Very true, good luck this one. This is event has been very painful for any organiztion trying to sponsor it. Everytime at the end of the show, you read, "we didn't make enough money, or raise enough."
Then if you charge a gate fee, you'll have people sneaking in, or a families of four or five wouldn't be able to afford to come in. Even if kids are free, you still have adults paying to get in. For what, a spark in the sky or to see Janesville's finest getting wasted.

I would be okay with a gate charge.

If there were 2,000 contributions of $10.00 out of the 60,000-70,000 people in the janesville community it would cover the cost of a major event of this size. Or maybe there would need to be a gate charge of some sort at the entrance to the park? Good luck.

No prob bobb

Hanna,sorry if i mislabeled orginazation that wants to hold fireworks.Obviously some people get bent out of shape over trivial errors.I woill attempt to be more explicit in the future.Mea Culpa!

sandman""Aqua Jaycees on the Rocks"
are these the Jaycees? the ones who do the haunted house stuff?

ljs64
Nov 13, 2009 at 9:47 a.m.
Suggest removal TGIF.........Another hannahism.......It is going to be a great weekend!

do you have a problem answering a question I odnt know!!!?????? I guess so!!

bobb used the term aquajc's so I asked a SIMPLE question- Is it to simple for you to just tell me?

I think that someone here is confusing the Rock Aqua Jays with the "Aqua Jaycees on the Rocks"--a small group of ice-water-sipping, recovering alcoholic 12-step Jaycees!

Here's a viable solution for the annual fireworks conundrum:
For all those who can only be satisfied by noise, pollution and alcohol (and let's face it, that covers most of the denizens of J-ville--there, I said it--J-ville, Marsha, Marsh)) on the 4th of July, in "celebration of our nation's birthday" (yeah, right--hahahahaha!) of course, start donating NOW to the fireworks fund. That way, whatever money is collected before the event can be spent on fireworks by whatever group is running the festivities.

Simple enough, isn't it? And then, if you and your kids go to the event, you can consider yourself either a "proud sponsor of this event, and progeny," or (and more likely, I expect) a "cheapo parasite, and spawn."

mfd1970
Blains donate to many area non profit groups such as 4-H, PTA's, youth sports clubs and
such. They do A LOT for this community !
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Thanks to them for supporting all of these
events. We truly appreciate all that you do for us.
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As to how to help pay for this years 4th celebration ? I am not sure of the answer... many businesses are struggling to just stay open. I don't see how asking for large contributions from them is going to help. Perhaps we will just have to settle with no "CITY" fireworks and use Newlife's for the festivities. In these economic times why do we need to duplicate services?
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Most people say the community should donate money for them, and generally I agree. However this year in particular if I donate to fireworks, I won't be able to donate for Salvation ARMY/ECHO Christmas baskets. Every dollar is streatched to the limit in mine (and I think most ) families. Time are tough...money is tight. I think my contributions would be best used toward proving a happy holiday for a family than for a few minutes of fireworks.
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Hanna: yes the Jaycees used to put on the 4th of July celebrations, but have since disbanded. The Auqua Jays are an entirley different orginization.

TGIF.........Another hannahism.......It is going to be a great weekend!

Did the Jaycees used to do the fireworks? I thought the jaycees were the Agua jays. Are these TWO different groups?

Mark_Twain: Do you even know what the Odd Fellows are even about? I'd bet not! They give to several charities and have done nothing but good for the community. What have you done for the the good of the community and charities? I personally know one of the leaders of the local lodge who gives countless hours to charities and the lodge, not to mention the countless hours the lodge members donated to rebuild their lodge after that low life started it on fire!
As an old saying goes: "Make sure brain is engauged before putting mouth in gear"! Or in this case of typing, your fingers.

Wow mfd - that's pretty rude. How do you know how much the Blain family or Bliss Comm gives back to the community? I would bet that they're already doing quite a lot - it is not their responsibility to entertain you on the 4th of July just because they have more money than you do. If everyone interested in having fireworks in Janesville sent $10 or $20 to the Aqua Jays to help out, instead of waiting for someone to come in and offer a "bailout", the cost would be covered.

mark_twain - what exactly did the Odd Fellows do to you that makes you want to slam them every chance you get. They do nothing but help people every chance they get. They raise thousands of dollars and give it all away to people in need, people who are ill or down on their luck. What have you done to help people that makes you so much better then them.

I think it's time for a few corporate sponsors to step up to the plate and give back to the community. How many of you stood in line for Toy Land to open at 7am a few weeks ago? Come on Blain family, write a check! The residents of Janesville have been supporting you, it's time to give back. Bliss Communications .......... need I say more?

Beer and Bond Park = Fun 4th

With all due respect to all sides in this debate.We as a Nation may be dealing with an unemployment rate by then unprecedented in American history.
Please read Capitol Times todays edition.headlines along lines of"Dems&Unemployment.

