Archive: News

If you have been concerned about the prospect of 4th of July fireworks, you don't have to worry any more.  The Lansing Community Council will be holding an event in Myers Park July 2nd that will include live music, food, and fireworks.  Community Council  President Ed LaVigne says the idea came from community members who wanted fireworks at August's Lansing Harbor festival.

"That idea was kicked around at first," LaVigne says.  "We thought it would be more appropriate to have a July 4th celebration and make a separate event out of it, for a variety of reasons.  One is that there is a void -- there really aren't any fireworks planned that we know of.  Last year it was at TC3 but when one of our members called them there was no definite commitment.  So to the best our knowledge there are no fireworks in the area."

The Lansing Community Council has raised money for a number of local programs, including the Lansing Recreation Department, Lansing Older Adult Program (LOAP), the Lansing Drop-In Program, Lansing Youth Services, Lansing schools, and the Lansing Community library.  Additionally the council took on fundraising to restore the 1799 historical North Log Cabin in Myers Park, as well as the Myers Park Playground Project (MP3), which was completed last summer.  The Council supports the East Shore Festival Of The Arts  The Lansing Harbor Festival is also a product of the Community Council, and plans are underway to make it bigger and better for the 5th annual Harbor Festival August 13th.  Festival Chairwoman Karen Veaner says that all these activities are part of the council's overall mission to support and bring the community together.

"Part of  the Community Council's goal is to create more opportunities for the residents of the Town and Village of Lansing to come together," she says.  "This seemed like a wonderful opportunity to feature the fireworks and have another great community celebration."

The event will kick off at 6pm Saturday evening with Backtalk band.  They'll be followed by The Ithaca Dixieland Jazz Band (The Dixiecats). 

"The game plan is that we'll have two bands play starting at six o'clock," says LaVigne.  "We'll have food available there -- hamburgers and hot dogs and sausages.  Out of respect for the Lansing Lions we will not do chicken.  The fireworks will start around 10 o'clock."

'Boom!' will be the theme of fundraising for the Lansing fireworksKeeping the event separate from the traditional Lansing Lion's Club 4th of July Chicken Barbecue was a key element in planning the fireworks.  That event is slated for Monday, July 4th, also in Myers Park, and is a major fund raising event for the Lions, as well as a long standing piece of Lansing tradition.  That led to scheduling the fireworks event for a different day.

"We didn't want to interfere in any way with the traditional Lions Club celebration," Veaner says.  "The reality is that fireworks on the 4th of July is financially much more challenging, so we felt a Saturday night concert and fireworks would be a great alternative."

The fireworks will be free and open to the public.  Similar to Harbor Festival and the Town Concerts in the Park, donations will be accepted at the event, and Community Council officials say they will hold fundraising events beforehand.  LaVigne says the council will be looking for sponsors for the fireworks as well, but any size of donation is gratefully accepted.  The Community Council Web site has information on how to donate.

"It'll be gorgeous," LaVigne says.  "You get there, be entertained, have some food, and then you watch the fireworks at the end."

v7i13