By Linda Delmonico-Prussen
The chamber transformed Merrick Avenue between Loines Avenue and Sunrise Highway into a giant party with loads of entertainment and activities for children and adults of all ages. In the roughly 1/2 mile that the fair encompassed, folks could have their
palms read, their hair frosted and their backs adjusted. Children could have their faces painted, ride ponies, visit the petting zoo and jump on the moonwalk.
Karen Magno, of Merrick, enjoyed the fair with her 10-year-old son, Greg, and 21-year-old daughter Roseanne. Greg said, "I spend money on the games." Karen Magno said Greg "likes the Himalaya ride; it's his favorite."
Magno enjoyed the fair food. "My favorite place to eat at the fair is the Yankee Peddler."
Elise Deantonio, who was born and raised in Merrick, was working at the Yankee Peddler during part of the fair on Saturday, but said she looked forward to enjoying her time at the festival once she was off work. "I haven't been to one for a long time," she said.
The Yankee Peddler's new owners, long-time Merrick native George Kempen and Sue Ziff, who has made Merrick her home for the past three years, enjoyed their first fair as Merrick business owners. Briefly reflecting on the tragic events the year before, Ziff said, "We were looking forward to it [the fair] after last year," adding, "Even though I've been working here for 18 years, I'm really looking forward to this being our first time, first year, participating [in the fair] as owners."
She said of downtown Merrick's recent renovations: "The town has been doing a beautiful job with the lampposts."
Eleven-year-old animal lover Marie Schiano said of the fair: "It's fun." Schiano particularly enjoyed visiting the dog stands where one
could adopt a greyhound recently retired from racing or a puppy from the North Shore Animal league.
Leonard Liggio and his wife, Flo, of Merrick, reminisced while
enjoying the extensive car show in the train-station parking lot. "I used to build cars," said Liggio. He explained that he would buy cars, tear them apart, then rebuild and sell them. Not only did Liggio own at least five of the many classic cars displayed at one time, but the list of car companies he had worked for before leaving the auto business was equally impressive. It included Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, Nissan and Chevrolet.
While there was no shortage of things to do at the fair, keeping in
mind the postponement of the fair last year owing to the Sept. 11 attacks, perhaps the best and simplest thing to do this year was enjoy the company of other Merrick residents. Residents who live side by side in a community that has truly pulled together after one incomprehensible year.
