The Concourse Club in Palmerton disbursed $8,000 in proceeds from its Basket Spectacular fundraiser to 22 nonprofit organizations. One of the organizations receiving funds was the Palmerton Memorial Pool.

Larry Ahner, the general manager of the pool, said, "The money will go into keeping the park in shape."The park association received the $1,000 contribution just in time. The motor and pump for the sliding board burned up this week. That will cost $2,500 to refurbish, Ahner said."There's a lot that goes into running a pool," he said.When the deep well motor needed to be replaced, it cost $19,000. An even larger bill was paid when the bathrooms were refurbished. That cost $60,000.This year, the park association refurbished the half-mile nature trail through the woods near the pool, Ahner said. It was made handicap accessible. The material used on the trail isn't concrete or gravel, but it's smooth enough for wheelchairs move across it.Ahner said this year is the 70th anniversary of the park. It has run continuously all of those years, and it will open at 1 p.m. on Saturday for another summer season."It looks like we might have a hot weekend," he said.Each year, 50,000 to 85,000 people visit the pool. When it's a cool summer, the numbers are lower. But when the heat is on, the numbers go up, too. Ahner said that although most pool seasons are 100 days, last year was 107 days long. Time will tell what this season will bring."We keep it open until after the Community Festival," he said.In the meantime, the Pool Pals are organizing several special event days. There is the First Sunday of Summer, Fun Day, and Christmas in July complete with Santa Claus giving presents. Then there is Old Timers Day with hot dogs, birch beer and free watermelon slices, all at old-time prices. And the season is rounded out with Carnival Day, where poolgoers can knock their favorite lifeguard into a dunk tank, Ahner said.Admission costs for the pool are $5 per child and $7 per adult. It is open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday.In addition to the Palmerton Memorial Park, the Concourse Club donated to St. John's Lutheran Church, Palmerton Area Library, Luzerne County's Domestic Violence Service Center, Palmerton Historical Society, Christian Action Council of Palmerton Area Churches, Palmerton Fire Co., West End Fire Co., Aquashicola Fire Co., Towamensing Fire Co., Bowmanstown Fire Co., Palmerton Area Recreation Committee, Palmerton Band, St. Vincent DePaul Society, Carbon County Special Olympics, Breast Cancer Research, Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Palmerton Bandstand Committee, Meals on Wheels of Palmerton, Care Net of Carbon County, Family Promise, Friends of the Park, Turn To Us Inc., and the Concourse Club President's Project.Judy Borger, a member of the Concourse Club, said the organization has given out more than $105,000 over the 16 years that it has made donations from its Basket Spectacular. The event is held every April at St. John's Lutheran Church in Palmerton.When the Basket Spectacular first began, it brought in a little more than $2,600. That amount has risen each year and almost always reaches the $8,000 mark.This year, the Concourse Club also marked its 101st anniversary in May. The club began in 1915 and consists of local women dedicated to serving the public. They meet on the first Thursday of the month from October through May.