Strawberry Festival returns to North Salem

NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - The North Salem Historical Society's annual Strawberry Fest was a whole bunch of summer fun.

Held on Sunday, June 13 at the organization’s historic Keeler Lane property, it featured homemade strawberry shortcakes, music by Martin Aronchick and Richard Booker of Chick’s Candy Store, Colonial-era games, demonstrations of 18th-century blacksmithing techniques by Tom Hunt of Waterside Forge, candle making and other displays by costumed interpreters, crafts for the kiddos, and best of all, the chance to dunk England's King George, bane of the American patriots during the Revolutionary War.

The royal person was gamely portrayed by the town’s deputy supervisor, Peter Kamenstein. Also among those volunteering for the dunking booth – and who could blame her considering the heat – was Charlotte Harris, co-president of the North Salem Bridal Trails Association.