An exciting and entertaining 4th of July is in the works

Alexis Barker
NLJ Reporter
 
The Fourth of July in Newcastle is shaping up to be packed full of good times, according to Pam Gualtieri, a member of the Newcastle Area Chamber of Commerce board. 
Gualtieri and other chamber board members decided to take on the task of raising money for the annual fireworks show put on by the Newcastle Volunteer Fire Department. 
“It’s not just for the board, it’s for our community. There is a lot going on that weekend,” Gualtieri said. “Pinnacle Bank has stepped up to put on a great event for our town, you have the newspaper doing the parade, and we have the fire department that works hard to make sure fireworks go off safely.” 
Gualtieri said that the department asked the chamber if it could help raise funds for the fireworks show that will help close out the 4th at the 4-Way concert event hosted by Pinnacle Bank. The chamber, according to Gualtieri, is also organizing a poker run that will kick off that morning that the group hopes will attract bikers from around the area. 
Chamber board members “quickly” decided that this was a fundraising effort they could support, Gualtieri said. She began the effort by putting the fundraiser on Facebook before calling businesses and then putting boots for donations at participating businesses. 
“People are listening and coming to us to contribute to the fireworks fund. This is something the whole community is coming together to do and something the whole community can enjoy,” Gualtieri said. 
As of May 9, the chamber had raised almost $9,000 toward the fireworks show, with individual, businesses and organizations contributing. Gualtieri reported that the organization was only $1,051.13 away from its $10,000 goal and that she hoped to meet that goal by May 17. 
“I don’t know how to express the overwhelming feelings I have over how quickly this fundraiser has come together. It was out of nowhere, and the response has been awesome,” Gualtieri said. 
Gualtieri hopes that a big fireworks show, along with the other local events planned for that day, can make Newcastle a destination for a holiday of fun. 
“The chamber is really trying to help promote our town, but we can’t do it by ourselves,” Gualtieri said. “This is a great way to promote us and our town and get people to come see what we have to offer.” 
Gualtieri said that the Fourth of July festivities make Newcastle a destination for the holiday because from morning to night there will be something going on to keep people busy. 
“I am really just amazed. This is my first time trying to raise these funds, and it is so amazing to see so many out there donating,” Gualtieri said. “We hope to just keep on building to what we are doing for next year because the potential is here to keep getting bigger and better.”
“We all know this (the Fourth of July) is a day of celebration, family fun and freedom, and it is now something the whole community will be able to enjoy together,” Gualtieri said. “It is so fresh to see the positivity in this community surrounding such an awesome event.”