Fourth Fizzle: Fireworks going off in fewer places

[Lisa Millegan Renner, Jul. 02, 201o]

Valley residents have fewer options to watch Fourth of July fireworks than in past years.

Livingston canceled its show because it couldn’t afford it. Ripon and Delhi eliminated their shows last year because of a lack of funds.

“A lot of people are upset,” said Lynette Van Laar, Ripon city clerk and finance director, adding that the city government had paid for the displays in the past. “We had people who would send in a little bit of money in their water bills (for fireworks), but it wasn’t near enough. “

Fireworks still will explode this weekend at Modesto’s John Thurman Field, Manteca’s Big League Dreams sports facility, Don Pedro Reservoir and Oakdale’s Woodward Reservoir. Many valley towns also are planning parades and community festivals, and residents can buy their own more modest fireworks.

Turlock’s fireworks show fizzled out in part because Turlock Chamber of Commerce President Sharon Silva assumed that California State University, Stanislaus, would host them again as it did for 24 years. She hopes the chamber can help sponsor a fireworks show in 2011.

“People do care that we celebrate. Especially in today’s environment, we want to make sure that we celebrate our independence.”

With all the budget cuts in Ripon, Laar said the City Council couldn’t justify continuing to fund fireworks.

“We’ve got to keep the employees, so we’ve got to let some of the fluff stuff go,” she said.

Sam Garrett of the Modesto Jaycees, which sponsors Modesto’s Fourth of July celebration, said his group barely scraped together the money to put on the parade, hold the festival in Graceada Park and contribute to the Modesto Nuts’ fireworks show at John Thurman Field on Saturday. The group couldn’t put on a laser show at Enslen Park this year as it did last year because it didn’t have enough money.

It’s a truly heroic act for average citizens to send money in with their water bills to support a cultural celebration for all of Modesto, and several nearby towns, to enjoy. How could a hero help guide the city into harnessing this heroic community spirit.

Spots still open on culture board

[Feb. 07, 2010]

The Modesto City Council is looking for applicants to the city’s Culture Commission. Two seats are open. The commission advises on matters pertaining to art, literature, music and other activities as well as the McHenry Museum and the McHenry Mansion. The position has been less fun in recent years, as the city has scaled down a small pot of money it set aside for culture grants.

Many people are more than willing to do something heroic. Many times their good efforts and intentions are simply thwarted by the red tape and obstacles put in the way.

Hope ride runs out of gas for now

[Jeff Jardine, Feb. 11, 2010]

I sat and watched roughly 2,200 motorcycles vroom by. It was the Sierra Hope Ride, which, from 1995 through 2009, has generated nearly $3 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

No more, though — or at least not this year. Organizers Art Mitchell of Modesto and Karen and Allen Aldridge of Jamestown have canceled the event.

The number on the ride from Modesto to Jamestown ultimately grew so big that some folks along the way complained it gridlocked their towns and required too many police resources. Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale, the counties of Stanislaus and Tuolumne, CalTrans and other agencies began charging for parade permits to cover police and other costs — costs that rose over the years.

“We went from two to nine permits, said Allen Aldridge who, with wife Karen — Mitchell’s daughter — manages Jamestown Harley-Davidson and helped organize the rides. “Cities that used to donate it could no longer because of their own financial situations.”

Oakdale charged nothing in 2006, the first year the ride went through town. Every year since, the city charged $380 for what amounted to a parade permit. And the Police Department — which dedicated 12 officers and 13 volunteers — billed the event $1,400 to cover costs each year.

Sierra Hope also paid more than $2,000 to shut down a segment of Briggsmore Avenue coming through Modesto.

Liability insurance costs also rose, with the cities wanting proof of insurance as the ride passed.

Then there was — still is — the recession. In 2005, 2,200 riders each paid the $50 registration fee to participate. For the ride’s first 13 years, it ended with festivities at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds in Sonora. Riders had to show proof they’d paid before entering the fairgrounds; those who hadn’t paid did so at the gate.

All told, the 2005 event generated about $355,700 in gross revenue and turned $314,000 — 88 percent — over to the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

In 2009, 1,800 riders paid their fees, but about 1,200 more rode along without registering.

“Last year, there were at least 3,000 by the time we got to Jamestown,” said Mitchell, who owns Modesto’s Mitchell Harley-Davidson and Jamestown Harley- Davidson.

What happened?

A year earlier, organizers had tried to liven up the afterparty by moving it to Jamestown, where they took over the town’s quaint main street. They approached Tuolumne County officials about installing a temporary fence around the downtown but found it would be too costly. Consequently, they had no way to keep out those who hadn’t paid.

Last year’s event grossed only $155,000, with $84,000 — only 54 percent — going to the MDA.

Ultimately, these piker bikers helped kill the event, not only for the charity but also for those who paid and helped raise money.

It didn’t help that the Muscular Dystrophy Association closed its Modesto office and now coordinates its Stanislaus County efforts from a regional office in Sacramento.

“We still love raising money to help people,” Karen Aldridge said. “We have so many riders who are awesome people and want to help.”

Said Mitchell, “Nobody makes it easy — even to give money.”

Can we harness this energy of generosity? Can we give the people of Modesto an outlet to celebrating and supporting cultural, artistic, and charitable events?

 

ARTS & CULTURE CHALLENGE