After months of arguing, fretting and posturing by city leaders, Stockton's Fourth of July celebration is set. Sort of. For now.

Residents looking forward to a public fireworks display can thank Galt's Ryan Voorhees, who owns property not far from the public gathering point at the Weber Point Events Center.

Voorhees has provided his land as a launching pad.

While the downtown show - or at least part of it - is on, neighborhood fireworks are off.

Stockton City Council members took the prudent approach on so-called safe-and-sane fireworks. There will be no individually launched spinners, fountains or rockets. At least not legally.

Given the potential for fires, accidents and injuries, that's good.

Voorhees, the "savior of the downtown fireworks," according to Deputy Fire Chief Dave Hafey, has provided a spot - on the north side of the channel just west of Weber Point - from which pyrotechnics can be propelled three times higher than last year.

That means more people will be able to see the fireworks in more locations.

City officials might have lost the opportunity to have the Stockton Symphony reprise its annual performance, however. That's not a good thing.

Since Weber Point opened in 2000, the symphony has been a signature part of Stockton's Independence Day celebrations.

The annual concert, conducted by Peter Jaffe, is the one occasion when such a broad spectrum of residents is able to hear the symphony - for free, or for $5 to attend Waterfest.

The symphony has established a stirring tradition with its version of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" - complete with cannon fire - bringing the music to a thunderous crescendo just before the fireworks display is touched off.

Though the uncertainty of the situation might have made it impossible for the symphony to participate, city leaders need to make an attempt to include it.

The symphony's performance is an invaluable component that helps make the event unique.

It certainly adds more pop as the fireworks start to explode.