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Inaugural Sussex County Day celebrates the area

| 05 May 2015 | 11:23
    Photos by Laurie Gordon Thomas Nykaza of Stillwater, puts on his new bike helmet. He was at the festival with his sisters and dad.
    Photos by Laurie Gordon Thomas Nykaza of Stillwater, puts on his new bike helmet. He was at the festival with his sisters and dad.
    Women at the festival sold slices of homemade apple pie for a dollar. Contestants in the professional and amateur divisions of the competition had to provide two identical pies: one to be judged and one to be sliced and sold.
    Women at the festival sold slices of homemade apple pie for a dollar. Contestants in the professional and amateur divisions of the competition had to provide two identical pies: one to be judged and one to be sliced and sold.
    Frankford Township Mayor Gary Larson volunteered to be a target for pie throwing.
    Frankford Township Mayor Gary Larson volunteered to be a target for pie throwing.
    A fun-spirited volunteer got dunked many, many times as children gleefully threw a ball at a bulls-eye. If the ball hit it, into the tub he went.
    A fun-spirited volunteer got dunked many, many times as children gleefully threw a ball at a bulls-eye. If the ball hit it, into the tub he went.
    The Atlantic Air One Helicopter landed with precision on the college lawn in front of Sussex County Day to demonstrate how an air lift works when someone is hurt or sick.
    The Atlantic Air One Helicopter landed with precision on the college lawn in front of Sussex County Day to demonstrate how an air lift works when someone is hurt or sick.

NEWTON — Beautiful weather was the back drop for a brand new, fun-filled event on Sunday as the first annual Sussex County Day celebrated everything about the county.

The event presented by the Sussex County Chamber of Commerce was held at the Sussex County Community College.

“You can't beat this day and there's lots for the kids to see,” said Tom Nykaza as he walked with his daughters and pushed toddler Thomas in his stroller.

The day's message was to have fun and enjoy the community.

“Our first annual Sussex County Day was huge success," said Sussex County Chamber of Commerce's president, Tammie Horsfield. "Many thanks to county departments, towns, vendors, exhibitors, fire departments and volunteers for their participation. We could not have done it without them. We are fortunate that Sussex County is a very close knit community and people volunteer and come together to celebrate the quality of life we have here.”

Full of funWhite tents dotted the lawn in front of the college, and visitors enjoyed a talent competition and a scavenger hunt.

Local vendors, games, exhibitions, arts and crafts, a bike decorating contest, activities for the kids and food were also on site.

The day kicked off at noon, and shortly there after, the Atlantic Air One helicopter hit its target of landing on the field in front of the college. The landing was a demonstration of how the helicopter is used to air lift those who are hurt or sick to the hospital.

Mayor Gary Larson and other politicians who volunteered during the day put their faces through a hole on a screen while festival-goers could pay a dollar to throw a pie at them.

The entertainment stage was buzzing all day featuring local dance groups, musicians and Sussex County Idol. TransOptions fitted and gave out bike helmets to children, and local fire departments had a tug-o-war stand off.

Under a big white tent, a host of pies were lined up to be tasted and judged. Slices of all the pies were sold for a dollar. A huge tent housed exhibitors from Newton Memorial Hospital, the event's marquis sponsor and arts and crafts and some food completed the day.

Horsfield summarized the day by saying, “We proved that Sussex County is a great place to live, work and play.”