Article published June 27, 2006
Zelie celebrates Fourth of July
ZELIENOPLE — This Fourth of July, the borough and surrounding communities of
Harmony and Lancaster and Jackson township will come together to celebrate with
the parade down Main Street and the annual Celebration in the Park.
"Zelienople is a great place to live because it has community, and the
Fourth of July Parade down Main Street and the celebration in the park
celebrates and reinforces this, especially as both events are organized and run
by volunteers — as most things are in this town," said Miranda Berner, a
member of the borough's park planning committee.
This year, The North Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra, which is being sponsored
by the Strand Theatre, will play a free 8 p.m. concert in the park prior to the
fireworks show.
The orchestra will set up in the main playground of the park on the basketball
court next to the swings.
The 60-plus piece Philharmonic Orchestra will play a variety of patriotic and
inspirational classics.
"We are very excited about the opportunity to present such an outstanding
program in conjunction with all of the other activities that are planned in
Zelienople," said Ron Carter, president of The Strand Theater Initiative,
the nonprofit group that is renovating the former movie house as a cultural,
education and community outreach center.
The park committee has also invited the churches in the communities to
participate in the Big Pie in the Sky bake sale for the park. The money raised
from this sale will go to the park. Members of the Zelienople Harmony Athletic
Association also have been asked to contribute baked goods to the sale.
The Zelienople Boy Scouts will host the old-time sack races, three-legged races
and ski races.
The Seneca Valley School District cheerleaders will coordinate face painting.
Pat Devlin and Friends will host a basketball surprise from 1 to 2 p.m.
From 4 to 6 p.m., the community pool life guards are hosting silly swim games
for all ages.
From noon to 4 p.m., the dunk tank will give attendees a few high-profile
community targets to dunk.
Among the potential dunkees are: from 12:15 to 1 p.m., Mickey Flood, Seneca
Valley middle school health teacher; 1 to 1:30 p.m., John Motyl, Seneca Valley
middle school health teacher and ZHAA baseball coach; 1:30 to 2 p.m., The Rev.
Jim Bertoti, St. Peter's Reformed Church; 2 to 2:30, Dean Boronyak, Evans City
school physical education teacher; 2:30 to 3 p.m., Dan Grescok, ZHAA baseball
coach; 3 to 3:30 p.m., Steve Smith, Connoquenessing Valley Elementary principal,
and 3:30 to 4, Patrick Devlin, financial adviser.
Numerous bands ranging from Zelienople's well-known Resurrection Marching Band,
to the Rosendale All-Stars classic rock to new music will be played in the
afternoon.Fourth of July Schedule
10 a.m. — Line-up on High Street for the annual parade, sponsored by
the Zelienople Rotary Club
11 a.m. — Parade starts
12:30 to 6 p.m. — Fourth of July Celebration in the Zelienople Park
12:15 to 4 p.m. — Dunk tank
1 to 4 p.m. — Moon Walk, face painting and old-time races (sack, ski
and three-legged races)
1 p.m. — Resurrection Marching Band
1 to 2 p.m. — Basketball surprise (at the basketball court in the
parking lot)
4 to 6 p.m. — Silly Swim Games at the Zelienople Pool
8 p.m. — North Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra
10 p.m. — Fireworks display