Berkley Days a Success Thanks to Volunteers, Entertainment, Good Weather

No matter how organizer Denise Brainard looks at last week's Berkley Days 2012, she calls it a success.    

“We raised over $15,000 for local charities,” said Brainard, who chaired the event for the second time. “We had the second-highest midway sales numbers, but with the addition of new events, if you look at the individual charities, this was our best year ever for them.”  

One of those charities was the Berkley-Huntington Woods Youth Assistance (BHWYA), an organization that helps raise money to send children to camp and  which sponsored the second event Thursday night.

“It went very well,” said Alan Kideckel, the chairman of Taste of Berkley from BHWYA. “We had some new vendors and some returning ones that were all awesome, and everyone walked away with a smile on their face.”

More than 150 tickets were sold at Taste of Berkley, which Kideckel explained was 50 percent-75 percent larger than the previous year. He also said the gross total from the event was around $4,000.

“I want to thank everyone that participated from the people that brought tickets to the vendors to the sponsors,” Kideckel said. “It all was for a great cause because it goes (to benefit) the kids.”  

Kideckel also attended many of the other Berkley Days events including the eighth annual on Saturday morning where his dog, Dora, competed against 13 other dogs in a series of contests for the coveted “Best in Show” award.  

Pooch Pageant Chairwoman Deb Canto said that event raised almost $200 for its charity, Last Day Dog Rescue, a nonprofit that saves shelter dogs slated to be put down and looks to find them new homes.  

After the pageant, Last Day set up outside the for its  fourth annual Berkley Days adoption event. Although it did not do on-site adoptions, Brainard said she was told by the organization that many people were proceeding to home visits, the second step Last Day requires in approving families for adoptions.

“I talked with (Last Day) before they left and they were really happy with the turnout,” Brainard said. “There was even a crafter who found the brother of her dog at the event and is moving forward with adopting him so she can reunite the brothers.”

The craft show was another great success, according to Brainard. There was around 35 vendors selling their handmade goods inside the big ice rink at the on the weekend.

“The crafters were all really happy with their business,” Brainard said. “A couple vendors said it was the best year ever for them.”  

Also inside the rink, a few organizations such as the had food booths, theirs to raise money for new drumline equipment. Along with selling raffle tickets, Brainard said this was a good way for smaller groups to benefit from Berkley Days without having to fund large events.

Next to the ice arena, Brainard said the American Legion Beer tent was very popular with patrons and that they went through four kegs of beer Friday and a little less on Saturday.  

While the beer tent was very popular for the adults, the children’s favorite event remained the midway.

“I asked a few middle schoolers if they were having fun and if they came to every year,” explained Brainard. “They answered ‘yes’ to both questions, and said it was their favorite year yet.”

Another event Brainard said was well-received by the younger Berkley Days attendees was the Punt, Pass and Kick contest sponsored by the Berkley Steelers on Sunday. The event took place on Hurley Field with around 40 children dropping in throughout the day to test their football skills.

“I think it was great for the first year,” said Brainard. “It’s often hard to get events off the ground on the first try, but this one attracted many people and we received a lot of positive feedback afterward.”

One new event Brainard tried to hold this year and ended up cancelling due to a lack of interest was the . However, they did receive enough entrants that a committee selected , a freshman at Berkley High School. 

“I think people were a little surprised to see Olivia in her sash because Ms. Berkley Days is a new concept,” Brainard explained. “But as people see her at various events this year, I believe the title will increase in popularity and people will look forward to it next year.”  

Citraro did a great job representing that sash, Brainard said. 

“She came to many events and interacted with everyone,” Brainard said. “She’s as exhausted as the rest of us who worked to make this week a success.”

According to Brainard, the number of people it takes to plan and carry out Berkley Days may surprise many people.

“I don’t think people realize how many organizations are involved,” said Brainard. “You see big events, but you don’t see all the behind the scenes work that makes this week possible. For example, the Berkley High School football team sets up and takes down the craft show tables and the Dad’s Club empties the trash cans at the midway every couple of hours.”

Even though the haze of Berkley Days 2012 still remains, Brainard said she already is thinking about how to make next year’s event bigger and better.

“I’ve already bounced one new event idea off a few people and they all really like it,” explained Brainard. “So, there’s going to be something new, but I’m not saying what it’s going to be and people are just going to have to come to find out for themselves.”