Thursday Opening Day Fireworks Discussed by Hi-Tor Animal Care Center and Rockland Boulders Baseball Team Officials

Roberta Bangs, president of the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center Board of Directors, said she has been promised by Rockland Boulders officials that Thursday's Opening Day fireworks are going to be more visually appealing than noise generating. Bangs met with Boulders President Ken Lehner and Executive Vice President /General Manager Shawn Reilly on Tuesday.

"They have assured us that the fireworks have been changed so that it's mostly light and special effects, that only the last two or three fireworks are going to have any sound and it's really going to be very brief," said Bangs.

The fireworks are expected to run for seven minutes and will be displayed at the end of the game. 

Bangs said their discussion will continue after the event when she shares details of the shelter animals' responses to the fireworks. She plans to be at the Pomona shelter with senior volunteers and some staff on Thursday evening.

"We will be recording the reaction of the animals," Bangs said. "Our concern is the welfare of the animals."

She expressed optimism that the baseball team will support. At the meeting, they discussed the possibility of a "Pet of the Week" program and displaying photos of animals available for adoption at the stadium.

"The baseball team is very willing to work with us to get exposure for the animals," she said. "In the meantime they were very cooperative and understand our concern for the animals." 

Boulders officials did not comment on the meeting.

Some supporters of the shelter are still concerned and plan to go ahead with their protest on Thursday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Route 45 and Pomona Road. The organizers have started an online petition asking Bottom 9 Baseball, owner of the Rockland Boulders, to stop the planned 16 fireworks displays scheduled throughout the Boulders' season. The petition has more than 250 signatures. 

Bangs said Hi-Tor has no connection with the planned protest.

"We are not in any capacity involved with any protest," she said.

The Rockland Boulders' opening day game at Provident Bank Stadium is against the Brockton Rox. Events begin at 5:30 p.m. with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, 7:10 p.m. pre-game ceremony and  game first pitch at 7:30 p.m.

Hi-Tor is the only animal shelter in Rockland County and receives about 2,500 animals each year, mainly dogs and cats but also bunnies, guinea pigs and birds. Hi-Tor, which is located about a quarter mile from the newly-constructed stadium in Pomona, is currently above capacity.

 The Boulders are an independent expansion team in the Canadian-American Baseball League.