No shortage of fun at Freeport's Waterfront Park Canoe Race

On Sunday, August 1, canoes once again sped away from the beach at Waterfront Park, careened through the water in a sweeping triangular path marked by two buoys, and skimmed back to the beach while onlookers cheered from the dock above.

 The occasion was the annual Freeport Canoe Race. Sponsored by the Freeport Chamber of Commerce, the Freeport Police Athletic League, and the Village of Freeport, the race draws participants from inside and outside the village. Kayakers, dedicated canoe enthusiasts, and people who just enjoy a beautiful activity on the water, all throng to the dock for the fun.

 This year, Mayor Robert Kennedy teamed up with Nassau County Legislator Steve Rhoads (District 19) to capture the gold medal in the first heat.

 “This was a very bipartisan event,” said Kennedy, “as you can see, Steve Rhoads, our Republican legislator, and myself joined together to win. However,” he added, tongue-in-cheek, “I was in the rear of the canoe, steering to our first-place win.”

“It was a thrill to be out on the water again with Bobby to defend our title and help raise money for a great cause,” said Rhoads. “Freeport is the fishing and boating capital of our region and after a tough year for all of us, the chance to compete in this annual tradition is just one more sign that Freeport is back and better than ever!”

 The event was dedicated to Gary Williams, late husband of Associate Village Justice Susan B. Lyons.

“For 25 years,’ said Lyons, “Gary was the vessel pro running the boats that picked up the canoes that went over [overturned during the races].” This year, their sons, Jack and Tucker Williams, both worked the rescue boats in place of their dad.

 Marianne Endo organized the race. Her husband, Chamber member Lester Endo, has run Endo Electric (49 Dock Road, Freeport) for over 43 years..

 “Since I’ve been in charge, I’ve made it to be a fun family member amateur event.,” said Marianne Endo. “Years ago they were very emphatic about this race. If you came in first and were fooling around and got so excited that you dumped [overturned the canoe], they took your medal away. I like doing the canoes just to see people enjoy themselves.”

 Marianne dropped the flags to signal the beginning and end of each canoe’s journey. She also gave out the medals..

 “The most rewarding thing was to put the medals on people,” Endo said. “They bent their heads just like the Olympics.”

 Marianne’s son Kenny volunteered throughout the races, helping contestants depart and return to the starting point, just as he and his sister and brother had been helped by volunteers decades earlier.  Then he and his elementary-school-age son won the gold medal in the last heat.

 “It’s my turn,” Marianne Endo said, “to give back to the community who helped me when my kids were small.”

 Chamber members Greg Giannotti (Giannotti Construction) and Annemarie DiSalvo (DiSalvo Design & Associates, Inc.), who sponsored the bright blue T-shirts given to race participants, moved into Freeport two years ago.

 “We love the community because they all work together to make it a better village,” said Giannotti.

 “Everybody’s been welcoming, friendly,” said DiSalvo, “more than anyplace we’ve ever been.”

 Sue Lyons noted that the Canoe Race began in 1972. Lyons has been involved with it since its inception, at various times introducing other activities such as whale boating, wherein two-thousand-pound dories thrash through the waters with eight rowers apiece, as well as kayaking, rowing, and jousting.

“It was a big Baldwin-Freeport competition,” she said, “very tough and intense. But the main thing has always been canoeing. [Canoe teammate] Bob Whaley and I used to wipe up. … Next year, we’ll have to have a big 50th.”