Once again Halo Fireworks, LLC (formerly Aurora Fireworks) will be putting on their fantastic display from the comfort of beautiful Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island Washington. As you may remember, last year’s Bainbridge Island and Liberty Bay shows were nearly cancelled due to an explosion of the fireworks container in Belfair Washington – but with Robert Nitz’s determination to make sure the shows go on, he gathered all of his resources and – along with an outpouring of community response – was able to rescue both shows. There was a bit of that American “can do” Spirit that went along with the show last year – which made it even more special !

Seattle’s Tom Douglas hopes that local businesses can come together to save the Family 4th at Lake Union fireworks show.

The idea started in an interview on the Bob Rivers radio show. Now Douglas is asking for 98 local businesses to donate $5,000 each to cover the cost of the show. He has already donated $5,000 and is willing to put in $5,000 more.

“I think sometimes we forget the value of coming together as a community and what the Fourth of July actually means that way,” Douglas said.

Yesterday, One Reel, which produces the annual show, said they hadn’t raised enough money to put on the fireworks display on Lake Union.

The $500,000 price tag for the Fourth of July fireworks includes more than just the cost of fireworks. Douglas explained the logistics of the event include security, porta potties, clean-up, and cost around $300,000.

“We’d need 98 more businesses to jump in,” Douglas said. “I don’t know; it might be too late. This thing takes a lot of advance planning, but if there is a way I think we should try to get on it and make it happen. It’s a community thing–we own it. It’s the peoples’ fireworks.”

Douglas acknowledged there are larger issues in our community, with many people lacking in basic necessities, such as enough food to eat.

“I’m on the board of Food Lifeline,” said Douglas. “I’m trying to raise $20 million so we can more efficiently feed hungry people in Western Washington. It’s hard to justify sometimes when you talk about blowing up paper.

But Douglas hopes we can do both, that Seattle businesses can come together in the community to end the annual struggle to fund the Fourth of July fireworks.

We received this nice letter from Jon Stone, Executive Director of “One Reel” whose organization runs the Lake Union Fireworks Show for the past 24 years. His letter touched our hearts and inspired us — but it also embodies “EXACTLY” why we do this every year. Thanks Jon (and all of your volunteers) for reaching out to your community and your neighbors!

Tim Longley
VP BFW, Web Master

by Sarah Lane Inside Bainbridge

Scott Isenman, the leader of Bainbridge Fireworks, the group that organizes the Eagle Harbor fireworks display each year, says that, even though their entire computer-controlled and music-synchronized $20,000 collection blew up in its Belfair storage container yesterday morning, the show is going ahead full-blast. The reason is that the owner of Aurora Fireworks, the company that designs and puts on the display each year, is dipping into his own pockets to replace the Bainbridge and Poulsbo shows, both of which were destroyed, to the tune of $40,000.

The accident, which happened at 1 a.m. Monday, was the result of a stray gunshot. The owner of the wrecking yard where the fireworks are stored in containers was shooting at targets with his adult daughter when a ricochet struck the container and set off the chain of explosions. He called 911 to report the incident.

Isenman told me that the original Bainbridge display is still not paid for as his organization continues to raise money from individual and business donations. So far they have raised $14,000. To support the fireworks, visit the Bainbridge Fireworks website. You can donate via PayPal through the website, in-person at America West Bank (formerly Viking), or in donation jars such as at ACE, San Carlos, Madison Diner, and Doc’s. Volunteers will be collecting at T&C on Wednesday and Saturday this week.

Photo by Jeff Golden.

A quiet Belfair evening erupted into a ball of fire Sunday. But while firefighters were able to put out the flames, the impact of the blaze has stretched all the way to Bainbridge Island.

The ball of fire was from an exploding shipping container. Within it were large fireworks intended for Bainbridge Island’s Independence Day show, and all the fireworks were destroyed.

The fire was caused by employees who were shooting at targets at Belfair Auto Wrecking, where the fireworks container was stored. One round ignited the fireworks inside the container and caused an extremely large explosion that sprouted other fires in the area.

Bainbridge wasn’t alone in the loss. Fireworks for the Liberty Bay show in Pouslbo were also destroyed.

Despite the tragedy, the show will go on, said Scott Isenman of Bainbridge Fireworks.

Isenman didn’t initially think that the explosion would hit so close to home.

“I saw the report of the explosion on the early morning news and thought ‘Wow,’” Isenman said.

“A little while later it dawned on me, ‘Could it be?’”

Isenman contact Robert Nitz, Bainbridge’s fireworks artist who puts on the show each year, and Nitz confirmed his fears.

“That storage container was his entire stockpile, not only for our show but the Liberty Bay show,” Isenman said.

