On Sun., Oct. 27, the sound of laughter from delighted children filled Pine Island Park at Pumpkinfest, the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce’s annual event. More than 1,300 children rushed to pick pumpkins, eat apples, drink apple cider, select chocolate and toys, choose library bookmarks and fill bags with the chamber’s pretzels, candy and gift items.
John and Paul Ruszkiewicz provided 1,600 pumpkins, Masker Orchard’s gave bags of apples and jugs of apple cider, Tunie and Jim Leshinski gave toys and chocolates, and the Albert Wisner Library donated bookmarks.
Music filled the air as the D’Antono dancers and the Greenwood Lake Rock Underground entertained. Hungry visitors enjoyed food from Dairy ‘O Ice Cream, Pitchfork Barbeque and Biscuits, Daisy Crumm Cupcakes and Baby Dahl.
Volunteers enjoyed henna creations donated by Saima Ajmal of Warwick Henna and Nancy DeAngelo to artfully decorated children’s hands. Many youngsters also enjoyed painting rocks donated by Mulch Right. Youngsters climbed the National Guard’s rock wall, and met Trooper Jason and K9 Rickie.
The Warwick Historical Society, ShopRite, Orange County Sports Club, Agrisculpture, 4H, FFA, the Sheriff’s Office, Karate Quest Dojo and Go for It Kickboxing, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Warwick Valley Community Center, the Pine Island Fire Department, Pine Island Ambulance and Orange County Dairy Princess offered children a range of activities. The Headless Horseman (Leora Dillion) galloped through the park to the delight of all, and one child managed to guess the weight of the pumpkin donated by Leonard DeBuck.
The above press release has been published in the Oct. 30 issue of the Warwick Valley Dispatch.
