RUMFORD — Fireworks at Hosmer Field will return next year.

That was the consensus of the volunteer members of the Rumford Fourth of July Committee who convened last week to appraise the celebration, Carl Puiia, committee member and Rumford Town Manager, said.

“We had a very constructive meeting last week to go over the Fourth celebration while it was fresh in our minds,” Puiia said. “We looked at what went right and what we had learned from the event to make it better in the future.”

“We saw the Fourth of July Celebration as a very real community success,” Puiia said of the  event which drew more than 6,000 people.

“We have received so many positive comments from people since the celebration mostly saying how good it was to have the celebration at Hosmer again,” he said.

“Many parents expressed how pleased they were that they could let their children roam safely, without traffic issues,” he said.”Many parents brought small children in strollers.”

“Hosmer proved to be an ideal venue for accommodating many people in one place,” Puiia said, “with plenty of seating on the grass and in the field’s grandstand bleachers.”

The Hosmer Field Fourth setting seemed to be much more favored by the public than the last Fourth celebration venue, held several years ago at the Reflection Pool beneath the falls adjacent to Eugene Boivin Park, Puiia said.

Many expressed feelings of nostalgia for when the fireworks were held at Hosmer in years past as well as Moon Tide Festivals held there.

“When we began the committee last November to bring fireworks back into Rumford,” Puiia said, “we wanted to make the event accessible, affordable and focused toward the local communities.”

The small volunteer committee consisted of Greg Buccina, chairperson, Carlo Puiia and Jeff Sterling. The committee received significant input from Peter Perry of Franklin Savings Bank, Roger and Barbara Arsenault, Marie Boudreau, Sgt. Tracey Higley of the Rumford Police Department, April Mclaine and Mary LaPointe of Franklin Savings Bank, Rhonda Hebert of NewPage Corp., Karen Gallant and Scott Grassettte, who served as the event’s emcee as well.

“Scott Grassette said he will return next year,” he said. “But he will do something different than his Walk of Danger.”

“Some things that the committee wish to do better for next year’s Fourth celebration,” Puiia said, “include better signage and getting information out as well as more accessible handicap parking to the event.

“I think we created a good memory for many families at this year’s Fourth,” Puiia said.

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