Luckily, Nitz’s fireworks supplier will be able to replace the fireworks that went up in flames.

“Being able to replace with almost identical pyrotechnics is important because the show is computer programmed and electronically synchronized to a music soundtrack,” Isenman said.

Nitz did have special-effect fireworks for this year that he imported from China, separate from his main supplier. The explosive device was water-based and can’t be replaced in time for the show.

Bainbridge Fireworks is still seeking donations for the annual show, and are approximately $6,000 short of their funding goal.

Islanders can contribute through their website or at donation cans at various island businesses.

Donations can also be made to Bainbridge Fireworks at American West Bank, located at 921 Hildebrand Lane.

Contact Bainbridge Island Review Staff Writer Richard D. Oxley at roxley@bainbridgereview.com or (206) 842-6613.

Tim Longley
VP Bainbridge Fireworks Org

By Katie Scaff

The ricocheting bullet set off $30,000 worth of stored fireworks and left a crater-sized hole, but celebration organizers in Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island say the shows will go on.

Unexpected Wrecking Yard Fireworks Show

According to officials, the owner of Belfair Truck & Auto Wrecking said that he and his daughter were target shooting with a new rifle at around 1 a.m. — setting off a cargo container of fireworks stored on the property.

“He claims he fired at a junk car in the wrecking yard, and the bullet must have ricocheted off that,” said Ron Krell, president of Viking Fest Corp., which puts on the Third of July show in Poulsbo. He described the incident as “one of those one-in-a-million chances.”

“You wouldn’t believe the crater in the earth here from the magazine of fireworks. It woke my wife up — she thought we were having an earthquake,” Mason County Fire District 2 fire investigator Jeromy Hicks said.

“Folks kind of described it as an earthquake feeling,” Fire Chief Beau Bakken said. The blast woke up the firefighters at his station about a half-mile away.

“They thought they’d be responding to something,” Bakken said. “They knew by the seismic activity that something would be coming down the pike.”

Mason’s District 2 and South Kitsap Fire and Rescue responded to the property straddling Mason and Kitsap counties. They found the shipping container on fire, with mortar rounds continuing to go off.

“It was quite the blast. It blew it right off its foundation — in fact it rolled twice,” Bakken said of the container holding the fireworks. “To have that many explosives go up like that that is a first for me — It was something else.”

Fireworks hit junk cars sparking spot fires throughout the property, and a mountain of old tires was set ablaze. A heavy-duty excavator was needed to clear debris and tires so firefighters could get to the flames, which took crews five hours to douse.

None of the fireworks in the cargo container was salvageable, but replacements are on the way and the two local firework shows will continue as planned, according to Aurora Fireworks owner Robert Nitz, who has been contracted to put on the shows for the past few years.

“It’s like everyone’s worst nightmare,” Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce visitor center manager Mickey Molnaire said. “It was pretty much a disaster.”

Nitz, who owns the fireworks, is forced to front the costs of replacement — totaling more than $30,000

“I lost everything. Right now, I’m scrambling to take care of the towns,” Nitz said.

He declined to say whether he would be pressing charges against the owner of the wrecking yard.

The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the explosion because the fire involved commercial fireworks.

Hicks confirmed that a bullet hit the container, sparking the explosions and fire.

“I don’t think there was an intent to do this on purpose,” Hicks said.

The investigation continued into the evening Monday as officials secured the area and waited to interview the wrecking yard owner.

While the bomb squad set off the few fireworks still intact after the morning fires, Nitz got in touch with Wolverine Fireworks.

The Seattle-based wholesale company will be able to replace all of the destroyed fireworks, except the water shells — something Nitz wanted to introduce at this year’s shows.

“I wanted to do this for the shows this year. I’ve never used water shells before — I’ve seen them used. They’re pretty cool,” Nitz said.

Nitz has to reprogram the shows, which are timed to music, to account for the missing water shells, but each still will be about 15 minutes.

Despite the minor program changes, all are relieved that the shows will go on.

“Being able to find that on short notice was a big question — I’m just thrilled that they’re able to replace them. It’s a wonderful tradition, and we’d certainly hate to not have it,” Molnaire said.

The Fourth of July celebration in downtown Winslow is perhaps the biggest annual event on the island.

With a town dance, a festive parade and a patriotic fireworks display to cap it off, Bainbridge Island shows that it likes to party on the fourth.

But the celebration doesn’t come easy — in particular the fireworks display.

For the past four years, the annual fireworks display has been organized by the Bainbridge Island Yacht Club. The club recently formed Bainbridge Fireworks as an incorporated organization to handle the planning, since funding the 15-minute display costs more than the club’s annual budget.

