By Marcia Moore
The Daily Item
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SUNBURY — For years, Robert Deitz has enjoyed delighting children by “painting the sky” with fireworks displays, and this year he’s figured out a way to expand his audience.
The result will be the largest fireworks show ever held at the confluence of the Susquehanna River, and double the size of the fireworks show held in the city in July, organizers said.
Deitz, 62, in collaboration with the Friends of Shikellamy State Park and Riverstock Triathlon, will put on the fireworks show at the Shikellamy State Park Overlook from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
“I just want to get more attendance to make even more kids happy,” said Deitz, known by most as “Chopper.”
A retired PPL employee from Snydertown, Deitz is licensed to set off fireworks and since 1974 has paid out of his own pocket for one show a year in the area in memory of his late son, Robert, and his father.
In the past few years he’s held shows in Elysburg and is excited about the prospect of having a larger stage.
Deitz’s two surviving children and eight grandchildren will be watching the show and he hopes many visitors come out to enjoy it.
“I love to paint the sky and the overlook is a great location to do it,” he said.
Although he was still working out some of the details Wednesday, Deitz said the fireworks will include 16-inch shells and be the largest display in the area. The largest shells used in the city of Sunbury’s fireworks display are 8 inches.
A 16-inch shell can reportedly blast fireworks 1,000 feet into the sky.
“It’s going to be a great nightcap” to a day of festivities leading up to Sunday morning’s Riverstock Triathalon, said Robert Snyder, board member of Friends of Shikellamy. The triathalon is a 1.5 kilometer river swim followed by 40K bike ride, followed by 10K run.
According to the sponsors, the best viewing places for the fireworks will be the Shikellamy State Park Marina, Sunbury riverfront, Northumberland Borough riverfront and park.
Due to the last-minute preparations, there will be no music provided on local radio stations to accompany the show.
-- E-mail comments to mmoore@dailyitem.com
