event for 2014.

Here is the upcoming schedule:

Saturday 4/26 planned 8 to 1 at the Landfill and the recycling center (both locations).

Friday 5/2 planned for Stop and Shop around 3:30PM to 7:30PM

Saturday 5/3 planned 8 to 1 at the Landfill, the recycling center and the Yalesville Dunkin Donuts (all three locations)

Friday 5/9 planned for Stop and Shop around 3:30PM to 7:30PM

Saturday 5/10 planned 8 to 1 (possibly to 2 if the traffic volume supports it) at the Landfill and the recycling center (two locations)

 

Thanks again for your support in both monetary donations and the donation of time and effort – both are needed equally to make this a success.

If you’d like to make a donation, you can mail your tax deductible 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

 

Fireworks fundraising collections this Saturday morning April 19th

We are ready to start our collections this morning and we have a hair over $4,000.00 collected all together; that is about 15% of what we need. Normally by this point we are at about $9,000.00; the March collections were seriously impacted due to the long winter. We are hoping the thaw and the mail campaign starts to make up for that.

We also have a dinner fundraiser planned and we’ll be posting details for that this week. 

In the meantime, we had an original collection goal for 2014 of $35,000.00 we have reduced that to the bare minimum of $30,000.00 which puts the performance of the R Band at the show at risk (that is the first thing we have cut in the past to save the overall show as it is a larger item and the show can continue without it as needed). Even by reducing that total cost (for the band and the sound system of $3,190.00) we would still need to collect a bare minimum of $24,250.00. Of that $11,925.00 are the fireworks themselves; $12,325.00 are mainly the town services for police and fire overtime as well as some costs for the the fire marshal and the board of education custodial overtime.

The deadline for these donations, which ever one we meet, is due to the town of Wallingford by May 30th for the show scheduled for July 5th, 2014.

If we cannot collect what is needed to pay for the entire event there will likely be no show this year. At this point in time, just as it has been since 2010, the Town itself is not affording any funding to this event. The job to save the celebration is ours “we the people” to make or break unless something changes.

We will be at the Wallingford Landfill and the Recycling Center until about noon today or perhaps a little later if you can swing by and drop your donation into the bucket.

Alternately – 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 $27640.00

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

 

This is our task for 2014. It is up to Wallingford businesses and residents again, as it has been since 2010, to save the show.

We hope you can help out in any way you can; every dollar helps

Shake the pail collections on Saturday morning April 12th

March as well as the first week of April have come and gone.

Our collection balance is just $3,230.00 presently; that is about 11% of what we need. We had an original collection goal for 2014 of $35,000.00 we have reduced that to the bare minimum of $30,000.00 which puts the performance of the R Band at the show at risk (that is the first thing we have cut in the past to save the overall show as it is a larger item and the show can continue without it as needed.

The deadline for the donation to the town of Wallingford is May 30th for the show scheduled for July 5th, 2014

If we cannot collect what is needed to pay for the entire event there will be no show this year; at this point in time, just as it has been since 2010, the Town itself is not affording any funding to this event. The job to save the celebration is ours “we the people” to make or break.

We will be at the Wallingford Landfill and the Recycling Center until about noon today if you can swing by and drop your donation into the bucket.

Alternately – 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:

Wallingford is going to be able to extend the bid that we had on the show we’ve been getting over the prior two years at $11,925.00

The other costs that they have available for us are as follows:
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

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 Marshall                                  $  950.00
Fire Department Overtime            $2,100.00
Police Department Overtime        $8,250.00

So we are looking at least at an additional $11,725.00 on top of the known $15,715.00

This is our task for 2014. It is up to Wallingford businesses and residents again, as it has been since 2010, to save the show.

We hope you can help out in any way you can; every dollar helps.

Fundraising meeting to be held; open call for volunteers

We have some of the information on “exact” costs of the services from the Wallingford Parks and Recreation Department.

