Harveys Lake Homecoming full of activity

There's just one event in the Back Mountain where you are encouraged to buy locally-made crafts, eat as many wings as you can and take in a free-style Jet Ski competition all in one day.

The 2012 Harveys Lake Homecoming schedule of events for today is chock-full of activities for anyone and everyone looking to get involved in the lake community.

Mayor Clarence Hogan, chairman of the event, said it's a huge undertaking to continue the homecoming weekend, but he's dedicated to helping the community in any way he can.

"It's all about giving back to the community," said Hogan. "Whatever we do there, it goes right back into the borough. We're raising funds for the Harveys Lake Little League, for veterans. Anything else we do, it goes into the borough for something."

Hogan said the Harveys Lake Homecoming Committee is looking into purchasing a new sign to greet visitors to the lake. He'd like to see a digital sign that would announce events at the lake as well as the time and weather located at the entrance to the lake.

"Originally, we started off trying to purchase a clock, like in Dallas Borough … but that was kind of expensive," he said. "… Now, we give everything back to the community, and we like to help whatever organization we can. Plus, it's a great time."

Resident Maureen Devine has helped with the homecoming for the last five years and said it's an opportunity for year-round residents to see the talents and personal interests of the community.

How does she know that? The former Lake-Lehman swim coach and Lake-Noxen Elementary third-grade teacher has been organizing all the water sports and children's activities for the event.

"I made a suggestion for having some activities for children, and to do things on the water because when they had it originally, there were no water activities and we're Harveys Lake," she said. "Clarence Hogan, the chairman, said they were good ideas and asked me if I'd like to come on board. I guess they say if you have an idea, to follow through you have to be a part of it."

This year there will be a Jet Ski competition organized by Shae Adamshick, whose family owns HL Powersports, that will feature participants racing around the lake and performing various tricks. Winners could receive prizes like life jackets, bathing suits, Harveys Lake beach towels and more.

"My family and I opened a shop at the lake called HL Powersports, and we specialize in Jet Ski repair," said Adamshick. "That's how I basically learned how to work on them – I used to work on Jet Ski races all over the country. We thought it would be a good tie-in to homecoming."

The "Kiss My Fish" contest has a new angle (that's a fish joke). The winner (or loser, whichever way you look at it) of the contest, which was once called "Kiss My Bass," is now determined by students at Lake-Noxen Elementary School.

Students voted on which of their teachers – or principal – would be eligible to kiss a bass from the lake. The lucky winner will smooch a sturgeon during the closing ceremonies at 5 p.m. today.

Devine wanted to find a way for the students to get more involved in the homecoming celebration.

"They even have a float in our parade now," she said.

Hogan is already looking for people to get involved in next year's event, and all ideas are encouraged. He also said residents can contact him at 793-5187 to enter into any of today's contests.