A delay of between 15 and 20 minutes put a damper on this year’s fireworks show, but a strong grand finale made up for it, according to Carl Cyrowski of the Lake Orion Fireworks Association.
‘After about 10 or 15 minutes, (the fireworks) just stopped,? he said, adding that the delay was due to a problem with the wires on one of the two barges stationed in the lake.
‘After that, it went directly into the grand finale and it was great,? Cyrowski said.
Some wiring burned up on the first barge, stopping 42 rounds of fireworks, all being set off electronically, from firing.
Cyrowski said these 42 rounds, roughly 15 minutes worth of the show, will be saved for next year’s show.
‘Glen Stokes said to me, ‘that will never happen again,?? Cyrowski said of a conversation he had with Stokes, a local man who has been in charge of launching the show for many years.
‘Unfortunately, we lost part of the show, but the rest of it was great,? Cyrowski said.
The finale, which lasted 12 minutes, was a true highlight.
‘People said to me that they’ve never seen a grand finale like that before, and I agree,? said Cyrowski.
The burning wires didn’t result in any injuries and shouldn’t dissuade viewers? faith in the system of launching the show electronically from barges,? Cyrowski said.
‘It was still safe,? he added.
Cyrowski said the LOFA hopes to add a musical element to the show next year, allowing viewers to tune to a particular spot on the radio dial for sounds that are choreographed to the sights above.
In the meantime, the LOFA is busy tallying up donations, some of which continue to come in after the show.
Cyrowski said the LOFA was about 80 percent to their goal at press time, and hopes to get closer with some last minute help.
He thanked everyone that supported the show, and noted that everyone will be thanked in full in an upcoming issue of The Review.