Sad but True

Sung to tune of "America the Beautiful". From Townhall.Com.

Independence Day Fireworks punted by the Great Recession

As the Great Recession drags on and on, more and more municipalities are being caught by the cash crunch. This year, a major casualty of shrinking budgets may be the traditional July 4th fireworks celebration. Towns all over are canceling or getting creative.

"It's becoming harder and harder to justify," she says of the $20,000 event. "The tax dollars only go so far, and it's one of those expendable items."

Other places such as Birmingham, Ala., may scale back the festivities as well unless they can attract more corporate sponsors. The Independence Day celebration in Moorestown, N.J., across the Delaware from Philadelphia, was canceled for the second year in a row. Monterey, Calif., suspended its Fourth of July festivities because of "budget constraints and ongoing safety concerns regarding the Fireworks Display," according to the city's website. Maplewood, Minn., Mayor Will Rossbach told the Pioneer-Press that it no longer made sense to pay about $19,000 for the town's 30-minute fireworks display while struggling to maintain more basic city services.

In another strategy, Morris Plains, N.J., saved its traditional July 4th fireworks display -- and some of its tight budget -- this year by holding it on Saturday, June 26, instead.

Happy Independence Day!

Video is by CRChair from his iPhone 3GS.

From the Derby/Shelton Fireworks

For those not in the know, most towns in CT do their Independence-Day-related fireworks before or after the 4th. This way (1) each town has their own day for the event, allowing more people to see fireworks, and (2) each town can schedule the fireworks around their budget. Last night was the night for Derby and Shelton.

Happy Independence Day

May we never forget to honor the brave men and women who fought and died for our freedom. May we never forget to honor the wisdom of the visionaries who forged the great compact and wrote the Declaration.

Fireworks!!!

Since the big cities dominate the fireworks displays on the 4th, most of the smaller towns in Connecticut do their fireworks shows before or after Independence Day. Last night was the Fireman's Parade and Fireworks display for Shelton, CT. Nick and Nora went down to watch with CRChair and I, and I thought our Mod-Blog readers might enjoy seeing the photos I got as a way to whet the appetite for Independence Day. Click on the image below for the whole set.

Happy Independence Day!

(Picture from the Shelton, CT Fireworks 2007 fired on July 3. Click on the image for all the pictures taken that night.)