Making sure the bombs burst in air
Community steps up to support July 4th fireworks show
The Daily Mail
May 28, 2009

CAIRO — Nearly two dozen residents and businesses in the Town of Cairo have promised to donate a total of $2,425 toward financing a fireworks display this Fourth of July.

The donations will supplement town fireworks funds.

Cairoites began offering money to subsidize the show after Supervisor John Coyne stated his concern at a Town Board workshop meeting May 7 that the Town could not pay $4,000 to Misbehaven Fireworks for an 18- to 20- minute fireworks display.

A cheaper option would be a $3,000, 12- to -14-minute display, Coyne said.

“I feel that we have no choice but to go with $3,000 because the way everything is. We cannot afford [that],” he said.

He said he would forgo having fireworks if it meant having more money to spend of other projects such as crosswalk painting and maintenance.

“We really need to look at this,” he said.

Councilwoman Janet Schwarzenegger said that a 13-minute display sounded short and that the fireworks might cheer up people who may have recently lost their jobs or are facing other economic hardships.

“It is even more important to have something that can bring enjoyment to a degree,” she said.

Councilman Raymond Suttemeier suggested that the Cairo Chamber of Commerce might be interested in contributing money to help defray the cost.

From the audience, Ellsworth “Unk” Slater offered to donate $1,000 toward funding this fireworks.

“I think it is important to have good fireworks,” he said.

At the time, Town Supervisor John Coyne said he would ask other businesses and community organizations if they would like to donate money as well.

Coyne said later that week that the outpouring of support was “amazing.”

The Town Board offered a chance for anyone to donate money during the public comment period of the next regular Town Board meeting, on May 20. Several Town residents present at the standing-room-only meeting offered to contribute between $25 and $500.

Lee Miller was the first resident to offer a donation. The audience applauded Miller and continued to applaud after each subsequent offer was made.

County legislators William Lawrence, R-Cairo, and Harry Lennon, D-Cairo, offered to contribute, as did Coyne, Schwarzenneger, Councilwoman Alice Tunison, Suttmeier and Councilman Richard Lorenz. Lorenz offered a donation of behalf of his son, Jim.

Highway Superintendent Steven Rumph and Town Clerk Tara Rumph, Town Attorney Tal Rappleyea and Cairo Police Department Chief Chris Sprague and Building Inspector Stacey Sprague also offered donations. Peter Maassman, of Blackhead Mountain Lodge and Country Club, and representatives of engineering firm Delaware Engineering, said their businesses could donate money to the fund.

The list of contributors also included Bill Hummel, Daroll Hutson, Colleen Ray, George Morrison, Marcia Fabino and Tony Puorro.

Puorro’s donation could not be accepted due to a conflict of interest. He was named to the Town Planning Board later that evening.

The Town Board also did not accept Slater’s offer.

Coyne said he appreciated Slater’s offer but due to ongoing litigation between the Town and Slater, accepting a contribution would be inappropriate.

Coyne garnered laughter from the audience when he suggested that enough money could be raised for a multi-hour fireworks display. He said afterward that he would speak to the fireworks company about purchasing an 18- to 20-minute display but did not rule out inquiring about longer shows.

Coyne said he was grateful for everyone’s generosity.

“This has never been done before but it is Cairo, and there is a first for everything,” Coyne said of the donations.

At the close of the May 20 meeting’s public comment period, Coyne and the Board thanked everyone for their donations.

“In these hard economic times we will not have to cut back on a Fourth of July celebration, we will have a better one than in the past,” Lorenz said.

After the meeting, Slater said he understood the Board’s decision not to accept his contribution offer.

“I just did not want to see them cut back,” he said.