On March 31, 2007 the Borough of West Reading will celebrate its 100^th Birthday!  The Centennial committee organizing events to commemorate this event cordially invites you to join us in a unique Parade that will celebrate each of the ten decades that have passed before.  In its infancy, West Reading Borough was just learning to walk while the nation was learning how to drive.  The 1900s saw the birth of the Model T Ford while Teddy Roosevelt was carving out America’s Manifest Destiny!

Centennial Activities and Events

	Borough of West Reading Centennial Parade Saturday, March 31, 2007 7PM
	West Reading Centennial July Fourth Celebration Wednesday, July 4, 2007
	Borough of West Reading Centennial Dance Saturday, October 6, 2007 8PM

For more information on Centennial Events contact the West Reading Borough Hall 610.374.8273

West Reading Centennial Parade
Saturday, March 31, 2007 7PM

The Centennial committee has decided to emphasize these ten decades by creating ten divisions in the Parade depicting the rich history of our country and our borough.  Each division will celebrate in music, garb and visually the 1900s, 1910s, 1920s and so on!  The following criteria apply to participants:

	10 divisions based on 10 decades from 1907 to 2007
	Musical varieties from each of these 10 decades
	Marching bands can choose their uniforms or dress from the particular decade
	Groups other than marching bands are welcome; drill teams, dance groups, clown divisions, drama groups, any and all that desire to express moments in our country’s history.  Doughboys, flappers, beboppers and beatniks!
	The parade mobilizes at the Scottish Rite Cathedral on 7th Avenue (across from the Reading Hospital’s Doctors Office Building)
	Start time is 7:00PM
	The parade route takes marchers up onto Penn Avenue, down to 3rd Avenue, south through the residential streets of the Borough, past the 3rd & Spruce Café and down to the Borough’s playing fields
	The reviewing stand will be located in the 500 Block of Penn Avenue at the West Reading Shopping Center frontage

All groups are invited to participate including groups that represent different eras, special events in the 100 years of history, holiday symbols such as the Easter Bunny and Yankee Doodle, children’s groups, school clubs and more.

Please join us for a night of fun and frolic at West Reading’s Centennial Celebration Parade.  Respond with interest and a Centennial committee member will call or visit to discuss how we can support your preparation and needs.

Thank you for joining our celebration of this wonderful town and the history that has made it great!

If you would like to participate in West Reading's Centennial Parade please call the Borough of West Reading at 610.374.8273 or the West Reading Main Street office at 610.685.8854.  To download a printable invitation to participate in the parade click here (Acrobat Reader Required).  

Help Promote this event!  Click here to download a Centennial Celebration flyer.

Traffic and Crowd Control

The Borough of West Reading, Berks County, is requesting the assistance of any and all available fire police to assist with traffic and/or crowd control during and after our borough’s 100^th Anniversary Centennial Parade on the evening of Saturday, March 31, 2007. 

Fire police assisting with this event will be organizing at 5:00PM at the West Reading Fire Department, 223 Playground Drive, West Reading.  If any of your fire police and/or traffic units will be able to assist, or if you need further information, please contact Centennial Committee member Tom Kupiszewski by email roadblock38@yahoo.com or phone 484.824.5771 as soon as possible.  Please provide all necessary contact information for your organization so that we may send you all of the information you will need. 

To download a printable version of this request click here (Acrobat Reader Required).

Click here to download a map of the parade route (Acrobat Reader Required).

Attention West Reading Borough Residents:  Please be advised that there will be “no parking” restrictions in effect starting at 1PM on Saturday, March 31, 2007.  FREE parking will be available for residents at the Spruce Street Garage (located behind the West Reading Borough Hall) and Seventh Avenue Garage, courtesy of the Reading  Hospital.  Any cars remaining on either side of the parade route will be towed at the owner’s expense.  If you have any questions about the parade, please contact the West Reading Borough Hall at 610.374.8273. Thank you for your cooperation!  Click here to download a parade route map and these parking instructions.

