Events celebrating 200 years continue this weekend, read schedule
By Sandy Rigas
The was plenty of pie to go around to treat the crowd gathered at the Whitesville Fire Hall Thursday evening while enjoying a historical presentation by Allegany County historian Craig Braack.
Fourteen pies were tasted and then judged to determine the two best overall pies. The panel of three judges, Cathy Neugent, Becky Budd, and Warren Budd looked at and then tasted each of the pies. Tasked with slicing and serving the judges, Jessica Erdmann and Beth Plaisted were kept busy keeping the pies moving, until all 14 had been sampled by each of the three judges.
Apple was represented in a quarter of the pies, with strawberry-rhubarb, peach, lemon meringue, pumpkin, blueberry, mixed berry, apple crumb and apple-cheese-walnut-raisin rounding out the selection.
Apple proved to be the star of the night as both the first and second prize winning pies featured apples,
with Tammy Emery’s apple pie taking first place, and Sara Wahl’s apple crumb pie placing second.
Once the judges were finished tasting, the pies were sliced and plated, and the crowd lined up to enjoy dessert during Craig Braack’s program.
The renowned county historian gave an entertaining and informative presentation on the beginnings of the Town of Independence, and the changes which have taken place over the past 200 years. “I hope that when you leave here tonight you have a new understanding and appreciation for what we have here and where we all came from,” said Braack.
Referring to an Allegany County map, Braack asked the crowd, “When was the last time you were in Hume, or Burns? This county is vast, with Independence being in the far southeastern corner. As you drive around the county and see road signs with names of places, I want you to remember that the basic needs of the people are the same as those of 200 years ago. For communities to survive, they need to be able to meet their needs but also adapt to the inevitable and eventual changes in our lives.”
The celebration continues this weekend in Whitesville
TOWN OF INDEPENDENCE BICENTENNIAL (WHITESVILLE, NY) INFORMATION:
FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE ON COMMERCIAL AVENUE FRIDAY, AUGUST 12TH, 2022 AT 6PM – ‘TILL AND ALSO ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2022 10AM – ‘TILL; WHITESVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT CHICKEN BBQ DINNER SATURDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2022 12PM NOON ‘TILL GONE.
ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2022 – THERE WILL BE “NO PARKING” FROM 3PM – 8PM ON MAIN STREET (STATE ROUTE 248), WHITESVILLE, NY FROM COMMERCIAL AVE TO MAPLE STREET AND EAST BOUND FROM COMMERCIAL AVE TO 248 FROM CRYDER CREEK BRIDGE.
PARKING WILL BE AVAILABLE BEGINNING SATURDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2022 5PM ON COMMERCIAL AVENUE AT J. FITZPATRICK FIELD, TOWN HALL FRONT AND SIDE, WHITESVILLE CENTRAL SCHOOL BOTH SIDES OF SCHOOL AND BUS GARAGE AREA. THERE WILL BE A WCS BUS AVAILABLE TO TAKE PARADE PARTICIPANTS AND SPECTATORS FROM SCHOOL TO UPTOWN BEGINNING AT 4:30 UNTIL 5:30PM.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2022 TEMPORARILY CLOSED AT 6PM UNTIL END OF PARADE WILL BE:
CORNER OF STATE ROUTE 248 AND HARRIGAN GULLY,
CORNER OF STATE ROUTE 248 AND COMMERCIAL AVENUE
CORNER OF STATE ROUTE 248 AND PARK STREET
CORNER OF STATE ROUTE 248 AND COUNTY ROAD 19
