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Some changes for a pair of summer picnics
Around Town
School News
June 24, 2016
Festivals Rethought
ON THE INSIDE The latest happenings in our area Page 2
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by Christopher Cornell ADVANTAGE EDITOR
The festival formerly known as the Throop Cow Flop has undergone a bit of a generational change. Now rebranded as the Booster Club Blowout and 28th annual Cow Flop, the event will be a one-day affair Saturday, June 25, at the Washington Street Park, Washington and Loftus streets. The festivities begin at noon. A parade steps off at 1 p.m. Singer-songwriter Jay Luke will perform at 2 p.m. Nashville recording artist (and Jermyn native) Dani-elle will perform at 6 p.m. followed by the band Fake Uncle Jack. The actual cow flop will begin around 7 p.m. Fireworks will end the festivities at dusk. Booster Club secretary Kelly Lindemuth said the revamp came as the result of “much input from the community. They were looking to attend something that was that was more familyfriendly and certainly more economical. So giving it another title and linking it to the traditional cow flop seemed like it would get our message through.” The changes reflect a change in leadership at the Booster Club, which exists to support youth athletic activities in the borough, including the Throop Little League. “As the children of members grow up, some members choose to step aside from leadership positions in order to allow those directly involved with the children be more active,” she said. One element that will be different year, Lindemuth said, is the food. “Primarily, we will be preparing the food,” she said, noting that in previous years food was brought in by outside vendors. “That left us unable to have a say in the pricing of items. It became cost prohibitive for some families.” Food items that will be offered include potato pancakes, pizza, steak and cheese, burgers, hot dogs, Texas weiners and pizza fritta.
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Blakely/Peckville organizers are, from left, seated: Jo Ann Berta, Mayor Mariani, John DeLeo and Donna Lesnefsky. Standing: Blakely Borough Council President Joseph Quinn, Shopa-Davey Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6082 Commander Peter Puhalla, Jim Randalunas, Rick Evans, Kathy DeLeo and Frank Lesnefsky. Also on the committee are Mathilda Dubiel, Al Gillow and Borough Councilman Jeff Cruciani.
“In addition to the food, we will also be adding wine sales to our beer tent area. Case Quattro Winery from Peckville will be setting up a tent, offering sales of wine by the glass,” Lindemuth said. Lindemuth noted that more residents are becoming wine enthusiasts, and “we thought we’d answer that call as well,” she said. “Not everyone who wants to go out is a beer drinker. We wanted to appeal to those that had different tastes.” Lindemuth said the kids will notice something new as well: several bounce houses. “An all-day pass to the bounce houses will be $10 per child,” she said. But of course, you can’t improve on the perfection that is the cow flop itself. “It’s still all about the cow flop bingo,” she said. “Squares are still $10 to reserve your spot. In addition to the $5,000 winner, 10 ticket holders will have the chance to win $100 by random drawing. Winners need not be present to win, but they should purchase their tickets soon, as we are rapidly running out.” Tickets are available from any Booster Club board member, team coach or through the “2016
Throop Booster Blowout #cowflop” Facebook page. Some tickets will be available the day of the event. Meanwhile, there are also changes at another town festival this weekend. Blakely/Peckville JuneFest will be held Friday and Saturday, June 24-25, at a new location, Ritz Tech, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Peckville. There will be food, beverages and music beginning at 7 p.m. each night. A firefighter’s parade will step off from Cougar Stadium parking lot at 6:30 p.m. Friday (rain date Saturday). The Tommy Guns Band will play Friday night, and Flashdrive will perform on Saturday. Fireworks will end Saturday’s festivities at dusk. According Blakely Borough Mayor Jeanette Acciare-Mariani, the move to Ritz Tech gives the festival, now in its fourth year, room to grow. “It also means easier parking,” she said. Attendees will find “a block party, friendly atmosphere, our local food vendors, a beer tent — run by Blakely Hose Co. No. 2 — and games and wagon rides for the kids.” “As always, please bring your own chairs on Saturday to watch fireworks,” she added.