Section B · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, December 1, 1999
Millennium
Fireworks companies going all out for many end-of-year celebrations
The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Maine — Making sure that millennium celebrations don't fizzle for a lack of sizzle means firework display companies are pulling out all the stops.
Blue Hill Pyrotechnics, a Hampden, Maine, company that orchestrated just six shows last New Year's, is scrambling to meet a threefold increase in demand for fireworks displays for people ringing in the year 2000.
Likewise, the nation's 160 fireworks display companies are coning with heavy demand.
"They're certainly taxing us," said Ed Murphy of Blue Hill Pyrotechnics, which relies on 180 part-time technicians.
Fireworks companies aren't complaining. Many are receiving a premium for special shows. And to keep the crowds pleased, some are creating unique aerial shells for the occasion.
John Conkling, technical director for the American Pyrotechnics Association in Chestertown, Md., said most companies were fully booked — approaching Fourth of July demand.
"It will be unlike any New Year's we've ever seen in this country," he said.
nicians will be available to work smaller one
Skulls will be available to work smaller ones. In Pittsburgh, for example, aerial shells fired from atop six or seven buildings will be choreographed to music for a New Year celebration, said George Zambelli Sr., president of the company in New Castle, Pa.
"The big thing is that these programs are so big they require a lot of technicians. So there may not be as many displays," said Zambelli, whose company plans 300 shows on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
For some, the cost will be out of reach, according to Fireworks by Grucci, which is based on Long Island, N.Y.
Grucci's typical program for Dec. 31 will be in the six figures, said Philip Butler, producer for the company, which is contracted for shows from Dublin, Ireland, to Honolulu.
Grucci boasts the biggest display, "America's Millennium: A Celebration for the Nation," in Washington, D.C., Butler said.
New Hampshire-based Atlas Advanced Pyrotechnics, which was responsible for this year's Fourth of July fireworks on the Washington Mall, said it was important for companies not to forget loyal customers when confronted with requests for bie-ticket programs.
The company placed a minimum rate of $15,000 for new customers while making sure its regular customers were satisfied, said Matt Shea, who is in charge of sales and marketing in Jaffrey, N.H.
Some students to ring in new year by working rather than partying
By J.R. Mendoza Special to the Kansan
While most students will be celebrating the millennium on New Year's Eve, others such as Susana Sariego will be on the clock earning some cash.
Sariego, Madrid, Spain, senior, is a delivery driver for Pyramid Pizza, 701 W. Ninth St., but she said it didn't bother her to deliver pizzas that night.
"I'll make good money," she said. "It's not a big deal to me. It's just one more year."
Mark Dodson, Pyramid Pizza owner, said he definitely planned to keep his restaurant open and was looking forward to the evening.
"I'm sure there will be a lot more parties," Dodson said. "It will be a good time."
However, other students who work at businesses open late don't know whether they will have to work because their shifts are not scheduled that far in advance.
"It's a possibility," said Shea Reinke, Lawrence sophomore. "It would be kind of interesting."
Reinke works for the Hillcreast Amoco Foodshop at Ninth and Iowa streets. Generally, employees alternate working the afternoon shifts and graveyard shifts at the convenience store.
This year, Dec. 31 falls on a Friday and Reinke, who usually works an afternoon shift, said he probably would have to work that evening. But the possibility of an incentive for working that evening makes it even better.
"I'm willing to bet that I would get bonus pay." he said.
Meggan Murphy, Des Moines, Iowa, senior, said she had mixed emotions about working New Year's Eve. She works for Jayhawk Beverage in Topeka promotions for Coors Light and Boulevard. She goes to bars in Lawrence and hands out prizes to people drinking the beers.
"It will be fun just because everyone will be out," Murphy said. "But I can't exactly go where I want to go."
Murphy said that she worked until midnight or I a.m.
"It's not a job where you're sitting, stuck in an office," Murphy said. "I would probably rather be in Kansas City, though."
"More money would be nice." she said.
While Murphy said that she always got free drinks when she worked, she doubted she would get any other incentives for working that night.
