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Hopewell board approves fireworks for home football games despite neighborhood safety concerns
Summary
The board approved a no-cost contract with Pyrochnic Artist Incorporated to provide fireworks at home football games for the 2025 season. Neighbors testified that fireworks across the street cause disturbance and fire risk; the district said the fireworks will remain in the same location with fire-truck access adjustments.
The Hopewell Area School District board voted to approve a contract with "Pyrochnic Artist Incorporated" to provide fireworks displays at home football games during the 2025 season.
The vote drew public comment from neighbors who said fireworks disrupt households and raise safety concerns. "If your next door neighbor set off fireworks every Friday for 4 hours, would you be happy with that?" asked Dian Pasino, who said the events frighten children, pets and elderly residents and raised the risk of fire in dry yards.
During roll call, a majority of board members voted in favor. Board member Lindsay Zupick said she would prefer the displays be "done under the supervision of the fire company rather than somebody setting it off in their backyards," but still voted yes. One board member recorded a no vote.
A district representative explained that moving the launch site to the baseball field was not feasible because the fire department would not have access to position its truck there; "So the fireworks will be in that same location," they said, and staff repositioned the fire truck at a previous game to allow access and egress.
The contract was recorded as no cost to the district in the meeting minutes. The transcript does not record additional mitigation measures or a formal written safety plan beyond the board discussion.
