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Fireworks in baseball: They always draw a crowd
Jul 04, 2010
Classic Park is home to the Class A Lake County Captains and some of the loudest, longest fireworks displays in the area.
During this Independence Day weekend, pyrotechnicians from American Fireworks, Inc. of Hudson skillfully executed fireworks shows Friday and Saturday nights after Captains games.
Although the Captains completed a six-game homestand Saturday and will be in Michigan the next three days to play the Lansing Lugnuts, the ballpark at the corner of Vine Street and Route 91 will not be quiet tonight.
For the third straight year, the City of Eastlake will stage its July 4 fireworks show at Classic Park. The gates open at 7 p.m., with the fireworks expected to begin at about 9:45. Leading up to the fireworks, there will be live music and other attractions to occupy the attention of patrons.
Admission and parking are free for tonight’s July 4 celebration at Classic Park.
Fireworks have been a reliable drawing card at Classic Park since the ballpark opened in April 2003. There are 19 fireworks displays on the team’s promotion schedule this season, most of them Friday and Saturday nights.
Crowds on fireworks nights are always larger than for dates without fireworks. This season’s top attendance of 8,452 was on a Friday fireworks night. Fireworks displays at Classic Park are accompanied by music playing on the public-address system.
“We look at fireworks as the No. 1 promotion year in, year out,” said Captains chairman and majority owner Peter Carfagna. “Our fans tells us they like fireworks the best of all promotions. We just respond to the fans’ appetite for more and better fireworks.”
Carfagna declined to disclose what the Captains pay for the fireworks shows staged by American Fireworks Inc. He said the team values fireworks shows for reasons that have nothing to do with financial return.
“Fireworks make everybody feel like a kid again. It’s like you are at Disney World.” Carfagna said. “The combination of music and fireworks has everybody leaving with big smiles on their faces. That’s why we got into this business.”
Family fun, family businesses
American Fireworks Inc. has been in business since 1902. Roberto Sorgi, 23, represents the seventh generation of his family to run the business that stages hundreds of fireworks displays every year and also has a thriving retail store.
“This is something that is in our blood,” Sorgi said.
The Captains have used American Fireworks Inc. to stage postgame displays at Classic Park since 2008.
“Roberto and I sat down this past offseason to determine the specific music and choreography for each postgame fireworks show,” said Jonathan Levey, director of promotions for the Captains. “Our goal is to tie in the music played during the fireworks shows with the theme of the game, such as patriotic rock-and-roll for the (Saturday) fireworks show.”
Levey said fireworks shows put fans in the stands.
“While premium giveaways such as bobbleheads, hats and fleece blankets are also popular, there’s just something spectacular about fireworks that really entices people to buy tickets,” Levey said.
Sorgi said his company’s fireworks shows at Classic Park last about 15 minutes and use 1,500 to 2,000 shots. Industry names for the shells that detonate at altitudes of 150 to 200 feet are chrysanthemum, diadem, peonies, bowties, salutes and fish.
“The biggest challenge is maintaining variety in the shows,” Sorgi said.
Zambelli Fireworks Internationale of New Castle, Pa., has the contract to stage Eastlake’s July 4 fireworks display. The Captains used Zambelli from 2003 to 2007 until switching to American Fireworks.
The Zambelli family’s history in the fireworks business also dates to the early 20th century.
“We have a great relationship with the Zambellis. They do a fantastic job,” Eastlake mayor Ted Andrzejewski said.
The cost of Eastlake’s July 4 fireworks show is about $15,000, said Andrzejewski, who expects attendance in excess of 5,000 for tonight’s event.
“This is something we feel we owe the citizens of Eastlake,” Andrzejewski said. “They want a nice fireworks show on the 4th of July, and it’s something we can provide. People come out and tell us how much they enjoy the show. Along with leaf pick-up and snow removal, it’s something they expect.”
Zambelli spokeswoman Sandy McStay said Eastlake’s Fourth of July fireworks display includes patriotic music and will last about 19 minutes.
“We pride ourselves in attention to detail,” McStay said.
Safety first
Lonnie Futchi is a 30-year veteran of the Eastlake Fire Department. As the city’s fire marshal for the last three years, it is his job to be at Classic Park before, during and after all fireworks displays.
Pyrotechnicians from American Fireworks Inc. typically arrive at about 4 p.m. to unload the shells and set up the racks from which the shells are fired. The racks and other devices are stationed behind the main scoreboard that towers over center field.
McStay said the Zambelli crew is scheduled to arrive at Classic Park by 10 a.m. to set up tonight’s show.
By the time pyrotechnicians from either company pull into Classic Park, Futchi already has established the 140-foot perimeter around the shooting area required by the National Fire Protection code. The code calls for 70 feet of clearance for every inch of diameter in the largest shell to be used in the show.
If, in Futchi’s judgment, public safety is jeopardized by winds that are too strong or weather that is too threatening, he can call off fireworks displays at Classic Park.
“The wind is the main thing,” Futchi said before a recent Friday postgame fireworks display. “Anything over 10 mph, and I’m sweating bullets.”
