Who is Harry? Let's be frank

Staff report

NILES

Heard of Harry Stevens? Maybe not, but you’ve most likely enjoyed a product he’s credited with cooking up — the hot dog.

Niles has mustered enough support to honor the late Niles entrepreneur with Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day, on June 30 downtown.

Stevens, a baseball fan in the sport’s early days, began a stadium concession business, creating the ballpark hot dog, devising the baseball scorecard and popularizing roasted peanuts. A successful entrepreneur, he even became good friends with Babe Ruth.

A joint project of The Avenue and Main and Trumbull County Board of Tourism, Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day will include a whole day of activities throughout the city, coinciding with the Fourth of July parade.

Food, beverage and merchandise vendors will line State Street and Pine Alley. The Avenue and Main will sell hot dogs for $1 each and tickets for basket raffles and a 50-50 drawing.

Vendors and volunteers are still needed for the Niles event. Vendors should call Debbie Barber at 330-720-1297. Volunteers should contact a committee co-chairwoman: Kristenne Robison, kristenne.robison @gmail.com or Dori MacMillan, dorimacmillan@yahoo.com. Volunteers will receive T-shirts.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. a baseball clinic will take place at Waddell Park, or Niles Wellness Center in case of rain.

At noon a cornhole tournament, requiring registration, will begin. Registration begins at 11 a.m. The game day fee is $50. The contest will move to the wellness center if it rains. Call, text or email George Davis at 330-518-4807 or Gdavis54@neo.rr.com, and include team name, first and last names of each player, and contact information for each player. Prizes will total $1,000.

At 1 p.m. the event will kick off at the parade stage.

At 2 p.m. the Fourth of July parade will begin.

At 2:45 p.m., Summit Jammers will play music, at 5 p.m. Full House will perform, and at 7:30 p.m., The Mitrega Brothers will entertain.

At 3 p.m. a hot dog dressing contest will begin. A $5 donation per entry will be collected. Contestants will vie for the best-tasting dog.

At 4 p.m. wiener dog races will begin at the downtown trail head, and costumes will be judged. A $5 per entry donation will be collected. Prizes, doggie bags and best-dressed dog awards will be given.

For information contact Ryan McNaughton at 330-980-2420 or rmcnaug2@kent.edu.

Follow the event on Facebook. Search Harry Stevens Hot Dog Day.

Event committee members are Robison and MacMillan, co-chairwomen; Shirley Hodge, Rich Hale, Barber, Barry Steffey, Scott MacMillan, McNaughton; Constance Gatta, Stephen Papalas, Carrie Kibby, Frank Leskovec, Nick Spano, Regina and Donald Vaughn and Jeff Crowley.