Wallingford is going to be able to extend the bid that we had on the show we’ve been getting over the prior two years at $11,925.00

The other costs that they have available for us are as follows:

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

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 Marshall                                  $  950.00
Fire Department Overtime            $2,100.00
Police Department Overtime        $8,250.00

So we are looking at least at an additional $11,725.00 on top of the known $15,715.00

The long winter has hampered our early donation collection efforts - in prior years we would have been already out the past two weekends and this one as well. We are hoping to get started next weekend so with that we are going to hold our fundraising meeting and we are making an open call to those that want to volunteer their time to help out.

We will be meeting on Tuesday March 18th at Gaetano’s Tavern on Main at 7:30PM to discuss fundraising efforts and possible event between now and the end of May when The Fund needs to make the donation to the town.

Please consider joining the effort even if you have only a few hours to spare overall – we can use all the help we can get. 

Campus at Greenhill 2014 Wallingford Fireworks Celebration - Wallingford Fireworks Fund

With the first weekend of March here, as we have in each of the past four (save year one), we are kicking off our fundraising campaign.

This year we are presented with many headwind challenges starting with the weather.

In years past we would have tried to collections started this week (and in the past have) but with eight inches of snow on the ground and more forecasted we are hampered to even begin and it looks as if next weekend will be equally impaired.

Now it might sound like there’s plenty of time but there really isn’t. Although the fireworks are not normally scheduled until the Saturday after the 4th (which this year will be July 5th) the money is due to the Town of Wallingford per Mayor Dickinson’s directive by the last Friday in May which is the 30th.

That leaves us just 12 weeks to collect donations.

Last year was very successful – with Campus at Greenhilll as the Naming Convention Sponsor for the second year in a row (2012 and 2013) we were able to keep pulling donations right to the very last week and were able to restore the R Band performance which we never had been able to do prior. We are hopeful for the same success this year as well from both the perspective of keeping Campus at Greenhilll as the Naming Convention Sponsor as well as locking in the performance by the R Band.

Our efforts and your donations from 2013 covered every expense of the show – from the fireworks themselves to the Police and Fire department overtime as the Town of Wallingford shares none of the expenses of the show and hasn’t since the 2010 cancellation. We are expecting more of the same for this year as well. (I will be confirming with a call to the Mayor’s office on Monday March 3rd).

As such the costs are estimated as follows (from 2013 and expected to increase for 2014 as all costs do):

Fireworks Show 2014		$11,925.00
Police Overtime		$8,250.00
Fire Department / Overtime		$2,100.00
Port-o-lets		$200.00
Fire Marshall		$950.00
Public Works		$425.00
Board of Ed		$425.00
R Band and Sound		$3,400.00
2014 Total Show expense		$27,675.00

Now the variables.

The contract with the prior fireworks vendor has expired and the cost for the fireworks has to go out to bid. The Town of Wallingford does this – the Fireworks Fund has no part in that process.

The 2010 show was our most expensive at $16,500.00 (with the total cost of the show that year of $28,312.00 and the performance by the R Band was cut because we barely made the amount needed).

So as of right now we have no hard, fast cost on the fireworks themselves.

I have a letter in the mail to Comptroller Jim Bowes to hammer out the costs of all the Wallingford services overtime so at least with will become a known quantity.

The other major impact this year is the loss of a major work contributor on behalf of the effort in my father Geno Zandri Jr. He has been a solid supporter of the effort in years past dedicating hundreds of hours to the pail shaking collection efforts but like so many other people today – he has to curtail his time in a major way with so many other things he has going on.

His loss will be significantly felt.

Steve Murray, Wayne Montefusco and I have sat down to discuss what to do and we have split up the work and we are off.

As much as we need people’s donations we need people’s time as well to help us with the collection efforts this year.

In a week or two we will have a formal fundraising committee meeting and we are hoping new workers will step up to help.

The three of us have talked and have decided we’ll commit the time, some personal money, and effort to the cause.

The rest is up to Wallingford as it always has been to save the show once again.

Let’s roll.

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.

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.

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.