This is a celebration of the Birth of our Nation and there are those that want to shelve it. Yes times are tough and they look like they will get tougher for awhile but we as citizens of this community should be able to scrape the money together to help the Aqua Jays, if they decide to hold the program. One less soda, one less beer, one less pack of smokes, one less of this or that and we could provide the funds. Yes, a lot of people need every dollar they make and that is understandable but we need to remember this is a celebration of our country's birth, a rememberance of the sacrafices made by the founders then and all the citizens of this country since. We need this to bring the spirit back to life in this country and hopefully it will last for more then one day.

I just love all the comments to go to other communties to watch their events. In other words, I'm too cheap to pitch in a couple of bucks to watch the fireworks here, but I'll spend the gas money to go to your town and watch them. What a joke!

My bet is the ratio of people that are sick and tired of hearing about this issue to those that actually care about it is 20:1. It's the same old thing every year. Please stop. There are alternatives like going to surrounding communities for fireworks, Rhythm and Booms in Madison, the New Life event, or sparklers in your backyard. I get tradition and the fact people like fireworks, but the regurgitation of this issue year-after-year is too much.

Traxler Park is the best option as many people walk there from their homes. The Aqua Jays would be better hosts of the event than the ill-mannered Odd Fellows as well. Perhaps the new sponsors could leave the bands and beer tent out of the equation; there are plenty of bars downtown for people to drink and hear music. Another option would be to ask the bands and vendors to donate their time, and then the only cost would be for the fireworks..

Swit654, Your points are well taken.I should have been more clearer. My picnic idea was immediate families,"block" type partys,at area parks,backyards,etc.Basically outdoors,cheap "homemade" fun.
I am all for any organization holding any event.

Bobb and Coolhand,

Since this isn't our money or tax payers money at work hear, I have to totally disagree with you. Having this event would bring money in to local business supporting the economy. Also, if you choose to go to the fireworks, in years past they do not charge to watch the fireworks so it would cost you nothing. They do like donations of which if you were to donate $5 for the whole family to watch, that is still cheaper than any picnic.

enutpenfry...the people involved in the management of the Aqua Jays are very capable of deciding whether or not the timing of the event would cause issues with their competitions. I'm sure they've already considered that before they made it public that they are investigating taking it over.

Coolhandluke, Valid point. Let us enjoy in other ways instead of spend,spend,spend.It is most admirable that the Aqua JC's want to host this event,yet with this economy in shambles (only going to get worse,READ Capitol Times--todays issue)money can be better spent.I believe old fashion picnics,outdoor games are the way to go,either with families,or whole communities.

If there are no fireworks in Janesville, it will not be the end of the world. If we can find generous sponsors, so be it. Otherwise, I suggest going to Beloit or other surronding communities. Besides, fireworks are boring.

Wouldn't the Aqua Jays just get the fireworks all soggy?

Love the idea of the Aqua Jays hosting the event, like the fireworks much better at Traxler, it just seems right having it there, if they need I would definately volunteer to help as I am sure many in the community would if the call were put out. I hope this works out.

Not to rain on the parade, but isn't the annual Wisconsin water ski event at Lake Wazeecha dangerously close to the 4th of July? Would the Rock Aqua Jays be too distracted by the amount of organization a fireworks event takes?

Napalm - I remember the fireworks at Monterey Stadium before they went to Traxler. I don't know where they were before that. They shot them off right down in the field, too. Try and get an insurance company to cover that today.

I LOVED having the fireworks out where they were the last 2 years. Much better parking and viewing! With that said, I'm happy to hear that someone is willing to look into taking on the annual city fireworks. Even if it has to go back to Traxler, it would be awesome. I hope they can get the support needed to make this happen.

If we all GO wouldnt it be successful? I also prefer it at traxler.

I think it would be a great idea if the Aqua Jays hosted the 4th. To keep costs down I hope someone will step up to co host the event.
I do not agree that it is a waste of time or money.This event is what great childhood memories are made of.

let's all use our heads here everyone! when was the last time the 4th of july event was successful? making money and putting it towrds the next year? i dont remember for sometime now. everyone cries and everyone loses money on this event. lets take a break during these tough times and use our money towards other events, or anything else, that would bring revenue into the city. 4th of july, is and has been, a waste of time and money...

As tradition it should be at Traxler park. Its sad that it wasnt last year. Kind of made it feel like it wasnt the 4th of July in Janesville. It is the center of the city and can be seen by WAY more people than the sports complex.

that would be a very good idea, i have been watching R.A.J. Sense 1975, and they have hosted many events there at traxler park. This idea should have came to life a long time ago.
R.A.J. 2010 national champs, ill see you there

Well at least if the Aqua Jays take it over, the city will have no choice but to move the venue back down to Traxler. Would have been nice if the city had done that last year for the Odd Fellows, but the "road construction" stopped that from happening. Thanks to the Odd Fellows for trying though!!! Maybe the community will show some support this year.