Library festival becomes tradition
What started out as a pandemic-friendly effort to rally support for the Wantagh Public Library has turned into an annual tradition for residents of Wantagh, Seaford, Bellmore and surrounding communities.
The Wantagh Public Library hosted its Fall Festival last Saturday, and the event was so successful that the library had to stagger the times in 45-minute increments to ensure it wouldn’t be too crowded.
“We started this when we weren’t allowed to have people come into the library,” Laura Dupkin Memisha, the library board’s vice president, said. “So we had to think of something different — and ingenious — to get people coming back to the library, and came up with doing an outdoor event in the parking lot.”
This festival was also a joint celebration, since the Wantagh Public Library is celebrating 60 years of service, having opened in 1962. Pictures of the library through the years were on display for public viewing.
It was a family-friendly, community-oriented day that featured games, a DJ, cotton candy and a local favorite, Pies on Wheels, a restaurant located on Sunrise Highway that frequently brings pizza trucks to many villages and hamlets in Nassau County. The pizzas were baked on the spot and served up hot for customers.
“Pies on Wheels is always a big draw,” Dupkin Memisha said. “We thought instead of handing out pretzels or chip bags, we’ll bring something that will get people to come. And now we’re basically filled up.”
Past years have also featured activities like magic shows for children. Dupkin Memisha said she feels that this fall festival not only helped get the library past Covid but is here to stay.
“It boosted our morale,” she said. “It got everybody reinvigorated and coming back to get books. And our staff loves it too. Now we had people emailing us three months in advance to make sure they’d have a spot at this.”
Elected officials also were in attendance and took an active part in the festivities. County Legislator Steve Rhoads even baked a pizza on the pizza truck, noting that one of his first jobs was working at a pizzeria.
Also in attendance were Councilmen Christopher Carini and Anthony D’Esposito, as well as Kate Murray, Town of Hempstead clerk and former supervisor.
“Once again, the Wantagh Library did a great job,” Murray said. “They are a huge part of the fabric of this community and always bring great events like this for families.”
Councilman Carini also credited Pies on Wheels for always coming through for events like this.
“We love those pizzas,” Carini said. “And look around — the kids are having a great time. We’re getting everyone pumped for Halloween a week early. It’s just a great time for the library and everyone involved.”
Councilman D’Esposito credited the library, and all local libraries for that matter, for always rallying people in a positive manner.
“Libraries are really beacons of the community,” D’Esposito said. “And Wantagh’s is no different.”
With sunny skies and a brisk fall temperature, the day was a success. It increased the support of the public library and gave people something to do as days get shorter and Jones Beach gets less popular.
