Money tight, but towns still try to dazzle

For the July 4th celebrations, many cities and towns are relying on private fundraising.  So is the reality after many years of budget cuts, continuing with fiscal year 2012 which began this past July 1st.

Faced with the prospect of a quiet, dark Independence Day, many town committees staged emergency fund-raising drives, managing to save some or all of the festivities. In Lowell, a last-minute donation from a local bank meant the city could have fireworks without laying off another municipal worker in 2009. But others, such as Ipswich, Abington, and Methuen, canceled their shows altogether. [Full Article: Boston Globe]