Four weeks to go - $20,000.00 to the goal

Good morning Wallingford.

I wanted to update everyone as to our current status and let people know that the push is on.

I want to start of by expressing my personal thanks once again for your past support to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and the Wallingford 4^th of July Independence Day Celebration and for all the donations that have been made so far over the past 60 days for 2013.

There are just 27 days left as of today (May 3rd) and we still need to raise an additional $20,000.00 for the 2013 fundraising campaign.

While we are behind in the effort to date, we are not through.

We still have 27 days and we can get this done by May 31st (the last Friday in May, per the Mayor’s timeline for when the funds are due). The worst case scenario is that we miss the needed donation amount to the town and the show will not occur and we’ll push the funds into 2014.

I know Wallingford better than this - we'll do it. We need the additional donations over the remaining weeks but we are going to keep collecting for them and Wallingford will keep giving as they always do.

Saturday May 4th Wayne and I will be out at the Landfill and the Recyclnig Center from 8AM to about noon; please consider stopping by with your donation.

Your 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 $10,000.00 even. Given just that and averaging forward over the remaining 27 days, we will fall short by about $15,000.00 unless the mail in donations make-up the difference.

We're going to do it because I know Wallingford residents - we will not let this event fail.

You can also donate below via PAYPAL if you choose.

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 (after first printing planned for the second week of May), 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/

One month is down with March behind us; only 60 days remain.

I wanted to drop this open post as an update to where we are and where we need to go.

First and foremost, I want to express my personal thanks once again for your past support to the Wallingford Fireworks Fund and the Wallingford 4^th of July Independence Day Celebration.

The efforts of the past three years have allowed the Wallingford Fireworks Fund, with your help, to save Wallingford’s Independence Day celebration. The fireworks show for 2013 has again gone unfunded by the town without any consideration for the town services, so if the event is to occur we are going to have to fund everything ourselves, the fireworks themselves, the overtime for the police, fire and public works departments, and so forth.

The 2013 campaign effort has a goal of $30,000.00; if we cannot collect this amount by the last Friday in May, per the Mayor’s timeline for when the funds are due, the show will not occur and we’ll push the funds into 2014.

We haven’t needed to do this yet and have no plans to allow that to happen this year either.

Your donations have always been critical but never more than this year; the long winter has hampered our March fundraising efforts. We have collected just $4,000.00 when we’d otherwise have about $8,000.00. Averaging forward over the remaining 60 days, we will fall short by about $15,000.00 unless the mail in donations make-up the difference.

You can also donate below via PAYPAL if you choose.

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 and I will forward you the information.

The 2013 Sponsor Book will be handed out at ALL fundraising events (after first printing planned for the first week of May), 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/

Mikey Wax - American pianist, guitarist and singer-songwriter; Scheduled to perform at the FAMILY DINNER FUNDRAISER - THURSDAY MAY 23, 2013.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikey_Wax 

Get your tickets NOW for this exciting event. When this performer becomes an international superstar you’ll get to say “I saw him with 400 of my friends and neighbors at the sold out event at the Stillwood Inn to benefit the Wallingford Fireworks Fund.”

Here are the stats for his Constant Motion 2011 album release:
#47 Billboard Heatseekers
#2 Billboard Heatseekers Mid-Atlantic
#6 iTunes Singer/Songwriter US

Don’t take my word for it - check out his website and download a FREE SONG and hear the next superstar for yourself.

We are excited to have him scheduled to perform at our little benefit to save Wallingford’s Fireworks for the 4th year in a row.

For more details on the Dinner Fundraiser please see our prior post.

Donate now! Save Wallingford’s Fireworks and the Independence Day celebration!

Collections started today at Wallingford Dunkin Donuts; will continue into Friday and Saturday (and beyond)

With 71 days remaining, we have formally kicked off our collection drive for the 2013 event.

I took a vacation day from work to get a few errands done and the first thing on my list from 7AM to about 8:45AM was to collect at the North Colony Dunkin Donuts. My father was over at South Colony and we ran just about $400.00 today – a very fair start.

Tomorrow, Friday March 22, we have a volunteer scheduled to be at the Yalesville Dunkin Donuts from 7AM to about 8:45AM and my father is supposed to be at North Colony around the same time.

On Saturday morning my father and I will be at the landfill and the recycling center from 8AM to about noon.

If you’re out and about and want to drop a couple of dollars into the buckets to support your show that would be fantastic.

We also have the FAMILY DINNER FUNDRAISER scheduled with SPECIAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCE by MIKEY WAX so please keep that in mind into the upcoming weeks.

As always, if you need more information, please feel free to contact me directly (860) 614 6069 – email is always best at Jason@Zandri.net

Also – stay up to date my watching the blog http://wallingfordfireworks.blogspot.com/  or by joining the Wallingford Fireworks Fund Facebook group.

For those of you wish to mail in a donation, you can do so by making checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and sending them to:

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

We also accept donations via Paypal

WALLINGFORD FIREWORKS 2013 FAMILY DINNER FUNDRAISER DATE ANNOUNCED - SPECIAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCE MIKEY WAX

Sandy Guastella passed away Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Sandy Guastella was a big supporter of our cause. She regularly made donations to us despite her illness and would put out a collection container at her 4th of July yard party each year to collect donations for the following year.

