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PITTSTON — Mayor Michael Lombardo opened the 2019 Tomato Festival on Thursday evening by marking the end of one era of the festival while looking forward to the next.
Lori Nocito has been chairwoman since 1998. At the completion of the 36th annual festival she will step down after 22 years — only to be succeeded by the mayor himself.
After Lombardo ended the 12-minute opening ceremony, he thanked Nocito for her time at the helm of the festival and presented her with flowers on behalf of the Tomato Festival Committee.
“Twenty-two years ago somebody really stepped up and has done a great job working on this festival and has decided to take a little bit of a break,” Lombardo said, calling Nocito’s efforts “second to none.”
“I was very surprised and somewhat speechless, extremely emotional,” Nocito said, when Lombardo asked her to address the crowd. “When I look back and when I think of this committee and all we’ve accomplished – I’m very proud, so that makes me happy. It’s bittersweet.”
Nocito did all she could to hold back tears.
“To the committee, I just want to say, oh I can’t even look at them because I’m going to cry. It’s been so much fun working with all of you and it’s not easy, it’s very hard and you are doing out of the goodness of your heart because you love this city.”
Nocito said she will be back next year, but unsure of her role.
Lombardo noted the opening ceremony was being conducted on a new but unfinished stage built this summer. The deck is complete and the steel-covering framework will be finished by this fall. The stage is just one of the few new additions to the always evolving Tomato Festival.
A third tier was added for 2019 that incorporated the city’s 2nd Friday Art Walk, a new amphitheater, food vendors and more.
“Next year we will have some additional music from some solo acts and bounce between the three stages,” Lombardo said. “I’d invite everyone that’s here to take a walk to the (Pittston Memorial) library, there’s a third tier were we merged our art walk and some additional vendors and entertainers at the amphitheater.”
Lombardo went on to thank the committee for their hard work and dedication over the decades.
“This is an outstanding committee that does an amazing job,” Lombardo said. “I can’t say enough about them and it’s the easiest complicated festival ever held because of a great committee. I want to give a heartfelt thanks, this wouldn’t be possible.”
Lombardo recognized Louise Smith and Chester Montante, the two grand marshals of this year’s festival.
Rev. James Breese, pastor of Pittston First Baptist Church, ended the opening ceremony with a prayer for Ben Tielle, a Tomato Festival Committeeman, who is in need of a kidney.
Fellow festival committee members will be wearing t-shirts on behalf of Tielle noting the need for a living kidney donor matching his blood type of B+.
Food merchant Fred Marianacci of Marianacci’s Restaurant, Wyoming, was happy to be back at the festival.
“This is year seven and weather-wise it’s cooperated which last year it rained on Thursday so it’s good for everybody,” Marianacci said early Thursday evening. “But I want to comment about the new amphitheater, it’s unbelievable and all the money they make they put back into this and it shows. People often ask what they do with the money they make – well come here and see what a great job they do. We are proud to have our name attached to the Pittston Tomato Festival.”
The festival continues through Sunday evening with a 5K race Saturday at 10 a.m., immediately followed by the festival parade at approximately 10:30 a.m. The tomato fights will take place at 1:30 p.m. at the former Cooper’s Restaurant parking lot.
