PLYMOUTH — The members of the Plymouth Alive 18th annual Kielbasa Festival planning committee call him “Jack of all trades.”
They are referring to Jack Kovach, owner of Happy Pizza on West Main Street and the 2022 grand marshal for the Kielbasa Festival Parade, which steps off Saturday, Aug. 13, at 11 a.m.
Alexis Eroh, chair of Plymouth Alive, said Kovach was selected to be the grand marshal at the June meeting of Plymouth Alive.
Kovach was nominated for the honor by John Z. Thomas, the vice chair of Plymouth Alive.
Kovach is the owner of Happy Pizza and the Shawnee Room and he also serves as Plymouth Borough’s zoning officer.
Kovach selflessly volunteers his time helping the borough in whatever capacity he can, recently leading the team to hang all of our new Hometown Heroes banners along Main Street,” Eroh and Thomas said. “Last year, he rewired all the poles on Main Street to allow the Plymouth Christmas lights to be hung — a tradition we were not certain we could have continued due to the condition of the old receptacles.”
Thomas and Eroh said the borough was able to switch over all the lights in the municipal buildings to LED lights.
”Mr. Kovach volunteered his expertise once again, saving the borough thousands of dollars and leading the team to replace each ballast and bulb,” they said. “Any time Plymouth is in need of support, Mr. Kovach is there to help. His love for this community is evident in his dedication over the years and Plymouth Alive is happy to show our gratitude by honoring him as grand marshal.”
Kovach will lead the parade past all the banners honoring our Hometown Heroes which he graciously volunteered to hang — a tribute to his deep patriotism and love for this country.
“We are so fortunate to have someone like Jack Kovach as a member of our community and excited to share our admiration for him with the world,” Eroh and Thomas said.
Kovach is expected to ride in the bucket truck that is being used to hang the Hometown Heroes banners along Main Street. His wife, Patty Hogan Kovach, and daughter Tracey and son John Paul, will walk alongside.
Thomas said Kovach also helped hang American flags on Main Street and he even repaired the bucket truck used to hang the Hometown Heroes banners — 92 so far and 32 more to do.
“Jack really is Jack of all trades,” Thomas said. “I wish I had one-eighth of his knowledge. He’s a licensed electrician, plumber and contractor. And he does it all for the borough at no cost — from the good of his heart for his hometown.”