Still searching for funds for an Independence Day weekend fireworks show, the Jim Thorpe American Legion Post 304 is hoping to catch a break on a facility fee.

The Legion annually hosts a Stay at Home Festival at Jim Thorpe's Memorial Park on the first Saturday of July.A reduction in sponsorship money put the fireworks show in jeopardy, and to help recoup that, the Legion is asking Jim Thorpe borough to waive the $750 fee it normally charges for the use of the park."The festival is very important to the community and it would be a shame to lose that," said Keith McQuait, Post 304 commander. "All of the money raised at the festival goes right back to help the veterans. It doesn't go to the bar or to the social end of the Legion. It goes right back to the veterans."The Legion has raised almost $12,000 toward the $19,000 it is hoping to generate toward the festival."That's the break-even point," McQuait posted on Facebook. "I actually think I may be underestimating a little. So far, we've raised $7,910 toward the $12,500 needed for the fireworks. We've also raised $4,000 of the $6,500 needed for everything else. We have just a little over two weeks left to the deadline to lock in the final amount for the fireworks."With a month left until the festival, council has yet to take a vote on the facility fee, but could when it meets again Thursday at Memorial Hall."They had a spaghetti dinner and that kind of thing, but they're fighting a long battle by themselves," Frank Sebelin told council in May when asking that it consider waiving the fee. "The Legion does a lot for this town and I think it would be fitting for the borough to try and help out."The Legion will sell $2 raffle tickets with the winner named as "grand marshal" of the fireworks show. The grand marshal will get escorted to the fireworks area and get to press the button to start the show.McQuait said a number of costs go into the festival, which on average yields just shy of $3,000 in proceeds."We've really tried to improve the festival over the years," he said. "We pay $1,500 for portable toilets for the day. We're looking for any kind of help we can get."At a workshop session in May, Councilman John McGuire said the borough has supported the Legion's efforts with the festival in the past and he would be in favor of doing so again."This isn't a moneymaker for the bar. This goes back to the veterans," he said.