SoWyCo Fall Fest Brims with Community Spirit

Photos and Story by Rick Hiduk

Unseasonably warm weather and additional promotion spelled success for the SoWyCo Fall Festival held in Noxen yesterday. Just two hours into the event, organizers suggested that attendance was higher than ever before. A petting zoo featuring rescued animals, activities for both children and adults, varied vendor offerings, and servings of traditional apple crisp with ice cream proved popular with locals and out-of-town guests.

The Fall Festival was organized by members of the Southern Wyoming County Neighborhood Center Corporation, and proceeds are earmarked for the construction of a new recreation center, which will also be a permanent home for the Pastors Food Pantry.

The center will eventually built at the festival site, which sits between SR29 and Bowmans Creek. The community park is already a regular destination for area residents, featuring a half-mile scenic walking trail, adult fitness equipment, a playground, a pavilion and benches.

Event chairs Leslie Bullock and Pearl Race related that local businesses and individuals were especially supportive of Festival this year, nearly doubling the size of the basket raffle with donations of merchandise, gift certificates, and cash.

Oct. 7 marked the fourth year for the Fall Festival. SWCNCC also holds a strawberry social in June. On Saturday, Dec. 9, the community will gather around an evergreen at the center of the village for a visit from Santa and a distribution of stockings and other gifts to children. The tree is adorned each year with edible ornaments that become gifts for the birds when the celebration is over.

Questions about the Southern Wyoming County Neighborhood Center Corporation can be directed to Bullock at 570-690-0831, and inquiries about the Pastors Food Pantry can be directed to Race at 570-885-6205.

Photo Gallery:

Endless Dreams Animal Retreat (above) brought a bevy of friendly beasts to the SoWyCo Fall Festival, including goats, an alpaca, snakes, ferrets, and birds. Most of the animals were first acquired as pets that were relinquished by their owners for a variety of reasons. Hailee Vitack of Noxen (below) was not quite sure how she felt about petting a snake held by EDAR director Jessie Exley.

Budding you artists like Camille McKenna of Laceyville (above) were given an opportunity to paint by Andrea Visneski (back) of Canvas Caravan.

Dolling out the famous SoWyCo Fall festival apple crisp and ice cream were (above, left) Russell Newell and Ron Swingle.

The food pavilion was a must-stop for all visitors on Saturday.

Noxen residents Leah Whitney (above, right) and her grandmother, Bonnie Klein, read about the SoWyCo Fall festival in Living Susquehanna/Wyoming County Magazine.

Getting serious about the Cornhole Tournament are (above, background) Brian Meehan and Jill Chocallo and (foreground) Reggie Gensel and Nicole Chipego.

Red Robin mascot Red stopped by the GEM 104 tent (above) to visit with morning show host Sharkey and Sandra Serhan.

Staffing the basket raffle tent were Mike Trever (above, left) and Jackie Kliamovich.

Pop Pop’s Toys creator Jerry Beaucheane (above, right) found a friend in Aiyanna Rymer of Avoca, whom he said took such an interest in his product line, he was ready to employ her as a sales rep.

The Noxen Volunteer Fire Company was represented by Matt McCormack (above, left) and Daniel West.

Greeting SoWyCo Fall Festival guests on behalf of the Noxen Bible Baptist Church were (above, from right) Rev. Benjamin Hubbell, his wife Heather, their children Josuhua, Caleb, Caidence, and Josiah, and parishioner William Shalata.

Wyoming/Lackawanna County Dairy Promotional Services representative Morgan Headman provided craft opportunities for young Fall Festival guests.

Noxen Community Ambulance first line officers Lewis Stritzinger (above, left) and Melissa Headman displayed the interior of their ambulance.

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