Five Towns Community Fair

The Five Towns Community Chest Fair in Andrew J. Parise Cedarhurst Park will delay its opening on Saturday until 1:p.m. due to the weather, officials said. In addition, the movie, "Mary Poppins" that was to be shown on Saturday night is postponed until Saturday, Oct. 15. The viewing time has yet to be determined.

Bob Block, the director of the Five Towns Community Chest, has been chairing the fair for more than 20 years and encourages everyone to attend the weekend event. It is expected that the fair will open at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Proceeds from the fair will be used to support community agencies such as the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence, the Five Towns Senior Center in Hewlett and the Peninsula Counseling Center in Valley Stream, among others.

“This particular fair is different than your run of the mill fair,” he said. “It’s a community fair so the vendors look forward to working the fair because they say it’s the friendliest and easiest to work. They compliment the vendors on our organizational skills and our public on their courtesy.”

Aside from the returning ever-popular Go Gator roller coaster, which Block said always has the longest lines, there will be the new Tot-corner for children who aren’t old enough or tall enough for the rides. Block’s daughters, Michelle Block and Stephanie Frankel, thought of the idea to provide activities such as arts and crafts and singing. “It’s going to be a wonderful new attraction for youngsters and I’m sure parents will appreciate it,” Block said.

More than 30 families, organizations and entities are sponsoring this year’s fair. Howard Moreida, owner of American Drive-In Cleaners on Peninsula Boulevard in Hewlett, said he’s been sponsoring the fair for 20 years. “It’s a good cause and it helps the community I work in,” he said. “Anytime there’s an event that’s uplifting for people, it’s always a nice thing.”

Dr. Michael Feldman of East Coast Endodontics on Broadway in Hewlett has sponsored the fair for more than 10 years and besides giving a monetary donation, he and his three children, ages 13, 15, 17, volunteer at the fair. “The Community Chest is an important local charity that provides services to those in need in our community,” he said. “It’s important to support our community.”