PD Tomato Festival

Pittston tomato festival

RALPH NARDONE Times Leader Correspondent

PITTSTON -- Organizers of the 26th annual Pittston Tomato Festival on Sunday night hailed another successful four-day event.

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Claire Dolman, 3, of Dupont, center, receives her sash as the 2009 Little Miss Pittston Tomato from pageant coordinator Angel Noone, left, 2009 Tomato Festival Queen Carmella Gubbiotti, and 2008 Little Miss Pittston Tomato Brooke Manley as 2009 Little Mister Pittston Tomato Anthony Thomas looks on.

Bill tarutis photos/for the times leader

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Little Miss Tomato contestant Montana Savero of Wilkes-Barre is interviewed by pageant coordinator Angel Noone during the competition on Sunday.

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Festival committee chairwoman Lori Nocito said the crowds were good and their wallets were open.

“People were spending,” she said, asking rhetorically “What recession?”

She lauded the effort of the 40-plus committee volunteers, adding they all should feel “thankful” for the crowds enjoying themselves. The hard work of the committee paid off, she said. The event ran Thursday through Sunday in the downtown.

Several vendors said this year’s business was brisk.

Only one had the honor of taking the award for the best sauce. Pat Greenfield, owner of Grico’s Restaurant in Exeter, was toiling over a hot grill as she did each night preparing approximately 200 chicken sandwiches for hungry customers when she received the award for winning the second annual “Sauce Wars,” sponsored by the Greater Pittston YMCA. Grico’s has participated in the festival for the last five years.

“This is too much fun,” she said holding the trophy. Grico’s sauce was chosen over five other competitors from the Pittston area -- Caf� Olivia, Savo’s, Tony’s and Vince’s pizza shops and Rage Cuisine Catering.

Tina Fisher, executive director of the YMCA, and board members Mike Matosky and Michelle Cassetori presented Greenfield with the award.

Matosky said that about 1,000 tasters of all ages and from as far away as Florida and Wisconsin sampled some of the 6 gallons of sauce donated by the competitors. The final tally was very close, prompting a recount before the winner was determined, Matosky said

Pam and George Osley came up from Allentown operating Giovanni’s On the Go food stand for their sixth year. They emptied 14 cases of tomatoes, nine cases of peppers and eight cases of bread selling their bruschetta, peppers and meatballs.

George Osley said one of the best parts of the festival is the “camaraderie” of the vendors. Pam Osley added she enjoys the entertainment while working.

Jane Sabatelle, owner of Sabatelle’s Italian Market on Main Street in Pittston, estimated that 50 dozen sandwiches sold each day. Their specialty soppressata was the big seller. They also sold 300 pounds of stuffed ravioli, she said.

A 13-year participant of the festival, Sabatelle said in that time the business has “more than doubled.” She also said the festival committee is easy to work with, providing ample services for the vendors.

“The committee is amazing,” she emphasized.

Nocito said the vendors packed up almost everything on Sunday night and left very little to clean up today. They leave the site with very little “burden” to the city, she said.

Former Pittston Mayor Mike Lombardo and member of the festival committee said the Tomato Festival shows the value of the communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“We’re very lucky,” Lombardo said. The festival is “safe and comfortable” and exemplifies the local quality of life, he said. In the last 12 years there have only been a few minor incidents, he said.

He added the city’s administrations through the years have continued the festival tradition despite changes in leadership.

Lombardo said next year’s festival will include a larger footprint as preparations are made behind the Pittston Library for expansion. More activities for the children will be added, he said, along with more vendors.