Series of summer events set to kick off in Brownsville
With so much participation during Brownsville’s community week, community volunteer Norma Ryan said it is easy to see that past and present residents of Brownsville still care about supporting their town. This year, Brownsville’s activities will commence on July 31, when the Chamber of Commerce kicks off a full week of events with its Annual Riverboat Cruise on the Mon. This year on the cruise, the chamber will honor Crosskeys Inc., to show appreciation for the organization providing health services to those in need within the Brownsville area.
The Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation (BARC) will honor Loretta Filchock of Hiller for her volunteerism to BARC.
Brownsville Northside Fire Co. No. 1 will honor the Sealy family for four generations of service to the efforts of the fire company.
Brownsville Southside Fire Co. will honor Lloyd “Tubby” Flick for 50 years of service to the fire company.
West Brownsville Fire Department will honor Harry Laughery and Hiller Fire Department will honor Phillip Elco.
Ryan said that a list of all this year’s honorees has been sent to local legislators.
She said there are some new additions to the cruise this year, including a photographer who will be on board from Sharp Shooter Imaging. The photographer will take pictures of guests as they arrive and also take photos on the boat. The pictures will be printed and ready for purchase before the boat returns.
The local band Deb-O-Naires will also perform on the cruise for the first time.
Aug. 1 is the start of the Pat Purcell’s multi-class reunion event, which extends through Aug. 5. For more information, contact Purcell at 724-785-7638.
The community’s annual Kennywood community picnic will be held Aug. 2. It is sponsored by Brownsville Northside Fire Co. No. 1, Brownsville Southside Fire Co. and West Brownsville Volunteer Fire Department.
On Aug. 3, Bill, Jim, and Erman Hartman invite others to join them in a marathon on the Mon, during which they will competitively swim from Brownsville Riverside Wharf Park to the area of the railroad bridge near the West Brownsville American Legion grounds. The winner of the marathon will hold the trophy until next year, when the next competitor to win the race across the river will get it.
Ryan said that a special tribute will also be awarded that day to the staff at “On Q” for their attention to the needs of the Brownsville area. The show “One Year in Brownsville” received an Emmy Award for public television.
The annual dinner for the Brownsville Area Alumni Association will also be held Aug. 3 at 6:30. This year, awards will go to Dr. Angelo Orlandi, Carl Apone, Dr. David Furlong, Phil Morella and the historic award will be given to John Alexander Barton, a Civil War hero and two-term governor of Kansas.
On Aug. 4, many class reunions will be held, some dating back to the 1930s, and also the most recent, the five-year reunion of the class of 2001. There will also be a 5K walk/run at the Brownsville Area High School starting at 9 a.m. A signup sheet is available on the district’s Web site, www.basd.org.