WBAL.comf

Authorities say a vehicle loaded with fireworks has caught fire near the town of Hancock.

Washington County fire department officials say the incident occurred Saturday on eastbound Interstate 70. They say a man apparently had bought fireworks from a stand and reported his vehicle was on fire.

HoCo release

NEWS RELEASE

June 16, 2009

Media Contacts:
Kevin Enright, Director, Office of Public Information, 410-313-2022
Gary Arthur, Director, Department of Recreation & Parks, 410-313-4643

4th of July Festivities and Fireworks Display to Celebrate our Nation’s Independence

ELLICOTT CITY – Howard County’s annual July 4th Festival and fireworks display will be held on Saturday, July 4 from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront.

For the second year, the staff of the Department of Recreation & Parks, other County agencies and the Columbia Association are pitching in to bring County residents a first class 4th of July celebration.

The Festival will kickoff at 5 p.m. with children’s entertainment featuring The Kinderman, Blue Sky Puppet Theater and stilt man, Wes Holly. Kids can also participate in carnival games and crafts, all with a “Stars & Stripes” theme. Beginning at 6 p.m., a second stage will host performances by Damon Foreman & Blue Funk and the Deanna Bogart Band.

To commemorate Independence Day, a spectacular fireworks display, produced by Garden State Fireworks, will begin at 9:30 p.m.

Attendees can bring a picnic or purchase food from one of the vendors on site. Parking is free.

For postponement information due to rain, please call 410-313-4452 on the day of the event. Rain date for the fireworks only is Sunday, July 5.

To view the entire schedule for July 4th festivities go to the Howard County Government website at www.howardcountymd.gov, or call Ella Carter at the Department of Recreation & Parks, 410-313-1671.

WBAL.com

The pop and crackle of Independence Day fireworks might be coming to a halt at one Carroll County show soon, according to the event’s top organizer.

The chair of the fireworks committee at the Carroll County Farm Museum in Westminster is finding that because of a lack of steady donations from individuals and businesses, the Old-Fashioned July 4th Celebration and Fireworks at the Carroll County Farm Museum might not be what it used to be.

“We’re probably $10-$15,000 behind last year in donations,” Joe Legge said. “We’re getting the major contributors that were giving large portions last year are giving smaller – - we have people that are customarily giving us $3,000 and now they’re giving us $500.”

Legge, who is a part of the Rotary Clubs of Carroll County, said it takes about $22,000 to put on the annual fireworks show, but they have collected only about $15,000 so far. This time last year, they had taken in close to $18,000, plus a reserve fund of $10,000.