SOUTH ABINGTON TWP – Despite a lot of rain on Saturday, visitors of the Cheers to Spring Festival didn’t whine. Instead, they drank wine at the Abington Heights Civic League (AHCL) hosted a wine festival at the South Abington Park. Members of the organization kept dry under a tent and greeted visitors, offering programs encased in wine glasses.
“It’s been nice,” said Cheryl O’Hora, president of AHCL. “No glitches. Everything is going well.”
Eleven wineries, including Winterland Winery in Dushore, Capra Collina in Blakely, Case Quattro Winery in Peckville, served wine under tents.
Ruthie Leichliter, who owns Hidden Creek Vineyard and Winery in Laceyville with her husband Russ, poured two varieties of dry Noble Bear Seyval and Baco Noir. She also had several of her Sweet BullFrogs Keg Sangria, Stampede, Bluestone, Peach, and Mudwasp, which all under the category of PA State and International Award Winning Wines.
“It’s always great to get our winery out to the public and meet new people,” said Hubbard.
Russ’ grandfather, Edward Leichliter, taught him how to make wines from Niagra grapes, a tradition currently in its fourth generation.
Wine was not the only beverage served at the festival, though.
Matt Zuk, owner of Iron Hart Brewing Co. in Carbondale, served his very own distinct handcrafted brews such as his Shaving Cream Ale, in which he collaborated with Loyalty Barbershop in Archbald, and his Nut Brown Ale, which tastes like coffee.
Members of The Gathering Place in Clarks Summit were in the spirit of the festival by vending jars with cheese, grapes, breadsticks, salami and pepperoni called Grab & Go Tasty Tidbits. They also promoted upcoming events at the The Gathering Place, such as a book signing for author Barbara J. Taylor May 16 and All About Opera May 24.
People tried to keep dry under the park’s pavilion as they watched The Tisburys followed by Mace in Dickson rock the pavilion.
Also under the pavilion, AHCL chairperson of raffles Mary Osterhout and AHCL club member Cheryl Kaiser vended tickets for raffle baskets displayed on picnic tables. Raffle items, including lottery tickets and merchandise, were donated by area businesses and non-profit organizations.
The Abington Heights Civic League also reached out to local fire companies, including South Abington Fire Co. and Clarks Summit Fire Co., to market their organizations. Proceeds from this event will benefit those fire stations as well as other stations in the Abington area, such as Newton-Ransom Volunteer Fire Co. and Dalton Fire Co.
Some of the proceeds will also go to the Abington Community Library’s upcoming summer reading program and Comm Camp, the Waverly Comm’s summer program.
The wine festival was created by Erin Osterhout (daughter-in-law of Mary Osterhout), thinking it would be a good idea since there’s never been such an event n thes area. The civic league plans to have this event again next year.
“We have a great community and great community groups,” she said. “Cheers to next year with no rain!”
The Tisburys, of Philadelphia, rock out under the South Abington Park pavilion.
Mary Osterhout, left, chairperson of AHCL’s raffles, and Cheryl Kaiser, club member of AHCL, vend tickets for raffle baskets.
Matt Zuk from Greenfield Twp, owner of Iron Hart Brewing Co. in Carbondale.
