Belle Vernon hosting Monongahela River Community Festival
BELLE VERNON – The borough is expanding its popular one-day canoe/kayak race and community festival into a week-long celebration along the Monongahela River.
During Belle Vernon council’s monthly meeting, Rachel Christner Wilson announced plans for the Monongahela River Community Festival, which will take place from July 13 to July 20, 2019.
Hosted by the Belle Vernon Borough Friends of Recreation Board, the festival will feature a Miss/Mrs./Mr. Monongahela River Pageant, a large community parade, vendor fair, concert, food stands, car show performances, children’s activities and an evening fireworks display. The canoe/kayak race will be held on Saturday, July 20, starting at 1 p.m. All events will take place in Belle Vernon.
“All communities located along the Monongahela River are invited and encouraged to participate in the community festival,” said Wilson, chairwoman of the borough’s parks & recreation committee. “The weeklong festival will be the first of its kind and will emphasize community building, local collaboration and a positive emphasis on the Mon Valley Region.”
Belle Vernon is also planning a full schedule of other events for 2019, including an Easter egg hunt on April 13, a fishing derby on June 15 and open-air boxing match on July 19.
Also, during the meeting, Mayor Gerald Jackson commended the Southwest Regional Police Department for conducting regular foot patrols throughout the borough.
“I can’t think of many other small towns where you’ll see a police chief walking the streets,” said Jackson. “Our residents appreciate Chief (Keith) Williams’ commitment to keeping our town safe. His presence on the streets enables our police department to build a stronger relationship with the community and helps to deter crime.”
In other business, council:
n Appointed Davee Spoto to a three-year term on the recreation board
n Authorized the creation of a borough website
n Appointed Donna Bitonti as a delegate to the Westmoreland County Tax Collection Committee, along with Michele Mackey Harris as a first alternate and J.R. Dzurica as a second alternate
n Announced that residents of Fayette County can safely dispose of common household chemicals during a collection event on Saturday, June 22 at the Fayette County Fairgrounds, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
n Agreed to place additional ads calling for a request for proposals for a borough auditor
n Approved $750 in contributions for both 2018 and 2018 to the Belle Vernon Public Library
Jackson also noted that the road department will continue to patch streets as needed until the borough secures full funding to initiate a road repaving project.