Fourth Fizzle: Fireworks going off in fewer places

Valley residents have fewer options to watch Fourth of July fireworks than in past years.

Turlock will have no display because of communication problems and scheduling issues. Livingston canceled its show because it couldn't afford it. Ripon and Delhi eliminated their shows last year because of a lack of funds.

"A lot of people are upset," said Lynette Van Laar, Ripon city clerk and finance director, adding that the city government had paid for the displays in the past. "We had people who would send in a little bit of money in their water bills (for fireworks), but it wasn't near enough. "

Fireworks still will explode this weekend at Modesto's John Thurman Field, Manteca's Big League Dreams sports facility, Don Pedro Reservoir and Oakdale's Woodward Reservoir. Many valley towns also are planning parades and community festivals, and

residents can buy their own more modest fireworks.

Turlock's fireworks show fizzled out in part because Turlock Chamber of Commerce President Sharon Silva assumed that California State University, Stanislaus, would host them again as it did for 24 years.

Though the show was moved to the Stanislaus County Fairground last year, university spokeswoman Kristin Olsen told The Bee in April 2009 that CSUS was hoping to resurrect its "Fantastic Fourth" celebration this year for its 50th anniversary celebration.

Silva said that after she realized the university wasn't able to do that, she contacted the fair to see if the fireworks could move there. But that wasn't possible because the fair moved up its start date two weeks earlier than usual to July 16 and fair officials were reluctant to host an event so close to opening day.

She said money wasn't the problem and she thought the community could raise enough to put on the show. She hopes the chamber can help sponsor a fireworks show in 2011.

"There is interest," she said. "People do care that we celebrate. Especially in today's environment, we want to make sure that we celebrate our independence."

Eve Hightower, CSUS spokeswoman, said the university does not want to host fireworks again even if the community came up with the money.

She said the 2008 fireworks show cost more than $50,000, only $10,000 of which was for fireworks. The rest of the money went to public safety, liability insurance, personnel, facilities setup and other expenses.

The university would rather see donations put to other uses. "At this time, we are asking sponsors to support scholarships, endowed chairs and other vital university programs," Hightower said.

Robert Rodarte, who helped coordinate fireworks in Delhi in the past, said the community gave them up re- luctantly because it couldn't find the money. The cost of fireworks went up and some previous sponsors cut back their contributions.

"It's a small community with limited resources and we can't pull those funds if the businesses don't support it," he said.

With all the budget cuts in Ripon, Laar said the City Council couldn't justify continuing to fund fireworks.

"We've got to keep the employees, so we've got to let some of the fluff stuff go," she said.

Sam Garrett of the Modesto Jaycees, which sponsors Modesto's Fourth of July celebration, said his group barely scraped together the money to put on the parade, hold the festival in Graceada Park and contribute to the Modesto Nuts' fireworks show at John Thurman Field on Saturday. The group couldn't put on a laser show at Enslen Park this year as it did last year because it didn't have enough money.

Bee staff writer Lisa Millegan Renner can be reached at lrenner@modbee.com or 578-2313.