Join us for a day of fun at the West Reading Pool and Playground on Wednesday, July 4, 2007.  The pool will be open from 10AM-8PM with a DJ starting at 12PM and the Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band at 3PM.  Stroll over to the park and listen to the sound of the John King Dance Band starting at 8PM.  Make sure to stick around for the fireworks at 9:30PM presented by LTNT Pyrotechs.  Spend the day with your family in West Reading on the Fourth of July - where music and fun come together for a spectacular day!

Schedule of Events

	10:00AM - Pool Opens
	10:00AM - Wyomissing Parade  - join us with your decorated bikes and stroller
	12:00PM - DJ Justin Bortz spins your favorite tunes at the pool - games begin
	3:00PM - Nationally-acclaimed children's performer Steve Pullera and His Cool Beans Band perform live in the in pool area
	7:30PM - Bike Parade through the West Reading Park
	8:00PM - The John King Dance Band, from West Reading, rocks the park with dance hits that'll get you dancing in your seats
	9:30PM - Fireworks show presented by LTNT Pyrotechs

Borough of West Reading July Fourth Bike Parade

In honor of the Borough's 100th Anniversary, we are holding a Bike Parade on the Fourth of July.  Everyone with a bike, scooter or stroller is invited to participate.  At 10AM, we will begin the day by participating in the Wyomissing Fourth of July Parade (meet in the 1100 block of Garfield Avenue at 9:30AM).  Later, at 7:30PM everyone is invited to gather in front of the West Reading Pool House and ride through the park to start off the night's festivities.  Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated bikes, scooters and strollers. 

About the Bands

Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band:  Steve Pullara is a Philadelphia based New Jersey born singer/songwriter/artist whose musical roots go deep within may cultural traditions.  In his music you could hear influences from his Grandfather Giuseppe to Pete Seeger to Louis Prima.  His mix of drawing and singing harken the days of the Gene London and Sandy Becker TV shows from the 50' and 60's.  With may years of entertaining kids and families under his belt in the Philly area, he is comfortable with this niche and very at home with his audience.  Often, Steve is seen entertaining at commercial and non-commercial venues such as: Television, large amphitheaters, zoos, township parks, schools, hospitals and festivals performing his talents.  At these sites you can also view him in concert, solo or with his band called: Steve Pullara and His Cool Beans Band.  He's also entertained on NBC's Children's Miracle Network Telethon, at Give Kids the World in Kissimmee, Florida and for the American Lung Association; putting smiles on faces and helping them to raise money for their particular causes. 

The John King Dance Band:  West Reading's own John King Dance Band is the ultimate party band, with music that spans from early 60's soul and R&B classic dance songs to today's new music.  From funk to disco, the John King Dance Band does it all and adds the extra spark to an occasion that guarantees success!

FREE PARKING IN THE 5TH AVENUE GARAGE
COURTESY OF THE READING HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER

Purchase your Centennial Dance tickets and join the fun on October Sixth at the Scottish Rite Cathedral.  Tickets are $25 per couple or $15 per person.  Contact the West Reading Borough Hall for more information 610.374.8273. 

Sweatshirts:  Place your order now for a Borough of West Reading Centennial Sweatshirt.  The sweatshirts, which cost $25 (SM-XL) and $30 (XXL-XXXL) are maroon and steel, and by be ordered at the West Reading Borough Hall 610.374.8273, Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM. 

Centennial Committee

The Honorable Shane J. Keller
Kevin S. Barnhardt, Chairman
Edward C. Fabriziani, Chief of Police
Mark D. Burkholder, Fire Chief
Kevin M. Conrad, Councilmember
Michael P. Ferenchick, Councilmember
Nathalie R. Kulesa, Councilmember
Daphne E. Klahr, Recreation Coordinator
Sam Loth, West Reading Main Street
Ruth V. Cardell, Resident Volunteer
Regina Doyle, Resident Volunteer
Rebecca Keller, Resident Volunteer
Ed Kuhn, Resident Volunteer
Thomas M. Kupiszewski, Resident Volunteer

Centennial Committee Meetings

The West Reading Centennial Committee held meetings every other Wednesday in 2007 at 6:00PM in the West Reading Borough Hall (500 Chestnut Street, West Reading).