ANSONIA — A newish community group called “Orange You For Ansonia” is teaming with the City of Ansonia and Charters Hose Co. No. 4 for a “Fire Engine Super Soak” Saturday, Aug. 10 at Nolan Field on Wakelee Avenue.
Families will be able to cool off under water spraying from a truck. Wear water shoes, it’s in a parking lot.
The event is free, and marks the first birthday of “Orange You For Ansonia,” a group named after Jeremy Musnicki, an Ansonia resident nicknamed “orange shirt guy” after asking questions at an Ansonia school board meeting that was live streamed by The Valley Indy.
The following Q&A was conducted though email with Dawn Ossie, one of the group’s founders. Click here for the event page on Facebook.
Valley Indy Sentinel: What is ‘Orange You For Ansonia?’ Why did it form a year ago? What is the purpose?
Dawn Ossie: “Orange you for Ansonia is a community group. It was formed last year when a few friends and I were having a discussion about different activities, how everything costs so much to do with our children and how there’s nothing geared towards children in town and decided together we would start our own group.”
VIS: Who are the founding members?
Ossie: “The founding members are Dawn Ossie and Jeremy Musnicki.”
VIS: What activities have you done over the past year?
Ossie: “We have put on numerous events since last year. Our SuperSoak in August 2018 (was) our first. We attended the Harvest Festival where the children played a game of chance with a prize wheel and won awesome prizes.
We put on a haunted firehouse at Charters Hose in October. In April we assisted the Ansonia Cultural Commission with the Easter extravaganza at the Ansonia Armory which had over 300 children attend.
We marched in the Memorial Day Parade handing out over 300 Italian icees to the children in attendance along with other prizes. (Last month) we held a fire engine SuperSoak which children won free ice cream cones courtesy of Mr. Softy.”
VIS: What was the most popular event?
Ossie: “The Easter Event had the best turnout but the SuperSoak is the most requested and the children have the most fun!”
VIS: Who can attend Saturday?
Ossie: “Anyone can attend Saturday’s event. Water shoes are recommended. We put alot of time and our own monetary funds into doing these events and we just ask everyone to be respectful to one another!”
VIS: Is there a charge?
Ossie: “There is no charge for this event. There will be ice cream and food from outside vendors available for purchases.”
VIS: What activities are planned for Saturday?
Ossie: “We have quite a few activities planned. We will have a dance contest followed by the Blanco challenge accepted by The Ansonia Cheer Team! We will have limbo with a twist, And a few other BIG surprises!”
VIS: How can people learn more about the organization?
Ossie: “To receive information on Orange You For Ansonia please look us up on our Facebook page or email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). We also have an Instagram page. We would also like to thank the Mayor of Ansonia and the administration for all their support.”