City to fund this year's rockets red glare

Marco Islanders can look forward to fireworks on Marco Island this year. And this time, they're coming from the city of Marco Island.

"We've paid for and will be deploying those fireworks off a barge," said City Clerk Laura Litzan. "That's our contribution to the Fourth of July." The show will start at sundown, which is estimated to be at 9 p.m.

Rather than heading fundraising efforts as it did in the past, the city will be paying $38,000 to Firepowers Display Unlimited, Inc. from its goodwill fund.

"We do now budget for this as an annual event," she said. "In the past, we were able to raise about half of that amount through private donations."

Officials were notified earlier that the Marco Island Restaurant Association, the event's former largest contributor, would not be able to help them this year because of other commitments. So this year, the city will not be soliciting private donations, but if anyone wants to contribute, Litzan certainly won't turn money away, she said.

Before the restaurant association, the Marco Island Kiwanis Club would raise funds through business donations for fireworks and hold community events on Independence Day.

The show will be about fifteen minutes long with 1,800 shots, said Fire Chief Mike Murphy and will be overseen by the Fire Department.

Other events for members only of the Marco Island Civic Association are the festivities to be held at Resident's Beach on July 4. Members can enjoy a deejay, patriotic bathing suit and sandcastle contests, and a new pavilion with expanded bathroom and snack facilities.

"We have a lot of members on the beach that day," said director Ruth McCann.

Beer, wine, food and ice cream will be available for purchase.

Captain Thom Carr of the Marco Island Police Department said people can park pretty much anywhere they can find, which includes the South Beach access. However, when parking in swales residents need to be mindful of maneuvering the whole vehicle onto the grass.

"People have to be smart and not park in the street," he said. "I can't understand why people on this island park right in the middle of the street. That is not going to be tolerated."

San Marco Catholic Church will also be taking overflow from Residents Beach again this year.

"MICA has requested as they have for years and years and years and we certainly let people who use Residents Beach use it," said Joe Coriaci, chairman of the parish finance committee. "We've done this for years for MICA and Residents Beach folks and see no reason why we won't do it again this year."

For those who would like to watch the fireworks from Tigertail Beach, it will close at dusk as it normally does, so they will need to find somewhere else to access the beach, such as South Beach.