CLARKS SUMMIT – Strawberries from Pallman’s Farms. Strawberry cake. Strawberry lemonade.

Yes. The strawberry is back in season, and the National Running Center satisfied people’s love of the fruit by hosting the third annual strawberry festival on June 24.

The festival began with a 5K race called “Race for the Berries,” in which runners started on Davis Street. This year, they ran up the hill to Grove Street and back instead of running down Davis Street as in previous years.

“The course is a lot nicer this year than it was last year,” said Moscow resident David Haines, who finished in first place. “It was less hilly.”

Davis’ sister, Susanna Haines, an employee of National Running Center, baked strawberry cake for visitors and strawberry pies for the overall male and female winners of the 5K race.

“I was happy to do it,” she said.

Haines has a home-based bakery called Breads of Plenty, located in Madisonville.

Jefferson Twp. resident and US Marine Bill Cook, who has competed in many races and marathons, raced in the 5K with his family, including his daughter Alison McHale and grandsons Caden and Connor McHale.

Caden and Connor wore T-shirts of a running club called Jefferson Jackrabbits, a kid’s running club started by their mother, Alison. The club became known as the North Pocono Runners once it was blended with another team called North Pocono Roadrunners.

Cook ran in the Scranton Marathon which he has won 17 times and a few times in his age group. His favorite race is the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC, in which he has competed 18 times. He races in the “Race for the Berries” every year.

“I love the strawberry festival,” he said. “It’s a magnificent community event.”

A kid’s fun run immediately followed.

Festival-goers also enjoyed all things strawberry from vendors on Davis Street. Wendy O’Malley, an employee of Pallman’s Farms, vended green containers of strawberries freshly picked from the farm. Freshly-squeezed strawberry lemonade was also served. Kids enjoyed a game in which they tried to knock a strawberry target off the wall of The Gathering Place by shooting a water balloon from a slingshot. They also enjoyed candy handed out by the festival’s mascot Sparkle.

New this year, families enjoyed finding clues around town in a scavenger hunt. Six locations, including Everything Natural, Beta Bread, Manning’s Ice Cream and Pocket Park on Depot Street each had a strawberry for people to find. Crossroads Church hosted arts and craft activities courtesy of Abington Community Library. Renee Roberts, an employee of the library, helped kids make strawberries out of construction paper and color drawings of strawberries.

The Old Man River Band performed live music both inside and outside The Gathering Place, which benefited from the event’s proceeds, and an award ceremony for the runners took place there. Events chairperson of The Gathering Place Anne Armezzani, who emceed the Race for the Berries, is grateful for the people of the National Running Center and all who helped with this event, including Ashley Shamus, an employee of National Running Center, for starting this event three years ago and continuing it every year.

“I am happy to be involved with an event that is so community and family-centered,” said Shamus. “It’s great to see people (and kids) of all ages being active running the race and supporting a great organization, The Gathering Place. Thank you so much to everyone who helped at the event – we couldn’t have done it without you!”

Mike Batyko, of Dalton, crosses the finish line in third place in the 5K.

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Mike Batyko, of Dalton, crosses the finish line in third place in the 5K. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Alexis Laird, 10, of rom Clarks Summit, sets her shot as she launches a water balloon while volunteers Julia Braatz, left, and Hannah Linker hold the slingshot in place. Alexis’ brother previously knocked the strawberry target off the wall.

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Alexis Laird, 10, of rom Clarks Summit, sets her shot as she launches a water balloon while volunteers Julia Braatz, left, and Hannah Linker hold the slingshot in place. Alexis’ brother previously knocked the strawberry target off the wall. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Bill Cook, back left, races with his daughter and grandsons in the 5K race. From left, first row, Caden McHale, 10, and Connor McHale, 8. Back row, Bill Cook, his daughter Wendy McHale, and her husband, Kevin McHale. All are from Jefferson Twp.

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Bill Cook, back left, races with his daughter and grandsons in the 5K race. From left, first row, Caden McHale, 10, and Connor McHale, 8. Back row, Bill Cook, his daughter Wendy McHale, and her husband, Kevin McHale. All are from Jefferson Twp. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Kids received medals shaped like strawberries for participating in the Kid’s Fun Run. From left, are Peyton Pallman, Kay Lyn Elliott, Samantha Pallman, Kora Elliott, Sydney Pallman, Olivia Piasecki, and Maeve Piasecki.

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Kids received medals shaped like strawberries for participating in the Kid’s Fun Run. From left, are Peyton Pallman, Kay Lyn Elliott, Samantha Pallman, Kora Elliott, Sydney Pallman, Olivia Piasecki, and Maeve Piasecki. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Judy DeCarlo, of Clarks Green, serves freshly squeezed strawberry lemonade with a smile.

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Judy DeCarlo, of Clarks Green, serves freshly squeezed strawberry lemonade with a smile. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal

Renee Roberts, an employee of the Abington Community Library, assists Ernie Vasquez, 5, of Clarks Summit, with making a strawberry out of paper.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_20170624_105248-1-1-.jpg.optimal.jpgRenee Roberts, an employee of the Abington Community Library, assists Ernie Vasquez, 5, of Clarks Summit, with making a strawberry out of paper. Ben Freda | For Abington Journal
National Running Center holds third annual strawberry festival

By Ben Freda

For Abington Journal

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