Bethpage-Tribune_2000-08-18

              YOUR OFFICIAL HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
VOL 34 NO. 32 AUGUST 18-24, 2000 40 CENTS
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Bethpage Chamber of commerce Festival Huge Success Despite Rain
Neither rain, nor snow, nor dark
of night can put a damper on the
Bethpage Chamber of Commerce
Summer Festival...AND IT
CERTAINLtDID NOT. This past
weekend the Bethpage Chamber of
Commerce hosted it's annual
festival, which was a huge success
despite Friday night's raindrops
and threatening skies. This event>
which is in its 11th year, was one
of the best festivals the Chamber
has ever hosted. And why? Well,
let's start with the fabulous
entertainment. This year Friday
night's entertainment was new and
five star. The Last Chance Blues
Band was fabulous and had the
crowd tapping their toes all night
long. Speaking of toe tapping...no
festival would be complete without
the unbelievably talented toe
tapping of Norma's School of
Dance. These wonderful
performers have been with the
Chamber every year and provide
an incredible show for the huge
crowd, which Norma's attracts. On
Saturday evening the Chamber
highlighted the amazing talent of
Cynic fs Society who were nothing
short of spectacular. They truly
had the crowd mesmerized. And
then as always... no festival would
be complete without the awesome
talent of Music Unlimited. They
kept the crowd dancing till way
after midnight and proved that they
and Bethpage can really throw a
party. Another reason why this
event was so successful this year
was the participation that the
Chamber received from their
members. Over 40 vendor booths
participated this year with a
variety of merchandise,
information and delicious food
specialties. There was truly
something for everyone. Why else
was this festival so grand? Well the
Chamber's midway company,
Newton & Sons provide them with
rides and midway games that are
second to none. Each year Newton
& Sons treat Bethpage to new and
up to date rides and games.
Oh... and how could we forget
those absolutely amazing
FIREWORKS brought to you by
Bay Fireworks company. The skies
in Bethpage came alive with color
as Bay performed their pyrotechnic
magic.
All this, however, could not
have been possible without the
support and generous
sponsorships, which the chamber
received this year. Special thanks
and deep gratitude go out to
Cablevision, North Fork Bank,
New Island Hospital, Bank of
New York, Briarcliffe College,
Northrop Grumman Corporation,
Fleet Bank, B.K. Sweeney's, King
Kullen and the Bethpage Federal
Credit Union. All of these
dedicated Bethpage businesses
helped to support this festival and
it is their participation that truly
made this event such a huge
success.
We could go on and on thanking
the many individuals who help to
get this event off the ground each
year. It is by no means an easy
task. And why does the Chamber
sponsor this event in the first
place? Well, you see this Festival
was started as a mean s to better
acquaint Bethpage business
owners with local residents. It was
designed as a way to thank
Bethpage for their support as well
as to urge residents to support
their local merchants. The
Chamber does not hold this fair as
a simple fundraiser. Vendors do
not sell merchandise or food to
simply make profit. You 7/ notice
that the Chamber and its vendors
truly try to keep prices low. That's
because this is a way that Chamber
members can advertise themselves
to local residents in the hopes that
in the future residents will utilize
their service or business. It is sort
of like a getting to know you
festival as well as a saying thank
you festival and that is what for
years has set the Bethpage
Chamber of Commerce Summer
Festival different from so many
others. Basically the Bethpage
Chamber of Commerce is a group
of friends and business owners
who get together to do good things
for the town they love. Their
mission is simple.
WE congratulate the Bethpage
chamber of Commerce as well as
Festival 2000 sponsors for a
wonderful and successful festival.
WE also congratulate the vendors
who prove year after year its not
what you sell or how much you sell
but the fact that you are out there
getting to know. Bethpage residents
that truly matters. WE also
applaud the residents of Bethpage
who certainly were not scared
away by some raindrops and dark
clouds. And look out.... the
Chamber is already planning
Festival 2001!