PHOTO — The moon shines in the distance as rockets explode over West Haven’s Savin Rock landmark in a shower of red, white, blue and orange sparks at the Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, July 5. The 15-minute, $25,000 pyrotechnic show, presented by the Savin Rock Fireworks Committee, was rescheduled from Thursday, July 3, because of severe thunderstorms. (City Photo/Alycia Sandella)
WEST HAVEN, July 7, 2025 — Two of the city’s finest helped launch the Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, July 5.
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 Thursday, 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.
— MICHAEL P. WALSH, Public Relations Information Coordinator
The moon shines in the distance as rockets explode over West Haven’s Savin Rock landmark in a shower of red, white, blue and orange sparks at the Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, July 5. The 15-minute, $25,000 pyrotechnic show, presented by the Savin Rock Fireworks Committee, was rescheduled from Thursday, July 3, because of severe thunderstorms. (City Photo/Alycia Sandella)
Fireworks explode over West Haven’s Savin Rock landmark at the Savin Rock Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday, July 5. (City Photo/Alycia Sandella)
West Haven police Lts. Anthony Pacileo, left, and Jay Masi push down on a red, white and blue plunger box to launch the fireworks from a portable stage in front of Savin Rock. With them are, from left, Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana, Savin Rock Fireworks Committee co-Chairwoman Sandy McCauley, Mayor Dorinda Borer, committee Treasurer Susan Walker and other committee members. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer greets the Savin Rock crowd. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
Ruby Iovanna, 11, of Guilford, left, and Olivia Clarke, 11, of Hamden, sing a stellar duet of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as Longshot drummer Rich Weber puts his right hand over his heart. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
WOW Radio personality Brian Smith, the master of ceremonies, chats onstage with West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
Longshot, featuring local music scene veterans Rich Weber, Rob Hames, Lou D’Amato and Max Cappello, performs a two-hour set of party rock hits before the fireworks. (City Photos/Michael P. Walsh)
Children play on an inflatable unicorn at the WOW Radio tent. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
The festive crowd at the Savin Rock stage as the sun sets. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
Food trucks dish up eats and sweets to hungry customers in the westbound lane of 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. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)
