Bush Holiday: Two Tons of Fun

The owner of a fireworks company wants President Bush to have a blast to mark Independence Day. George Zambelli, who was hired by an anonymous benefactor, said his 15-minute pyrotechnics performance for the President will use about two tons of fireworks and go beyond what the donor has paid for. “We’re showing off our best, simply speaking,” said Zambelli, whose family has been setting off fireworks in the United States since 1893. The fireworks display will be held Monday at Bush’s seaside home at Walkers Point near Kennebunkport, Me. Bush is scheduled to arrive in Kennebunkport on Friday and stay through July 5. Zambelli said Bush has seen more than two dozen shows put on by his firm, Zambelli Internationale.

--A small Dutch shipyard is on the verge of signing a contract to build what could be the world’s biggest, most luxurious yacht for American multimillionaire Donald Trump, a company spokesman said. Andries Bosma, financial controller of shipyard Amels Holland BV in the small northern Netherlands fishing village of Makkum, confirmed a newspaper report that his company was negotiating to build the huge yacht. He said Amels was the only shipyard involved in talks. Bosma confirmed that the 420-foot-long yacht would be among the biggest in the world, but he refused to comment on a report in the Dutch newspaper Volkskrant that the price tag would top $135 million. Bosma said the shipyard had first come into contact with the real estate tycoon when it refitted his 290-foot yacht Trump Princess last year. The newspaper said Trump’s aim was to possess the biggest and most luxurious private yacht in the world. But Bosma said details of the plans would not be revealed until contracts have been signed.

--Monaco is throwing a party to mark the 40th anniversary of Prince Rainier’s reign. The celebration, being held well in advance of the actual anniversary date of Rainier’s ascension to the throne, began with the opening of an exposition commemorating Rainier’s accomplishments. The three-day observance is also to include an outdoor public Mass and a gala reception in front of Rainier’s pink palace. Rainier, who is credited with freeing Monaco’s economy from its dependence on gambling, took the throne of the tiny principality on the rocky Mediterranean coast between France and Italy on Nov. 19, 1949, after the death of his grandfather, Prince Louis II.