62nd ANNUAL COMMUNITY FIREWORKS SHOW IS TONIGHT

FIREWORKS SHOW TONIGHT IN ITHACA IS A "GO" - HOURLY BOOMS SIGNAL COUNTDOWN TO FIREWORKS

Booming sounds this afternoon from South Hill are the "all-clear" signal for the 62nd annual Ithaca Community Fireworks Show. An aerial salute that can be heard for miles around will be fired every hour on the hour by fireworks technicians as a reminder that the show is a "go."

The volunteer committee that organizes the community event met during the noon hour today and said the threat of scattered showers was taken into consideration. Spectators might want consider taking rain gear or umbrellas in case of wet conditions, according to the committee.

Light rain at the fireworks site, or elsewhere in the community, might mean an earlier or later start time for the fireworks, depending on expected conditions. Otherwise, the fireworks display is scheduled to begin about 9:45 p.m.

Spectators are urged to take a free TCAT bus from downtown to Ithaca College. "Fireworks Express" shuttle buses will depart from the bus shelter in front of the Seneca Street parking garage beginning at 6:30 p.m. They will return after the fireworks show, until 11:30 p.m.

Motorists are reminded that there is no parking on state and county highways, especially on routes 13, 34, 79, 96, and 96-B. Police and public safety officials will help direct traffic, and firefighters from the Ithaca Fire Department will be on standby near the fireworks.

Volunteers, including employees of the Tompkins Trust Company and members of the Ithaca Elks Lodge, will be on South Hill to seek donations from the public. Only these clearly identified volunteers are authorized to collect donations the night of the fireworks show.

Just $5 from each person who watches the show - whether it's from South Hill or surrounding hillsides, parks, and backyards - would help guarantee a fireworks show next year. Individual, group, and business donations also can be sent to the attention of Fran Benedict at the Ithaca Commons office of Tompkins Trust Company.