To the editor:

This past Fourth of July, your newspaper listed the following towns for fireworks displays: Auburn/Lewiston, Bath/Woolwich, Boothbay, Freeport, Harpswell, Phippsburg, West Harpswell and Wiscasset.

According to minor research conducted on Google, one website, www.premierpyro.com, reports that a small town fireworks display of approximately 10 minutes costs in the neighborhood of $3,000 to $8,000. A larger event, possibly lasting 15 minutes, costs in the range of $10,000 to $15,000, and a 15- to 20-minute display choreographed with digital music will be in the $20,000 to $25,000 range.

Jumping up in scale, the Boston Pops costs approximately $2 million, and, to top things off, New York City’s Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks cost in the neighborhood of $5 million. None of the figures listed above includes the additional costs for permits, etc.

The point of these overly simplified details is to present to the administrative leaders of the aforementioned municipalities, as well as those of Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Lisbon, Richmond and West Bath, the amount of expenses the towns presenting displays could possibly save if a consolidated venue of a major fireworks display were offered.

The most unique facility that might be available, with space for parking, concessions and ample viewing room, is the newly designated Brunswick Landing, formerly the Brunswick Naval Air Station. Why not have administrators of these towns, working in conjunction with Brunswick Landing, conduct a meeting about the financial and physical feasibility of such a unique event?

Collectively, these towns have an estimated population of 95,000 (2000 census). Now add the considerable number of people who would prefer to travel from even farther away. The potential sales to all the participants is mind-boggling.

Can you, the municipal administrator visualize, after budgeting far less expenses that your previous budget displays, the revenue earned from holding such an event? Participating towns would receive an appropriate share offer based on what they had expended previously. Revenues collected, after expenses incurred by using Brunswick Landing, would then be redistributed on a percentage versus input basis. Let’s face it, even if your total of receipts were to amount to $100, that figure is still one hundred times more than you are currently earning from your own local show.

I have done my duty to share my suggestion. Now it is time for you to get together and plan for a major Fourth of July celebration in the future.

Michael H. Sherwood
Woolwich