The first night officially opened at 5 p.m. with a rededication of Silver Creek’s historic fountain in the park. Louis Pelletter, deputy supervisor for the town of Hanover, gave a short history lesson on the storied fountain. He cited its construction in 1939 as a Depression Era work project and told how it was made — by hand — by the village workers. Following a major water leak in 2018, the fountain had to be shut down and overhauled.

Mike Pagano, construction coordinator for the project, talked of how the fountain was given “an incredible face lift while keeping it original.”

According to Pagano, there was very little cutting and drilling, and every contractor and employee that worked on the fountain was from the Silver Creek area.

Following the rededication, interest quickly turned to the opening ceremony and grape stomping competition.

The ribbon was cut rededicating the historic fountain Friday at the 52nd Annual Festival of Grapes.

Deanna Borrello, chairwoman for the Festival of Grapes thanked many individuals including the board of treustees, Mayor Jeff Hornburg and those who worked on the fountain, before turning events over to be awarded. The first award presented was to the girls champion for the pentathlon, that was held Tuesday. The winner was Sophie Randall with runner up being Brielle LaValle. For the boys there was a tie for first place, with Anthony Cornwall and Collin Morabito both declared winners, with Tanner Stern as runner up.

The baby contest was called and then the next award given was the 2019 Grape Grower of the Year award, the recipient this year was Alvin Wilson. A lifelong resident of Silver Creek, Wilson has been living on the same family grape farm, located on Hanover Road for 88 years and has been running the farm since 1965. Amongst other things, he served in the military, was a long time member of the Silver Creek Hook & Ladder Co. and the Fire Police. Wilson also is a current member and past president of the Southwestern Firemen’s Association and also served on the Silver Creek Emergency Squad for 25 years. He is also retired from Bethlehem Steel and was a substitute bus driver for 50 years in the Silver Creek School District. Though reluctant to speak he finally did, and gave a short thank you for the award.

The much anticipated grape stomping event came next. There were a total of six heats. The first being the boys pentathlon winners then the girls pentathlon winners with an audience member, a group of coaches came next, followed by audience kids, bankers from Community Bank and finally audience adults.

The 52nd Annual Festival of Grapes continues throughout the weekend.

OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward Girls pentathlon winner Sophie Randall, runner up Brielle LaValle and audience participant Alida Carrasquillo stomp grapes at the 52nd Annual Festival of Grapes in 2019.

OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward Boys pentathlon winners, Anthony Cornwall and Collin Morabito and runner up Tanner Stern stomp grapes at the 52nd Annual Festival of Grapes.

OBSERVER Photo by Jo Ward 2019 Grape Grower of the Year Alvin Wilson accepts his award to a packed crowd Friday at the 52nd Annual Festival of Grapes.