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06/22/2016 08:30 AMAnnarose Russo’s husband has been involved with the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 484, for some time, so when someone approached the group 16 years ago asking why East Haven didn’t host its own fireworks show, Annarose wanted to make it happen.
“We took the idea, went to Town Hall to present it, and it took off from there,” says Annarose, who is the co-chair of the Fireworks Committee alongside Dominic Onofrio. “The town was really on board with it. The first year was the hardest, but once we started, it really took off.”
This year marks the 16th annual Independence Day Fireworks and Beach Party. The 2016 fireworks are scheduled for Saturday, June 25 with a rain date of Monday, June 27. In addition to the fireworks display, there will be a full schedule of entertainment (see sidebar), as well as concessions and vendors. WPLR also airs from the beach beginning around 4 p.m.
With the entertainment beginning at noon and the fireworks scheduled for around 9 p.m., it’s a long day, but to Annarose, all of the work and the long day is worth it. The 15-member committee, which also includes her husband Bernie Russo III, has worked together since the event’s conception.
“I love the whole day—being with everybody, seeing everybody,” says Annarose. “Our committee loves being there. The first year, we weren’t sure what to do and how to do it, but the committee just came together like we were all meant to be together. Everyone just took a part and gets it done.”
Six members of the committee are Vietnam veterans and as the committee members get older, Annarose says they are always looking for more volunteers to join the committee. The committee meets once a month between the end of August and the beginning of the following summer.
“The event pretty much takes care of itself because we have the best committee ever—they know just what to do and they do it,” says Annarose. “But we’re always hoping to get younger people who want to get involved. When we’re not doing it anymore, who’s going to take over? We want to keep the tradition going for the town and for the people for next generations to come.”
Throughout the year, the committee sends donor letters and prepares for fundraisers, including two casino bus trips and the car show fundraiser at the East Haven Fall Festival, which Onofrio chairs. When the fireworks began, the show cost about $20,000. It has grown each year and now costs approximately $35,000 to $40,000—all of which is funded by local donations.
“We are so blessed as a town that our businesses and community come together donation-wise and support-wise. It’s awesome,” says Annarose. “Sometimes other towns struggle to get funds, but we’ve been very blessed.”
Over the past 16 years, the Fireworks Committee only fell shy of its fundraising goal once and Annarose says as soon as word got out, a resident stepped up to help out.
“Even with the struggling days of the economy, the community is still giving,” says Annarose. “We do appreciate all the businesses and people who support us. The town has been awesome.”
Annarose, who is a pharmacy technician at Stop & Shop, has lived in East Haven since 1963. She has two children and two grandchildren with a third due in December. In addition to volunteering on the Fireworks Committee, Annarose is a member of the East Haven Rotary Club and is on its Merit Award Committee.
“Where there’s a need, I try to make myself available to people,” says Annarose. “I enjoy volunteering my time. You meet a lot of people by volunteering.”
One of Annarose’s favorite parts of the fireworks celebration is talking to people who come to the event. She enjoys seeing how many residents come to the beach for the beach party and the fireworks.
“You go out on the day of the fireworks and meet people and talk to people, who are all thanking us for doing it,” says Annarose. “My goal has always been to bring the community together. I still get the chills when the fireworks happen. It’s awesome.”
Donations can be mailed to VVA Fireworks 2016 c/o Mayor’s Office, 250 Main Street, East Haven, CT 06512. To get involved, email vvanewsct@gmail.com.
Independence Day Fireworks and Beach Party
Saturday, June 25 (rain date: Monday, June 27)
Entertainment Schedule
Noon to 2 p.m.: The Wango Tango Band
2:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Leaf Jumpers
5 to 6:45 p.m.: Primetime
7:15 to 8:45 p.m.: The Idol Kings with a tribute to America Rock Band Journey
9 to 9:15 p.m.: Special patriotic musical tribute to America’s Veterans, titled “Rob and Karen’s salute to America’s Heroes”
Street access to the beach will be limited beginning at 10 am. Cosey Beach Avenue will be closed from the intersection of Second Avenue to Philips Street. Coe Avenue will be closed from the Bradford Street intersection to the beach. The East Haven Police Department will be posting notices and directing motorists in and around the general vicinity of the town beach.