Proud to be from East Meadow

Residents and visitors packed Senator Speno Memorial Park last Saturday to celebrate East Meadow pride, and to enjoy the free food, games and giveaways.

The 19th annual Pride Day, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of East Meadow and led by Kiwanians Alan Beinhacker and Liz Fries, focused on fun and good will. It was the product of months of preparation and the involvement of a number of supporters and sponsors.

Beinhacker said he believes Pride Day is beneficial not only for residents but for local businesses. The purpose of the event, he said, is “getting people of East Meadow who have businesses to give back to people who patronize their businesses, and maybe to find new customers.”

Beinhacker made it clear, however, that absolutely no politicking or selling was allowed at the event; it was strictly a day to have fun with other residents of the community.

Peggy Mahoney, of the Town of Hempstead Parks and Recreation Department, said she thinks that all communities should see East Meadow Pride Day for themselves because it musters so much generosity and spirit. “I can say that this is absolutely the best one throughout the town,” Mahoney said.

The planning for the celebration began in early December, and Beinhacker was still getting calls inquiring about the event until the final week. In previous years, he and Fries asked only local banks for donations, but this year Covanta Energy came through with a large donation as well.

“It is a huge undertaking because everything is free,” said Fries.

She agreed that the day is an opportunity for local businesses to show the community who they are and what they do, but since Kiwanis works with the Chamber of Commerce to stage the event, it is also for kids. Kiwanis is dedicated to “serving the children of the world,” after all, and the organization does it best to live up to its motto at East Meadow Pride Day. This year’s event featured a number of activities for children, like rides and demonstrations by the local Fire Department. There was also live music performed by the W.T. Clarke High School jazz band.

Twenty-year-old Kevin Amiri reminisced about growing up in East Meadow. “I’ve been coming here since I was five years old,” he said, and he still enjoys the celebration now.

Legislator Norma Gonsalves said she believes that Pride Day is a golden opportunity for people of East Meadow to come together and see what the community has to offer. “It truly exemplifies what the East Meadow community is about,” she said.