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Tarpon Commission Thanks Local Couple for Fireworks Gift

Mark Schantz/SUNCOAST NEWS

Tarpon Springs Mayor Beverley Billiris thanks restaurant owners Lisa and Dave Ulgenalp for what Billiris called their "generous" gift to the city, $18,000 to pay for the city's 2008 Fourth of July fireworks display.

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: June 4, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS – The City Commission wasted little time in thanking the local couple who is paying for the city's Fourth of July fireworks show this year.

Tuesday night, Mayor Beverley Billiris and the rest of the commission thanked Dave and Lisa Ulgenalp, owners of bd's Mongolian Grill in Oldsmar and two other Central Florida locations, for their gift to the city of $18,000 for July Fourth fireworks.

In thanking the Ulgenalps Billiris called their "generous" donation a "blessing."

City officials initially canceled this year's fireworks. The $25,000 the City Commission had budgeted for the pyrotechnic display was needed instead to get the city's emergency AM radio station back on the air, officials said.

As an alternative, the city put together a less-expensive event, the Patriotic Party in the Park.

The Ulgenalps, however, read news of the cancellation of the municipal fireworks show and decided to act. The couple and the city announced Tuesday morning the Ulgenalps were putting up $18,000 for the fireworks.

Although the fireworks are back on the patriotic party will still be held, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., July 4, in Craig Park.

Acting City Manager Mark LeCouris said it is great to see how local residents and the business community rallied to keep the July 4th traditional going.

Global Tower Partners, a Boca Raton antenna tower company, has agreed to fund the cost of the Patriotic Party in the Park.

As a result, the Fourth of July is going to be even bigger and better than expected, LeCouris said.

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