FRACKVILLE — The plan to construct a new community swimming pool got a big boost when the South End Field and Stream Association donated $5,000 to the project.
The donation was announced at the February meeting of the Frackville Borough Council. Representing the association at the meeting were President Joseph Conapinski, Vice President Ken Kimmel, Treasurer David Gera and trustee Joseph Conapinski Jr.
The association operates from the Whippoorwill Dam, which is located near Frackville in West Mahanoy Township and is owned by the borough. The area, which includes a reservoir for fishing, a shooting range, a concession stand and a pavilion, is used by the club and is rented to organizations for events. It is maintained by the association.
Councilwoman Karen Domalakes, who chairs the council’s recreation committee, announced the donation and called the association members to the front of the room.
Before the check presentation, President Conapinski spoke about the cooperative efforts between the association and different borough councils over many years.
“I’m going back, way back when, and I’ve been with South End Field and Stream for a long, long time,” he said. “Over the years, the South End Field and Stream came a long way only because of council members like you and those who came before you who helped us whenever we needed anything out there, like the overflows and dam work that had to be done out there. If the Frackville borough wouldn’t have done that, our club wouldn’t exist today. That would take away from the kids’ rodeo, which is the biggest one in the county that we can see.”
Conapinski handed the donation to Domalakes, which is the first donation to the borough.
“We thought about this a little while back and we decided to make a donation to the pool committee in the amount of $5,000,” Conapinski said. “Again, we thank all of the borough councils for the support.”
“Of course, the Frackville council thanks you for taking a leadership role in the fundraising effort for the pool,” Domalakes said. “Personally, I’ve used the area when I was in college and used to walk there just to walk. It’s an amazing thing that the town has. It’s just outside of the borough, and it’s a little slice of nature. Even if you don’t partake in any sporting event, it’s nice to see the little tadpoles and the birds and the fish anytime you want.”
“We have a lot of kids from our area and from all over,” Conapinski said. “It’s also like our shooting range. We have people coming from all over, like Scranton and Harrisburg. They come to the shooting range because they know it’s safe.”
On behalf of the borough, Domalakes presented Conapinski with a certificate of recognition for the association’s generosity.