Fourth of July sparks fireworks fundraisers

Fireworks on the Fourth of July have been an American tradition since the nation’s first birthday. But paying for those fireworks has also started some traditions in the Greater Lynn area.”I am the lucky one,” said Nahant Recreation Committee member Jen McCarthy, who has raised money for the Nahant fireworks show for the past 20 years. “Unfortunately, people see me on the corner, and they know I’m looking for money. I know it sounds wrong in every way, but they know.”Newspapers in Boston and Philadelphia recorded the first Independence Day fireworks displays on July 4, 1777, the first anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This year, four municipalities in the area will celebrate Independence Day with fireworks shows. Lynn and Swampscott host a show off King’s Beach on the evening of July 3, while Nahant and Marblehead have fireworks shows planned for the evening of July 4.But the effort to raise money for the shows, which in each town is raised privately, begins long before the summer starts, and has created its own traditions.”Years ago, it would be a lot easier than now, there are now so many people out there raising money,” said Ann Marie Leonard, who has helped with the Lynn fundraising efforts since the fireworks display began during Mayor DiVirgilio’s administration. But Leonard has continued the annual fundraising effort after retiring from her full-time job in the city’s community development office in 2005. “I like it,” Leonard continued. “I’m 76 years old, and it keeps me going.”Lynn and Swampscott annually raise about $45,000 for a fireworks display, with the city contributing roughly two-thirds of the money, according to Swampscott Town Accountant Dave Castellarin and Mary Chalmers, an aide in the Lynn mayor’s office.Both municipalities hold annual golf tournaments at Gannon Municipal Golf Course and Tedesco Country Clubs, respectively, complete with business sponsorships, raffles, and food for golfers.Swampscott raises the majority of the money for its share of the fireworks from this event, which used to be held every other year, but has been held annually since 2012, according to an agreement with Tedesco Country Club. The town also sells T-shirts and hats, and solicits money from local residents and businesses.Lynn raises about $5,000 from the event. But it also holds 50/50 raffles every week in City Hall to raise money for the fireworks, holds an annual fundraising event at a local restaurant, gets money from Fiesta Carnivals that come to town each year, and solicits money from local citizens and businesses, several of which sponsor the show.The efforts raise about $30,000 privately for the city’s share of the show. The fireworks themselves cost about $22,000, fees for the Department of Conservation and Recreation total $5,000 and portable bathrooms cost $1,200. Swampscott’s share covers police and fire costs as well as contributing to the show, according to Castellarin.The price has actually gone down, since the fireworks company can keep the barge in the area for Marblehead’s show the following night, officials said. Although, this created a problem last year when Lynn/Swampscott and Marblehead advertised for the same rain date and Hurricane Arthur passed through with rains and heavy winds to churn the waves. Chalmers said they had not done the same this year.Like Leonard, raising money for the fireworks has become an annual tradition for McCarthy. She was a member of the Nahant Recreation Committee 20 years ago and volunteered to help the committee raise money for the show.”The person who was doing fireworks was unable to do fundraising anymore, so five of us on recreation said we’ll take it over,” McCarthy said. “And over the next 20 years, I’m the last man standing.”McCarthy annually designs a T-shirt, the sales of which raise the majority of the $16,500 for the show, she said. Private citizens also donate each year. The fundraising season begins at Town Meeting in April, but fund