Annual event to celebrate 10 years of music, dance and education
Williamsport Sun-Gazette
August 17, 2009
The Juneteenth Celebration Association of Northern Pennsylvania will present its 10th annual event from 3 to 9 p.m. Aug. 30 at Brandon Park.
The alternate rain site will be Curtin Middle School, 85 Eldred St.
There will be notable speakers, full musical bands and dance troupes. New to the event will be a Gifted Art Exhibit, which is the result of 15 young artists’ training during five art workshops in the months preceding the event.
Dance troupes include Valorie Taylor’s Expressions and the LKW Dance Center; while musical singing bands include Heaven Sent with Amarando Clark of Williamsport and Groove Train of West Pittston.
Some musical tributes to Michael Jackson will be a part of the program.
Singer at Large, Johnny J. Blair, will perform, as well as recording artist Kevin D. Watson.
Other singers include Dawn Filchner-White and Marcelene Brown. Joann Kiehl will provide keyboard accompaniment. Speakers include Mayor Gabe Campana reading General Order No. 3, the Rev. Kenneth A. Burnett reading the Emancipation Proclamation, Melvin “Junebug” Wilson, State Rep. Richard Mirabito, D-Williamsport, and Susan Mathias from the office of U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock.
Richard James will present his history of the Bethune Douglass Community Center and related facts.
Hosting the program will be Marcelene H. Brown of WRLC 91.7 FM radio and Kevin D. Watson.
Along with the art exhibit, the event will feature the C.C. Clowns and Juneteenth’s Children’s Carnival with inflatable amusements.
There also will be pony rides and a petting zoo, courtesy of Russ and Marie Reitz’ Gracious Meadows Farms.
Dr. Mamie Sweeting-Diggs will be stationed at her Underground Railroad Exhibit to answer questions.
A variety of food, craft and information stands will be available, including genealogy volunteers from the Lycoming County Genealogical Society and other community service organizations.
For the “Free Food Giveaway,” the association is asking visitors to bring an unopened package or can of food, people or pet, to the event to receive a free raffle ticket for a chance to win a Sunday Brunch for two on the Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat, courtesy of the Juneteenth Celebration Association and River Valley Transit.
Raffle tickets also will be sold at 50 cents each.
Part of the event was held on June 20 at the Thomas T. Taber Museum.
Dr. Lori Verderame’s “Hate Art & Antiques?” comedy show and Lawrence A. Walker’s portrayal of a Revolutionary War soldier and slave, named Caesar, was presented to those redirected visitors who came in the rain to Brandon Park.
The original Juneteenth occurred in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, when Gen. Gordon Granger, with a back-up of 1,200 troops, read General Order No. 3, freeing the slaves in the state of Texas. This occurred 2 1/2 years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
For information, call 419-2502 or visit www.JuneteenthCelebration.org.
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Fact Box: 10th annual Juneteenth lineup
3 p.m. – Welcome and introduction of masters of ceremonies Kevin Watson and Marcelene Brown.
3:05 p.m. – Invocation with the Rev. Donald Spiller.
3:10 p.m. – Reading of Juneteenth Prayer by Melvin Wilson.
3:15 p.m. – Reading of Emancipation Proclamation by the Rev. Kenneth Burnett.
3:25 p.m. – Reading of General Order No. 3 by Mayor Gabe Campana.
3:30 p.m. – Introduction of vendors, volunteers and artists in art exhibit.
3:35 p.m. – Reading of Frederick Douglas’ Essay by Alan Anderson.
3:40 p.m. – Comments by Mayor Gabe Campana.
3:50 p.m. – Presentation by Susan Mathias.
3:55 p.m. – Negro National Anthem by Marcelene Brown, accompanied by Joann Kiehl.
4:05 p.m. – Song by Minister Dawn White and friends.
4:25 p.m. – Comments and presentation by State Rep. Richard Mirabito, D-Williamsport.
4:35 p.m. – Song by Kevin Watson and Marcelene Brown.
4:45 p.m. – Talk on the History of The Center by Richard James.
5:05 p.m. – Dance performance by Expressions.
5:25 p.m. – Musical performance by Johnny J. Blair.
6:05 p.m. – Musical performance by Heaven Sent.
6:50 p.m. – Dance performance by Expressions.
7:10 p.m. – Dance performance by LKW Dance Company.
8 p.m. – Raffle Drawing.
8:10 p.m. – Musical performance Groove Train.
9 p.m. – Benediction.