As the saying goes, “If it’s West Pittston Cherry Blossom time, you know it’s going to rain.”
Granted, it isn’t always like that, but for some reason, it does rain on a lot of festival days.
Last weekend, Wilkes-Barre held their Cherry Blossom Festival to great weather. I don’t know why West Pittston doesn’t hold their festival on the same weekend, but if Wilkes-Barre has better luck, maybe West Pittston should move theirs to the same weekend.
I’m sure both festivals are offset so they don’t step on each other’s toes, but what’s the difference if they are held at the same time? Surely there’s enough time on the weekend to visit both.
Adding insult to injury, Wilkes-Barre’s trees were in full bloom and it looks like West Pittston’s blossoms will practically be gone.
I know, it’s Mother Nature and I don’t believe there is any way of knowing when the trees will bloom. I guess it’s all timing.
Activities continue today at the West Pittston Cherry Blossom Festival and if it is raining as the local weather folks predict, it might be tough to sit and watch the entertainment.
Remember, there are going to be plenty of vendors under the nice and dry Big Top tent for you to support.
Food trucks will be on hand so you can support local food merchants as well.
The food tent has been eliminated this year after the former overseers of the food decided to retire, hence the food trucks.
Maybe food trucks will work out better and maybe less work for Cherry Blossom Festival committee and volunteers to work and clean up.
I don’t think ruling out a food tent in the future, but the festival committee solicited just about every civic organization in Greater Pittston asking if they wanted to take over the concession stand. Unfortunately, there were no takers.
I believe next year, you’ll see some changes coming to the festival and really, and this is a pivotal year for the festival. It needs a shot of adrenaline and there have been many good ideas to infuse for future festivals, including a bunch from Mark and Sue Farrell, owners of Big Top rental.
Big Top has been generous to the festival donating tents that would otherwise create a big dent in the profits of the event.
The festival itself has always been a great little community event. There has been some great entertainment in the past as well as the popular Little Miss Cherry Blossom contest.
The Little Miss Cherry contest has always been a contest of talent and for many years, finding girls that liked to sing or dance or what have you was never a problem.
Today, kids are into so many activities like gymnastics and other sports, not a lot of parents point their child to the arts like dance, music, or singing.
The entertainment was never about hiring bands, etc. It was always a chance for people to showcase their talents. I could remember my brother’s band playing there at one time. He’s 71-years old now, so that was many moons ago. I’m not even sure he remembers playing the festival.
I’m sure the Cherry Blossom Festival committee and board of directors would love more input for next year and behind was well as gaining more volunteers for the event.
The festival is in its 53rd year, I believe and I’d hate to think it would fade away. Times change and festivals and other events have to adapt and change with the times as well. I think it will happen for next year.
This week, I wrote a little bit and shot another organization celebrating 50 years and that’s the Pittston Twownship Little League.
It’s a beautifully maintained field and everyone at the township is very proud of it. Fred DeSanto, one of the founding fathers of the conception of the field told me about how the field came about and how everyone pitched in to make it happen.
Peter V. Adonizio of Addy’s Asphalt brought in some heavy equipment digging into a hill and leveling the rest of the field was very pivotal.
Fred even joked on where home plate was going to be placed when someone threw a tire and it landed on a spot where they all agreed home plate would be placed. That’s pretty funny if you think of it.
It was great to see other founding father’s present and the late ones represented by family, after all, isn’t the Little League about family?
Today the field looks great and is the envy of other Little Leagues in the area.
And finally this week, you know it’s summer when the Mohegan Pennsylvania Casino ramps up Party on the Patio like they did this past Thursday night. A Bee Gees tribute band was the entertainment for the night.
The crowd was enormous and why not, the day was summerlike and that brought more than usual out. Parking was at a premium.
One of the singers in the band said, “Wow, there’s a lot of people out there.”
It could be a good summer.
Quote of the Week
“I believe we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom.” – Rosa Parks
Thought of the Week
“You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot—it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive” – Maya Angelou
Bumper Sticker
“Sometimes, when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place” – J. Lynn