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Sunday, September 11, 2011

PMUA Fair's big comeback


Children and adults waited patiently for their portraits.
 
The Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority's Environmental Fair saw a big and welcome comeback Saturday.

It would be fair to say this year's event was mobbed. There were lines of families and kids at just about every booth, which this year once again included representation from community organizations (I spent time at both the YWCA's and Shiloh Baptist Church's outposts -- Shiloh was giving away hundreds of free children's books).

Kids activities were jammed with participants (though I wondered why the ever-popular rock climb was in the PHS parking lot across the street -- perhaps the weight of the equipment?).

There were long lines for the facepainting, with two artists kept busy the whole time; and for the portraitists, both of whom worked quickly and deftly to render likenesses of attendees.

Let's see...food, check; music, check.

And an excellent booth by the PMUA itself showcasing wonderfully creative projects kids did over the summer turning castaway materials into useful objects with an imaginative and artistic flair.

The only negative thing to say was that this crafts project was such a secret -- it should have been trumpeted from the rooftops, and maybe even an exhibit arranged at the Plainfield Public Library.



Kids made craft projects from found items.

I am a firm believer in the Jesuit approach: get children early and turn them into informed and imaginative advocates.

Maybe the agency will do better by promoting this next year.

Meanwhile, kudos to new executive director Duane Young and crew for a job well done.











Some of the people and activities at the PMUA's Annual Environmental Fair.


 
-- Dan Damon [follow]

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1 comments:

Rob said...

Glad something was a success in Plainfield, although, the issue of the "free food" ( you paid for it Plainfield so I hope you ate it )is a major sticking point in my opinion.