In deference to neighboring residents and businesses, guidelines established by Eastlake City Council stipulate no fireworks displays at Classic Park ensue after 11 p.m.
“I guess I would like them (fireworks) if I was sitting in the stands,” Futchi said. “Back here, you can see how destructive they can be. I’m glad when they’re over. It’s a safety thing.”
Sights, sounds, smells and, again, safety
Futchi watches fireworks shows at Classic Park from a spot about 80 feet removed from the shooting racks. He alternately watches shells exploding in the sky and their debris tumbling to the ground like so much acrid snow.
A fire extinguisher is at Futchi’s side, ready for use in case in case one of the shells or a fragment of a shell ignites upon landing on the ground or nearby building.
“Luckily, there has been no incident in the three years I’ve been doing this,” Futchi said.
When the show viewed for this story roared to its conclusion with a ringing finale, American Fireworks technician Dan Fisher and Futchi breathed sighs of relief.
“The show looked good. Went off without a hitch. There’s nothing on fire, especially the shooters,” Fisher said with a chuckle.
More Articles
Commentary: Fans stay and spend for the postgame fireworks show
Jul 04, 2010
Jim Ingraham
JIngraham@News-Herald.com
Area residents win N-H, WELW-AM hot dog contest
Jul 04, 2010
Five area residents won prizes in a recent promotion sponsored by The News-Herald and WELW-AM 1330.
Those in attendance at the June 18 Lake County Captains game or who visited Scooter’s Dawg House in Mentor from June 17-21 and submitted entries sharing their favorite hot dog topping were eligible for a drawing to win Captains tickets and a restaurant gift certificate.
The winners, picked at random, are Debbie Borelli of Painesville; Ryan Ketchum of Willoughby; Braden Macauda of Highland Heights; M.A. Snyder of Concord Township; and Allegra McClain of Painesville.
The winners will receive two tickets to the July 23 Lake County Captains game against the Burlington Bees and a $25 gift certificate to an area restaurant.
July 23 is National Hot Dog Day.
Winners may pick up their prizes at The News-Herald’s office at 7085 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Shakespeare in the park at Garfield site
Jul 04, 2010
By Cassandra Shofar
CShofar@News-Herald.com
Maribeth Joeright/MJoeright@News-Herald.com A crowd gathered on the lawn watches the opening scene of The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival’s performance of “Titus Andronicus” Saturday at The James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor.
For the first time, the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival brought the early Shakespeare tragedy, “Titus Andronicus,” to the James A. Garfield National Historic Site in Mentor on Saturday night as part of a free, outdoor weekend event.
Tonight at 6, the tragedy will be contrasted by the Shakespeare comedy, “The Merry Wives of Windsor.”
“This is the first that has been done here,” said Todd Arrington, chief of interpretation and education at the National Historic Site.
“We’ve had discussions here in the past about doing a theater-in-the-park type of thing. We have so many quotes from James’ diaries where he mentions Shakespeare plays he’s read or gone to. It’s great for us because of the connection and great for (The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival) because they need a Lake County venue … and it exposes the public to something they probably wouldn’t get to see at other parks.”
The tragedy, directed by Allan Byrne, was set in Rome and alternates from rituals, crude jokes, shocking violence and beautiful poetry, Byrne said.
“Titus Andronicus” and “The Merry Wives of Windsor” are lesser known plays, and Arrington said he was happy to bring something to the public they may not have seen before.
“Frankly, I think these are two of the lesser known plays and I like that, especially with ‘Merry Wives of Windsor’ because that is one of the one’s James A. Garfield specifically mentioned in his diary, how he read it to his wife,” Arrington said. “This explores a side of Garfield that people probably don’t know much about … and this is pretty unique because it’s a park site. You don’t normally go to a park site and see Shakespeare.”
Throughout his diaries, Garfield has mentioned reading Shakespeare’s sonnets as well as 17 of his plays, according to Park Ranger Alan Gephardt.
“He writes of the plays he is reading to himself, to his wife and to his children,” Gephardt said. “As congressman, he mentions attending stage productions in Washington with his family and friends. He offers his opinions about particular plays and mentions what others have to say about William Shakespeare.”
As these facts were presented to the public Saturday evening, many of the people in the audience hunkered down with blankets and lawn chairs to watch the first act of “Titus Andronicus.”
“Anything that’s free and Shakespeare is great to me,” said Dolores Pinchot of Euclid. “A long time ago I read (Titus Andronicus). I read it when I was in school. This is a nice way to re-learn something and it’s outside. Most of his plays were written for outdoor venues.”
Learning about the event on the Historic Site’s website, Karen VanDeMotter of Mentor was excited to have something different to do on a Saturday night.
“We didn’t have plans tonight. I think this is wonderful. It’s outside. It’s a beautiful night. It’s nothing I’ve ever done before so it’s something very different for me,” VanDeMotter said, adding she’s also not familiar with the tragedy.
