"Happy Birthday America,” Mayor Frank Gambatese said as he welcomed the gathering crowd to the township’s annual Independence Day Festival Friday night, kicking off an evening of fun for all ages.
By Nicole M. Wells, Special Writer
”Happy Birthday America,” Mayor Frank Gambatese said as he welcomed the gathering crowd to the township’s annual Independence Day Festival Friday night, kicking off an evening of fun for all ages.
According to police Sgt. Jim Ryan, nearly 6,500 people came out to the family friendly event, held at the fields of the Crossroads Middle School campus in Monmouth Junction.
”This is always a great event,” Township Councilman Joe Camarota said. “It really galvanizes the town.”
Fellow Councilman Jo Hochman said the festival brings a sense of unity to the township.
”Everybody comes because we all feel part of our country, no matter what ethnicity you are, we’re all part of being an American and Fourth of July is a celebration of all of us,” she said.
Lines stretched long at the food vendors, as people waited for their festival favorites and children and adults alike danced to the beat of the music provided by a DJ on the lawn in front of the stage.
”We’re having a great time!” Andrea Mitchell, 42, said, as she enjoyed the event with her daughter Kallen, 12. “There’s so much space for the kids to roam and play and have a good time.”
Fifty-fifty ticket vendors wove their way through the patchwork of blankets and lawn chairs and through the throngs of people, hawking tickets to benefit the South Brunswick High School senior scholarships.
According to a ticket vendor, between 10-20 scholarships are awarded each year.
The SBHS senior scholarship fund wasn’t the only group selling tickets.
Members of the South Brunswick Lions Club were on hand, selling tickets for the group’s annual motorcycle raffle.
This year, the group is raffling off a 2013 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail, with all proceeds going to benefit blind children and adults.
”Our big thing is we try to help the needy in South Brunswick,” Lions member Jack Hendrickson said. “Both the schools and the Board of Education know to contact us if there’s a family that can’t afford to send their child or if there’s a senior citizen that can’t afford to go for a doctor’s exam for their eyes.”
The club will also provide glasses for the student or senior.
”We pay for everything,” Mr. Hendrickson said.
Tickets for the raffle are $100 each and only 300 tickets will be sold, Mr. Hendrickson said.
According to the club, the retail value of the bike is $17,999, and the winning ticket will be drawn on Oct. 12.
The winner needs not to be present at the drawing to win the bike, according to the club.
Tagging themselves Food for Friendz, a group of middle school children collected donations for the South Brunswick Social Services Department.
According to Social Services Director LouAnne Wolf, the group collected $550.25 in donations during the festival.
The children each spent 12 hours planning and preparing for the event and collecting donations, according to Shalini Goel, the mother of two of the volunteers.
They will also be collecting again at National Night Out and during the free movie nights at Beechwoods Park.
With dusk and as the sacrificial test firework dissipated in the night sky, the crowd settled down to watch a sparkling display of fireworks that has come to commemorate American independence.
”It’s my favorite thing every year!” Ms. Mitchell said.
Daughter Kallen agreed.
”It’s all about the fun,” Kallen said.