LaureL FestivaL Preview
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The Gazette, Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Monday last day to enter floats This Monday, June 10, is the deadline for non-profit groups to enter a community float in this year’s Laurel Festival Parade being held on Saturday, June 15. By tradition, the Laurel Festival celebrates the blooming of Mountain Laurel - the state flower. Float designs should incorporate the use of Mountain Laurel, which is made available through the Chamber office a few days prior to the parade. The theme for this year’s parade is “What Dreams Are Made Of.” To be eligible for awards, float design must represent the theme. All floats should be non-political, non-commercial and non-sectarian. Non-profit organizations such as church groups, youth groups, Scout troops, etc. may be eligible for reimbursement of up to $100 for the actual cost of materials in construction of the float. To participate in the Laurel Parade, floats must be pre-registered by Monday, June 10. For float entry forms and safety guidelines, contact the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce at (570) 724-1926 or info@ wellsboropa.com.
Call for parade chairs until June 12
Planning to attend the Laurel Festival Parade next week, on Saturday, June 15, in Wellsboro? Reserve chairs in advance for $5 each now through this coming Wednesday, June 12. For the parade, the chairs will be located in front of the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce office, the Tioga County Courthouse and the adjacent Main Street boulevards in Wellsboro. The parade starts at the Wellsboro High School on
photo by TIM MCBRIDE
Nichols Street at 2 p.m. and marches down Main Street. To reserve chairs in advance, stop in at the Chamber office at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro or call (570) 724-1926. Last year’s parade, pictured above, was crowded on a sunny
day, and this year can expect large crowds as well. On parade day, seats may be reserved beginning at 9 a.m. in front of the Tioga County Courthouse. Chair proceeds will benefit the Wellsboro High School Girls’ Basketball team.
Firemen’s Carnival to open Tuesday by Diane Eaton
deaton@tiogapublishing.com
The Wellsboro Firemen’s Carnival, being held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival, will open this coming Tuesday, June 11, and remain open through Saturday, June 15. The carnival rides, food and game booths will be located on the grounds of the Wellsboro Firemen’s Annex on East Avenue in Wellsboro. Hours will be 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. every night, Tuesday through Friday. On Saturday, the carnival will open immediately following the Laurel Parade (usually around 4 p.m.) and remain open until 11 p.m. For the convenience of families, a one price, ride all night wristband will be on sale Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of carnival week for $15, the same price as last year. The wristband is good for the day of purchase. Individual ride tickets will also
10K is one week away
The annual Laurel Festival 10K, slated for Saturday, June 15, will begin at 9 a.m., with the start of the two-mile Fun Run/Walk immediately following at 9:05 a.m. The 10K course is a challenging one, with rolling hills and both paved and dirt surfaces. For the event, medals, certificates and other prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories, including 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 4049, 50-59, and 60+. In addition, all 10K runners will receive FREE T-shirts courtesy of First Citizens Community Bank. Runners participating in the two-mile Fun Run will receive commemorative ribbons; first place finishers receive plaques or trophies. Awards are sponsored by Susquehanna Health and Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital and Citizens and Northern Bank. The entry fee for the 10K is $15 if racers pre-register between now and Saturday, June 1. Those who preregister will also be eligible for the “Early Bird Drawing” and could win $25 in Wellsboro Chamber Dollars, which can be spent at over 70 area businesses. The fee to enter the 10K the day of the event is $20. The entry fee for the Fun Run is $5. Registration will be held from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. on race day. Timing for the race will be provided by Insta-Results, and the Tioga County Amateur Radio Club will be handling communications. For a map of the course and registration forms, stop in at the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce office at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro, call (570) 7241926; or email info@wellsboropa.com.
be available. For the second year in a row, Bartlebaugh Amusements, Inc. will be providing the carnival rides. Wellsboro Fire Chief Lonnie Campbell said, “We met with Bartlebaugh Amusements in 2011, shortly after we wrapped that year’s carnival. We had been having a lot of difficulty finding a reliable show after the family retired that owned the original amusement company we had worked with for many years.” He noted, “The members of our fire company had been debating whether to continue with the carnival at all. Bartlebaugh made us an offer too good to refuse so we decided to hold it again in 2012.” Campbell said, “Our members were happy with Bartlebaugh and had positive feedback from the community as well so we contracted with them again for
this year’s carnival.” Bartlebaugh is family owned and operated and been in business since 1984. The business is based in Madisonburg, near State College. Campbell added, “Last year, Bartlebaugh provided the majority of the concessions and food. That was the next toughest decision we made after deciding to continue with the Carnival in 2012. The Fire Department had always prepared and sold the food at the Carnival. We actually enjoy doing that but decided to give it a try and let Bartlebaugh do it. “This year, our firefighters will be cooking and serving hot dogs, hamburgers, hot sausages and French fries because of the input we received from the community.” In addition, the firefighters will be offering “Chuck-a-luck, a game of chance, and the oppor-
tunity for people to buy pop-up raffle tickets. Not only will Bartlebaugh Amusements be providing rides and games but also pizza, funnel cakes, candy apples and cotton candy. Campbell said, “The rides they bring will be determined by their size and the amount of space we have available. “We again have high expectations for Bartlebaugh Amusements this year and are hoping that everything will be great and everyone will be pleased with the rides, the games, and the food.” Campbell said, “Our overall goal is to have a great show so folks will attend. The Carnival is our major fundraiser with the proceeds serving as the Wellsboro Fire Department’s main source of funding during the upcoming year. We rely on that money to help purchase uniforms and other needed equipment.”
