WNEP-TV’s Snedeker takes charity bike ride ‘hometown tour’ to Hometown, Delano, McAdoo
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - WNEP-TV Morning Meteorologist Joe Snedeker is welcomed at the McAdoo Fire Company's Hancock Street Station on July 26, 2023.
HOMETOWN – Joe Snedeker’s annual Go Joe charity bike ride came to part of our area Wednesday, and he received quite a welcome.
The WNEP-TV 16 morning meteorologist is in his 26th year riding a bicycle long distances to raise money for Saint Joseph’s Center, a special needs center in Lackawanna County, and this year’s ride began Monday.
Snedeker spent Monday in the northern tier of Pennsylvania, and Tuesday in the Susquehanna Valley, before visiting part of our area Wednesday.
Wednesday’s ride began in Hazleton, leaving the city for Beaver Meadows and Tresckow, before stopping at the McAdoo Fire Company’s Hancock Street station, where nearly four dozen people were waiting.
One of those people was Ralph Bianco, of McAdoo, who was dressed as The King, Elvis Presley. The attire, he said, was a tribute to Snedeker, who used a photo of Bianco in said attire as a “pointer” in a newscast. Snedeker often uses photos of people pointing, or other eccentric graphical elements, to illustrate weather patterns on the morning news.
Regarding the bike ride, Bianco said “It’s amazing what he does. 26 years. The guy is a legend all across northeast PA.”
“We should have more guys like that to support the kids. This is their future,” Bianco added. We need more from the community to help our kids live a better life.”
After McAdoo, Snedeker rode down to Quakake and Delano, where more residents were waiting and provided donations. In Delano, members of the fire company provided an escort into town and provided a donation on the company’s behalf.
Just in time for the noon newscast, Snedeker rode into the Hometown Farmers Market where a large crowd had formed, some of whom had signs, gifts, donations, and more.
Both at McAdoo and Hometown, Snedeker and the TV station raffled off rubber chickens, signed by the meteorologist, as multimedia journalist Chris Keating had adorned a chicken costume. Some had proclaimed Snedeker the “Chicken King.”
This summer is “the Summer of the Chicken,” Snedeker told the Sentinel.
“Why? I have no idea,” he added.
As for the ride? He says “[It’s been] a big success.”
“You guys always have the most support down here,” Snedeker said, adding a tongue-in-cheek, “but don’t tell anyone I said that.”
From Hometown, Snedeker continued into Carbon County, ending the day in Lehighton for the evening newscasts.
Snedeker returns to Schuylkill County Thursday, riding a loop of central and southwest Schuylkill County.
He will begin in Pottsville, and will ride through Mar Lin, Llewellyn, Branchdale, Newtown, Tremont, and Ravine on his way to Pine Grove, where he will be live at noon.
After the noon newscast, he will ride through Friedensburg, Cressona, Schuylkill Haven, Orwigsburg, and New Philadelphia before ending the day in Port Carbon for the evening newscasts.
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