Laser Show is a Joke.

I think we need a little more information about the safety of attending this show. How many people will be allowed to crowd in front of the screen? How will that be controlled i.e. will there be a fence and separate entry points? How will you prevent a stampeed if something goes wrong with the presentation? I am thinking of a collapse of the balloon in case of high winds. HV, the laser show is no joke it is $25,000 and counting. I would rather get a free hotdog and a coke for my five dollars.

I think I might actually go to the Town Green. You can see the Westwood Country Club's Fireworks from there.

I can already see the lawyers hovering in the background, waiting to sue the Town when that 70-foot screen falls on top of the spectators.

Donna Manz writing a fluff piece about how great Vienna is? Who would believe it?

Ok, all sarcasm aside, if anyone doesn't know by now --Marie Kisner (Vienna's Public Information Officer) picks up the phone and dictates articles to Donna Manz when a positive spin is needed on a Town of Vienna situation.

We're only a subway ride from the national fireworks and they're spectacular. why even try to compete?

"Images of Vienna and of traditional 4th of July experiences" doesn't sound like it's worth the effort to attend... why can't we just have traditional 4th of July experiences?

I read your comments whenever I need a laugh, and by George, you never fail! It makes great Starbucks conversations! Keep up the funny work! I especially appreciate the Town Council stuff .... none of us in OUR neighborhood can imagine why any of you would even WANT to live in Vienna????

This is well-trod ground, but I will respond nonetheless. Vienna is close to Metro and job centers such as Tysons Corner and Reston. It is less expensive to live here than in McLean or North Arlington. Schools are extremely good. The W&OD Trail passes through Vienna. Those are some of the reasons we live here. On the other hand, we have the Town Council. But even if we thought that Town Council's misdeeds outweigh all of these advantages, ask yourself how costly it is to move. With commissions, moving costs, etc, it could easily cost us $75k to move to an equivalent house elsewhere. This should answer your question.

Wow, you make it sound so rosy.

Just speaking as one town resident, I like being close in (re: very short walking distance). It has nothing to do with living in the town.

It's kinda like I would never choose to live in a neighborhood that has a HOA. I personally find them unnecessarily restrictive - especially when houses age and people may want to dramatically alter or tear down their home. There are a lot less restrictions on home owners living in the town without HOAs.

Just a preference.

Marie, if you do not live in town I can understand your query about wanting to live in town. This is very well evidenced by the many town employees and town policemen who choose not to live in Town of Vienna. They can't afford to live in Vienna? Only Pimmit Hills was more affordable. The wear and tear on vehicles to commute from distant places indicates illogical arguments.

Just an FYI -- we heard from the doctor that these laser shows can set off seizures. Our son has epilepsy, so we'll go to Fairfax to watch the fireworks instead.

The wimpification of America. Ain't it grand!

No dodgeball in schools because someone once got hurt, no hugging because someone once ... well, I don't know what, can't have fireworks because someone once got hurt, etc.

I'm sure someone somewhere will sue over the laser show, and next year, we can maybe have 70-foot puppets. Until we find out that someone once had a puppet fall on them, and it might trigger their post-traumatic puppet disorder, causing them to do something that some lawyer somewhere will be willing to sue for $800,000,000 over. Then maybe we'll all just get together and crochet a big flag ... with gigantic dull needles (wouldn't want to put an eye out!)

If you're risk-averse, stay home. Home school your child. Spray rubber padding all over the inside of your house and never come outside. Whatever. But stop screwing it up for the rest of us. That goes for the government, the lawyers, and the "victims."

HV - do you have your laser show review done yet? Regardless of what goes up, I am sure the review would be the same.

Not thrilled about a laser show either, but I get why no fireworks this year. Too bad, but don't see how they could have gone ahead. I have always liked the fact that I would see my neighbors at a Vienna show - something I will always miss at the DC or Lake Fairfax

So... whats everyone's take on the laser show??? I was out-of-town and wondering how well our tax $$$ were spent?

I was visiting for the 4th and decided to catch the laser show against my better judgement.

If you're going to change from the traditional town favorite, you should make sure it's better than everyone is expecting.

Unfortunately, it didn't even come close. The music was hardly audible and the outlined pictures on the screen were a far cry from a laser light show. Has anyone on the board visited EPCOT? You should have. I wasn't expecting that show but taking notes from them might have helped.

Someone needs to start thinking traditional again for next year. Good luck!

I understand why they did a laser show, but I didn't enjoy it at all. I went back home afterwards and watched NYC fireworks which I enjoyed much better. New sidewalks would be a much better use of the money spent on a laser show.

Strangely there is no reporting of the effect the laser show had on the public. How many people attended? None of the newspapers reported on it but suddenly we switch to reporting on the Halloween parade. Media manipulation at its' best. PS: I notice two persons on HV made adverse comments about the show.

Ruminator...I've also been searching for a review and can find NOTHING!

It's pretty bad when the journalists can't even spin anything positive about the show.

I guess Donna Manz summed-up the festivities this year:

Vienna Celebrates, Misses Fireworks

Pamela Wende grew up in Vienna, and used to come every year to the fireworks show. "But not this year," Pamela Wende said. "It’s not the same without the fireworks."

The Vienna Town Council voted 5 to 2 Monday to approve a contract with Image Engineering of Baltimore to produce a laser light show. The laser show will cost more than twice a much as the $10,000 fireworks show.

The Connection finally ran a story on the Vienna festivity. Never mentioned the word "laser".

The topic on one of msn's articles today looks all too familiar. Yet another reason not to continue with a laser light show.

"Ravers Lose vision at laser light show"

MOSCOW - Dozens of partygoers at an outdoor rave near Moscow last week have lost partial vision after a laser light show burned their retinas, Russian health officials said on Monday.

Industry Web site www.laserfx.com said focused laser light can cause eye damage almost instantly.

The owner of a Moscow laser rental company told Reuters the accidental blindings were due to "illiteracy on the part of technicians."

"It was partly the rain, but also partly the size of the laser. Somebody set up an extremely powerful laser for such a small space," said Valentin Vasiliev, who said his company did not provide the Aquamarine lasers.

Full article at:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25675477/?GT1=43001