ARDC Fundraising Kicks Off for 2016 Operations
A celebration of Italian and fundraising kicked off the efforts to keep the river locks open to recreational boating this season.
by Jonathan Weaver
Snow is still being forecasted for the last weeks of winter in Kittanning, but soon enough, Allegheny River Development Corp. officials look forward to the summer sunshine.
With a $202,000 operations budget for 2016, President Linda Hemmes said the non-profit hopes to raise enough money this year to keep river locks open for 19 weekends between May and October.
The tentative lock schedule currently opens locks in Freeport, Kittanning, Templeton and Rimer for a four-day Memorial Day weekend the afternoon of Friday, May 27.
Another four-day weekend is planned during Kittanning Hose Company #1’s ‘Waves of Thunder’ motorcycle and car show during Father’s Day weekend in June.
A half-dozen other four-day weekends follow, including during Fourth of July.
Armstrong County Tourism Director Kevin Andrews in November said the longer weekends will continue to help spur economic development in local communities.
“If they’re coming up from Pittsburgh it takes awhile, so having those extra days allows them more time to come up and they don’t have to worry about rushing to turn around and go home,” Andrews said.
To keep the locks open for recreational traffic, the non-profit group started with an Italian Night fundraiser at Ford Cliff Fire Hall Saturday evening.
Hemmes said the event was a fun night for all who attended, estimating about 325 supporters in attendance.
“Angelo Mantini and his staff turned out a delicious meal and dessert for
everyone. Dave, the Accordion Man, kept us entertained and engaged
throughout the evening. It was a wonderful way to start out 2016
fundraising season,” Hemmes wrote in an e-mail response.
The next ‘FUNdraiser’ will be Saturday, March 19 at the Comfort Inn in Fox Chapel, before a ‘Dam Dance’ concert featuring Free Peanuts and Highway 4 at the Belmont Complex in West Kittanning two weeks before locks are scheduled to open
Locks are also tentatively planned to be open for all Arts on the Allegheny events in Kittanning Riverfront Park.
Hemmes and other non-profit leaders first unveiled a tentative schedule in November during a public meeting at Lenape Technical School in Manor Township.
At that time, Hemmes was optimistic grant funding could still help alleviate some of the operation costs.
“The money’s tighter than it was (in 2015),” Hemmes said. “Do I think (the grants) are guaranteed? No. Do I think it’s possible? Yes. Do I think it’s probable? Yes. But, until I hear ARDC has been awarded this grant, I’m not going to take a deep breath.”
A majority of the lock operating costs in 2015 were offset through a state multimodal grant, with the grant match paid through raffles, fundraisers and public events.
After overcoming “horrible” weather during lock operations in the month of June, more than 450 lockages and 15,000 vessels were recorded just in Lock 7 in Kittanning from April through October – including double-digits during six consecutive weekends starting during the Fourth of July.
A total of more than 4,500 vessels went through the four river locks.
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Tanya Morris, of Washington (Pa.) said boaters will see more of a Coast Guard presence next year to keep all boaters safe through friendly outreach.
Local News | jweaver February 22, 2016
Loading ...
