Flag Day Kicks Off National Celebration
"Let the 21-gun salute begin!" With those words, Pyro Spectaculars by Souza has once again started the countdown to July 4 as we celebrated Flag Day, June 14, in all our operations across the country.
CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Jim Sousa, reported "We are thrilled to once again be celebrating the land of the free and the home of the brave, quite literally from 'sea to shining sea.'" In addition to continuing the now-iconic execution of Macy's July 4th Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular in New York (the nation's largest), the Souzas are well into the final steps of preparation at locations spanning from San Diego to Atlantic City to the Pacific Northwest. This promises to be another Pyro Spectacular year of Independence Day celebrations.
Although not an official federal holiday, Flag Day is celebrated throughout the country with the display of our national banner, as well as parades, picnics, and pyrotechnics. It marks the unofficial opening of the Independence Day Celebration season for patriotic Americans nationwide.
It was on June 14, 1777 that the Second Continental Congress adopted the American Flag. In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14 as "Flag Day." In the words of President Obama, "Over farmlands and town squares, atop skyscrapers and capitol buildings, the American flag soars. It reminds us of our history -- 13 colonies that rose up against an empire -- and celebrates the spirit of 50 proud States that form our Union today. On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we pay tribute to the banner that weaves us together and waves above us all."
Remembering Our Friend Jim Knezovich & Fire Service Seminars
After recently being told that his Stage IV cancer had metastasized, Jim left this temporary home to be with Jesus on 5/27/2015. […]
Highlights from the Pyro North & South Seminars
Highlights from the Pyro North & South Seminars Fireworks season is here and operators are ready! Pyro North and South hosted their […]
Film and Discussion: Judy Chicago: A Butterfly for Brooklyn
Film and Discussion: Judy Chicago: A Butterfly for Brooklyn
Thursday, April 9, 2015 at 7 p.m.
Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium, 3rd Floor
The Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art and the Museum of Arts and Design are honored to host "Judy Chicago: On Fire," a two-night event exploring Judy Chicago's works in pyrotechnics. This event at the Brooklyn Museum marks the premiere of A Butterfly for Brooklyn, a 20-minute documentary by award-winning film editor Kate Amend, and by director of photography Joan Churchill, that showcases the making of Chicago's spectacular 2014 fireworks piece in Prospect Park, which was applauded by more than 12,000 viewers. Immediately after the screening, Glenn Adamson, director of MAD, will moderate a discussion with Chicago, Amend, Donald Woodman, and fireworks producer Chris Souza. The following evening, MAD will host a conversation with Chicago and MAD curator Elissa Auther recounting the artist's history with fireworks.
Free with Museum admission.
For more information and to watch the live stream please visit http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/calendar/event/8458.
Get excited!! The 2015 Pyro South Operator Seminar is Here!
SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, April 25, 2014
The annual Pyro Spectaculars Pyro 101 training seminar and operator seminar in Cerritos is on Saturday, April 26th. The seminar details and location information will be sent to you by email with your event confirmation.
Please complete the form at the bottom of the screen to RSVP online.
Pyro 101 Training Session
Located at 13234 166th Street, Cerritos, CA 90703
8:00 AM -- Seminar starts
12:00PM -- Seminar concludes
*Please note, there is a $25 fee to attend the training session. Cash or check only.
Operator Seminar
Located at 13234 166th Street, Cerritos, CA 90703
12:00 PM -- Registration
01:00 PM -- Seminar Starts
*Please note, there is a $10 fee to attend this seminar. Cash or check only.
Operator BBQ & Showcase
Located at 19900 Bloomfield Ave., Cerritos, CA 90703
06:00PM -- Family BBQ (Please note: BBQ wristbands will only be given out at the seminar)
08:00PM -- Showcase
Remember to bring your chair to watch the show!
If you have any questions or comments, please use the form at the bottom of the page. We look forward to seeing you at the seminar!
Online registration for the event has now closed. To RSVP for the event, please contact Margo Lund (mlund@pyrospec.com | (909) 355-8120 x233). Thank you.
Get to know the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA)
The APA is the voice of the fireworks industry. The APA promotes safety in the design & use of all types of legal fireworks. Pyro Spectaculars by Souza has been a sustaining member of the APA for decades and strongly supports their mission to preserve, protect, and promote the American tradition of celebrating with fireworks. Check out the video to learn more about the APA and their efforts in representing our industry.
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It’s Fireworks Season!! 2015 Pyro North Operator Seminar
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, March 28, 2015
The annual Pyrotechnic Personnel Training Seminar at Golden Hills Community Church is on Saturday, March 28th. The event details and map are listed below.
