Celebrating heritage at Austintown Park

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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Members of the LAOH stood at their tent on Aug. 6 for the Heritage Day event at the Austintown Park.

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Neighbors | Submitted.A member of the LAOH drew historical Irish sybols on those who were interested at the Heritage Day event during the Austintown Farmers Market.

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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Stalls were set up in the grass during the Austintown Farmers Market for the Heritage Day event.

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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Representatives from the Goddess Salon set up a tent selling various goods during the Aug. 6 Heritage Day event at the Austintown Farmers Market.

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Neighbors | Submitted.Members of the LAOH ran the tent during the Austintown Farmers Market Heritage Day event on Aug. 6 at the Austintown Park.

By JESSICA HARKER

jharker@vindy.com

The Austintown Farmers market hosted its first ever Heritage Day on Aug. 6 at Austintown Park.

The market partnered with the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, an Irish Catholic womens group, to put on the event.

“Our motto is friendship unity and Christian charity,” said Shannon Lehn, who is a member of LAOH and organizes the farmers market. “We want to not only preserve our Irish history and be proud of it but also give back to the community.”

Lehn said that her goal with putting on the event is to promote the diversity in the area and celebrate their heritage.

“We just want to be able to promote who we are because we are proud of who we are,” Lehn said.

During the market this week the LAOH continued the school supplies drive that began the week before to help support Austintown public schools.

Everyone who donated was entered into a raffle to win a gift bag, which was given away through a raffle on Face book live according to Lehn.

The market was able to collect three large boxes of supplies to be donated according to Lehn.

For Celebrate Heritage Day the market also had a vendor selling kolache, a Mexican food truck and an Irish step dancer performance.

“I really wanted to celebrate all heritages,” Lehn said, emphasizing her desire for more groups to get involved in next years event.

The Austintown Farmers Market is hosted Mondays 5-8 p.m. in Austintown Park.

For more information, go to the farmers market Facebook page at www.facebook.com/austintownfarmersmarket.