HERMITAGE, PA. Official: City needs help to keep Buhl Day going

Talks on providing police services to neighboring Sharpsville are continuing.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- City Commissioner Larry Gurrera thinks the city should find some way to help ensure the legacy of the annual Buhl Day celebration on Labor Day.
Buhl Day started as a way to honor the late industrialist Frank H. Buhl and his wife, Julia, who set up Buhl Park as a source of free recreation for the community. The event has been having some difficult times recently raising money and finding volunteers.
Organizers said recently that next year is the 25th anniversary of the modern version of Buhl Day and it may be the last. It was started in 1915, died out with the start of World War II and started again 24 years ago.
What it costs
It cost between $20,000 and $30,000 to run the daylong program and that money is getting tougher to raise every year, organizers said.
Gurrera, speaking at a city commissioners' workshop Thursday, said the city should do a feasibility study to see what it can do to help save the annual event.
Commissioner William Scanlon said the city makes a financial contribution to the effort every year, but Gurrera said that's only $600.
He said he has no specific plans for helping at this point.
"I'd just like to look into it. I'd hate to lose it," Gurrera said.
"I agree with Larry," said Commissioner Pat White, suggesting that, at the least, the city could increase its annual contribution.
Gurrera noted that the Buhl Day Committee, which is separate from the Buhl trustees running the park, does make a contribution to the Hermitage Volunteer Fire Department for emergency services provided on Buhl Day and pays the police department for security provided by off-duty officers.
Discussing police services
In other matters, city Manager Gary Hinkson said he met this week with officials of neighboring Sharpsville in ongoing discussions about providing police services to the borough.
Sharpsville contacted Hermitage several months ago about contracting for police services and Hinkson said the meeting this week was to review a three-year proposal submitted by Hermitage.
Sharpsville would disband its own department under terms of the proposal, although its officers would be considered in the filling of the five new positions Hermitage would have to create to expand its service area to include Sharpsville, Hinkson said.
Hermitage has a 28-member department of full-time officers. Sharpsville has four full-time and three part-time officers.
There would be no substation in Sharpsville, Hinkson said.
He declined to reveal what the service would cost, saying that issue is still being negotiated.
He said Sharpsville officials have asked Hermitage for a five-year proposal as well.