The dates are already set, and in less than two week’s time, fun-seeking folks from all over will fill up downtown Lake Orion for the annual Lions Club Jubilee and the fireworks show on July 2.
But who’s cleaning up?
That was the topic of conversation at the June 12 Lake Orion Village Council meeting, where applications for both the Jubilee, planned for June 29-July 2, and the fireworks show were on the agenda.
Council President Bill Siver, also a member of the Lions Club, said his fellow club members have cleaned up every year after the fireworks, although the Lions do not have any direct involvement with them.
‘Do you have enough manpower to clean up after the fireworks,? Siver asked Carl Cyrowski of the Lake Orion Fireworks Association.
Cyrowski said the association only works to raise the money for the fireworks show.
‘The Lions Club has always done the clean up,? he said, adding that the association does not have the manpower to do it.
‘We raise the money…we have nothing to do with the fireworks, other than to pay for them,? said Cyrowski. ‘Wolverine Fireworks puts on the show. We just order a show for how much money we’ve raised.?
This year’s fireworks will be shot off electronically from a barge on Lake Orion. Cyrowski said this has been the association’s goal for years.
‘Our concern is not only a good show, but safety,? he said.
Council member Julie Drabik said people had told her they thought Friday or Saturday would be better for the fireworks, currently planned for a Sunday night, with a rain date of the following Saturday (July 8).
‘It wasn’t my choice,? Cyrowski said. ‘We’ve always tried to work in concert with the Lions Club.?
Cyrowski said Pugh Shows, who operates the carnival for the Lions Club Jubilee, always requests that the fireworks be held the last night of the Jubilee.
‘We go with what the carnival people have available to choose the Jubilee dates,? Siver said.
Cyrowski said he would have preferred a Saturday night show, but was asked by someone from the Lions Club to have it Sunday, the last night of the carnival.
‘I’m tired of having the finger pointed at me, when I’m trying to work with the Lions Club,? he said.
Cyrowski said about $10,000 had been raised so far for the fireworks (as of June 12), and that business donations were down this year.
Jack Patton, Jubilee chairman for the Lions Club, said club members clean up every year after the fireworks, from Church Street all the way up to Heights Road along M-24.
Club members and volunteers also clean up every morning of the Jubilee carnival, Patton said. Anyone who volunteers to help clean up on the mornings of the Jubilee will get a wristband to ride carnival rides for their efforts.
‘After the fireworks, people leave rocks and bricks, and even tarps,? he said. ‘We clean it all up…that (trash) is strictly contributed to by the fireworks (not the Jubilee).?
Patton said the Jubilee is held in a contained area.
‘If you use the rain day (of July 8), the Lions aren’t prepared to clean up,? he said. ‘If it rains, it will be an unsightly mess.?
Siver said all the money made by the Lions Club from the Jubilee Carnival is returned directly back to the community.
‘Frankly, our club is getting tired of cleaning up,? he said.
Council member John Ranville said maybe the fireworks association and Lions Club needed to work together to find a solution.
‘Get some more volunteers,? he said.