Volunteers needed to save Pepperell fireworks

Published By: Nathan Lam , nlamb@nashobapub.com

PEPPERELL-- The Pepperell 4th of July Committee is a group in transition -- one that will reportedly need an influx of new volunteers this fall if the tradition of local fireworks is to continue.

That assessment was offered during a recent interview with committee secretary Jannine Kraus, who said the group was able to overcome the loss of public funding for the fireworks last year, but has since lost several members and will need new blood to pull off a repeat performance.

"Physically, we can't make this day what it has traditionally been without the support from volunteers to do it," she said.

The committee will hold its first meeting for the 2010 celebration on Monday, Oct. 12, and it will likely begin making decisions about the scope of that event shortly after.

Held on the first Saturday of each July, the daylong event includes a parade, fireworks and an old fashioned Independence Day celebration with food and music at the town fields. While Krause described the event as an ideal small-town celebration, she said it take a huge amount of volunteer hours to organize and staff it, adding that fundraising has become an increasingly large focus in recent years.

The committee traditionally raised about $15,000 to $18,000 each year to host the parade and celebration, with the town contributing another $12,000 for the fireworks. However, the committee took on the fireworks as well when they were cut from the town budget last year and Krause said they were able to bridge that gap with additional work and support from local businesses.

Having seen the group lose some key members since then, Krause said they simply don't have enough people on the roster to do all that work, adding their current priority is maintaining the parade and celebration, if it comes to making tough choices.

The 10-person group currently has five members; having lost a couple of people to relocation and seen several other long-standing members opt for reduced roles.

Among the notable departures is Kathy Mercurio, who has been with the committee for eight years, the last four as president. She said it was simply time to move on, saying that she has a lot of other commitments and needs to take a break from the committee.

In the big picture, Mercurio said that groups like the 4th of July Committee have some turnover each year, but she agreed the combination of key losses and an increased workload could result in some major changes for this event, if more people don't step up.

"There are some really dedicated people who are left, but there are not a lot of them," she said. "They just need help."

Kraus said she got involved after moving to town several years ago, adding it's been a lot of fun. She compared preparation of the event to putting together a great Thanksgiving dinner and that the day itself is a lot like Christmas morning for the organizers.

That said, Kraus was hoping that a few more people are interested in sharing that experience

"We need more people to get involved to give us ideas, suggestions, and criticisms," she said.

"Everybody has been very supportive," she added, at another point. "The key is to keep that going."

The committee's first meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 12, at the community center. Kraus can be contacted at 978-433-5230.

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