Karen Vega walked hand-in-hand-through Seymour’s bustling downtown Sunday with her 2‑year-old granddaughter, Chloe Crespo.
Their quest — have a blast during the Seventh Annual Seymour Founders’ Day.
Mission accomplished.
Vega, 42, said she attends Founders’ Day every year.
“It is a great community function: all of the shops are open and everybody gets to walk around,” Vega said. “The kids get to come out and do stuff and I think it is a good way to bring everyone together.”
Vega said her and granddaughter were able to enjoy the bounce house as well as Seymour Police Department’s mini pedal cart ride with DWI googles. They were looking for something to eat before going to see her daughter, Airiel Vega, perform in American Hapkido’s Karate demonstration.
American Hapkido is a 38-year-old business at 90 Main St. in Seymour.
Charles Ehrentraut, American Hapkido’s grand master, said he and his students appear at every Seymour Founders’ Day.
Ehrentraut said students and masters practiced for two months for Sunday’s performance. They showcased a variety of weapons students train with, as well as different “what-if” self-defense scenarios.
Linda Bellavance, Seymour Founders’ Day Association president, said Founders’ Day showcases their small New England community.
Proceeds from Founders’ Day benefits different non-profit organizations. This year the proceeds will help the Seymour Ambulance Association.
“It’s a good feeling to know that you help out organizations who are left to the mercy of a town line item or just donations from people,” Bellavance said. “They can purchase things that may not be able to otherwise.”
Cindy Best, EMT captain with the Seymour Ambulance Association, said they do about 2,000 emergency calls a year on a volunteer basis. They also offer EMT, CPR, and safe-sitter courses as well.
“We are people helping people,” Best said. “We are just volunteers out to do good for the town.”
Best said donations from Founders’ Day will go toward the purchase of a “power lift system,” which will help EMTs lift people into their ambulances safely.
She said power lift systems have been mandated for all ambulances, which means they would have to purchase and install these systems in all three of their trucks.
