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Grill Owners Paying For Tarpon Fireworks

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: June 3, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. – The show will go on, after all. Dave and Lisa Ulgenalp, longtime city residents and restaurateurs, have donated $18,000 to sponsor the city's July Fourth fireworks display.

The city had been forced to cancel the fireworks because of budgetary austerity and the need to repair its low-powered AM radio alert system.

The resurrected 2008 Independence Day fireworks show will begin around dark and can be viewed from Fred Howard Park.

The patriotic party the city had planned as an alternative to fireworks will still be held July Fourth, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., in Craig Park.

The Ulgenalps operate bd's Mongolian Grill restaurants in Oldsmar, Lakeland and Altamonte Springs.

In a prepared statement issued Tuesday morning, Dave Ulgenalp wrote: "We are coming off a busier than usual Memorial Day weekend at bd's with many customers claiming high gas prices and a tight wallet kept them from heading out of town.

"At the same time we learned that our hometown was forced to cancel July Fourth fireworks due to budget cuts. We expect that like Memorial Day many more people than normal will be celebrating Independence Day at home, making the absence of a fireworks display unacceptable.

"We believe that sponsoring the display is the right thing to do and are grateful that we are in a position to do so. We are thrilled that the community will be able to enjoy this annual event without interruption."

Acting City Manager Mark LeCouris said he is "thrilled" that the Ulgenalps were donating money for the fireworks and Global Towers, the company that builds and operates mobile communications antenna towers, is paying for the patriotic party.

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