Have a blast New Year’s Eve, respectfully

If you don’t know Daniel D. Grota, you should check our archives at frontiersman.com. Grota is a longtime Valley columnist who writes on a variety of topics from the perspective of a veteran. He also works for us, skillfully performing a variety of maintenance tasks, including keeping our coin-operated paper boxes in working order.

We share a bit of Grota’s story now because of a conversation we had with him in the newsroom following the New Year’s celebrations last year.

An Iraq War veteran, Grota is one of many Valley veterans who live daily with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder. From talking to him, we understand that New Year’s and Fourth of July and the fireworks they entail are nerve-wracking for many veterans.

Certainly, there are pet owners who feel the same way. We’ve seen them on Facebook already, sharing strategies for calming nervous dogs — everything from tight sweaters to kennels to reassuring explanations spoken directly to the animal.

To be clear, we are not here to rain on your pyrotechnic parade. We like fireworks, when used safely and responsibly. Aside from the usual enjoyment everyone gets from a fireworks display, we also get some darn good photos out of the deal, too.

What we are asking, though, is that Mat-Su residents take extra care with their fireworks this holiday as a show of respect to our many local service members, active duty and retired.

Here in the Mat-Su, New Year’s Eve fireworks are legal from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., except in Houston. We encourage all Valley residents to respect that window of time.

Certainly, setting off fireworks early or late is very unlikely to earn you a ticket — law enforcement has better things to do — but sticking to those time limits is simply the courteous thing to do. And it’s a tangible way you can show your respect to the veterans who live in your neighborhood.

So, here are the rules, in case you need a reminder:

Everywhere in the Mat-Su Borough — except in Houston — fireworks are allowed from 6 p.m., Dec. 31 to 1 a.m. Jan. 1 as long as you are more than 250 feet from a health care facility, library, church or school and 500 feet from a gas station and anywhere with flammable gases or liquids.

In Palmer and Wasilla you have to be 50 feet from lakes and waterways and in Palmer you have to be 21 years old.

Houston generally allows fireworks year-round with permission of the owner of the property you’re using them on. Houston usually requires that fireworks cease at 10 p.m. but that deadline has been extended to 1 a.m. from Dec. 29 to Jan. 3.

Play safe Mat-Su, and be done by 1 a.m.!