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This year's July 3 Lakefront Fireworks show, presented by American Family Insurance, T&M Partners, Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee County Parks, has fizzled thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers announced today.
There is no plan to reschedule this year's fireworks.
"We’re obviously disappointed for the many Wisconsin residents who have made the lakefront fireworks an Independence Day tradition," said Judd Schemmel, American Family Insurance associate vice president of community investment and partnerships, in a statement.
"However, the continuing uncertainty of the pandemic and concern for the health and safety of participants made it the right decision. American Family looks forward to continuing our support of this iconic community event in 2021."
American Family Insurance also announced that it will make a donation to the new Milwaukee Parks Foundation.
"We know this was a difficult decision for American Family Insurance and their partners, and we agree it’s the correct decision," said Milwaukee County Parks Executive Director Guy Smith. "We look forward to seeing the display return even bigger and better in 2021."
American Family Insurance, T&M Partners and the Brewers stepped in last year to prevent the end of the fireworks tradition, which appeared possible thanks to the loss of its previous sponsor.
In the statement, the new sponsors say they, "continue to discuss plans for the 2021 event and beyond."
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
