Fun pumps funds into local groups
FOURTH: Deals counter rising cost
| Friday, Jun 26 2009 04:36 PM
Last Updated Friday, Jun 26 2009 10:00 PM
Tonight
Bakersfield Speedway's Bottoms Up 100, featuring the East vs. West Super Streets. The speedway will also have its annual firework program sure to please the entire family. Racing starts at 6 p.m. and the firework show starts at dark.
Friday, July 3
Annual 4th of July Celebration, festivities begin with a barbecue at 6 p.m.; fireworks program begins at 9 p.m. Shafter High School Football Stadium, 526 Mannel Ave., Shafter. 746-2600.
Movies in the Park, presents "National Treasure" and "Independence Day," begins at dusk, Liberty Park, 11225 Brimhall Road. 392-2020.
Wounded Heroes Patriotic Concert, with music, tribute to military, raising of 50-foot flag, guest speaker Brooke Sander (sister of double amputee Justin Clenard), Mayor Harvey Hall and others, 7 p.m. Olive Drive Church, 5500 Olive Drive. $10 adults; $5 children and can be purchased at vallitix.com or 322-5200. For more information, 393-8210.
Saturday, July 4
55th annual "Red, White and Boom" Fireworks Show, presented by the Bakersfield Firefighters Relief Association, with a special concert performance by Sanctus Real. Gates open at 6 p.m., music at 6:30 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m. Bakersfield College Memorial Stadium, 1801 Panorama Drive. $10-$15. Tickets available at any city fire station. jesusshack.com or 324-0638.
Fourth of July Music and Fireworks, music by Tehachapi Community Orchestra, featuring patriotic songs, show tunes, light classical and jazz pieces, gates open at 4 p.m.; begins at 5 p.m.; fireworks begin at 9 p.m. Coy Burnett Stadium, Tehachapi Boulevard (east of Snider Avenue), Tehachapi. 821-7511.
Fourth of July
When you mosey up to the fireworks stand to purchase your family's ration of safe-and-sane excitement for the year, you're also lighting a fire under the fundraising efforts of dozens of Kern County nonprofits.
Fireworks resellers in California are required to partner with charities, athletic groups, youth organizations and service clubs, and those organizations stand to make thousands in much-needed revenue when the stands open for business Wednesday (Wasco and Delano begin selling fireworks Sunday).
Bakersfield Police Explorers' TNT Fireworks stand, on Gosford Road, represents the nonprofit's biggest fundraiser of the year.
"Of course we hope the tough economic times don't adversely affect our fireworks sales this year," said Karen Bennett, crime prevention supervisor with the Bakersfield Police Department and fundraiser chairwoman for the group, an extension of the Boy Scouts that provides youngsters experience of how a police department operates.
Though the economy is bleak and critics, including the governor, warn of the fire hazard posed by fireworks displays, organizations say the calendar is working in their favor this year, which might bode well for sales.
"With this year's July 4th falling on a Saturday, the overall outlook is promising," said Linda Haas, a manager with Phantom Fireworks, who noted sales could benefit from the long holiday weekend many Americans will get.
But despite the providential timing, fireworks prices have skyrocketed this year due to production costs in China, where 95 percent of America's fireworks are manufactured.
"I would expect that families will be more frugal, but everyone will still buy fireworks," said Mike Williams, of the booster club for American Kids Sports Center, which has facilities in northwest and southwest Bakersfield. "People will be wiser with their money, and that's good."
Williams said profits from the group's three Phantom booths in the northwest will go toward entry fees, coaching costs and other expenses related to competitions.
Heidi Howell, chairwoman of Ridgeview High School Music Boosters, isn't fazed by the sales challenge.
"We're not afraid of the economy -- we're excited and jazzed," said Howell, who attributes her upbeat attitude to parent and student involvement, an aggressive publicity program and a prime location for the TNT stand near Costco at Panama Lane and Stine Road.
"All of our families have taken a bite personally, but as a group of fundraisers we have a go-get-'em attitude. It's all about promote, promote, promote!"
To temper the rising prices, each fireworks company is offering deals.
California Fireworks will pay the tax on several of its assortments and offer to match competitors' prices for identical or similar items. Its lone Bakersfield location, at 1901 Niles St., will feature more than a dozen items priced at $1 or less.
"People are watching their money," said Bobbie Bush, fireworks coordinator and children and youth pastor for Niles New Life Assembly, which runs the California Fireworks booth. "We need to keep fireworks affordable ... That's why we sponsor our own football and soccer teams because most of the kids in the neighborhood can't afford other football and soccer programs."
Victory Outreach Church in Lamont will run two Phantom stands in support of a variety of good works the church does all year.
"What we make off fireworks helps us a lot," said Manuel Sanchez, director of the church facility. "We're a self-sustaining ministry and the boost fireworks gives helps supply our men's rehab home with linens, food, hygiene products and clothes. Every year we get a new washing machine because it goes 24/7. Some men come straight off the streets, so we want to be able to give them whatever they need."
The stand that benefits the men's rehab will be located near the Rite-Aid on Panama Road in Lamont. The other Victory stand, also in Lamont, benefits the church's youth program.
"Fireworks sales are very important to us," said Sanchez, of Arvin, "but people shouldn't spend more than they can afford."
