| Issue #30, October 20, 2006 |
A Renaissance Fair For Rowers
East End Rowers Is Hosting A Fundraiser On Saturday For Crew
By T.J. Clemente
East End Rowers, a non-profit organization to promote rowing development on the East End of Long Island, is having a Renaissance Fair on Saturday October 21, at The Hallockville Museum Farm, located on Sound Avenue in Riverhead. Event planner Lorraine Girard has an amazing array of fun things planned for the whole family. Local food is to include food from Queen’s Bake Shop, King’s Fish and Chips, and the East End Oyster Company, as well as cotton candy, Royal candy and ice cream.
The focus of the fair is fun and family. Kids will be able to make their own Halloween costumes by making their own crowns, swords and shields. Vendors will be available. Also, Rapunzel’s princess shop will have a stand with renaissance clothing and purses for sale. There will be marionettes, make your own jewelry stations, fairy wands, and an art station. You can also watch an expert pumpkin carver at work.
An ice carver will attempt to carve a knight on a horse. Huge colorful air castles will be there for the young to jump around in. All of this is for the great cause of raising needed money to purchase more equipment to get more people on the water and to make the rowers of Riverhead High School and McGann Mercy High School more competitive. Rivals have newer boats that put the rowers at a disadvantage in almost every race.
But the story here, besides the great time to be had at the Renaissance Fair, is the story of East End Rowers and the job they do to bring rowing expertise to Long Island.
A few years ago, Olympic rowers Co Rentmeester and Dan Johnson founded East End Rowers and were soon joined by Michelle Knox Zaloom, a two-time member of the U.S. Olympic team. Michelle, who with husband, Charlie, has three children, Charlie Jr. age eight, Kathryn age six and Josie eleven months, somehow finds the time to assist and sometimes help co-ordinate the rowing program of two North Fork schools.
She told me about one of her rowers at McGann Mercy High School, 13-year-old Renee Girard, who she says is a prime example of what it’s all about. Michelle says Renee has tremendous “spark” and expects “good things” from her, because she has the “eye of a warrior.” Too often however, Renee and her teammates are at a disadvantage before a race even begins because of the age or repair of their boats. Sometimes they are even laughed at. But this will change. Money will be raised by events like the Renaissance Fair and a plan to build a boathouse to house and protect the delicate rowing boats is in the works. Rowing is a sport that truly helps high school children get into top quality colleges, many times with a scholarship. The East End Rowers program has been a window to allow all walks of life into the door of this formally elitist sport. Lorraine Girard claims that 82 out of a 100 female rowers get to college and most get a form of assistance from the schools to row. It is best to get a quality early start. Although Olympian Michelle Zaloom did not row until she was 19 while attending George Washington University on a volleyball scholarship, she believes 12-13 years of age is when to start. Michelle is proud of getting the kids involved.
So on Saturday Oct 21, try to make an effort to get as many members of the family to Hallockville Museum Farm, on Sound Avenue in Riverhead, to take part in great outdoor fun and share some high quality family time while supporting a program to help young kids truly be the best they can be. Lorraine Girard and her other volunteers have planned a great event at a great venue to make your day a winner.
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