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Teaneck’s
Memorial Day “Family Fun Festival,” presented annually by
the Cedar Lane Management Group, will honor one of
Teaneck’s most acclaimed citizens at this year’s day-long
event on Monday, May 30, 2011. Ben E. King, the
legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer and
recording artist who has lived in Teaneck for more than 40
years, has been chosen to receive the Cedar Lane
Management Group’s 2nd Annual Lifetime
Achievement Award in celebration of his long and
outstanding career and to recognize the contributions of his
non-profit “Stand By Me Foundation.” (Bob McGrath,
who has hosted PBS’ award winning children’s series, “Sesame
Street,” ever since the series premiered 40 years ago, was
the first recipient of the award last year.) Mr. King
will receive his award at the Opening Ceremony which will
begin at 12 Noon on the Festival Stage at the intersection
of Cedar Lane and Elm Avenue. Many local and state officials
will participate in the ceremony.
“The Family Festival Day is one of
Teaneck’s most popular annual events,” says Karen
Careccio, President, Cedar Lane Management Group.
“It is a proud day when Teaneck celebrates the contributions
of all its veterans and, in lieu of the recent events in
Pakistan, this Memorial Day has even greater importance and
significance. And to top it off, this year we are privileged
to honor one of Teaneck’s most celebrated citizens, Ben
E. King, and his Stand By Me Foundation.
We invite everyone, not only in Teaneck, but in the
tri-state area to join us for this glorious celebration.”
At 11:45
AM, The Blue Chips of Bergen County, a local vocal
ensemble will perform a selection of songs prior to the
start of the Ceremony. At 12 noon, the ceremony will begin
with Opening Remarks by Cedar Lane Management Group
President Karen Careccio. Tenor Joshua
Benevento, winner of last year’s Mario Lanza Vocal
Competition, will then perform a group of patriotic songs in
honor of our veterans. Next on the program will be the
Presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to
longtime Teaneck resident Ben E. King. The Opening
Ceremony will conclude with the presentation of
Certificates of Achievement to students who participated
in an art competition commemorating Memorial Day that was
conducted by schools in the community. Many of those
paintings and drawings will be on public display in store
windows along Cedar Lane.
The Opening Ceremony will officially kick
off a day full of exciting and fun activities for members of
the entire family along Cedar Lane from American Legion
Drive to Elm Avenue in the middle of Teaneck’s main business
district. There is free admission and free parking in three
nearby Municipal Lots. Families from the tri-state area are
invited to attend the Festival which is just 20 minutes from
midtown Manhattan. Local bus and train service is readily
available.
At 11 AM, approximately 40 local
merchants and 50 outside vendors will have set up
their display booths and stalls on both sides of Cedar
Lane, and will be ready to offer great shopping
opportunities, arts and crafts, clothing, collectibles and
international and ethnic foods for all those attending the
Festival. Local restaurants and cafes will also be open and
available to hungry festival attendees. A special area
featuring children’s activities, including face painters,
balloon artists, games and rides, will be located on
Garrison Avenue just off Cedar Lane.
Teaneck Memorial Day Family
Festival
There will be two fun eating competitions
offering cash prizes to the winners. At 1:00 PM, kids
between the ages of 9 to 12, will gather on Cedar Lane
at American Legion Plaza to compete in a thrilling,
fun-filled Whipped-cream Topped Blueberry Pie Eating
Competition sponsored by Teaneck’s famous BUTTERFLAKE
Bakery. The young contestants will have to compete
without using their hands (which must be positioned
behind their backs). Prizes will be awarded to the kid who
eats the most pie in an eight-minute period. A second prize
will be given to the youngster who has the dirtiest face at
the end of the contest! Kids can sign up in advance by
calling 212/764-6330 or they can sign up at BUTTERFLAKE
Bakery (448 Cedar Lane) on the day of the event.
At 1:30 PM,
the grownups (ages 18 to 40 who are kids at heart) will have
their opportunity to demonstrate their eating abilities and
appetites in a Pickle Eating Competition on the
Festival Stage sponsored by PICKLELICIOUS, Teaneck’s
famous pickle-making establishment. Eaters will be competing
for cash prizes that will be awarded to the winner and
runner-up. Pickle-lovers can sign up in advance by calling
212/764-6330 or, on the day of the event, by signing up at
PICKLELICIOUS (384 Cedar Lane).
For those seeking musical entertainment,
there will be lots to choose from! The Festival Stage at
Cedar Lane and Elm Avenue will be active all afternoon from
2 PM until 5 PM with vocal competitions and musical
performers! From 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, some of the most
talented classical singers in the tri-state area will be
competing in the 10th Annual Mario Lanza Vocal
Competition For Tenors and Sopranos.
The competitions will be hosted by Joshua
Benevento, last year’s winner of the Mario Lanza Tenor
competition. The judging panel will include: William
Ronayne, President of the Mario Lanza Society;
Lewis Ehlers, an executive with Lombardo Management,
an agency representing classical performers; and Julie
Baron, who runs a classical singers website.
From 4 to 5 PM, the stage will feature
performances by Blue Haze -- a traditional jazz
group featuring Leviticus Gory on guitar and
Robert Conton on saxophone, and The Chosen
Voices, a vocal harmony group, which will perform
Stand By Me, in honor of Ben E. King.
There
will be open seating at the stage on a first come, first
served basis. For shoppers and diners who have been
wandering through the Festival, this is a great place to
rest weary feet while enjoying some great musical
performances!
Sponsors of Teaneck’s Cedar Lane Festival
include: The New Jersey Jewish Standard, The New
York Times, Butterflake Bakery, and
Picklelicious.
The Teaneck’s Family Fun Festival is
produced by Mort and Ray Productions. For additional
information, visit the Cedar Lane Management Group
website at
www.cedarlane.net, or call 212/764-6330.
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