View 2010 photos here.

The 20th annual fall festival, sponsored by the Merrick Chamber of Commerce to fund holiday lights and other community improvements, begins tonight with a carnival of rides at the train station.  Rides by Newton Shows open at 6 p.m. both tonight and tomorrow evening. Thursday and Friday nights are for rides and entertainment only. Look for a $5-off coupon in Merrick Life. The grand opening ceremony will be Saturday, September 25, at 11:30 a.m.  at the Showmobile.

Merrick Life hosted a visit from Pooh Bear - click here for photos.

Merrick Avenue will close during festival hours from Loines Avenue south to Sunrise Highway.  The festival features live entertainment, with musical acts such as Spyderbyte, Playback, Rob Benton, Grand Canyons, the Calhoun High School Choir and Elvis! Vendors are urged to get to their booth spots early with vehicles, as the street will be closed off by 8 a.m. to traffic. K-Joy radio will be at the event, as well as blow-up rides, a petting zoo, pony rides, exotic animal display, car show, contests, face-painting, kiddie tattoos, and Disney pins trading.

Over 50 craft vendors will be displaying their goods for sale. Local businesses will also have food and items for sale.  Representatives from the New York Islanders will be around on Saturday, from 1-3 p.m. Brookside Collision will be painting tattoos near the gazebo. Calhoun On Tour and students from the Bellmore-Merrick high schools will be running arts and crafts. Merrick Kiwanis will be selling books.

For information call Chamber President Margaret Mueller, or festival Co-Chairs Ira Reiter and Randy Shotland at 771-1171. Or you can visit www.merrickchamber.org.

Chamber scavenger hunt

The fair also marks the kick off of the Chamber of Commerce Scavenger Hunt event. This is the second year for this program that supports the awareness of local businesses in the community.  Participants are encouraged to visit as many businesses as possible, and whoever collects the most items from the various chamber members will be awarded Merrick Money to spend in town at a Chamber-member business.

Festival sponsors include TD Bank, Senator Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., Assemblyman David G. McDonough, New York Power Authority, First National Bank of Long Island, New york Community Bank and Capital One Bank.

Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion

The American Legion Auxiliary Merrick Unit 1282 will host a membership drive and distribute poppies at the Merrick Festival.  If you are related to a veteran who served during specific war periods and are interested in your flag, your country or your veterans, please call 623-0922, or pick up some information this weekend. They will be located in front of the small appliance repair store on Merrick Avenue.

Sukkah on a truck! 

As part of Chabad’s mission statement to reveal the beauty and joy within Judaism, Chabad will host a Sukkah celebration on Sunday, September 26. Come and visit the Chabad Sukkah (hut) located near the Gazebo at  the Merrick LIRR station (corner of Merrick Avenue and Sunrise Highway) and experience the joy of the holiday through various activities that they will have set up for the whole family, including Kosher food, Jewish music, Shake the Lulav and Etrog! Step on board to visit a Sukkah on wheels from noon-3 p.m. with exciting activities, crafts and games for the whole family at no charge! Admission is free.

Small Businessperson of the Year

Congratulations to First National Bank of Long Island’s Cathy O’Malley, who was named by the chamber as the Merricks’ Small Businessperson for 2010. Cathy has been manager of The First National Bank of Long  Island in Merrick for several years now and has earned this distinguished award.   Her many hours of volunteer work and philanthropic attitude are an inspiration to us all. She will be honored at a breakfast at the Crest Hollow Country Club on Friday,  October 15, along with honorees from the rest of Nassau County.

Man and Woman of the Year

The Chamber of Commerce and Merrick Life co-sponsor the Merrick Man and Woman of the Year contest. Winners are scheduled to be honored at the chamber’s annual installation dinner in January – the chamber just needs nominations. So, put on your thinking caps and start planning on who to nominate. The contest will officially kick off soon. Past honorees are men and women who have given back to the community either through service, religious or nonprofit organizations. In 2010 Lawrence Garfinkel, president of the Historical Society of the Merricks, and Filomena Guttilla, active in Curé of Ars Church and Calhoun Sports Boosters, were both acknowledged for their commitment to making the Merricks a better place. For information on this program call Merrick Life at 378-5320.

Chamber benefits

Being a member of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce entitles you to booth space as part of your benefits package. Dues are $125 for the year and are less than the cost of purchasing a booth for the event.  The chamber not only sponsors the holiday lights but provides a significant scholarship to one graduating senior from each of the three area high schools; has a member-to-member discount program; and a members’ medical/dental insurance program among other benefits. Call 771-1171 for more information.

By Erin Donohue

Erin Donohue is the webmaster for L&M Publications and Assistant Editor of Merrick Life.