Nahant in need of funds for fireworks

NAHANT – The Fourth of July is only days away, and the town is about $8,000 short of its goal to light up the night with fireworks.
“But I have faith,” said Parks & Recreation’s Jen McCarthy, who heads up the fundraising each year.
McCarthy said the shortfall isn’t unusual, but the difference does need to be made up in order for a fun holiday to be a great holiday.
“We are where we usually are at this time in June,” she said. “The Fourth always seems to sneak up on people each year. With all of the end of school year activities and sports, people are just busy and don’t realize just how close we are to the Fourth.”
McCarthy said she thinks the extremely cold winter that lingered into spring and led to a slow start to summer hasn’t helped.
“It really just doesn’t have people thinking of a fun day of barbecues and fireworks, but it is here, and the fireworks fund still needs help,” she said.
McCarthy made a pitch to the Board of Selectmen Thursday in hopes of kickstarting the final push to get the fireworks paid for.
Selectman Chairman Perry Barrasso said he hoped anyone watching the meeting would make a donation, suggesting they pick up a T-shirt.
“The T-shirts are always unique, and you have to have one for each year,” he said.
Selectman Michael Manning actually handed McCarthy a check for a T-shirt she gave him prior to the meeting. He said the check was for $50, about $35 more than the cost of the shirt, but he said if everyone gave as he had, the town would have $70,000 for fireworks.
“If every household gave $10, we’d have all we need,” McCarthy said.
The annual fireworks show, which this year will once again be shot from Bailey’s Hill, is always funded through donations from townspeople and local businesses.
McCarthy said the town is fortunate that various departments cover any costs they accrue and that so many have already donated, but more is needed. Every donation, even $5 or $10 helps, she said.
“So I am hoping that if people are planning on viewing the show that they will consider donating to help make the show possible,” she said.
Donations can be made or T-shirts purchased by contacting McCarthy at 781-592-5272 or by sending checks made payable to the Town of Nahant to McCarthy at 19 Range Road, Nahant.
The fireworks display is scheduled to go off on the Fourth at about 9:15 p.m.”I’d like to thank you for continuing with the fundraising year after year,” Selectman Richard Lombard said to McCarthy. “Your enthusiasm and continued performance, I thank you, and I really mean that.”