Correspondent photos / Bill Koch Briella Paolucci, 4, of Austintown, pets some ducks during the first Austintown Fun Day on Patriot Boulevard on Saturday.

AUSTINTOWN – Hundreds of adults and children of all ages flocked to Patriot Boulevard off state Route 46 Saturday for what organizers hope will be the first edition of Family Fun Day.

Brittney Koch is vice president of Austintown Community Events, an organization created by the township’s trustees. She said they wanted to “provide a safe, family-oriented environment to showcase local resources and organizations.”

In addition, all proceeds from the day benefit local nonprofits such as veterans groups and youth sports organizations.

Attractions included bouncy castles, food vendors, information booths, the chance to sit in a fire truck, a petting zoo and Little Miss and Little Mr. Austintown contests. Austintown resident Ruty Patterson said the contest for second-graders is not a beauty pageant.

“We want them to have fun and represent Austintown. If it’s a good experience, maybe next year they’ll bring their siblings. It’s all about having fun,” she said.

Among the judges was London Cofield of Niles, who recently won the Miss Youngstown Harley Davidson beauty pageant. She said her job was to “tell some good jokes, smile, hug, sign autographs and just perform.”

Debbie Moss of North Jackson is a nurse with Mahoning County Public Health and tried her best to keep the wind from blowing away her pamphlets. She handed out items like sunscreen and medication disposal kits, as well as information on where to get help for various problems.

Kevin Wilhide, owner of Elevate Martial Arts and Austintown resident, brought some of his young students. He said it was an opportunity to “spread the message that we offer self-defense and want to be part of the community.”

Austintown Fitch student Joselyn McKenney, 15, showed off a Frisbee-throwing robot she helped develop with the rest of the Falcon robotics team. She said it was “so much fun to go to events” to let people see the fruits of her labor.

Tori Paolucci of Austintown found out about Family Fun Day on Facebook and said to her four-year-old daughter Briella, “Let’s check it out.”

Austintown resident Junio ​​Ciuba said he enjoyed being there with his family. He said his children were especially excited to see the fire truck and police cars.

Trustee Robert Santos is the director of Austintown Township Events, but said he did not want to be identified as the person in charge because “this could not be done without everyone’s support.”

While Santos was happy that the proceeds would benefit local organizations, he said his main wish for the day was “lots of smiles and laughter.”

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