St. Peter’s Picnickers Stomp Feet to Bluegrass Music

More than 100 people of all ages came to hear “Mike Hertzog and the Blue Mountain Gang” play the fiddle and strum their guitars and banjo at in Upper Milford Township.

The July 16 concert was the culmination of a day of home-made food, fun and activities at the annual Community Picnic. As picnickers sat in their lawn chairs atop the mountain listening to the bluegrass music, they stomped their feet and clapped their hands to the beat.

One of the highlights of the day was a mini car show with about two dozen cars, seven tractors and several toy vehicles children could sit in.

Children were mesmerized by the toy vehicles owned by Norman Hunsberger of East Greenville. He drove children around in a fire truck ringing the bell and playing the siren as they traveled around. 

Hunsberger transports the toys in a 53-foot-long trailer. “How do you get around the turns and curves in these country roads?” asked a curious on-looker. “Very carefully,” he answered.

Bill Shankweiler, of Old Zionsville, displayed his 1969 GTO. He said it has never been restored and still has the original paint. The car has 65,000 miles on it, and Bill is the original owner.

Daniel Tyson, of Andreas, Pa., brought his replica “Ghostbusters” car to the event. His car is equipped with sirens and plays the theme song from the movie. Tyson also carries coveralls and a backpack in the car just in case he may need them.

Bill Weaver, of Macungie, showed his replica 1964 Shelby Cobra racing car. He still races it and has taken home several 1st-place titles.

As people milled about looking at the cars, they also played bingo, paged through books at the used book sale, bought goodies at the bake sale, and picked out ducks in the duck pond. Most of the food at the picnic was made by members of St. Peter’s; even the french fries were hand-cut.

As more and more visitors arrived at the picnic, Pat Miller, who collected donations of food for parking, said, “I don’t know where to go with the cars. We’re running out of places. But that’s a good problem.”

Everyone managed to find a parking space, though, in plenty of time to hear the band play its foot-stomping music.