x
  1. Home
  2.  News
  3.  Local News

Town celebrates Wantage Day

| 06 Jun 2017 | 05:11
    PHOTOS BY GEORGE LEROY HUNTER Old Glory flys high in the sky courtesy of the Sussex Fire Department.
    PHOTOS BY GEORGE LEROY HUNTER Old Glory flys high in the sky courtesy of the Sussex Fire Department.
    Miss Wantage 2017 Lexus Decker poses for a portrait.
    Miss Wantage 2017 Lexus Decker poses for a portrait.
    Local band Uncle Stump performs.
    Local band Uncle Stump performs.
    Eighteen year old Wantage resident and TAEKWONDO expert Joseph Pokry performs a high flying kick and breaks two pieces of wood simultaneously.
    Eighteen year old Wantage resident and TAEKWONDO expert Joseph Pokry performs a high flying kick and breaks two pieces of wood simultaneously.
    New Jersey State police officers and their dog perform in a demonstration in front of a crowd.
    New Jersey State police officers and their dog perform in a demonstration in front of a crowd.

WANTAGE — The annual Wantage Day took place in Wantage Township, New Jersey on Saturday, June 3. Local residents enjoyed several hours of fun and sun at Woodburne Park.
The Wantage Fire Department along with numerous vendors and business entities participated in the family friendly event.
It was a warm day for the community to come together and have some fun. A team of Tae Kwon Do martial artists from Master Ken's Xtreme Martial Arts Center were among the special guests at this years Wantage Day.
The New Jersey State Police conducted a demonstration with a canine unit. And an air ambulance helicopter from Atlantic Ambulance Corporation, a subsidiary of Atlantic Health System landing to give visitors a look inside and explain what they do.
Numerous Sussex County business entities hosted tables and booths in the park.
The newly crowned Miss Wantage, Lexus Decker also made an appearance. Decker is 18 years old and is a student athlete at High Point Regional High School. She has participated in varsity soccer and has played the game for a total of fourteen years.
Decker won the Miss Wantage title Saturday morning at the Wantage Municipal building.
Decker is the oldest of three children. A guidance counselor at her school encouraged her to enter the Miss Wantage Pageant. Decker said
“I filled out the application and my mom actually was the one who sent it in after it sat on the kitchen table forever," Decker said. "This was my first pageant.”
The reluctant beauty pageant contestant beat out six other girls to earn the crown. Decker will compete in the popular Queen of the Fair Pageant at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in August.
In the fall, Decker will attend Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. She plans to major in English and minor in business and study in a law program. Decker is contemplating playing soccer while attending Drew University.
The 2017 Miss Wantage was enjoying the festivities of Wantage Day with the 2016 Miss Wantage, Kelly Wask. Wask was there to help Decker ease into the roll of Miss Wantage and offer advice in dealing with the public. Part of the duties of Miss Wantage is to make public appearances and volunteer her time.
After becoming Miss Wantage, Wask went on to be crowned Queen of the Fair in August 2016.
Wask graduated from High Point Regional High School in 2016 and is currently enrolled at Five Towns College in Long Island, New York. Her major study is in music. Wask wants to pursue a singing career.
Decker and Wask mingled with other guests and enjoyed the activities and some food cooked by the Wantage Fire Department.