Families turn out in bunches for Ptarmigan Pediatrics summer fair

WASILLA — Dozens of parents and children turned out for the Ptarmigan Pediatrics-hosted pediatric fair along Seward Meridian Friday.

The clinic doesn’t keep official attendance figures for the event, but parked cars filled began to fill a gravel lot associated with a nearby construction site by about 4 p.m.

Parents carefully helped children to flavored ice, hot dogs and chips, while children scrambled through bouncing tents and over an obstacle course set up and run by members of Body Renew in Wasilla. Emergency responders showed up with ambulances and helicopters.

For parents, the fair represented something to do on a hot sunny summer afternoon. Among them was Linda Miller, who shepherded daughter Daisy Miller, 3, around the picnic tables.

“I just saw it on Facebook and I saw that it was free, something to do,” she said.

Beyond something to take up a spare afternoon, the event was also an opportunity to learn, Miller said.

At a small informational kiosk tent, a handful of community groups saw an opportunity to reach out to local families for memberships and volunteer opportunities. That might involve more strategy than you think, said Amy Lalor Mat-Su Community Director for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The group furnishes mentor figures — known as “bigs” —to disadvantaged children, and traffic had been good.

“I got a lot of people asking about the program,” she said. “We were right next to the cotton candy machine, so that worked out nice. People were in line, so they had to slow down and read things as they passed.”

The need for people is constant, Lalor said.

“We’re always looking for more bigs,” she said.

Contact reporter Brian O’Connor at 352-2270, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.