THUMBS UP to the people and businesses who brought us the spectacular fireworks and community events that celebrated the Fourth of July.
For the local fireworks aficionados out there, one could have seen displays on three consecutive nights over the weekend, starting on Thursday in Montgomery, Friday in Princeton and Saturday in Lawrence.
In Montgomery, the event was funded entirely by corporate and private donations after cuts in the township budget forced the cancellation of the fireworks last year.
A fireworks committee was formed and it started soliciting funds. The committee gathered 46 corporate sponsors as well as many individual sponsors.
The silver level sponsors were Henderson Sotheby’s Int’l, Belle Mead Realty, Mason, Griffin & Pierson Attorneys, Montgomery Township PBA 355 and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.
The complete list of corporate sponsors and individuals who donated $100 or more can be found on the townships website.
As a result, people not only got to see fireworks, the event also featured 33 community vendor displays, children’s rides, food and the horn band Funkin’ Soulnuts at the high school fields.
In Princeton, the fireworks were produced by the Spirit of Princeton, a charitable, non-partisan committee dedicated to bringing the community together in civic pride through the organization and sponsorship of community events.
Other events the group produces are the Memorial Day parade, a Flag Day ceremony and a Veterans Day ceremony.
The Spirit of Princeton is a fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation. Tax-deductible donations to support these events can be made through the website www.spiritofprinceton.org.
In Lawrence, the story is similar to that in Montgomery.
The fireworks were canceled last year because there was no money for them in the municipal budget.
So the township raised the privately. People from all age groups collected donations. Canisters were placed at businesses. Fund-raisers were held. The mayor donated money he receives for performing weddings. Individuals donated from $5 to $250. Major donors were The Lawrenceville School, Rider University and the law firm Stark & Stark.
In all, more than $18,000 was raised.
So thanks to everyone who gave and to those who worked to make the fireworks happen.
They were a blast.
