TimesLeader.com

July 6, 2008

Pizza Paul to light up sky again

By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com

If it’s up to Pizza Paul, stars and stripes will be forever celebrated every year in the Back Mountain.

Pizza Paul’s fireworks show returns for a second year tonight at the Back Mountain Harvest Assembly Church grounds.

As much as he’d like to keep the fireworks spectacular going annually on his own, Pizza Paul doesn’t have the finances to make that happen so he is seeking donations to help keep the fireworks a yearly, free activity for everyone to enjoy.

Paul Adamchick, a 39-year-old lifetime Trucksville resident acquired the nickname of “Pizza Paul” working for 27 years at his parents’ business, Pizza Perfect, located on Carverton Road in Trucksville.

Adamchick’s fascination with fireworks began as a young child when a neighbor, Paul Gregory, brought home a truckload of fireworks every year and set them off. As Adamchick grew older, Gregory allowed him to assist with the fireworks and, by age 12, Adamchick was buying his own fireworks. He has since taken a class in pyrotechnics and has a fireworks display license.

For several years, Adamchick set off a private fireworks display at Traver’s Auction in Dallas Township. But the annual event drew so many spectators that Adamchick needed to find a new location. While talking to Pat Colladay, assistant pastor at Back Mountain Harvest Assembly Church, one day, Colladay offered the church grounds for the fireworks.

“I don’t drink; I don’t do drugs,” Adamchick said. “This is my high and what I enjoy to do. I like to put a smile on people’s faces. That’s what it’s all about. Every year they say I can’t beat last year and every year I do it.”

Last July was the first time Adamchick’s fireworks show was held at Back Mountain Harvest Assembly.

“When God called us to come here 15 years ago, before we even owned this property, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, ‘You are going to have fireworks here one day,’” said Dan Miller, pastor of Back Mountain Harvest Assembly. “I said, ‘How are fireworks going to happen?’ And He said, ‘You let that up to me.”

Miller says at least 5,000 people gathered on the church’s property for the fireworks last year. However, crowds of people also watched from Frances Slocum, Dug Road and Bunker Hill. Miller says a police officer told him he estimates about 12,000 to 18,000 spectators saw the display.

“Sunoco station loved it,” Miller said. “Checkerboard loved it. There was a 25 minute wait for coffee at the Sunoco station. It was like 45 minutes of a grand finale and there were three grand finales. It was absolutely nuts. He did an unbelievable job.”

Adamchick plans to outdo himself this year and bought bigger fireworks because of the great response from last year’s event.

Miller says food vendors have been expanded six or seven times more than those at last year’s fireworks and he has also tripled the amount of portable toilets.

The future of Pizza Paul’s fireworks is uncertain, though.

“As long as I start getting some money coming back, I’ll be able to do it,” Adamichick said. “I would really appreciate donations from whoever can help out. I’m only one guy.”

Donations for Pizza Paul’s fireworks may be sent to: Back Mountain Harvest Assembly, 340 Carverton Rd., Trucksville, PA 18708. Please write “fireworks donation” in the memo.