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Overcast A picnic at the park
Music, food and fun could be found at Wantagh Park last Saturday, as the Lions Club hosted its first community picnic.
More than 100 residents turned out on a warm and sunny afternoon to the park. Many spread out on blankets underneath the trees, while others settled at the picnic tables. There was entertainment throughout the afternoon, including several bands and performances from students at Cristina’s Dance Unlimited of Wantagh.
While the event was hosted by the Lions Club, the picnic was the product of cooperation among several organizations. The Kiwanis Club offered games, the Chamber of Commerce provided the Showmobile and the Wantagh Fire Department brought a fire truck for children and adults to explore. Lions Club members grilled burgers and hot dogs, and prepared corn on the cob. An inflatable slide was donated by Lions Club member Michael Mitschwiller, owner of Wantagh Auto Body. It was all free for guests.
Joann Locascio, of Wantagh, came to watch her daughter perform with the dance school. She and family members brought lots of food they cooked up ahead of time.
“It’s a beautiful way to get the community together,” she said of the picnic. “It’s so much fun; a great way to spend the day with family.”
Matt Hunt, a lifelong Wantagh resident, planted the idea of the picnic in the head of Lions Club President Gregg Markin years ago, and was there last Saturday to see it come to fruition. “We have a very special bond in this community,” he said. “A lot of people grow up here and stay here.”
Hunt said he hopes to see the event grow in the coming years, and would like to see the schools get involved.
Cristina Salhuana, owner of Cristina’s Dance Unlimited, said it was nice to give her students a chance to showcase their skills. They performed routines they have been working on since September. An event like the picnic, as opposed to the competitions the girls are used to, gave them a chance to perform without any pressure.
“It’s nice to be able to bring my girls to dance in the community I grew up in,” she said. “Everyone’s enjoying it. We’ve never done an event like this.”
Markin said he felt the picnic was a success. The weather was perfect, he said, and the entertainment catered to all ages.
“I think next year is going to be so much better when people spread the word,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be an annual event.”
