Businesses and residents from across Clarkston converged on Clarkston High School for the Clarkston Connects Community Expo on April 16.
The expo, which was presented by the Clarkston Coalition for Youth featured 51 different businesses and eight separate demos of various activities, products and services available around the Clarkston area.
‘We feel the expo was a great success, both from the feedback from people who attended as well as the exhibitors,? said Cindy Keil, co-coordinator of the Community Expo for Clarkston Coalition for Youth.
Keil estimated over 400 people attended the expo this year. Keil also felt the Expo, in its third year of existence, featured at least 15-20 more booths than in last year.
‘Events like this make the difference between a town and a hometown,? said Keil. ‘I would like to have the expo end up where we are in the gym and have three times the size of what we had this year.?
‘This is about showing what our community has to offer,? said Laura Markarian of CAYA. ‘We like to provide information for parents and children to help promote healthy development of children.?
Visitors perusing the stalls of the exhibitors could find everything from a summer camp or drawing class to community enhancement and charity endeavors.
?(The expo) was very successful, especially for parents. This was a one-stop shopping for summer programs,? said Kelly Hyer, recreation coordinator for Independence Township Parks and Recreation.
Aside from Springfield and Independence Township Parks and Recreation, several summer day camps had booths at the expo.
‘I liked seeing the Pine Forest Day Camp exhibit. I like going outside and being active,? said Kaley McCabe, who attended the expo with her mother Stacie McCabe.
To keep the kids busy while parents looked around, Oakland County Parks Fun Zone was provided replete with two inflatable play areas, one for bouncing and one to climb and slide upon.
Aside from the kid exclusive activities, the expo featured a diverse set of demos from local businesses.
‘From a business perspective this was great for us. We’ve got four more shows lined up from today,? said Renee Ginell, whose Dancin? Feet School of Music and Dance gave a half hour demonstration of Celtic dance.
Some other demonstration highlights included the Spray Masters Waterski Show Team, who showed off how to make a six-person pyramid; Fitness Loop; a youth musical by Kindermusik; the 4-H Aviation Club; exhibitor highlights; and Class Act 4-H Drama club. To close the demonstrations and the expo, QTMC Music Group delivered a strong rhythmic message for kids to stay in school and avoid drugs.
The morning was emceed by Jim Tedder of Jim Tedder Productions, who took care of introducing the demonstrations and announced the winners of door prizes, donated by 24 local businesses and groups.
‘This is my first time here and this is pretty impressive. It’s great to see how many parents came out with their kids,? said Bill Champion, a member of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, who were raffling off a 1968 Honda 160 Scrambler motorcycle with the proceeds benefiting Leader Dogs for the Blind.
Even people rather familiar with the Clarkston area were taken aback by the expo’s diversity.
‘I think that I’m pretty involved with the community and I learned a lot today,? said Andrea Schroeder of the Academic Boosters of Clarkston.
The expo was exceptionally helpful to business owners who do not have a storefront looking for increased visibility.
?(The expo) has really got my name out in the community,? said Sarah Kop, who runs a Cookie Lee jewelry franchise from her home.
The expo would not have succeeded without numerous sponsors including: Deer Lake Athletic Club, Clarkston State Bank and the law offices of Robert E. Kostin. Lewis E. Wint & Son TRUST 100 Funeral Home and Millinnium Training were friendship sponsors of the expo. The Clarkston News was the media sponsor.