Questions? Please contact Evelina at 916-640-0173.
Please complete the form at the bottom of the screen to RSVP online.
Location:
Golden Hills Community Church
2401 Shady Willow Lane
Brentwood, CA 94513
Pyro North Operator Seminar Agenda | |
Time | Event |
| 9:00 – 9:30AM | REGISTRATION Linda McCurley & Evelina Kozachek |
| 9:30 – 10:00AM | WELCOME / OUR INDUSTRY / OUR COMPANY Ian Gilfillan & Jim Souza |
| 10:00 - 10:30AM | “YEARS OF SERVICE” AWARDS Jeff Thomas & Ian Gilfillan |
| 10:30 – 11:30AM | HAZ MAT HANDLING / HAZARD COMMUNICATION / GHS Kevin Gilfillan |
| 11:30AM - 12:30PM | LUNCH, CELEBRATE SAFELY & RAFFLE |
| 12:30 – 1:30PM | ONLINE TRAINING ROLLOUT Kevin Gilfillan |
| 1:30– 4:30PM | BREAK-OUT SESSIONS – CHOOSE TWO SESSIONS 1 Session: DRIVER TRAINING - 3 Hours (with 20 Minute Break) - Kevin Gilfillan |
| 4:30 – 5:00PM | “BEST TRUCK” AWARDS Zach Wetzel & John Hanson |
Preparations for New Year’s Eve Underway in SF
Orginal Article -- http://goo.gl/yxuQpu
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- On Wednesday evening, hundreds of thousands of people will pour into San Francisco to ring in the new year -- with a bang.
The city is bracing itself by preparing the fireworks and the police.
Just 15 minutes of fireworks requires days of preparation. "Somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000 to 5,000 devices that'll go off in a 15 minutes period of time," one man said.
Pyro Spectaculars by Souza loads the barges just steps away from where they set up on the Fourth of July.
But while that show is about dignity and patriotism, this one's a little different. "This is more elevation and big explosions and it's truly just a 15 minute rage of explosives," Pyro show producer Jeff Thomas said.
In the summer, there's fog and in the winter it's usually clear. "It's amazing sometimes when you see shots on YouTube days later of where people actually saw the show from. It's incredible how far away they can see it," one man said.
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But if you want the best view, there's only one place. "The Embarcadero Waterfront south of the Ferry Building is where a good vantage point to see the show," Thomas said.
With all that eye candy, the one thing you can count on out here is a big crowd. Officials are already setting up barricades and if you do plan to be out here pressed up against them in your winter coat, police have some things they'd like you to know. "We want to avoid any tragedies, so take public transportation, hire a car service, take taxis, ferries, whatever it may be, but just don't drink and drive," Ofc. Albie Esparza said.
Police will be on DUI patrol and writing tickets for public drinking.
The good news is there are options because BART will run until 3 a.m., Muni and Caltrain will be free.
Uber and Lyft will have extra cars on the road, though they could be expensive when demand is high.
And the taxi app Flywheel will offer a special promotion, offering $10 rides to go anywhere in the city.
"A lot of times with crowds, people are opportunistic and trying to you know steal someone's smartphone, or purse or wallet," Esparza said.
Police say go ahead and take pictures, especially of fireworks, just put your phone away when you're done.
Seattle’s Space Needle wrapped in fireworks for a New Year’s blast
Orginal Posting -- http://goo.gl/sZxgKK
SEATTLE (AP) — A fireworks crew worked in near-freezing temperatures under a blue sky Tuesday setting pyrotechnics on the Space Needle for the New Year's Eve show at the Seattle Center.
T-Mobile is sponsoring the eight-minute midnight show set to music.
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New Year's Eve parties are being held at the observation deck and the SkyCity restaurant on the 605-foot landmark of the 1962 World's Fair.
Organizers expect 20,000 people will ring in the new year on the Seattle Center grounds with 400,000 more watching the fireworks from surrounding neighborhoods and another half-million tuning in from home.
Gary Souza: The Explosive Career of a Fireworks Mastermind
A pyrotechnics wiz takes us behind the scenes at the 38th Annual Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Show — for insight, history […]
Behind-the-scenes of the largest fireworks show in the U.S.
FOXBusiness.com’s Gabrielle Karol with the executive producer and designer of the Macy’s Fourth of July fireworks show.
Grinchmas 2014 Kick-Off — Show Video
The annual tree lighting at Universal Studios Hollywood, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti presiding. Orginal Location — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POG6p9gEdPc