Port needs Kingston to rally around the Fourth

Published 10:26 am Saturday, May 16, 2009

KINGSTON — The Kingston Fourth of July fireworks show is “hurtin’ for certain,” said Kingston Port Commissioner Pete DeBoer.

For the past four years the S’Klallam Tribe’s Point Casino has fully funded the entire fireworks show to the tune of $11,500.

This year the Point isn’t able to provide the $11,500, but will still donate $2,500. Also, the barge the fireworks are shot from costs $3,000 and there are a number of additional rental expenses that are necessary for the entire weekend, including portable toilets, stage equipment and security.

To date about $6,000 has been donated, and DeBoer said some checks for $20 and $50 are coming in, and if enough of those checks come in it really adds up.

But time is of the essence, as DeBoer has already signed a contract with the fireworks vendor. However, he said the contract has always been signed before all the money was collected, and there is the option to cancel the order by mid-June.

“We don’t even want to go there,” DeBoer said of the cancelation clause. “We need to rally the people of Kingston to support this.”

Fourth of July buttons are on sale for $2.

The theme for the 2009 Fourth of July celebration in Kingston is taken from President Barack Obama’s inauguration speech: Enduring spirit.

Want to help?

Donations may be made by mailing a check payable to Kingston Fourth of July to P.O. Box 1505, Kingston, WA 98346.

For more information, call Pete DeBoer at (360) 649-1806.