HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR20090630_July3rd4th.pdfMayor Jason Buelterman
CITY COUNCIL
Wanda Doyle, Mayor Pro Tem
Charlie Brewer
Barry Brown
Eddie Crone
Dick Smith
Paul Wolff
CITY OF TYBEE ISLAND
City Manager
Diane Schleicher
Clerk of Council
Vivian Woods
City Attorney
Edward M. Hughes
P.O. Box 2749 – 403 Butler Avenue, Tybee Island, Georgia 31328-2749
(866) 786-4573 – FAX (866) 786-5737
www.cityoftybee.org
PRESS RELEASE: Contact: Tybee Island City Hall
For immediate release (912) 786-4573
Tybee Celebrates Independence Day on July 3rd
Tybee Island, Ga. – (June 30, 2009) Tybee Island will host a fireworks display at the Walter J. Parker Pier and
Pavilion to begin after dark, between about 9:00 to 9:30 PM, the evening of Friday, July 3 rd. Visible from nearly
any of Tybee’s eastern beaches, the ocean provides a clear view to the pier where the fireworks are set up.
Visitors should be aware that the Independence Day Celebrations generate some of the largest crowds of the
year on Tybee Island. Traffic in both directions on US Highway 80 – Victory Drive will be heavy, and parking
spaces will be in high demand. It would be best to arrive early to make sure you have a place to park, but
remember that parking fees are enforced from 8am to 8pm every day.
Tybee Island authorities would like to remind visitors of several important points. First, personal fireworks use is
forbidden both by State law and by local ordinance – last year’s event saw a fire emergency when a rocket from
the beach took off and set a home on fire. Second, visitors are welcome; that’s the sole purpose of the event.
However, trash left on the sands hurts the wildlife and damages the environment, e ven if DPW crews and
hundreds of Tybee Beautification Association volunteers spend as much as six hours the morning after the
event picking up trash off the beach. Please be considerate of others and of the environment – keep your trash
contained and put it in the trash barrels when you leave! Third, bear in mind that State law also requires vehicles
to stop for pedestrians in any marked crosswalk and forbids other cars from even passing cars that are stopped
at any crosswalk. There will be many people of all ages walking to and from the beaches for this event. Please
drive cautiously and give pedestrians the right of way as required.
While on the beach, please do not disturb any marked nests of endangered sea turtle species! They hold
precious cargo, and your extra care would be appreciated by all the volunteers who find and protect them!
Please exercise patience, drive safely and courteously, and leave plenty of time both to arrive on the Island and
to return home. Departures off the Island after the fireworks can take a long time, sometimes as much as three
hours, so visitors are encouraged to think about staying at one of the hotels or overnight rentals on the Island,
staying the night with friends, or, at the very least, car-pooling with a designated driver who gets plenty of rest to
stay alert on the roads for the drive home! Local merchants are offering special deals for weekend visitors.
Have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July Holiday, wherever you choose to celebrate!
Useful Tybee Island links can be found on-line at
http://www.cityoftybee.org/Links.aspx