Over three years she collected about $500.00 for us.

I believe she donated $175.00 towards the 2013 event, collected at the 2012 party.

Thank you Sandy. Rest in peace. I will put a remembrance page in the 2013 program book for you and since it was asked in lieu of flowers to make gift donations to Master’s Manna I will do so.


(Below was partially taken from her obituary).

Sandy Guastella
WALLINGFORD — Sandy Guastella passed away peacefully Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer. Sandy fought this battle with dignity and grace and will be dearly missed. Sandy is survived by her dearest friend of 25 years, Stephanie Crump; her beloved niece, Kim Mauro; her family of friends; her sisters, Ann Brinkerhoff, Linda Rogers and Debbie Kondracki, all of Summerville, S.C.; and nieces and nephew. She was predeceased by her mother, Betty Guastella, whom she loved dearly. Sandy was a caring person and was always interested in whatever you were doing or what you had to say. She was this way with everyone she met and made friends where ever she went. Sandy was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. She was a very kind and generous person. She had an incredible ability to engage complete strangers in conversation as if they were longtime friends.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be sent to Master’s Manna, 46 North Plains Industrial Road, Wallingford, CT. 06492.

Patriotism on display – Editorial from the Record Journal

As published in the Record Journal on Sunday March 3, 2013

Once again, Wallingford Mayor William W. Dickinson has signaled intentions of not funding July 4th fireworks in the new municipal budget (a conclusion illuminated atop today’s page by editorial cartoonist Kevin Markowski). Town officials should rethink that decision, and work with residents and the local nonprofit Wallingford Fireworks Fund to raise money.

Known for holding the line on expenses during decades in office, Dickinson originally eliminated finances for the Independence Day festivity in 2009. National economic conditions then were even more unpredictable, so the mayor reasonably sought reductions of expenditures he believed non-essential. In recent years, local volunteers have worked assiduously to raise funds to provide community members with the summertime event. Town councilors Jason Zandri and Craig Fishbein formed the Wallingford Fireworks Fund in 2010 to help collect $30,000 to $40,000 required for the July 4th show.

Furtherance of occasion for national pride merits budgetary underpinning. Dating back to before the 70s, Wallingford crowds have consistently participated with patriotic fervor in recognition of Independence Day. Fireworks are not just a spectacle of bursting brightness in dark evenings, but celebrations of everything held dear by Americans — our country’s history of freedom and democratic ideals.

Wallingford is operating under a $145.1 million current fiscal year budget. Hence, the cost of fireworks among total municipal finances is but a momentary spark amidst a spectacular light show. Moreover, compared with 2009, when America still reeled from recessionary turbulence, the economy of 2013 has improved marginally. The town should be able to afford $30,000 to $40,000 for a tradition appreciated communitywide.

But Dickinson does act with prudence in maintaining a tight budget, even now. America has not yet achieved full economic recovery. Connecticut faces deficits which probably will mean fewer state dollars allotted for towns and cities. Sustained fiscal conservatism in light of these potential financial hazards is understandable.

Thus arises opportunity for positive partnership. Costs could be split 50-50 by the town and Wallingford Fireworks Fund. Volunteers have made gestures of goodwill in recent years by bridging the monetary gap from town-budget shortfalls to July 4th celebrations. Now it’s time to extend that bridge between municipal leaders and community. Residents should consider regularly donating to their local nonprofit in support of the Independence Day event — an investment in a local and national tradition worth fostering.

Cooperation would be a win-win for mayor and contributors both. This mutually supportive venture can achieve long-term sustainability for a show manifestly valued by a majority of citizens. Surely, Wallingford’s budget can go halfway when adding patriotic sparkle to its July 4th night sky.

No fireworks in Wallingford budget — again

As published in the Record Journal on Thursday February 28, 2013

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

WALLINGFORD - Citing another difficult budget year and financial uncertainty, Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. has opted not to include funding for the town’s annual July fireworks display in his proposed budget.

The town stopped including the fireworks show in the general government budget in 2009.

“The reason is because we have had very difficult budgets,” said Dickinson. With expenses increasing, he said he’d find it hard to explain “why we aren’t cutting things that are non-essential.”

“I have a hard time seeing fireworks as an essential,” he said.

Town Councilor Jason Zandri and a small group of supporters have kept the show alive since 2009 by raising funds on their own. While the general government budget has not been released,Dickinson informed Zandri during a phone call on Monday that the fireworks display would not be funded, Zandri said.

The show dates back to before the 1970s, Zandri said, and has become a tradition in town.

“Tradition gets lost over time,” Zandri said. “As soon as you stop a tradition, you lose it forever.”

Zandri, a Democrat, is challenging the longtime Republican mayor in this November’s election.

While Dickinson argues that budget issues are to blame for the lack of funding, Zandri says there is money available. He said the town is running a $1.7 million surplus and can afford the $26,656 needed for the fireworks.

