KEEPING THE

ALIVE!

The Target Fireworks is the largest international pyrotechnic show of its kind ,
and is presented by The Parade Company and Target in June each year .
Synonymous with the start of summer, the Target Fireworks take place on the
waterways between Detroit and Windsor and have become an annual
tradition for many families on both sides of the border marking Canada Day
on July 1 and the U.S. Independence Day on July 4

The
Craig Fahle
Show

Saving The Fireworks

Jewish businessman from Windsor leads
charge to keep annual tradition alive.

Harry Kirsbaum
Contributing Writer

in Detroit. One of his children attends
Hillel Day School.
"The fireworks display is such an
or more than half a century, the economic driver for the city of Windsor
cities of Detroit and Windsor
and the business community as well
have celebrated the birth of their as something very psychological that's
countries together with a fireworks dis-
ingrained in the citizens:' he said. "If
play.
they lose it, it's a big loss for the com-
Since 1959, the fire- munities of Windsor and Detroit"
works were the high-
In a prepared statement, the Detroit
light of the Windsor-
mayor's office welcomed the help.
Detroit International
"Going forward, the city of Detroit
Freedom Festival and
will be receptive to financial contribu-
a special link between
tions that would be available from those
the two cities.
interested in supporting major events
In 2007, the
like the Annual Target Fireworks:' the
event
separated
into
statement said.
Larry Horwitz
Detroit's River Days
Mike Lambros, manager of Lefty's Bar
and Windsor's Summerfest, but always
on Oullette Avenue in Windsor, supports
came together on a shared Monday
the effort to raise the funds.
night when the Target fireworks would
"I don't know one business down-
draw 1 million spectators on both sides
town that wouldn't be supportive of the
of the river.
attempt to raise the money:' he said,
But shock waves were felt on both
adding that business would be down
shores when Detroit Mayor Dave Bing
about 40 to 50 percent for that week
announced in June that the fireworks
without the fireworks. "It's crazy down-
and Thanksgiving Day parade may be
town on that weekend, starts on Friday
canceled without outside funding.
and goes right through Monday night:'
A grant that previously helped pay
Lambros said different restaurants,
for the events would not be available in bars and hotels are beginning to hear
fiscal year 2013, which began July 1, and about the effort and offering to help.
budget restraints prevented the Motor On the other side, Lisa Buiz, manager
City from spending about $700,000 for
of Tom's Oyster Bar on Jefferson Avenue
the fireworks, mostly for security and
in Detroit, said, "I can't imagine not hav-
traffic control.
ing the fireworks:'
The 615-member Downtown Windsor
She hoped that some of the corpora-
Business Improvement Association,
tions in Detroit would join the effort.
chaired by Larry Horwitz, decided to "It's for the common good:' she said,
launch a campaign to help offset the costs, adding that the bar's business would be
pledged $5,000 from its own coffers and reduced 40 to 60 percent on that week,
recently set up www.savedetroitfireworks. and that the cancellation would send a
corn to raise more money. bad message that things aren't improv-
ing in the region.
"There's been tremendous cooperation
in the past between Windsor and Detroit:'
According to the website, all contribu-
said Horwitz, a builder, developer and
tions will be returned if the fireworks
author. "Detroit's gone through some dif-
are canceled, but Horwitz is optimistic
ficult times of late, and we thought that
about raising the money.
the Windsor business community should
The two communities share the same
come to the table and help out.
purpose and reap the same benefits.
"The business community in Windsor
"Tens of thousands of people go to the
has generated hundreds of thousands of
waterfront in Windsor," he said. "The
dollars from the event every year in rev-
streets are closed, just like they are in
enue, plus the citizens of Windsor — the
Detroit. It's an all-day affair, and people
whole region — look forward to coming
come from America as well, because the
out to the waterfront. It's probably the
view is unencumbered, with less traffic,
primary event of the year:' he said.
and it's easy to get to. And it's definitely
Horwitz lives in Windsor but has roots
helped this side of the river:'

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December 6 • 2012

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