Monte Irving Park comes alive with Caribbean entertainment

Nationals packed Monte Irving Park in Orange County, New Jersey on July 9 defying warnings of severe thunderstorms. However, the rainfall stayed away from the municipal grounds giving the Annual Caribbean American family fun day an opportunity to showcase culture, food, and festivities.

Mayor of The City of Orange Township, Dwayne D. Warren, brought energy to the event, thanking Caribbean Americans for coming out to make sure “that today is beautiful. If you look around, you’ll see beautiful colors, beautiful people, everybody having a good time, it’s good to be outside, welcome,” said the politician who applauded the Family Day committee.

“I want to point out the work of Lady Ira and her crew, who organized this event. They come forward to make everything happen, they make it so easy. They literally tell me; mayor show up here do this do that and life is easy. This is community service. I’m very happy and pleased with today’s turn out. The music was good, the food was good, the people were good, we want to thank everyone for coming to see us in Orange Township,” said Mayor Warren.

“It’s wonderful how Lady Ira Lewis brings people together over the years it’s spectacular. We met in my office when we were organizing the African and the Caribbean and the black American community, all peoples of the diaspora and ever since then Lady Ira and myself have not left one another’s side because we believe in cultural promotion. We believe in unity of all people, and we think it’s very important especially with what we see that’s going on all over, so I am very grateful for your support,” noted Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake, who will run unopposed this fall to become the youngest senator in the Township.

Councilmembers-At-Large Adrienne Wooten, and Weldon M. Montague, III, also thanked compatriots for coming out to celebrate their culture with each other and agreed that everything being done in the township is through partnerships.

The committee honored Assemblywoman Timberlake and Mayor Warren with plaques for their long-standing commitment to the Family Fun Day. Lt. Barker was also recognized for his unwavering support to keeping patrons safe in the park for many years.

From left, Councilmember-At-Large Weldon M. Montague III, Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake, soon to be youngest Senator in Orange, NJ, President of the Family Fun Day Committee, Lady Ira Lewis, Mayor of The City of Orange Township Dwayne D. Warren, Councilmember-At-Large Adrienne Wooten, and children of Assemblywoman Timberlake on stage, after an awards presentation at the Annual Family Fun day at Monte Erving Park, Orange County, NJ. Photo by Tangerine Clarke

Natural Black, hit maker of “Nice It Nice” was also presented with an award for his yearly outstanding performance at the event.

The action-packed day of activities included friendly competition in sprint races, boys’ and girls’ races, men and women races and sack races. Trophies and medals were awarded to winners.

Assemblywoman Timberlake competed in the Under-40 invitational, sprinting to the finish line, for a third place trophy.

Participants displayed their Caribbean pride by waving as flags everywhere at the spectacular event where the smell of food emanated from many tents along the perimeter of the park.

Compounded with the infectious mix of music by Deejay Tony, and Sound System Ghost Rider, expatriates, many who had traveled via five busses from Brooklyn, had an exciting time celebrating.

Helmed by popular Guyanese-born emcee Ervin “Washy” Washington and Niketa Luke, the show was amped up by St. Lucian Soca singer, Emrand Henry whose illustrious singing of “The Goodness of God” received help from the appreciative crowd.

Performances by Super Ray, Stitchie, One Man Band Under Takers with Glenn & Syd, Gucci Boss, Upness, Pablo G., Bully Bad, Vybz, Koulerz Band African Village, the Fonaka Singers, and many others made the family fun day a total success.

Additionally, three winners took home raffle prizes of a flat screen TV. Airline tickets to Guyana, was sponsored by Ruel Field and Associates.

President Lady Ira Lewis, thanked artistes, celebrants, and committee members for their exceptional contributions towards the day’s activities.

Sherif Barker, Brenda Telford, Janet Mitchell, Donna Marshall, Conrad McPherson, Michael Campbell, Kheron Telford, Elijah Gordon, Burgette Williams, Sadie Richards-Ganesh, Audrey Somerset, Yvette Eswick, Robert Halley, Jay Mingo, Clinton Hollingsworth, Collette Boston, Grace Rafeeza Shahabudeen, Judy Thomas, Glenn Miller, and others, planned the celebration.

Thanks also to sponsors, PSE&G, Talk AD Town Radio, Caribbean Power Jam Radio, Church of the Oranges, and Caribbean Life News, among others.

Visit www.caffnj.com, to learn more and to donate.