Dickinson said that expenses need to be reduced and there are too many unknowns going into the spring, when the town’s budget will be put together. “I can’t be sure what’s going to happen this year,” he said. The town has reduced staff, so there is no justification in funding a non-essential event, Dickinson said.

Zandri said the mayor has also chosen not to fund municipal services for the event, which would include police, fire and public works overtime. The cost would be approximately $13,000, Zandri said.

Taking just 1 percent interest from the town’s $1.7 million surplus would generate $17,000, Zandri said, enough to fund municipal services for the event and more.

“The bottom line is the mayor simply doesn’t want this,” Zandri said.

Zandri has set a minimum fundraising goal of $30,000. The deadline to get that private funding to the town is May 31, he said, to allow time for scheduling and booking.

If funding is secured in time, the fireworks show will be held on July 6. Zandri said there is no rain date.

“You can’t justify a reason for not having this event,” Zandri said.

Mayor Dickinson formally closes the door on a municipally sponsored 2013 Wallingford Independence Day celebration

Today was the call from Mayor Dickinson regarding the fate of the fireworks for 2013.

As he has done since 2009, he has not budgeted funding for the event.

In 2009 the Town Council restored the funding for the show from surplus funds from that year. Funding was cut again in 2010 and that was the year no action was taken to move funds from elsewhere.

I do not expect enough support from the current sitting Council to make funds available as was the practice since 2010 with pretty much the same Council makeup.

Despite having a $1.7 million dollar surplus, the Mayor has indicated that $26,656.00 is unavailable to support the show.

I followed up with the secondary ask that Wallingford cover the municipal services for the event (police, fire, and public works overtime) to the tune of approximately $13,000.00 and he maintained that zero funding was available.

The Town of Wallingford has $12 million plus dollars of cash balance just sitting in “the bank” earning menial interest (but interest just the same).

Let’s forget those funds for this discussion.

One percent interest on JUST the surplus funds from last year (one million, seven hundred thousand dollars) would generate $17,000.00 in new cash totally unencumbered.

That would be enough for the police, fire, and public works overtime for the Independence Day celebration AND also pay for public works overtime for the Veterans’ use of the ShowMobile on Memorial Day.

The money is there. The Mayor has simply chosen this to be eliminated from the budget for the fifth year running.

The additional tax burden to the Wallingford budget of $26,656.00 more to be raised, based on the taxes of a median priced home in Wallingford, would be an additional $1.30 (approximately, based on 2012 numbers).

For just half that amount – the amount of just the town services at $13,000.00 – you would be talking about $0.65 (sixty five cents) in additional taxes.

The people of Wallingford and Wallingford businesses have shown for three years running that this event should be held by their resolve to keep the event funded privately through fundraising.

I am confident that if they still have the same resolve as I do that this will be year four.

Another part of the discussion with the Mayor centered on the added costs to the pension plans because overtime calculates into those figures. As I explained to the Mayor, if that is an argument point, it is moot; by The Fund making the donation to the town and Wallingford hosting the event, that overtime still calculates into the pension.

2013 will be no different.

So we begin with a minimum goal of $30,000.00. Our operating costs are generally very low (printing, mailing, postage, etc.) runs us about $3,000.00 a year so with the show event cost of $26,656.00 we have our 2013 target.

If we should be fortunate enough to raise $36,000.00 we would also be able to restore the R Band to the performance; The Fund has not been able to achieve this to date.

(The R Band was present in 2012 due to $5,000.00 being made available from a funding reduction from the Parks and Recreation budget, something I do not expect to see repeated this year.)

The deadline to have the funds in to the Mayor is the same as it is each year – the last Friday in May (this year the 31st).

The show, if all the funds are collected and weather permitting, is to be held on Saturday July 6th.

There is no rain date – if the show is called on account of the weather it is cancelled.

So the countdown clock starts – T MINUS 95 days and counting.

Let’s roll Wallingford.

Wallingford Firework Fund committee meeting scheduled for Thursday January 10, 2013

It’s 2013 and we are kicking off our efforts to raise funds for the 2013 Wallingford Independence Day celebration.

This meeting will be Thursday January 10, 2013 at 7:30PM at Gaetano's Tavern on Main in Wallingford.

This will be the 4th year without town funding for the event (expected) and we are holding this meeting to set our schedule for soliciting donations as well as planning a main fundraiser.

The outline for the meeting is as follows:

-- Bring people up to date as to where we are going into 2013
-- Introduction to new Vice President of the Fund – Steve Murray
-- Set a financial collection target
-- Set a collection completion date
-- Discuss a meeting / conversation with the Mayor regarding any possible funding for town services (police, fire, etc.)
-- Discuss options regarding choosing a site for the show / working through the town of independently
-- Other items as brought up

We are always looking for new workers / ideas for fundraising so if you have the time and inclination to volunteer we would welcome you to come and sit with us.

Again, this meeting will be Thursday January 10, 2013 at 7:30PM at Gaetano's Tavern on Main in Wallingford.

Feel free to come and introduce yourself, have a little bite to eat and let us know how you can help us reach out 2013 goals.