PITTSTON — Another Tomato Festival has come and gone, and the city is now in relaxation mode after the fun-filled weekend of events, food, and live entertainment.
Unlike Tomato Festivals of the past, this year saw more sunshine than rain, with the exception of a few minutes of downpours on Saturday evening.
Nonetheless, the 34th Annual Pittston Tomato Festival was a huge success, thanks to the thousands of people in attendance from all over the area and the many vendors dishing out delicious food.
Here’s a brief recap of the event:
Run, Forrest, run!
The 19th annual Miles for Michael/Pittston Tomato Festival 5K was held prior to the parade, with runners and walkers filling up Main Street in preparation for the annual run.
Last year’s winner Chris McCabe, of Lancaster, returned to defend his title and won first place for the second consecutive year, finishing at 16 minutes and 56 seconds.
Jenny Swiderski-Yanick, of Camp Hill, finished first in the female group at a time of 20 minutes and 2 seconds.
A parade for all to see
The sky was sunny and the temperature was hot, but thousands gathered along Main Street to witness one of the best parades in the Wyoming Valley.
Close to 80 groups participated in the parade, which was broadcast live on Fox 56 with festival chairperson Lori Nocito alongside TV personality Jane Adonizio.
Former Pittston Area athlete and professional football player for the Miami Dolphins, Jimmy Cefalo, served as the Grand Marshal for this year’s event, while State Governor Tom Wolf served as the Honorary Grand Marshal.
Both men were well receved by the public, shaking hands and greeting many city residents before, during and after the parade.
New queen crowned
Three area girls vied for the chance to be named the 2017 Tomato Festival Queen, but the crown could only go on one head.
That head belonged to Britney Cheskiewicz, of Wyomin,g who was judged on an interview and her talent performance, in which she sang “Taylor, the Latte Boy.”
Other participants included Sofia Costagliola, 15, of Pittston; and Bella Diana, 14, of Clarks Summit.
Cheskiewicz received a $500 cash scholarship from the Pittston Tomato Festival Committee.
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Approximately 150 people gathered in the parking lot of Cooper’s Waterfront in Pittston for the annual Tomato Fights.
White shirts were turned red by the event’s conclusion, and some participants buried themselves in tomatoes to soak up all the juices.
Proceeds for the event benefited Greater Pittston charities.
Arm wrestling
Some of the strongest men and children from the Valley came together for the 24th annual arm wrestling competition at the Greater Pittston YMCA
For the children’s divisions, in the 6 to 7-year-old division, Mike Runkle took first place while Jeff Janniro took second, Alex Major took third and Jakob Major took fourth.
In the 8 to 9-year-old division, Terrin Reaser earned first place while David Bennett took second, Sammy Hall took third and Ava Simko took fourth.
The 10 to 11-year-old division saw Mattison Reaser take first place, Carson Carl take second, Lukas Surplus take third and Tyler Major take fourth.
In the 12 to 14-year-old division, Tyler Arley came in first, Aeolus Rivera came in second and Chris Snyder came in third.
Henny Timenez earned first place in the novice right-hand division while Pete Sellers earned second place and John Bannon earned third.
Adult divisions results were not available at press time.
A ‘perfect’ tomato contest
Eugene Pavlico, of Exeter, took home the award for Most Perfect Tomato during the Tomato Contest, marking the fourth out of seven years he’s won.
He took home the award in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017.
“It’s just fun,” he said. “It’s something to look forward to in entering the contest.”
Results for other categories in the Tomato Contest — largest, smallest, ugliest — were unavailable.
A ‘saucy’ contest
Pazzo 315, of Pittston, was named this year’s Sauce Wars champion.
Also in the contest were last year’s winner Cris Nics of Wilkes-Barre, Arcaro & Genell of Old Forge, AuRants of Duryea, Marianacci’s of West Wyoming and Andy Perugino’s of Luzerne.
The contest was a blind taste test and all proceeds go to the Greater Pittston Historical Society.
Little Miss, Mister Tomato
The Wyoming Valley’s youngest residents all vied for a chance to be named Little Miss or Little Mister Tomato for 2016.
Little Miss Tomato for 2017 was Anna Alba, 4, of Pittston; and Little Mister Tomato was Abel Krawczuk, 4, of Pittston Township.
Runner-ups for Little Miss Tomato were Evangeline Vasiliadis, of Nazareth, and Mia Lee Bartush, of Pittston. Runner-ups for Little Mister Tomato were James Lokuta, of Pittston, and Giueseppe Rodreghiero, of Wilkes-Barre.
There were 26 female contestants and 18 male contestants who all answered three questions and blew a kiss to the audience before receiving a ribbon from the 2016 Little Miss Tomato pageant winner.
