By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its significant impact on the community, the Savin Rock Fireworks Committee has determined that it is appropriate to cancel the 2020 Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular, co-chairwomen Sandy McCauley and Marianne Drapeau announced.
After committee member and City Council Chairman Ronald M. Quagliani, D-at large, informed Mayor Nancy R. Rossi about the difficulties of having a large public event in these challenging times, the committee decided to cancel West Haven’s annual July 3 fireworks display to ensure the health and safety of the public.
Rossi agreed with the committee’s decision and thanked members for their “hard work and tireless dedication to putting on the best fireworks show possible.”
The committee also had to cancel many scheduled fundraisers due to the pandemic and social distancing restrictions.
“Due to circumstances beyond our control, I feel we have no choice but to cancel this year’s show,” McCauley said. “Many traditional sponsors are unable to give this year due to the financial uncertainty this pandemic has caused.
“There is no way of knowing when (social distancing) will end.”
Drapeau agreed with McCauley, saying, “We are making the right call to cancel the fireworks this year.”
Committee member Sherri Lepper, the city’s Democratic registrar of voters, added: “I believe canceling would be the best thing right now. We are not going to raise $15,000 to pay for the show by July.
“We should get a jump on having fundraisers to raise money for 2021 once this pandemic is over.”
Committee member Susan K. Walker echoed Lepper’s sentiments, saying: “We cannot raise the money and cannot ask businesses that usually support us to donate this year. We should use the money we have to give us a good start for next year.”
The committee’s fundraisers this year collected less than $5,000, said McCauley, who added that the committee is offering to return several checks it received from city businesses to aid their recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
“The committee wishes all the residents of West Haven good health and will get to work on the 2021 show as soon as we are able to,” Quagliani said.
The fireworks display, traditionally launched off Bradley Point, is billed as “the region’s largest Independence Day fireworks show,” drawing an estimated 100,000 people of all ages to the West Haven shoreline each year.