Korean ‘harmony’ event a success
NORTH WALES >> An event meant to build ties between communities may soon become a fixture of the local calendar.
“We had a great turnout for the ‘Together in Harmony’ event. I would’ve preferred a little bit cooler temperatures, but it was really good,” said Mayor Greg D’Angelo.
On June 5 North Wales played host to the first-ever event, meant to educate local residents on Korean culture via displays, lessons, and performances by local members of the KoreanAmerican community. Organizers included the Korean American Association of Greater Philadelphia, the National Association for Korean Schools, Mid-Atlantic Chapter, the Montgomery County Korean Senior Association; the Korean Senior Citizens’ Association of
Greater Philadelphia, the PA Vietnam War Veterans Association, and Yang’s Martial Arts School on Main Street in North Wales, many of which had helped sponsor and host a similar American, Korean and Chinese multicultural day in Upper Gwynedd, and have helped design and raise funds for a memorial to Korean War veterans that was dedicated in Montgomery Township in July 2020.
On June 8 D’Angelo reported to council on the success of the event held the prior weekend, particularly a lesson he learned from a group of Yang’s Taekwondo students.
“One of the little skills he showed was that the fan, that everyone’s familiar with, the little hand fan for cooling yourself off — can actually be a weapon,” D’Angelo said.
“We’re going to have to have it again next year. It’ll be much more encompassing, and I’m just glad to have had the people that were able to get out,” he said.
Special thanks go to state Sen. Maria Collett, D-12th, for visiting the event, and to a news crew from the Republic of Korea, which D’Angelo said interviewed him for a newscast on the other side of the world.
“Somewhere on the 11 p.m. Korean News, we were on their TVs,” he said.
Organizers of the Peace Park memorial are also planning to hold a commemoration event there on June 25 at 11 a.m. to mark the 71st anniversary of the start of the Korean War. While no plans for an event next year in North Wales have been finalized, D’Angelo said he hoped the event returns, as a strong example of building closer ties through sharing cultures.
“I think it’s much more effective than fingerpointing, or vitriol-filled speeches,” he said.
Councilman Eion O’Neill added that he also attended and thought it was “a very cool event,” and council President Jim Sando joked, “you reminded me of something: I have to go take the fan out of my wife’s purse, just in case.”
Bridge repairs ongoing: Borough Manager Christine Hart reported on June 8 that repairs to a bridge in the borough’s Ninth Street Park are underway.
“Several contractors had talked about replacing the whole thing, in its entirety, but we were able to seek bids for repurposing the material that’s on the decking, which is in very good shape,” she said.
“It’s the underneath, the framing if you will — the joists have rotted out,” she said.
Repairs to the bridge will likely come in below the cost required to seek formal bids in a public process, according to the manager, and work will be completed as the materials arrive in the borough, with updates to be given at future meetings.
July 4 parade planned: Hart also gave an update on the planned borough July 4 parade, being sponsored by the North Wales Community Project Alliance.
“It will be taking place, as normally as it can be,” she said.
The parade will begin at 11 a.m. and proceed down Main Street, beginning behind Action Karate at 122 N. Main and ending at Weingartner Park. All veterans, antique cars, and/or decorated bicycles, scooters, wagons, floats, trucks and performers are asked to meet at 10:30 a.m. in the parking lot behind Action Karate. After the parade, a brief opening ceremony will be held at Weingartner, and kick off a picnic with a live band, food, games, prizes, and a pie-eating contest.
“We do appreciate everything the NWCPA does, and the several businesses that sponsor this event,” Hart said.
Anyone interested in participating or assisting is asked to contact organizer Beth Ann Sinotte at basinotte@comcast.net for more information.
Business thanked by Public Works staff: Council also heard from borough Public Works Supervisor Brian Sleicher, who thanked a local business for helping his crew on a recent hot day.
“I wanted to give a callout to a small business: the lady inside of WunderLicks Water Ice, for giving myself and my team water ice, and thanked us for what we were doing,” he said.
The borough public works crew was at work repairing a deteriorated inlet near the business, located at 117 E. Montgomery Ave, when an employee asked them to stop.
“They weren’t even open yet, she was in there cleaning, and came out and said ‘You guys need a 15-minute break, here’s some water ice,’” Sleicher said.
“If you guys like coconut, green apple, or papaya, it was incredible. They were very kind, and I just wanted to give a shoutout to them,” he said.