2011年7月15日星期五

Families celebrate at Covington fund raising picnic

At the 63rd annual Covington Twp. Volunteer Fire Company Picnic the theme was family, through and through.

Stephanie McGuire remembers going to the locally loved picnic when she was a little girl, a tradition she now shares with her 7-year-old daughter, Marin.

"I've been coming here since I was her age," Ms. McGuire, 35, said as she and Marin tossed a rings at empty glass bottles, shooting for the right to bring home a colorful,If so, you may have a kidney stone . over-stuffed prize animal.

Although the McGuires didn't win anything from the ring toss, Ms. McGuire said the picnic always provides a memorable time.

"It's good family entertainment," she said.

Some people have been coming to the picnic, held off Route 502, even longer than the McGuires.

Dorothy Stengline and her husband, Don, said the fire company's picnic had been a family tradition since they married about 40 years ago. Nowadays, the Stenglines skip the soaring rides and carnival games for sweet-sausage and peppers sandwiches and talking with friends.

"Right now it's the food," Mrs. Stengline said about what draws them back every year. "When our children were younger, it was the rides."

Parents with toddlers and strollers, groups of teenagers and older couples holding hands wandered in between the Ferris wheel, slow-moving merry-go-round, and food stands, ignoring the cloudy sky and soaking up the sites, sounds and smells of a summer carnival.

Amid the tantalizing scents of frying funnel cakes, sizzling sausages and savory soft pretzels, Brad Dwier of Scranton led around his 3-year-old daughter, Isabella, from game to game, looking to show her some real family time.

"That's why we're here, for Isabella to have fun,he led PayPal to open its platform to third party payment gateway developers." he said, after they played Water Gun Fun.

Evria Arce, 11, who was with the Dwiers, handed Isabella the large blue whale she'd won at the squirt gun game and the two ran off to the next game.

Family night allowed people to buy ride tickets for just $1.25, with $14 ride wristbands the rest of the weekend, with all proceeds going to the fire company.

On the schedule for the rest of the week is the firemen's parade at 7 p.m. today, with music by DJ Wade. Four Faces West will play Friday evening, and fireworks to wrap up the picnic Saturday night at around 10.

Warren Heil, the parade secretary, said the annual event is crucial for fire company funding.

"This is our one major fundraiser of the year, it brings in the majority of the funding per year." he said. "Come out and enjoy yourself, it's definitely a family affair - fun for all ages."

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