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Community event showcases ‘Awesometown’
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To open the Awesometown Fall Festival, the Fitch Band played an informal set of rock songs that excited the crowd.
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After so much activity at the Awesometown festival, Calleigh Miller (front) and Anissa Assad gobbled up some fries.
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The proceeds from the Awesometown festival will support Austintown-based charity Mission of Love. Catherine Crawford (left) poses with Mission of Love founder and director Kathleen Price.
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Austintown Historical Society president Joyce Pogany said she was proud to be involved in such a positive community event.
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After months of planning, the heart of the Awesometown organizing team showed off some relieved smiles. From left to right, Brad Bloomster, Austintown park supervisor Joyce Gottron, and Elmarie Parker.
By SARAH FOOR
Crowds from miles around gathered in Austintown Township Park Saturday to experience the fun, food and games of the Awesometown Fall Festival.
Brad Bloomster, who hatched the idea for Awesometown two years ago, remembers the exact moment when inspiration hit.
“I was getting gas at Sheetz and musing about how we need more positivity in our community, and then the clever name just grabbed me. I love that the name sounds like Austintown, of course, but really, we are just an awesome town. I just thought more people deserve to feel the same way,” he explained.
After reaching out to his friend Rev. Elmarie Parker and contacting Joyce Gottron, the Austintown Park supervisor, planning really began for the festival in early 2009.
The large crowds browsing through the food vendors, demonstrations, music and community business displays sent the message that Awesometown was a success.
“I have truly seen the way in which the festival has brought together the community businesses, churches, schools, civic leaders and our families. I couldn’t ask for more, and for such a wonderful cause, too,” said Rev. Parker.
The profit from the Awesometown festival is heading to Austintown organization Mission of Love, who builds homes for indigenous populations around the world, but currently for American Indians in Pine Ridge, S.D.
“The Lakota Sioux Indians of Pine Ridge are barely holding onto their communities because of deplorable living conditions. The profit from Awesometown will help us build a new home with amenities for a Lakota. With the compassion of the Austintown community, we are helping to build another. It’s a beautiful thing,” said Mission of Love founder and director Kathy Price.