The executive director of Lehigh Community Services today reminded Lehigh residents that visitors to Veterans Park on Homestead Rd. on Saturday night, July 3, may not bring any type of of their own fireworks to the park.

She said several firms in Lehigh are paying for a fireworks display at dusk following a few hours of fun and entertainment for the whole family.

The Fourth of July Freedom Family Fun Festival starts at 4 p.m. and continues to 9:30 p.m.when the fireworks display is expected to finished.

“We are strict to the rule that no body who visits the park may bring their own purchased fireworks,” Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services said. “It can be dangerous to shoot off fireworks in the park and it is illegal to do so anyway. Only professions with credentials can put on a fireworks display,” she said.

Several firms in Lehigh have donated around $5,000 to put on a gala fireworks display that should last about 20 minutes, Nicely said.

There has not been a fireworks display in Lehigh for a few years. Some think it may be five years since the last fireworks could be seen in the skies over Veterans Park and then it was the Rotary Club that paid the tab.

“The firms in Lehigh believe the people here during these hard times deserve a fun night over the holiday and they are more than willing to give us the money to purchase the fireworks,” Nicely said.

“In no way does any money come from any of the organizations that hand out food or money to help people in the area.

“And we have plenty of food available for people who need food,” Nicely said. “Just a few weeks ago, the postal carriers brought tons of food to our pantries off of Beth Stacey Blvd. Those who don’t have an income can qualify. They should come to our offices. We can also send them to other places in Lehigh for food.”

For a complete list, you can call Lehigh Acres Community Services at 369-5818 for information.

“A rumor around town that there is no food available is not true. We are helping people who need food,” she said.

She also noted that no money is expended from any of the churches giving away the food nor from her agency for the fireworks display.

She said she had heard that at least one person intown thought it was wrong to have fireworks when so many people are hungry,” she said. “We are very aware of the hard times in Lehigh and that is why we have Team Lehigh, which is a group of churches and agencies that help those in need.

“And besides, the firms giving the money to buy the fireworks also donate to the agencies over and over again,” she said.

Nicely is really excited about resuming the fireworks and the Freedom family Fun Festival which was started some years ago when Liz Eilf was the director of Lehigh Community Services. Nicely said Eilf will be there to help out at the festival.

“We’re going to have an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration …. only it’s going to be on the afternoon and night of July 3, which is a Saturday,”Nicely said.

In the past people of Lehigh have come to the park to participate in the pie eating and watermelon eating contests, eat all the good Fourth of July food being prepared by the many local vendors in the area and to let the kids loose to enjoy all the childrens’ attractions.

“The kids are going to love the ‘slipply slides’ with water flowing down the chutes. They’re going to be cool in the hot Florida sun.

“We’re going to have egg tosses, bounce houses, arts and crafts for sale, video and arcade games, hula hoops contests, sack races and a Lehigh Spring Festival Idol Reunion.

“The big stage at the park will be have lots of entertainment from 4 p.m. on. People should bring lawn chairs or they can set on the available seating at the park,” Nicely said. She said there will be an honor guard from the American Legion to starts things off and the singing of the National Anthem.

Parking is free in all county-operated parks, but when there is a special occasion such as a Fourth of July celebration and Freedom Family Fun Festival, sponsors may ask for donations at the entrances.

This year, the donation is $3 per carload and half the proceeds go to the local soccer league and half goes to Lehigh Community Services.

“So in the end we will be able to have additional funds to help people with utility and rent bills if they qualify,” Nicely said.

No coolers will be allowed in the park. There will be drinks from vendors and plenty of food. Children’s tickets will be inexpensive to participate in the attractions.

Nicely said fewer people had attended the last year or so mainly due to the fact that there were no fireworks.

“That is why we are so delighted that some local businesses have stepped up to the plate to buy the fireworks. The people are going to love it and the people putting them on do a superb job.

“It will be a great way for Lehigh to pay tribute to America’s Independence Day,” she said.

“And besides, you don’t have to ride to Fort Myers or the beach or to the Cape to see fireworks like a lot of people have done in the last few years.

“We’ll have as good a display as any of them,” she smiled.

“Come out to have fun and get ready to see if you can catch an egg without breaking it or race through a watermelon eating contest or eat a whole pie before the others around you can.

“This is a fun day and we want everyone to enjoy themselves,” she said. “We will have a beer tent for the adults at the Freedom Family Fun Festival. Those drinking beer are being asked to stay in the tent and not to walk around the park with an open container,” she said.