LONGPORT - It looks like the borough will be ending the summer season with a bang after all.
After weeks of concern over the ability to fund the annual Labor Day weekend fireworks display, Mayor Nicholas Russo Wednesday, Aug. 17 reported that the fireworks celebration is a go.
In past years, members of the community contributed the funds needed to put on the end-of-summer celebration, but this year, fundraising was not as successful as in prior years.
Russo said weeks ago that the borough received several contributions - $5,000 from a resident, $1,000 from the Longport Volunteer Fire Department and $100 from Commissioner Jim Leeds. The mayor then asked the borough's Library Board to provide the remaining $6,100. However, at a special meeting held July 28, board was deadlocked in a 4-4 vote and the motion to fund failed.
Russo reported at this week's Board of Commissioners meeting that additional contributions have been received and the borough has secured all the funding needed to put on the Labor Day weekend fireworks show.
Of the $12,700 needed to pay the fireworks vendor, the borough raised $9,800 in contributions to date, he said. If additional contributions are not received, the remaining $2,900 will come from the borough's $3,000 Recreation Fund balance.
"The fireworks are a go," he said.
Russo previously said the borough may consider a different date for the fireworks next year, because by Labor Day, many summer residents with children have already left town for the start of the new school year.
The fireworks will be held at dusk Saturday, Sept. 3. Wind and rain date is Sunday, Sept. 4.
