For Tercentennial—

Fireworks Planners

Search For A Site

By Jan Howard

A “line of sight test” taken at the highest point of Fairfield Hills has indicated that a fireworks display planned there in August 2005 “will face some challenges,” according to Mike Fitzsimons, chairman of the fireworks committee of the Newtown Tercentennial Steering Committee.

“We’re definitely facing some challenges with all the buildings and trees,” Mr Fitzsimons told Steering Committee members last week.

He said a recent test indicated that viewers would not be able to be in one location to watch the display. Other viewing sites, such as the upper fields of the high school or Castle Hill, would provide a good view, he said.

Since the elevation of the display was based on three-inch shells, Mr Fitzsimons said another option would be to use larger shells, which will add to the cost of the display. Currently the price of a 25-minute show is estimated to be approximately $20,000. He is to obtain a price for the use of four-inch shells, and said he plans to do another test at the site.

The silver lining to decentralized locations for viewing the fireworks display, he said, is that it would be easier for the Police Department to work with 3,000 people in three places than 10,000 in one place.

Chairman Dan Cruson agreed. “Multiple locations would help with traffic.”

The Steering Committee and Mr Fitzsimons discussed other possible locations for the display, but it was generally agreed that Fairfield Hills offered the best site if the challenges could be overcome.

He will report back to the committee following another “line of sight test.”

Rep Julia Wasserman reported that more detail is required regarding in-kind services in order to apply for matching funds from the state.

Mr Cruson said the Newtown Woman’s Club (GFWC) has donated $500 to the tercentennial. The club has been given permission to use the tercentennial logo for their annual pewter ornament, and the donation was in lieu of the Steering Committee receiving any percentage from ornament sales.

Janet Woycik and Barbara Kasbarian, co-chairmen of the major events committee, announced that the date of the tercentennial ball, originally set for January 1 as a kickoff to the tercentennial year, is to be changed to either January 22, 29, or February 5.

“We want young people to come,” Ms Woycik said, adding that because they might have gone out for New Year’s Eve, they might not be able to come to the ball because of the need for babysitters for two nights in a row.

Fundraising Committee Chairman John Martocci said the committee must think about what it would cost for the ball. He said his objective is to obtain donations that would cover the costs of the ball so that funds that were raised from ticket sales and an auction during the ball would pay for future tercentennial events.

He reported that $13,096 has been raised to date with only $150 in expenses.

Selectman Bill Brimmer noted that the Board of Selectmen is committed to the transfer of $25,000 to the tercentennial committee to help with start up costs.

Vice Chairman Mae Schmidle questioned whether the committee was interested in having the first event in January be the return to Newtown of the original deed that is currently in Hartford. It was suggested that an ecumenical church service might be combined with the deed’s return.

Member Gordon Williams said his hope is that each service club would do something for the tercentennial. He noted that proceeds of the Lions Club’s duck race on May 29 would be donated toward the purchase of new seats in the Edmond Town Hall theater.

Ms Schmidle and Ms Karbarian volunteered to sell tercentennial items on the day of the duck race.

Other items discussed by the Steering Committee included a possible townwide talent show and reenactment and a tercentennial website.

The next meeting of the Tercentennial Commission Steering Committee will be Wednesday, June 2, at 3:45 pm at Newtown Savings Bank on Main Street.

Donations for the 2005 tercentennial celebration can be made to Newtown Tercentennial, Inc, c/o Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470.