Inwood Day celebrated at Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence

Inwood Day began with planning, shopping and then there was set up and it all came together for a four-hour feast of fun on the very sunny grounds of the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence on Sunday.

A dunk tank invited everyone try and put an Inwood firefighter in the water, which Katelyn Collado did with a toss and Anthony Castadna splashed off the sitting board. Longtime Inwood resident and nurse Elisa Hinken conducted blood pressure screenings under one of the large tents and an array of businesses and groups lined the area.

Inwood native Marlon Townsend promoted his MPT Enterpryze public relations consulting business. Cedarhurst native and Valley Stream resident Josseline Jimenez sold her Zesty food products, including the tasty pizza. There was inflatables for the children, a DJ and the Mariachi Local band pumping out music and burgers, chicken, hot dogs, beans, rice and cold beverages.

Nassau County Board of Elections voter outreach and education demonstrator Abraham Haygood showed the proper way to use a voting machine. Early voting gets under way Oct. 24 and ends Oct. 31. The general election is Nov. 2. Go to nassauvotes.com for more information.

Along with the coordination of Inwood residents David Hance, Byron Alvarado Valiente and Sasha Young, there was support from the Acosta, Bran, Galante and Gebauer families, Gammy’s Pantry, the Islamic Council of North American Relief, State Assemblywoman Melissa Miller and County Legislator Carrié Solages. Young said $15,000 was raised for the event and appreciated the assistance. “This was done by the community and volunteers,” she said.

State Sen. Todd Kaminsky had a booth and attended the fair. County Executive Laura Curran danced, and Miller, who also had a booth, Solages and Town of Hempstead Councilman Bruce Blakeman were all there as well.

The eighth annual Inwood Day was dedicated to longtime Inwood businessman and community advocate Pete Sobol, who died in February at 64. Sobol served on the Community Center board and as interim executive director.

“The one and only way to honor Pete and his legacy is by doing the work every day in the community,” said Five Towns Community Center Executive Director K. Brent Hill.