LAKEPORT – Plans for this year's Lakeport fireworks display are moving forward.

On Tuesday, April 21, Lakeport Mayor Ron Bertsch signed the 2009 fireworks display contract. Lakeport Regional Chamber CEO Melissa Fulton had made a request on behalf of the 2009 Community Fireworks Committee, requesting that the Lakeport City Council authorize the mayor to sign the contract.

The chamber formed the committee to assure that there will be a fireworks display on July 4 offshore of Lakeport's Library Park. Committee Members include interim City Manager and Police Chief Kevin Burke, Mayor Ron Bertsch, Leslie Firth, Ross Kauper, Sinda Knight, Barbara Breunig. Fulton chairs the committee.

This long-standing tradition, financed by the chamber for more than 20 years, was in danger of not happening, said Fulton. The community is stepping up as they do so often and through the work of the Committee and the Chamber, the display will happen.

 

To date $6,600 has been raised with minimal outreach. It was suggested in a letter to the editor a couple of weeks ago that if each resident of Lakeport donated $5, the goal would be reached and exceeded very quickly.

Having said that, many thousands of Lake County residents and visitors benefit from the display, adding to their inventory of summer memories in Lakeport.

The committee is asking anyone who enjoys the display in Lakeport to consider making a donation. Should the goal of $18,400 be exceeded, the committee has stated the excess will be held for the 2010 display.

Donations may be made online at www.lakeportchamber.com. Just click on the fireworks banner to make your donation.

The Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Add A Dollar campaign beginning soon and 100 percent of those dollars raised will be donated to the fireworks fund. Watch for Add A Dollar canisters at local businesses soon.

 

Activities in Lakeport on July 4th will include the Annual Lakeport Main Street Association Street Faire all day starting at 10 a.m. and the chamber's Lighted Boat Parade at 9 p.m. with the fireworks following at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Lighted Boat Parade applications can be downloaded at www.lakeportchamber.com or call 707-263-5092 to have one mailed to you. For any questions concerning the fireworks fundraising, please call the same number.

2009 Fireworks donations and donation levels

– Betsy Ross ($50): Kevin Burke

– Ben Franklin ($75): No donations to date.

– Thomas Jefferson ($100): Jan and Barry Parkinson, Lakeconews.com, Rotten Robbies, Roy and Diane Parmentier, Jim and Sharon Hubman, Lakeport Yacht Club, Ron Bertsch.

– Abraham Lincoln ($250): No donations to date:

– George Washington ($500): Lakeport Rotary Club.

– Uncle Sam ($1,000): Gossett Alarm Inc.

– Other donations: Lakeport Main Street Association, $2000; Furia Construction and Lakeport Speedway, $2,000.