Church holds summer send-off

Written by Suzanne Marino Thursday, August 30, 2012 04:11 pm

Ten-year-old D’Mario Cooper of Atlantic City goes for the older guy look as he gets a handlebar moustache, compliments of face painter Dan Mercadante of Toms River at the annual Linwood Community Church Picnic Saturday, Aug. 25 on the church grounds. Giving his stamp of approval and sporting a moustache of his own is 15-year-old Sam Karabashian of Ventnor. Photo by Suzanne Marino

Despite threatening skies the Linwood Community Church held a summer send off with a big bash behind the church Saturday. There were games, face painting, horse shoes, a petting zoo, slip n’ slide and plenty of food for the parishioners who came to the annual get together from all across southern New Jersey. Nearly 200 people stopped by to mark the end of the summer. 

Volunteer Susan Jones of Linwood is busy making cotton candy for the kids, big and small, at the Linwood Community Church Picnic Saturday, Aug. 25.

Nine-year-old Grace Kelly of Petersburg, a member of the Linwood Community Church, picks out the gold fish she wants to take home for bouncing the ball in the bowl at the annual church picnic Saturday afternoon.

Harry Sontag of Petersburg and visiting Pastor Jean D’Andre of the Linwood Community Church were the real ringers at the horse shoe pit where the duo’s every toss was close to the post.

Eighteen-month-old Jacob Johnson of Somers Point gets some tips from his dad, Kyle, on the games at the annual Linwood Community Church picnic Saturday.

Two-year-old Ryan Lee of Somers Point has a heck of a good time throwing bean bags into the clown.

Luke Tappiener, 5, of Northfield enjoys a ride on the pony.

Linwood Volunteer Fire Chief Chick Kisby is always lending a hand somewhere in the city. Saturday afternoon he was the tending a different kind of fire and flipping burgers and dogs for the parishioners who attended the annual Linwood Community Church summer picnic.

Photos by Suzanne Marino