HomeMy Public PortalAboutCOTI_PR20110628_Jul3Celebration.docPRESS RELEASE: Contact: Tybee Island City Hall
For immediate release (912) 786-4573
Tybee Fireworks To Take Place July 3rd
Tybee Island, Ga. – (June 28, 2011) Tybee Island will be hosting their annual Independence Day fireworks display the evening of July 3rd, with the first rocket expected at about 9:30
PM – official start time is thirty minutes after dark. The fireworks are set off from the Parker Pier on Tybee’s south beach area, and so they are visible from any of the beaches on
the east side of the island, as well as from many homes and cottages west of the beaches.
Many thousands of vehicles come to Tybee Island to take part in the festivities for July 4th, and since the amount of space on an island is limited, traffic and parking can be difficult.
Traffic in both directions on US Highway 80 – Victory Drive can be very heavy, and parking spaces will be hard to find. This year, we are keeping a parking conditions notice updated
on our web page, http://www.cityoftybee.org, and the link is published several times a day on Facebook and Twitter – look for “City of Tybee” on those services. However, it’s best to
arrive early to find a parking space. Parking fees are enforced from 8am to 8pm every day. Vehicles can be towed and ticketed when presenting a safety violation, such as blocking driveways,
fire hydrants, intersections, or traffic flow. Consider coming earlier, dropping groups off near the Pier and parking at north beach or elsewhere, or using a cab or car-pooling several
drivers in one car back down to the south end.
Tybee Island authorities would like to remind visitors of several important points.
Mayor Jason Buelterman reminds everyone that safety is our main concern. "As we approach the Fourth of July, the City of Tybee Island reminds its residents and visitors that despite
the recent rainfall, we remain in an 'extreme drought' condition. Setting off fireworks, even under normal conditions, is dangerous and in violation of state law. During these dry
conditions, it is extremely important that people abide by state law and abstain from the use of fireworks. The City will be stepping up enforcement this year to avoid fireworks from
putting lives and property at risk. We encourage everyone safely to enjoy our public fireworks display on July 3rd that is being put on by pyrotechnic professionals."
Frequently declared one of the top beach and vacation destinations in the country, Tybee Island welcomes our visitors from far and wide. However, we ask that our guests please be considerate
and dispose of waste and discards responsibly - trash left on the sands hurts our wildlife and damages the environment. Uncontained trash can result in a $100 fine. Again for safety
reasons, glass containers are also forbidden on the beach at all times. DPW gets help the morning after the event from hundreds of Tybee Beautification Association volunteers, spending
up to six hours and picking up as much as 30 tons
of trash off the beach! Early volunteers for the TBA event can leave with a TBA t-shirt. Volunteers should meet at the Pavilion at 6:30AM on July 4th!
State law requires vehicles to stop for pedestrians in any marked crosswalk and forbids 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 fragile and precious cargo, and your extra care would be appreciated by the many
volunteers who work many early mornings and late nights to 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 offer 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
About Tybee Island, GA.: The City of Tybee Island, Georgia is on the outermost barrier island off the Savannah area coast. With a wild bird sanctuary, over three miles of ocean beaches,
and salt marshes on the back river, outdoor recreation activities abound for visitors to the island. As a key defense point to the important Savannah port, Tybee’s Fort Screven, Tybee
Post Theater, Fort Pulaski, and the Tybee Island and Cockspur Lighthouses combine with the unique architectures of the island’s raised cottages to form a rich backdrop for history buffs.
Attracting a strong artistic community, there are several local supporting art galleries. Keeping the island interesting year round are several arts festivals, the Annual Pirate Fest,
the Beach Bum Parade, St Patrick’s Day celebrations, the Hot Rod Run, the Beach Bash, and the Christmas Parade, as well as fireworks displays on Independence and New Year’s Days off
the Walter W. Parker Pier and Pavilion. The Marine Science Center cooperates with Georgia’s DNR to protect threatened sea turtle species by searching for nests, protecting their eggs,
and making sure hatchlings make it to sea. For visitor information, stop by http://www.tybeevisit.com/, and to find more about the City of Tybee Island, visit our web site at http://www.cityoftybee.
org/.
For more information about the Tybee Beautification Association, visit http://www.tybeebeautification.org/.
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