The fireworks show in South Brunswick was as good a show as I’ve seen in a long time, and it offered a great closing to a nice community event designed to bring people in town together.
What was nice, I think, was that the event had nothing to do with the kind of marshal nonsense that tends to characterize these things, the gaudy, overbearing patriotism and flag-waving that always makes me a bit queazy.
We got there late, but my brother and his friends were there and set up near the front. We grabbed some food and I had a chance to talk to Councilman Joe Camarota, who was the primary organizer. He was marveling at the crowd and rightly pleased with the response from the community. Volunteer groups and businesses jumped in when the town opted not to fund the display (the right choice in these budgetary times) and the result was something more and better than it otherwise might have been.
(Before anyone jumps in to say this is proof the private sector can do things better than the government, I need to point out that the fireworks festival is not a necessity and should be handled privately, unlike fire and police, medical care and many other things.)
Camarota says he’s hoping to kick the whole thing off with a parade next year. If tonight’s event was any indication, I’m sure he’ll make it happen. And I’m looking forward to it already.
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- Suburban Pastoral, a chapbook by Hank Kalet, available here.
Hank Kalet 