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Thursday, 16
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St. John's Episcopal Church, overlooking the Niagara River on Main and Chestnut streets in Youngstown, will hold its annual Strawberry Fest from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 28.
Homemade strawberry shortcake made with local berries, freshly baked shortcake and real whipped cream will be served. Grilled foods will be prepared and served by the Youngstown Lions Club. Donuts D. Clown will be on hand from noon to 3 p.m., and the Nickel City Blues Band will perform starting at 2 p.m.
The Strawberry Fest dates back to World War II when the congregation hosted a “strawberry social” on the church grounds for soldiers stationed at nearby Fort Niagara. In those days, the church served homemade ice cream topped with fresh strawberries as a way to support the soldiers and remind them of home.
Each year, the church donates all proceeds to local, national and international nonprofit organizations. One of this year’s recipients fittingly connects the past with the present: Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight. Honor Flight arranges all-expense paid trips to Washington, D.C., for WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans to view monuments erected in their honor. It currently has a waiting list of 400 veterans.
Friends of Youngstown Inc., our new community service organization, is also a recipient. It is a dedicated group of volunteers who organize community events to help ensure a healthy and thriving community.
The church, built in 1878, will be open continuously throughout the event for self-guided tours. St. John’s is one of only a few remaining board-and-batten carpenter gothic churches with an active congregation in Western New York, and is listed on the state and national registers of historic places.
1859 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY 14072
Phone: 716-773-7676
Fax: 716-773-7190
