by Bradlee White

 

    The Duck Mobile made its way around Kismet at 10 a.m, last Sunday, quacking out the news that the 11th Annual Kismet Duck Races would begin at 11a.m. sharp.  The Duck Race is a fund raiser for the Kismet Fire Department.   

 

    The crowd had already gathered early on.  Cody, Sam & Sam Jr. and their crew had been there for hours creating the water shute the ducks would race on.  The volunteers were all set.  Frank Bolton, the spirit behind the duck races, was ready with his bull horn to announce the race progress.  Frank, owner of the Long Island Ducks, has always supplied all the prizes: from autographed baseballs, quackers and bobbleheads for the kids to game tickets (on Fireworks night) for adults and a night in his personal box for the MEGA race.  Judges were Sam Wood and Paul Barbara.

 

 

 With an extreme heat warning issued, the crowd was perhaps a bit smaller than usual and broke up a little earlier.  Still, there was excitement in the air. and lines forming to buy the tickets that were exchanged for tiny ducks for each race.

  

  

They're never too young for Kismet fun

 

Lines started forming to buy the tickets that

were exchanged for tiny ducks for each race.

The Chiros sold tickets for the children's races,

while Christine Liotta and Shiela Farrar sold

the adult race tickets.

 

Then, ducks were chosen in exchange for

tickets.

 

Patty Ramonzi and Jen Mandel were in charge

of the yellow ducks.

 

Judy and Rusty had the blaze

duck table.

Danielle Bellemare was in charge of the Adult and MEGA

race ducks.

 

OK, its off to the Races!

 

Cody and Sam Jr. set up the ducks and

start them on their way powered by a 

large fan augmented by Joe Carlton on 

the leaf blower.

 

Mugsy and Leyden observe the race

 

Frank Bolton announces the race with his

usual dramatic flair, while the crowd

watches.

 

Then it was time for the prizes.

 

Picking a prize from the table" womaned"

by Patty Lyons and Sharon Sitone.

 

I won a ball!

 

Wow, I won!

 

The Butlers were on a roll.  Ginny won

an adult race while Mia and Ciara won

first and second in their race.

 

The Butler family's best prize of the day

was a visit from son Shane, his wife Melissa

and 13-month old Milo.

 

 The first place MEGA prize 50/50  was won by Karen Bolton who donated the funds back to the Fire Department.  Ryan Gustafson won the baseball game night in the Bolton Box.  Karen Spollen won third prize.   The Kismet Fire Department made $3000 for equipment and break-out suits for our brave firepeople.