Plum’s Movies in the Park series ends with additional show

Michael Divittorio | Sunday, September 20, 2020 8:49 p.m.

Michael DiVittorio | Tribune-Review

Plum’s Movies in the Park series at Larry Mills Park had a drive-in setting this year to allow attendees enough space to be socially distant while watching a film.

Plum ended this year’s Movies in the Park series with a blue blur.

The fourth and final film featured at Larry Mills Park was “Sonic the Hedgehog,” a Jeff Fowler film based on the iconic Sega video game of the same name.

More than 240 people were in attendance Sept. 19 for the drive-in theater setting at the recreation site on Fontana Drive. Plum Rotary provided free popcorn.

There was a 30-foot section set up near the screen for people who brought their own chairs to socially distance, followed by four rows of cars and SUVs.

“I think it’s a really good idea for the community to have movie nights, especially during the covid-19 situation where we’re all socially distanced between one another,” said resident Jesse Cook. “It gets the community together to have a good time and yet follow the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines.”

Some like recent Plum High School graduate Elena Dupaly used a mattress to lay down in the back of a pickup truck for extra relaxation.

“I like it better than in the movie theater because there’s more air and you can look at the sky while you’re watching the movie,” Dupaly said.

Sonic was released in June 1991 for the home console Sega Genesis. Since then, there have been more than 50 Sonic-related video games including those on hand-held devices.

Recent Plum grad Livia Paoletti said she just started becoming a fan of the hedgehog when the movie came out this year.

“I missed it when it was in theaters, so I’m glad to finally have this opportunity to see it in the park,” Paoletti said.

Mona Costanza, one of the organizers and assistant to the borough manager, said the September showing was added to the movie series by public request after Plum hosted three other screenings.

The borough presented “The Secret Life of Pets 2” in June, “Playing with Fire” in July and “Angry Birds 2” in August.

“The community asked for it, and council made it happen,” Costanza said. “I think it was a great gift to the community.”

Attendees wore masks when they moved around the grounds and got free popcorn provided by Plum Rotary.

Vince Lagrotteria, the borough’s audio/video director, handled the showing and did a trivia game prior to the movie.

More information about borough activities can be found online at plumboro.com.