Strong – Residents enjoyed a sunny Saturday as they gathered at Legion Park for the Sandy River Festival, eating hot dogs, paddling down the Sandy River and participating in water events such as log rolling.

The festival started in 2001, Strong’s bicentennial, as part of the town’s year-long celebration. Event director Milt Baston was in charge of the river events Saturday, and explained that the festival over the years grew into a tradition. Gary O’Brien of Farmington reinitiated the festival after a break in 2005, and with the help of Baston, Vern Romanoski, assistant director, and other volunteers it continues to prove popular.

Sponsored by the Strong Area Civic and Business Alliance among other area businesses, and products such as Pepsi and Poland Springs, the festival isn’t “a money-making deal and that’s not why we do this,” Baston says.

Wilton Rep. Tom Saviello explained a water demonstration that served as a kid-friendly lesson in runoff pollution. “People need to feel like their legislator is one of them,” Saviello says.

Events started at 9 a.m. when about 100 people in canoes embarked on a 9-mile paddle down the Sandy River. Other events included a flag ceremony, fly tying and casting lessons, free fishing, free food, a canoe-poling demonstration, an inner tube race, canoe games, log rolling and a “Boom Run.”

Events were more fun than competitive. Parents and kids participated in a canoe race to collect colored balls and then paddle back to the starting point to drop balls into a bucket. Winners were Portia Jellison, Romanoski and his daughter Riley.

Healthy Community Coalition representatives Nicole Diata, program director, and Lisa Laflin, community building coordinator, were there educating people on how to quit smoking, about mammogram programs, how to receive inexpensive prescription drugs, and taking blood pressures. The coalition is in the process of raising $3,000 for a mobile health unit.