Community Days kicks off 3-day event in Cranberry Twp.
CRANBERRY TWP — The annual Cranberry Township Community Days kicked off Thursday.
“It’s been a great turnout tonight,” said township manager Dan Santoro. “You can see lots and lots of people enjoying not only the car cruise, but the concert down here, the food vendors, the businesses, the non-profits ... everybody’s enjoying it.”
Community spirit was reflected in the opening ceremony at the Rotary Amphitheater, which celebrated ongoing community projects. These included the main beneficiary of the event — the Great Lawn project at the municipal building, the Cranberry Township Community Chest’s Project of the Year.
The Rotary Amphitheater itself was the Project of the Year in 2020-21 for its extensive renovation, and during the ceremony, both the Sunrise and Noon Rotary clubs presented checks for $5,000 to CTCC to complete a long-term financial commitment to the project.
“The Noon Rotary Club has given $5,000 for five years and the Sunrise Club has given $5,000 for four years,” said John Marshall of the Cranberry Sunrise Rotary. “So together, we’ve given $45,000 to the CTCC for the amphitheater.”
The Cranberry Township Volunteer Fire Company was presented a grant of $27,527 from Firehouse Subs. According to Scott Garing, the township’s chief of emergency services, the fire department actually received the money two months ago and spent it on a UTV, which was on display during the event.
“We eliminated our brush truck from our fleet,” Garing said. “The purpose is for us to be able to get into remote areas, whether it’s for brush fires or if it’s for patient evacuation to get someone out of harm’s way.”
The first day’s other centerpiece was the 15th annual Cruisin’ Cranberry Car Show, which featured plenty of attention-grabbing vehicles. One of those was a genuine NASCAR Xfinity Series car once driven by Carl Edwards in the early 2010s, brought to the park by Brian Shafranek.
“I bought it from a friend of mine a year and a half ago,” Shafranek said. “They’re available. They’re all over down south. There’s a group of people who are doing vintage racing with them.”
Another vehicle that grabbed attention was an antique Pirsch fire truck from 1928, which has a special place in township history.
“It was Cranberry’s first fire truck when we organized in 1959,” said former fire chief Jim Cole. “Cranberry had it in service from 1959 to 1968 or so, when the engine went out.”
Live music will play at the amphitheater for all three days of the celebration, starting Friday night with two bands: This, That, and The Other Thing and OldSkool.
Another feature during all three days is the Rotary Craft Ale and Wine Garden, with beer provided by Full Pint Taproom in Warrendale and wine from Narcisi Winery. All proceeds from the garden go toward the Cranberry Sunrise Rotary, who directs the funds to various charities and scholarships.
“They’re all in the Cranberry area,” Marshall said. “The money stays in the Cranberry area.”
The highlight of Friday’s schedule will be the Battle of the Badges, in which Cranberry Township’s own fire and EMS departments will battle each other in dodgeball.
On Saturday night, Community Days will conclude with the announcement of the 50/50 raffle winner, along with a Zambelli fireworks show at 9:45 p.m.
