Festival fun and friendliness combine to strengthen parishes

The weather cooperated for most of the weekend as neighbors gathered to have fun and raise money for their churches.

In Cohoes, Rev. John Facci, pastor of St. Rita/Sacred Heart, looked forward to meeting the people at the annual bazaar, which he called "a great time to get to know the people, talk to the people and see their reactions. It's a time to get the parish together."

Meeting people

"Our church had our bazaar in May," Ms. Turcotte said. She considered it "one-stop shopping for food and entertainment."

Tony Razzano, chairman of the bazaar in Mount Carmel, said that "the bazaar is known for its food." Tasting submarine sandwiches of sausage, eggplant or meatballs as well as other Italian dishes, including ziti, lasagna or its famous pizza saturated in cheese, one would not question the statement made by the mayor of Watervliet, Robert Carlson: "The bazaar has the best food in town."

Ernestine Moschina was serving the new popular dessert at the Cohoes event. "This is our first year with strawberry shortcakes," she said. It certainly will not be their last. "We're already in our second tin [of strawberry topping]. They are going well!"

Senses enthralled

Lights that draped the tents and the rides illuminated the area well after the sun set, allowing the bazaar to run until 11 p.m.

Family Fun Amusement from Stillwater provided a Ferris wheel, jumbo slide and other rides that gave kids the thrill of flying in the air in circles. Mount Carmel had a slide and several other rides, including one that spun carts around an oval track.

All ages

"We used to always have the gambling room open Thursday through Sunday," said Rev. Emery Parillo, OFM, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. "It always rains on Sunday. This year, we won't have gambling on Sunday. We'll see if the sun comes out."

That must have been the change God was looking for, as He brought the sunshine late Sunday afternoon.

Child's play

Kerry Connelly, a student at St. Ambrose School in Latham, helped out at the "Bumper Car" game. The player would push a wooden car on a track until it hit the edge of the table. The car would bounce backwards, and the player received the prize that lined up to where the car stopped.

"Whenever I'm gone, someone always wins this!" Kerry said, referring to the game's biggest prize, an eight-inch stuffed seal.

While the players of the more challenging games did not always win a prize, they won the support of the workers. Players at the "Animal Fair" booth received a prize if the number on their ticket chosen from a bowl ended in double zeroes.

Don Flaven, who has been involved with St. Rita/Sacred Heart parish bazaars for over 15 years, helped run this game. "I hate to see kids lose," he said. "We have had several winners so far. People who come up and spend $1 usually win. Those that spend $10 don't."

Game day

Those that gathered around Judy Buckley's "Kool Pool" booth also found support, as they got more than one turn for their quarter.

"I hate it when the kids don't win," she said. Judy offered advice to her persistent pool sharks, who tried to knock the quarter off the cue ball and out of the white circle drawn around it. "The trick is to hit the ball very, very easy," she advised, granting her player just one more try.

Closeness

People gathered around booths and cheered as players attempted to throw three balls into a hole on a backboard, roll a designated holiday on a cube, putt a golf ball into the hole in two swings, throw a ring on a teddy bear or knock down a stack of cans with two bean bags.

Others waited in anticipation for a big wheel to stop spinning, hoping that it would end on their number so that they could walk home with a flower arrangement.

Clifton Park residents Mike Hane and his son Jeff came to the bazaar in Cohoes with a sense of humor. "We came by helicopter." Mike said. He grew up in Cohoes and returns each year for its bazaar. "Where else can you meet all the nice people?"

Remember when?

The day after the bazaar, an orchestra played music on the grandstand. Father Emery observed how those bazaars emphasized religion as well as music.

"There used to be a truck with a statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel," he said. "It had ribbons under her neck and they came out like banners. People would put donations on it."

Those were the days

"I've been going here since I was a small child. It was a family thing that started out with the parents and now it's tradition," said Helena Robinson.

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