INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Several hundred people crowded into the newly opened hangar at the Sebastian Municipal Airport Saturday, braving strong winds and torrential downpours to support Sebastian Charter Junior High during the school’s annual Latin Festival.
The day started with a specially-scheduled “First” Saturday breakfast at the hangar next door, hosted by LoPresti Aviation. Proceeds from the breakfast were donated to Sebastian Charter Junior High School to help fund construction of the new campus and provide technology to its students.
“This is going to be a long-term relationship,” David LoPresti said of working with the charter school. “They fit with us very well.”
The breakfast, like the Latin Festival itself, was curtailed due to the heavy rain that moved through the area all day. Between 30 and 40 aircraft had been expected to take part in LoPresti’s salsa-themed fly-in. And several antique vehicles, too, were expected – but didn’t show.
In what appeared to be a stroke of luck for Sebastian Charter Junior High – a change of venue approved in July allowed the event to be held at the Sebastian airport instead of at Riverview Park, which would not have been able to accommodate the live entertainment, dancing, food and games.
“If we didn’t have this (hangar), we’d be pretty darn wet,” Sebastian Mayor, and Sebastian Charter Junior High parent, Jim Hill said.
The festival’s headliner for the third year running was Adlan Cruz – a longtime friend of Sebastian Charter Junior High’s Board Chair John Rivera.
“Why would I say no?” Cruz asked rhetorically, explaining that the fund-raiser is meant to help school children and it would be a way for him to support Rivera, who has been his supporter for many years. “It’s a win-win.”
He said he was happy to participate in the Latin Festival and help the school.
Nina Martin was one of many how came out to the Latin Festival – despite the weather – to show support for the school, giving back to the place her three children had attended.
“It’s the individual attention, small classes,” Martin said of why she chose to send her kids to the charter school – and Principal Martha McAdams.
Martin said McAdams has a way of reaching children, especially those at the critical age that is junior high.
Aside from being at the festival to watch her son perform with the Sebastian River High Marching Sharks, Martin said she planned to stick around a while to catch some of the live entertainment.
“You can’t beat Latin music,” she said. “It’s the best.”
Fellow school parent Josh Cook, made the drive from Vero Beach to take part in his son’s school’s fund-raiser and was surprised so many others had done the same.
“I’m impressed they had such a turnout for a bad, rainy day,” he said.
Cook planned to sample the Latin food available from various vendors and watch the performers sing and dance.
“I heard it’s good,” Cook said of the festival.
Along with music, dance and food, there was a kid zone filled with carnival style games – and prizes.
Going home from the festival with seven goldfish were 9-year-old Marissa Gordian and her friend, Jasmine Robinson, 10.
The girls won the fish by tossing ping pong balls into small, empty, fishbowls.
Though the girls were having fun, Gordian teased, saying she was “forced” to come because her sister was in the Sharks marching band.
Her mom, Sue Gordian, teased her back, and said that she, too, was enjoying the food and music for the charter school’s Latin Festival.