Forest Hills celebrates 100 years with 5 local centenarians

Forest Hills is celebrating its 100th birthday this weekend along with five residents who have lived to be 100 or older.

Isabel Dering, Nellie Enterline, Mary Gast, Albina Scrock and Anna Srdoch will be in the spotlight so they can be applauded for their long, amazing lives.

“We’ve been trying to celebrate Forest Hills all year,” said Mayor Frank Porco. “We’ve wanted to bring as many people together in the community. To live 100 years or more is an accomplishment, and we definitely wanted to include them.”

Three additional centenarians will be honored posthumously: Alice Sapienza Donnelly, Florence Pickels and Dorothy Placone. They died earlier this year, Porco said.

The senior citizens will ride in classic cars during the parade and after be part of a ceremony at the new municipal building.

PART 1 TONIGHT!! https://t.co/ugWxLy5EXf

— Forest Hills Borough (@ForestHillsBoro) August 30, 2019

The planning for the centennial event began five years ago, Porco said.

The borough held an Earth Day celebration in April and opened a time capsule that was buried in 1969 in July.

This weekend’s party kicks off with a concert in the park Friday, featuring Forest Hills’ own band Deep Roots who will perform in the municipal building parking lot at 6 p.m. The Vogues will take the stage at 8 p.m.

Chuck Blasko, of nearby Turtle Creek, co-founded The Vogues in 1965. He said the band is familiar with playing centennial events, having been part of Turtle Creek’s 100-year anniversary. He will take the stage with fellow vocalists Sean Moran and Tim Scott.

“This is a pleasure for us to be part of the centennial celebration,” Blasko said. “We are looking forward to it. It’s an honor.”

Vogues get power back! https://t.co/tV2xxynOfI

— Forest Hills Borough (@ForestHillsBoro) August 31, 2019

On Saturday, look for the centennial parade beginning at 4 p.m. at Woodland Hills High School and ending at the new municipal building.

The parade will feature fire trucks, classic cars, the Woodland Hills marching band, local dignitaries as well as the Forest Hills Borough’s Centenarians who will be honored at 6 p.m.

Part of the festivities include announcing the Caileigh Lynn McDowell award winner given to a high school senior or college student who embodies McDowell’s zest for life. McDowell died at the age of 17 in 2016 after complications from Crohn’s Disease.

“To me, as mayor I know this family feels a tremendous sense of loss and we can’t change that,” Porco said. “But we can honor Caileigh’s memory.

Another concert will be held at 7 p.m. with local band Walkin Rosie.

The event continues Sunday with a community pool party from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Forest Hills Pool. Musicians Jimmy Sapienza and Five Guys named Moe will provide entertainment during the pool party.