Fourth lacked proper finale

Another Fourth of July has come and gone with its floats, clowns and

marching bands. Another Fourth has come and gone without burning

couches, hundreds of arrests and rioting.

Surf City has long since passed on its reputation of

out-of-control partying to West Newport, and even that is getting

under control. Former Police Chief Ron Lowenberg is now retired, but

the law and order he brought to the holiday remains under the

direction of Chief Kenneth Small.

As always, the day began before the sun with runners stretching

and preparing for the Surf City 5K and Kiwanis preparing pancake

batter for the breakfast in Lake Park. It continued in true

Huntington Beach style with big crowds and a patriotic, enthusiastic

parade.

Families gathered in roped-off sections of the boulevards and

medians, people of all ages and their pets sported red, white and

blue outfits and homes were decked out with flags and streamers.

This year, sadly, the city-sanctioned events ended with an

afternoon patriotic dress contest and concert. When the sun went

down, families headed to other cities to watch fireworks, and

revelers went to work lighting off illegal fireworks.

By Saturday morning, city streets were littered with burnt out,

used-up fireworks. The number of illegal fireworks confiscated leaped

from 6,500 last year to 45,000, Fire Chief Duane Olson said.

It was the first year that Huntington Beach has not had a

professional fireworks display. For years, the fireworks display was

at the beach until low marine clouds forced event organizers to move

them inland to Huntington Beach High School. With the field being

repaired this year, the City Council canceled the show rather than

move it back to the beach, fearing a repeat of the rioting of

yesteryear.

While this year’s celebration was as grand as ever in the morning,

it sorely lacked by afternoon. The decision not to have fireworks was

a poor one.

But what’s done is done.

Let’s just look forward to the 100th anniversary of the first

Huntington Fourth of July parade -- complete with a public,

professional fireworks display.