Plans Underway for 3nd Annual Huntington Awareness Day

By AJ Carter (Town of Huntington Public Information Officer)

Mark Sept. 22nd on the calendar for the Third Annual Huntington Awareness Day, which includes a parade through Huntington Station and a fair that celebrates the community’s unity, diversity and solidarity.        

In celebrating Huntington Station’s continuing revitalization, the parade will take special notice of the Rosen family, which has been a force in the local business community since 1982. The family’s continuing investments in the community have helped spark Huntington Station’s rebirth, including the office building that houses the Huntington Station branch of the Huntington Public Library, the 7-Eleven adjacent to that building and the recently opened Station Sports entertainment complex on Depot Road. Brad Rosen, who is treasurer of the Huntington Station Business Improvement District, will represent his father, Robert, and other family members as grand marshal.  

“Bob, Brad and the entire Rosen family deserve this honor, and I hope that residents will line the parade route to thank them for all that they have done,” Supervisor Frank P. Petrone said. “I also hope everyone will join us at the festival to celebrate the great community we call our home and to have some fun.”  The Town is one of the sponsors of the event and the Supervisor is one of the event co-chairs.

Once again, bands, floats, vintage cars, service groups and local merchants will join the march through Huntington Station from West Hills Road to Church Street, ending at the fair in the municipal parking lot between Railroad Street and Church Street.  The fair will include performances by local artists, a participatory chalk art activity and booths offering crafts and services. Local restaurants will be on hand to sell food.

The starting time for the parade has been changed to 11 a.m. to encourage more spectator participation. The fair will run through 5 p.m.

The parade and fair are organized by the Huntington Awareness Community Partnership. “We continue to look for sponsors and, of course, we will gratefully accept donations to help us keep all events and rides free of charge,” said co-chair Dolores Thompson. “That way, everyone in the community can enjoy this special day. But we are particularly looking for vendors: people who want to sell arts and crafts, artwork, jewelry, fashion merchandise and other items that might be of interest to fairgoers.”

Persons can obtain details about sponsorship or parade participation and download the necessary forms at the website, www.huntingtonawareness.org.

Those interested in becoming a parade sponsor, entering a float in the parade or reserving vendor space can also contact Dolores Thompson either by calling her at 631-425-2640 or by sending an e-mail to huntsec@aol.com