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The Harwich pyrotechnic show this year is like the one little
firework that makes a popping noise in the sky but never
explodes.
In the latest and seemingly last development to this on
again, off again saga, the festival's fireworks have been
cancelled for good this year, according to several members on
the event committee.
Herb Bell, a Harwich businessman who is the committee's
liaison to its fireworks vendor, said today that Garden State
Fireworks of New Jersey notified him on Friday that the company
will not produce fireworks for the festival Sept. 16.
This announcement comes just a week after water officials
agreed to allow fireworks that don't contain the chemical
compound perchlorate to be discharged in the water recharge area
behind Harwich High School this year only.
Harwich water commissioners have raised a red flag of concern
in recent months that even if small amounts of perchlorate,
which has been known to cause thyroid problems, seep into the
public water supply, the town would have to spend millions of
dollars to get rid of it.
But even though Garden State Fireworks representatives
offered to produce nitrate-based propellants last week instead
to save the much heralded show, Bell said they backed off that
offer because of insurance concerns. Basically, the vendor would
have no insurance coverage if they were ever sued in a case
where the town's water is ever contaminated with any chemical,
even nitrates, Bell said.
"They feel like there is too much of a vendetta atmosphere
floating around Harwich to kill the fireworks and they want no
part of that," said Bell, adding the fireworks vendor has
provided the festival show for almost three decades without
incident. "The risks are just too great for them."
Representatives from Garden State Fireworks did not
immediately return a phone call this morning. Festival Committee
members said they plan to update selectmen about this latest
setback at their meeting tonight at town hall, which begins at 6
p.m.
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