By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
The Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular on July 3 highlighted the city’s observance of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America.
This year’s display was “launched” by Woodlawn Duckpin Bowling owner Bob Nugent and granddaughter Avery Washington, 4, who recently won the Savin Rock Fireworks Committee’s “Light the Night” raffle fundraiser.
The moment they 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 pyrotechnic show was presented by the fireworks committee, and the major sponsors were University of New Haven, Winkle Bus Co., Riva Bar & Restaurant, Baybrook Remodelers Inc., Mrs. Roper Romp, West Haven Italian American Club and Fitzgerald’s Florist.
In addition, West Haven firefighters passed the boot to help collect money for the fireworks — the city’s largest single-day spectator event, which attracts tens of thousands of residents and visitors to the West Haven shoreline each year.
Mayor Dorinda Borer was joined onstage in front of the city’s historic Savin Rock landmark by Nugent and his granddaughter, WOW Radio personality Brian Smith, who served as the master of ceremonies, and the fireworks committee.
Borer welcomed the all-ages crowd and thanked the city’s Police, Fire and Public Works departments, as well as committee members, including co-Chairwomen Sandy McCauley and Marianne Drapeau, for helping to organize the large-scale event.
But before the fireworks shot off and burst over Bradley Point in showers of colored sparks, people danced to a two-hour set of party rock hits performed by Rhythm City.
As the music played, a fleet of food and dessert trucks dished up eats and sweets on Captain Thomas Boulevard, near Dyke Street.
Police once again closed Captain Thomas Boulevard and Ocean Avenue, between Kelsey Avenue and South Street, for several hours to give the festivities a block party vibe.
To build community spirit leading up to Independence Day, Borer rolled out an assortment of patriotic activities to celebrate America’s 250th, including a commemorative lawn sign, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, a bell-ringing and a time capsule.
Standing as a display of love for West Haven and the red, white and blue, the dark blue lawn sign featured “West Haven Celebrates America” in white lettering alongside a swirling red, white and blue “250” in the middle, a city seal at the top, and “1776-2026” adorned with white stars at the bottom.
To mark the semiquincentennial, West Haven joined the rest of the nation at 1:45 p.m. July 4 for a public reading of the Declaration of Independence by Borer and St. Lawrence School seventh grader Anthony Milano on the steps of City Hall. Watch the reading at https://youtu.be/QN-u-AslmiU?si=qRJW_a5p8M1NtyLM.
At 2 p.m., bells across the city rang 13 times, once for each of the 13 American Colonies that declared their independence from Britain in 1776. Residents then tolled their own bells for freedom for 1 minute.
At 6 p.m. Aug. 4, Borer and other city leaders will bury a time capsule on the Green for a future generation of Westies to discover. The burial of the capsule, which is about the size of a breadbox, will commemorate the week the Declaration of Independence was signed.
According to organizers, the burial ceremony will include music and food.