The annual Parade of Nations kicks off the Kielbasi Festival & Heritage Day and showcases all the different ethnicities that now call Shenandoah and Schuylkill County, home. Parade participants wear their home country’s colors, decorate floats, and carry flags. First responders including our amazing firemen and policemen, The Color Guard, government officials, area musicians, and 2025 Grand Marshal will parade through town. “The Parade of Nations is a colorful, energetic sight to see and will dazzle and delight the young and young at heart,” said Mary Luscavage, DSI acting executive director and board secretary. “It’s the perfect way to start the day,” she added.
Parade of Nations Grand Marshal Announced
Downtown Shenandoah Inc. is thrilled to announce that its founder and past president, Eric Mika is the 2025 Parade of Nations Grand Marshal. Eric grew up in Shenandoah and has always believed that it has a bright future. Last, April, DSI celebrated the groundbreaking of The Center For Education, Business & Arts (CEBA). He was unable to attend the event but left the following message that sums up his dedication and passion for his hometown and why 2025 is the perfect year to thank him with this annual honor.
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Mika's Special CEBA Groundbreaking Message
“It is unprecedented in my lifetime for the borough of Shenandoah, a game-changer and profound catalyst for returning Shenandoah to prominence. Not like the prominence of yesteryear but a new innovative and economic prominence. While we currently live in a "blame and complain society, DSI’s endless devotion, and selfless efforts, and leadership have proven the naysayers wrong. Shenandoah- yesterday and today- can accomplish anything.” A forever prideful bunch, like any community it just needs some direction, care, and leadership. If you demonstrate these genuinely and sincerely, you earn the respect of the people of Shenandoah forever. They can be tough, feisty, certainly fiercely opinionated, and quick to shoot from the hip, but if you show them you genuinely care, they are very proud, loyal, and God-fearing individuals who’ll give you the shirt off their back when one of their own or their community is in need. It is just Shenandoah’s culture. Always has been. I submit, there is no better example of the melting pot theory in the country than Shenandoah; it's long, unique, and illustrious history where citizens of many countries, ethnic backgrounds, and opposing cultures and religions arriving together and assimmilating over a century ago in less than one square mile of land!
"Where there is a will there is a way. That's the American way. This is the Shenandoah way"
Truly amazing if you think about and you know the Borough's unique history. Shenandoah not only survived but is in a position to thrive due to DSI and its projects like CEBA. DSI and this project epitomize what any community can do if each and every one of us sets aside differences, whose politics are whose, prejudices, and works together for the common good of all its neighbors, in the community. Why not? After all, from a birds-eye view looking down, we are simply people and businesses with relationships to each other. If every person can see that and just give some positive effort to make their neighbors' lives and community better and not expect someone else or the Borough to do it for them, there is nothing unachievable. Where there is a will there is a way. That's the American way. This is the Shenandoah way. I thank the good Lord that I was born and raised in Shenandoah. and I am so proud and so thankful to you and DSI for your profound and tireless efforts and tutelage in making this project happen I would do anything I can to improve it and sustain this project for those generations that succeed us which is the duty of every citizen. Duty, Honor, Country."
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Mika's Passion for Shenandoah is Contagious
Attorney Mika is part of the Williamson Friedberg & Jones Law Firm and is the only certified elder care lawyer in Schuylkill County. A staunch advocate for those age 60 and over, he concentrates on providing comprehensive financial and care assessments for individuals and their families through retirement, estate, long-term care, disability, special needs, and tax planning.
"In a 2006 Republican Herald newspaper article, Mika Has Fueled Renewal Effort, Eric was quoted, "If everyone would just do a little bit, there is no reason why we could not revitalize the downtown and restore the pride in Shenandoah." DSI's current president, Karen Kenderdine explained that without Eric's vision, there would be no DSI or CEBA. "His inspiration and passion for Shenandoah is contagious," she said.
