FLORENCE — Though offices will be closed for the holiday, Florence Government Center will be booming this Fourth of July.

        The city is holding its first Independence Day fireworks display Thursday at the government center.

Susie Dunaway (right) adds finished 4-inch starshells to a pile after inserting the lighting leads in the assembly room at Rozzi's Famous Fireworks on Tuesday. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

        Fireworks by Rozzi's Famous Fireworks will begin at 9:45 p.m.

        “They're a group that's done it for years,” Vanessa Lenear, parks and recreation administrator, said of Rozzi's, the Symmes Township company best known in Greater Cincinnati for itsRiverfest fireworks on Labor Day.

        “We decided to get on the bandwagon with them,” said Nancy Rozzi, owner of Rozzi's.

        While not as extensive as Riverfest, the smaller shows are also nice, she said Tuesday as workers at the company put finishing touches on fireworks that will be used in celebrations all over the region.

        The Riverfest “WEBN fireworks is a small segment of what we do,” Ms. Rozzi said.

        “We're known for WEBN, but we do so much more than that. Our livelihood is all the community events around the 4th of July.

        The Florence show “will be like all the shows we do. We put our heart and soul into them. The people will enjoy them.”

        The fireworks will cap an evening-long, free, family event that begins at 6 p.m.

        The Florence Community Band and Cheaper than Therapy Band, a local '80s pop group, will play; and the Florence K-9 unit will stage a demonstration.

        “We will also have kids games, refreshment booths and fireworks,” Ms. Lenear said.

        “Uncle Sam will be there. We will have face painting. We have tattoos for little kids,” Ms. Lenear said. “We're asking families to bring their blankets and chairs and enjoy the entertainment.”

        Alcohol is not permitted.

        “This is the first time we're doing it and we're not sure how many people will show up,” Ms. Lenear said.

        “We're hoping for about 1,000. We're anticipating more people are going to come closer to the time of the fireworks.”

        This year will be a practice run to determine how to develop the celebration in the future.

        “We'll improve on the event next year,” Ms. Lenear said.

        Ewing Boulevard from Ky. 18 to Tanners Lane will be closed from 9:45 to 10:30 p.m.
       

Children's joins anti-terror fight
Gun robberies soar in Cincinnati
Lazy? Crazy? It's just hot
Singers seek gay support
Collector fired up about cannon
July Fourth events
New dialysis procedure promising
New rules aid organ donations
Obituary: Donn Hershberger, mentor to many
Tristate A.M. Report
Tristate native helps balloonist's Internet site fly
BRONSON: Fireworks
HOWARD: Some Good News
KORTE: City Hall
SAMPLES: Bee facts
SMITH AMOS: Drive-by heartbreak
Don't let commuter train bypass us, Hamilton says
Hot rod racer in drug trouble
Jury returns today in sex-with-teen case
Liberty Twp. seeks money for firehouse
Pizza maker accused of illegal 'toppings'
Union Centre gets new project
Warren GOP fretting about state races
Ohio Lottery sales up $68M for year
Schlichter's brother running for state House
Tobacco on county flag draws flak
Auto buyers owed
New lease on life for Dry Ridge outlet center
Town fired up over July 4