The Easthampton-Southampton Kiwanis Club leadership met during the morning of Friday June 27 and reluctantly decided to cancel this year's “34th Annual Kiwanis Salutes America Fireworks Festival & 'Salute to US Troops'”. These Fireworks were scheduled to be held on the evening of Saturday June 28th with a rain date of Sunday June 29th at Daley and Galbraith Fields in Easthampton, MA.

Weather, health and safety of the public were the reasons Eric Snyder, the Kiwanis Fireworks Coordinator listed. The National Weather Service forecast for Saturday evening is 70% of Thunderstorms, with that carrying through Sunday and Sunday evening, up to 4 inches of rain are predicted as well. Putting thousands of Easthampton and area citizens in the middle of an open field in this weather would not be safe.

The Kiwanis hope the public understands their decision, and they are looking into an alternate date for this years' fireworks display. Unfortunately this cannot be soon; as Atlas Pyrovision Productions, the fireworks company used by the Kiwanis, is booked for the next few weeks, as are most pyrotechnic companies.

By making the decision on Friday morning the Kiwanis saved the community untold dollars in the form of Public Safety Officers. The vendors who were planning on setting up at the edge of Galbraith Field were able to save the time and expense of set up and product that would have been unsold with a last minute decision. Canceling at this time lessened all the added costs of the display such as port-a-potties and rental equipment.

Now the Kiwanis Club, the Easthampton Park & Rec. Department and The Williston Northampton School will look into their schedule books to see if another time for the Easthampton Fireworks display can be found. The community of Easthampton certainly hopes so!