By Hector Flores
It has grown to include 50 local businesses and 20 organizations, becoming the quintessential event that best characterizes East Meadow.
The event, organized by the East Meadow Kiwanis Club, was held last Saturday, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at Senator Speno Memorial Park on East Meadow Avenue. The event included free admission, food, refreshments, music and amusement rides.
Alan Beinhacker, co-chair of the Pride Day Committee for the Kiwanis Club, said, ³The reason why Pride Day is a success is because it gathers businesses together and lets people know what they have to offer. We also feature the East Meadow Jazz ensemble and Kristen Borrelli, who sings the national anthem.²
According to Beinhacker, merchants and organizations set up their tables at no charge and have giveaways, but business owners are not allowed to solicit for their company. ³They can give away information and brochures, but there is no conducting of business on that day,² he said.
Pride Day was the brainchild of Greg Peterson, former supervisor for the Town of Hempstead and local resident, who envisioned merchants, local organizations and religious groups coming together for one day to thank community members for their patronage.
³It started as a good idea that just grew,² he said. ³At the time [16 years ago] we had half the number of businesses, but the major organizations were there,² said Peterson, referring to East Meadow Fire Department, Boy Scouts, the school district, civics and veteran groups, among others. ³Eventually it all came together and we started out with 1,500 people in attendance, and now there¹s over 2,500.²
When Peterson¹s term as town supervisor ended, he placed the Kiwanis Club in charge of putting Pride Day together, with the help of the town.
Peggy Mahoney, administrative liaison for the town¹s Department of Parks and Recreation, added that she has been helping the Kiwanis Club develop and coordinate the event since its inception. ³I¹m glad that the people of East Meadow enjoy it,² she said.
Local resident Judy Fong, who brought her children to Pride Day, said the event has become one of her favorites in East Meadow. ³My kids love it,² she said. ³And it¹s just one of the many fun things that East Meadow has to offer.²
During the event, Peterson was named honorary chairman of Pride Day, and special thanks were given to the Town of Hempstead for allowing the event to take place and the Nassau County Legislature for providing funding for it.
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
