Annual Geist Fireworks on July 4th

Geist Lake Coalition members are feverishly dialing for dollars again this summer raising money for the annual Geist fireworks scheduled for Friday, July 4th.

“We need around $30,000 this year and every little bit helps,” said long-time Geist Lake Coalition member Scott Rodgers.

This year’s title sponsor of the event is Eddy’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill owned by Scott Foster. While he wanted to do something for the community, it was his childhood memories of watching the fireworks that cinched the deal for the Geist Lake Coalition.

“When I was growing up in Fort Wayne, my fondest memories were going out on the lake in Coldwater, Michigan and seeing the fireworks on the Fourth of July,” Foster recalled.Donations are warmly accepted by mailing a check made payable to the “Geist Lake Coalition” to PO Box 103, Fishers, Indiana 46038.

Fireworks will be shot from the undeveloped island just off of Admirals Sound on the south end of Geist Reservoir. Rodgers claims that the best viewing is from the southern shores or from a boat on the water. In years past, fireworks were fired from the dam on the southern most end of the Reservoir.

“Homeland Security made us move them from the dam which has increased our cost a bit.”

Fourth of July Safety Tips for Dog Owners

With the excitement and commotion of the annual Independence Day holiday approaching, Bark Busters, the world’s largest and most trusted dog training company, offers helpful tips for the estimated 44.8 million U.S. dog owners on how to keep their dogs safe and calm during July 4th festivities.

“Independence Day celebrations are great fun for people, but the loud noises and bright lights can be traumatic for dogs,” said Deborah Harlen, dog behavioral therapist and trainer, Bark Busters USA. “The explosions, excited voices and visual stimulation create confusion and fear.”

“Animal shelters report that the July 4th holiday brings record numbers of runaway dogs to their doors,” Harlen continued. “These dogs have been frightened and made frantic by fireworks. But by being aware and thinking ahead, we can keep our dogs as safe and comfortable as possible during Fourth of July revelry.”
Harlen offers the following tips for dog owners to prepare for Independence Day:

• If you are going to a fireworks display, leave your dog at home where he will be safest and most comfortable.
• Don’t leave dogs outside. If you cannot bring them inside, cover their outdoor crate or kennel with a blanket to offer them some protection from the bursts of bright lights and loud bangs. A dog’s sense of hearing is acute-over 10 times more sensitive than humans’.
• Never leave your dog in the car. A partially opened window does not supply sufficient fresh air for him to breathe, and it creates an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
• Keep your dog away from the front and back doors. Your dog may be under significant stress, which could result in unnecessary injury to others or cause him to dart out the door and become lost.
• Create a special area or “den” in your home where your dog feels safe. A properly introduced crate or kennel can be a calming refuge for him. Some dogs become destructive when frightened. If you don’t use a crate, be sure to remove items from the room that the dog could destroy or could hurt him if he chewed them.
• Keep windows and curtains closed to reduce noise and bright flashes.
• Turn on a TV or radio at normal volume to distract your dog from loud noises and help him to relax.
• If possible, stay with your pet during the majority of the fireworks. A dog often reacts more intensely to loud sounds and flashes of lights when you are not with him.
• Consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with your dog while you are away from home.
• Always keep proper identification securely fastened to your dog’s collar in case he gets out. Consider talking to your veterinarian about implanting a universal microchip in your pet, and make sure that your veterinary hospital and animal shelter have your correct contact information in their database.

“Independence Day is a time for fun and celebration,” Harlen said. “By taking these precautions, you and your pets can have a safe and happy holiday experience.”

Bark Busters dog behavioral therapists, such as Deborah Harlen, are renowned authorities in understanding, correcting and managing dog behavior. Bark Busters’ natural training system can successfully train any dog, even a puppy, by leveraging the same communications methods-body language and voice control-that dogs follow as part of their instinctive pack mentality. All training takes place right in the home where the problems generally occur. In every market where Bark Busters is established, a majority of veterinarians familiar with the technique recommend the company’s services.