ST. HELEN- If you have ever enjoyed the fireworks in July at St. Helen, there are two brothers whose names are synonymous with the event, Brian Beltz and his brother Barry.
Growing up in East Pointe in the 70’s, the Beltz family enjoyed coming up north to their grandmother’s cabin in St. Helen. Over the years, as the Beltz families gathered for reunions and picnics in July, the young men became quite competitive in family fireworks displays. Brian, Barry and two other friends would try to see who could come up with the bigger and better display. Barry always won.
According to Brian, his brother Barry, enjoyed demolition. “He liked to blow things up!” The brothers also realized their displays may be getting a bit large for family events. Barry, who owned a demolition company, began the process to become a pyrotechnician. Barry and company co-owner, Bruce Tyree, became certified and formed Great Lakes Fireworks Company in 1994.
Licensed pyrotechnicians need to be approved by ATF, take approved fireworks/pyrotechnic safety courses, and have a Federal Explosives License (FEL). In Michigan, no certification is currently required. Some other states do require certification. He would like to see Michigan make it a requirement.
Brian, also a licensed pyrotechnician, his wife Karen, and several community members organized the fireworks committee and began to raise funds in 1996, hosting the first firework display at the Airport, in July 1997.
Thirty to forty committee members and volunteers work year-round to raise the $30,000 in funds the 28–32-minute event costs.
Annually in May, they serve a meatloaf dinner, June 4 is their annual Golf Scramble, and Memorial and Labor Day weekends the committee sells hotdogs and Polish dogs. They also collect pop and other returnable cans throughout the year. Cans are collected behind the Township Hall. Fireworks donation cards are distributed to stores around St. Helen as another means of donating.
Sorting beverage cans and bottles is hard work. Eight crews come in one week at a time year-round, to sort cans at the Beltz family home. The bottle and can collection are the primary fundraiser for the committee. Any non-returnable items are recycled. Brian and Karen had air conditioning and a furnace installed in their pole barn, so that volunteers always have a comfortable work environment.
Great Lakes Fireworks does the display electronically. None of the fireworks are hand lit. Communities around the country are moving toward electronically generated displays and away from hand lit, due to safety. Brian stated, “fireworks are very unforgiving in an accident.”
According to Brian, the best location to enjoy St. Helen fireworks, is on the Airport grounds, as the entire show is choreographed to music, and is very precise. Genessee Audio provides the choreography, and the music is broadcast on an FM station, so that anyone outside the grounds may also be able to enjoy the full experience. Generally, it’s broadcast on 88.7 unless the fireworks are on a Saturday, when some of the religious programs may take over.
It is estimated that 5,000-6,000 have watched from the Airport grounds, and approximately 10,000-15,000 from the perimeter. St. Helen’s fireworks display is best seen close up according to Brian, as they are designed to stay lower, slightly above the trees, for better affect.
Committee members are: President – Brian Beltz; Vice-President – Mary Beth Barber; Secretary – Lynn Boc, and Treasurer Sherrie Kempfer. The three Trustees serving the committee are, Dave Kuehnle; Linda Olschefski, and Karen Beltz.
Volunteers are always needed for sorting or at any of the events. For more information or to volunteer, contact – Brian at 989-389-1135.
St. Helen Fireworks will take place July 1, Come join the fun!
