A date with Daddy
By JEANNE STARMACK
starmack@vindy.com
BOARDMAN
It’s really important for a girl to have a chance for a Valentine’s date with someone who really, really loves her.
Someone who will hand her a rose. Get down on one knee. Sing to her. Feed her spaghetti and meatballs, cookies and cupcakes. And do some crafts too.
Well, every girl in the room at the Lariccia Community Center at Boardman Park Thursday evening had that chance.
They had that date with someone who loves them that much.
Dads in suits and ties and daughters in fancy dresses sold out the first night of the park’s 12th annual Father-Daughter Princess Dance.
The dances continue Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
“All four nights are sold out, with 60 couples each night,” said Karen McCallum, the park’s recreation director.
“That’s a testament to the dads in this community,” she said, “that they’re raising their families and daughters the way they should be raised.”
McCallum said there are fathers who have brought their daughters to the dance, now in its 12th year, for six years.
“Making this an annual tradition for them,” she said. “They get a goodie bag, do some crafts, get a picture, some balloons and lots of dancing.”
“They get a rose and a little poem, and the dads sing on bended knee to ‘My Girl,’ ” she continued. “We strongly encourage the dads to make fools of themselves!”
Rebecca Zets, 5, of Boardman, was loving it. From her favorite meal — spaghetti and meatballs — to her favorite Valentine, her dad Jeremy, the night was wonderful.
At one of the large round tables, three couples sat enjoying the ambiance.
Zayda Creque, 9, and her dad Jeremy; Danika Cook, 9, and her dad Danny; and Justyna Trebella, 6, and her dad Lewy, all of Boardman, had come together.
All first-timers at the dance, they’d found out through their daughters’ school.
“It’s awesome,” said Creque.
C’mon Daddy!” said Danika as the three girls got to their feet.
“Guess we’re going dancing,” said Trebella.
Dance they did, taking a short break for the rose ceremony. At that time, the fathers left the dance floor, leaving the girls to dance alone for awhile.
Then, the girls were asked to line up against the wall. The fathers returned, each carrying a long-stemmed red rose. Each one found his daughter and then found a spot on the dance floor.
As The Temptations’ “My Girl” began, dads began to sing along. Some did get down on one knee. But many just picked up their daughters and danced.
Not many Valentine’s dates include a girl literally getting swept off her feet.