Waterfront will have fireworks if sufficient funds are raised

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This year’s fireworks show on the Vallejo waterfront, already an iffy proposition, is likely to become more so as development continues in the city, organizers said.

That’s why it took so long for local businessmen Ken Ingersoll and Raymond Prather to start raising funds for this year’s show, Ingersoll said.

"I only sent out the letters last week," he said. "This year was especially challenging because the site on Mare Island that we’ve been using can no longer be used because of development and an alternative site offered was so far away it wouldn’t have worked effectively."

A barge and tug boat were offered, which is how the production will be done this year, but it took a while to get all the bureaucratic ducks in a row for this, he said.

"There were liabilities to get through. Lawyers and insurance companies had to get involved. It was not an easy process," said Ingersoll, owner of Gracie’s BBQ on Virginia Street. "I wasn’t sure it was going to happen until recently."

Ingersoll and Prather, owner of Virginia Street’s Victor y Stores, have taken it upon themselves to bring Vallejo a fireworks display every year since it went dark in 2009 — another casualty of the so-called "great recession," when the city and the usual, longtime corporate sponsors had to withdraw support.

"We’ve been doing it six years," Prather said. "It went dark in 2009 and we did it the first time in 2010. I’d be disappointed if we can’t pull it off, but I’m going to do everything in my power to pull it off and between Ken and I, we have a little bit of power."

A "really good" 10-minute fireworks show costs some $15,500, Prather said.

" T here was some money left over from last time, but we’re pretty low," he said. "We need to have that much by July 1."

W hen asked if he planned to dona! te to the cause, Jon Riley, executive director of the Napa/ Solano Cental Labor Council, said "Of course! Gladly. Labor has always supported this project."

Riley, too, sent out a message urging folks to support the city’s fireworks show.

"Ken (and Raymond) do all the work so it is a no-brainer to kick in some money for (their) efforts," his letter says. "I have attached (Ken’s) letter and hope that you all will dig deep and help him out."

Riley said the Fourth of July festivities are among the city’s most important.

"This is one of a handful of events that bring our entire community together," he said. "This event in parti! cular, celebrating the birth of our nation, also defines the spirit of our community. So if it went away again, it would be another blow to that spirit.

But I also know Vallejo and Ken and Ray’s ability to get things done so I will plan on watching the fireworks display again this year with family and friends," he said.

Prather said he feels the same way about the Fourth of July.

"I would like to say I wouldn’t be able to imagine another year without fireworks, but my last conversation with Ken it seemed a little grim," he said. "Hopefully we can get it done."

The effort has nonprofit status now, so donations can be written off, and the tax-exempt number will be mailed to donors with a thank you letter, Prather said. Checks should be made out to Vallejo Fireworks Fund, a! nd can be mailed or brought into Gracie’s or Victory Stores.

"New this year, we can now take military donations — like one lady brought in her late husband’s old dress uniforms, some old books; military insignia, etc., and Ken and I go through it, figure out what it could sell for, and I donate that much back to the fireworks," Prather said. "So far, it’s raised $1,500 for the year."

What happens in future years is in question, Ingersoll said.

"The upside is that there’s development going on, on the Vallejo mainland and on Mare island, and no one wants to see a single job lost because of one day of celebration," he said. Alternatives are being worked on and only time will tell what the future of Vallejo’s Independence Day festivities might be.

To donate to this year’s firewor! ks display, checks can be mailed directly to Vallejo Fireworks Fund at P.O. Box 7 Vallejo, Ca. 94590. Tax ID. 474110763. Contact Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 5536824.

Checks should be made out to Vallejo Fireworks Fund, and can be mailed or brought into Gracie’s or Victory Stores.