Pet Parade is this Sunday in Wellsboro Children, 12 years of age and younger, and their pets, decorated bicycles or battery-operated three wheelers will highlight the 2013 Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival Pet Parade this Sunday, June 9, at 1:30 p.m. in Wellsboro. Sponsors of the parade are Dr. Leonard Kreger and his Wellsboro Pet Complex located on Route 6 in Wellsboro. The parade forms at Packer Park on Queen Street and travels up Main Street to “The Green”
where awards will be presented. Everyone who enters the Pet Parade will receive a ribbon. In addition, there will be 21 category winners. For cats, for dogs and for miscellaneous pets those categories include: best dressed, prettiest, most imaginative, most Intelligent, most loveable, and best in parade. The categories for bicycles and battery-operated three-wheelers are prettiest, most imaginative, and best in parade. Judging takes place before the
parade starts, so those who have entered are asked to be at Packer Park at the latest by 12:30 p.m. There is still time for children 12 years of age and under to enter their pets, decorated bicycles or battery-operated three wheelers in the annual parade. For Pet Parade registration information or an application, visit the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro, email info@wellsboropa.com or call (570) 724-1926.
Queen’s Preview, Coronation tickets on sale Next week, on Friday, June 14, at 7:30 p.m. at the Queen’s Preview and Concert, featuring the four-piece band “Brothers Callahan” will be held at the Wellsboro High School Auditorium on Nichols Street in Wellsboro. Prior to the start of the concert, the Laurel Queen candidates will introduce themselves from the stage and talk briefly about their future plans. The remainder of the evening is devoted to the concert. Brothers Callahan is a collaboration between singer-songwriter brethren Ellis and Joe Callahan. Other band members are Daniel Folkers and Josh Warren. Their emotionally charged arena rock utilizes dueling guitar and vocal parts to create a unique sound. The Pennsylvania State Laurel Queen Coronation will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 15, at the Wellsboro High School Auditorium. Thirty-one young ladies from throughout Pennsylvania, who have been chosen by their high schools, will compete in the Laurel Queen Pageant. The winner and the first runner up will each receive a scholarship. For tickets contact the Chamber or purchase them at the door. Queens Preview tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students; children 12 and under will be admitted free. Coronation tickets are $5 each for everyone. Preview tickets are $10 per adult, $5 per student/senior, and children 12 and under are admitted free. Tickets can be purchased at the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce office at 114 Main Street in Wellsboro or at the door for either event. The doors will open at 7:15 p.m. both nights and seating is general admission.
Family Day, Health Fair is this Saturday This Saturday, June 8, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on “The Green” in Wellsboro is the free Family Day and Children’s Health Fair. The event officially kicks off this year’s Pennsylvania State Laurel Festival. It will be held rain or shine! Wellsboro Pediatric Care is sponsoring the giveaway of free bike helmets in sizes toddler to extra large while supplies last. For a free helmet, the youth must register and must be present to be fitted. Also to be given out free - one per family - a rubber playground ball. There will be two bounce houses - the Excaliber play center with an obstacle course and mini-slide, and for the younger set, the Rainbow slide. On The Green, there will be plenty of activities for children of all ages to do, including games, refreshments, face painting and entertainment. Children and adults can try out slacklining, a balancing exercise on a flat piece of webbing strung between two trees. Partners In Progress will have putt putt golf for youngsters to try for a prize. Soldiers + Sailors Memorial Hospital’s Occupational Health will have a machine spewing out tons of bubbles
photo by JOHN EATON
Jim Howe of Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries, Inc., holds a toy animal and the official “Certificate of Adoption” that will be given to the child that “adopts” it this Saturday during Family Day and the Children’s Health Fair. while youth try jump ropes, hula hoops and hacky sacks. The Medical Militia Relay for Life team will be offering massages and Reiki. Local beauticians will be cutting people’s hair to donate to Pantene Beautiful
Lengths. The hair provided will be used to craft wigs for cancer patients. The Look Good Feel Better program will be next door demonstrating how to make and wear a T-shirt turban.
At 10:30 a.m., the free entertainment begins on The Green with the Wellsboro Area High School Marching Band. At 11 a.m., the Army Corps of Engineers will give a presentation about water safety. Sadie Green Sales Jug Band will play a host of traditional and not so traditional instruments, sing songs and tell stories at 11:30 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., students, ages 8 to 21, from East West Karate will demonstrate their Karate skills to music. The booths on The Green will offer a variety of creative opportunities for youth while parents can find information about children’s health, safety and well being such as self-expression through musical rhythms and art, eye health, safe touch and anger management, substance abuse prevention, bicycle safety, asthma awareness, car seat safety, camping adventures, emotional wellness, wildfire, water and fire safety. Second Chance Animal Sanctuaries is encouraging youngsters to be “responsible” pet owners. Children will be able to “adopt” a small stuffed animal and be given an official “certificate of adoption,” all for free.
The Wellsboro Art Club will help youngsters make handprint art using washable paint. The Penn State Master Gardners will assist youngsters in potting a vegetable plant to take home to grow. Bradford-Tioga Head Start will have healthy snacks to try. Pop’s Culture Shoppe will be demonstrating interactive games for preschool youngsters on up and adults. Everyone will be given free marbles, while supplies last. Available will be $25 tuition discount coupons for Hamilton-Gibson Productions upcoming summer drama camps and an opportunity to register for the Green Free Library’s reading programs. The Tioga Central Railroad is inviting children who are under 12 years of age to ride the train at 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. on June 9 free with a fare-paying adult. Hosting Family Day are the Tioga County Partnership for Community Health, the Wellsboro Montessori Children’s Center, and the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerceat (570) 724-1926 or info@ wellsboropa.com.