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Thousands gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July in Juneau and Douglas. Here is a selection of photos from the events captured by the Empire’s sports editor Klas Stolpe.
Thousands gathered to celebrate the Fourth of July in Juneau and Douglas. Here is a selection of photos from the events captured by the Empire’s sports editor Klas Stolpe.
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Comments (22)
Add commentFireworks display...
...lasted longer than San Diego's!
Smokey
There needed to be a slight breeze to clear the smoked. Missed about half of the display due to the smoke
Best fireworks
I can remember, thank you to the committee that put it together! Mother nature blessed us with no rain!
great show this year!
thank you CBJ!
I can handle the Fire-work
I can handle the Fire-work display down town from X time to X time but we just had multiple days and hours on end of loud Fire-work explosions in the valley.
I think this is asking too much of people to cope with. Granted some people love it but many people don't. I was also amazed by the attitude at JPD "don't call us with your complaints" really? What are people supposed to do then? What ever happened to protect and "serve"? What about all the tax-payers that would like to retreat to their property to get away from the Fire-work activities? Don't these people have any rights? I was raised to respect others what ever happened to this? What is happening to our town, there are a significant number of people in town that are being told that their concerns regarding these explosive Fire-works next to their homes do not even register on JPD's public safety radar. But I believe that our homes are the one place we all have a right to retreat to and feel safe in.
Movement
When I was a child I remember the barge moved so the fireworks weren't just a cloud of smoke. Where we were all we saw after the 1st few was a big cloud of smoke.
Very disappointing.
Private fireworks
This year was our first year shooting off our own private fireworks show, we had a great time, made a mess in our backyard and generally had a "blast". When we were done my kids had fun seeing who could find the most of our spent fireworks that came back down. We cleaned up our mess that we made and left no garbage on our street and were in bed by 11pm
I was a little concerned about the posting made in another article where a blogger was wanting to come to his neighbors house with a baseball bat. I'm seriously glad he did not do that, how awful of him to make physical threats to families and children celibrating our nations birthday.
I plan on doing it again next year, but next year i think take precautions and arm myself for protection of my children incase any violent individuals who think they can tresspass and threaten violence with weapons on private property.
Alaskanstlye - Well maybe
Alaskanstlye - Well maybe that individual had it with the noise or perhaps even felt threatened by it? It is a very violent sound, think ofthe people that have PTSD or other mental health issues.I never really thought about it before bu it seems to be a problem. CBJ/JPD/Someone needs to take a look at these issues before we do have people out swinging bats. :) I even feel totally drained, maxed out from all the noise. I think we all know that people become even more frustrated and irritated when their feelings are being ignored by others, which seems to be what is happening here.
Oh My!
Really people? You complain because we didn't have wind to move the smoke, you complain about the noise....It's our country's birthday! Land of the FREE! Enjoy! don't be so uptight! You're asking for our government to control more of our freedoms, shame on you. Move to a country with more rules and restrictions if you don't like the way people celebrate our countries birthday, or move to the middle of nowhere, so you aren't bothered by the sounds of celebration!
Guess ya can't make everyone happy! I personally had a very enjoyable 3rd and 4th of July! God Bless this wonderful country, and those that serve us to keep us safe and allow us our freedoms!
akangel?I think your picture
akangel?
I think your idea of freedom is why we need rules, because our freedoms do not give us the right to hurt others, this is when your freedoms end. So shame on you.
Who is hurting people, haily?
I didn't see in any police news where people were shooting fireworks at others or doing anything illegal. Don't shame me. I'm a taxpayer and I don't believe in people hurting others but that wasn't happening.
Sounds like AlaskanStyle was a very considerate person and cleaned up after themselves after having fun! Thank you! Glad you had fun and were responsible :-)
Enjoy your freedom while we still have it!
I wish my neighbors...
... would put on a display. Fireworks are expensive. But, great for a celebration.
I heard my neighbors fighting
I heard my neighbors fighting last night about the Fire Work noise . It was not fun. I agree they are too loud l. need a place for people to do this kind of thing where it is away from apartments, trailer parks, etc houses etc..
Sounds like Haily is running
Sounds like Haily is running for VP of the NIMBY group. I'm amazed how every year at this time we hear a small, but vocal, group of people that want to complain about a day of noise. I have a small dog that isn't a big fan of fireworks, so we make sure to keep the house pretty well buttoned up so he doesn't freak out at the noise. It's not like these fireworks are some sort of spontaneous flash mob incident. The very few of you that have a problem with the other 29,000+ people that don't have a major issue with it need to plan your day accordingly.
@AK_Mom
I had my camera set up on a tripod, using a remote shutter release to take photos of the fireworks. I had to adjust the camera no less than 4 times because the fireworks were threatening to drift out of frame. It may not have looked like it from your vantage point, but I promise you that barge did move. :)
Where do you live akbrdguru?
Where do you live akbrdguru? I guess N.Douglas from reading your comments. I live on the backside of the loop. We heard Fireworks during the last 2 weekends of June and on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th of July and this morning around 10 am. In reading statements made by JPD and the Fire Dept. over the last few years I would also guess there is more than a small group of folk calling for help. Actually the fireworks are just like a "flash mob incident" - which I think is part of the problem. How do people plan for them when they just show-up at any time?
Do we really expect people to button-up their homes and drug their pets for days on end?
A few comments..
@ wfischer : guess we weren't in a good spot. Good to know though will pick a new place maybe next year if we go.
@ akangel : well if you want to know who it hurts.. There are a lot of special needs kids that can't handle the noise and are scared by the loud booms and flashes caused by fireworks. (( Possibly why I didn't have a good view I have one of those children and have to stay inside a hotel room )) So maybe just check in with your near neighbors if your going to do them?
@ AlaskanStyle : I think it's great, i wish we could do them more but as stated above we can't but if I had neighbors that did them my other kids would love to be outside to watch them.
Side note what bothers me is really just the endless firecrackers... a lot of noise and nothing to look at.
The black powder in explosive
The black powder in explosive fireworks presents a real danger. You have no control over where Fireworks go. I see parents letting their kids set them off. It is only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt. They are too dangerous for use near homes or people.c. If some people have the need to set Fireworks off then it should be done in a designated area . JPD should know this. 90% of the people I have seen are not adhering to manufacturer instructions for use.
Do not set off near any building
Do not set off more than one at a time
Do not set off near fire
Do not smoke around fire works
Do not set off near flammable objects
Do not set off using alcohol or drugs
Do not light fireworks in crowded areas.
AK_Mom
FYI-We don't do fireworks, we go and enjoy the show downtown and in our neighborhood in the valley if anyone buys them and shoots them off.
I wasn't trying to offend anyone, with special needs, and I appreciate you noting that, but people shouldn't have to stop enjoying a holiday, just like I don't expect people to stop doing certain things because of my disability.
Rockets Red Glare
Be grateful we can still celebrate Indepence Day. Ask yourself why we are here! We will be lucky if we can celebrate any of our rights in in the near future. Enjoy
Rockets Red Glare
Be grateful we can still celebrate Indepence Day. Ask yourself why we are here! We will be lucky if we can celebrate any of our rights in in the near future. Enjoy
Great Comment
At the end of the visual display, I heard the best comment shouted from an American. Take That You F-ing Britts. Just because he had been drinking, does not change how perfect that comment was. Tyranny, Red Coats and taxation, Mom Apple Pie and the Roger Clemans, the new progressive Red-Coat-Tyrants hate.