Artesia News

Artesia Celebrates Fourth of July, Plans to Hold More Summer Concerts


Aside from a long, exciting fireworks show, Artesia experimented with its first Summer Concert on the fourth of July with the band West Coast XPress.

The Fourth was an exciting day in Artesia, with events taking place at both A.J. Padelford and Artesia Parks. Earlier in the day, A.J. Padelford Park gave free hot dogs to all their visitors and had plenty of activities for families to enjoy. Artesia Park had bingo in the morning for seniors, family activities, a summer concert, and a fireworks show. Plans are currently underway to continue having summer concerts and to make the next Fourth of July even more enjoyable. Some of the issues being discussed are people using illegal fireworks, creating a more “spectacular” fireworks show, and the separation of the band from the audience.

Members of the band West Coast XPress played ‘50’s, ‘60’s, and ‘70’s rock, with a bit of country music at the request of the mayor. The first person to get up and dance was Rae, a resident of Norwalk. She was able to help get a few people up and dance despite the gate between the crowd and the band, a minor problem considering this was the first Summer Concert that Artesia has held. “It was something new we wanted to try,” said Mayor Larry R. Nelson.

Before the fireworks show, Mayor Nelson got up on stage and welcomed the audience. He asked, “Would you like to see more summer concerts in the park?” To which he was met with the approval of park visitors.

Nelson almost sang the National Anthem, but (perhaps thankfully) he did not and instead let vocalist Sunny Hilden sing. “I only hum,” Nelson commented.

Hilden taunted and played with the audience, and even serenaded suggestively to a Public Works employee as he walked by. Other band members are Tom Kolb, guitarist; Chris Larson, bass player; Ray Frisby, drummer; Ed Greenman, keyboards; and Kurt Festinger, saxophone.

Artesia’s city manager, Maria Dadian, suggested afterward that the band shouldn’t be separated from the people. As she says it, “I would like to see more interaction.”

Regarding the fireworks show, there is talk of having music during the show, and to have a longer grand finale at the end.

Residents and visitors using illegal fireworks is nothing new. All fireworks with an excess of 50 milligrams of powder have been deemed illegal since the 1966 Child Protection Act. While there were illegal fireworks being lit at the park, most were in fact legal. None the less, problems involving the use of fireworks will be addressed by Artesia’s officials for the next fireworks show.

The fireworks were lit by Pyro Spectacular.

For more information about the band West Coast X-Press, call Chris Larson at (951) 659-6207.

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(Sidebar)
On the Ground

 

Most people are unaware of what goes on during a fireworks show, usually seeing and hearing the firework bursts.

On the ground, the job of the pyro-technician is an unsung and dangerous job. After all, it is the affect that people are looking for, not the people lighting the fuse.

Many people join the ranks of pyro techs because of past experience with explosives. DuBois said he did it because a “friend needed help.”

Sometimes, fireworks are lit electronically, but at Artesia Park, the pyro technicians manually lit the fuses with a road flare, or a “fusie” as some pyro techs call it.

Howard DuBois, a senior pyro technician dressed all in black, said that the fireworks were manually lit to make the show last longer. “We light the fuse as soon as the one in the air bursts,” said DuBois.

DuBois said that at in the past, fireworks purchased often had to be re-manufactured because of a concern of a stored static charge. “Now we have more control over the manufacturing, and we manufacture a lot of stuff ourselves.”

Rows of fireworks, or “alleys”, held approximately 370 shells; and the grand finale had somewhere between 330 shells going off simultaneously. In the middle of each alley, there were “cakes” with smaller fireworks, which appeared similar to a miniature grand finale.

DuBois also recounted a story about a friend of his, illustrating the dangers involved with his field. The shell blew up inside the mortar tube and “shattered” the side of his body. DuBois said, “If you treat it with respect, you should be in good shape.”

 
Great Fireworks!
Another Family Lights Fireworks
This child enjoys a firework show of his own
This young girl demonstrates the safe way to hold sparklers
West Coast Xpress is the first band to play Artesia's Summer Concert
Mayor's Dilemma:
Should 'I' sing or let the lady sing?
Mayor decides to let the lady sing.
(The Lady is Sunny Hilden)
Lady decides to let the mayor join in for National Anthem.
No, Council Member Sally Flowers is 'not' rapping
Rows and rows of professional fireworks waiting to put on a show for Artesia.
Neckcramps are fairly common on the 4th of July (above)
This couple seems to be having a good time
City Photographer Robet Braga tries to capture all the action
From the flag to the sky!
       
       
       

 

 

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