MONROE — As Monroe resident Heather Lopardo stood holding her young son, Ryan, at the Monroe Country Fair, she was surrounded by prizes.
By Bill Greenwood, Staff Writer
Everything from a New York Giants poster autographed by Eli Manning to Webkins and Halloween decorations sat wrapped in plastic and scattered throughout 25 baskets on the raffle table. Ms. Lopardo examined each closely before pulling out her handful of tickets and placing them into the clear containers that sat before the prize baskets she wanted to win. However, she wasn’t the only one making the decisions.
”Ryan helped me,” she said. “I have Ryan and an older son, so I picked things they would be interested in, and then some things that Mommy likes,” including a day-spa certificate and an iPod.
The prize raffle was one of many events at the fair, which was held Sunday in Thompson Park and organized by the Monroe Township Mother’s Club. Also on the day’s schedule were several pageants for young children and a performance from rock cover band Dusty Daze. Visitors also could check out the latest offerings from a multitude of vendors who sold everything from tie-dye clothing to lemonade.
During the Little Miss Monroe competition, which took place in front of a stage set up on the dirt infield of a baseball diamond in Thompson Park, about 15 girls between the ages of 2 and 5 stood answering questions from the fair’s master of ceremonies, DJ Wacky Wayne Jr. While all of the contestants put up a valiant effort, it was 3-year-old Olivia Mae Binner who wound up winning the tiara, trophy and flowers that come with the Little Miss Monroe title. She also received a $500 scholarship to Absolute Dance Co., of Monroe.
”I think the best part is she wanted to take dancing lessons, and we got a scholarship to a dance school,” said Tracy Binner, Olivia’s mother.
Olivia said she plans to show off the trophy, which she said looked like a flying woman, in her room. She said she enjoyed winning the trophy, adding that she hopes she can be like the woman on the trophy one day.
”I’m going to be a lady flying,” she said.
For Deborah Schettini, of Englishtown, the highlight of the fair was Dusty Daze’s performance. She said she enjoyed the group’s take on classic pop-rock songs, which included Poison’s “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and Stray Cats’ “Rock This Town.”
”I’m really enjoying it,” she said while sitting in the grass with a glass of lemonade.
She said she also had taken her children to the petting zoo at the fair and walked through the vendor tents that lined the ballfield’s outfield area. She said she was there primarily to see her children have fun.
”Whatever the kids want to do, we just follow their lead,” she said.
Vendor Heather Mergl, who owns Old Bridge-based Inkydoodles, hoped that lead would bring plenty of visitors to her tent, where she was selling tie-dye T-shirts, hoodies, bathing suits and more for children and adults. She said the day had been going well for her.
”It’s been going pretty good,” she said. “A lot of people coming through, a lot of business, a lot of referrals.”
She said her most popular items at the fair were the hoodies, long-sleeve turtlenecks and velour dresses and outfits. However, it wasn’t all business for her, and she did get a chance to walk around and enjoy the fair.
”There’s a lot of great vendors, a lot of great freebies from the different booths and good food,” she said. “I’m having a really nice time.”
The Mother’s Club heard a lot of that throughout the fair, said Rosina Bento, a member of the club. She said the pageants were especially well received and the weather was perfect.
”It’s pretty hot today,” she said while organizing submissions for a coloring contest at the Mother’s Club tent. “That worked out pretty well I guess. We’ve got a lot of people coming in.”
Judging by the constant stream of people entering the fairgrounds and giving compliments to Ms. Bento, the fair appears to have been quite a success this year. For Ms. Bento, though, that was to be expected.
”I think it gets better each and every year,” she said.