Some other businesses open late or 24-hours said they had no plans to close for the millennium, although they did have some reservations.
Mark Howell, assistant store director for Hy-Vee, 3504 Clinton Parkway, said the store would remain open through the night; however, store managers considered closing for the evening primarily because of concern about finding enough staff.
"We have been opened in the past," Howell said. "But it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
Walgreen's Drug Store, 3421 W. Sixth St., also will be open.
Banks confident in readiness, want to quell year 2000 worries
"We never close," said Josh Myer, assistant manager.
By Rachel Wedel
Kansan correspondent
Financial institutions wait patiently for the year 2000 to come and go.
"Financial institutions have been the most ready for the year 2000," said Larry Brubaker, who is a special team member for the year 2000 project at Capitol Federal Savings in Topeka. He said he had a positive outlook because of extensive preparation done for the century date change.
"The FDIC [Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation] had a very regimented plan," said Vickie Randal, president of First State Bank & Trust. "They made it plain to banks what the expectations were."
The FDIC is the governing body that controls financial institutions. It set a series of guidelines for the year 2000 that banks were required to follow. Dates were set with types of testing that had to be done. The FDIC set a progressive timeline that has provided a level of comfort for customers, Randal said.
"There was no choice to be ready or not," said Brad Chidamo, president of Central National Bank. "From the small town community banks to large national banks, we all had the same steps and actions."
The year 2000 problem exists because computer hardware was made only to identify two digits rather than the traditional four. For example, instead of reading 1999, computers read '99. Concern that on Jan. 1 computers would register '00 as 1900 and not 2000 fueled worries. This problem occurs in any device that is embedded with microchips, Brubaker said.
"I want to know that my money is going to be there when I go to get some," said Pat Kramers. Kingston, Ontario, junior.
The retrieval of funds is the biggest concern of many students, but Lawrence banks want to put these worries to rest.
Chindamo said that students were comfortable because of the good factual information about financial institutions. Web page addresses and pamphlets accompanied students' account information. Lawrence held a series of forums that dealt with Lawrence's Year 2000 readiness ranging from utilities and phone service to emergency management.
"Media has been a major contributor to why I am not afraid about my money," said Janith Martin, Leavenworth, junior. "I'm not going to run and take all my money out of the bank."
The topic of the year 2000 has been splashed across all types of media for more than a year. Forums and seminars were scheduled addressing questions from the local to the national level. Each bank confirmed phone numbers and Web sites that students could go to before and after the date change.
Randal said that people were not afraid because of the level of understanding, the interest in the topic and the research that has been done. Since the start of the year, banks have been in touch with their customers to address the issue and prevent hysteria that many might start to feel as the year comes to an end. Banks have received few year 2000 inquiries.
Randal, Chindamo, and Janet Wright, assistant to the president of The University National Bank, all warned banking customers to be aware of scams that have been circulating. These scams are targeting mostly the elderly by scaring them about the year 2000 problem. They are asking their victims to put their money in a year 2000 account. The scam artist asks for the person's account number. Wright warned customers that no bank would call for their account numbers because they would already have them.
"A suggestion for that holiday is to treat the event like any other three-day weekend," said Cindy Yulich, senior vice president and bank manager for Emprise Bank. "The safest place for your money is in the bank."
Banks offer suggestions to students on how they can handle personally the situation. They suggest keeping and copying all receipts from transactions made during the months of December and January. These transactions include deposits, withdrawals and ATM withdrawals. They also recommend accounting for every transaction by checking monthly statements.
The bug is about to bite, and banks are ready to swat. Banks recommend several suggestions on how to make the holidays less stressful and more enjoyable. Banks recommend that customers be a little more cautious for the year 2000, but they are fully confident that their institutions will pass with flying colors.
"I had a friend that told me that if we could put a man on the moon, then he was not going to worry about banking," Randal said.
The year 2000 problem exists because computer hardware was made only to identify two digits rather than the traditional four. Banks recommend that customers be a little more cautious for the year 2000, but they are confident that their institutions will pass with flying colors. Photo by Aaron Lindberg /KANSAN
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