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Middletown committee sets fireworks for June 27, parade for July 4 and outlines yearlong 250th plans
Summary
The Middletown semi‑quincentennial planning committee voted to hold fireworks on June 27 and a parade on July 4, and discussed banners, billboards, school engagement and yearlong programming. Members favored a coordinated marketing push and asked staff to confirm vendor logistics.
Keisha (chair) called the Middletown semi‑quincentennial planning meeting to order and said the committee’s work should focus on "engagement with historical content," drawing from the state handbook and local examples to promote events across the city.
The committee voted to set June 27 as the date for the fireworks display and July 4 as the date for the parade. Acting Mayor Nocera moved the proposal to set those dates; Deb Shapiro seconded it. The chair called for a voice vote; multiple members answered "Aye" and no objections were recorded. The chair said the motion "passes" but noted the June 27 fireworks date remains contingent on confirming the vendor and a rain date.
Why it matters: the June 27 fireworks and July 4 parade will serve as anchor events for a yearlong 250th calendar of activities already being discussed by the committee. Members described a campaign that combines place‑based beautification, school participation, community exhibits and digital outreach to reach a wide audience.
Committee members discussed logistics and outreach tools. Keisha said the committee has launched a web page and uploaded a parade application letter; she asked members to share logos and materials so the site can be populated. Deb Shapiro reported on ideas gathered from local historical societies, including a "picture day" to scan and archive residents’ photographs and to coordinate scanning with Russell Library.
Marketing and banners: Dominic offered no‑cost municipal digital billboard placements along major routes and suggested rotating student artwork or honoree profiles. Members debated a paid banner program presented by CGI and raised two concerns: reported banner costs (one member cited about $1,000 per banner) and a seasonal conflict in June when other municipal displays (referred to in the meeting as Pride/June decorations) are typically installed. Sandra volunteered to follow up with the groups that coordinate June displays to explore whether banners could remain up for the 250th or whether disclosure to buyers would be required.
Schools and programming: Councilmember Jeanette Blackwell and others urged targeted outreach to the Board of Education and the assistant superintendent to connect classroom projects to the 250th rather than imposing separate curricula. Suggestions for events included a town time capsule, a commemorative coin or certificate for infants born in the anniversary year, concerts involving Middletown High and Wesleyan University, a scavenger hunt and walking tours.
Branding and next steps: the committee reviewed three logo concepts and decided to send designs back for revision rather than choose one at this meeting. Keisha asked members to provide logos and marketing assets and to support an interim marketing meeting to produce a concrete communications plan.
The chair adjourned the meeting after members agreed to reconvene with follow‑up on banners, billboard placements, school outreach and vendor confirmation for the fireworks date.
