Vienna Fireworks, Mother Maud and the Logic of a Nut

Maud is an out of touch old crank who seemingly could care less about the safety of anyone.

"You wouldn't believe what we offered and they said no," said Town Administrator John Schoberlein.

Would you allow your private club to be over-ridden with the likes of these idiots and unknown people who would likely be ready to sue the club for getting a splinter in their leg, let alone a more serious injury?

And Regarding the laser light show? are these people that stupid? Yes, they are. A laser show is absolutley no substitute for a 4th of July Fireworks display. Why don't they just move the crowd away from the center, now wouldn't that be simple, are are these people just that stupid?

Well, yes, they are that stupid. And are they really that moronic that Nottoway is out because they say it isn't really Vienna? Golly, they are stupid.

Will someone please get the hook and get these idiots out of Vienna!

Vienna was not the only place that suffered from the misfires - the company who supplied the fireworks bought a bunch of defective ones from China. There were even places in Pennsylvania who used the same company's fireworks that experienced the same thing we did.

"Fairfax County officials said explosions and misfires occurred on the Fourth of July at four other locations, which were all being monitored by Fairfax fire marshals."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/09/AR2007070901587.html

While I understand peoples' concerns about the fireworks, I dont see why they cant just push the crowd further back. There are plenty of places in the Town that you can watch comfortably.

The fireworks is a town tradition that I would like to see kept around. I wouldnt drive to Nottoway Park to watch fireworks - you know how bad traffic is on 123 after the show is over? Well picture that on a 2 lane road!! It seems like you could turn that place into a hazard too - people crossing streets, the wooded areas (hello, do you really want your kids hanging around where someone can hop out and grab them from the bushes?) I know you can get grabbed anywhere, but Nottoway can be a scary place. People go there to drink and do drugs. I would honestly rather take the chance of some unintentional misfires than have to drag my ass and sit in traffic trying to get to Nottoway Park.

As far as Im concerned, both Nottoway and the Country Club can suck it.

If either the CC or Nottoway would allow the Town to hold the fireworks and it will be safer for everyone, I say we need to do it.

We watched the Vienna fireworks last year from the town green and could see almost the entire show. We could also see Westwood's and even some of Fairfax's show too! I agree that there are many other places other than Waters Field to see the fireworks. It's too bad that the safe perimeter needed is too large to keep the show where it was previously, but it really was too close before on the field. My hair used to be coated with schrapnel not to mention the safety issues.

Nottaway Park is not a scary place. I hang out there and have never heard of any real problems. On one occasion I had reason to talk to the police and they said the only problems were a disorderly and a found bike. Newspaper accounts about the panty grabber were incorrect when they said it occurred in Nottaway. It really happened near the Metro station. Dog walkers are through the park day and night. I have seen women walking their dog in the dark as late as ten o'clock.

You guys say there are lots of places, but where actually? The only place I can think of that's not mentioned in the article is at Madison, and I heard there's problems with that place too.The problems with Nottoway being outside the town aren't just made up. It's location would require coordinating with Fairfax County police, and additional expenses.So where else are they supposed to hold it?

I have never heard of Nottoway being a place for vagrants. Yes, kids have always sneaked into parks after hours to drink/smoke - but what else is new.

Due to the sloppiness of 2007's fireworks, maybe we did lose our privilege.

Meanwhile, Schoberlein believes the council may be able to hold a fireworks display at Westwood sometime in the future. Isn't Westwood in the Town? If it is this sounds like a veiled threat to me!

Of course you dont hear of it being a place for vagrants. Im not talking about kids sneaking in after dark...Im talking about sneaking in any time of day. Its not just drinking and smoking, its tripping and snorting! The reason they go there is because everyone knows that Vienna's cops keep an eye on things as much as they can. Nottoway is kinda big, so its harder to have people on constant patrol there.

Dogfacedpotatobrain, Im glad you posted. I was beginning to think that Im the only one who doesnt want to move out of Vienna to see the TOWN OF VIENNA FIREWORKS.

Strong arm,
Westwood is in the town, but Schoberlein uses the words "ask" and "proposal." What's threatening about that?
Seriously , the site where they've traditionally held the display is no longer viable, and they don't want to endanger anyone else.What else are they supposed to do that they aren't considering? I'm actually asking.
It's good for Vienna to have a counterpoint to the council and the papers, but what good is it if you guys just blanket condemn every government decison and offer no actual consideration of the problem or useful alternative? You're drowning in your own stomach acid around here.

The parks in Vienna (especially Glyndon) used to only be teens sitting around and doing things they shouldn't be doing (nothing new). The same drugs have been around for 30 years. Many of us spent 4 years (and, perhaps, beyond) in HS trying to skirt the long arm of the law. BUT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH FIREWORK DISCUSSIONS.

If it could be worked and it would be safer for everyone, why not work with FaxCo and have the fireworks at Nottoway?!

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot: Cathy Hudgins and the rest of the FaxCo Board of Supervisors think Vienna is a bunch of buffoons. They will not help Vienna out one bit because they know Maud and the Gang are nuts. Why do you think that Maud and Jane only goto Jeannemarie and Tom for help when they need it?

