Fox Lake makes plans for fireworks

Starting over.

Volunteers and officials from Fox Lake met for the first time Tuesday to discuss how to put together the village's first fireworks show in 25 years without Pete Jakstas Sr.

Volunteers discussed locations, safety, money, fundraisers and other aspects needed to put the show on in the village.

The committee agreed the show would take place on July 5 and that about $20,000 to $30,000 would need to be raised to put on the event.

They also said they would go to Jakstas and ask if they could rent the barges needed to launch the fireworks over the Chain O' Lakes.

"We'll go to him and see what it takes, or to even see if we can keep the show on Mineola Bay," said interim fireworks Chairman Howard "Bud" Scott. "We'll see how things go and we'll work from there."

Only about 10 people attended the volunteer meeting held Tuesday at the village's Lakefront Park on Nippersink Road.

They agreed the main fundraiser would be a super raffle event, where tickets are sold to raise money during a game-show type atmosphere.

Also, they agreed they will seek out sponsorships from Fox Lake and other areas that benefit from the fireworks being held over the Chain O' Lakes.

They did not decide where the fireworks would be held, necessarily, but said the ideal scenario would be to hold it over the water on Mineola Bay, or on Nippersink or Pistakee lakes.

A committee was appointed to review the different locations and make a determination.

"This is just a starting point for us," Scott said. "We are also looking for more people to help us put this together. So everyone bring a friend back to the next meeting."

The next meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the village hall.

Jakstas, owner of the Mineola Marina and Lounge at 91 W. Cora Ave., retired from doing the fireworks last year. He said it was the perfect time to stop running the fireworks because it was the village's 100th anniversary and his 25th anniversary of the event.

Prior to the announcement, however, Jakstas and Mayor Cindy Irwin fought over the event after Irwin made a public announcement that Jakstas would not be involved in the fireworks because he was asking for too much money. In return, Jakstas said he was simply negotiating with the village regarding the amount of money he needed to put on the best show and was flabbergasted that Irwin turned her back on him.

However, the village board intervened and agreed to pay Jakstas $20,000 to hold the fireworks over Fox Lake in honor of the centennial.