Written with the aid of Michael P. Walsh
WEST HAVEN, CT — Amid a weekend of splendid climate and crowds 5,000 effective, the Centennial Savin Rock pageant paid homage to the enduring legacy of "the Rock" whereas marking West Haven's one centesimal anniversary.
both-day pageant, held by the metropolis of West Haven Centennial party Committee in historical ancient Grove Park, become part of a six-month series of free pursuits commemorating the group's 1921 birth and its incorporation by way of the generic meeting as Connecticut's youngest municipality.
The shoreline competition showcased West Haven's past one hundred years and the regularly occurring recipe — musical businesses, rides, games, mouthwatering meals — that made the 20th-century Savin Rock Park so storied as "the playground of recent England."
Marenna Amusements as soon as once more offered the midway of rides and video games.
A baker's dozen dream of food and dessert vans on Palace road served up burgers, scorching canines, cheesesteak, fried dough, gyros, lobster rolls, kebabs and spicy hen, as well as cannoli, cupcakes and ice cream.
The pageant opened Friday with welcoming remarks through Mayor Nancy R. Rossi, the committee's honorary chairwoman, and adopted with a awesome rendition of "The big name-Spangled Banner" through West Haven's own Grace Kelly Nowak.
Rossi thanked the military of metropolis departments, body of workers and volunteers that made the pageant feasible, including Public Works Commissioner Tom J. McCarthy, Human substances Commissioner Beth A. Sabo, food truck coordinator Kristen Teshoney and amusement coordinator John Ziada.
Rossi additionally inspired people to verify the West Haven metropolis corridor fb page and the metropolis website for guidance on upcoming centennial activities.
"we now have numerous meals trucks, we've gorgeous weather, and we have tents with items to buy," Rossi informed the festive crowd. "i am hoping everybody enjoys themselves and has an excellent time."
Radio personality Brian Smith, again for a fourth time because the "ringmaster" of ceremonies, then heralded the night's musical lineup by means of proclaiming, "We're lower back in business, baby!"
The Hooch, an acoustic duo melding features of hip-hop, pop and soul with easy vocals, warmed up the ocean of concertgoers for headliner imply Carlene, the native land favorite.
MC performed a two-hour-plus exhibit of the celebration rock anthems you be aware of by using heart, together with Dave Matthews Band's "Ants Marching," AC/DC's "highway to Hell," Bryan Adams' "summer season of 'sixty nine" and Neil Diamond's "candy Caroline."
The band of jokesters — Rob Hames on bass guitar and vocals, Joe LaDore on acoustic guitar and vocals, Bobby Moran on electric guitar and vocals, prosperous Weber on drums and vocals — entertained and interacted with the all-a long time crowd, turning the concrete pad in entrance of the portable stage into a large dance flooring of family unit-friendly enjoyable.
On Saturday, the 151-yr-old Grove, fanned by a cool summer season breeze, supplied a beautiful environment beneath the sun-sopping wet okaytimber for live shows through Rubber metropolis — powered by using a horn part within the vein of ordinary White Band, Chicago and Tower of power — and celebration funk community Covergirl.
They were complemented via Smith, a former co-host of WPLR's "Smith and Barber the Morning demonstrate," who segued the bands with hysterical bursts of comedian reduction.
"i have been doing this for a hundred years — for the reason that West Haven all started," he cracked earlier than announcing the winning teams of the competition's beach volleyball and bocce tournaments.
The volleyball winner changed into P.G. sports; each player obtained a centennial stemless wine glass. The runner-up was Mandy and the Sandy palms; each player received a centennial lapel pin.
The bocce winners have been Ralph Manzo and Tom Mancini, over 60 division; Lawrence Manware and Scott Meager, beneath 60 division; and Cindy Thomas and TeJay Mejias, coed division. each winning team received two $25 gift playing cards to ReBar Bar + Pizza.
before the beginning of Rubber metropolis, Rossi introduced U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who greeted festivalgoers and recognized veterans, together with Vietnam war military vet Rick Wigglesworth, of West Haven, who flanked the stage in a wheelchair because of a stroke he had years ago.
