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FIREWORKS MERCHANDISE

Mark Your Calendar SUN. JULY 4. 2010

Tidbits of History - 1971 President Nixon was in office, and first class postage goes up to 8 cents from 6 cents. Charles Manson is convicted of murder and sentenced to life. Cigarette advertisements are banned from TV. "All in the Family" premieres on CBS featuring the first toilet flush of TV and in the NFL Pro Bowl, NFC beats the AFC 27-6. CBS also announces that they are dropping the "Ed Sullivan Show", while NBC premieres "Columbo" plus "McMillan and Wife." The Harlem Globetrotters lose 100-99 to the New Jersey Reds, ending a 2,495 game winning steak. Paul McCartney announces the formation of his new group Wings and the Rolling Stones release "Brown Sugar." John Lennon releases "Imagine" and also "Happy Xmas (War is Over)." Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida opens AND... The Tichigan Lake Fourth of July Fireworks Display goes off for the first time!

Erwin Piotrowski, (nicknamed Kruschev by area residents) and his wife Phyllis (pictured at left) used the grounds of their bar, Fox Point Resort (pictured above), for the first Fourth of July fireworks display. Most communities receive funding for their fireworks display from their local governments. However, the Tichigan Fireworks Display is completely funded through private donations and locally held fundraisers. - 1981 Barb Krizan, the daughter of Kruschev helped her father with many of the fundraising responsibilities. Kruschev became ill and wanted Barb to take over and head the yearly celebration. Respecting his wishes, she did just that. Consequently, Barb has been the President and Secretary ever since and has continued on even after her father's passing. - 1983 The Fourth of July fireworks were moved to Ice Herman's Resort, which is more recently known as Dooley's Knot Inn using J & M Displays from Yarmouth, Iowa. - 2000 In August, the Tichigan Fire Chief announced to the Town Board that the fireworks needed to be moved to Jensen Park for safety reasons. The large crowd of spectators at Dooleys made accessibility difficult. Barb Krizan was present at that meeting and was shocked to hear this statement made in front of the public. This would mean the Fourth of July fireworks would no longer be on the water. After viewing Jensen Park, the Fireworks Committee decided they wanted to stay on the water. A meeting was held with the Tichigan Fire Chief, the Fireworks Committee and J & M Displays. It was decided to get barges for the 2001 display. This resulted in launching the fireworks from the floating barges rented from a local pier service. - 2002 For the first time in 31 years, The Fourth of July Fireworks Display was delayed 1 hour and 10 minutes due to wire connections getting wet, which required drying them before firing (a better safe than sorry situation). This made a lot of spectators very unhappy. The Tichigan Fire Chief decides he wants another location for the 2003 fireworks display. He suggests Barb Krizan and her committee brainstorm on how to waterproof the barge, exhaust all possibilities for finding a new launching site and accommodate all the needs of the pyrotechnicians to put on a safe and timely fireworks display. - 2003 After searching several areas, a location on the northeast side of Tichigan Lake was selected and those neighbors gave their permission, in writing, for the fireworks committee to load up the barges (now being provided by J & M Displays). The Tichigan Lake Fourth of July Fireworks continue to be some of the best fireworks in the area. If you're fortunate enough to watch them from a boat, they're even better.