Ocean Italian Festival Attracts Old Friends and Newcomers
By TOM SHORTELL
 The Italian Festival hosted by the Ocean Township Italian American Association ran for five days last week at Joe Palaia Park. This is a view of the festival from atop the Ferris wheel. |
For 32 years, the Ocean Township Italian American Association has been hosting an Italian Festival, and for 32 years people from around the region have flocked to it.
Many families have been regulars almost every year while others are just discovering it.
Scott Raynor of Wanamassa attended with his wife Danielle and daughter Ryan for the first time. On his first attempt on the Ocean Township High School Booster Clubs Strength Meter, Scott nicked the bell.
Its great, he said of the fair. Good food. Its great for the kids.
Its great for the kids, Danielle said, rolling her eyes. Hes the kid!
Phil Savitsky of Interlaken sat on a golden toilet in his swim trunks for the better part of Thursday night. He was the victim of Oakhursts Boy Scouts of Americas dunk tank.
Oh, thats cold, he chattered after a child nailed the wooden bullseye with a tennis ball.
 Coaster Photo: Phil Savitsky of Interlaken shivers at the dunk tank at the Italian Festival in Ocean Township last week. |
Greg Scott of Ocean ran the booth. The scouts were trying to raise the $1,200 to $1,400 needed to get the scouts to a camp in Florida, and the booth was another fund-raiser.
Theyve been doing this for years, he said.
Savitsky said he felt he had outgrown the fair a little.
When I was little, I used to come all the time, he said.
The Klenk family walked away from the booth satisfied after soaking Savitsky. We walk here, said John, jerking his thumb towards the cars lined up on Whalepond Road. John said hes been coming since he and his wife settled down in Ocean in 1982. He now brings his children with him. His daughters Lilly and Lexis like the Zipper, one of the more intense rides at the park, while his son Joseph prefers the games, specifically the frog catapult.
I got a shark at that, he said, proudly holding up his stuffed animal.
The frog game was being run by the Allenhurst Fire Department, said Will Rang, one of the volunteer firefighters. The proceeds will help the fire house purchase new equipment.
On the other side of the fair grounds, 11-year-old Rafael Paun set the record in his age group in sit ups and pushups with 39 and 45, respectfully. He and his family from Summerfield were vacationing in Ocean Grove for two weeks.
Its fun, he said. He then ran off to get a good spot to watch the spaghetti eating contest.
Jessica Mermini walked with Ryan Rizzo, pushing her son Patrick around in his stroller. They had stopped to let Patrick examine the bumble bee ride, one of his favorites, Jessica said. He loves the bumble bees. He likes the dragon (coaster) and he loves to eat, she said as Patrick nibbled on chicken nuggets. I love the Italian Festival.
 Sharon Dornemann of Eatontown shows her daughter Sarah the ducks at the festivals petting zoo. |
 Ocean Township residents Lillian Ebani and her children Eric, 1, and Harold, 6 are pictured on a fire truck with friend, Madison Brand (right) of Belmar. |
 Kaitlyn Volek, 2, and her mom Jessica aboard the Bumble Bee ride. |
 Coaster Photo: Adam Sopenoff prepares a cheese steak with onions at the Italian Festival in Ocean Township last week. |
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