Gene Cornish & More Set for Annual Family Festival in Teaneck, 5/26

Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame member Gene Cornish (The Rascals), NJ Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, retired US Marshals Commander Lenny DePaul, Heroes to Heroes Foundation President Judy I. Schaffer, The Teaneck Police Department (and Teaneck PD's Acting Chief Robert A. Carney), FDU's Director of Veteran Services Ariel J. Luna, The Salvation Army's New Jersey State Director of Human Services Brenda A. Beavers, tenor Ernest Revell and Champion Ballroom Dance Team Travis and Jaimee Tuft, will be honored at this year's Cedar Lane Management Group's annual Family Festival on Memorial Day, May 26, from 11 AM to 6 PM, on Cedar Lane between American Legion Drive and Elm Avenue in Teaneck, NJ. Prior to the Opening Ceremony, at 11 AM, Teaneck's local veterans' organizations will hold their Annual Memorial Day Remembrance Service in honor of their fallen comrades at Teaneck's Municipal Green.

The Opening Ceremony on the Festival Stage in the Chestnut Avenue Plaza at the corner of Garrison Avenue and Cedar Lane, will begin at 12:30 PM and will kick off a day full of exciting and fun activities for members of the entire family. There is free admission and free parking in three nearby Municipal Parking Lots. Families from the tri-state area are invited to attend the Festival which is just 20 minutes from midtown Manhattan. Local bus and train service is readily available.

By 11 AM, scores of local merchants and outside vendors will have completed setting up their display booths and stalls on both sides of Cedar Lane, and will be ready to offer great shopping opportunities, arts and crafts, clothing, collectibles and international and ethnic foods for all those attending the Festival. Local restaurants and cafes will also be open and available to hungry festival attendees. A special area featuring children's activities, including clowns, a stilt walker, face painter, balloon artists, games and rides, will be located in the Children's areas at Cedar Lane and Elm Avenue and on Garrison Avenue just off Cedar Lane.

At 12:15 PM, opera singer Patric Hale will open the Awards Ceremony on the Festival Stage by performing several patriotic songs appropriate for Memorial Day. After soprano Heather O'Connor sings the National Anthem, the Memorial Day Veteran's Tribute will begin and awards will be presented to this year's Guests of Honor.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, at approximately 1:30 PM, the audience at the Stage will be entertained by the acclaimed Teaneck Community Chorus, which performs songs recognizing that each one's own culture may be unique, but all have their own values. The Chorus is interested in a repertoire of compassionate music -- music that unites people in good causes and helps singers and audiences feel involved in society. The Chorus performs for various events in the Township of Teaneck and throughout Bergen County, and also offers its own workshops and concerts. To fulfill its mission of appropriately performing music from many cultures, the Chorus has hosted workshops on Latin American music, African and African American music, and multicultural music in general.

At 2:30 PM, the Rock 'n Roll Chorus will take the stage for a 30 minute concert performance singing rock 'n roll' songs that will appeal to young and old.

From 3:00 to 6:00 PM, some of the most talented cabaret performers in the tri-state area will compete in the Festival's 5th Annual Cabaret Competition, hosted by Heather O'Connor with David Schaefer at the keyboard. The judging panel will include: William Ronayne, President of the Mario Lanza Society; Lewis Ehlers, an executive with Lombardo Management, an agency representing classical performers; singer Clifton Lewis; and singer/vocal coach Victoria Cassella.

One of the Festival's most popular events --the exciting, fun-filled Blueberry Pie with Whipped Cream Eating Contest, where the kids (ages 9 to 12) have to compete without using their hands (which must be positioned behind their backs).will begin at 2:00 PM in front of Chestnut Avenue Plaza on Cedar Lane. Two prizes will be awarded: one to the youngster who eats the most pie in an eight-minute period, and a second prize to the boy or girl who has the dirtiest face at the end of the contest! The contest is sponsored by BUTTERFLAKE BAKERY (445 Cedar Lane). Kids can sign up at the store on the day of the event or they can register in advance by calling 201/907-0493.

Sponsors of Teaneck's Cedar Lane Festival include: Butterflake Bakery; Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, PC; and Holy Name Hospital.

The Teaneck's Family Fun Festival is produced by Mort and Ray Productions. For additional information, contact 201-907-0493; www.cedarlane.net; or www.mortandray.com.