PD Tomato Festival

August 16, 2009

Where’s the Tomato?

Maria Remembers

Maria Capolarella Montante Dispatch Columnist

Let’s roll time back to 1984 when the big question being asked by three elderly woman was, “WHERE’S THE BEEF?” when served a hamburger in a big, big, bun in a fast food establishment. Upon lifting the top side of the roll, the women were in disbelief of the size of the burger and made that infamous statement.

“WHERE’S THE BEEF?” was a slogan developed for Wendy’s and won a five star rating. It became a saying used for almost any occasion and sometimes had a double meaning. The general public had great fun with it.

It can be d�j� vu being played out with the tomatoes this year.

Each week as patrons arrive at the Pittston Farmer’s Market the first question asked is where’s the tomatoes? Mr. Harold Golomb, Sr., proprietor of Golomb’s Farm and Greenhouses, explains that Mother Nature has not been too kind to the tomato crop which needs sunlight during the day and warm nights to ripen. Too many rainy summer days accompanied by sleet falling twice impeded the growing of the crop. The tomatoes were pock-marked and had to be removed from the plants.

Mr. Golomb who has been with the Tomato Festival since its 1984inception assures us with hot weather this week the tomatoes will be ready in ample supply for the festival.

John Butera, classmate and master backyard gardener who learned the art and secrets of gardening from his late father Angelo Butera at a very early age agrees and also stated a blithe has befallen the tomatoes. Yearly, John has a blue ribbon garden with a variety of healthy vegetables growing whom he shares with neighbors. This year, not only are the tomatoes in jeopardy, but all the other vegetables as well due to the large woodchuck that resides in Pat Piedmont’s garden but prefers to dine in the Butera garden.

There was a time when most backyards in the area were dotted with tomato plants held upright with wooden stakes and colored pieces of material loosely wrapped around the plant to keep it from falling over. When the tomatoes ripened a distinct aroma filled the air. There was nothing more delicious than a juicy, red tomato plucked from the plant, eaten unwashed with the juices dripping down one’s chin and wiped with the back of the hand. The tomato didn’t necessarily have to come from your garden though. Somehow the neighbor’s garden was more enticing leading to nightly tomato raids.

This year the Pittston Tomato Festival will be celebrating 26 years in existence. It began as the simple idea of a gentleman, the late Val D’Elia, a great gardener who had a love of growing tomatoes and boasted that Greater Pittston was the best place to grow them due to the ascorbic acids in the soil and climate. “The tomato grown in the 50 mile strip between Tunkhannock and Shickshinny was known in the 1930’s as the ‘Pittston Tomato.’”

Val’s idea was met with great enthusiasm when presented to Mayor Tom Walsh and a newly elected council. It was just the thing the city needed to bolster morale and bring the community together.

The venture began on a parking lot on Kennedy Boulevard which is now home to Burger King. Local organizations, businesses, and people where given the opportunity to become vendors and sell their specialties. It was the first year that the Chicketta was introduced by Sabetelli’s Italian Market. Greek Guarneri debuted the frusha sandwich, members of The Second Presbyterian Church prepared and sold Pasta Fagiola and pizza fritta. The Serradifalco Society had the most delicious sausage and pepper sandwiches.

A few of the faces that dance before my eyes in those stands are: Ann Testa, Joe Testa, Stella Roman, Rocky Roman, Antoinette Ardiere, Catherine Havrilla, Paul Havrilla, Minnie Bartell, Rose Vandermark, Antoinette Devergilio, Roseann Maira, Tony Martinelli, Patti Martinelli, Anne and Frank Ferrare, Anna Marie Detitto, Lennie Cumbo, Tony Argento, John DeRosa, Joe Buscemi, and Sam Giambra.

The festival is about food featuring American, Italian, Greek, and Polish favorite dishes along with a wide variety of desserts. People come for miles around to enjoy the great variety and excellent fare. No matter what your preference you are sure to discover something new.

Tomato Festival Notes

So “Where’s the tomato?”

You will find them at Golomb’s stand as you enter the festival from the South Main Street Entrance. Savor each mouthful for the “Pittston Tomato” is the best!

