Since the mayor’s Pottsville Positive project lacked leadership and volunteers, he and city officials have decided to enlist one of the city’s longtime support groups to run this year’s July fireworks show.
“That’s Pottsville Pride,” Mayor James T. Muldowney said Friday.
The city’s Independence Day celebration is tentatively scheduled for July 2, with fireworks by Bixler Pyrotechnics, Ashland. The rain date is July 8, City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said.
“Pottsville Pride is working to raise about $8,000 for the fireworks,” Palamar said, and he said donations can be sent to City Hall.
The celebration will also include train rides and a performance by the Third Brigade Band.
“And we’re going to bring back our patriotic program, which will be held at Union Station,” the mayor said.
Current members of Pottsville Pride include the mayor, Palamar, city council member Joseph J. Devine Jr., Merideth Hannan, the mayor’s secretary, and Rebecca Trefsger, Palamar’s secretary.
Pottsville Positive
In February 2014, during his first State of the City address, Muldowney said the city would have a better future if more volunteers step forward. And that night he, Palamar and members of council, including Devine, announced Pottsville Positive would be established.
In July 2014, the volunteer group revamped the Pottsville City Independence Celebration, and it had more than 20 volunteers.
But volunteers dwindled, Palamar said.
In November, the committee’s chairman, Matthew Drouncheck, announced his resignation.
Devine prepared a statement about Pottsville Positive on Friday:
“The mission of Pottsville Positive is to enhance city programs by matching the talents of concerned individuals and groups of all ages with a wide variety of interesting and challenging projects. Volunteers are essential to providing quality services to the residents of our community. Members of all ages are encouraged to show pride and get involved in civic activities through volunteer work within the City of Pottsville. As with many community groups, volunteers are essential in ongoing success. Currently, Pottsville Positive does not have the volunteers to operate programs. This group is not being eliminated. It is in a holding pattern until volunteers mobilize to adopt a project or event,” Devine said.
Pottsville Pride
Pottsville Pride was established in 1985.
Mayor Anthony J. Pacenta formed the city-sponsored group to promote civic projects and awareness.
One of its first major projects was organizing a concert featuring the rock ‘n’ reggae band The Hooters. It was held Nov. 7, 1985, at Martz Hall, and there was an estimated crowd of 4,700.
“I was there,” Palamar said.
“So was I. At the time, I was in eighth grade,” Hannan said.
The city received an $8,718.75 profit from the event. That profit was used to fund “Code Blue,” which provided free child identification kits to parents in the city, according to the newspaper’s archives.
Pottsville Pride has been involved with numerous events over the years. For example, it’s been a longtime supporter of the Pottsville Cruise.
“The purpose of Pottsville Pride is to encourage and facilitate programs and activities that help to instill community pride and involvement. Activities include community cleanups, community celebrations such as the fireworks and holiday activities. Special events and concerts encouraging people to engage in our community will also take place under Pottsville Pride,” the mayor said.