Shorewood fireworks may fly in September

Shorewood - The fireworks show postponed at Shorewood's Fourth of July celebration may highlight a community picnic at Atwater Park on Sept. 1.

The Shorewood Foundation -which originally funded the show - along with other local organizations like the Shorewood Men's Club, Friends of Atwater Beach, and Shorewood Seed Foundation have expressed interest in co-hosting the community picnic to accompany the rescheduled fireworks.

Village Manager Chris Swartz told the Village Board Monday that between overtime for police and firefighters and the cost of a band, the event could run somewhere between $800 and $1,500. Cancelling the fireworks outright would incur a $4,100 cancellation fee, though Swartz said it hasn't been worked out who would pay that yet.

Trustees were wary that the Village might need to postpone the fireworks again on September 1 if the dry conditions don't let up.

"I would hate to schedule it and unscheduled it," said Trustee Michael Maher.

Swartz was given the go ahead to gauge interest from the various groups, gather feedback from police and the fire department, and ultimately make a determination as to whether the community picnic has the potential for liftoff prior to the Village Board's next meeting on August 13.