Florida gathers for Family Fun Fest

FLORIDA-Sunday's Florida Family Fun Fest lived up to its billing. Music, games and entertainment, award ceremonies, food and craft booths all added up to a "...day of relaxation and fun." Fun Fest chairman Adrian Mateosian and his committee members provided a variety of attractions for the large crowd that filled up the historic Main Street. The activities fulfilled the promise made by village mayor James Pawliczek in his letter of welcome in the 2004 Fun Fest Journal. This year there were two Citizens of the Year Awards, both recognizing two long-time leaders of Boy Scout activities in the Florida area. Joseph Kikkert and Vincent Rutkowski were presented with plaques by Mateosian as part of the awards ceremony. That ceremony also included a Youth Achievement Award to Eagle Scout Matt Keleman for his various community endeavors. Capping off the award-phase was a crowd-pleasing Life-Time Achievement Award to former village mayor John C. "Jake" Harter. After an afternoon of bed races, children's rides (compliments of the Florida Fire Department), numerous food and craft vendors, the large crowd settled in for a two-hour performance by home-town multiple Grammy recipient Jimmy Sturr and his orchestra. The only downside was the void left by the late Ralph Pomponio, a music teacher at Seward Institute who passed away in April. Amanda Gallagher's tribute to him in the Fun Fest Journal echoed the sentiments of the entire student body and the entire Florida community. Otherwise it was a beautiful day. A beaming Mateosian called it a "true community effort."