CLARKS SUMMIT — The fifth annual Strawberry Festival offered a Saturday morning of racing, kids’ activities, and an opportunity for the community to help a local friend. In the morning of June 22, participants gathered on Davis Street to race in the 5K Run/Walk and a children’s fun run hosted by the National Running Center.
Nick Budinski, originally from New York state who currently lives in Clarks Summit and attends Marywood University, came in first place.
“I just moved to the area within the last year,” Budinski said.
Dressed in a strawberry costume, Abby Haines volunteered to ride her bicycle behind the runners to ensure their safety.
“It was very nice,” she said about the festival. “It was really well-organized.”
The festival was organized by The Gathering Place as a gift to the community. Anne Armezzani, a member of the board of directors of The Gathering Place, allowed kids to play the same kinds of games she let her students play during field trips when she taught at Abington Heights Middle School.
“It’s a good festival,” Armezzani said. “The weather is perfect. The runners had a good time.”
Paula Baillie, also a board member of The Gathering Place, hid gummy worms in whipped cream so kids can find them using their mouths.
“It’s a beautiful day,” said Clarks Summit resident Josh Mitchell, whose daughter Elena “dug for worms.”
Kids also saw how many cookies they could stack before they tipped over on a table. Six-year-old Bella Bayes, of Clarks Summit, was able to stack 12 of them.
“I think it’s great because it’s a family event,” said Bella’s grandmother Beth McGuigan, who accompanied her granddaughter. “And it’s also great because there is no rain.”
Dragons’ Heart Martial Arts welcomed Grandmaster Glenn C. Wilson, who came from Orlando, Florida to teach two seminars, one about physical side of martial arts and another about the health side, including breathing exercises.
“There are three sides to martial arts,” said Joe McGuire, teacher of Dragons’ Heart. “External, internal and spiritual.”
Friends of Hillside Haven Community Church had a tent with baked goods and raffle baskets donated by individuals from the community. It was a fundraiser called Operating Luke’s Army, which intended to help pay for medical expenses for church member Luke Sayre, who was involved in an explosion on June 4 that caused second and third degree burns over 20 percent of his body. He is currently receiving treatment in the Lehigh Valley Burn Center.
The fundraiser also helps pay transportation costs for Luke’s wife Cecilia, who is traveling to the hospital and taking care of their daughters.
National Running Center provided a basket of socks, cap, and protein bars. BKV, the company, at which Luke’s sister Betsy Sayre is an employee, is the operating sponsor of Operation Luke’s Army.
“It’s really neat the way the community has come forward to support Luke and Cecilia,” Betsy said.
Ken Gardoski, of Clarks Summit, who grew up with Luke’s mother Mary when the families lived in Springville, came with his wife Sharon to race and to support Luke’s cause.
“It’s great,” Gardoski said. “It’s neat to do a fundraiser for him.”
For more information, visit the Luke’s Army GoFundme page.