Brownsville area chamber looks to better promote events
BROWNSVILLE — Planning future events and having them well advertized as a way of revitalizing the community was the focus of discussion at a meeting of the Greater Brownsville Area Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.
Chamber President Frank Ricco said that he remembers when Brownsville was considered the “mega town” of the region and the community was so vibrant that a person couldn’t walk the downtown streets on a Saturday night because the sidewalks were so crowded. The borough organized a parade for every occasion, he added.
“It was a very vibrant community; I wish we could do something to bring some of it back,” Ricco said.
Jack Lawver, a member of the chamber and a borough councilman, said he will be working with various community organizations to possibly develop a two-day annual fall festival beginning next year.
Also in looking to the upcoming year, Ricco said he would have raffle tickets printed up early to raise money to purchase fireworks for the annual July Fourth festivities.
Ricco proposed holding two raffles, possibly on Valentine’s Day and Memorial Day, to raise the needed money. Tickets will cost $10 and the winning ticket will be redeemable for an $8,000 cash prize. Ricco further said that he would prefer to support a business within the borough by having the tickets printed locally.
The chamber also discussed the need to collect empty milk jugs year-round in order to be prepared to host its annual Light-Up Night event, held each year on the Friday following Thanksgiving.
“We need as many as we can get,” Ricco said.
Jugs may be dropped off at the Brownsville Bus Lines garage, 525 National Pike.
The jugs are used to create luminary candles to line the streets as the borough welcomes Santa and Mrs. Claus, who will lead a procession on an eight-mile route through town beginning around 5:45 p.m. at the Hiller Volunteer Fire Department on First Street.
Following the same route each year, Ricco said, holiday parade participants will wind their way through South Brownsville, Brownsville and West Brownsville, cross the Lane-Bane Bridge and end at Nemacolin Castle, where the Santa and Mrs. Claus will hand out treats to children. Chamber members also reminded that the community will be treated to free entertainment featuring R&B/Soul duo Darryl and Kim from 4-7 p.m Saturday at the Brownsville Sons & Daughters of Italy, Frank Ricco Lodge 731, 16 Race St.
The bar will be open and food will be available for purchase.