By Maureen Vulgamore
Another New Cumberland Riverfest is in the books and its success is the result of a community pulling together. Yes there is a Riverfest Committee and yes, there are very few members on that committee but it takes the entire community to actually make a successful Riverfest.
Special thanks to Trisha Enochs for hosting the Riverfest 5K. She coordinated presale sign ups, application distribution , tee shirts and sponsors. One hundred and four runners and walkers competed on a perfect day . Trisha lined up a professional timer, police protection, water sources and safeties at the streets and Rail Road crossings. She enlisted help from family and friends for registration , data gathering and medal distribution. Trisha posted the results almost before the Riverfest began. Everyone finished safely.
Thanks for a job well done!
Jim Ewing takes on the responsibilities of the Riverfest Car Show, a huge success every year. Ninety two plus cars participated this year. Jim donates the proceeds to the New Cumberland Food Closet. This year’s gift was almost six hundred dollars! Jim goes to car shows all summer long and hands out invitations. He gets the car plates made, lines up the DJ and food truck. Jim and Judy and family sell fifty/fifty and line up the entrants. They make sure everything is in order when it is all done. Thank you Jim Ewing for another fantastic job!
The Riverfest Art Show this year under the guidance of Diane Wells, was aimed at youth art. Many entrants were received and were judged by local artists. Winners received monetary prizes along with ribbons. There were many very talented young artists. Diane and Leslie Fields set up the Art Show as the entrants arrived. Diane enlisted Joyce Beatty and Nancy Wright to teach an art class on Sunday to middle school and older students, which was enjoyed by all.
Diane Wells also was responsible for the Sunday Community Church Service and music. Many community members participated in the non denominational service.
Chief Lester Skinner made sure the Riverfest was safe and secure from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening. His duties included enlisting help from the City policemen ,County Reserves and New Cumberland Fire Department for all activities. As Chairman of the Riverfest Committee, he gathered volunteers from all corners to coordinate this entire event.
Our City Clerk, Tammy Jenkins is the catalyst of the New Cumberland Riverfest. She does it all, everyone else just fills in the blanks. Fireworks, kids bounce houses, bathroom facilities, garbage, electric, permits, grants, banking, letters, meetings, decorations, signs, tee shirts…this is Tammy Jenkins. We can’t thank you enough!
The City of New Cumberland’s heart is in this Riverfest from Mayor Will White, councilmen Missy Perkins, Ann Blankenship to the city employees Jake Squires, George Hines, Tom Kessel, Pat Jones, Jordan Koski, Kami Turley and Pam Rollyson. Hats off to Allen Michaelson and Alfie Reese for keeping up with the garbage collection.
Thank you to the many volunteers behind the scenes, Betty Skinner, Brenda Clark, Howard Vulgamore, Bill Wells, Ed Fields, Chris White, Bill White, and Jim Beatty to name a few. If you helped and were there with open arms to help, we thank you.
The committee wishes to thank all of the entertainment, the vendors and especially the neighbors on River Ave who are such good sports. See you next year!
