The 4th Annual Cruise to the Music Festival to benefit the United Way of Carbon County (UWCC) was held under somewhat hot but beautiful clear blue sunny skies last Saturday at Memorial Park in Jim Thorpe.

One of the major highlights of the event was the Classic Car Show hosted by the Jukebox Cruisers Car Club of Jim Thorpe, with close to 100 glistening vehicles of a wide variety of colors, styles, and model years gracing the area around Memorial Hall.Jukebox Cruisers Car Club President Joe Boyle noted that all of the proceeds raised by the Classic Car Show were donated directly to the United Way of Carbon County.This year's festival was spread out throughout the entire grounds of Memorial Park accommodating some of the new attractions added this year.Among the "firsts" for this year's festival were crafters with about three dozen vendors; a wine garden featuring about 25 flavors from the Antler Ridge Vineyard; a rock climbing wall; and a heat-quenching mister.As in prior years, there was a wide varieties of homemade foods, a huge Chinese auction, a beer garden, live entertainment, free kid's activities, and much more.Working tirelessly as a "team of three" were Donna Lennon and Dr. Lisa Bleicher who were co-chairs for the festival and Angela Nardini who handled the marketing, media, and public relations for the United Way at the festival.Speaking for them all, Nardini said that they would like to thank all of the entertainers who unselfishly donated both their time and talent to help make the event a success.She thanked the vocal trio "I.C.E." who performed the national anthem at the beginning of the festival also did a 30 minute program for the event.Nardini also thanked Jim Thorpe and Carbon County Idol winners, NYC and Poconos favorite musician Tom Riccobono, and "Karen Meeks & The Soul" who were followed by the Lehigh Valley's No. 1 cover band "She Said Sunday".She expressed the overwhelming gratitude for all that they have done for the United Way of Carbon County and all of the agencies served by them.There were several animal rescue groups also represented at the event, among them were the Pocono Greyhounds, the Australian Shepherds, and Waggin' Tails.The fine weather, the car show, the great entertainment, the good eats, and all of the other attractions at the festival produced a very good turnout for the event.All of the proceeds from the festival stay right here in Carbon County and will benefit the over 17 local agencies served by the United Way of Carbon County.Those served by UWCC include : American Red Cross; ARC of Carbon County; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Carbon County Action Committee; CTC Manufacturing; Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries/Volunteer Home Care; Girl Scouts Eastern PA Council; Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA Council; Methodist Services For Children & Families/Genesis; North Penn Legal Services; Pathstone; Shepherd House, Inc.; The Salvation Army; HRC (Human Resource Center of Carbon County);

W.I.R.E. (Weatherly Institute of Robotics & Engineering); Penn State Cooperative Extension Prosper Program; and Meals On Wheels.The other Non-Profit Agencies that helped us out at the Festival were : Christ United Church of Christ, Jim Thorpe; Meade's Church, Nesquehoning; Nesquehoning Fire Company; Family Promise (Carbon County Shelter); Waggin' Tails, Carbon/Monroe County; Awesome Animal Shelter, Monroe County; and Australian Shepherds.