BASKING IN THE SUNFEST

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Lacy Cameron, 22, of Austintown dedicated her fighting kangaroo to Kelly Pavlik at the sand sculpture contest in the Wick Recreation Area at Mill Creek Park on Sunday, July 27, 2008. Cameron's creation took second place overall earning her a $75.00 reward. Daniel C. Britt.

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1st place: L-R The team of Pam Urquhardt of Cleveland, Jo McCaskill of N. Jackson and Mary Ellen Bonacci of Austintown won the blue ribbon for first place (and $100.00) for their crap sculpture entitled "feelin' crabby" at the sand sculpture contest in the Wick Recreation Area at Mill Creek Park on Sunday, July 27, 2008. The sculpture was inspired by a friend of Bonacci's who has a generally mean disposition. Daniel C. Britt.

By HOLLY SCHOENSTEIN

Sand sculptors bring beach fun to Valley

Contestants from all over Ohio competed in the Mill Creek event.

1Contestants traveled from all over the state to create sculptures that were anything but traditional castles.

This was the 13th year Lancaster resident Marilyn Steiner and her family have entered the competition at the Youngstown park. She sculpted a monkey, while her daughter Mandy helped sculpt a model of Mill Creek Park overlooking Lake Glacier.

Many of Steiner’s family members live in the Youngstown area, including her sister, Carolyn Steiner of Austintown.

“It’s become a family tradition,” Steiner said. “As the family has gotten older and moved away, there aren’t many traditions we’ve held onto, but this is one.”

And the Steiners were not the only loyal sand sculpture participants at Sunfest.

Laurie Arntz-Tournoux of Louisville is a tax administrator by weekday and master sand sculptor by weekend. She entered the competition just for fun because she has been competing on a professional level for eight years.

She created a sculpture titled “Ouch” — a Volkswagen Beetle running over a pedestrian — after a castle she had started crumbled.

Almost every weekend during the summer, she travels to a different location throughout the country to sculpt pieces. She said she has never created the same design twice.

“It’s a good stress release,” Arntz-Tournoux said.

Sunfest, which Mill Creek MetroParks Recreation Director Tom Bresko started about 15 years ago, attracted hundreds of people from the area, Bresko said.

He got the idea for the sand sculpture contest while vacationing at the beach.

“I saw [a sand sculpture contest] during my personal travels and thought it was something simple to do and something we could do here,” he said.

About 10 people entered the first contest, and as more people participate each year, they find that playing in the sand is not just for kids.

“We can reach both ends; we let the children go out there and have some fun, and the adults can be competitive. I always say it’s the most fun you can have for $5,” Bresko said.

Sunfest kicked off the morning with a closest-to-the-pin competition with about 40 contestants at the Par 3 Golf Course, followed by a group walk around the park.

The fun-filled day ended with music from That ’60s Band and R&B group Redline at Morley Pavilion.

hschoenstein@vindy.com