To the Editor:
On behalf of the Board of Directors of The Friends of Special Children, a great big thank you must be given to all those who have helped with our 27th annual picnic. Our event was held June 20, 2009, at the Marist High School Sports Field for an estimated 900 children and chaperones. Most of the day was rainy and gloomy, but the children had the time of their lives once again.
Our organization and picnic has become known as Bayonne’s best kept secret (some secret when we attract over 1,200 participants when the weather cooperates). We have over 100 volunteers who faithfully, rain or shine, give their time and services to our great cause. I only wish I could list each one of you individually, but that would be impossible. Thank you to everyone.
Although the volunteers have become our backbone, it’s our sponsors that help put the picnic on the map. The list is long, but I need to acknowledge and recognize each one. To begin the list, we thank The Starting Point Bar and Grill, the city line McDonalds, Foley’s Funhouse, Eddie’s Bar, Burger King, Petridis’ Hotdogs, Manny’s Liquors, C-Town, Senerchia’s Meats, Hendrickson’s, Tropicana, 51st Street Ace Hardware, Lucky’s Hardware, Meditterraneo Restaurant, Chances Lounge, two Mr. Softee Ice Cream trucks, Local No. 6 Carpenter Union, The Group (band), A & P Food Store, and Imperial Paper.
The list continues with Marist High School, Control Demolition, Integrated Tire, Pete Manley Plumbing, Vital Signs, Weaver Electric, Fitzpatrick Construction, Garguilo Produce, Owens Corning, Trumbalt Asphalt, EQ Northeast, Jersey City Moose Lodge, Kenny T. Golf Outing, Gers Provisions, R & L Provisions, 16th Street Produce, Bayonne Fire Department, Poland Spring, Suncon, Melone Bakery, Bayonne Pride Bakery, Cas Chem, Pamrapo Bank, Thumanns Provisions, WAC Inc., Beyers Dairy, JK Signs and Robert “WORM” Scerbo. Also, we need to thank Royal Caribbean, Bayonne Community Bank, and Richmond County Savings Foundation.
With the donations from our sponsors, we are able to provide our special guests with a petting zoo, dunk tank, characters, live band, clowns, face painters, DJ, toys, hats, shirts, decorations, all paper and plastic products, tents for cover, table and chair rentals, food, cold beverages, and desserts all day long. This wonderful affair began 27 years ago as a backyard BBQ for about 40 to 50 people, and it has mushroomed into 1,200 people.
Lastly, I need to thank my co-board members for their devotion, input and countless hours of meetings and prep work. The board members are Anthony “Tippy” Timpanaro, Robert “Robe” Markowski, Brian “Julio” Ahern, Sean Tawes, Danny Yaroshewich and Robert Lesiak. Without Tippy and Robe, we would have a long haul in front of us. Between them, they have 53 years with the organization. Our planning for the 2010 picnic will begin around January to February, and the board is determined to make it the biggest and best ever.
KEVIN KUHL
Board of Directors
Friends of Special Children