SHAMOKIN - Shamokin's "Morning Mayor" Tom Kutza has been named the grand marshal of this year's Anthracite Heritage Parade, kicking off this year's Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts May 25 and 26 in Shamokin.
A longtime morning show host and DJ from 1960 to 1998 for the former WISL radio station in Shamokin, Kutza, who went on to serve as county tourism director for 10 years prior to his retirement in 2008, is well-known for his love and knowledge of the lower anthracite region.
"It shocked me a bit that people still remember my radio career, but I am thrilled and excited for this great honor," Kutza said.
He said he is proud of his heritage and the fact that his father was an anthracite coal miner.
"And I just love a parade, and I'll have a great seat for this one," he said.
Kutza will also be in town during the festival when Frank and Jim Treese set up their WISL display, complete with tributes to Shamokin's Laurie Sisters, and a re-creation, complete with original equipment, of the WISL control room. The Treeses are also working on a way to have WISL Radio broadcast against over the 1480 AM frequency within a two-mile radius.
Biggest parade ever?
The two-day event, sponsored by the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities, honors the past and present of Shamokin. It will begin at 6 p.m. Friday, May 25, with the annual festival parade, sponsored by First National Bank of Pennsylvania.
The parade will form at 5 p.m. on Water Street, then travel onto Rock, Independence and Market streets.
Organizers hope to pull together a parade that rivals those of the past. They encourage entries depicting community pride, coal mining or other heritage, a salute to Henry Hynoski and the Giants' Super Bowl win, local food fare, Thomas Edison's contributions to the area, celebrations by local alumni groups among other ideas.
Entries can include floats, antique cars, organizations/associations, bands, fitness groups, musicians, retailers advertising a business, costumed walkers and animals.
"This could be the biggest festival parade ever," said Jeanne Shaffer, executive director and festival chairman. "We have the Shamokin Area, Line Mountain and Shikellamy bands participating and some antique cars. It should be a great parade."
Cash prizes will be given for Most Decorative, Most Creative, Best Dressed/Costumes, Most Coal Region Proud and Best in Show. For more information, call parade chairwoman Pam Burns at 648-9500.
Other events on Friday include the luminary service along Lincoln Street and entertainment at the stage near the Independence Fire Company, featuring Marla and the Juniper Street Band.
100-plus vendors
Saturday's events at the festival begin at 9 a.m. with a 5K race that starts at Shamokin Area High School and ends at the festival. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.
In downtown Shamokin, more than 100 vendors will line several blocks of Market Street. Food, crafts, unique gifts, T-shirts, carvings and many other items will be sold. Organizers estimate said more than 10,000 patrons attended last year's festival.
Activities planned again this year include train rides and historical tours on trolleys and horse-drawn carriages.
Train ride tickets are available at Beverly's Flower Shop and Shuey's Jewelry, both on Independence Street, and Olvany Insurance, on Market Street. Rides will start at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 15 and under.
Trolley and carriage tours will begin at 11 a.m. and run every half-hour until 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children, with special group rates available. Tickets can be obtained in advance by calling Garth Hall at 648-3181.
Art exhibits
Students and associates of the Welch Art Studios will present two exhibits in the downstairs lobby of the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, 2 E. Arch St.
The first exhibit is the sixth installment of the studios' "Masterworks" projects. "Masterworks" is a teaching program in which students choose a work by a master artist they admire and endeavor to copy it as closely as possible. This year's show features a vast array of master artists ranging from Michaelangelo to 20th century standouts like Georgia O'Keeffe, Wayne Thiebaud and Andrew Wyeth.
Welch Art Studios' special exhibit this year is entiled "Bits and Pieces" and consists entirely of works in collage. The show features collages in a range of materials and subject matter.
Both shows are free and open to the public.
Cemetery tours expand
Tours of Shamokin Cemetery will be presented at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and tickets are available for $10 apiece at the time of the tour. This year's tours will be dedicated to Frederick "Fritz" Reed, longtime conductor of the tours, who passed away in December. Tracy Eveland-Donnelly, Shamokin Cemetery board member, will be the tour guide.
New this year, Catholic cemetery historian John Haile will be available at the entrance to St. Edward's Cemetery, Coal Township, beginning at 2:30 p.m. for those wishing to find their relatives' graves. Haile will provide alphabetical listings and maps to burial locations for St. Edward's, St. Stanislaus Polish, St. Michael's Lithuanian and St. Mary's Slovak cemeteries.
Books, maps and limited tours will be available. No tickets are required for the event. For more information, e-mail Haile at HaileJohnJr@msn.com.
Other entertainment
Entertainment, including the annual talent show, will be presented at the festival stage, located next to the Independence Fire Company.
More information about the festival can be found at www.anthraciteheritage.com or www.nccarts.com.