Hopwood Village Project sponsors swing dance
At a recent meeting, the Hopwood Village Project announced it will host a 1940s swing dance Thursday, May 16, from 7 to 10 p.m., at AMVETS Post 103, Hopwood. The dance, featuring WMBS radio personality, DJ Arnie Amber, will kick off the 2002 National Pike Festival in the Hopwood area. Uniontown hair stylist, Terry Cellurale, will serve as master of ceremonies.
“Arnie Amber will take us back to the sounds of the 1940s with music made popular during the era by musicians like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, the Dorsey brothers and Harry James, to name a few,” said dance committee co-chairman Joyce Goodstein
The evening’s festivities include a swing dance demonstration by Terry Cellurale and his dance partner, Kathy Rafail; the crowning of this year’s Hopwood Village Queen, Julia Hayden, a life-long Hopwood resident; and an old-fashioned cakewalk.
Goodstein noted that Dolores Whitby is co-chairing the event with her, and that other committee members are Vickie Sova, Ceil Seighman, Al Botti, Lil Rogers, Elaine Agostini and Gerry Krishan. She urged area residents to attend the fun-filled evening that will “help light up the village,” with proceeds benefiting the Adopt-A-Light Program. To purchase tickets, call 724-438-7965.
The board also discussed other National Pike Festival events:
– Jim Tobal, who serves as parade coordinator with Patty Tobal, said, “Everything is on schedule for the parade on Saturday, May 18.”
– Adrian Chesler, who is organizing the old-time Abner Doubleday Doubleheader baseball game at the Hutchinson Ball Field, said the start time for the first game will be 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 19, with the Laurel Highlands jazz band providing entertainment between games.
– Hopwood Village Project Chairman Al Botti listed other festival events that are planned, namely the dedication of the east and west gateways to the village, the dedication of the AMVETS Post 103 memorial, a tent revival, performances by the Back on Track Gospel Singers and Hopwood Methodist Church Choir, the Hutchinson Elementary School program and the David Dahl musical program with an old-fashioned sing-along. He added that food, sidewalk sales, and craft items will be available throughout the village.
In business-related matters, project planner Tammy Shell reported in a written message that the National Road Heritage Park program has accepted the Hopwood Village Project for a formal grant application, noting that she will have the application completed and submitted by the May 10 deadline.
Streetscape committee chairman Harry McElroy announced that the Adopt-A-Light Program is going well, indicating that 14 lights have been purchased to date and that he has six more commitments for purchases by the end of April. Concerning the overall streetscape project, McElroy said he attended a meeting with state Department of Transportation officials, whom he said were pleased with what the Hopwood Village Project had done so far.
In regard to the potential funding from the TEA 21 (PA Transportation Equity Act), Chad Stafford, project manager from McMillen Engineering who also attended the PennDOT meeting, said PennDOT required that three specification documents be submitted to them by June 25. He said that for his firm to finalize the project design and prepare specifications, the streetscape committee must submit the following information within the next two weeks:
– Power connection agreements for the lighting phase.
– A list of the types, size and maturity of the trees to be planted, along with any layout changes, for the tree contract. Most mature trees will remain.
The third phase includes sidewalks, curbs and plantings. This streetscape phase requires decisions on types of materials to be used and placement.
Concerning the sidewalks, Stafford cautioned that some of the historical structures are exempt from certain grant money, so the Hopwood Village Project would have to provide another source of funding for these properties in order to complete the project. Donna Holdorf, executive director of the National Road Heritage Park of Pennsylvania, disagreed and said she will do further research into the matter. She also suggested that a clerk of the works be assigned to the project when work commences.
Stafford assured the group that McMillen Engineering would work hand-in-hand with Shell and PennDOT to meet the June 25 deadline.