The Kensington and Allegheny Business Association shut down the busy intersection at the heart of Kensington for its tenth annual K & A MarketFest on Saturday, June 5, 2010, a week earlier than normal. Residents of all ages enjoyed the attractions which Impact Services Corporation President John MacDonald said are a gift to the neighborhood.
“Everything’s for nothing,” MacDonald said.
Even without funding from the city, the business association will always find a way to run the fair, MacDonald said. With the support of the Bank of America, Wachovia Bank and Beneficial Bank, local businesses and Impact Services Corporation were able to keep the fair running smoothly.
Impact Services Corporation is a 36 year old community development organization that oversees projects aimed at revitalizing Kensington. This includes the operation of three business associations, housing for veterans and training programs to place roughly 1000 citizens – people who have been released from prison or rehab, welfare mothers and veterans – a year in the workforce.
The organization is “intended to help businesses and then the businesses help folks in the neighborhood,” MacDonald said. And the K&A MarketFest is meant to show that the area is a safe place to be.
“We were trying to prove to folks K and A isn’t dead,” MacDonald said.
Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., adults could browse vendors selling everything from shoes to Avon products, lemonade to produce. Among the attractions children enjoyed were Moonbounce houses, inflatable slides and Conference Bikes which seat six children and an adult who steers the vehicle.
While the turnout had tapered off in the middle of the fair’s four-hour span, MacDonald said this was still an important event to Kensington residents.
“Some folks would think this is no big deal but to the neighborhood, it is,” MacDonald said.
Based on its track record for growth year to year, MacDonald expects the eleventh annual K&A MarketFest to be even bigger and better.
This 300 word news piece appeared in the local newspaper entitled The Juniata News today (June 8), accompanied by three photographs I took.
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