I’m OK with a modicum of fireworks on the 4th of July. I’m less thrilled with them on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of the month, and I heard LOTS of fireworks in my neighborhood before Independence Day. I’m with Ken Levine when he says, “Why the hell do people buy home fireworks?”
A recent change in New York State Penal Law now allows for the sale and use of a specific category of consumer fireworks known as Sparkling Devices, ground based or handheld devices “that produce a shower of colored sparks and or a colored flame, audible crackling or whistling noise and smoke” of a certain size.
“Sale and use of Sparkling Devices will be legal only in counties and cities that have enacted a local law…” Albany County was the 37th county to pass such an ordinance in May 2016. This explains the display at the local CVS pharmacy of late, which did not used to be the case.
Recently, I’ve been satisfied watching fireworks on TV while The Wife and The Daughter travel 75 miles to my in-laws’ house in Oneonta and watch the festivities there. But because they were home this year, traveling two days later, the Daughter wanted to see pyrotechnics.
We all went out, hearing the explosions, but unable to see any fancy colors except the local illicit models. The Wife went home, but the Daughter and I found a field with a fairly decent view of the fireworks from the Empire State Plaza from behind the high school.
But the more local items blowing up were LOUD. A series of items that sounded like gunfire. In fact, if someone WANTED to commit murder, it’d be a decent time.
As we got closer to the school, we noticed what I initially thought was a furnace I had never seen before. But no, it was a fully-engulfed Dumpster fire. And the adjacent shack was smoldering. Fortunately, the Fire Department arrived before I was able to call.
On our walk home, we saw a young couple with her toddler daughter, throwing something out on the street. When cars would ride over the area, it sounded as they had blown a flat tire. Often, the driver would swerve from being startled; I’m glad no one got hurt.
I was ready to go home. I was most worried about someone detonating something and deafening me or my daughter.
The best way I could describe it was as a fairly civilized war zone.
I was once horrified to see a couple of kids (they couldn’t have been more than 10) holding bottle rockets, lighting them, and throwing them out into the street. A less-traveled residential street, but still.
I probably should have said something. I didn’t. I didn’t know the kids or their parents, and trying to confront parents who seem to be OK with their kids doing dangerous stuff like that can be a recipe for a bad time. (Shoot, I probably should have called the cops, in retrospect)
I grew up in a state where home fireworks were mostly illegal so I admit to being a wet blanket about this but I hate the noise and the risk of grassfires.
How beautiful it may look… I hate it. Having a problem with sound in general, this sound makes me not only scared but angry to. Besides that, one of my dogs gets in a state of panical fear… so if I may say so, get rid of it š
“Every Party needs a Pooper that’s why we invited You, Party Poooper….!”
We always had a bunch of friends and family over for July 4 and had our own program in the evening. We lived on a cul de sac and it was a great place to shoot things off under adult supervision.
I do think the fireworks at Disneyland are just about the best I have ever seen.
With our drought now the thought of all the firey things is so scary.
It seems California is going up in flames.
It is bad enough that there are explosions on July fourth, but in our city they go on on all summer. Despite being illegal, plus they scare my wife and our dog!
It is so sad when some want to spoil the fun for others. I have occasionally gone down to a place near here to see the fireworks, but usually I can’t be bothered. Now, we do have a HUGE fireworks competition in Burrard Inlet that is international. It’s called the “Celebration of Light” and participants from China, Spain, Netherlands, Australia, etc. It combines fireworks with music, often classical and is simulcast on the radio and TV so people can watch on TV and/or just listen in to the music. It usually draws crowds of over 100,000 people! This year, the USA participated with Disney magic part of the show! It’s the biggest event of the year here!
Leslie
abcw team
I was in Disneyworld last week and what a glorious fireworks show they had over at Cinderalla’s castle. Wonderful experience.
I’ve found that small children and most pets hate the sound of fireworks. I love watching them, but have found that I enjoy seeing them from afar. In recent years, I’ve watched them on TV- avoiding deadly mosquitos.
July 4th is a much more sensible time to have fireworks, our big night is November 5th, nice if it is a crisp clear evening, not too good if it is damp and cold.
I’m with Leslie and the fireworks competition on TV – it is truly spectacular. On the other hand, when I was a child and times were different we had small firecrackers on the 24th of May, Queen Victoria’s birthday, and usually at the lake Just little crackles, and innocent excitement.
Fireworks are colourful and beautiful.
We have such fireworks during festivals here. Great pics.
Happy ABCW!
As much as I love fireworks, we have the same problem of early bangs and whizzes ahead of Bonfire Night in November. Not a problem for me, but the dogs hate it!
I feel the same as you about the need to use fireworks at home, and in the days leading up to July 4th. The city I live in, and surrounding cities, added new rules / laws to follow this year and made the holiday more enjoyable to my ears.
Well our neighborhood always looks like a war zone on the 4th. It is legal here in Kansas to shoot and sell just about firework imaginable. Growing up we had a lake cabin and it was the best to celebrate with fireworks and homemade icecream.
Ann
I thought “sparkling devices” were in drag queen territory, but never mind.
Used to live in Queens, in Puerto Rico, where the home flammables and busters were EVERYWHERE. My God, the smoke alone would gag me. And the noise? A person like me with PTSD? I was pants-peed forever around Christmas, where people not only sparked M-80s but shot guns in the air. Yikes!! Amy
When we asked our father for fireworks growing up he’d pull out a dollar from his wallet and say “just burn it”. Living close to Reservations you can buy some very loud illegal explosives and I’m not a fan of them since they seem to shake everything when they go off.
Fireworks..great choice!
Wonderful picture and interesting write:)
Not a fan I’m afraid, I had a friend when I was about 7 who had an horrific accident with a rocket that didn’t go upwards instead, the receptacle it was standing fell over and the rocket hit him and exploded on the side his head.This happened under adult supervision in their back garden !
He was in hospital for several months, lost the sight in one eye and half his head of lovely curly hair burned away, never to grow again.
We did see the Disney display in Florida one year, although it was spectacular I felt very agitated and couldn’t wait to get away. I kept imagining we would get hit be a stray rocket. Our youngest daughter kept asking why I was clasping her so closely!
So, no! I hate them!
Nice fireworks photo and post ~ glad I can just watch them from my deck ~ (not a big crowd person)
Thanks for visiting ~
Happy Week to you ~
The illegal fireworks were so bad this year that both our fire and police departments actually said outloud that there are ought to be a ban of all fireworks next year. It would be nice.
It is the same here with Guy Fawkes days. Pet owners complain that their pets are terrified.