Arriving among the projected screams just as Titus slays his son, Mutius, Gina and Sean Blake of Mentor spread out their blanket before flipping through their programs to get caught up.
“In college, I had read almost all the Shakespeare plays and it’s just great to be able to see this performed outside on such a nice night,” Sean said. “I’ve never read (this one). It’s one of his lesser known ones, which is why I thought it was a good one to see. It’s not one that is produced that often.”
Gina was impressed with the skill level of the actors as well as their voice control.
“They seem to be very professional and the sound is very good,” she said, adding she, along with her husband, has always had a soft spot for theater.
“I was a stage-hand in high school. I tried out for the part, but didn’t get it,” she added with a chuckle.
Arrington said he hopes The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival will come back again next year.
“We’re going to do everything we can do to make it successful for them, not only to be a good host, but because we’d hope they’d come back,” he said.
Firefighting career heats up for local man serving in Army
Jul 04, 2010
By Larece Galer
LGaler@News-Herald
Submitted Army Sgt. 1st Class Thomas E. Holliday has taken on duties as an instructor for the Department of Defense Fire Academy.
For the career soldier, it wasn’t even something he had considered as a career.
But Holliday is now an instructor at the Department of Defense Fire Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base just southeast of San Angelo, Texas.
Holliday has been in the Army for 17 years and has made it his career, with the decision coming after the birth of his oldest son.
Holliday, whose parents Robert and Susan Baumgartner live in Mentor, joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1993 right after graduation and was stationed in Brook Park; in 1995 he requested active duty and was stationed at the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. When the contract ended with the Marines, he joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Holliday admits he wasn’t sure if making the Army a career was what he wanted to do but providing for his family was important so he continued.
Holliday also was not sure that instructing was for him, but he changed his mind after seeing what the school was all about.
“It is a great feeling when you help someone to understand something or help them to get past a physical objective,” he said.
The course is 68 days long and is divided into six blocks of instruction, including ones for first responders that teach CPR, lifesaving techniques and fire behavior.
Holliday teaches block six, which is “Airport Rescue and Firefighting.”
“Anyone who comes here for training needs to be in good shape. This course is not only mentally challenging but very physically demanding,” Holliday said.
Firefighters’ physical training is described by Holliday as a series of specific tasks and the toughest five miles the trainees endure. The tasks require the trainees to carry their heavy tools for 25 feet, haul ladders and a rolled hose, and perform a victim rescue while wearing the heavy protective gear of a firefighter.
Holliday still has goals for himself after 17 years. He wants to complete his bachelor’s degree in emergency management and hopes to retire to a second career with a government agency, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
For Holliday, training others in firefighting techniques is an important job. He believes in preparation, good habits from the very beginning and repetition that help to make a firefighter out of a new soldier
“We are here to teach the basics of firefighting. When my students leave my course, I hope that they leave here with a good foundation that will lay the groundwork for more advanced education in firefighting,” he said.
When he isn’t teaching, Holliday spends time with his family, which includes wife Jennifer and sons Riley, 13. and Dylan, 5.
Holliday said he enjoys PlayStation 3 with his boys and swimming or boating when the weather is very warm.
Henderson extends lead in Lighten Up 2010 contest
Jul 04, 2010
By Laura Kessel
LKessel@News-Herald.com
Some words of wisdom for Lighten Up contestants
Jul 04, 2010
By Laura Kessel
LKessel@News-Herald.com
As the contestants in The News-Herald’s “Lighten Up in 2010” gear up for their final weigh-in on July 31, area fitness and weight-loss experts share their advice on how to avoid a backslide as they move forward and their public dieting experience ends.
Look for the results of the last weigh-in on Aug. 8 when the winner of the six-month weight-loss contest will be announced.
Libraries embrace new technology
Jul 04, 2010
By Jason Lea and Cassandra Shofar
JLea@News-Herald.com
CShofart@News-Herald.com
Maribeth Joeright/MJoeright@News-Herald.com Lorrie Drewniak, center, talks via Skype with author Kathleen George about her latest book “Fallen” during Mentor Public Library’s Profilers Book Club. Also shown is Joyce Peoples, left, and Grace Sims, right, who works in adult services at Mentor Public Library.
Funeral webcasts connect families from far away
Jul 03, 2010
By Jacob Lammers
JLammers@News-Herald.com
Maribeth Joeright/MJoeright@News-Herald.com Wendy Kokish, left, and her mother Darlene Tupts sing happy birthday via webcast to Kokish’s daughter Nicole Kokish, 17, at Walker Funeral Home in Geneva. Families can stop in and record messages for any occasion from funerals to birthdays or to send a message to loved ones serving overseas.
Families celebrate Old Glory on Chardon Square
Jul 03, 2010
By Cassandra Shofar
CShofar@News-Herald.com
Maribeth Joeright/MJoeright@News-Herald.com T.J. James, 3, of Chardon decorates his bike as grandmother Marilyn Locher, left, and mother Linda James stand by for moral support and to lend a helping hand. T.J. was preparing to take part in the Old Glory Parade Saturday on Chardon Square.
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