Tube City Almanac

July 04, 2008

There's Gonna Be Fireworks

Update: I just gotta add this, with a tip of the Tube City hard hat to Francesco Marciuliano:



. . .

A Bang-Up Fourth: If the weather cooperates today --- and that's a big "if" --- a full slate of Independence Day activities are planned at Renziehausen Park.

City Recreation Director Jim Brown says three country and western bands will entertain at the bandshell, starting at 2 p.m., when Bren Marie takes the stage.

At 4:30, it's Buck Wyld, and from 7 to 9 p.m., John Kiger.

Refreshments will be on sale throughout the afternoon, including hot dogs, kolbassi, ice cream and funnel cakes, but the biggest attraction comes at 10 p.m., when the Mon-Yough area's biggest July 4 fireworks display gets underway.

Brown recommends that visitors arrive as early as possible to find a parking place.

"During the day, there are plenty of spots in the park," he says. "After 8 o'clock, that's when it gets really, really packed."

Attendees should plan to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on, Brown says.

There's no rain date planned, he says, so Brown and others have their fingers crossed that the clouds will part for at least a little while today. "This weather has been murder," he says.

. . .

P.S.: The concert by Chuck Blasko's Vogues set for last Sunday at the Renzie bandshell was rained out, Brown says. It's been rescheduled for this Sunday at 7 p.m.; the concert is free, so bring a blanket and plan to attend!

. . .

Snap, Crackle, Stop: City Councilman Darryl Segina doesn't mean to be unpatriotic, but Independence Day is rapidly becoming his least-favorite holiday.

The reason? All of the fly-by-night fireworks vendors who set up shop around the valley.

"We're putting fireworks into the hands of amateurs and children," Segina said. "We've got neighbors getting into fights about it, because they're worried about their houses catching on fire."

He said he'd counted at least six different vendors around McKeesport in the weeks before the holiday.

State law permits residents to use "ground and hand-held sparkling devices" and "novelties."

Forbidden for private use without a "display permit" are cherry bombs, M-80s, M-100s, "Roman candles," and any explosive devices or aerial devices.

But they're not illegal to sell to "non-Pennsylvania residents" --- the legal fiction is that purchasers will take them out of state (wink, wink) before lighting them.

"We can't stop them," City fire Chief Kevin Lust told the Almanac. "We tried two years ago --- you're allowed to sell them, but you're not allowed to use them. It's unbelievable."

City Solicitor J. Jason Elash said the city collects a $1,000 permit from vendors, and that they are required to file a business-privilege tax form.

Otherwise, Pennsylvania municipalities have little oversight over transient fireworks vendors.

Lust said many of the fireworks on sale from roadside tents are legal; rather than shooting into the air, they just make a showers of sparks and smoke on the ground.

But as he and others pointed out, "legal" doesn't mean "safe." Segina noted that many fireworks are imported under less-than-rigorous conditions, and that the results can be unpredictable and dangerous.

"I don't know where the state legislature is on this issue, but they've really got to crack down on this," he said.

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Feedback on “There's Gonna Be Fireworks”

Well, what really irks me is, have the police forgotton that these are illegal becuase it is thier friends and neighbors with the fireworks, or what? I agree 100% with Mr Segina, What other crime involves sending a bright projectile into the air saying” Here I am, come arrest me”?! How can people spend 2 weeks, 4 hours a night doing these “illegal” fireworks and no one says anything? I have no problem with small ground fireworks, and maybe bottle rockets, but some of these things rival the big boys. Oddly enough, people in McKeesport don’t have money to fix their sidewalk, paint their house, or cut their grass, but how about spending $500 on fireworks? And I don’t think we should let them sell them in McKeesport, even for a lousy $1000 per tent. Is $1000 per tent the man hours going to every 911 call? Is it worth the fires and injuries? I remember 15 years or so ago when fireworks set a house on Meadow street on fire on July 4th. And the Fireworks show was cancelled becuase the fire department was busy. I believe we lost 4 houses in that blaze, and that was before you could buy the stuff in Giant Eagles parking lot.
Adam - July 04, 2008



In fairness, Adam, I’ve had the police scanner on since 8 p.m., and the city PD has been running continuously on fireworks complaints. (It’s now after 11 p.m.) So have the North Huntingdon and West Mifflin PD.

So I don’t think they’re ignoring it.

As Councilor Segina says, the problem really lies with the state legislature —- either fireworks are illegal, or they’re not. This whole nonsense of “oh, you can buy them, but you can’t use them, ha ha ha,” is just dumb.
Webmaster - July 04, 2008



I can understand investigating fireworks complaints, but does anyone ever get fined or arrested for this? I highly doubt it. Judging from the amount of rocket and mortar trash lying on the streets in a 4-block radius, the police just drove on by and didn’t do anything.

And I hate to call the police repeatedly about stuff, because I KNOW there are bigger things to worry about, but I honestly don’t know the last time I ever saw an officer leave his vehicle or someone get ticketed/arrested in the 8 years that I’ve lived in my neighborhood — and it’s not like there’s no opportunity to. I’m a block away from a busy street with a stop sign that is more “suggestion” than law. There’s a house down the street that is occupied by at least a half dozen adult squatters (and 2 children) which has no furniture — I don’t even think they have electricity. There’s also 2 other houses which the owners are plainly and obviously dealing drugs from.

So yes, I understand there are more important things for the police to worry about. The thing that worries me is that I see close to zero police presence in the city anymore. I drive down Versailles every day going to and from work, and I can count on one hand the number of times I see a squad car in a month. I regularly sidetrack down Shaw into downtown, and I almost NEVER see a squad car. In fact, I can remember a dozen separate occasions when I saw an elderly beat cop walk right past a homeless person sleeping on the bench near the JFK statue downtown.

The police need to have more of a presence in places other than downtown, or else there’s going to be no one here to protect and serve.
John - July 05, 2008



I agree, Jason. The police were all over the place due to fireworks. But, that was only becuase of folks calling to complain. I saw the police drive by time and time again. Also, it was the 4th of July. But, why can’t the police start a crackdown, like on June 15th when these things starting exploding in front and above my house? Trying to do something last nite would have been like the fire department waiting until at least 10 people called in a fire before going to check it out.
Adam - July 05, 2008



A writer from the Post-Gazette wrote an article that compared fireworks to firearms, that since the Supreme Court stated it is a right to bare arms, it is fine operate fireworks. I agree with that, but I add that some kind of training training should be required. That way, if an officer stops by, you can proudly show that you took a fireworks safety course. Also like firearms, you can’t just shoot your gun in your backyard unless you live on a farm where there is little risk of your firework harming people or property. If you have the big stuff, you need lots of space. The most that should go off in a residential area should be a roman candle or bottle rocket. Otherwise, just go to Renzie
The Dude - July 07, 2008



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