SAN CLEMENTE : Donations Sought for Fireworks Show

Last year, when the city was unable to pay for the Fourth of July fireworks show, local businessman Rick Anderson stepped in and raised $29,000 under the banner, “The Show Must Go On.”

This year the San Clemente Ocean Festival committee has taken over from Anderson, who is working in Hawaii. The committee, however, is struggling to make sure the 41-year-old fireworks show continues.

So far, Ocean Festival volunteers have raised about $9,500, about half of what is needed to pay for the free show, said Doug Hughes, a committee member who is heading the fund-raising drive.

“We’re going to need a whole lot more than that, but we’ve got plans to raise it,” Hughes told the City Council earlier this week. “We’re going to have the fireworks going off, believe me. But it’s going to be tough.”

Although hundreds of people have contributed to the show, Hughes said the donations are typically small, from $1 to $25--probably a sign of the lingering recession.

There has been some good news, however.

Costs for police protection will be significantly lower this year because of the city’s new law enforcement contract with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, which is set to start July 2, officials said.

“It’s a good thing our costs are lower because we would have never made $29,000,” Hughes said.

He said the committee hopes to raise most of the remaining funds by selling T-shirts for $10. Donation cans that resemble firecrackers can still be found in locations all over town, he added.

The City Council this week approved a fund-raiser on the municipal pier sponsored by Fisherman’s Restaurant, which could raise at least $1,000. As part of the fund-raiser, residents can pay a cover charge of $5 or $10 for seating on the pier during the fireworks show.

Donations for the show can be sent to P.O. Box 1373, San Clemente, Calif. 92674. Checks should be made out to the Ocean Festival.