4th Fireworks downsized; Joint July celebration latest economic casualty

SWAMPSCOTT-The annual Fourth of July fireworks will be scaled back this year due to the troubled economy.Swampscott Town Accountant Dave Castellarin said the annual Fourth of July fireworks display on Lynn Shore Drive, which is a joint effort between the city of Lynn and Swampscott, costs $50,000. Castellarin said Lynn pays $30,000 for the fireworks and Swampscott kicks in $20,000. He said each community is also responsible for paying its own public safety details.Castellarin said he was contacted by the city of Lynn because there was some concern the city would not be able to raise its share of the cost for the fireworks display this year due to the current economic climate. “There was some concern on the part of Lynn that it couldn’t raise the $30,000 for the fireworks show this year,” he said. “The city wants to cut the display back so it would cost $37,000, which we would split 60/40. That’s something we’re willing to do but my experience is the town of Swampscott always comes through when it comes to donations for the fireworks.”Mayor Edward J. Clancy’s Deputy Chief of Staff Andrea Scalise confirmed the $50,000 show would be scaled back to $37,000 this year. She said Lynn would raise $22,200 and Swampscott would be responsible for kicking in $14,800.Scalise said the city wanted to set a realistic fundraising goal that could be attained in spite of a tanking economy.?We didn’t want to set our sights too high,” she said. “We want to be realistic so we can meet our goals. We realize a lot of families are struggling in this economy. It’s going to be more difficult for people to give this year.”Scalise said Atlas PyroVision, which is based in Jaffrey, N.H., has been shooting off the annual Lynn-Swampscott display for years. She said the company has asked to become a business sponsor for this years Fourth of July fireworks show.?We’re still working out the details,” she said. “We will celebrate the holiday with fireworks and it’ll be a good show. If we raise more money than expected we can always add on to the show.”