Nocito is the 2009 Chairperson

A final committee meeting for the 2009 Tomato Festival was held last week with Lori Nocito, chairperson, presiding. Plans for next year’s festival begins shortly after the current year’s festival is put to rest.

More walking room

Michael Lombardo and Jim Zerra, co-chairmen, explained due to a retaining wall that has been built on the festival grounds it will allow more walking room and additional space in the dining tent.

I salute Tom Sewatsky

A salute to Tom Sewatsky, treasurer, who has handled the financial aspect of the festival for the past 26 years in a most competent manner will also take place. I met Tom at St. John the Evangelist High School when he was a student and I the Secretary. He was a young man with a mild manner, courteous, respectful and a gentleman - all qualities he still possesses. Good job, Tom

5K Run

The Jim Duffy and Trooper Joshua Miller Memorial 5K Run will be held on Saturday, August 22 beginning at 11 a.m. It has become a yearly tradition that the run be named for an individual or individuals’ honor and memory. Approximately 50 State Troopers will participate and run in formation in honor of their fallen comrade. Over 200 runners participated in last year’s run. Jerry Mullarkey and Jay Duffy are co-chairpersons of the event.

Biagio Dente is

The Grand Marshal

Congratulations to Biagio Dente on being named Grand Marshall of the Annual Tomato Festival Parade that will be held on Saturday, August 22 beginning at 11:30 a.m. Through the years Biagio has been a great supporter of the festival. Yearly, colorful tents surround the lot where vendors, games, and dining are held. Biagio’s crew begins this monumental task on the Tuesday prior to opening day on Thursday, August 20.

The Silver Anniversary of the festival in 2008 was celebrated and hosted by Biagio and Immogene Dente, proprietors of Dente’s Catering , with a cocktail party titled, “Under the Stars, Under the Tent”. It was very festive and well attended.

Alan Dente and Suzanne Dente Agostinelli, children of the Dente’s and members of the Tomato Festival committee are proud of their dad.

The Tilting Tomato

It was at the cocktail party the 350-lb. Tomato sculpture was unveiled and introduced to the attendees. Artist Laura Lengyel was commissioned to design and produce the unique work of art. An area on the corner of North Main Street and William Street has been reserved as the site for the tomato. A base is still in the process of being designed.

The Parade

“Everyone Loves A Parade” is the theme for the 26th Annual Parade starting at 11:30 a.m. in downtown Pittston. The parade will be live on Fox 56. Participants are asked to make a banner identifying their group and to be in position by 10:30 a.m. Jim and Judy Deice are co-chairing this event for the eleventh year. We might dub them, “The Dynamic Duo,” due to a monumental task they make look easy. They never lose their cool on parade day!

The Cino Paci Band

Congratulations to the Italian-American Association of Luzerne County for sponsoring the Cino Paci Band a legendary marching band that has it origin in the early 1900’s. The band has appeared in all 26 parades. Officers of the IAA are: Michael Delconte, president; Louise Castellani, vice president; Loraine Butera, secretary; Leonard Cumbo, treasurer; and Tony Bianco, Sgt. at Arms.

Tomato Fights

make The Post

An article about the tomato fights appeared in the Sunday, August 2, 2009 edition of the Washington Post written by Brian Yarvin giving a vivid account of this saucy fight in addition to places to eat, sleep and what to do in the area. It made our area sound quaint, alive and the best place in the U.S. to live. Brian will be in the area on Saturday to witness the splashing and squashing of the tomatoes.

Tomato T-Shirts

If you are interested in purchasing a Tomato Festival shirt be sure to stop at the Souvenir Stand sponsored by the Tomato Festival Committee. There will be shirts in all sizes according to Jean Bantell, chairperson. Also available will be the Tomato Blinky created by Theresa Colella of Fashion Ceramics in the early 1980’s.

Get your Dispatch Dollar

Spin the Wheel of Fortune at the Sunday Dispatch booth and win a variety of prizes. Present a “Dispatch Dollar” and get a free spin or make a 50-cent donation to the St. John the Evangelist Church Community Care and Concern Food Pantry and you will get you a spin. Every spin a winner! A Dispatch Dollar can be found on page 36.

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