Local communities plan fireworks
Fireworks will light the skies in Brownsville Wednesday and in Merrittstown on Thursday, where community celebrations are scheduled. The fireworks at Brownsville/Luzerne Park will be held on July 3 at dusk. The Merrittstown fireworks display will go off at 9:30 p.m. on July 4.
Before the Brownsville fireworks Pickle Radio will be holding a live broadcast of oldies music from the park from 7-9 p.m. The station will be handing out coloring sheets and crayons to the children, along with balloons. The Pickle prize wheel will also be on hand, with various items handed out.
The Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the fireworks. Chamber president Frank Ricco said the Hiller Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary will have the concession stand open throughout the evening.
Members of the 630th Replacement Detachment from the Army Reserve Center in Hiller will also have a display set up prior to the fireworks.
“We’re going to have our Humvee there. We’re going to have our new banner up. We’ll have handouts for everybody to read on what our mission is,” said Paul Pressy, of the 630th Replacement Detachment.
The 630th Replacement Detachment provides food services, supplies and individual equipment, as well as processing and coordinating transportation for more than 400 soldiers a day as they move from the replacement operations center to their assigned units.
The Brownsville Area Revitalization Corp. will be holding its annual membership picnic prior to the fireworks. The picnic will begin around 6:30 p.m. at the Hillman pavilion.
“We’re going to celebrate the contributions of Loretta Filchock in keeping us going with volunteers,” said Lou Orslene, the executive director of BARC.
Orslene said there will be a display of military photos and equipment at the Flatiron Building Heritage Center through the end of July to honor area veterans.
Members of BARC and the 630 Replacement Detachment will also be participating in the 36th Annual Merrittstown Fourth of July Parade. Opening ceremonies will be held at 10 a.m., followed by the parade at 11 a.m. Pressy said members of the 630th Transportation Company from Washington will also participate in the parade.
The Merrittstown fireworks will be held on July 4 at 9:30 p.m.