The Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the POB Library, held its First Annual Craft and Gift Fair on Sunday, Oct. 7 in the library parking lot.
The craft and gift fair was the first community-wide fair of its kind held in the Plainview-Old Bethpage area in over 25 years. Despite the wet weather, the fair proved a roaring success. Hundreds of residents came out to shop for goods and merchandise that ran the gamut from garden plants, jewelry, housewares, window-treatments, eyeglasses, knick knacks and toys. Vendors such as financial planners, dentists, lawyers and charitable organizations offered their services to fairgoers.
The 60-foot King Kong slide and bouncy rides proved popular among the children. The younger visitors also enjoyed face painting, courtesy of the chamber, in exchange for donations of food and personal care items that were later collected by the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
Busto’s Martial Arts students kicked off the live entertainment, quite literally, with a demonstration of martial arts techniques and skills. Musical entertainment was provided by the Drama Cadets of POB John F. Kennedy High School and several a cappella groups including Rolling Tones, AcaFellas, Noteworthy and Chock Full of Notes. Especially stirring was Amanda Wittels’ and Andrew Hasher’s rendition of “All I Ask Of You,” from the Broadway play Phantom of the Opera.
Bryan Trugman, chairperson of the fair and second vice-president of the chamber, explained that one of the purposes of the fair was to “put something together for the community and to have a family fun day.”
Chamber president Gary Epstein added, “We want to promote the community, and the fair is a great way to do that.”
The chamber worked with several community groups to ensure a successful event that included the POB Volunteer Fire Department, the POB CSD Board of Education, the police department, Plainview Hospital and local sports leagues.
The chamber’s membership and visibility in the POB community continues to grow. Among other events, the chamber recently sponsored a “Meet the Candidates Breakfast” and will host multiple networking opportunities for its members to expand and grow their businesses. In addition to promoting local business, the chamber is working to develop programs that give back to the POB community such as food drives, coat drives and other charitable activities.
For more information about any of these events and programs, visit www.pobcoc.com.
