Palmerton Band faces funding crisis

Joe Plechavy has been immersed in Palmerton’s music community since he was a boy.

In approximately fourth grade, Plechavy started playing in his school’s band. As a high school student, he joined the Palmerton Community Band. For his career, Plechavy served as a music teacher in the Palmerton Area School District.

Even now, after being a part of the Palmerton Community Band in some capacity for 48 years, Plechavy volunteers as its director. But managing the ensemble hasn’t been an easy task.

“It can be very stressful,” Plechavy said. “You never know who’s going to show up — and who’s not going to show up — for a concert.”

On top of unpredictable attendance, the band faces other hardships. Band equipment is stored in the Pencor Inc. building across the street from the borough hall, requiring it to be insured. Even more, the band lacks a permanent space to rehearse, and insurance is required for the various venues where they do practice.

Plechavy traced the band’s current funding to the Palmerton Historical Society, the Concourse Club and the Horsehead Community Development Fund. Between those three sources and the small earnings the band receives through one of its performances, Plechavy estimates it survives on just over $3,000, most of which is depleted by the end of the band’s season.

According to Plechavy, that budget doesn’t give much room for supplying for the band or maintaining its needs.

For example, he has to lend his own keyboard to the troupe, and while he expects he’ll have to replace some parts of its percussion equipment, Plechavy said he’s not sure the band will be able to afford it.

Last Thursday, Plechavy took one step toward remedying some of his concerns, asking Palmerton Borough Council to look into financially contributing to the community band.

“In the early years, the band played at many picnics and other occasions throughout the course of the year, which earned them money needed to continue functioning,” Plechavy told council.

He said finding a place to rehearse was also easier in the past, and the band’s musicians themselves carried their equipment to and from practice and events.

But Plechavy said that is no longer the case.

“Over the years that’s changed,” Plechavy said. “More and more percussion equipment has been required.

“If the band is to continue much past the next six to eight years, we need to find a source of money that is a regular thing,” Plechavy petitioned the council.

Plechavy was aware that some may ask why he brought this issue before the borough council rather than appealing to local businesses. But he said local businesses are “blasted” with requests, and in 1979, the borough supplemented the band with $750.

Even that small figure could make a difference in the band’s longevity, Plechavy said.

“By today’s standards that’s not very much, but reinstating that amount or something similar would go a long way toward keeping the band and live music alive in Palmerton,” he said.

There was no immediate response from council, but following Plechavy’s proposal, Palmerton Borough Mayor Christopher Olivia asked where community members could send donations for the band.

Plechavy said that in the meantime, he could accept donations on its behalf.