Local residents crowded the grounds of the Herricks Community Carnival outside of the Herricks Community Center last weekend, lining up for amusement rides and lemonade, and testing their skills at various games in the hope of winning a prize.
All in support of a good cause.
“It’s our major annual fundraiser,” said Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar, who is co-president of the Herricks Community Fund. “The purpose of all this is to bring money back to the school district.”
Revenue from the annual carnival enables the Herricks Community Fund to maintain and operate Youth Council programs at Herricks High School and Friday Night Recreation at the middle school. The community fund also supports the Herricks Alzheimer Program as well as the Herricks Community Players and mini-grants for district teachers.
This year, the fund is adding two $1,000 college scholarships to the two scholarships it had awarded graduating Herricks High School seniors last year.
Invariably, people attending the fair said they had come to give a boost to the community and allow their children to have a good time.
“I came to support the community and for them to have fun,” said Brian Curry, a resident of Williston Park who was at the carnival with his kids on Saturday.
“The kids motivated me,” said Searington resident Andrew Barba, who said he was there “to take the family and support the community, of course.”
Among the most popular rides was the dream catcher that swung kids in pods to a position high above the carnival grounds, eliciting screams as they swayed back and forth. Also popular was the Orient Express dragon roller coaster, the giant slide and the Sky Hawk tilt-a-whirl that swung the kids around at increasing speed and height in the warm afternoon sunshine. Adults joined in with kids on the bumper cars.
Contestants of all ages tried pitching ping pong balls in fish bowls to win gold fish. And young children in some cases took lessons from their parents on just how to aim darts at balloons to win stuffed animals and other prizes.
“The kids love coming here and their friends are here,” said Mike Baranello, a Williston Park resident who coaches his two daughters on Lady Patriots softball teams.
He said he was having trouble convincing his kids it was time to leave as they were insisting on staying to take a few more turns on the rides.
Shilpa Patel said she brought her kids for the rides for a chance to renew old acquaintances.
“It’s a nice way to get to see people again. Plus it supports the community,” she said.
