Thursday, July 10, 2025
The Franklin Square Chamber of Commerce hosted their 4th annual Spring Fair, bringing together hundreds of residents for a day of family fun.
Over 20 vendors set up shop in the Rath Park pool parking lot, selling goods and advertising services as members of the FSCC. Kids played in an inflatable pool filled with bubbles as a DJ blasted upbeat tunes for them to dance to. Other kids jumped in bouncy houses and played carnival games, earning an array of small prizes.
Food trucks, serving up freshly made Italian sausages, pupusas, burgers and more, lined the parking lot, including an ice cream truck to help guests stay cool in the 80-degree heat.
“I thought it’d be great to bring the entire community together,” said Santino Sarrica, president of the FSCC. He came up with the idea for the fair four years ago, hoping to encourage face-to-face interactions between Franklin Square businesses and local residents. “It’s been growing ever since,” he said.
Planning for the event began in January when the 2025 FSCC board was formally installed. Between diligent coordination with the Town of Hempstead to secure permits and numerous phone calls to local businesses, Sarrica and the board’s tireless efforts created a thriving community event.
This year’s Spring Fair had over 20 sponsors, all of whom contributed monetary donations, resources and materials to put the event together. Sarrica’s own business, the Sarrica Group Inc., donated all of the carnival prizes, which were given to any kid who participated in the games, winner or not.
Among the sponsors who attended the fair was Cub Scout Pack 372, whose den leaders, Laurie Schour and Erika Timperman, set up a small table for kids to build with Legos.
Timperman said she attended last year’s fair and came back for another year because it was so much fun talking with everyone in the community.
“We saw a lot of fun kids,” she said. Last year, she recounted, the den leaders hosted a raingutter regatta in which kids built their own boats and races thema common Boy Scouts activity. “It was fun to see what all the kids were coming up with,” she said.
Thomas Hoering, treasurer of the Bethel Assembly of God church — a new member of the FSCC — said the Spring Fair is a good way of carrying out community outreach efforts.
“We’re very much supporting the community we live in,” Hoering said. “We’re really happy to be here, and we love Franklin Square.”
Several politicians supported the event, including Assemblyman Ed Ra, who appeared at the event to greet residents and show spirit for the Franklin Square community. Ra is a resident of the town, himself.
“You always want opportunities for people to come together and meet,” Ra said. “Everybody’s always looking for something to do, and I think this is a good, affordable event to go to, grab a little food, and have a little fun.”
The Franklin Square and Munson Fire Department showed up in uniform with their fire truck, hoping to engage with the community and recruit some new volunteer firefighters. Joseph Gerrato, second assistant chief of the FSMFD, said he attended last year’s event and recruited a few junior volunteers from H. Frank Carey High School.
“All the kids are having a great time,” Gerrato said. “Everyone gets to see all their friends and neighbors. Whenever we have events, everyone in town always comes together and helps everyone out.”
Sarrica, who said togetherness was his original intention for the fair, hopes to continue growing the FSCC and build a sense of community among residents and small business owners.
“There’s no better way to bring the community together,” Sarrica said. “People always like coming to free stuffespecially if your kids can spend an entire day here, have fun, and not spend a lot of money.”
