Community steps up to support Lobsterpalooza

Warwick — Local businesses are adding their generous support to the party planning for Lobsterpalooza, the community lobster bake and music festival to be held on Saturday, June 16, between 2 and 7 p.m., at the Quality of Life Building and park grounds off Kings Highway in Warwick. “Any opportunity to reach out to Warwick and the surrounding community is important to us. ShopRite cares about this community and we are here to give back, not just to take,” says Seth Wertz, Store Director of ShopRite in Warwick. The store is a major corporate sponsor of Lobsterpalooza, donating food and goods to the day’s extensive menu of lobster, grilled chicken, corn on the cob and traditional sides, followed by desserts, and all washed down with sodas or water. Additionally, a large outpouring of donated goods and services from area merchants will be raffled each hour on the day of the event, all to raise money for charities, including Warwick Meals-on-Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, St. Margaret’s Soup Kitchen, and Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry. Funds raised will also help finance a house-building mission trip to Juarez, Mexico by 20 Warwick youth and their families in late June. Local radio station WTBQ will be broadcasting live from Lobsterpalooza, featuring live performances by local band, “Test of Time.” Lobsterpalooza is the creation of a group of community members at Christ Church Warwick. Building on the years of success of Christ Church’s Spring Tea, which gained a small and devoted following for an event which raised funds for local charities, Lobsterpalooza hopes to attract a wider audience including families and people of all ages for a day long bash that includes old fashioned snack foods and treats, games for kids, and sporting events for adults, as well as the live music, raffles, and lobster/chicken bake. Among the planners of this event are Eileen Jablonsky and her daughter, Kristen Neavin, who both have years of experience coordinating lobster bake events at Brotherhood Winery. Local real estate broker Sue Watson of Davis Management Realty in Warwick is bringing her marketing and fundraising skills to the planning, and New York City firefighter William Agosto is coordinating youth volunteers for the party, handling promotion, and coordinating menu items. Back Yard Grill owner and chef Bill Leech is also offering his culinary expertise. Tickets for the day of food, music, and fun are $25 in advance, $35 on the day of the event. Lobsterpalooza is a rain or shine event, with both indoor and outdoor seating. For reservations and additional information, call the Lobsterpalooza hotline at 986n1774.