Happy 100th to Our Euclid Beach Carrousel!

Well if you weren’t at Sandy’s for our 100th Birthday Party for our Euclid Beach Carrousel, we missed ya! Beautiful weather, great sounds, and lots of you coming out to say “Hi!”
                                                                                   
Weather was all the best of “Euclid Beach” (especially considering that it had been raining earlier in the week) – warm (but not too hot), with just enough breeze off the Lake to be nicely comfortable -- we even had a break in the humidity. (Perfect “Carrouseling” weather – remember how the Lake breezes came through the Carrousel – which creatied a breeze all its own – when you rode it at Euclid Beach?)

As always with an event like this, there’s the before & after. Dennis Crislip & yours truly turned up at Sandy’s around 10:30 am, to begin getting things set up. We set up just on the other side of the driveway, right along Lakeshore, with a bright white canopy that was soon flying all kinds of balloons. Lou rigged us power, so Dennis soon had the whole place hopping to Euclid Beach Band Organ music. Meanwhile, I got the miniature “Preview” Carrousel running, which did its usual great job of showing off the Carrousel’s outside row. (The new canopy, though, still definitely has kinks to work out! But it’ll look great once I get that together!) Got a TV running the Kelleher-Russell-Young video Long Journey Home about the Carrousel’s history, in Sandy’s inside area, add some Carrousel memorabilia, and it was “show time”!

By 1 pm, things began to hop. People stopped by to “talk Euclid Beach”, nab one of those free Frozen Whip cones, and enjoy the clowns (who were doing some awesome face painting!) The chalk came out, and soon both “Happy 100 Euclid Beach Carrousel” & “We Love Sandy’s” sprouted on the sidewalk in bright colors. Our friends from Geauga Lake Park Classics came out, alot of you neighborhood people came out, Councilman Polensek stopped by -- & people coming down Lakeshore were honking their horns – how cool is that?!

Then of course, there was our raffle! After selling tickets both at Waterloo Arts Fest and here at the Birthday Party, for our Mr. Christmas World’s Fair Carousel (complete with lights, music, and horses going around), we drew our winners. Our winner was Dawn Unger, who was delighted to win; she had bought tickets off and on all afternoon, then her daughter Gabrielle pulled the winning ticket. (I’ve since checked with Dawn, and am told the little carousel is running perfectly and enjoyed by all.)

By 4 pm we were winding things down. It’d been a fun day, with perfect “Euclid Beach” weather, great food (not only does Sandy’s serve Frozen Whip, but they have excellent hot dogs), Band Organ music, the clowns, and (of course!) “talking Euclid Beach” with all of you.

And hey?! We’re thinking of making this a regular event so stay tuned!

Our Euclid Beach Carrousel Committee would like to thank: Sandy’s Frozen Whip, for providing the (very cool!) place, and those 100 free cones, Stewart’s Hobbies & Collectibles in Willoughby for helping us find the raffle carousel, and everyone who bought raffle tickets. Dennis Crislip, George Neff & Barb Clint, from our EBCC, for spending the day manning our booth, Councilman Polensek for his support and Sarah Gyorki for coming up with the idea of an “Ice Cream Birthday Party” at Sandy’s for the Carrousel. And, of course, to all of you for coming out to wish our Carrousel a Happy 100th Birthday.

Once again, we thank you for your support for our Euclid Beach Carrousel Committee.