Blumenthal praised the centennial party by calling West Haven "one of the most patriotic towns in Connecticut and the USA."
The night's headliner, Shameless, saved the dance birthday celebration going by using performing a excessive-energy set of hip-hop, pop and rock gemstones, including Van Halen's "bounce," Rick Springfield's "Jessie's lady," Michael Jackson's "don't stop 'Til You Get enough" and house of ache's "bounce around."
The fired-up participants of the 5-piece band threw glow sticks and other party favors to the all-ages throng, cementing the Grove as dance birthday celebration us of a.
throughout the afternoon, contributors of the West Haven hearth department, led by means of Capt. Mike Buonasora, proven the Jaws of life device by prying open materials of a vehicle to free those trapped inside.
a short distance away, contributors of the West Shore fire department, led with the aid of Lt. Rebecca DeFrance, demonstrated their amphibious rescue boat.
West Haven fireplace Marshal Keith T. Flood confirmed the departments' 35-foot smoke trailer and confirmed infants what to do in the experience of a fire.
at the craft reasonable, longtime companies Diana Burnham and Diane Della digicam have been joined through first-time carriers Jennifer Abrams, Kathleen Collister and Harvey Cutler to promote their wares.
Burnham, who owns Designs through Diana in Manchester, displayed her sterling silver Celtic jewelry, and Della digital camera, of West Haven, offered Savin Rock T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, tote baggage and fuzzy cube.
Abrams, the owner of The crafty Llama LLC in Stratford, showed her handcrafted potholders, hats and tote baggage, along with her custom-made mugs and hand-painted wine and shot glasses. Collister, who owns Curious get away in Newtown, spotlighted her array of crystals, elementary oils and jewellery, while Cutler, of West Haven, displayed his assortment of old baseball cards, cash, videos and die-cast model automobiles.
West Haven Rotary membership President James P. O'Brien and Secretary Lynne Schlosser sold WestHavenOpoly, the West Haven centennial version of the board online game Monopoly featuring trendy places in the community. The $30 online game is purchasable right here. income will improvement the Rotary club groundwork.
The West Haven high faculty cheerleading team, led by way of educate Bridgette J. Hoskie, bought Westie bows, bracelets and transient tattoos as a part of its fundraising efforts.
The competition, which debuted July 24, 1982, joined other events watching West Haven's secession from Orange a century ago. the agricultural and residential sections of Orange separated in 1921 when the residential part, West Haven, became the state's youngest town.
From the first light of the Savin Rock condo inn in 1838, the Rock had long been a lodge hub until it became formally included as an enjoyment park with the aid of the Savin Rock Park Co. on Memorial Day 1925, when it opened to 300,000 guests and sixty six,000 cars in one magnificent day.
For the subsequent 40 years, the generic seaside park captured the hearts and imaginations of "Rock rats" younger and old. "The Coney Island of Connecticut" shuttered Sept. 21, 1966, to pave the way for the Savin Rock city Renewal challenge.
in the spirit of West Haven's birthday, Sabo, the committee's chairwoman, offered centennial coins, lapel pins and lawn signs on the hospitality tent.
each and every person who purchased a $10 lawn sign will get entered into a raffle for a chance to push a "delivery button" to assist launch this year's fireworks. The winner and up to three guests will also dine on burgers and scorching canine under the Savin Rock Fireworks Committee's hospitality tent earlier than and during the display.
All merchandise proceeds generated through the centennial committee will offset prices and help the $50,000 centennial funds permitted by the city Council, Sabo noted.
Milford dealer JOD Designs, a veteran-owned screen printing company, bought centennial and Savin Rock T-shirts.
For a complete list of centennial routine, see the time table right here. For centennial merchandise, talk over with the legitimate online save here.
The store, hosted via West Haven supplier West Shore buddies, sells such centennial-branded merchandise as long- and brief-sleeved T-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, stainless-steel tumblers, stemless wine glasses, insulated beverage bottles, ceramic mugs, retro sun shades, canvas and cotton tote bags, eco-efficiency face masks, and pigment-dyed twill and mesh trucker caps.
A component of the carriers' merchandise proceeds will support the centennial account, Sabo said.
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