Tickets are still available for a New Years Eve Dance in Apollo. Both Apollo Hose Company #3 firefighters and the Bicentennial Committee will benefit from tomorrow night’s New Years Eve Dance (photo used by permission of Hose Company #3)
by Jonathan Weaver
As the clock ticks closer to midnight Thursday, time is also ticking away toward July’s Apollo Borough Bicentennial Celebration.
To help pay for live entertainment during the July 1-10 celebration, Apollo Hose Company #3 fire department and bicentennial committee members are co-sponsoring a dance from 9PM New Years Eve -1AM New Years Day at the Oak Hill Fire Department on North 5th Street.
The idea was brainstormed by Keith Shank, both a lifetime member of Apollo Hose Company #3 and a member of the bicentennial committee. He said both organizations will split profits.
“It’s going to be split 50/50 - half will go to the fire hall, half will go to the bicentennial committee,” Shank said.
Firefighters have sponsored a benefit dance in the past, but this will be the first partnership for the upcoming bicentennial.
So, far plans are for half of the proceeds to help pay normal fire department bills, Fire Chief Chad Gradwell said.
More and more tickets recently have been sold to Kittanning/Ford City residents, Shank said. Shank will attend with his wife, Carole.
“I’ve been getting more and more calls,” Shank said. “I had 125 (tickets) printed out, and we’ve sold over half of them.”
Apollo Native Denny McCain, Jr. will DJ.
Committee Chair Dr. William Kerr and his wife, Debra, - who were both former mayors of Apollo Borough - will be two of the members at tomorrow night’s event.
“We’ve been looking forward to the event,” Dr. Kerr said. “We’re looking forward to being with our community people, ringing in the New Year.
“And, we’re really excited about 2016.”
He hoped the forecasted dry weather will also keep more residents in the local community to attend.
Activities during the celebration are still being finalized, but organizers were excited for potential concerts regularly in Owens Grove, Fourth of July fireworks and an event-culminating parade.
Community input into July’s activities will be sought during the first public meeting of 2016 – which will be held next Wednesday (January 6) at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church on North 3rd Street.
Tickets still remaining are $20 each, $35 per couple. They can be purchased by contacting Shank at 724-478-1598 or 412-932-4865.