The ninth annual Coal Crackin’ Rock the Block festival was held this past weekend and featured a blaring firetruck parade, both ethnic and home-cooked food, live concert bands, finger printing for children and even a reminder of the 9/11 anniversary approaching within a few days.

Rock the Block, co-sponsored by the Coaldale Fire Company and C.H.O.S.E., a nonprofit recreation group in Coaldale, was held on the Coaldale Fire Company grounds. Proceeds benefit the two organizations.

A highlight was the parade which featured about 30 pieces of apparatus from over a dozen communities.

One of the firetrucks participating in the parade, and on display most of the day on Saturday, was a 2002 Seagraves pumper that was originally part of the fleet of the New York City Fire Department.

The truck was purchased by Laddie Vitek of Lombard, Illinois. It was originally bought as a replacement vehicle for the New York City Fire Department to replace one of the trucks destroyed in the 9/11 terrorism attack at the World Trade Center, said Vitek.

On the door of the truck is the New York City World Trade Center emblem.

Vitek said he got the truck because “I always liked New York, and I wanted to make a movable 9/11 memorial.”

The truck is presently being stored for Vitek at the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society warehouse in Mahanoy City where it is being refurbished.

Vitek said the warehouse had a public open house on Saturday and he flew in from Chicago to attend. He said he heard about Rock the Block and decided to bring the vehicle to the event.

Once renovations are completed it will be moved to Illinois. He said he purchased the truck through a vehicle auction.

Quinn Dickinson of Sinking Springs, a member of the Society, said the truck owned by Vitek is presently the New York Fire Department vehicle with linkage to 9/11 being housed in Pennsylvania.

Also brought from the Society was a pumper from Sussex County, New Jersey.

The parade was judged, with trophies given to the winning entries.

During the judging, Coaldale Fire Chief Steven Polischak revealed that planning has already begun for next year’s Rock the Block.

He said preliminary plans call for fireworks at the 10th annual festival.

Polischak said he was pleased with the turnout at the event. The food stands were busy throughout the Rock the Block.

The C.H.O.S.E. stand, which served mashed potato bowls in addition to the standard fare of hamburgers and french fries, often had lines with more than 15 people waiting to place orders.

The fire company volunteers made such fare as funnel cakes and chicken wings.

The band Light the Moon played Friday and Saturday night and played most light rock. The Throwbacks played classics from The Beatles and other prior generational bands on Sunday.

Fire departments which participated in the vehicle parade were:

Coaldale, Tamaqua, Lansford, Summit Hill, Nesquehoning, West Penn Township, Tresckow, Tuscarora, Ryan Township, Bowmanstown, Emerald, Walnutport and Slatedale.

Parade results

Fire departments which received trophies from the judges are:

• Most Functional 1,750 gpm and up - 1. Diligence Fire Company, Summit Hill; 2. West Penn Township.

• Most Functional 1,500 gpm and under - 1. Emerald Fire Company, 2. Lansford Fire Company.

• Engine-Rescue Combination - Ryan Township.

• Rescue Truck - West Penn Township.

• Tanker - Bowmanstown.

• Brush Truck - Tuscarora, Aerial - Nesquehoning.

• Specialty Unit - Walnutport.

• Judges’ Award - Tamaqua Rescue.

• Latest Apparatus - Diligence Fire Company, Summit Hill.

• Seagraves Unit - Fire Department of New York engine.

• KME Unit - Nesquehoning Fire Department.

• Best Overall Company - Walnutport.

• Captain Kyle Zwiesdak Memorial Award - Citizens Fire Company, Tamaqua.