News » Local

Noisy Fourth Can Send Some Running For Cover

By Jeff Neumeyer
June 18, 2010 Updated Jul 3, 2009 at 4:34 PM EST FORT WAYNE, IN (Indiana's NewsCenter) --- Those holiday pops and cracks you hear when fireworks go off don't always spark feelings of joy and exhilaration. For some, the Fourth of July seems more like a time to endure than to celebrate. They fill the sky with a rainbow of colors and can leave our hearts racing. But the snaps, crackles and pops startle many pets and humans, making it tough at times to get any rest. Tony Restivo/Irritated by Fireworks: " Fortunately we don't live in Baghdad, but sometimes we feel like we might." Tony Restivo built a new home three years ago in an attractive subdivision near Leo, thinking he'd found a little piece of heaven. For the most part that's been true, but over the past couple of weeks, his anxiety level has been on the rise, because of a neighbor's penchant for burning the midnight oil with a lighter and stash of bottle rockets. After threatening to call police, Restivo says he awoke one morning to find a small pile of fireworks debris deposited on his lawn. This is one holiday he can't wait to put in the rear view mirror. Tony Restivo: " Because I'm tired of being irritated. I'm also tired of being woken up at night when you're in bed sleeping and you're frightened out of your sleep and your dogs are barking and it's just not right." Jeff Neumeyer: " Fireworks can make a lot of us feel uncomfortable, but for others, the annoyance level hits a different dynamic and that includes a lot of veterans." Dr. Steve Ross/Psychologist: " As loud as they can get, they're pretty similar to what they hear when they were over in combat zones." Fort Wayne psychologist Dr. Stephen Ross says soldiers suffering from post traumatic stress disorder often can't shake those lingering effects for years. This time of year only makes it worse. Dr. Ross: " They understand it is July 4th and fireworks are part of the celebration, but still you can't erase the memory, they can’t help but think the loud boom associated with this was an incoming attack we went through a year ago." And while it may be legal to send exploding devices skyward during prescribed hours right now, Ross suggests consulting neighbors before setting off a barrage of fireworks, knowing one man's form of entertainment could be another man's torment.
RSS Stay up to date, subscribe to the Local & Regional RSS Feed.

What are your thoughts on this story? CLICK HERE to leave us "Your 2 Cents."


What are your thoughts CLICK HERE to leave us a "Your2Cents” comment.

Want to be in the know for the next weather event, the next school closing or the next big breaking news story?

TextCaster alerts from Indiana's NewsCenter are your defining source for instant information delivered right to your cell phone and email. It's free, easy and instant. Sign-Up Now!
Powered by Summit City Chevrolet



© Copyright 2011 A Granite Broadcasting Station. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

To submit a comment on this article, your email address is required. We respect your privacy and your email will not be visible to others nor will it be added to any email lists.