- Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 June 2014 20:25
West Newton's Simeral Square is Now Open!
Simeral Square in West Newton opened its 2014 season on Saturday, June 14 with perfect weather, a bike tour, a Flag Day dedication, a variety of market vendors, an omelet brunch and entertainment for the day by Ron and the RumpShakers and Zany Umbrella Circus funded in part by the Westmoreland County Parks & Recreation Local Arts Grant.
A troupe of bikers including Lynn and Madison Shrump, Jim and Shane Miller, Ken Kashurba, Nancy Ivan, and Bob Hand accepted the challenge to tackle the seven-mile "Where in the World is West Newton" Bike Tour and Scavenger Hunt. The tour included stops at 20 interesting places in West Newton and where scavenger items were collected to submit at the end of the tour for prizes. Grand prize winners Jim Miller and son Shane won the $175 grand prize from West Newton Bike Shop. The Bike Tour was funded by The Sprout Fund. Downtown West Newton, Inc. hopes to make this an annual event.
At 11 a.m., the Greensburg VFW Marilao Post 33 Honor Guard dedicated the new flagpole installation donated by the Pritchard family in honor of William H. Pritchard; PA State Representative Ted Harhai; Barb and David LaFace; the Yurkovich family in honor of John A. Hiiva; American Legion Post 401; the West Newton Women's Club; Amvets Post 278 and local patrons. The dedication included a veterans' tribute with a bugle presentation of colors and Taps, a 21-gun salute and comments from organizer Barb LaFace, Mayor Mary Popovich, Representative Harhai and Patty Medsger, daughter of Bill Pritchard.
At 6 p.m., a group of nearly 50 children and their families enjoyed the evening performance of "Beppe's Elephant" and Kids Workshop by Ben Sota of Zany Umbrella Circus.
Arts in the Park performances will continue every 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 6 – 8 p.m. until Aug. 30. The Farmers' Market will be held every Saturday from June through September 27 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. For more information about Simeral Square, go to www.dwni.org, find us on facebook.com/DowntownWN or follow us at twitter.com/Simeral_Square.
