By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
Two of the city’s finest helped launch the Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday.
The moment police Lts. Anthony Pacileo and Jay Masi pushed down on a red, white and blue plunger box, fireworks blasted off Bradley Point and exploded over Long Island Sound, dazzling thousands of patriotic revelers along West Haven’s 3 miles of public beaches with a display of brilliant lighting and booming sound effects.
The 15-minute, $25,000 pyrotechnic show, presented by the Savin Rock Fireworks Committee, was rescheduled from July 3 because of severe thunderstorms.
This year’s corporate sponsors were University of New Haven, New Haven Bank, Sparks Security LLC, Winkle Bus Co. and West Haven Swim Club.
In addition, West Haven firefighters passed the boot to help collect money for the fireworks — the city’s largest one-day event, which attracts tens of thousands of residents and visitors to the West Haven shoreline each year.
Pacileo and Masi were joined on a portable stage in front of the city’s historic Savin Rock landmark by Mayor Dorinda Borer, WOW Radio personality Brian Smith, the master of ceremonies, and the fireworks committee.
Borer greeted the crowd — “All right, West Haven, let’s hear it!” — and thanked the city’s Police, Fire and Public Works departments, as well as committee members, including co-Chairwomen Sandy McCauley and Marianne Drapeau, Treasurer Susan Walker, and 38-year member Art Gilbert, for helping to organize the large-scale event.
During her welcoming remarks, Borer called the event “a festive summer vibe,” saying, “It makes me feel good to be your mayor.”
The mayor introduced Olivia Clarke, 11, of Hamden, and Ruby Iovanna, 11, of Guilford, who sang a stellar duet of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which drew enthusiastic applause from the all-ages crowd.
Smith then led the crowd in a spirited countdown before Pacileo and Masi pushed the plunger and triggered an assortment of rockets that flew and burst over Bradley Point in a shower of colored sparks.
Before the fireworks went off with a bang, families and friends danced to a two-hour set of party rock hits performed on the Savin Rock stage by Longshot, featuring local music scene veterans Rich Weber, Rob Hames, Lou D’Amato and Max Cappello.
As the music played, a fleet of food and dessert trucks dished up eats and sweets on Captain Thomas Boulevard, near Dyke Street.
Police closed Captain Thomas Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, between Kelsey Avenue and South Street, for several hours to give the festivities a block party vibe.