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Friendship Festival draws big turnout; organizers, fire department and police praise success; pool reports heavy use
Summary
Organizers credited volunteers, sponsors and police presence for a successful Friendship Festival; festival attractions included a foam splash and fireworks. Separately, the parks/pool report showed high pass use and savings from a change in chlorine management.
Organizers and village officials described the Friendship Festival as a strong community success at the Sept. 2 village board meeting. Festival recap: The festival featured a foam splash attraction that organizers said was “another huge hit.” The Ravena (transcript alternately spelled) Fire Department and others staffed booths and displays; festival organizers said the day also served as a recruitment opportunity for the fire department. Organizers thanked a list of sponsors and volunteers by name, including AmRise (formerly Wholesome), Gallagher Insurance, Nolan Propane, Carver Companies, Rail to River Brewing, Ravenna Shop and Save, Collins and Sons (which donated a dumpster), RCS Community Library and others. Organizers also thanked law enforcement: “I think a lot of the success was contributed to having police presence there throughout the day. So thank you to, chief Tyrone and, Queen Anne's Police Department and the Albany County Sheriffs,” an organizer told the board, and officials said there were no issues during the event. Pool and parks: The parks director reported season-end pool statistics: 348 total passes served 1,392 patrons; 101 “Queen” passes served 386 patrons; and 73 nonresident passes served 50 patrons (locations named included Baltimore, Catskill, Greenville and Hatticoy). The department also reported adult swim sessions averaging about 15 adults per session, water-aerobic classes with 15–20 participants per class, six weeks of swim lessons with more than 50 participants and that a new method of chlorine management saved nearly $5,000 compared with past years while keeping water chemistry within parameters. Quotes and roles: the festival organizer thanked volunteers and sponsors: "I could not have done it without my team," and the organizer and other staff credited police and volunteers for a safe, well-attended day. No board action was taken regarding the festival or pool at the Sept. 2 meeting; the material was delivered as committee/department reports.
