Posted: November 4, 2018 10:59 am
The Stone Bridge Lighting Committee has successfully completed a $30,000 fundraising effort to sustain, perpetuate, and maintain the project. More than 100 local businesses and individuals donated to the effort.
“We are so grateful to everyone who contributed to help keep the bridge lights shining, and to the committee members for soliciting the donations,” said Mike Brosig, project co-chairman. “It’s clear that the lights are a source of pride for many people and businesses locally, and we are gratified by their support.”
Dedicated in 2011, the original $1.267 million project included repairs to the bridge surface, and installation of thousands of LED lights that shine every night in animated, interchangeable colors chosen to match the theme of city events, holidays, health observances and more. The addition of a live webcam, easily accessible from the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) website, enables people across the world to view the bridge.
The $30,000 fundraising effort was launched in late August to replenish the Stone Bridge Lighting Fund, which is housed at the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies. The fund covers electricity and maintenance costs associated with the lights.
In fact, the bridge lights were repaired in early September, restoring the graze lights that provide a wash of color down the bridge’s façade.
Dustin Greene of Top Dog Productions, ENMACON, and Laurel Management Company have provided in-kind assistance to complete the repair.
“Dustin Greene’s technical expertise in lighting systems has been critical to our efforts,” Brosig said. “He stepped forward as a volunteer, and we couldn’t be more grateful to him and Top Dog for showing such dedication to the project.”
The lights are programmed with a half-hour lightshow that varies by the weekday, followed by the colors for the evening. You can always see what colors the bridge will be and why on the bridge’s Facebook Page, which can be accessed at www.facebook.com/stonebridgeproject, on the Stone Bridge section of www.jaha.org, or on JAHA’s Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/theJAHA.
The bridge is lighted for holidays, seasons, and community and health observances such as various health awareness events (such as pink for breast cancer, red for lymphoma, etc.). JAHA welcomes suggestions for these observances. In addition, for a fee people may rent the lights for private occasions as birthdays, pregnancy gender reveals, weddings, and more.
To suggest a community observance or inquire about lighting rental, visit the Stone Bridge section of this website.
While the current campaign is complete, anyone who wants to support the Stone Bridge as it showcases the vibrancy of the community to the world, can make donations anytime to the “Stone Bridge Lighting Fund” at the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, 116 Market Street Suite 4, Johnstown, PA, 15901; or to the “Stone Bridge Project,” in care of Johnstown Area Heritage Association, PO Box 1889, Johnstown PA 15907. In addition, you can donate at JAHA’s website.
