Heck yeah! It's nice to stay local for fireworks and not have to deal with the traffic or hassle of going to other areas. Also, it's nice to connect with the community and see people whom you don't see often.

With no financial support from surrounding towns then no, I do not support the fire works. It cost more then its worth in the end, plus it leaves Matawan holding the bag alone with liabilities and exposure to a verity of lawsuits in the event something goes horribly goes wrong.

Needs before wants and fireworks are not a necessity. Everyone is struggling to pay high property taxes and we simply cannot afford it. Honestly, they should but cutting out parades too.

My family and I have enjoyed the fireworks for many years and we would love to see them come back. We have been very disappointed they were taken away due to the budget. It was one of the very few things this town offered.

I see this as a no-brainer. I'm guessing that the amount of money I would need to donate to support local fireworks would be far less than I spend traveling down to Long Branch to see the fireworks there. I can forget about gas, tolls, parking and dining out. We can have a nice BBQ at home and ride our bikes to the show! Plus, we could fund raise AT the fireworks show for the following year's show....so it would not be only residents supporting the show. Not to mention the boost to local business that comes with a draw like a fireworks show.

Wish this poll had a "like" button, because I would like it a million times!! We pay highest of property taxes in the area, therefore I feel we should be offered some kind of perk for our dollars!! Parades and fireworks on the 4th of July is a privilege to us as US citizens and it should be celebrated!!

It seems like ONE person in Matawan doesn't want fireworks and stands up in town hall meeting and expresses it loudly, So NO fire works in Matawan let the children ride their bikes to RED Bank!! To see the show? $10,000.00 The taxpayers in Matawan pay more than that just in Gasoline for the Public Workers department for the workers to JOY ride around the borough in the trucks while not doing any work. Go check the mileage on the vehicles , Where do they go in a small area they have to cover. WHY are they ALLOWED to take the work vehicles HOME for Lunch?? ON work time. Lunch does NOT strart at 11:50 and end at 1:10? Wake up tax payers , YOU are being fleeced.

Honestly, if it were up to me, Fireworks would just be the beginning of controling costs. There would be no more brand new police cars (or at the very least, they'd have to drive them into the ground before getting a new one). Actually, the towns in the area are so small, 3 or 4 towns should merge and have one police department to service them all. That would cut down on overhead. The Verizon landline bills (which seem a bit pricy from what I can tell from the list of bills on the town website) would be reviewed carefully and perhaps switched to a less expensive provider (maybe something like the cable company phone service or Vontage). All new employees would no longer be eligible for a pension. Instead, they'd have to contribute to a 401K plan like the rest of us. Health benefits would be severely overhauled and perhaps they too would have high deductible health plans. If we want people to patronize our businesses, they need to find a way to drive the day laborers out. I know a lot of people (including my family) that avoids going down to Main Street because of all the day laborers. Once all those expenses are controlled, and changes are made, then perhaps we can go back to things like parades are fireworks.

Bah humbug! Fireworks for the 4th of July are like apple pie and hot dogs they embody the american spirit and the great celebration of freedom. If you don't like the fireworks don't go. If you are afraid of the liability, stay home and you can buy bubble wrap at staples, its cheap. What a wonderful community event for a wonderful community. There are so few events that bring us together these days, I say bring back the fireworks! The discussion is about raising private money, isn't it?

If you want fireworks, I suggest you go to
http://www.indiegogo.com/

And start raising the money.

I don't want fireworks bad enough to donate cash. Taxes are increasing. Homeowners insurance is increasing by 11.8%. Home value is far below assessed value. I'd rather scrape together pennies to donate toward town revaluation!

It's a sad fact. Matawan does not have the money for a fireworks display. Residents will have to enjoy memories of the past. We all need to economize in many ways. I can't afford to contribute for fireworks...and when I can, I prefer to give to the foodbank.

They should put this much effort into reviving the town of Matawan.

I agree that there are greater needs for fund-raising than fireworks.

this is even a topic? are you kidding me?? This whole area got railed with property tax increases within the last 4 years, and someone on a township payroll has the nerve to ask tax payers for more money for fireworks???? How about everyone on a borough payroll for Aberdeen and Matawan donate a portion of their paychecks to bring fireworks back. including the superintendents. unreal.

Matawan is now 325 years old and growing. However, it is a completely different then it used to be. It was a tight knit community. In the 70's & 80's, everybody know everyone. Main st, wasn't always so dead. Now business's are suffering. Ihave lived here for 42 years. The town does NOTHING for the community. The fireworks weren't just fireworks. They would have a band, hotdogs, icecream, draft beer & rootbeer. It was a great family day, meeting up with old friends, and just alot of fun for the whole community. Perhaps. just perhaps, if people like Jimmy Alston wouldn't sue the town for racism we would have enough money for events. (really JIM, racism? It's 2012, You can't pull the race card anymore. It's old.) So if You would like to go to a town that always has things to do, that town would be Keyport. They havefood festivals, the country jamberee, fairs, food contests, and I couldn't even begin to tell you how many times they have fireworks a year. Now they do things for their community, and their businesses are getting the benefits from it.

Fireworks and parades provide quality of life values to local residents. Planned properly, they can also draw people from other communities to shop at our stores and visit our restaurants and bars. Hunkering down because the economy is bad is wrong headed. Pressing local government workers to fund our activities out of their paychecks is mean spirited and ludicrous. Sponsorship of the fireworks should come from a combination of business, private, and government sources. The fact that Keyport manages to produce all sorts of public events every year is a testimony to their planning and initiative. Matawan plainly lacks those characteristics.

ALL THIS GOSSIP ABOUT THE FIREWORKS ARE THEY HAVIN THE DAM THINGS ARE NOT? ,CAMP AT CHEESEQUAKE,STATE PARK,COME FROM PA STAY FOR A WEEK DO THE BEACH AND THE FIREWORKS FOR THE FORTH REALLY NEED TO KNOW CINDY FROM PA.

The town really needs to get it's act together. I think the citizens need to form a committee that would work together to make improvements and fundraise for events such as the fireworks and improvements to the town. Has anyone driven through Hightstown lately? It has a beautiful main street area that's it's 'Downtown Hightstown' organization helps cultivate. Matawan has the turkey trot race to raise money for the parks, why not have another race to help raise money for fireworks.

http://www.downtownhightstown.org/about-us