Published: July 05, 2009 12:21 am      

EGGERT: Fireworks, fundraising and more

LOCKPORT — Happy Fourth of July to all. I hope everyone took time from their busy schedule to get together with family and friends to attend our local fireworks display. I know the police department, along with the fire department and our fellow city employees, work very hard every year to make sure our fireworks show is one of the best and safest events in the area.

However, the allure and excitement of the Fourth of July fireworks also brings a danger to our local children when they play with fireworks. As we all know, most types of fireworks are illegal in New York state. “Fireworks” is defined in the New York state Penal Law as “any blank cartridge, blank cartridge pistol, or toy cannon in which explosives are used, firecrackers, sparklers or other combustible or explosive of like construction, or any preparation containing any explosive or inflammable compound or any tablets or other device commonly used and sold as fireworks.”

Unfortunately, every Fourth of July has a story of a tragedy where a young person is maimed by the reckless use of fireworks. Please note that the police department, in order to ensure the safety of the community, will be extra-vigilant for people using illegal fireworks during the holiday weekend and throughout the summer months. Obviously, if we find someone with illegal fireworks, we will enforce the law.

I would like to thank everyone in Lockport for their participation last month in the Tim Hortons fundraiser to send underprivileged kids to camp. The Lockport Police Department was invited to participate this year and we had a great time. There is a certain natural mix between coffee shops, doughnuts, and cops (I love apple fritters). Our officers, alongside Hortons employees, and NYSEG employees, greeted patrons in the drive-thru line and also inside at the counter of Horton’s. Along with hawking tickets for the fundraiser, we were able to offer friendly observations to a few customers who had expired inspection and registration stickers on their cars. It was interesting to note that all the women drivers blamed their husbands for the expired stickers and all the men blamed their wives! This one-day event raised more than $4,000 locally and more than $8 million nationally. Thank you for your donations to a very worthwhile cause.

I was able to attend our first concert series last week at the Ulrich Center, featuring Rusted Root. I spoke with Mayor Michael Tucker during the concert, and we were both pleasantly surprised at the size of the crowd at the event. In fact, several people told me the crowd for this first concert equaled the size of our biggest concert last year. This is an indication on how popular these concerts have become.

I was also surprised by the number of families and children that attended. I can report to you that everyone had a great time, the music was outstanding, the weather was perfect, and there was very little trouble. I would like to thank all the people who approached both myself, and my fellow police officers and complemented us on our presence. Complements in our line of work are rare and very welcome when offered. There is an impressive concert line-up for the balance of the summer. Please plan to join us for a great time.

From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 21, the American Red Cross will be holding its annual summer blood drive at the Dale Association on Ontario Street. There will be coupons for a free carton of Friendly’s ice cream for all blood donors and a Chiavetta barbecue fundraiser hosted by the Dale Association from 3 to 6 p.m. If you need a laugh that day, show up at

11 a.m. and watch while both Sheriff James Voutour and I give blood. The sheriff is pretty good about giving blood but there is a 50/50 chance I will pass out on the floor! Blood donations are a great way to support the members of our community in their most basic time of need. I can tell you from ample personal experience, each of us can quickly and unexpectedly be put in a position of needing blood. I hope to see you July 21.

Larry Eggert is the chief of police

of the Lockport Police Department.

His column runs the first Sunday

of every month.