Superstorm can’t stop Delaware Punkin Chunkin tradition
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A woman is comforted after an failled attempt to rappel. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)
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<p>Two students at Springside Chestnut Hill Acedemy are decending the 21-story building. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>A crowd cheers for the daredevils as they come down (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>The photo of this Springside Chestnut Hill Academy student, Thomas Andrews is taken from an office on the 16th floor of 1515 Market St. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>A window in an office on the 16th floor gives a good view of one rappeller. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Sarah-Chen Ogorek, Thomas Andrews and Sarrah Schreffler are three Springside Chestnut Hill Academy students that will rappell to raise money for Outward Bound Philadelphia. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Nancy Goldenberg is unlocked from the rope after a safe descent. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>City Hall is seen behind the reflection of a rappeller. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Mayor Michael Nutter hangs free more than 230 feet above the ground. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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Mayor Michael Nutter listens the instructers before rappelling down. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)
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In the left a security agent with the Mayor's office takes a snapshot as the Mayor prepares for his decent. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)
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<p>Mayor Michael Nutter peeks over the edge. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Mayor Michael Nutter gets his harness fitted before heading to the roof. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Fernando Ezhevrry suits up in a Spiderman costume before rappeling down the building. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>About 70 daring Philadelphian's rappelled down a Center City building on Friday. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>NewsWorks photographer Nat Hammilton prepares for his descent. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Rappellers have to overcome the fear of descending the approximately 230-foot building. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>People look tiny below Matt Fingerman. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>A rappeller is seen hanging in the ropes of the instruction set-up. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Rappellers are given instructions before heading down the face of 1515 Market St. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Jennifer Raymond is one of the volunteers helping participants descend safely. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Ropes hang down the 21-story building. (Bas Slabbers/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>(Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>The Emancipator team sets up at the intersection of Punkin Lane and Chunkin Way. (Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>There was no shortage of characters at Punkin Chunkin. (Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>A trebuchet in action (Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>(Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Just a few days after Halloween, but it's never too late to dress up like a pumpkin. (Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Not only does this hat celebrate Punkin Chunkin, it also looks very warm. (Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>In addition to the air canons, trebuchet and torsion machines are also used to throw pumpkins. (Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Watching them fly (Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Be the pumpkin! (Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>A chilly weekend couldn't keep hundreds away from the November tradition in Bridgeville. (Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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A pumpkin cannon fires at the Punkin Chunkin event in 2012.(Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)
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<p>The face of excitement at Punkin Chunkin 2012. (Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)</p>
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(Chuck Snyder/for NewsWorks)
Chilly air and a soggy field couldn’t hold back the mayhem that is Punkin Chunkin in Bridgeville.
The annual Delaware tradition returned to Sussex County. The event which features contestants trying to throw, fire or shoot pumpkins as far as possible has become a nationally recognized event. It has also become a featured televised event for the Discovery Channel cable network.
There were some initial concerns that this year’s competition would be delayed or cancelled because of the impact of Hurricane Sandy. The storm’s impact meant for somewhat soggy conditions, but the show went on as scheduled, with thousands in attendance.
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