Around Town

‘It’s Going To Be Very Competitive’: Town Secures Fireworks Provider for Nation’s 250th Next July 4

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Town officials say they’ve managed to lock up what’s expected to be a coveted contract for next summer: fireworks commemorating the nation’s 250th birthday. Next July 4 “is the 250th anniversary—not the bicentennial, but the bicentennial-and-a-half, I guess—of the founding of our country,” according to Tom Stadler. “So from 1776 to 2026, 250 years,” Stadler, an emeritus member of the Parks & Recreation Commission’s Family Fireworks Committee, said during the group’s March 12 meeting, held at Lapham Center and via videoconference. 

He continued: “So we thought ahead a little bit about 2026, and I know that [First Selectman] Dionna [Carlson] has set up a committee to arrange various events throughout the year to celebrate the country.  And so we just reached out to the fireworks company—which is quite unusual this far in advance—but we did, and we were successful this week in lining up the fireworks for July the 4th, 2026, on Saturday night, which just couldn’t be better. And everybody in the world is going to want fireworks that night.”

Committee Chair David Shea said, “It’s going to be very competitive for those, so kudos.”

New Canaan’s “Family Fourth” (which could soon be renamed—see below) was launched in 1979 when the chair of Parks & Rec at the time, Joe Toppin, brought the idea to then-First Selectman Charlie Morton about creating a regular event out of a Bicentennial celebration at Waveny a few years earlier, complete with a picnic, fireworks and skydivers. Since Toppin, only former Recreation Director Steve Benko, former First Selectman Rob Mallozzi and Stadler have served as chair of the Family Fourth Committee.

Board of Selectmen

‘Family Fourth’ at Waveny To Be Held Friday, July 4; Selectmen OK Fireworks Contract

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The Board of Selectmen this week approved a $35,000 contract with a Douglassville, Pa.-based company to provide fireworks at this year’s Fourth of July celebration in Waveny. The Family Fourth will be held Friday, July 4 with a rain date of July 5 and a backup rain date of July 12, according to Tom Stadler, chair of the committee that long has organized the hugely popular family-friendly event. “This is our normal contract,” Stadler told the selectmen at their regular meeting, held Tuesday in Town Hall and via videoconference. “That’s the same amount as last year. It’s not gone up a dime, but the show will be just as good.”

First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contract.

Around Town

‘Gridiron Show’ Honoring Tom Stadler Set for April 25-26 [Q&A]

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The annual Gridiron Show is coming up April 25 and 26 at Country Club of New Canaan, and this year’s honoree—or “Fall Guy”—is Tom Stadler. 

We put some questions to Gridiron Club member Eric Thunem about the upcoming organization, its history and this year’s show. 

Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: Before we talk about this year’s Gridiron Show, please tell our readers a little bit about the organization. How and when did Gridiron Club begin? Eric Thunem: The first event, held on February 2, 1961, was initially organized as a testimonial dinner for departing local newspaper editor, Carlton Hill. State Senator Bob Bliss decided, however, that the dinner should be a roast, modeled after the tradition of the Gridiron Club in Washington, D.C. and he thought it would be a great way to bring people together and have a few laughs at the expense of the designated “Fall Guy”.

Government

Town Approves Contract for Fireworks at ‘Family Fourth,’ Set for July 6 at Waveny

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Town officials on Tuesday approved a $35,000 contract with a Douglassville, Pa.-based company to put on a fireworks show for the annual Family Fourth picnic at Waveny. The Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 in favor of the contract with International Fireworks Mfg. The popular gathering of local families is “a Norman Rockwell quintessential event,” according to Tom Stadler, chair of the Family Fourth Committee. “We’re getting everything in place right now,” Stadler told the selectmen during their regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “We have the garbage contract here, we’re working to get the bands lined up, get the food trucks lined up,” he said.

Board of Selectmen

Town Approves $35,000 Contract for Fireworks at Waveny; ‘Family Fourth’ Set for July 1

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Town officials on Tuesday approved a $35,000 contract with a Douglassville, Pa.-based company to put on this year’s fireworks at Waveny. The Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 in favor of the contract with the town’s longtime vendor, International Fireworks Mfg. Co., during its regular meeting. “I think they do a fabulous show,” Tom Stadler, chair of the New Canaan Family Fourth Committee, told the selectmen during their meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

This year’s Family Fourth, the hugely popular picnic and fireworks show at Waveny, will be held on Saturday, July 1 with a rain date of July 2 (and, if necessary, a further backup of July 8), Stadler said. Though in years past the Family Fourth has been held on July 4, the Committee decided unanimously to have it on the weekend, he said.