Annual event honors Poland Village
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
POLAND
The many activities of Celebrate Poland drew people to the center of the village Saturday.
The grassy area surrounding Village Hall was packed with vendors offering craft items such as jewelry, ceramics and doll clothes.
Foods offered included lemon shakes, steak hoagies, french fries and apple dumplings, and Mahoning Valley Artists had a portfolio show.
“I think it’s nice,” said Alexa Marino, 21, who attended with her mother. “Obviously, it’s a small town. I like the fact that they do this every single year, and you can always count on the same thing.”
Marino also attended the fireworks Friday night that were part of the event.
“We live in Poland, so we just wanted to support the area, support the crafters,” Patti Marino said. “I think it’s nice. It’s just nice to come down and see people from the area walking around.”
The Phillips family of Poland enjoy the annual event so much that they planned their summer vacation around it.
Sydney, 11, Jillian, 8, and their father, Jeffrey, participated in the chalk-art contest for the third year in a row.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said the girls’ mother, Leslie Phillips.
Sydney filled her sidewalk square with a “SpongeBob SquarePants” cartoon scene, Jillian filled hers with a tree frog, and Jeffrey drew a hummingbird. The trio spent an hour-and-a-half to two hours working on their chalk art.
Jeffrey won the last two years in the most original category, Leslie said.
“I just supervise and bring the drinks,” Leslie said with a laugh.
Jillian got the idea for her tree-frog picture from a painting she did in art class. She was happy with how it turned out.
“I like doing art,” she added. She was hoping to have a turn on the bounce-around, too.
Sydney got the idea for her “SpongeBob” scene because her sister loves the show. She didn’t win the contest last year but was happy to try again.
“There is a lot of competition,” she said.
But that just makes it more fun, she said.
The family also attended the strawberry festival and fireworks Friday.
“It’s a great weekend for the community,” Leslie said.
Other activities included a 5K race and two-mile walk, “Poland Idol,” dedication of a Polish memorial, a petting zoo and pony rides, a car show, concerts and a bonfire.