Organizers of Arnold's 'Rockin' Roosevelt,' New Kensington's 'Band Blast' look to hand off running of events

What started as an effort to get friends off social media and together in the real world birthed a concert series that has run for a decade in Arnold and New Kensington.

But with their members moving away and getting older, those who remain of the New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park are looking for others to carry on the annual events they stage — “Rockin’ Roosevelt” in Arnold’s Roosevelt Park since 2013 and “Band Blast” in New Kensington’s Memorial Park since 2014.

New Ken/Arnold Social in the Park was the idea of Rob W. Greb, who wanted to get people off of Facebook and together in-person, said Lou Downard, who grew up with Greb in Arnold and now lives in Lower Burrell. The first gathering, without bands, was held in Memorial Park in 2011.

Greb died in 2012. A plaque memorializing him is affixed to the Memorial Park amphitheater.

Roosevelt Park had been closed because Arnold couldn’t pay for a monitor to ensure it wasn’t abused, damaged or vandalized. Proceeds from Rockin’ Roosevelt helped pay for the monitor so the park could be opened.

This year’s Band Blast at New Kensington’s Memorial Park, on Aug. 25, will be the last that the group stages on its own, Downard said. Rockin’ Roosevelt was held on June 2.

The events feature lineups of bands that volunteer their time to perform half-hour sets from noon to 8 p.m. at each park. Proceeds from a $5 admission go toward maintenance and improvement of the parks.

At its peak, New Ken/Arnold Social had 14 members. It’s down to six or seven who are now in their mid-50s to 70s, Downard said.

“We want to keep this going,” he said. “Eventually, this would have to happen.”

Arnold revitalized its recreation committee this year, and it will take over Rockin’ Roosevelt next year, Councilman Aaron Moore said.

Lori Hernandez, president of the five-member committee, said they definitely want to continue it.

“It’s an event that a lot of people look forward to, even the bands,” she said. “It’s fun. It’s one of the only events bringing our little small town out. I don’t see it going away any time soon.”

Members of New Ken/Arnold Social, including Downard and Dan Galie, the musical director from Arnold, will stay involved and work with them as running Rockin’ Roosevelt phases over to the recreation committee.

“As long as they need people to book the bands, that would be me,” Galie said.

While Rockin’ Roosevelt will be the same under the recreation committee, Hernandez said they may add more vendors in hopes of bringing in more people.

“They’re going to teach us what they do and how they do it so we can take it over eventually,” she said.

New Kensington Mayor Tom Guzzo said he’ll have Councilman Dante Cicconi, who oversees parks and recreation, talk with Downard to find out what they are asking the city to do.

“We’re certainly in favor of it,” Guzzo said. “We’ll try to help out any way we can.”

New Kensington’s recreation commission may meet at 6 p.m. July 1 ahead of the council meeting at 7 p.m. If it does, Downard said they plan to be there to talk with them about Band Blast.

“My guess is they’ll want to do it. It’s an established event,” Downard said. “They’ve got the staffing where we don’t. It’s easier for them to staff it than for us.”