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The event is a fund-raiser for the Union Township Volunteer Fire Department.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Dick Rossen attends ballooning events all over the country, but he has a special place in his heart for Western Pennsylvania BalloonQuest in Lawrence County.
"This area is just beautiful. It's pristine and there are not a lot of cities and industry. Mostly landowners are very welcoming" to landing balloonists, said Rossen, of Akron.
Benefit event
The 2004 Western Pennsylvania BalloonQuest is set to begin Thursday at Scotland Meadows Park off Pa. Route 224 in Union Township. All of the proceeds benefit the Union Township Volunteer Fire Department.
Admission is free, but firefighters will be on hand to take donations.
In addition to balloon launches near sunrise and sunset each day, there are rides, crafts, food and other attractions during the four-day event, which ends next Sunday.
Organizer Louis Merryman said more than 20 balloons are expected in the event, which seems to be growing each year.
BalloonQuest was started in 1989, but was discontinued in 1994. Merryman, who got interested in ballooning by attending the early BalloonQuests, helped start it again in 2000.
Merryman said the event has grown each year in the number of balloonist and ground attractions.
"The event is for the people of the area. Balloonists love to inflate their balloons and run them over big crowds," he said.
Friendly competition
Nancy Spohn of Mount Jackson, who has been ballooning for about 25 years, says she enjoys BalloonQuest because it is friendly competition.
"Many balloon events are for fun and some are strictly for competition for national ranking points. We have always kept BalloonQuest more on the fun side. We like to keep it a light and fun weekend," she said. Spohn and her husband, George, operate a balloon called "Spohn-taneous."
Union Township Fire Chief Randy Conti said the event helps the fire department pay its yearly expenses. All proceeds go to the department.
"It helps pay for anything and everything. From paying utility bills, to buying equipment and making payments on the firetruck. We are totally self-sufficient," he said.
New to the event this year will be a 5K race sponsored by New Castle Christian Academy.