“It’s always kind of pins and needles if we are going to have enough,” said Scott Isenman of Bainbridge Fireworks. “It’s just a handful of people that make it happen for the community, and we have no funding source.”

The organization consists of only five people to assemble and find funding the project. This year, it will take $20,000 to fund the spectacle across the night sky of Eagle Harbor.

So far the group has raised approximately $5,000, which is just enough to pay for the barge that launches the fireworks. They were able to get this far by reaching out by mail to previous years’ contributors.

Bainbridge Fireworks is currently seeking funding for this year’s display and is asking the community for their help to put on the colorful exhibition.

And while they have been able to find a generous donation here and there, it really comes down to a gathering plenty of contributions, many of which are small.

“It’s all small donations,” Isenman said. “We have no one big supporting contributor. We are really dependent on everybody.”

To help this year’s fireworks become a success, islanders can donate through Paypal on the group’s website, www.bainbridgefireworks.org. Donations can also be made at America West Bank (formerly Viking Bank).

Donation jars are also in place at various shops around the island.

The display is seen by onlookers throughout Eagle Harbor, and as far as Seattle.

But to make it all to happen, Isenman asks that islanders to help in any way they can.

“We are a grassroots group and we are a grassroots program,” Isenman said. “If we don’t have the community’s support, it doesn’t happen.”

Richard D. Oxley can be reached at roxley@bainbridgereview.com .

Contact Bainbridge Island Review Staff Writer Richard D. Oxley at roxley@bainbridgereview.com or (206) 842-6613.

Bombs bursting, flashes of brilliant color, excited cries from children and adults heard all over Eagle Harbor. What was it? It was another successful community-based fireworks show exploding over the heads of an estimated crowd of 5,000 people crowding local restaurants and pubs, as well as lining the shoreline of this jewel of an island.

Albeit only a 15-minute show, it tied a bow on the whole Fourth of July celebration put on by the Chamber of Commerce and Bainbridge Fireworks Organization. It is no small wonder that this island city — with a population of 24,000 — gets together in one place for a short time to remember why being an American is worth making some noise about.

But these are tough times, so why do the citizens and businesses of Bainbridge Island band to together and raise $25,000 to put on this 15-minute fireworks show? It’s because it is not only a terrific way to bring our community together, but also a way to shake our collective finger at adversity and despair that our economy and recent world events puts in front of us — a demonstration, so to speak, of what our freedom to innovate can do when the times get tough.

With that said, we at the Bainbridge Fireworks Organization would like to thank the citizens and businesses that provided the funding through their generous donations for yet another successful year of fireworks celebration. One only has to look into the faces of the children who stayed up late to be part of this time-honored event to know why it is a wonderful gift. Those of you who committed your support through your hard-earned dollars are the ones who brought this American celebration to reality.

We will be back next year to do it again — with your help, perhaps just a little better. You can thank the contributors listed on our Web page listed below with a kind pat on the back, a nod of your head, or by visiting their businesses — letting them know how much you appreciate their gift to the community of Bainbridge Island.

It’s a wonderful thing to live in small-town America.

Bainbridge Fireworks Org.
http://www.bainbridgefireworks.org

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/06/my-turn-bainbridge-fireworks-151-an-inspiring/#ixzz1RYTcGNAf

By DENNIS ANSTINE
Bainbridge Island Review Editor
Jun 06 2011, 3:24 PM

If Bainbridge Island residents want a Fourth of July fireworks show for a third straight year, they will have to pay for it.

A spokesman for Bainbridge Fireworks, a non-profit corporation that has officially replaced Bainbridge Island Yacht Club (BIYC) as the event’s sponsor, said most of the $25,000 worth of donations will need to be collected by June 25 for this year’s “third annual” show to happen.

“We think we have the support to reach our goal of raising $25,000 by June 25,” said Scott Isenman, the organization’s president. “It’s not a given, but with the support of our past donors we have higher confidence than before that it will happen. But it’s still up to the community.”

The “Arnie Jackson Fireworks Show,” which returned in 2009 after an absence of 20 years or so, is a 15-minute blast off of some 1,300 mortar shells from a barge anchored in Eagle Harbor. It will be synchronized to music broadcast over a low-power FM signal in the area.

The first show three years ago finished in the red, with BIYC paying the debt.

Sponsors helped keep last year’s event afloat, though BIYC was still very much involved and there was some doubt that it would be held.

“We didn’t know until the last minute if it was going to happen,” Isenman said.

This year’s show will cost more, he said, primarily because the Liberty Bay event on July 3 in Poulsbo will be downsized.

“We’ve had the exact same show during the last two years because we just towed the barge over from Liberty Bay and then just had to reload the mortar tubes,” he said. “We can’t just reset their show this year so it will cost more.”

