The Kennedy Branch of the North Bergen Public Library celebrated its three-year anniversary with a mini-carnival Saturday, Sept. 17. Kids enjoyed a mini-Ferris wheel, cotton candy, hot dogs, bounce houses, and face painting in the library parking lot on 2123 Kennedy Blvd.
Resident Edgar Caicedo, 14, went to the carnival with his mother, sister Mia, 2, and brother Brandon, 9. He just started his journey at High Tech High School in performing arts and audio and technology.
“I came because I saw the announcement at school, and I wanted to take my brother and sister on the Ferris wheel,” he said.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco came out for the fun also. “This carnival brings people together with books and now events that people can enjoy,” he said. “This is becoming a place to interact.”
“I live downtown, and I found this event through the [Kennedy] library, but there were never enough activities going on down here.” — Linda Klein.
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Resident Linda Klein has lived in North Bergen her whole life, and now lives with her two children William, 7, and Delilah, 5. “I live downtown, and I found this event through the [Kennedy] library,” she said. “There were never enough activities going on down here. So now with this addition they’re doing something more for us.” She said her children especially enjoyed the food, Ferris wheel, and face painting.
Everything at the carnival was free for the day, because everything was paid by the library.
Resident Genesi Martinez lived in North Bergen for three years, and went to the carnival after seeing it advertised on Facebook. He came with his sons Donovan, 6, and Devin, 4, who just started preschool. “It was also very close for us,” Martinez said.
Mayor Sacco said the library is looking for larger locations than the parking lot for future carnivals. “The next one will be even better,” Sacco said.
Those at the carnival received pamphlets of programs offered at the library branches.
Library Director Sai Rao said, “We’re also actively pushing for after-school help. We’re hiring teachers for this now, because a lot of kids don’t have the luxury to receive help for homework after school. That’s our purpose.”
Registration for library programs and after-school help has started. Call the library at 201-869-4715 for more information.