what the f@#k was that??!

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

Fireworks? Thunder? A new front on Bush's war?

30 seconds of explosions near the center of Davis- not firecrackers.

gawd, how I have grown to hate the "4th" over the years.

Comments

[ohohiloveyou.livejournal.com]

i'm over near ball square- there were some pretty hellacious fireworks for probably fifteen minutes, which just ended about two minutes ago.

they weren't in the powderhouse square park area, they were more towards broadway by cedar street, although i couldn't tell you the exact location.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

i couldn't tell you the exact location.
lol, you could if you checked the city's website.

[nonnihil.livejournal.com]

Trum Field. Somerville's Independence Day celebrations.

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Are you sure it wasn't fireworks? The city's official fireworks show just ended moments ago. (and scared the crap out of both my kids, as usual. sigh)

[frederic.livejournal.com]

It was the city's attempt to drown out the sounds of airplane traffic to appease its residents.

[cutieperson]

*snort*

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

WIN :-)

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

I heard it too. Wanted to kill. Glad it's done now.

Although I'll admit, I lived in areas of Providence where that was happening too, and it bugged me then. Thank the gods it's only the one day a year.

[lonelyholiday.livejournal.com]

I could have sworn there was a "warning" in this community, but it turns out it was over in b0st0n (http://community.livejournal.com/b0st0n/5246189.html).

"Warning"

[m-b-w.livejournal.com]

There was, just a few messages down:

http://community.livejournal.com/davis_square/890099.html

America! Fuck yeah!

[myselftheliar.livejournal.com]

It was awesome awesome fireworks for the 4th of July celebration. Why does everyone hate fireworks now? They are loud and flashy and explodey and everything America stands for.

Re: America! Fuck yeah!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

I don't hate fireworks in general. What I hate is fireworks on a weeknight, after my kids' bedtime, and so close to our home that the noise is deafening.

I'm also irritated that they started early. The stated start time was 9:15 but they started at 9 by my clock. If it had started at 9:15 my son would have been asleep and I would have had one less hysterical child to comfort.

Whee!

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

The Somerville fireworks display gets better every year, and this one was kick-ass.

Lasted a good bit longer than 30 seconds, though.

Re: Whee!

[lena-a-mermaid.livejournal.com]

Yes, they were awesome! Loved em.

Re: Whee!

[ad-lib.livejournal.com]

my favorite part is everyone freaking out about how low they are and seriously ducking from them. haha.

[ohohiloveyou.livejournal.com]

okay, so if they're for the 4th of july, WHY are they during the week AND still in june?!

why not friday instead of thursday?

[ron_newman]

I don't know, but they've been doing it for four years now, ever since Mayor Joe took office.

I like fireworks

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten they were Thursday. My girlfriend and I walked out the door to walk the dog just after 9:00 and saw them on the horizon. We walked over to Powderhouse Square to watch them from the top hill. Not a bad view, not as good as from Trum Field but fewer people.

Forth of July fireworks were one of my favorite things growing up. It just seem alien to see people complaining about them.

[wonkywheels.livejournal.com]

Don't say that so loud. They'll send you to Guantanamo Bay.

[obie119.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that fireworks could be so offensive. Sheesh.

Tufts Library roof is a great place to watch them.

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

not a big fan of air shows either. More bread and circus.

Advertised Everywhere!!!

[hillville.livejournal.com]

There was a citywide Connect CTY call on Tuesday night. If you're not signed up for Connect CTY, call 311 and ask to be added.

There were notices in the paper, on the city's cable channels and on their website.

This whole fireworks/family fun day thing, held before the actual Fourth of July holiday, was for many years a big tradition in Somerville. It was cancelled when the state slashed local aid under Gov. Romney ,and the city was laying off workers and cutting back services under then-Mayor Dot Kelly Gay.

When he campaigned back in 2003, Mayor Joe said he was going to bring back some of Somerville's civic traditions to restore a sense of community, including the Sunsetters (kid/teen performing group), a really big Memorial Day parade on the Sunday before the holiday, and the fireworks/family fun day events.

I can understand that some people just don't like fireworks, but maybe the kids would like Family Fun Day this Saturday.

I think we're lucky to live in community that has distinctive local traditions -- not to mention a city that makes a real effort to get the word out.

But,what the hey, one of Somerville's OTHER big community traditions is grousing, so I guess this comment thread is just another way to honor our civic heritage.

Re: Advertised Everywhere!!!

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

Personally, I was well aware that the fireworks were scheduled for last night. The first year I moved here, it took me by surprise, so now I take pains to remember that it will be coming. And we live so close to Trum Field that we can't avoid it. So I'm not complaining that I didn't know it was coming. My complaint is mainly about the fact that they do it on a Thursday night and so late at night. I understand that the lateness is to make sure it's fully dark. And I understand that most (older) kids are out of school so the lateness isn't as much an issue for them. For us, it's another story.

I actually love fireworks. But my kids are scared of them, so it's difficult having fireworks go on so close to our house AND after bedtime. In a few more years I'll probably be singing a whole different tune.

Just to be clear, though, I'm not begrudging anyone else their enjoyment. I recognize that living in the city requires certain sacrifices, and that living so close to Trum Field puts me at some disadvantages like this. Honestly, it's one day a year so it's not THAT big a deal. But, like you said, we Somervillians do love to complain. ;)

[ron_newman]

I'd have thought that posting this notice here three days before would be enough to forestall the "WTF? Fireworks?" post afterwards. Guess not!

[abilouise.livejournal.com]

I had heard that the somerville fireworks had been discontinued not due to budget problems, but rather due to them setting Medford on fire years ago.

[ron_newman]

I think they were discontinued long before Dorothy Kelly Gay's administration. I don't recall ever seeing Somerville fireworks until Joe Curtatone restarted them four years ago, and I've lived here since 1985.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

Somerville does, indeed, have the fireworks on the Thursday before the 4th of July so that they don't compete with other communities' fireworks.

I think it's awesome. Of course, I do recognize that it's a challenge to people who find the sight/sound disturbing, but FIREWORKS! FIREWORKS! FIREWORKS!

[grateful1311.livejournal.com]

I've lived here for 31 years and I have seen fireworks in Somerville maybe 2-3 times. Its only been in recent years that they have had them at Trum. I do, however, remember going to the Memeorial Day parade when I was a kid. I was psyched when they started it up again. Now my son will have some cool parade memories.

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

I also find it amazing that people dislike fireworks. I understand the kids being scared thing, but it doesn't really last that long, and unless you live really close by, they're really not that loud (I'm about a 3 minute walk from Trum and couldn't hear them!). Didn't our founding fathers suggest that we should celebrate our independence with 'great fanfare, with explosives...' or something like that?
And just to clear up a few things: I'm not defending Dot Gay, but she didn't eleminate these things. Fireworks at Trum were a mainstay until sometime in the 60's. That was then liability was becoming an issue, and I do believe there was a small fire one year. Also, the Sunsetters ended sometime in the early 80's. And, despite the rumors of its' demise, the Memorial Day Parade was NEVER eliminated. It was small, and not very well-attended, but always took place. The bigger parade is great fun, but is also extremely expensive, so that could be why other mayors never built it up.
And as to why the fireworks are held so early, in my opinion, is so Mayor Joe and his friends can all go on vacation for the week!