Celebrating America's 250th Birthday!

The Whitehall America250 Committee commemorated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a series of community events in Whitehall Borough throughout the summer of 2026. Members of BWEF were invited to participate on this committee as a way of enhancing our community support and fostering new relationships with neighbors and residents in the communities we serve. 

Special Message from BWEF

Congratulations to the Whitehall America250 Committee for a successful celebration of America's 250th birthday! BWEF was honored to participate in several events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 
  • We co-hosted a student artwork contest in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District, and congratulations to Ninelle Dumm of J. E. Harrison Middle School! Ninelle's original design incorporated patriotic symbolism, was voted the best out of nearly 50 entries, and she received a $100 Amazon gift card as a prize! 
  • As part of its yard sign recycling program, BWEF donated materials to create yard signs marking the burial site for the 2026 Whitehall Borough Time Capsule. The capsule was buried on Aug. 12, 2026, just outside of the Whitehall Pool. We placed five items representing the Baldwin-Whitehall School District, Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation, and Highlander Hub in the time capsule, which will be opened as part of the country's tricentennial celebration in 2076. 
  • WA250 hosted a table during the Baldwin-Whitehall School District's annual We Are Neighbors event at Baldwin High School on May 28, 2026. 
  • BWEF President Erik Arroyo and Trustee John Wotus served on the WA250 Committee. All members of the committee received Community Service Awards presented by Whitehall Borough Council at Whitehall Community Day on Aug. 8.
BWEF would like to thank Whitehall Mayor James Nowalk and the entire Whitehall America250 Committee for the opportunity to work together and to make history in Whitehall Borough. We look forward to our next community collaboration!

Whitehall America250 Committee Honored by Whitehall Council

All members of the Whitehall America250 Committee received a Service Recognition Award presented by the Whitehall Borough Council during Whitehall Community Day on Aug. 8, 2026. The committee convened in November 2025 and planned a series of events throughout 2026 to celebrate America's 250th birthday.

Congratulations to Erik Arroyo, David Artman, Linda Book, Patrick Connors, Richard Deemer, Anthony DeMinico, 
Barbara Duff, Jason Gagorik, Ethan Green, Christy Kuehn, Nathan Malock, James Nowalk, Nicholas Price, Eugene Smith, David Thompson, Ed Thompson, Susan Veverka, John Wotus, ​and Ron Yosi. 

Special thanks to Whitehall Borough Council for this recognition.
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Click to view larger image.

2026 Time Capsule Buried on Aug. 12, 2026

On Aug. 12, 2026, the Whitehall America250 Committee placed the Whitehall Borough Time Capsule into the ground just outside of the Whitehall Pool. The capsule contained 76 unique items and collections, the perfect number for a capsule that will be unearthed as part of America's tricentennial celebration in 2076. The capsule included items representing business mementos/artifacts, keepsakes from daily life, letters to the future, media and pop culture items, and milestone keepsakes at the local, regional, national, and international levels.

We would like to thank the entire Whitehall community for contributing to the creation of the time capsule over the summer. We would especially like to thank members of the Whitehall Borough Council and Whitehall Public Library for their support, and send a very special note of appreciation to Whitehall Borough Public Works for their help in handling both the 1976 and 2026 time capsules. 

Whitehall America250 Parade

THANK YOU to everyone who marched, viewed, supported and participated in the historic Whitehall Borough America250 Parade!

Special thanks to our friends at the Whitehall Borough Historical Society for their presentation of the 1976 Bicentennial Time Capsule, and to Ethan Green Photography and Ed Thompson for their photographic talents throughout the day.

Click on the galleries below to view  pictures of the parade and Bicentennial Time Capsule reveal on Facebook courtesy of Ethan Green Photography and Hyxposure Photos (Ed Thompson). 

1976 Bicentennial Time Capsule: Exhumed on June 22!

On June 22, Whitehall Public Works exhumed the 1976 Bicentennial Time Capsule that was buried next to the flag pole outside of the Whitehall Borough Municipal Building. 

The Whitehall Borough Historical Society revealed the contents on June 27, during a special ceremony in Brennan Plaza after the Whitehall Borough Parade.  

You can view photos from this historic day in the parade photo galleries courtesy of Ethan Green Photography and Hyxposure Photos (Ed Thompson). 

Thank You for Celebrating America's Birthday With Us! 

Through a display of yard signs, t-shirts, and Whitehall America250 memorabilia, Whitehall residents joined us in celebrating America's 250th birthday. 

The Whitehall America250 Committee would like to thank everyone who placed a sign on their lawn, wore a t-shirt, or ordered a commemorative souvenir item during the summer of 2026. We hope these mementos continue to fill you with civic pride for Whitehall and for the United States of America. 

Whitehall America 250 Student Artwork Contest

Ninelle D., student at J. E. Harrison Middle School, was the winner of the Baldwin-Whitehall School District Student Artwork Contest! Ninelle created the original artwork design that incorporated patriotic symbolism, incorporated the Whitehall Borough crest, and the design was voted as the best student artwork submission out of nearly 50 entries. Ninelle received a $100 Amazon gift card and the design will be used during this summer's celebratory events. The Whitehall America250 Committee and the Baldwin-Whitehall Educational Foundation co-hosted the contest, and we would like to thank all students who submitted an original design! 

Whitehall America250 Committee

Erik Arroyo
David Artman
Linda Book
Patrick Connors
Richard Deemer
Anthony DeMinico
Barbara Duff
Jason Gagorik
Ethan Green
Christy Kuehn 
Nathan Malock
James Nowalk, Chair
Nick Price
Eugene Smith
David Thompson
Ed Thompson
Susan Veverka
John Wotus
​Ron Yosi
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2026 Whitehall Community Day: Members of the Whitehall America250 Committee received Community Service Awards presented by Whitehall Borough Council.