By David Kilby, Special Writer
The Independence Day celebration in New Egypt is a whole lot more than just fireworks.
Plumsted Township’s 2014 Fourth of July Annual Rockin Fireworks on July 5 had live music, games, food and family fun. The gates in the field behind the New Egypt High School opened at 4 p.m., and the music started playing at 6 p.m. The field was filled with at least 1,000 people laying on blankets, talking with friends and relatives, and making memories that could last a lifetime. There were also all kinds of vendors bringing people together. In addition to stands selling jewelry and artwork, there was a variety of festive foods like funnel cakes, corn dogs, hamburgers and fried pickles. Kids were playing on a blow-up trampoline and slide, and some enjoyed pony rides from Krowcki’s Touch of Magic Stables from Pinehurst Road. Others were playing in the soccer fields, while more still were sitting in the dugout of the baseball field or against the fences of the tennis courts waiting for the fireworks to start. “It’s a great community,” said Bob Schadwald, a New Egypt resident. He said the fireworks and festivities demonstrate how his town has a lot of “community spirit” and how it’s a tight-knit community. Committeeman Herb Marinari said Plumsted Township has been one of the many donors to the fireworks show for the past five years. He said so many organizations and businesses donate to the event that it would too difficult to mention them all. He also mentioned that the show is “a great evening of enjoyment and a chance to get away from the computer and spend time with family.”
”It’s just a good time with a good community,” he said. It was 80 degrees with clear skies as the sun went down, while friends and family enjoyed live music from singer/songwriter and guitar soloist Duncan Lucier, the 2nd Time Around Oldies Band; and the headliner, Tre Bella — three harmony vocalists with a music style that “transcends all generations,” according to the booklet with the evening’s schedule. New Egypt High School has a program called Law Enforcement Explorers, and one of these explorers, sophomore Brett Sost, said he was asked to come to the show to “support us as a community, make sure everyone is having a great time.” He was doing just that as he greeted people and answered questions. Plumsted Fire Commissioner Vick Seidman said the two emergency medical technicians/firefighters and eight firemen on site were there to support the community as well. There were also two fire trucks and an ambulance at the show. Rick Malloy, a New Egypt resident who attends the show every year, said, “It’s close to home and I love the community. I try to go to all of the vendors and donate as much as I can. I got a grand kid and a young kid and so they have fun.” Pyrotechnico from Vineland put on the fireworks display, which began at about 9:30 p.m. Carmen DiMattio of Pyrotechnico, who conducted the show, said it opened with two “cakes” blasting above the football field, followed by 142 three-inch shells, 60 four-inch shells and 30 five-inch shells in the body of the show. The finale consisted of 110 three-inch shells and 30 two-and-a-half-inch salutes. Mr. DiMattio said the company does the show for New Egypt every year, but this was his first time running it.
”We enjoyed it,” he said. “It was a nice setup and the show went off quite well.” He said Pyrotechnico also performs fireworks shows for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Phillies, the Penns Landing and Philadelphia Art Museum on the Fourth of July, as well as many New Jersey shore towns.

