Carnival nets $40K for Herricks

Richard Tedesco

Carnival-goers seeking to avoid lines and save money helped the Herricks Community Fund raise $40,000 at the organization’s recently completed annual spring carnival.

Herricks Community Fund board of directors member Brian Hassan said advance sales of the ride vouchers, which cost $20 apiece, rose from 2,200 last year to 2,600 this year to hit the $40,000 mark.

He said the community fund splits the pre-sales take with Dreamland Amusements, which runs the carnival. Revenues from the $30 vouchers sold at the carnival go only to Dreamland, Hassan said.

“It’s the largest annual fundraiser for the Herricks Community Fund,” said Hassan, who is also a Herricks school board trustee.

Last year, the fund provided $16,000 in mini-grants for teacher-sponsored projects districtwide and the acquisition of Apple mini-Pads for use by district students. The fund also awards college scholarship to graduating Herricks High School seniors and this year, Hassan said, the Herricks Community Fund will award six $1,000 scholarships to Herricks students. The fund also supports the Alzheimers program and activities for the Herricks Seniors at the Herricks Community Center.

In recent years, funds raised by the carnival have helped purchase digital cameras for the high school and digital recording equipment for the elementary schools and electric signs at the community center and the high school used to publicize events. Carnival revenues also enabled refurbishment of the community center theater and the building’s lobby. 

Event organizers said the strong community response was evident in the consistent attendance during the four days of the carnival from last Thursday, May 29 through Sunday, June 1. The carnival was held in the parking lot of the community center at 999 Herricks Road.

“We’re lucky. When the weather’s good, we get a good crowd,” Richard DeMartino, Herricks Community Fund board member, said.

On Saturday afternoon, children lined up for the Dreamland rides, including the Dragon roller coaster, the bumper cars, the carousel, the ferris wheel and the giant slide. Vendors sold an assortment of carnival food, including gyros, pizza and Italian sausage sandwiches.

It’s also an occasion for members of the community to socialize in the relaxed family atmosphere of the carnival, according to district parent Henry Zanetti, who said he consistently buys the ride vouchers in advance to aid the community fund. 

Albertson resident Nick Agnone said he and family regularly attendant the spring event.

“Our kids go to the district schools. We want to support the district. And our kids want to he here with their friends,” Agnone said.

Mineola resident Eric Katinas, who was at the carnival with his three children, said, “It’s like a rite of spring. They know summer’s on the way when the carnival’s on.”

Glendale, Queens, resident Peter Clinton said his family has been coming for several years, accompanying the family of friends who live in the district.

“It’s a good way to kill the day,” Clinton said.

Vaibhav Zaveri buys advanced vouchers each year to support the district and comes for his children’s amusement.

“It’s something local for the kids,” Zaveri said.

The event is sponsored by Ridgewood Savings Bank, which has supported the event for the past several years.

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