Why is Vienna courting thousands of people from outside of town at the fireworks and the community center It is for the businesses and I wonder why we spend thousands supporting the Chambers money making carnival and then have to hold the fireworks for their benefit. I would suggest that the town knows it shares in the profits of all businesses in town. Remember! Now the town is running the show and the Chamber does not need to worry about having to carry insurance on the event. Rent the TG and you need a million dollar insurance policy.
Having said all that, I suggest the town have a parade, which activity seems to be popular in Vienna, and then let the crowd disperse and attend the fireworks display of their choice. The parade goers will patronize the town businesses as they head out of town.

I agree that TC should be commended for acknowledging safety problems. If Nottoway works as an alternative site, that is great. If not, just hold a parade. A laser light show sounds like another waste of money.

Speaking of safety, why is there a mid-block entrance to the W&OD Trail from the parking lot next to the Town Green? This is one of the busiest stretches of the entire trail, and yet we encourage kids and parents to enter mid-block. This is one more reason to build a bridge at Maple Ave. The ADA has been used as an argument against building a bridge, but the ADA simply mandates a slope no greater than 5%. (Higher slopes are permitted for short stretches.) There are bridges and overpasses in the area as low as 13'6". Even if a bridge were 18' high at the curb, it would only need to travel 360'. Since the distance from Maple Ave. to Church St. is 400', this is not a binding constraint.

TC can also show its concern for safety by removing the tree in the intersection of Church and Mill. Drivers often do not notice pedestrians or cyclists travelling along the south side of Church. Since the tree itself is not attractive, there is no compelling reason for leaving it there.

Are you all (read all of your posting and reading) this blog, that stupid?

They CAN have their cake and EAT it too. All that has to be done is have them in the same place, but push the viewing area back to a safe distance. What's so hard about that?

All of you need to visit the Wizard for some brains. It sounds to me like Maud is just itching for a way NOT to spend another dime on the 4th of July, and to think that the NW quadrant threatened everyone with the lies that we would be having no more parades or 4th of July based solely on a Funny Farm mentality to keep a lot bordering a large and ugly parking garage from having a building built on it that would protect the district and also allow for the commercial district to thrive. And who would want that? Everyone except for the envious dolts that think that if they cannot have it, then no one should. Typical of Russia, but in America, this mentality will eventually destroy any proper and needed improvements in Vienna.

GET A BRAIN before it's too late.

I am stupid. Thank you. But, your rant is pretty nuts.

I think the issue about the distance at Caffi/Waters field is that if we push the people back too much, where will they gather? The number of people will need to be limited - do we start dolling out tickets for front row seats? But, the fire chief is probably just smoking crack when he talks about all this "safety" hubbub. We should just keep on, keeping on.

I have lived here my entire life but I have attended Waters field only one time for the July 4th fireworks. I guess I do not get the allure of being that close and dealing with all the people.

These people,
Actually they can't.As is pointed out in the article (the one we're talking about, try to remember) the safety distances have doubled, and this means that the whole of Waters field and most of the empty space surrounding it would now be off limits to people at most sizes of firework. Your "safe distance" would put peole in the street, in commercial parking lots, behind buildings, and on other people's property. The town can't do that; they need a large enough OPEN SPACE. THis is why they don't set off their fireworks in your lawn every summer. Please write back with your solutions to global warming (Just stop polluting!) and the war in iraq (All we have to do is stop fighting and arrest all the terrorists!)

I did a web search on lasers and found many articles which said places all over the country and world are replacing fireworks with laser shows especially in areas experiencing drought. I haven't seen a 4th of July laser show before, but I'm willing to attend this next year and give it a try.
In my web search on lasers I did find that there were a couple of safety issues. These issues are mainly concerns for the operators and possible planes flying near the show. It seems most light shows now have to have FAA clearance and aircraft spotters to make sure planes don't get impacted by laser beams.

Don't a lot of people line up along 123? Ive watched them from the Noodles&Co/Starbucks/Chipotle roof for the past few years (along with a bunch of other people). You can even see them when on the ground. You don't need to be up close and personal with the fireworks, but there are plenty of places in Vienna that you can go that aren't unsafely close where see the fireworks from Waters Field just fine.

I remember one year, I was pretty young at the time, we were over near Vienna Elem. for the fireworks, and I remember pieces of lit cardboard falling all over the crowd. It scared the daylights out of me then, but didn't stop me from coming back. I know that theres no comparison between exploding mortars and lit cardboard, but unfortunately, accidents happen. This unfortunate accident was reported all over the news, so I'm sure people will remember it next year and hopefully stay farther awayIf they don't know, then it should be up to the Fire Marshall to set a safe space limit.

I know lots of things about Vienna suck because of our current "leadership" but the Town of Vienna Fireworks is something that most people really enjoy and would like to see stay.

"If something can happen, it will". This was proven with the Vienna fireworks incident. It was just a matter of time. The same applies to the laser show. Who needs it when there are safe fireworks all around us. BTW, does anyone recall the fireworks explosion at Wolftrap Park that caused them to cancel the show for years. Have a parade.

I think a 4th of July Parade is a great idea. The Halloween one is too hard for many of us with many small children - too cold, too late.

I notice Miami-Dade county (whose budget is obviously much, much different from ours) has a parade, fireworks & laser show. Now, that is a party.