PORT TOWNSEND — Although this year’s fireworks will continue as planned, the Sunrise Rotary Club announced that it will not fund next year’s show, citing financial constraints.
The Rotary Club had said in May that if donations this year lagged, they might have to stop funding the event.
The board voted June 15 to halt the funding.
“It’s a wonderful community event, and we’ve been happy to do it in conjunction with the city of Port Townsend, Fort Worden and Jefferson County Transit,” said Debbie Greenspane, incoming club president.
“One of the many reasons we do it is to help the city cut down on illegal fireworks displays.
“But a club of our size just can’t afford to sponsor something like this and still fund other worthwhile community projects.”
Fundraising for the $17,000 show this year was complicated by the economic conditions, Greenspane said.
She said a $1,000 donation from Puget Sound Energy had helped this year’s efforts.
“This has always been a community fireworks show, not a Rotary show,” she said.
“We are hoping another organization will pick up the slack next year.”
Bill Mann, spokesman for the club, said the club still hasn’t raised enough to cover this year’s costs.
“I’m not sure how much exactly we’ve raised, but we have not reached the goal yet,” he said.
The board said in a news release that they hoped another community group could pick up the event for next year.
Also citing financial constraints, Jefferson Transit said that it can no longer provide shuttles to the event at Fort Worden from the downtown area.
This year, the fireworks will begin at 10 p.m.
“We decided to set a specific time so that people could better plan,” Mann said.
Checks in any amount to help pay for the fireworks show can be mailed to PT Sunrise Rotary, P.O. Box 1474, Port Townsend, WA 98368.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
