Allan Appel Photo
New paddler Anthony Corolla with Quinnipiac River Watershed Association’s Ralph Riello in their 17-foot Old Town.
Morris Cover Anthony Corolla, who’s 10 years old, once sat in a kayak, but it was on the ground. Sunday afternoon he overcame a little nervousness to take his first canoe trip ever.
Anthony and a dozen of other first-time paddlers, both kid and adult, are paddle sport rookies no longer thanks to free canoe and kayak rides given by the Quinnipiac River Watershed Association. They day featured a a 20-minute circuit around the gorgeous sun-splashed waters of the Fair Haven Marina and the lush salt marsh across the Q River.
Truman School 9-year-old Tey’rik Smith was already an old salt, on a third paddle, with QRWA’s Mike Wyeloch.
The occasion was the fourth annual Quinnipiac River Festival. It drew hundreds, both local river-lovers and riverine newbies, to the Fair Haven Marina on Front Street Sunday afternoon. One of the day’s goals: Familiarizing families with the water by getting them on it
By everybody’s account, including a canine named Dexter (who enjoyed a Thomas Hooker’s watermelon ale), it was the best fest yet.
Linda Leonardi and Jim Yeske said Dexter had just turned 3, so in dog years he was legal drinking age.
For four years now the prime organizer, Chatham Square Neighborhood Association’s (CSNA) economic development committee, has been showcasing the Q, beginning with a family clam bake.
This year’s event featured a band for the first time, and locally produced beer, and a showcase for the local eatery at the marina, the Boat House Cafe, which had an ever-present line waiting to get brunch..
CSNA’s Carlos Galo, one of the committee members, said he had a “light bulb” moment years ago while attending Wooster Square’s Cherry Blossom Festival.
He realized that 40 years ago a group similar to his own got together and figured out how to draw business to Wooster Square. He and a handful of other volunteer colleagues did the same at Chatham Square four years ago.
Wooster Square may have cherry trees, but Fair Haven has the river, he said.
“I don’t want to get out,” said 10-month-old Charlie Pellegrino (translation provided by parents Tony and Beth of Perkins Street).
“I realized [more] people need to know we’re a harbor city. How do you change perception that it’s OK [to come down here] and do business [by the river]?” he recalled thinking.
That’s how the festival was born.
As he sipped his brew and displayed an inked stamp showing he was of age, area businessman and fisherman Stewart Hutchings (pictured) said it was starting to “rock and rip” down by the water.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary’s MaryAnne Davis distributed boat ID tags. If a paddle craft breaks away, “this shortens the search incredibly,” she said.
He meant not only the festival, “but the whole neighborhood, just incredible, a renaissance everywhere.”
Although she lives at Oyster Cove Condominiums on nearby Front Street right on the Q, EmilyRose Arroyo (pictured) had never been on the local waters.
After she returned, she said, “The river was awesome. We toured the marsh land, the colors of the trees, very Vermontish.” She said soon she was going to be in the river on her own paddle boat.
Thanks to all who came down to the Fair Haven waterfront and made Riverfest 2013 a smashing success! It is the most well attended event I've ever been a part of in our neighborhood, we well exceeded our hopes and likely quadrupled last year's crowd of about 100! It is most gratifying to see kids and young adults be able to access the water in a safe learning filled environment.
Slight correction: the canoe rides were not completely free. There was a $5/rider cost to help the Quinnipiac River Watershed Assoc. cover their insurance costs for the day.
On to planning next year's Riverfest--the 5th annual!