He said the cost of the fireworks will be around $20,000, with another $5,000 needed to pay for a variety of expenses.

Isenman said it’s apparent that the community likes the event, as do downtown merchants since the show keeps people in the vicinity of the waterfront before and after the evening event.

“It’s hard to say how many people watched last year, but when the end of the event was broadcast over the radio there were horns honking all over the harbor,” he said. “We think a lot of people enjoyed it.”

Both the Bainbridge Island Fire District and Police Department have said in the past that when the Eagle Harbor show occurs they have seen a reduction of fireworks-related incidents during the evening hours when most “home” fireworks are exploded.

Several animal owners, including some living in the Eagledale area, complained of the noise made during the 2009 event. But Isenman said there were few complaints last year because steps were taken to lessen the racket.

“It’s a good event because it’s part of our historic celebration and it’s good for our downtown merchants,” Isenman said.

He added that volunteers are sought for a variety of chores, including helping with public communications.

Visit wwwBainbridgeFireworks.org or go to Viking Bank on Hildebrand for more information on ways to contribute.

Bainbridge Island Review Editor Dennis Anstine can be reached at editor@bainbridgereview.com or (206) 842-6613.

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND —The organizers of Eagle Harbor’s Fourth of July fireworks display have lined up the tug boat, the barge, the music and 1,300 sky-shaking shells.

Now, all they need is the money to pay for it.

A newly-formed nonprofit called Bainbridge Island Fireworks is taking over the annual show from the Bainbridge Island Yacht Club, which restarted the tradition two years ago.

They need a minimum $18,000 by June 25. As of Wednesday, only about a third of that amount had been raised.

“It’s a real stressor,” said Scott Isenman, the show’s project manager. “With the economy the way it is, a lot of our commercial sponsors have said they can’t contribute as much. So this is a huge risk for us.”

If Bainbridge Island Fireworks can’t raise the full amount, it might have to cut back on the 15-minute show’s duration or the synchronized music that viewers can hear via a small-range radio broadcast. Canceling the show hasn’t been ruled out.

“We’re taking a positive approach,” Isenman said. “But compared to last year, I’m a Nervous Nelly.”

The BIYC revived the harbor’s large-scale fireworks display tradition in 2009 after a more than two-decade hiatus.

Isenman, who serves as BIYC’s vice commodore, said the fireworks show was a bit beyond the club’s boating-oriented scope.

“So this year, we formed a nonprofit corporation to take on the fundraising,” he said.

Bainbridge Island Fireworks would like to raise as much as $25,000 this year — about $7,000 more than is needed for 2011′s display — so funds are available to get the effort going earlier and faster in 2012.

“We want to avoid starting cold every year,” Isenman said.

Islanders began calling for a revived fireworks display after the Bainbridge Island Fire Department, Bainbridge Island Police Department and some residents began expressing concerns a few years ago about the noise, fire dangers and enforcement challenges caused by private firework use.

In April 2009, the city considered a ban on all fireworks except for permitted displays like the one BIYC organized later that year.

The ban never took effect, but BIYC’s shows appear to have curbed firework use.

“We have seen a decline in fires, and we attribute that to the public fireworks display,” said Bainbridge Fire Chief Hank Teran, adding that the department has also increased its effort to educate the public about firework dangers.

In 2008, before the BIYC display, the Fire Department responded to four fires caused by fireworks. In 2009 and 2010, only two firework-related fires occurred each July, Teran said.

Despite the lessening fire danger, BIYC’s first fireworks show in 2009 sparked noise complaints from animal owners, particularly those with horses in the Eagledale neighborhood on the harbor’s south shore.

Last year generated fewer complaints, likely because animal owners anticipated the event.

Bainbridge Island Fireworks has advice on its website, bainbridgefireworks.org, about how to prepare pets for the show.

“Before, people didn’t know it was happening, and it seemed so loud and sudden,” Isenman said. “I think now people are more aware and they can make sure their animals are prepared.”

Even if the show puts off a few people, hundreds more are delighted by what Isenman said has been a long-standing island tradition.

“Last year, the disc jockey gave the signal for people to give us a sign they were watching,” he said. “All of a sudden all these cars and boats started honking at the ferry parking lot, at Pritchard Park — all over the area. That was some great feedback.”

Donations for the Eagle Harbor fireworks show can be made via PayPal at Bainbridge Island Fireworks’ website or at Viking Bank’s Bainbridge branch, 921 Hildebrand Lane. For information, send an email to info@bainbridgefireworks.org.

Read more: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jun/08/no-boom-without-more-bucks-for-bainbridges-4th/##ixzz1OnESwIKc