Chamber commends community involvement
?BROWNSVILLE — The Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce members are hoping the high level of community support and involvement seen for the Independence Day fireworks continues for future events.
“It was probably the biggest crowd we’ve ever had at the park,” said Frank Ricco, president of the chamber. “That was probably the best community effort we ever had.”
Ricco said the chamber received support from the Brownsville Rotary Club, area fire departments and others for entertainment, traffic and parking control, and the collection of donations at the entrances to the park.
“It really was a community effort that put this thing together,” Ricco said. “It’s something we can all be proud of and the fireworks were exceptional.”
Ricco said gate donations were generous, helping to offset the cost of the fireworks display. The chamber Tuesday voted to donate $1,000 to Patsy Hillman Park, where the event was held, and to the Mon Valley Band, which performed before the fireworks.
The next chamber sponsored event will be the annual riverboat dinner cruise on July 18. Although the Brownsville chamber has been hosting cruises for more than 20 years, this is the first year it has held the cruise in conjunction with the Fayette Chamber of Commerce. Brownsville is honoring Pat Ballon while the Fayette chamber is honoring Christopher Kennedy. Tickets for the cruise are available at the chamber offices, Brownsville Bus Lines and the Brownsville NAPA store.
An exhibit of historic Brownsville photos will be held from 1-4?p.m. Sunday at the Gazalie Building. Brownsville Bus Lines and the Sprout Fund are underwriting the display, which is similar to the display held during the National Road Festival at the Rose Mansion.
“We will showcase different photos than we showed at the Rose building,” said Dennis Cremonese, the executive director of the Brownsville Area Revitalization Corporation.
Cremonese said the event will also showcase some of the rental space BARC has available in the Gazalie Building.
Also, at 6?p.m. Sunday BARC is sponsoring the Dave Iglar Band in a free concert on the lawn at Nemacolin Castle as part of the Music on the Mon series.
The Brownsville Annual Community Festival will be held from 11?a.m. until 6:30?p.m. Aug. 6. BARC is sponsoring the Third Annual Mon Ducky race at 3:30 that day.
Fred Lapisardi said he is in the process of putting together a Brownsville committee for a ghost tour and antiques fair to be held at the end of October in Brownsville, Uniontown and possibly in Connellsville. The event is still in the planning stages.