Published September 01. 2023 12:04PM
by Terry Ahner tahner@tnonline.com
The Palmerton Community Festival has been presented with a generous contribution from a Palmerton business.
For the second straight year, BEFESA Zinc US Inc., a zinc reclaiming company, bestowed festival organizers with a $5,000 donation Thursday morning in the borough park.
The donation will be put into the festival’s general fund to be applied toward the expense of improving the lighting around the park.
Jodi Smale, festival secretary and co-chair of the event, said the festival is grateful to BEFESA for its sizable donation.
“We’re very appreciative to the local businesses in the community that make donations,” Smale said. “It helps with our expenses to allow us to continue running this event for many more years to come.”
Steve Stelmach, a safety specialist with Befesa, said the company was more than happy to contribute toward the festival’s cause.
“We’re trying to be more involved in the community,” Stelmach said.
The 34th annual Palmerton Community Festival runs Sept. 8 to 10 in the borough park.
Representatives from BEFESA Zinc US Inc., of Palmerton, present a $5,000 donation to the Palmerton Community Festival on Thursday. Pictured, front, from left, are Jodi Smale, secretary/co-chair, Palmerton Festival Corp., Susie Arner, president/chairwoman, Palmerton Festival Corp., Katrina White, Human Resources administrator, BEFESA, and Garry Mack, vice-chair/co-chair, Palmerton Festival Corp. In the back, from left, are Neil Gower, Chestnut Ridge Railroad; Dustin Rehrig, entertainment co-chair, Palmerton Festival Corp., Raquel Lutton, procurement manager, BEFESA; Janice Mack, Palmerton Festival Corp., and Steve Stelmach, safety specialist, BEFESA. TERRY AHNER/TIMES NEWS