By:Elizabeth Sagarin and Lisa Kovacik
Island Park plans to celebrate its 75th birthday
A year of planning finally comes to fruition Saturday at the Village of Island Park 75th birthday celebration. "It's such a wonderful achievement. It was great to see the community come together to plan this," Mayor Jacquelyn Papatsos said.
Since January 2000, she estimated, a committee comprising citizens from all over the incorporated village worked to put a party together that would properly mark such a milestone.
Their course of action captures the spirit of Island Park, Papatsos said. A relatively modest sequence of events will take place Saturday night, to appropriately commemorate a village born of small-town sensibilities.
"I think our forefathers would be very proud of the Island Park of today," Papatsos said.
The festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a parade that starts at Village Hall on Long Beach Road and ends at Island Park Beach on Waterford Road.
Former United States Senator and Island Park's own Alfonse D'Amato will lead as Grand Marshal. Following a short distance behind will be Papatsos and the village trustees; Heidi Fessler, a representative from Gov. Pataki's office; Sen. Dean Skelos; Assemblywoman Kathleen Murray; town Councilman Anthony Santino; county Comptroller Fred Parola and county Clerk Karen Murphy.
To round out the parade, antique cars will bear approximately 10 people who have been in the village since its incorporation in 1926.
The Island Park Fire Department and local organizations will be featured as well.
Approximately an hour and a half later, at Island Park Beach, there will be music performed by the band Class Act, dancing, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage and peppers, calzones, zeppoles and free soda for all to enjoy. A ride on a supersonic slide, an opportunity to bounce on the moon, face painting and balloon animals will be available to all kids.
Then, to finish out the celebration, at 9:30 there will be a laser light show that will, Papatsos hopes, capture some of the magic of fireworks shows that used to grace the skies years ago. The cost of the fireworks plus the insurance to put on such performances has become cost prohibitive, the mayor said.
